#not to mention i finally remade my personal tumblr & I need to make sure it's not shadowbanned from tags

[sonicchaoscontrol]

[Update time!]

Forgoing the bold text for now to go over some stuff. We’re four pages in, past the scheduled timeframe, so what’s next? And also, wow, I have no way to verify if all of those are real people blogs, but DANG. THANKS. LOVE THAT FOR ME. 2,000 is a LOT of goobers ahahaha ANYWAY updates below the break

-WHERE PAGES???

So once again, I can only draw so fast, and ‘recovery’ proceeds apace when it comes to revamping stuff. There will not be an update this Saturday for the simple fact that I’m behind on storyboarding & have nothing finished to show - that’s fine! I do need to figure out if we’re staying on the ‘only post on Saturdays’ rule, and only when there’s a finished page to share, though. Do I post in multi-page chunks? One by one? I don’t know what’s preferred around here, & I’m still working that one out. Send help.

-WHERE DISCORD???

It exists in a semi-functional state, but I don’t feel justified in opening up a public discord server for Sonic things when there’s so little content on this blog, right now. I’m not a trusted enough name yet, so let me at least get a bit further in before I open the floodgates (Unless people are literally just desperate to have a space to talk hedgehogs. I know this existed last time, but I want to make sure it’s the right call at the right time!)

-WHERE MOD???

Hi! I’ve been busy! And while I still have plenty of concept stuff and bonus content to fling at the dashboard, a lot of it pertains to stuff I can’t show yet because lmao spoilers. I’ve been a little distracted when it comes to getting work done on this due to an IRL job search + cleaning up digital spaces, but no, there’s no hiatus, I’m still goin’. We’ll get there when we get there!

That said, thank you for sticking around while I try my best to get things rolling again. Have a swell day!

[mcd-ms-rants]

I wrote the whole post and TUMBLR DECIDED TO DELETE THE WHOLE THING

anyways it’s finally here

take

STUFF I DIDNT LIKE ABOUT MYSTREET SEASON 4:

• ok but the animations here are great. actually tho they're so fluid and clear. Credits to whoever made them!!

• and now let’s do the real thing

• ok so first off this is where the actual plot starts. I know that some people were getting bored of the monotony of the slice of life episodes so they liked it. Again there’s nothing inherently wrong with having it but you have to remember that these characters most likely weren’t written to be in a plot and I say this because their personalities are funny and lighthearted. Their clearly meant for comedy. This also makes them redundant for plot since most of them a few characters barely have any development which is probably why like half the cast was dropped. im not sure how far back jess had planned the plot but needless to say most of the characters wouldn‘t be able to fit there. Travis, Katelyn, KC and the sk’s just dipped for the whole season and even when kc, Travis and Katelyn do show up in s5 their personalities really took a beating

• WHERE DID LAURANCE AND DANTE GO?? We never see them after s3. its probably because their personalities were too funny for plot but laurance was a shadow knight in mcd and since the whole of mys is so hyped up on the whole ‘mcd and mys are connected’ thing by all means he should’ve been there too

• it makes sense that since the lodge is jointly owned by the Ro’meaves and the Lycans, Garroth, Zane and Aaron- and by extension, Aphmau- would come along. it make sense that they would ask Lucinda for help- she’s a skilled witch and has been their friend since high school. theyre literally neighbors. it makes NO SENSE to being Kim- a girl whom they’ve barely ever interacted with and whom they barely know- to a place meant for close family to go to. Ok from a plot perspective yes Kim needed to be there but Aphmau logically doesnt know that yet.

• how does ghost/emmalyn even exist?? We’ve seen emmalyn and kenmur in s1 and they’re ok. not dead or anything. Yes I know that this is mcd emmalyn and she is directly referencing mcd Zane when she says that’s the only name she remembers from when she was alive but that raises two questions- first, how can both mcd and mys versions of her exist at the same time?? and second, what exactly happened between her and mcd zane?? It sounds like she either hates him way more than she loves kenmur (or she’d remember him too) that it’s the only name she remembers or its Stockholm Syndrome.

• I feel that since the plot demanded a ghost vessel thing that was the only reason Aphmau brought Kim. it’s pretty clear that Dante and laurance wouldn’t fit the role because of their personalities so she just remade an older character and changed her completely right down to her skin to fit the plot. her whole personality changes with it- look at her I mean she even becomes more open when she talks. Again this only happened because none of the existing characters could fill that role because IT WASNT MEANT TO HAVE PLOT

• no one likes you michi girl take the hint

• seeing liochant brings back meMoriEs

• what was that potion that lucinda made and which Garroth threw on Zane?? its clear that it cured him from the effects of the forever potion but the bigger question is WHY DONT THEY USE THIS IN S6?? Ok yes in s4 Aphmau gets freed by the power of love(TM) but that doesn’t mean you do that for everyone

• as someone who liked Laurance’s character I miss him :(

• ok there’s WAY TOO MANY PROBLEMS with Ein and his villain shtick. Ein is basically some obsessive werewolf yandere boy who has an unhealthy obsession with aphmau and hates Aaron. and the cherry on top is that Aphmau is his HALF SISTER. THATS INC*ST. That’s GROSS. What is it with Aphmau antagonists and not having a clear motive or backstory?? mcd Zane and Ein both suffer from this and it shows. there were definitely better motives to give him- he doesn’t have to be centered around Aphmau all the time!! And even if you don’t want to go to all the trouble of rewriting the plot you could at least make it so that Ein knows that he and Aphmau are related. Maybe he wants a perfect sister instead and he’s willing to go to any lengths to get her there. it would still be dark and serious but it would be SO MUCH BETTER than the current plotline. Also showing the contrast between his pdh and s4 self and then not giving any semblance of an explanation really makes it difficult to imagine where it all went wrong. yes Michael definitely had something to do with it but to what extent?? How much is Ein actually in control of?? Is he under the influence of a forever potion when he turns Zane, Lucinda and Aphmau to his side?? Is he still under its influence when he fights Aaron?? look I get that they can’t reveal everything but leaving out THIS MUCH and not even revealing it in s6 makes it very difficult to accurately nail Ein’s character.

• how is Aaron even revived?? is that Irene?? how is she here and what is she doing here?? Can we have answers pls. also it makes no sense that she saves Aaron TWICE- once in s4 and second in s6. How does death even work here if Irene can just swoop in and bring them back to life. i feel like none of the villains ever count as threats then because you know that a cryptic mysterious goddess who somehow looks just like your girlfriend will revive you.

• how did Aaron even survive?? No seriously how?? We know that there’s no service or wifi up there at the lodge so using their phones is out of the question. i don’t think Lucinda would be able to conjure up a whole medical team for Aaron. and they're on a MOUNTAIN. It takes precious time to get down from it. for context, even if they sent Garroth (since he’s the fastest) down to get help they’d have to wait for him to reach the village area at the base of the mountain, get a phone, call for help, wait for said help to arrive and get Aaron to a hospital. meanwhile Aaron is bleeding out from multiple gashes on his chest made at like point black range that are critical at best and fatal at worst. (his only saving grace is the snow he’s on which would help to numb the wound because its cold but he has like FIVE deep chest wounds and the snow isn’t even on his wounds.) Ya sorry I don’t see how he manages to survive.

