#seeking prairies

[tinyurbanwilderness]

Here we go again with another Illinois “Prairie State” prairie about to be lost. Don’t let what happened to Bell Bowl Prairie happen here. Please help!

“A prairie in Monroe County, Illinois, is about to be lost forever.

Less than 1% of Illinois’ prairies are left in our beautiful prairie state – and only 600 acres of hill prairies (i.e., prairies on bluffs like this one) remain. That’s smaller than New York’s Central Park.”

[serene-sky-kid]

A young skykid from the limits between Hidden forest and Daylight Prairie, after being adopted under the wings of the forest witch, Orion seeks to rebuild his life. Despite having been a moth with great aspirations, now his only dream is to live a quiet life where everything that happened in the past will not find him again.

I'm making full bodies of all the characters just for fun, I hope this is Orion's final design, I keep changing his cape

[dandelionsresilience]

Good News - May 22-28

Like these weekly compilations? Support me on Ko-fi or $Kaybarr1735! Also, if you tip me on Ko-fi or CashApp (and give me some way to contact you if it doesn’t automatically), at the end of the month I'll send you a link to all of the articles I found but didn't use each week - almost double the content!

1. Scientists Invent Healthier More Sustainable Chocolate

“The new chocolate recipe from researchers at ETH Zurich uses more materials from the cocoa pod that are usually discarded, including more of the pulp as well as the inner lining of the husk, known as the endocarp. […] The resulting chocolate also [was “deliciously sweet” and] had 20% more fibre and 30 percent less saturated fat than average European dark chocolate[, and] it could enable cocoa farmers [to] earn more from their crops.”

2. Vermont Is Coming for Big Oil, Making It Pay for Decades of Climate Pollution

“Legislators in Montpelier are on the brink of enacting the "Climate Superfund Act," modeled after the federal Superfund law, that seeks to make oil, gas and coal companies pay for damages linked to historical greenhouse gas emissions. […] Companies would be held liable for the costs associated with […] floods and heat waves, along with losses to biodiversity, safety, economic development and anything else the treasurer deems reasonable[, that were caused by their emissions].”

3. Important bird habitat now protected in the Rocky Mountain Trench

“Grassland-reliant species in the Rocky Mountain Trench now have more protected habitat thanks to a new [270-hectare] conservation area near Cranbrook. […] About one-third of the Skookumchuck Prairie Conservation Area is forested[…,] Most of the site is a dry grassland[…, and] Three hectares of wetlands add to the landscape diversity and offer crucial benefits to wildlife and water systems in the area. This conservation gem also provides habitat for endangered American badger and excellent winter range for elk, mule deer and white-tailed deer.”

4. Lemur Week marked by 70th breeding success

“A wildlife park has celebrated its 70th lemur breeding success ahead of a week raising money to help save the endangered primates. […] The park's open-air Madagascar exhibit is home to 31 free-roaming lemurs and was officially opened in 2008. […] Females are only sexually receptive for just one or two days a year, leaving a small window of opportunity for males to father offspring. […] The two playful siblings, one female and one male, were born to father Bernard and mother Hira.”

5. Innovative material for sustainable building

“Researchers introduce a polymer-based material with unique properties. This material allows sunlight to enter, maintains a more comfortable indoor climate without additional energy, and cleans itself like a lotus leaf. The new development could replace glass components in walls and roofs in the future.”

6. Isle of Wight eagles don't pose threat to lambs as feared

“While there had previously been fears that the eagles would feed on livestock, such as lambs, the project has found no evidence of this. [… “W]hite-tailed eagles effectively steal meals from other predatory birds[, which is] a really important ecological role that had been lost within the landscape and is being restored.” [… The birds’] population was boosted by a chick last year – the first time the species has bred in England in 240 years.”

7. Breakthrough discovery uses engineered surfaces to shed heat

“Cheng's team has found a way to lower the starting point of the [Leidenfrost] effect by producing a surface covered with micropillars. […] The discovery has great potential in heat transfer applications such as the cooling of industrial machines and surface fouling cleaning for heat exchangers. It also could help prevent damage and even disaster to nuclear machinery.”

8. New malaria vaccine delivered for the first time

“A total of 43,000 doses arrived by air today from UNICEF, and another 120,000 are scheduled to show up in the coming days. […] They're the first vaccines designed to work against a human parasite. […] Across four African countries, these trials showed a 75% reduction in malaria cases in the year following vaccination of young children. […] The Serum Institute of India, who will be manufacturing the new vaccine, says a hundred million doses will likely be available to countries by the middle of next year.”

