#new otter alert!

[montereybayaquarium]

🦦 Name our newest resident sea otter!

We’re otterly excited to announce that, in the coming weeks, we’ll welcome a brand new resident sea otter to the Aquarium’s raft! 

Our newest otter was found stranded as a pup near San Luis Obispo, 100 miles south of Monterey. After being deemed unreleasable by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, she’s spent the past year behind the scenes getting used to her new home at Monterey Bay Aquarium. 

Our team is busy preparing for her to join Ruby, Ivy, and Selka on exhibit. But there’s just one thing missing—she still needs a name! 

Teaching a resident otter to recognize her own name is an important part of her training, so we narrowed it down to three unique choices:

💙Hazel 💙Opal 💙Quinn

Starting this Wednesday, March 26 at 12 p.m. PST, check out our socials for a link to the poll. You’ll have 24 hours to vote and help name our new exhibit otter.

We can’t wait for you to meet her!

[astrostar-productions]

THE BEAN!!!!

I LOVE HER TOO

Ass quality, so click for full image and zoom in to read the text.

[the-mortuary-witch]

FAMILAR’S AND THEIR MEANINGS

ALPACA: stamina, duty, courage, intrigue, patience, and tenacity.

ANT: cooperation, strategy, hard work, change, resourcefulness, and balance.

ALLIGATOR: strength, protection, rebirth, adaptability, patience, balance, and wisdom.

BEETLE: transformation, protection, strength, good luck, creation, teamwork, rebirth, and adaptability.

BUFFALO: bravery, kindness, and strength.

BAT: mystery, foresight, intuition, transition, death, rebirth, new beginnings.

BEAR: power, protection, strength,, family, vitality courage, and health.

BUTTERFLY: metamorphosis, release, and higher consciousness.

COW: abundance, luck, and trust.

CAT: witchcraft, mysticism, good luck, prosperity, mystery, independence, and intuition.

CROW: transformation, mystery, foresight, change, death, creation, and spiritual strength

COYOTE: transformation, adaptability, intelligence, cunning, intelligence, and adaptability.

DRAGON: wisdom, power, supernatural power, strength, hidden knowledge, and protection.

DOVE: love, peace, transformation, and freedom.

DEER: kindness, transformation, sensitivity, intuition, and gentleness.

DOLPHIN: joy, transformation, wisdom, harmony, freedom, intuition, and a deep connection with the mysteries of the ocean.

DRAGONFLY: luck, intelligence, grace, and meditation.

DOG: loyalty, protection, transformation, guidance, fidelity, faithfulness, alertness, and love.

EAGLE: power, freedom, transformation, honesty, truth, majesty, strength, courage, wisdom, and power.

ELEPHANT: loyalty, power, wisdom, fertility, good luck, success, and experience

FOX: cunning, trickery, mischief, transformation, playfulness, and resilience.

FROG: transformation, magic clairvoyance, wealth, and abundance.

FALCON: strength, power, transformation, vision, freedom, and victory.

GRIFFIN: transformation, protection, wisdom, strength, military, courage and leadership.

GOAT: confidence, loyalty, and independence.

HEDGEHOG: protection, magic, healing, resourcefulness, protection, wisdom, and adaptability.

HORSE: strength, power, transformation, independence, freedom, nobleness, endurance, confidence, triumph, heroism and competition.

IGUANA: transformation, adaptability, magic, confidence, healing, awareness, and curiosity.

JAGUAR: power, transformation, magic, strength, ferocity, and courage.

KOALA: playfulness, transformation, gentle nature, calmness, harmony with nature, and adaptability.

LION: power, courage, transformation, courage, nobility, royalty, strength, stateliness and valour.

LIZARD: dreams, healing, and survival.

MOUSE: stealth, transformation, wisdom, resourcefulness, intelligence, and adaptability.

MONKEY: transformation, joy, mischief, loyalty, intelligence, community, and family.

MOOSE: strength, patience, and surrender.

MOTH: intuition, transformation, adaptation, love, and trust.

OWL: wisdom, intelligence, transformation, mystery, and protection.

OTTER: individually, joy, and flexibility.

PHOENIX: transformation, renewal, immortality, resurrection and life after death.

PIG: transformation, luck, prosperity, and abundance.

PANTHER: power, protection, transformation, mystery, and strength.

PORCUPINE: boldness, defence, and god nature.

PIGEON: group cooperation, resourcefulness, and freedom.

PENGUIN: endurance, survival, closeness, family, spirituality, resilience, and adaptability.

RABBIT: fertility, transformation, luck, gentleness, abundance, and prosperity.

ROOSTER: pride, bravery, and confidence.

RACCOONS: assertiveness, disguise, intelligence, and mischief.

RAT: stealth, protection, magic, riches, procreation, fertility, spirituality, knowledge, infirmity, death, the passage of time, enmity, and destruction.

RAVEN: mysticism, prophecy, insight, intelligence, transformation, and ancient wisdom.

SWAN: beauty, grace, transformation, innocence, peace, serenity, fidelity and kindness.

SQUIRREL: lightheartedness, preparation, and resourceful.

SPARROW: community, friendship, cooperation, and family.

SNAKE: healing, transformation, protection, fertility, rebirth, renewal and immortality.

SPIDER: creativity, fate, magic, balance, creativity, curiosity, wonder, and growth.

TIGER: power, transformation, courage, protection, vitality, strength and unpredictability.

TOAD: witchcraft, fertility, healing, abundance, renewal, vitality, and good luck.

UNICORN: spirit nature, innocence, transformation, purity, and power in Celtic mythology.

WOLF: strength, independence, power, loyalty, guardianship, teamwork and wildness.

ZEBRA: confidence, transformation, stability, balance, harmony, and unity.