• did I mention that I miss Laurance?? • Why is Aaron not at a hospital I don’t even see a ventilator or oxygen mask near him. Listen I’m not a medical expert but those gashes landed straight on his chest which means straight on his lungs and dangerously close to his heart. how is he alive. how is he not choking on blood right now. we know he’s bleeding out- I’m pretty sure one of the doctors even says “Mrs Lycan, we need to draw more blood for your son.” yes he’s bleeding out why is no one trying to idk stop the wound through pressure with a cloth or something?? (Note: it’s been a while since I’ve watched s4, so if I do get anything wrong thats why!!) also why are the werewolf doctors so chill about Aaron’s ultima eyes? like yes they’re doctors they could’ve been sworn to secrecy or maybe they work for the Lycans but Derek is shown to be really paranoid about anyone finding out about Aaron being the ultima. how does he know they won’t tell it to someone else??

k imma head out now-

thanks for reading!! <3 <3

[astranne]

announcemet to my tumblr account

hey guys

i have some things to say related to my account and i hope you‘ll read it. i will take a break from tumblr and i don’t know when i will be back. under the cut is explained why.

i started this account last summer in quarantine, more out of fun and quite inexperienced. i had no idea how to handle things, or what i should post and still gained some followers. later, i had a big break because i was moving places and needed time to finish my drafts. slowly, i started to love being on tumblr and posted more works of mine.

in december i remade my whole blog, spent hours linking and redoing my things and i loved to do it. and somehow i gained 121 followers whom i all appreciate.

but i always had the feeling that i did things wrong, i never really stick to only one fandom because my followers rarely like or reblog my work. most of them are just random accounts which interact with certain tags. it didn’t help that i saw regularly blogs with around 200 followers with followers who sent much more asks and questions. i would love to interact more with my followers, but when nobody of them sees my posts?

people mentioned that it‘s better to stick with one theme/fandom but i wanted to create a blog where i can post things i like and hopefully others too. not to mention it would be too boring for me just to post things about marvel as an example. now i’m thinking that this was a mistake, but i don’t have the guts to just delete a fandom in my creation list.

i had plans to create a new side blog, for my nsfw works but also with angst stuff. (probably with anime but i like the idea with marvel too) it‘s still only an idea so it won‘t happen for sure. not to mention that i‘m a person who doesn‘t like dark content, due personal reasons, but i don’t hate authors who write it. and i have the feeling that especially in the anime fandoms there is much dark content. but not everyone thinks like me and i know many blogs who are attacked because they don’t like dc and clearly state that they won’t interact with people who write this. this made my quite wary of creating a nsfw blog.

i’ve always wanted a blog that can be a save heaven for many and all fandoms, but it seems almost impossible now. i would have to choose one fandom and interact more with the fandom, which i never do. i never went too deep into fandoms because they always scared me as a younger person and now i just keep distance. 

due this reasons, and the fact that i just today saw two of blogs i follow and dearly love are practically showered with hate, i will take a break from tumblr. i also thought of deleting this account and go back to wattpad and maybe start something new, and i have to admit that i like this idea. or just a big break from social medias because i just can’t seem to enjoy it anymore. and i don’t want that. it breaks my heart when i see that people are able to hurt other people with being toxic and i fear that if my blog grows that it will happen to me too. 

i’m normally a confident person and can usually brush things like this just away. but recently, many things happened in my life, i found new friends/mutals and i just want to have a fresh start in my new home. my family is also going through a rough time and i want to be there for them. it makes my heart clench when I just think about disappointing my followers just because I don’t post things, but said followers never really interact with me- and this leaves a big amount of self-doubt. i still love all of you and i don’t want you to feel bad, this all just made me really think about everything. 

i still want to stay in contact with friends i made here on tumblr, also on discord, and i hope i’ll be. but i just recently started to connect with people here, and sometimes i feel just another follower of their big blog to them

i don’t want self-pity myself, sound like a whiny bitch or something like that. and i don’t want pity or attention from anyone else, i just wanted to explain properly why i’m going on a break and what will happen with this blog. 

i will probably still follow some of my favourite blogs and interact with them, but i won’t post things anymore here. maybe there will a reblog pop up, but that will be until i decide finally what happens with this blog.

many hugs and kisses, and a thank you <33

justhugefangirl

- p.s. if someone has questions related to anything i wrote here, you can always message me per dm’s

[gukseuphoria]

a response to fluffyjhs

Alternative title - Exposing Luna: A Receipt-Filled Thread

Disclaimer 1: I didn’t want to do this, I never wanted to make this a public affair but she has been harassing my friends and I’m DONE, officially. She’s been self-victimizing for months and obsessing and stalking my friend and I’m not having it. And now she’s “exposed” us on tumblr. Enough is enough.

Disclaimer 2: obviously, for my friends’ safety, I will be censoring the names and handles of those who do not want to be mentioned, but who still wanted their part of the story to be included. But y’all can come at me all you want.

I’ll put this under a cut to save peoples’ dashes, but PLEASE read it if you are in ANY WAY involved with Alice/fluffyjhs. Thank you.

So.

Our group of friends knew her as “Luna”, but she’s known currently as Alice, and her current blog handle is “fluffyjhs”. Just because I personally knew her during her time as Luna, I’m going to address her as so, although I doubt it is her real name.

Luna joined our network I think in mid-October 2018 along with a wave of other new members. At first, everything seemed relatively normal: she talked with other members and made friends. It should be known that one of the members of the network - Phi, @guksdimple - was taking time off of the chat for personal reasons.

The first thing that weirded me out was that Luna was acting as if she knew Phi personally. I didn’t think too much of it, I figured they were mutuals. I’m personally close with Phi and so I asked her if she wanted me to say hi to Luna for her. She then told me that she didn’t follow Luna before nor did she know her until now. (I know this sounds random but it will be important for later points.)

Minor issue. Amongst her other habits, it was weird, but not too off-putting.

(Other habits include: leaving the chat randomly only to ask to join back a little later; jumping into any conversation Hoseok-related in a retrospectively possessive manner; whining when one of her messages was ignored (in a very busy, approximately 30-person group chat).)

Luna didn’t start truly off-putting members until another member - whom I will call Chloe - came to the admins of the network (Phi, Bri @starjeon and I) to confess that she felt ignored and even looked down upon by Luna. Chloe and Luna had made contact before being members of the network and it was awkward to say the least. Chloe wanted to be friends with Luna but Luna was very cold with her. Regardless, Chloe tried to be friendly with Luna until it was obvious that it would not be reciprocated.

Here are some screenshots of conversation snippets between Chloe and Luna. While not directly rude, you can see the passive-aggressiveness present. (sorry for the weird format. Blame Chloe, dsibfsf)

(in case you can’t read it: “you really have a lot of love to show right? lol”)

(Chloe only sent 3 pictures and Luna asked her not to “spam”, despite sending MULTIPLE messages at a time in the past herself)

Until then, the admins had decided to simply keep an eye on the situation to avoid drama, as while it seemed passive-aggressive, there was no proof of her intentions, and Chloe agreed. However, this all changed when Chloe received an anon message.

I could go into a deep analysis as to how we concluded that this message was from Luna - typing habits, mostly (notice the over-excessive use of commas and run-on sentences) - but the biggest proof is possibly this message she sent before leaving the network chat, suspiciously around the same time the ask was sent.

Now I’m no detective, but these are the things Luna and this “anon” have in common: 1) the excessive comma use and run on sentences 2) calling Chloe an attention-seeker 3) the ask also parallels Luna’s earlier behaviour about her self-given superiority about being an ARMY for 4 years (”everyone saw the things you keep droping aren’t like everyone is new to the fandom”) - as opposed to Chloe’s 2 months and 4) commenting on Chloe’s eagerness and cheery attitude. 