[angeliicheartt]

ᴛʜᴇ "ᴍᴇʀᴇ ᴇxᴘᴏꜱᴜʀᴇ" ᴇꜰꜰᴇᴄᴛ!

v .. ʙᴀᴄᴋɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪɴꜰᴏ.

synopsis: psychology major y/n l/n finds herself in the same apartment building as her months-long crush, hitoshi shinso, when he moves in with mutual friends. what happens when classes start and the two psychology students are partnered together for a semester-long project which will decide whether they pass the term?

a/n: that's the last of the insta screenshots!! plot coming soon

the "mere exposure" effect! masterlist.

welcome to "the good kids" apartment!

ochako and katsuki flat out refuse to delete their old posts of eachother (👀)

new character alerts!! yosetsu and itsuka have joined the list (they'll mainly be background characters)

momo and yosetsu are dating!! aren't they cute?

ᴛᴀɢʟɪꜱᴛ: @wheezdostuff @miyamoratsumuu @rueclfer @whenanafallsinlove @hanmastattoos @kingexplosionmurda @the-hangry-otter @isavelvel @ofherchaos @sunolls @happiness2014 @kovu-bunnbunn @seneon

[fishenjoyer1]

Fish of the Day

today's fish of the day is the giant pacific octopus!

The giant pacific octopus, also called the North Pacific Octopus, scientific name Enteroctopus dofleini, is known for being the largest species of octopus! Living exclusively in temperate waters, their range stretches from Southern California up to Alaska, and from the West coast of Northern America, to the Aleutian Islands, and East coast of Japan. Giant pacific octopi live along coral ranges, rocky outcroppings, and intertidal zones where catching prey is easier. The bite of the giant pacific octopus contains a venom that breaks down proteins in animals, softening muscle tissues and organs over the course of a few hours. Their diet consists of almost anything they can fit in their beak: fish, crabs, lobster, shrimp, some smaller sharks and dogfish, clams, snails, and seagulls. They can tear apart animals with far tougher skin than their own due to a beak structure that can be found on all octopi, made of chitin. This diet can support them getting sizes as large as 29 feet! Their arm span alone can reach 19 feet across, and the heaviest recorded specimen was almost 200 pounds!

Many scavengers predate on octopi, and the great pacific octopus is no different, even drawing in larger predators due to their size. Many marine mammals, such as harbor seals, sea otters, various dolphins, and sperm whales have been found hunting great pacific octopi, along with large sharks. Humans also hunt great pacific octopi with commercial fishing for consumption across the world, taking 3.3 million tons annually. However, great pacific octopi are especially known for their high intelligence, which is used to avoid many of these predators. Octopi are known for being able to survey their surroundings and camouflage at will in many different ways. These animals have 9 brains, one in each of their 8 arms and a central brain, which does more than the others, each of the arms controlling over 200 suckers, which they have the control over like we do of our individual fingers, giving them high control over their movements. Along with the ability to create havoc in research environments, dissasemling expensive equipment, and escaping. 

Like many other cephalopods, the giant pacific octopus can change colors, using this to blend into the rocks around their hiding caves. This color changing ability is quite interesting for study however, when the octopus is resting they turn a milky white color, and when the octopus is occupied by other worries, they turn a deep red color. However, it is found that throughout an octopus's rest they will change into molted patterns that are also found in alert octopi: leading to the theory that octopi too, can dream. In other situations, these octopi have been known to create molted patterns to seduce partners, and to confuse prey. Other than their color changing abilities, they also have been known to surround themselves in shells and other remains of previous meals, to disguise their body when venturing for food. These animals also possess the well known ability to squirt ink out of their siphon, used to confuse predators. They also have been known for changing the texture of their skin, to blend in better with their surroundings. Their intelligence is so high that it is thought the octopi are some of the only invertebrates that engage in play activities.

Giant pacific octopi spent around 90% of their time inside of dens, venturing out only to find prey, and bringing them back into the den to consume. This creates an 'octopus garden' on the outside of the den, where there are piles of bones and shells piling up. However, depending on population, throughout the year these octopi will migrate, in accordance to seasonal changes. Eastern populations tend to locate new dens when the water experiences temperature changes in summer and winter, whereas western populations will move dens to shallower waters in early summer and winter, and then move to deeper waters in the later summer and winter. Northern populations, both the Alaskan and Northeastern, do not seem to have migration patterns.

Their lifespan is relatively long compared to other octopi. Sexual maturity is achieved at 1-2 years of age, but the giant pacific octopus, with a lifespan of 3-5 years, will wait until it reaches a sufficient body mass. This is because a giant pacific octopus will only ever go through one sexual event in a lifetime. After laying eggs within their den, males will fertilize. The female octopi will then brood over these eggs for 6 months, refusing to leave the den for any purpose, eventually dying of starvation, just as the eggs hatch. Eggs are cared for, by having the mother keep them well aerated with cool water from her siphon, and she'll clean them to ensure algae or parasites wont prey on the eggs. Males will also die after reproduction, although they will do this in their own dens. After hatching, the eggs grow quickly, reaching adult sizes within a year. Thus, continuing the cycle.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!

[tmasclexiegrey]

⚠️ !!! YAOI ALERT !!! ⚠️

my socials ⬇️

twitter, yume twitter, pinterest, strawpage

OFFICIAL FLEEBISH TUMBLR INTRO

he/him neurodivergent queer trans guy

lets go cool stuff i like

greys, skz, saw, twd, nana, tby, otters

i am autistic

can you tell?

fanart of me by road4movie

im new to how tumblr works plz bekind2me 😓😓😓😓😓😓😓😓😓

my yumeship info !!!

🩺 Alex Karev, Lexie Grey (familial, sharing), Mark Sloan, Jackson Avery, Andrew Deluca (greys anatomy, nonsharing)

🍔 Bob Belcher, Linda Belcher, Jimmy Pesto, Calvin Fischoeder (bobs burgers, nonsharing)

🐎 James Cloudmill/Jasper Jet (star stable, nonsharing)

🐟 Sebastian Solace, p.AI.nter, Imaginary Friend (pressure, sharing)

might add yume strawpages soon 🤫

but that's it for now! ⟳ & ♡ appreciated!

[elytra404]

more yùngì bug au lore? yes (:

(btw for anyone who doesn't know me, hi. i hate the cannon kwami swap names and therefore no Ɛ> they will not be named mister bug and ladynoire. their lordbug and māo noire) (yes this is important)

(also remember, refleckdoll, aka the first kwami swap, happened in early season 3. luka, max, kim, and kagami all get their miraculous later that season but havent yet. so we just have the big 5, rena, carapace, queen bee, and ofc ladynoir!)

ok there's your cannon recap (:

Refleckdoll happens as normal, until transformation time comes.