After Luna left - of her own volition and out of annoyance towards Chloe - us network admins felt the need to inform the other members on the situation because of the ask. Following this, many members soft blocked/unfollowed Luna because of this.

Luna noticed this really quickly and immediately dm’d almost every. single. member. that unfollowed her. Here are just two for length’s sake, but many members received similar messages.

This, of course, sparked a minor panic within the network. It’s like Luna was waiting for the fallout to happen, keeping an eye on her mutual status with the members of the network. 

And so, as a mod of the network - and to spare Phi the drama considering her own issues - I decided to confront her on behalf of everyone. (As you can see, I’m doing the same thing now, lol.) I’ll include the most interesting parts of my own conversation with Luna. I’m known for being aggressive-aggressive when it comes to defending and protecting my friends, and it shows here. (The contact name is “(Unknown)” because Luna blocked me at the end of this conversation and eventually deleted this kkt id)

Following my conversation with her - which, as you can see, has NO MENTION of Chloe - Chloe receives messages from Luna. NO ONE has told Luna that Chloe was the one who received hate mail, or that Chloe was the one who felt harassed by her.

It’s with these messages that, in my point of view, Luna traps herself. She proves that she sent the ask and that she was PURPOSEFULLY being passive aggressive to Chloe. With that, she was officially banned from the network, and many members of the network blocked her as a precaution to avoid being harassed by her for “answers”.

It should be said that NONE of the members sent hate to, or bullied Luna. The closest thing that could be considered hate were MY messages confronting her and calling her out. She’s claiming we were bullying her but really we just unfollowed her. That’s the worst any other member had done.

Chloe was also in another network with Luna, and so Phi decided to contact the admin of this network simply to warn her that trouble might surface between those two and offered a few screenshots as context. (Chloe later left the other network because she couldn’t handle seeing Luna acting all friendly with others in there, in fear that she would use them to turn on her.)

With that, we thought that the situation was finished.

However, it wasn’t.

Luna continued to send messages to Phi overtime even AFTER she was kicked from the network. This is where my earlier passage about her weird “friendship” with Phi comes in.

Luna persistently tried to form a friendship with Phi despite Phi not really engaging with her. Phi, who was already going through personal issues at the time, did not wish to confront Luna and deal with her drama, and instead tried to slowly separate herself from her. When Luna came to her about having a panic attack, all Phi told her was to “breathe”. Not long after, Phi received these “anonymous” messages (note, once again, the comma usage).

Small occurrences continued like this, and Phi continued to ignore or give very little response to them. 

However, Phi changed her mind about her separation technique when Luna sent a vaguely aggressive message about Phi’s friendship choices - essentially, shading the fact that Phi was still friends with Chloe. 

I can’t find a screenshot of Phi’s response, but it went along the sentiment of “I’m friends with who I want, and if you can’t handle that, that’s your problem.” It was very dry and to the point, but in no way aggressive. She made her point: she wanted Luna to leave her alone. 

With that, Phi thought the situation would be over. However, Luna still tagged her in posts, sent her loving messages that Phi didn’t particularly respond to, and overall stalked her, essentially. 

The last straw was when Phi received an anon about not replying to mutuals. Due to, once again, typing habits (and her overall obsession with Phi replying to her), Phi guessed it might be Luna.

And so, after answering it, Phi decided to block that anon.

Not so surprisingly, Phi was right. It is around that time that Luna remade her blog, with the excuse that it was bugging out. 

Not too long after, she sent this to Phi:

It should be noted that “some things I saw” were, in fact, Phi interacting with Chloe on her blog and tagging her in posts. It should also be noted that Luna is thanking Phi for essentially just, telling her to breathe and calm down. That’s it. 

After that (which happened in November 2018), Luna did not do much, nor did she directly engage with Phi. Luna started going by Winter (and many other names). With that, we thought it was over. She moved blogs and was leaving us alone. She needed a fresh start, and we could respect that.

Of course, the admins - especially me - kept an eye on her to make sure she wouldn’t start drama or confront Chloe again (who was, and still is, emotionally distraught from Luna’s behaviour), but everything was fine. comfyhobi went through many changes and eventually became fluffyjhs, and she eventually took the name Alice. We still knew she was Luna, but nothing dramatic had happened. 

We did NOT engage with her. We did NOT send her hate. We did NOT make an expose post despite all she had already done. We let her live on her blog, and I simply kept an eye on her to make sure she wouldn’t name drop us and start drama on Tumblr.

We thought we were finally in the clear, that Luna had moved on and that Phi and Chloe were safe from her harassment. 

Until she came back a few weeks ago, in February 2019. She tried tagging Phi in posts again, acting like she didn’t know her and that she was a different person. And not long after, she tried applying to the network again under the name Alice and with her new blog.

One of the admins (Bri) confronted her, reminding her that she was banned from the network, but she completely denied being Luna. However, she still had the same typing habits, and we had made sure to track her well. 

Some things to note: 1) tinyjhs is one of Luna’s old URLs and did eventually “deactivate”. 2) Bri never mentioned that she deactivated, simply that she was blocked from the network, yet Luna mentioned it herself. 3) the “5 year hiatus” line is exactly the same as her comments when she originally joined the network, how she had not been active on the internet in over, I think 4 years? (Sadly, I don’t have receipts for that, I didn’t think it would ever be relevant, we’re talking about 4 months ago and I can’t find them, but it is an interesting parallel). 4) she’s awfully compassionate and insightful of the feelings of someone that we accused of causing drama.

Anyways, as you can see, she threw a temper tantrum and blocked the network blog from communicating with her. With that, we hoped it was finally done. She tried to get back in, and she failed. She knew that we knew she was Luna. 

But, this brings us to Luna’s open letter on her own blog a few days later.

The original post was made yesterday, WITHOUT our blogs’ URLs in the tags. After deliberating between admins, we decided not to engage and to let her have her drama, as no one was explicitly mentioned (yet), and we desperately wanted it to be over. We figured that maybe she would finally stop after maybe getting some attention from some of her mutuals, or that she would truly leave tumblr for good. (Clearly, we haven’t learned.) We didn’t want to give her the satisfaction of replying to her attack. 

So why, you might ask, am I replying to it now?

TWO THINGS.

First. Because of this ask Phi received.

Second. Because she finally mentioned us directly.

Luna finally mentioned us directly, publicly on Tumblr, a place where we never wanted to take this argument. All the aspects of her post PROVE that she is not “Jacqueline” as she claimed a few days ago, but VERY CLEARLY Luna. She did this in hopes of getting other people involved, to hate on us, to ruin Phi’s reputation especially, I assume. Most of all, she did this to get the attention from Phi she so desperately wanted, and the sympathy of others along the way.

We didn’t want to “expose” her. We didn’t want to make this drama bigger than it already is. But she chose to do that herself. 

And so that gives me, in my opinion, the justification to finally post this response and expose thread.

This has gone far enough. Luna is manipulative, toxic and downright psychotic. She’s obsessive, with the situation, with the network, and with Phi. She thinks she’s clever enough to move blogs and rename herself in order to sneak back into the network and do god knows what. And when we don’t give her what she wants, she brings up her many private mental illnesses, blaming us for her tw// suicidal thoughts and self harm, when we have done NOTHING but try to end this situation since November 2018. It’s February 2019, and she keeps coming back.