Marinette, who is finally confident in her heroine position, transforms. Plagg has never been more excited to have a holder, he adores Adrien and will be very annoyed if he doesn't get him back, but Marinette with his abilities is exhilaration.

Marinette becomes Māo Noire, with a long braid for a tail, green ribbons, bangs, paw pad inspired gloves, lace, and green boots. The cat ears blend in with her hair other than the ribbons.

And for the first time, Marinette feels entirely comfortable in her suit. Māo is entirely her style, as if she designed it herself. If it were possible to take off any part of it her classic signature would probably be embroidered on it. And with Reflekta being the one their fighting it feels even more poetic.

The fight goes by, Lordbug isn't exactly good at using the yoyo yet (If it weren't for the miraculous cure he'd probably have a concussion.), but they win as they always do.

The next time an akuma alert goes out, Marinette transforms into Ladybug! Accept... not?

Now she's different. She's experienced the comfort she can have. So in comes Yùngì Bug! She doesn't really have time to process, Paris is under attack and all. But once Mr Pigeon is defeated (again.), you bet Alya has a camera and more questions that she's ever had before.

What happened to the old Ladybug? Is she okay? What's your name.

Yùngì Bug confirms that she is, infact, still Ladybug. But the name doesn't quite feel the same. So she introduces herself.

"Yùngì Bug, I'm still me and I'm still gonna protect you. This is just.. my true form I suppose."

The Ladyblog doesn't change. It's still the Ladybug miraculous, and Ladyblog remains a wonderful pun. But the news spreads like wild fire. (Even if YB's wording does make her sound a bit like an eldritch being and make some theories and rumors spread.)

Chat Noir and Carapace are in their true forms. They had no worries when transforming, they fit perfectly with their miracles. (I hate the plural of miraculous being miraculouses so the plural is miracles Ɛ>.)

Queen Bee isn't Chloe's true form, in fact she isn't fit for the bee miraculous very well at all. With this realization, comes Chloe's reform. She realizes she can't fit in the box she wishes for, and begins to break out. Despite still being a bit harsh and judgmental (she will always tell you what she really thinks even when it's not exactly situationally appropriate), she gets better.

As they discover when Time Tagger comes around, Chloe is a much better fit for the miraculous of evolution, especially after her own evolution. Satin Lapine, with pink ears that flop down at the edges, blue tips on her long, low ponytail, and a cape skirt, inspired by blue otter bunny patterns with pink and yellow accents.

Alya however, despite being a perfect fit for the fox, has lost her true form. All her years of dreaming of being a superhero have warped it so that her truest form is lost in the jumble. She might be able to find it one day, but that's many birthdays away. So, with this realization, the name Rena Rouge stays, but her looks change.

There is no consistent Rena anymore. Her looks change with each transformation. One day her hair is straight and her gloves are fingerless. The next her hair is fluffed and long, forming a tail at the end. Then her hair is in braids and her shoes become converse. It's like a snow flake, she is never the same one day to another. It's all an illusion, the fox always is. For now, this fluctuation is her truest form.

And yes, a lot of other miracles will be switched around. Most importantly right now is Meil Bee.

Meil Bee, has curly blonde long pigtails with black and orange braids intermixed. Her suit has a fluffy collar, and is inspired by a tawny mining bee. She has sneakers and incredibly fast wings. The miraculous of action, one of the top miracles, finds its place with Mylene Haprèle!

I have plans for who gets all the other miraculous now that the bee, rabbit, and mouse have gotten shifted. But for now, welcome to the team Meil Bee and Satin Lapine!

[riverclaw]

New oc alert!!! *knocks on your door* Hello. Uh. Free Cow Inspections.

He/him. He's an alien otter. Green fur with light blue markings. Purple-black hair. He bleeds purple colored blood. He's got a laser gun and a space ship. I haven't figured out a name for him yet!!!!

[thepeanutbutterwizard]

Half Sibling AU

What is Luz and Hunter's relationship in this AU?

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKKKK THIS IS A GOOD ONE

I'm gonna put most of this answer under a read more, since this is all stuff I'm going to be keeping tightly under wraps for a few chapters in DoaF, but Luz and Hunter's entire thing is something I'm too excited about to not ramble about it

So the short story is that Luz and Hunter's relationship goes-

Mortal Enemies but in a grade-schoolers-on-the-playground way except the adults are giving them weapons -> Anything that That Idiot can figure out, I can figure out something even better with my way better magic! -> We helped each other not die in a drastic situation, but that doesn't make us friends...right? we cant be friends, we're Mortal Enemies -> Secret Friends, in more ways than one, but publicly they're Mortal Enemies. fistfighting is a legitimate love language -> overprotective and overly traumatized Siblings

Doaf is taking place during the Secret Friends part

The longer story goes more like this-

When Luz gets her first bounty at 9, it alerts Belos to her presence on the Isles in the present. He does whatever he does in cannon to figure out that Luzura the Crab Maiden was actually Eda the Owl Lady's own daughter! He found it a bit ironic, that the most annoying thorn in his side he'd ever had to deal with was the mother of the person who helped him meet the Collector.

Knowing he had to ensure that Luz completed the time loop, he decides to make Hunter his newest Golden Guard a few years earlier than he had planned. Belos had been considering accelerating the Grimwalkers training, but with the Luzura development he decides it's worth the risk. Besides, the boy seems smart enough, he'll learn on the job.

((Lilith thought the new Golden Guard was a short demon until she heard his voice))

Belos gives the Golden Guard a special assignment, one quite similar to Lilith's. He is tasked with observing a new, dangerous up-and-coming criminal, 'the Owlet', and learning as much as he can about her. He claims that he feels the Owlet shows great magical promise, and could be a valuable asset to the Empire if she could be convinced to turn away from her mothers wild ways and join a coven.

((It took all of Lilith's self control to keep a straight face when Belos said that. She had only met Luz maybe two dozen times over the last few years, but she knew the girls love for and loyalty to Edalyn was unshakable))

Hunter was absolutely thrilled to get his staff, and his assignment. He took to his task with all the might his eleven-year-old body could muster, and set off for Bonesborough to track her down

He is very disappointed when he finds her playing in the woods near town. This little kid was some kind of new big bad criminal? She was wandering around the woods, talking to herself and swinging a stick around, Titans sake she was wearing otter jammies!

Hunter figured it would be easier to just catch her then and there, so Uncle could just show Owlet herself that he was a good person, and that wild magic was bad, and then he could give Hunter an assignment fitting the Golden Guard.

Luz bit him.

It left a scar.

Most of the teeth marks fade over the years, but the ones from her primary fangs never leave his arm.

From that first meeting, a rivalry was born! Any time the Owlet and the Golden Guard ran into each other after that, they would pretty much try to kill each other. That turned into more of a proper rivalry as they grew older.

Owlet would create a new potion, Golden Guard would learn a new spell with his staff to counter it. Golden Guard would use some new cool parkour move, Owlet would stay up late training to try and keep up with the older boy.

Until an incident on the Knee, when Hunter is 13 and Luz is 11.

Luz and Eda had been collecting ingredients for potions, Hunter is up there on assignment with a squad of guards. The two groups run into each other, and of course a fight breaks out. Owlet and Golden Guard get separated from the rest.

They run into and upset some kind of demon with storm magic, who joins their fight, and Luz ends up pushing Hunter out of the way of a blow that could have killed him. The demon kicks up a storm, and Hunter, injured, tired, horrified, and confused, grabs an injured Luz and manages to get the both of them into a very small cave to wait out the storm.

The two kids work together to treat each others injuries, and after learning that neither of them have magic, they start to bond. It takes hours for the storm to pass, and when it does Owlet and Golden Guard part ways, find their respective camping parties, and expect things to be the same as they were before.

But the next time they wind up chasing each other across the Night Market and out into the woods, far from other people, their fighting kinda just...stops. The both of them had wondered about how the other kid was healing up, and after a few awkward questions they hear the Owl Lady searching for them.

Owlet runs to her instead of calling for her.

Hunter doesn't give chase.

Next time they're alone, they talk more.

Even more the next time.

And eventually they become genuine friends.

I'm debating having Luz give Hunter a secret Penstagram scroll a bit earlier than he gets the one from Darius in cannon, so that might be a thing but I'm undecided.

They're still really competitive, and sometimes they'll spend their secret hang-out sessions sparring for fun.

Things are kind of...awkward tho.

Bc of the whole, y'know, wanted criminal and high ranking law enforcement officer thing.

They try not to talk about...that. There are a lot of things they try not to talk about.

And by the end of the story, they're siblings through and through.

[carryonsimoncarryonbaz]

Getting to Know Me (and You)

Thanks for the tags, @bazzybelle and @aristocratic-otter. I'm weeks behind on checking tumblr.

1. 3 ships I really like right now: I have had numerous ships I've appreciated or written about over the years. These are three that are top of mind right now.

Maedhros/Fingon: my earliest ship. From Tolkien's Silmarillion. Inspired my deep dive into Tolkien fanfic and the inspiration for the longest fic I've ever written in any fandom.

SnowBaz: Indelible characters who have found a permanent home in my heart. They cross my mind frequently and I always hope they are doing well and finding happiness.

Oliver/Luc: from Alexis Hall's Boyfriend Material/Husband Material books.

2. First ever ship: Maedhros/Fingon.

3. Last song: my daylist on Spotify today was titled "Mountain Music Modern Folk Tuesday Morning.” Last song from that was Hello My Old Heart by The Oh Hellos.

4. Last movie: Wow. It's been a long while since I've watched a movie. Maybe Dune?

5. Currently reading: Just finished the audiobook of Alexis Hall's 10 Things That Never Happened and it's SPLENDID! (new ship alert!!! Jonathan and Sam= JAM)

6. Currently watching: B. Dylan Hollis cooking video on TikTok.

7. Currently eating: Nothing.

8. Currently craving: Pumpkin bars.

I'm not sure if there were tagging rules for this, but I'd love to hear from @giishu @stardustasincocaine @penpanoply @letraspal @kidovna @bookish-bogwitch @fight-surrender @artsyunderstudy

#Tag game#getting to know you

[otter-creek-stables]

[reupload - original date 24/may/2024]

❖ Another New Face!

Today we welcome another new horse to Otter Creek Stables.

OCS Too Sweet, aka Lola.

Lola is an ex-broodmare from Stall Leeuwenberg, the Ranch that Sandra works at and Florian worked at previously. Shes 14 years and recently got released from the breeding program as her lineage produced 3 well bred studs at this point and they are going into a new Generation.

Shes never really been under saddle, but shes good with groundwork and the last year they prepared her to be well handled and accepting of tack. I fell in love with her when I saw her two weeks ago and just had to buy her. She definitely has the will and power to go into a new direction, shes very alert and very sweet and soft. Potentially I want her to go into my riding school, but I first need to see how shes going to do under saddle and in training.

Until then I will not put pressure onto her. I respect the many lives shes given and shes a super strong and lovely mare, that has another whole life infront of her now, wherever that may lead us together!

Lola has also been bought for OCS to hopefully help me with another plan. With her broodmare experience I hope she can become a surrogate mare for another Mango foal. Seeing how the two foals turn out at the moment really makes me want just one more year of foals, but since Mango is out of the question for carrying herself, I have been looking for a helper and we will see if it works out.

[writingbolt]

Two Men At a Lake

A Story About Otters

Chapter 4: No, we're not doing that

Continued from here. Chapter 1 is here.

Two furry men in the forest, sleeping, dreaming, being woken up by the earth rumbling and then shaking. Walls trembling and the air filling with the squeaking and creaking of the wood. For a moment that seemed like eternity, they held each other close, not entirely convinced the simple construction around them would prevail. But then it was over, and they fell back into an uneasy sleep.