I have a theory that Luna desperately needs attention, which is why she kisses up to so many “big blogs” in order to try and befriend them and become a big blog herself. Many of her posts, as well as her attitude towards Phi - and towards Phi ONLY (the “biggest” blog of the network) out of all of the members of the network - seem to hint towards that. Her obsession with being rejected from the network and her neediness for every single of her messages to be acknowledged also indicate this.

REGARDLESS, while this is a post to inform the general public of the fandom (and to hopefully clear our names from her drama), it is also a callout post to Luna SPECIFICALLY.

Leave Phi alone. Leave ‘Chloe’ alone. Leave ALL OF US alone. We’re no longer tolerating your bat-shit crazy attempt at getting attention from us. We’re done.

EDIT: since Phi wrote her quick response while I was writing out this post - which you can find here - she has received many messages from people who have undergone similar treatment from Luna. Here’s a screenshot we’ve been permitted to use:

Our network is not alone. I now realize that maybe my fear of bringing this onto Tumblr has brought pain and drama to OTHER people that Luna has tried to “befriend” and eventually cause drama with. I’m sorry. I hope that you all can find relief in this thread, to know that you guys aren’t alone, too. 

[rufousnmacska]

Child of Peace 24 - Remade

Manorian adventures post EoS

full work on ao3

master list of chapters on tumblr

This one is pretty long. And it’s the final official chapter.

I say official because a while back, @itach-i asked for my version of a specific plot line involving Manon and Dorian. I wrote it then as an epilogue to Child of Peace and it’s been sitting in my drafts waiting for this story to end. But I realized there needed to be a part between this one and the epilogue. And then that one required two before it. I now have four epilogues started (which will be posted in the next few weeks). And one of those may be turning into an Asterin-centered side fic all its own. I don’t know yet.

What I do know is that I’m having a hard time letting this go.

Thank you to @itach-i for her amazing contribution to this chapter (in italics, you’ll see it, I’m not spoiling it here). It was her brilliant idea and I pressured her into writing it. She is the best!

A little over two weeks had passed since the battle, since the deaths of Iskra and the Blackbeak Matron, since Manon’s reunion with the Thirteen and her Crochan family. Some of the witches were becoming restless, ready to meet up with the bulk of their forces and move on to Orynth. But the group was stuck on the Anascaul mountainside. Abraxos was recovering quickly considering all the damage his wing had suffered. But healing fractured bones was still a slow process.

Manon was glad for the busy camp and the distractions it offered. But one new development was weighing heavily on her. She had not yet spoken to Aven about her confrontation with the Matron.

How can I possibly face her now, she thought, helping Alastair remove a splint from her wyvern’s last digit.

The Matron’s taunts about her helping to kill her own father still flitted through Manon’s mind, waking and sleeping. It had been an obvious attempt to confuse and control her. To break her. Attempt successful, Manon thought darkly, bile rising in her throat as she saw a flash of a bloodied, bearded man calling her name. She stepped back from Abraxos, letting the healer take over before she did something to worsen the injury in her daze.

After their initial relieved greeting when she’d arrived, Manon had been avoiding her Crochan grandmother. There were times when she wanted to tell her everything that had happened. Only to be stopped by the fear that, once the truth was revealed, she would lose the only loving mother-figure she’d ever known.

Dorian knew what she was doing. Likely knew why as he could sense most of it. They’d been learning how to control what they communicated through the bond so they could maintain some privacy. But when emotions were intense, thoughts obsessive… Things leaked through.

His understanding of how she felt couldn’t be blamed solely on their mating bond. Dorian knew because he’d been there. Was still there, working through his own experience with his father. His immense guilt not only for killing his father, but for feeling justified in doing so.

Perhaps most importantly, they loved each other above and apart from the bond. And that brought with it an attentiveness that she had not expected. Asterin had certainly never mentioned it. But then, she’d never had much of a chance to live with her mate.

And with that single thought, her hate for the Matron bubbled up within her. Forcing aside any grief or doubt or self-loathing she associated with the witch.

That seemed to be the standard for her these past days. Undulating wildly back and forth between countless emotions. One contradicting the other. All of them  returning her to a listless, depressed state.

Manon knew she needed to talk to Aven. If for no other reason than to assure the kindly witch that she had done nothing to put Manon in her current condition.

“There is one more to come off, then he can take a test flight,” Alastair said. Abraxos thumped his tail in anticipation, then glowered as the healer amended, “In another day or two.”

Manon patted his nose. “If you continue to rest, perhaps someone will bring you some flowers again.” He gave her a look of pure innocence before settling back down.

Alastair left as she moved to fuss over a still-healing wound on Abraxos’s shoulder. Manon was so intent on reapplying the bandage that she didn’t notice the presence behind her.

“He’s quite a strong little beast,” Aven said with a smile. Manon turned to face her grandmother, but remained silent, unsure of what to say. After a long, awkward moment, Aven said, “Since we will be leaving soon, I’d like to take you and Dorian to fetch the wyrdkeys from the temple.” She added quickly, “If you’re up to it.”

“Of course,” Manon said, trying to hide her relief that she wouldn’t be alone with Aven. “When?”

Aven ran her wrinkled hand along Abraxos’s neck, eliciting what could only be described as a purr. Both witches laughed at the sound.

“Tomorrow morning?”

Manon nodded and turned back to the bandage, ashamed of her rude behavior.

Yet, she didn’t reply as Aven simply said, “Tomorrow then,” before heading back to help with dinner.

Aven couldn’t stop staring at Manon as they ate around the campfire that night. Of course, any time she was near her granddaughter, she stared. How could she not when Manon had the lovely face of her own mother.

She supposed she’d done a decent job of hiding her reverent attention. Though Dorian often caught her. As he did just now, giving her a knowing smile. Which she answered with a tip of her head, and by looking elsewhere. Though her amazement was sometimes noticed, she made more of an effort to hide the pain and grief that inevitably followed.

The first time Aven had glimpsed Manon being carried into the Maze, she felt as if the air had been stolen from her lungs. She had stumbled into the wall, willing herself to breathe, stay upright, and not crumple in shock. The witchling’s hair was not the ebony shade of Rhiannon’s, and her eyes had been closed, but her face… Her face was identical.

Well, almost identical. Upon seeing Manon up close, Aven noticed subtle differences from her mother’s features. The shape of her eyes, the fullness of her lips, the narrow edge to her nose. Which made her wonder, not for the first time, how beautiful Lothian must have been in person.

But more than anything it was the color of her eyes. By the Goddess, Manon’s eyes were like nothing she’d ever seen before. Crochan eyes tended towards various shades of brown, sometimes hazel. But the eyes of this witch… the granddaughter she had never been sure she’d meet… Her eyes were pure flame. Not just in color, but they sparked with intensity and purpose too.

And right now, those eyes were dull, reflecting not a glint of the dancing firelight. Lifeless and sad despite the occasional smiles and laughs. Aven glanced to Dorian, who was still watching her watch Manon. He knew what was wrong, what was eating Manon from the inside out.

Hoping to not be too conspicuous, Aven gave him a hard, pointed look. The look of a mother, or grandmother in this case, who was done with being kept in the dark. After a sharp, little nod over her shoulder, Aven rose and made her way out of camp. She would give him some time to slip away. But she would not sit around and watch Manon fade away.

Aven didn’t have to wait long. Dorian joined her by the stream ten minutes later, hands in his pockets, a resigned look on his face. If she’d been in a lighter mood she would have chuckled at the way he seemed to be expecting a scolding.