When David finally opened his eyes again, alerted by more rumbling of the ground next to him, he had six of them staring back at him. Three bald, perfectly smooth heads that were covered in thin brown fur and sticking out from the soil in front of him. They seemed to be connected with each other, forming a triangle of sorts, and opened their mouths simultaneously:

„You're the otters that needed help last night, yes?“

David just stared back, which didn't deter the group of heads.

„Pardon the rude awakening, but you're in our house. We will let you stay here, but you have to help us. Our child was abducted by a metallic beast this morning during the earthquake, whisked away to the peak of the tallest mountain here. And we think we saw your daughter running after them, too.“

David opened his mouth and closed it again. He still didn't know what to say.

„Please, we need your help. We must go.“ the moleheads continued and then disappeared into the ground again.

The ensuing silence was finally broken by Matt laughing.

„Guess neither of us has to worry about never having gone to art school now, huh?“ He gently poked David's sides. „The message boulder will be spared of our attempts at drawing now.“

The grin on Matt's face was both slightly unnerving and oddly comforting at the same time, David thought as he was still laying on the makeshift bed. His man was already up and ready.

„Come on, get up. We got some rescuing to do!“ Matt exclaimed, and David still wondered what had become of their vacation, but then he thought of Rose, and he reluctantly left the embrace of the surprisingly comfortable dry moss and grass behind.

But it didn't want to let him go. Much of it stuck all over his body. And, he quickly realized, also Matt's.

„Man, look at yourself.“ David told him. „You can't possibly show yourself to everyone like that. Got to take care of your ... fur“ The last word almost didn't want to leave his mouth.

--“Do you want to help me with that?“ Matt grinned.

David just groaned and picked off the straw and other plant matter off his good friend. He didn't want to admit he actually enjoyed it, because Matt didn't need more encouragement to act like a child. Once done, he also rid himself off what still clung to him. Well, except for the worries, those were still there, of course.

It was getting obvious that he needed a comb. Where could an otter get a comb here... He had to hope there was some kind of market here, or someone to borrow one from at least.

He took his backpack, stepped outside and felt the sun blinding him. Was it always that bright? Or maybe it was all giving him a headache. It didn't matter, he had to move on. There wasn't any time to lose, but where even was this mountain they were both supposed to go to? Tallest mountain wasn't exactly specific.

„A new day, a new rescue! Otter Know, where to go!“

As if on cue, the soil right in front of him rumbled and the trio emerged again.

- „To Mt. Steel! Please, we need your help! Goodbye!“ And with that, the moleheads disappeared again.

„Okay, now just to find out where that mountain is...“ David muttered.

They would have to ask someone at the village. It was already bustling with activity, with many beastpeople engaging in repair work after the earthquake. Lizardmen (or perhaps lizardwomen) reminiscent of chameleons, one in green, one in purple, were repairing a market stall. A peculiar looking plant was walking by, using roots as legs and two large leaves as arms, with two eyes on a pitcher, reminiscent of certain carnivorous plants, scrutinizing the wares.

Further on, near the bonfire site, was a man entirely in green and light blue wearing a gigantic lilypad with a notch in it as a hat lazing on a mossy stone and taking in the sunlight. Behind the site, in front of the stage to the left, were two other stalls, showing signs of recent repair. One manned by a catman in beige clothing with whiskers, triangular ears and a red gem on the forehead, and the other by a large rabbitwoman, her body, except for a white belly garishly pink, appeared to be unusually bean-shaped. It wasn't clear to David what they were offering.

Two more stalls were to the right, one down a side path staffed by a veritable brown bipedal dinosaur mother carrying a child in her pouch, and one further away in front of the stage that belonged to a very round man covered entirely in green crouching in front of a house that seemed to be the site of martial arts teaching.

There was unfortunately no sign of any tourist bureau or of the trihead mole. So they would have to ask the beasts one by one if they knew anything. It felt increasingly wrong to call them demons, especially since none of them were as hostile as the ones in the forest or the cave they had been to.

Matt approached the lizardpeople's market stall and David followed right behind. It had an impressive amount of apples, berries, seeds, scarves, and various colorful gemstones on display.

„Hello“ the green lizard greeted them with a sing-song, before looking at them more closely and saying. „Oh, you're the two new people here“ in a much flatter voice.

„The Team Otter Know... about us: we are a rescue team!“ Matt responded.

- „But last night you seemed to need a rescue yourself!“ the lizards laughed.

„We were a rescue team in need of a rescue, but now we are a rescue team on the way to a rescue!“

- „You decided to do the rescue yourself?“ the green one asked.

„Yes!“

- „Very well.“ the lizard said as he broke eye contact with Matt. „Good luck with that and have a nice day!“ the purple one next to him added. To David it seemed like annoyance barely cloaked in politeness.

„Thanks! We had plenty of luck on our past missions already, but this one might be much more difficult, so it's appreciated“ Matt said, and David wasn't sure if it was obliviousness or if Matt simply chose to ignore the cue.

- „Wait, really?“ both lizards exclaimed, eyes wide open.

„Yeah, we have been very successful already!“ Matt boasted. „We rescued a caterpillar de-, I mean child and, uhh, brought back joy to two inhabitants of this power station.“

David realized they maybe should have asked for their names at the time.

- „Ohhh, our metallic neighbors? In that case I apologize for my glibness and am honored to be in the presence of a committed rescue team.“ the green one said. „Please do take a look at our wares.“

Matt picked up two scarves, in red and ocher, passing the latter to David. „Try this one!“ Putting them on, they both immediately felt more like heroes ready to take on the world. And David felt the colors suited them wonderfully, too.

- „Excellent choices. These are locally made and called Pecha and Persim. They can be infused with a certain juice and ethereal oil that will keep many poisonous insects away from you, or keep you alert in disorienting moments.“ The green lizard passed two small wooden bottles that upon opening smelled very, very strongly of pine in one case and peppermint in the other.

„Please also take a look at the special medical seeds we have available here.“ the purple one exclaimed, pointing to an assortment of large yellowish and golden seeds in front of him. „No rescue team should lack them on a quest, they can either make you or anyone else fall asleep, relieve pain or work as an antidote when poisoned.“

„But...“ He rummaged around in a crate below the stall and held up a few seeds that were of a distinctively darker shade and continued speaking in a hushed tone. „maybe you actually will find these the most interesting. If you give those to anyone standing in your way, their heads will start spinning and they won't be able to see what hit them. Just don't accidentally eat them yourself, especially since they also taste terrible. ... Don't ask me how I know that.“

David was amazed, but then began shifting nervously from one foot to the other. „These are all wonderful, but we have nothing to give to you in return.“

- „Don't worry“ began the green lizard. „In these days of disasters we are all more than grateful for any help. Even from strangers. Take what you need. And - “ he held up the box with gems David had noticed earlier but dared not asking about - „marvel at our collection of these most valuable and powerful stones we have gotten from hard-working people far and near!“

Those were the shiniest and most brightly colored pebbles and rocks David had ever seen, mesmerizing was the only way he could describe it at the time. Blue, black, orange, round, rectangular, shapeless. shiny, iridescent, matte... hey, wait a moment. David picked up a lackluster, jet black stone with rough edges and a completely irregular shape. It had a thread running through it, making it a pendant, which was a moment later hanging from his man's furry neck.

„A matte for Matt!“ David exclaimed with a wide grin.

- „Another excellent choice! That is an obsidian, a powerful stone forced from the fire deep inside Earth. It protects you from negative energy. Whatever that might be.“ the lizard said.

„Can we keep it?“ Matt asked.

- „Of course. And take two of these sleep seeds as well. Thanks for your visit!“

„Uhh, thanks“ Matt replied and silently put the seeds into his backpack.

- „We didn't even get to ask about where this Mt. Steel is...“ David muttered as they walked towards the center of the village square where the bonfire had been last night.

Matt muttered something unintelligible.

- “What?” David said, turning to him. “Don’t tell me we got stuck with a cursed amulet that the lizards were glad to get rid of because it takes away your ability to speak.”

Matt seemed to ponder the it for a bit with an exaggerated pose, looking at the sky with a paw resting at the chin. Then he shook his head, but still said nothing regardless.

- “Hey, you decided to let me do the talking now or what?”

Smug silence.

- “Fine... Watch.”

David approached the Lilypad Hat Man, still taking in the sun on some flat rock.

- “Hey Mr. Lilypad Hat Man. I don’t mean to disrupt your early... late morning sunbathing session, but could you tell us someone who is familiar with the mountains here.” he said.

“It’s afternoon already, Mr. Shorts Guy. Are they as comfy and easy to wear as I heard? And you should probably head over to ... Mr. Blues. He’s got all the clues. I just hang around here, whereas he meditates under the waterfall every day or something.”

- “Oh. ...” An awkward moment later David collected himself and asked: “Where... where is that waterfall?

“Turn around and follow your nose until you fall into the water. There it is.”

- “Ah, thanks...”

After a few steps towards this wet destination, Matt finally made some sounds again. Specifically, he broke out into a giggle. He did a poor job containing it, if he even tried at all, soon it was laughter that was probably was audible across the entire village.

David at first felt ashamed, but the look on Matt’s face convinced him otherwise. Life with Matt had taught him to smile at things more, and he was grateful for that.

The two of them walked down a small path past the market stall of the lizards on the left and the catman on the right. The catman didn't have any wares, he was just standing at a seemingly empty stall with a polite smile.

Soon the sounds of the village were drowned out by the gushing of a waterfall in a river that was flowing past the village. A few flat stones in it led to the center of the river where the outlines of a figure were vaguely visible in midst of all the falling water.

„Mr. Blues, is it?“ David called out.

The burbling of the river fall was the only answer.

„Mr. Blues!“

...

„MR. BLUES!“

Matt began uncontrollably giggling again. When he saw the look on David's confused face, eyebrows furrowed and mouth a pout, it turned into laughter so loud it seemed to finally pierce through the liquid curtain of the man whose knowledge they sought.

„LAUGHTER IS THE BEST APPROACH TO ALL THINGS.“ he shouted, to be heard even with all the water still falling around him.„WHAT DO YOU SEEK?“

Matt stepped forward and shouted, as loudly as he could:

„DIRECTIONS TO MT. STEEL“

- „GO BACK THE WAY YOU CAME. TURN RIGHT. AT THUNDERWAVE CAVE, TURN RIGHT AGAIN. YOU WILL SEE IT IN FRONT OF YOU.“

„THANK YOU“ Matt said, and turned to David. „See how easy that was?“

- „MAY LAUGHTER GUIDE YOU ALL THE WAY“

After a few steps back, David exclaimed: „Hey, we still need a comb!“

Matt looked at him and said: „Really?“

„Maybe we can ask around if someone has a spare one for you to use...“ David said.

- „No, we are not doing that. We need to get going.“ Matt looked at the sky. „It's late enough in the day we probably won't make it to the mountain before it gets dark, especially if we need to go back to the cave first. We'll need to go to our camp first and take our sleeping bags. It's going to be a long trip.“

[sanvirtheobserver]

Taking Flight, Chapter 66: No Mercy

Tari soars across the overcast sky as she heads to her next lead. The city below was still deathly quiet, though that's understandable given the situation at hand. In the distance she could see the pillar of smoke still rising from the remnants of the MTL Building as she passed. The thought of all those machines....... all those people............

Clench: Hey. Um............. wanna hear a joke? What do you call a duck that cheats on another duck?............ FOWL PLAY. Eh?............. Oh, here's a good one. What happens when a beaver, a duck, and an otter share a room?............ A PLATYPUS! Get it!? Because of the different parts and...... I would've put a scorpion in there because of the barbs but.........um........ Knock knock?

While Tari did appreciate the thought, she was not in the mood for jokes right now. Her melancholy gaze remained focused on the city below as she continued her search.

Clench: Right........... Welp! You know where to find me.

She makes her descent towards the city below. Her search has finally led her to the familiar sight of Mercy Hospital. She lands at the front doors and gives them a push as she enters into the waiting room, now lying in ruins with old decaying bodies in full riot gear scattered across the room. Some were ripped apart, while others look almost burned. It doesn't take long for her to guess what happened here, but she puts that aside as she hops over the desk and starts searching through files for clues. Her research recounts several influxes of patients over the course of three months. It's hear where she finds Zoey's file. The records say she fell into a coma shortly after her arrival, and three days later she was pronounced dead citing severe poisoning and gradual organ failure as her cause of death. There was also a note signed by Dr. Alphonso Balthazar.