“Listen Aven,” he said, before she could speak. “Manon needs to talk to you about it. Not me. I don’t think it’s my place.”

Aven sighed. “Can you at least tell me if it’s just what happened with the Matron? Or is there something more?”

The air suddenly chilled and Dorian leaned down to look her in the eye. “Just? Just the Matron?” His anger was loud enough that he looked behind him to make sure no one would overhear them.

Cutting him off before he could continue, Aven said sharply, “You know I didn’t mean it that way. I’m well aware of the evil in which she dealt. She’s responsible for everything I’ve lost.” Her words seemed to placate him. But they raised her own enmity and for some reason, she added, “And everyone I’ve lost.”

Dorian’s face stilled, becoming a blank mask.

He’s an awful actor, Aven thought, as the realization of what he was hiding dawned on her. She didn’t want to say it, let alone think it. But she forced the question from her mouth anyway.

“Liam?” Her voice cracked when she said her son’s name. She couldn’t even speak the two syllables without breaking.

The despair that swept over his face was all the confirmation she needed.

Dorian reached for her, grabbing both of her arms. She looked up at him in surprise, not realizing she’d almost fallen to the ground. But he caught her and held her steady. Just as he’s done for Manon, she thought idly. And she for him.

“I’m sorry Aven.” He sounded it, his voice thick with emotion. “She… I’ve only seen vague images. Accidentally. Through the bond. She blames herself but.. she was so young. There’s nothing she could have done.” Now his voice cracked in a mixture of anger and pain. “And she hasn’t spoken of it since that day.” When Manon killed her Blackbeak grandmother.

With a questioning look, he let go of her and dropped his head, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “I refuse to push her on this,” he continued, looking at her with such intensity, she almost flinched. “And I don’t think you should either. Not yet anyway.”

Aven got the distinct impression that he came to this decision from experience. Personal experience.

“I am sorry. I know the two of you need to talk. I can’t stop you. I just...” he trailed off, sighing deeply, as though his heart was breaking from his mate’s pain.

It probably is, Aven thought. No doubt some of his own mixed in with it.  Then she glanced back towards their camp. Back to her tent and the treasure hidden inside. Is it time? she wondered.

She tried to smile for him but she didn’t have the strength. “I will speak to her.” His mouth opened to protest. “But,” she added quickly. “Only to let her know I am here if or when she needs me.” He watched her for a moment then laid a hand on her shoulder in thanks. And that touch cemented her decision. Knowing Manon had Dorian, had her Thirteen here now too…

Aven knew that it was time. Time for Manon to meet her parents.

Too short to reach him, she signaled for Dorian to lean down and kissed his cheek. But he surprised her with a hug. The warmth and compassion of his embrace almost made her sob. But she kept her tears at bay until he pulled away.

“Go back to camp Dorian.” He offered to stay but she waved him away “I need… I’d like to be alone for a while,” she said. With a nod, he turned and left.

Aven walked further up the stream until she found a good spot. Then she sat down and cried. Cried for everyone she’d lost. Her mother and father, her sisters, her husband, son, granddaughter…

She cried for all that had been taken from Manon. Done to Manon. All she had endured. And all that waited for them in this war.

She felt so tired. And they’d barely started this journey.

When the tears began to subside, she leaned back to look up into the sky. Only parts were visible through the trees, but it was enough to fill her with awe. Watching as clouds slowly obscured the moon and stars, Aven was reminded of something her mother had once told her. Something she’d repeated to Fallon not that long ago.

Regardless of how dark things may seem, the goodness in the world will conquer the bad. It may take time, but it’s worth fighting for.

Hope.

Such a core belief of Queen Rhiannon Crochan that it was present in everything she said and did. To the point that her cynical daughter couldn’t help but come to believe in it herself.

As Aven stood, the clouds broke apart, allowing what little moonlight could filter through the leaves to sparkle on the water’s surface. The light, and the memory, made her smile, even as the tears were still drying on her cheeks.

Manon woke to a bright, crisp, sunny morning. Usually she rose with the dawn, but that hadn’t been happening lately. Dorian never woke her and she thought about chiding him for letting her sleep in too long. But she knew it was his way of helping. She needed the extra rest. Especially after a night of tossing and turning.

Joining some of the other late risers for breakfast, she wondered if Aven would take them to the temple today. She’d postponed it two days ago and hadn’t mentioned it since. Manon supposed her grandmother was waiting until Abraxos was ready to fly so they would not have to linger with all three keys in their possession. On that thought, she went to find Alastair and check on her wyvern’s flight status.

The healer had removed the final splint yesterday. And as they neared Abraxos, she could tell he was anxious to be up and airborne. The shiny membrane of his wings was rippling with anticipation.

Alastair laughed and asked Manon to help him with the final examination. All the broken bones had healed perfectly except for one. But the healer didn’t think it would be a problem. “It may pain him after long flights,” he said. “But it shouldn’t interfere with his flying. Massage and a salve for pain should do the trick whenever it acts up.”

Manon scowled at Abraxos, who was giving her a smug look, no doubt thinking of all the extra attention he would now receive. But as soon as his tail thumped a few times, Manon couldn’t resist a smile. “Can he go up today?” she asked.

“I don’t see why not. But I would take it easy. Nothing too daring. No acrobatics,” Alastair said, looking more at Abraxos than her.

When he left, Manon moved quickly to gather the saddle and gear, just as excited as Abraxos to get into the sky. But when she walked around the wyvern, she came face to face with Aven. The smile her grandmother wore conveyed little happiness, causing Manon’s heart to skip a beat.

"Is something wrong?” Manon asked, glancing around to see where Dorian was.

“No, witchling, nothing is wrong. Dorian is helping Sorrel with the other wyverns.” Aven came closer to her and Manon noticed a package under her arm. “I hoped to speak to you,” she said. “Privately.”

Manon’s stomach dropped. And here it is, she thought. Finally. Aven would ask about the Matron and Manon would have to lie about her father. Or tell the truth and admit to her role in it.

Aven nodded to Abraxos. “Actually, I thought maybe I could join you? The journey here was my first time on a wyvern but… I’d be honored to take a ride on your Abraxos.” He beamed and puffed up to almost twice his size at the words.

Although she still felt sick over their inevitable conversation, Manon would not refuse. Aven didn’t deserve this treatment. Resting a hand on her shoulder, she said, “It would be our honor to take you.” Abraxos snorted in agreement.

They flew for only about an hour before circling back to the camp. Abraxos was doing well, keeping the flight smooth for his second rider, but Manon wanted to be sure not to push him. He had other injuries he’d recovered from, not just the broken bones. Aven had not spoken, but she was clearly enjoying the views and the wind in her face.

Not far from camp, Aven spotted the small meadow where everyone had been picking wildflowers for Abraxos and asked if they could land there. Manon obliged, steeling herself for what came next, all of the glee from this flight ebbing away.

When they landed, Abraxos immediately began rolling in the tall grasses and flowers, releasing a sigh that seemed to have been buried inside him for years. It reminded her of when she’d first freed him from his cage under the mountains in the Ferian Gap. She continued to watch him, stalling, not wanting to look at Aven.

“I won’t ask you,” Aven said quietly, causing Manon to finally turn and face her. “I’m here if you ever decide to talk about it. About… any of it,” she said. “Any part of your life.”