Balthazar: This was the fifth death this week. Blood tests came back with extremely high doses of toxic compounds in her system. We've yet to locate the cause of all these cases.

She heads into the main office and boots up the first computer she could find. A thorough search through the files corroborates Balthazar's note. Hundreds of patients were diagnosed with similar symptoms, and autopsies revealed similar causes of death. Further searching also reveals news articles relating to a large scale investigation, revealing the presence of those same compounds in the city's water supply. The total death toll reached around 13,000 casualties over the course of two months, and that was all BEFORE the first reports of machine attacks about a week ago.

Clench: Christ. The whole city was calling in sick.

She takes out a USB and plugs it into the computer to collect every piece of data she could find. Once she's done, she pockets the USB and was about to take her leave when she heard something familiar from out in the waiting room........... the sound of crying. She peeks her head out the door. Standing amidst the debris was a robed visage pacing around, their claws raised up to cover their face. It was the Ghoul. Tari's initial instinct was to use her railgun, but it jammed up mid transformation due to Clench's intervention.

Clench: What are you doing!?

Tari: If that thing sees us it'll alert another horde.

Clench: And firing a f***ing railgun won't?

He had a point. Such a loud bang in such a confined space will be like ringing a dinner bell. She'll need to be as discreet as possible if she wants to pull this off. The railgun retracts and a Blinkblade appears in her hand. A swift decapitation should do the trick. She makes sure the Ghoul is turned away from her before slinking out from behind the desk. She closes in on her target with her blade at the ready, praying to every God that's listening for it to not turn around. As she makes her final approach.....

BANG!

A thunderous blast rings out. Tari stumbles back as a metal slug the size of a baseball rips through the Ghoul's chest. It's eyes go dark before it even hits the ground. Tari sat beside herself for a moment as she wondered what the hell just happened, and she looks out to see an absolute monolith of a figure standing out in the field. He was armored from head to toe in a suit of obsidian black armor, wreathed in deep crimson robes and various golden trinkets. The thing in his hand had the comparative weight and heft to a four barreled howitzer cannon, yet he wielded it like a snub nosed revolver. He lowered his gun, and a single bright orange eye peered from beneath his helmet, now locked on to Tari. The two stared each other down for a moment until the clattering of metal footsteps in the distance drew their attention. Just as Clench said, a gunshot that loud would've certainly attracted company. The massive figure holsters his gun and reaches over his back to draw a monolithic runescribed blade before charging the oncoming horde of machines. Tari watches as he begins cutting down machines left and right with lethal speed and graceful brutality.

Tari: Woah........

A bellowing roar echoes from the other side of the street, and a massive piece of asphalt is sent flying through the fog. The figure dodges with ease and allows it to carve its path through the hoard as it lands. A thunderous roar echoes out as a large brute-like machine charges towards him. The figure stood unfazed and the two charged for each other. The resulting brawl is thunderously brutal with both titans exchanging blow after blow. A flare of light erupts from the hallway behind them. Out from the choking flames arose a walking furnace of a machine lugging a canister on its back. It's arm terminated into a clawed aperture surrounding a smoking nozzle, and a bellow if gas erupts from behind its headplate. It lets out a growl as it aims the nozzle towards her and fires a spray of burning sparks. She brings up a barrier in time to shield herself from the flames as they cascade across the waiting room, hot enough to melt through solid stone and steel. Tari flings the barrier towards the Burner, shattering on impact. As it staggers, she eyes the hose feeding from the tank and readies her Blinkblade.

Tari: Just one cut should-

Just then she suddenly feels something clasp around her right arm. She looks to see a mechanical grappling claw leading back to a Machine with a spool of cable on its back. The spool turns and she drops the Blinkblade as she is slowly reeled in. The Burner also recovers and gets ready to fire another Thermite volley. She brings up another barrier to deflect the stream of burning sparks, along with two more for her feet to find purchase against the Grappler reeling her in.

Clench: Tari!? If you're gonna do something, it's now or never!

Back with the stranger and the Brute, the man seems to be having some trouble getting through the Brute's heavy armor. Even the joints are proving too thick for a clean cut. That's when he turns to see Tari struggling against the two machines, taking notice of the Burner as it recharges for another volley. The Brute rears back for another hook, but the figure quickly dodges, grabs a nearby trash can, and swiftly Ram's it atop the Brute's head before crushing it for a tighter fit. With the Brute now preoccupied, the figure rushes into the building at a blistering pace. The force of his passing knocks the grappler to the ground, giving Tari a chance to free herself from its grasp. She looks over to see the Burner being seized by the throat.

???????: You mind if I borrow this?

His words had a calm authority carried by a Gaelic accent. Tari notices the frantic roars in the back getting louder as the Brute rips the crumpled trash can off its head. The Grappler has also respooled its claw and takes aim. That gives her an idea.

Tari: By all means.

She zips towards the Grappler as the man charged towards the Brute. The Grappler fires its claw and Tari brings out her Mace. The claw found its perch on the Mace's head and began to reel in, but the force of the Mace proves too strong as the spool is ripped from its back. Tari glides around the Brute with the cable, going round and round as the Brute gets tangled. She takes a stop and gives the cable a good yank to tighten the snare. The figure then rips the gasket off the Burner's tank like the pin on a hand grenade. He then hurls the Burner towards the Brute before taking out his hand cannon. Tari strafes away to get clear. Just as the Brute begins to break free, the figure fires a slug straight through the Burner's chassis and into the tank on its back. In an instant, the Brute is consumed in a cloud of smoldering liquid thermite. The immense heat begins soften and warp the plating on its chassis. It raises a fist towards Tari, but her Glaive easily carves through the red hot steel as the arm is split and severed down the middle. The armor was now as soft as fresh clay, allowing the stranger's titanic blade to crack through the armor. The blade bites into the brittle matrix within as the Brute is cleaved in two. A bright purple flare erupts from its severed plate before it collapses to the ground dead. The smelted remains of the Burner's frame can still be seen within the twisted plating. Tari noticed the Grappler was still crawling towards them. It's arm was gone and it's back was ripped agape, exposing it's internal frame. Still it lashed out pitifully at the two, swiping it's remaining arm around as if it'll do any damage. Tari's Glaive swiftly pierced it's chest and cleaved straight through it's core. The teal light of its eyes flickered out as it fell off the Glaive and into a puddle of its own ferrofluid. She looks back to the towering figure as he cleans off his sword.

Tari: Thanks for the assist.

???????: No problem.

He hauls the sword onto his back and prepares to take his leave.

Tari: I'm Tari, by the way.

She offers a cordial handshake. The man is careful not to crush her hand.

???????: Polemos. Now if you excuse me, I still have some work to do.

Polemos gives a parting nod before getting on his way. Tari spreads her wings and takes to the air, sparing one last glance towards the towering warrior as the two take their leave.

Clench: Nice guy.

Over in the Nexus, signs of life are finally found in the Tides Hotel. The main entrance lies behind a makeshift barricade, and the entire bottom floor has become a storehouse for excess supplies. The chauffeur ushers Martha and Melony onto the elevator. Melony seems lost for a moment.

Melony: Miss Mildenhall. If I may ask........ What are we doing here?

Martha: Vale told me things were starting to heat up, so I'm calling in a little favor from a friend of mine.

The elevator reaches the top floor, opening to the view of a luxurious Penthouse. Two black masked mercenaries stand guard at the front door, and one takes notice of the two.

Merc 1: COME GET SOME YOU...... Oh. Hello, Ma'am.

Martha: Hello darling. Is Theodore home?

The second merc knocks the door, and out comes a familiarly jolly fellow.

Potman: Ah, Miss Mildenhall! Just the lady I wanted to see.

[k-lackey]

Personally, I think I (and all politics/ polisci majors) should be sponsored by otter box the phone case brand until this horrific administration is out of office. Since inauguration day, there has literally not been a single day where i have not literally slammed down or flung my phone bc i just was so fucking done with the latest news alert. Otterbox case is the only thing between my phone and shattering into a million pieces

[auntie-doom]

I checked "time" but it's more the ADHD difficulty with navigating complexity. I love buying from authors. I love supporting authors as much as possible with every purchase. But yes, there's something making it difficult.

It's easy to click @thebibliosphere 's link and buy her books because I follow her and am already in her patreon. I know I like her work and I am going to buy it the instsnt it is available.

It's been slightly more difficult to find and buy @agirlandherfed 's additional works, when they were being distributed through multiple sources. But now they're all in Otter's store, I think, so I think I have managed to find and buy them all (and buy each new work as it's announced). Multiple sites are... multiple opportunities to fail.

(I will not get into trying to find all the scattered works of John Allison, who was kind enough to send me a 2016 Wayback Machine link to most of his back catalogue)

It was more difficult to get into @derinthescarletpescatarian 's story (even free!) because I didn't follow them and didn't hear about it as it was being originally written, only through reblogs, and it took a lot of funny threads about it to click on it. I've now joined their patreon and bought everything I can find to buy, but it wasn't *easy*, do you feel me?

Mostly, I'm saying:

it's pretty easy to find new books from authors I already know I like, you're all trying to make this easy, but

with writing on individual sites, it's somewhat difficult to find and acquire entirely new author's works.

Every so often one of the authors I follow will reblog a list of authors on tumblr with convenient links attached, and I usually try to pick a couple to explore. But geez. A bookstore or book site, prominently placed and convenient, is such an easier place to regularly go and browse for NEW material.

I think this is the primary stumbling stone, the primary difficulty that discourages me from buying directly from authors. In order to find out if I am going to like them, I have to leave my current activity[+++], know to go somewhere specific[+++] and look at the sales blurb book info, maybe even buy a whole book first[+++]. They might have previews in a separate blog[+++], but it's not right there in the store and I would have to search it out[+++]. Sometimes I can check them out from the library[+++] but then I have to remember to go BACK to buy them[+++] [+++] [+++].

[+++] ADHD Additional Steps Alert! Every ADHD Additional Step is a place to get overwhelmed and fail out of the purchase, depending on how much internal resources the day has already taken, especially when the whole point is to spend money, please make it easy to give you my money

I think this might point to some potential stumbling stone reduction methods! Things that would cut down the uncertainty and so on! I hope ❤️

I have a question for readers, but I have a super small following here so it's probably not the best sample size BUT

If you could get books directly from your favorite authors (so you don't have to worry about publishers gatekeeping out stories that you'd love and that they really want to write) in a way that also lets the author keep a way larger portion of their sales (so they can afford to keep writing without fearing for their livelihood), what, if anything, would discourage you from doing this and drive you to want to buy from big publishers/retailers instead?

[environmentindia]

Today's Environment News Alert

◆ The department is not leaving any stone unturned in protecting and popularising Kappatgudda forest. The department has now come out with a one-page calendar for the year 2024. It is a special calendar focusing on the wildlife of Kappatagudda.

◆ Bandipur Tiger Reserve (BTR) director Ramesh Kumar has recommended to the Chamarajanagar and Mysuru district administrations to ban all kinds of New Year celebrations around the tiger reserve. He has made the recommendation to keep the wild animals unaffected during the New Year celebrations at the homestays and resorts around the reserve.

◆ At least 25 people were hospitalised after they complained of uneasiness following an incident of ammonia gas lea at a fertiliser manufacturing unit in north Chennai's Ennore on Tuesday night.

◆ The Japan International Cooperation Agency's (JICA) Forestry Project will revive ‘bhojpatra’ in Himachal Pradesh in collaboration with the Himalayan Forest Research Institute to empower forest-fringe communities, particularly women, through sustainable livelihoods, government officials said on Wednesday.

◆ Two people were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the death of a female leopard after its head got entangled in a clutch wire fixed in the fencing of a private school at Theetukal near Ooty on December 21.

🌱🌏🌱