Aven walked up to her and laid a small hand on her cheek. “But I will say this. You are my granddaughter Manon, and I love you. Nothing you ever say or do will change that.” Her warm brown eyes, glistening with tears, bore into Manon’s as she added, “Nothing you have done will change that.”

“You…” Manon swallowed, shaking her head. “You don’t know what I’ve done,” she rasped.

“Maybe,” Aven said, gently taking hold of her face, letting Manon’s tears fall over her hands. “But I know what you haven’t done. I know what you could not prevent. And I know you have lived through horrors that most people can never imagine. And I know that I love you.”

Unable to stop herself, Manon collapsed against Aven and sobbed. Her grandmother’s arms moved to embrace her. Such strong arms for a small witch. And she wrapped hers around Aven. They held each other for a long time, both quietly mourning the loss they weren’t yet able to put into words.

After the tears slowed and they could breathe a little easier, they broke apart to find Abraxos watching them. He crept closer and nuzzled both of them with his snout, causing a few more tears to fall between quiet laughs.

As they finally wiped their faces dry, Manon said, “I promise to come to you. When… when I’m ready.” Aven only nodded, leaving Manon grateful that her need for time and space was so easily accepted.

When Manon turned to mount Abraxos, Aven reached for her arm and said, “Wait. I have something for you.” Then she climbed up and reached into a saddle bag for the bundle she’d been holding earlier. Manon had forgotten about it.

“And there’s something else I have to tell you,” she said, making her way down off of Abraxos. “Well,” she smiled to herself, “I was ordered to tell you. When you found your way to us.”

“Ordered?” Manon asked, trying to imagine anyone ordering Aven around. Anyone except maybe Queen Rhiannon herself.

“The last thing your sister said to me before she left was that you would have to choose.“

After a moment’s hesitation, Manon asked, “Choose what?”

“If you would be remade.”

They made you this way… They have made you into monsters.

Manon swayed, but Aven caught her. “She didn’t explain it to me but said you’d understand what it meant. But,” she paused, emotion threatening to overtake her again. “She wanted me to tell you her exact words so you would know.”

“Know what?” Manon whispered, her eyes wide.

“That she had faith in you. That she knew you would make the right choice. Knew you would come here. Come home. To unite our peoples.”

She felt as though she’d been struck. Dizzy, short of breath. Felt like she would float away. Except… Aven held onto her hand tightly, tethering her to the ground.

Holding up the package, Aven added, “Rhiannon wasn’t the only one who believed in you Manon.”

“What… what are those?” she asked, looking close enough to finally realize the bundle was a stack of papers tied with twine.

Her grandmother smiled, placing them in Manon’s trembling hands. “These are your parents. Their lives.” With her hands wrapped around Manon’s, Aven said, “Your father knew when your mother died. He felt it through their bond. And he left soon after to search for you, not knowing if you’d survived.

"Liam spent years looking for you. But every few months he’d return. To see Rhiannon and me. To check if there had been any visions about your whereabouts.” She squeezed Manon’s hands. “To write you another letter in case he failed in his search.

"I never read them, but he told me some of what was in them. And I know, without a doubt, that he and your mother would be proud of the witch you’ve become. Rhiannon would be proud to call you sister. Just as I am proud you are my granddaughter.”

Manon blinked at the stack of letters shaking in her hands. Some envelopes were thick, as if they contained more than just paper, and some thin, only holding one or two pages. All she could say was, “My parents…” Over and over, unable to quell her disbelief.

“I wanted you to be somewhere like this when you read them,” Aven said, gesturing to their surroundings. “So your heart would forever connect them with beauty. And peace.”

Manon looked up and gazed around her. The bright blue sky, a few shades lighter than Dorian’s eyes. The fragrant meadow, full of buzzing life and budding flowers. The snow-capped mountains to her left. The foothills and greening tundra stretching into the distance on her right. Her beloved Abraxos, back to rolling around and chasing butterflies. And her grandmother. A witch who loved her. No matter what.

“Thank you Grandmother,” Manon said quietly, putting every ounce of love she felt for her into that last word. For even as she’d come to think of Aven as her grandmother, Manon had never thought she’d be able to say the word again.  

Aven’s face lit up as she pulled her down into a hug. “You are welcome my witchling.”

Hours passed while Manon sat in the meadow reading and rereading everything her father had written to her. Aven had insisted on leaving her alone, hiking the short distance back to their camp. The light was just  beginning to change as the sun sank closer to the horizon.

“It should be a beautiful sunset.”

Manon turned to find Dorian walking through the high grasses, trailing a hand along Abraxos’s neck as he passed. The wyvern signed contentedly as Dorian sat down next to her.

“Hello Witchling,” he said, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.

“Mmm. Hello Princeling.”

“I’ve missed that smile.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she leaned into his warmth, only then noticing the chilly air that accompanied the setting sun.

“I want to show you something,” she said. “Before it’s too dark.”

Dorian snapped his fingers and a small flame sprang from them.

“Such a show off,” she groaned, flipping through the papers and drawings and dried flowers to find the letter she wanted him to read.

“Oh, wait,” she said, pulling free a sketch her father had made. “This is my mother. Lothian.”

Dorian looked at her in astonishment. “Where…?”

“Aven.” It was all she needed to say.

She found herself unable to look away from the drawing. Again. She’d spent much of her time examining the artwork he’d left her. Most of it of her mother. But some of Aven, his father Owain, and Rhiannon.

This one was roughly done, charcoal smudges here and there. But it was Manon’s favorite. Something about the way he’d caught the light reflecting from her mother’s eyes, the shy smile on her face… As if she didn’t want to pose, but he’d charmed her into it.

“She was beautiful,” Dorian said quietly.

“She was,” Manon smiled. “And here.” She grabbed another and held it up. “Here she is with my father.” This one was smaller with fewer details. But it was the only self portrait Liam had included. He’d drawn them sitting at a table. Just talking. It was a simple scene, yet she felt as though it told her everything she could ever want to know about them.

“You can read the others later, but…” She shifted to face him, handing him the letter. “My father left me his story. Their story.” She nodded to the pages he held. “This was the first. About how they met. Why he did this.” She ran her hand over all the materials, picking up a small dried rose and inhaling. There was barely any floral smell left, but she thought she could detect the faintest scent of… them. Her parents. Manon knew it was crazy but… Once the thought entered her head, it stayed there.

She looked over to see Dorian staring at her, the fading sunlight shining off the moisture forming in his eyes. A soft, lovely smile on his face.

“Go ahead,” she said, still holding the flower to her nose. “I want to hear you read it.”

His throat bobbed and he moved to where they could both see it. Then, he began to read.

Manon,

I spent a long time thinking about if I should write this letter or not. Countless times I began and countless times did I throw it all away. I suppose it is impossible to say everything that is on my mind, to tell you how much my heart aches that I have to resort to this. To conveying my feelings on a piece of paper instead of holding you in my arms.

But enough about me, I do not wish to upset you, and even if you never see this letter I feel like writing all of this down - communicating to you - will keep me sane enough to try and find you, wherever it is you might be.

I suppose I should start at the beginning.

I met your mother on a stormy day in a backwater village called Mistain to the North of Terrasen. It was odd to meet an Ironteeth in that area, most ventured away from the cold, especially in the middle of a particularly harsh winter such as this one. Which is why when I first saw her, I didn’t recognize her as an Ironteeth. The only thing that went through my mind was how she was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. She was pale and had the most striking dark blue eyes I had the pleasure of meeting.

We were both in a local bar, and it was full due to the rain outside, so it was surprising when she turned to me. It was instantaneous the way we were drawn to each other, and I love to call it fate, because it led to the best days of my life…and it also led to you.

We spent that night together, talking about everything and nothing. It was a connection I had never had with anyone, and it was clear to me what it meant. We were mates.

I was eternally thankful when she stayed at the town, and I put off all my plans to remain with her in the outskirts of Mistain, in a little hovel we both called home. Everything seemed so perfect and Lothian was so kind and selfless. She wished to help others, and people would come to our home seeking her help for different ailments. I realized I loved her very quickly, but I knew our time in that paradise would be short-lived.

A few months into our stay, Aneira came to find me and Lothian had noticed her before I did. Her countenance had changed, and she had pushed me back. I asked her what was wrong and all she told me was that she had to go hunting. I attempted to stop her and understand what she meant, but trouble eventually landed at our door as Aneira arrived at our cottage. I had gone stiff with fear as your mother’s eyes narrowed while Aneira bowed and told me that Aven was expecting her prince.

The shock of facing a Crochan so easily made Lothian hesitate and she faced me with distrust in her eyes. I held her gaze as I told the other witch to leave. I let my mate slash at me, to draw my blood and taste it. It hurt to see her bare her iron teeth, more than knowing she was Ironteeth herself.

I was going to let her kill me, I told her as much, but she fought against her instincts - perhaps because she loved me too, perhaps because she felt our cariad bond. But she only backed away and told me to forget everything, forget her, and move on.

I spent a miserable three weeks in the outpost to the north after she left. I cannot remember much of that time. But then she returned. She told me she followed our bond and had made sure I was away from other witches before she struck me in the face and told me she was expecting.

I thank whatever gods made her find me, even when I might never meet you, just knowing you existed was a blessing in itself. Knowing what you meant for this world. Our child of peace. That is what we called you. I decided to tell your mother everything, and she patiently listened to everything I said. I told her about my role as prince, about the bonds, about what you would mean for us and our respective covens.

I had never seen her crying, but your mother told me she had always been ‘weak’ with her emotions. It was the reason the Matron had sent her so far north, because she was a shame to the Blackbeaks, because her eyes were not dark and speckled with gold. If only she believed me when I said she was the strongest out of all.

If only she had not feared and gone back to your grandmother.

I do not blame her. Lothian was hell-bent on keeping you safe. She listened to the prophecies, the visions and legends and threw it all aside. She did not hesitate about taking you back. She wanted her mother’s favor and had always longed for a coven of her own. She was too afraid, too indoctrinated, and I could not stop her.

I heard nothing for a good number of months. I told myself to be patient, to wait until you were born and convince her to stay with me so we could keep you safe and raise you as our future Queen. It was a mistake.

I should have acted, it has been my biggest regret.

She passed suddenly and it was the greatest pain of my life. I had lost my heart and soul and perhaps madness took over because I left the safety of my coven. For once, I became the hunter. After a few months, I found a Blackbeak who had information on your mother. She revealed that Lothian was dead…but that you had lived. That the Matron had finally named an heir. A small witchling with white hair and gold eyes.

I knew it was you, and I had to find you. All your mother wanted was to keep you safe, and I promised myself that I would do the same, or die trying.

It’s been a year now, but I know you are still out there. I have strong evidence to believe I know where you are.

Manon, I will find you, and I hope you never have to see this letter because if you do it means I failed you. If I did please forgive me, please understand that I love you, that your mother loved you. I know you will be a fighter, and I know that you will be the Queen that was promised, despite whatever happened to me. Know that whatever you have done, whatever you call yourself, whatever you had to do to survive and however they try to control you…none of it matters.

You will always be our child of peace, our beautiful Manon, and I know you have already made us proud.

With love,

Liam  

Hearing Dorian give voice to her father’s words… Manon had not anticipated the flood of emotions that followed. Of course, she had cried after her first reading. But this time, sharing this with her chosen mate… It was too much.

Dorian laid them back on the grass and held her, running his warm, strong hands over her hair and down her back. Whispering words of love that she returned through their bond, unable to speak them through her tears.

When she eventually twisted around and looked into the sky, it was almost dark, stars becoming visible above the mountain peaks. They sat up to watch the sun drift below the far horizon.

“I wish you could have known them,” Dorian said. A low band of clouds reflected the bright pink and orange rays, with only the sound of wind rustling through the grass around them. It was indeed a beautiful sunset.

She smiled and hugged him closer. “I wish we both could have known them.”

Abraxos shifted behind them, drawing them away from their quiet reverie.

“That reminds me,” Dorian said, nodding back to Abraxos. “If you think he’s ready, we can leave tomorrow to meet up with the others. Over a thousand total, according to Sorrel. Several of the Crochan elders will be with them. Aven insists on coming along. And Annabee. Alastair too, to watch over the wyverns.”

“What of Catrin?” she asked, her brow creased in concern

Dorian shrugged. “He said she told him that he was needed and should go. He agreed.”

She knew what he wanted to ask her, so she saved him the effort. “If they’ve chosen to fight, we can use their help.”

“You’re okay with the civilians tagging along?”

She snorted. “You didn’t see those old witches at the battle. It would be stupid not to include them.” She was quiet for a while, thinking over an idea she’d had while reading her father’s letters. Turning to face him, she said, “There is something else that’s been bothering me though.”

“Tell me.”

“We need to discuss what happens after. If we win. If the witches are to risk their lives, we must have equal say in what peace looks like in Erilea.” Her conviction wavered slightly as she said, “I’m not sure if the others will agree to that.”

Dorian stared at her solemnly, knowing who she meant. Not just Aelin and Aedion, or Ansel. Neither of them knew on which side the Ytgers of Eyllwe would fall. Let alone whoever might end up ruling the other countries and territories of Erilea. “You don’t think uniting with the humans against Erawan will resolve the prejudice they have against witches.”

Manon sighed. “Neither side is blameless. But how likely is it that any alliance we form will hold up after a victory?”

Dorian admitted he didn’t know, but agreed it was something they needed to address sooner rather then later. Which left them to develop a plan for negotiations with the other players, including Petrah and the Crochans. Strategies to ensure the livelihood of the witch clans long after this war was over.

By the light of Dorian’s magic, they talked and carefully gathered her parent’s mementos. Abraxos was anxious to get into the sky, and stay there for a while, so they took a quick trip over the foothills before returning to camp.

And that night, despite the long day of travel awaiting them, and the endless worries of war, and now peace, Manon slept. But, it was not a dreamless sleep. When she woke just before dawn, still wrapped in Dorian’s arms, Manon had fleeting memories of a laughing, blue-eyed witch accepting a small bouquet of roses from her dark-haired mate.

“Are you ready?” Dorian asked, his breath frosting in the early morning air. He reached into his coat again to check on the wyrdkey hidden there. Annabee, now perched behind Fallon, had one secured in her pocket. And riding with Sorrel, Aven carried the third.

They’d decided on this arrangement when they took the keys from the safety of Mala’s Temple at dawn. One person keeping all three keys left them too vulnerable. Not just to enemy attack. Three wyrdkeys in the hands of a single, powerful magic wielder was dangerous, Aven had said. A risk better left until the moment the keys must be used.

Manon turned into the wind and stared out across the tundra, trying to envision the world her parents had dreamed of. The world they wanted her to help create. A united witch kingdom.

Twisting around towards the mountains separating them from Terrasen, she thought of a new dream. A vision of a witch kingdom existing peacefully with the rest of Erilea. Thriving with Erilea.

Neither was going to be easy.

She may have been born a child of peace but she must go to war first. To protect those she loved, whose numbers seemed to grow with each passing day. And to defend those who could not defend themselves. She would do it for her parents and their shared dream. And for the dream she and Dorian now shared.

She smiled down at where he stood, still fidgeting with his clothes. “Me? Do you require a formal invitation Princeling?”

Smirking in reply, Dorian climbed onto Abraxos and settled easily into the saddle behind her. When his hands slid around her waist, she took hold of his forearm and pulled so there was no space between them.

“Hold on to me,” she breathed.

Dorian squeezed and whispered into her ear, “I’m never letting go Witchling.”

Manon turned to him with a smile, their bright eyes locking for a long moment before she kissed him. “Good.”

[amorphousalien]

So, not that literally anyone cares, but here's the deal with that person that was harassing me all week. Waay back in the good ol days of mid 2015 (sarcasm, fuck 2015)- I was experiencing a lot of really intense, frequent Rick shifts that were making me near catatonically depressed and dissociated. After seeing the season 2 finale, they just got worse. So I opted to unfollow all the r/n/m blogs I was following, stay out of the tags, stop looking canonmates, etc pretty much everything but actually taking Rick off my kinlist because I wasn't coping with it well and I needed to take a break. I even put on several pages of my blog that I did not want /anyone/ kin from ric/kandmorty contacting me because at the time it was basically a trigger. Then I start getting messages fromsomeome kin with M/orty, asking to talk to me, compare memories, etc. I told them I didn't want to talk to anyone, that it was triggering, etc. I accidentally posted one of their asks publically instead of privately, because mobile sux, and wound up getting a slew of TERRIFYING messages from them saying shit like "How could you do this to me?? I trusted you!! You exposed us!! How could you do this why would you do this to us?? I'm going to have to delete my tumblr because of you, how could you do this, we trusted you!" I panicked, deleted the ask, apologized profusely, and was generally successfully guilt tripped into allowing this person to continue messaging me and probing me for information about my Rick kintype. For maybe 6 months, they continued talking to me. I would ignore them for as long as I could, but eventually caved and replied to them out of boredom or fear, or they'd send me a slew of guilt trippy messages apologizing for bothering me, saying they were such an awful person, they always did this, everyone hates them etc etc etc. After 6 months, I was accepted to Job Corps and told them I was leaving for school and would have no internet access until I graduated. About four months into school l, my parents bought me a phone and were paying for my service. I logged back into tumblr to find about twenty "Hey"s and "Hi"s and "Oh my god I'm so sorry I know you hate me I just don't know what to do I'm so awful I'm sorry for bothering you"s in my messages from them. I told them I was in school and wouldn't have time to message them very often. I wanted them to just leave me alone, but I didn't want to be outright mean and they weren't taking the hint that I didn't want to talk to them. Or maybe they were and that's why they'd send me that guilt trippy bullshit every few weeks. And unfortunately I was an anxious wreck having just escaped multiple physically, memtally, emotionally, and sexually abusive relationships at this point. So I was easily manipulated and desperate for friendship. Which they knew. I'd mentioned it briefly and had vented about it multiple times on my kin blog. Anywho. I came back from school after about 6 months. Tumblr had dome some weird update and I couldn't log into my account anymore (except from my ipad where I was still logged in). I remade my account and directed everyone to my new kin blog (this one). I'd kinda forgotten about them at this point, but when I remade my blog they started messaging me again. I was pretty worn down and still pretty desperate for friends. I was recovering from the depressive Rick shifts and started talking to them more and more about our canons, and eventually decided we were canonmates. By the time we'd 'known' each other for about a year, they'd mentioned to me multiple times that they were living in an abusive situation and needed to get out. Three things about that last sentence. 1. *Known: Our entire relationship was one of us (mostly them) messaging the other every few days, or even every couple of weeks, to say "Hey"-"Hi"-"How are you"-"Fine, you?"-"I'm ok" and then maybe they'd complain (extremely vaguely) about something going on at home. 2. Everything they said about their abuse was extremely vague. The most detail I could ever get was that the house they were living in was not being maintained and there was never any food. Which they blamed on their parents despite being a 20 year old adult. 3. I'd spent hours trying to give them help getting out. I looked up resource centers in their area, homeless shelters, disability, food stamps, offered to write their resume for them, etc etc etc. I was practically offering to do everything for them to get them on their feet, and they shot down my advice every single time. Around 11 months into our friendship, they told me they couldn't take being there anymore and they were going to run away. They didn't know where they were going, didn't care, kept talking about being homeless and living on the streets to get away from where they were now. So I told them to come to Colorado (where I live) so I could at least offer help in person. November of 2016, they bought a bus ticket and came to Colorado. I picked them up and took them to my apartment (a three bedroom townhouse I shared with three roommates. They were all upstairs, I lived in a sectioned off half-room behind the living room). At the time, I was working 40 hours a week at a thrift store making about 9$/h. This job was not only tearing my already chronically ill body apart, but was also causing weekly psychotic episodes and mental breakdowns. I was 3000$ in debt with my roommates. My rent was 400$/month and I was making maybe 700$/month. Even so. I was using all of my spare money feeding them, buying them a tracphone and service, toiletries, clothes, etc etc Despite how much I was spending on them, they were still asking for more food, expensive food, cigarettes, alcohol, and weed. And if I didn't say yes, they'd spiral into depressive episodes, hiding either in my room, the living room, or the bathroom, and cry. And then ask again twenty minutes later. Over. And over again. Until I said yes. They talked 24/7. Literally. 24/7. From the SECOND I came home from work til I went to bed. And frequently came into my room multiple times throughout the night to ask for cigarettes and weed. Despite the fact that I had to wake up at 6am for work. It got to the point where, despite being in constant physical pain and despite the mental break downs, I was volunteering for overtime at work every single day to afford to keep them fed and to just fucking avoid their non stop talking and guilt tripping. And this was not non stop conversing. It was non stop THEM talking. I didn't exist. I could not get a word in. They didn't expect me to reply except for an occasional "Isn't that funny/weird?" or "Do you ever do that that??". I basically clocked out mentally any time I was home. I wasn't a person to them. I was just expected to listen quietly to their thousand and one stories. I already made posts back when this started about what happened while they lived with me, so I'm not gonna go into any more detail. I don't remember most of it anyways. It was such an incredibly stressful point in my life, I developed a new alter in my system. I was rarely fronting. It was so bad, the alter that /never/ fronts, had to take over to deal with what was happening. This person has been stalking me from the second they found my blog, and five months after I kicked them out and blocked them, they're still stalking me. I had to install an ip tracker on my blog. They were checking my blog damn near 20 times a day and sending me 10 or more messages every day. I barely posted half of what I got. I was even so desperate as to text their mom to beg for help. I wanted this to end before it started. I never wanted to know them. I want nothing to do with them. I don't want to be dealing with this. I am an asocial agoraphobic shut-in. I don't want any part of this. I don't care what happens to them. I don't care what happens to Rain or Darcy or the 'KuroNekoClan'. All I was is for this to be over. I want to be left alone. I want to finish repressing everything about them. I want them to completely disappear from my memory. I have never hated nor been so terrified of someone as I am in regards to this person. I'm gonna go back to radio silence on this blog for a few more days just to be sure they're not still checking it. Everyone can still PM and I'll still reply to asks, but I'm not gonna be posting on here til I feel safe.