9. Urban gardening may improve human health: Microbial exposure boosts immune system

“"One month of urban indoor gardening boosted the diversity of bacteria on the skin of the subjects and was associated with higher levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the blood. The group studied used a growing medium with high microbial diversity emulating the forest soil," [… whereas] the control group used a microbially poor peat-based medium. [… N]o changes in the blood or the skin microbiota were seen. […] “This is the first time we can demonstrate that meaningful and natural human activity can increase the diversity of the microbiota of healthy adults and, at the same time, contribute to the regulation of the immune system."”

10. Cities Are Switching to Electric Vehicles Faster Than Individuals

“[M]ost large cities have adopted some kind of climate goal, and some of them are buying EVs for their municipal fleets at a faster rate than the general public. And that progress could speed up as more EVs enter the market and as cities get educated about grant funding and tax incentives that were passed over the last four years.”

May 15-21 news here | (all credit for images and written material can be found at the source linked; I don’t claim credit for anything but curating.)

[skidar]

Yeehawgust Day 26: A Horse With No Name

On the prairie watch out for that old grizzled mare. Don't seek her out, don't stare too long. The horse has no name, but if you meet her in the dark, she'll call out yours. There's nothing you can do the stop what comes next. Keep your head down, ride on.

[pinkrelish]

Eddie and miss mouse doing missionary with his hands beside her head and she grabs his wrists moving her head side to side moaning and him begging her to look at him in the eye 👁️

ugh, yes. 18+ sweet, romantic smut [wc: 1.4k]

humming praise along your jaw, he asks from his husky throat not yet warmed from dawn, “please, baby,” and you nod, “—don't wantcha missin' your god.”

oh, how you explore him without sight, skimming your fingers over the smooth length of his back, planes of muscle filling your palms with steady breaths. from the sway which dips with each long draw of his hips. up bumps of spine, curve of ribcage. contrasts of solid strength feeding into the hidden lurch beneath his skin, subtle contours shifting and flowing in sync with his lazy thrusts. shoulders. working man shoulders, broadened by time and labor, flexing under your loose grip. hard shapes for your hands to find; groove of his delt, swell of his bicep. strong arms beginning to shake.

you lower your sightless study to his forearms. fingertips grazing through prairie grass hair leading you over the ridge of an at-home tattoo and through the field of faint scars. upon his knuckles, you widen your reach to encompass them all, falling short. falling weak. falling, falling.

stability was found in his mighty palm to your cheek. stifling hot, big, and rough with character. everything familiar you sought in a home, cherishing the doorway between forefinger and thumb, trailing open kisses to the bed of his palm—three pecks for good luck, and one to grow on—then feasting on the meat above his wrist, and bathing your warm tongue over the rest.

"makin' you feel good?" eddie checks to inflate his ego, brimming with amusement. "or's here better?" his abs brace, his knees move in, and your body clings to a shiver. "mm, right there, huh?" his tender tease flows into the kindest sigh.

he peels his stomach off yours, chilling your combined sweat and tightening your nipples with the rush of air. sharp teeth flirt on the pulse beneath your ear as he adjusts, uncoordinated, rocking an arm under your shoulder and tugging the fitted sheet loose on the mattress; his other hand slips up to cradle your head, protecting you from the old oak headboard while your pillow lifts your hips.

the position loads his weight where he pins you best—embraced in his arms, wholly respected. your leglock around his ass restricts him down to a fraction of his long draw from before. he understands. the ache he stirred with his practiced fingers crooked between your thighs reached a yearn for something bigger, and when he sank into you, half an hour ago, you expressed your satisfaction in a whisper-thin gasp. "that's it," he kissed. to be stretched by his head notched at your opening, easing in, splitting you, fulfilling you, reaching a depth which was made for him. "that's fuckin' it," he moans in the present when you clench firmer around him.

the pretty noises you made then, when he could last, earned his pride. now, they spur his pace.

you dig your heels into his backside and cradle him close, tilting your hips; wet friction grinding bliss against your core. the warmth of his body smothers you, and the wiry hair above his solid base follows the same quick roll, lapping at you like his tongue. you seek foundation beyond the darkness of your eyelids, turning your mouth to the hand on your shoulder, sucking a kiss on the peak of knuckles. his polished skill between your legs spark deep, fluttering moans. the angle was a work of trial and error over the years, but eddie was ever diligent to learn—eager, you'd say—to delay his release, and build yours.

consuming throbs of hot pleasure pulse within you. each stroke is better than the last. the pillow, the angle, the extra twitch of his cock when you squeeze around him just right. you were—"eddie, i'm—"

"look at me, baby," he asks, and you switch to pursuing his other hand, slotting your small fingers through the gaps where he worsened your bedhead. "open your eyes. wanna look at you," he laughs, mashing his nose along the blooming fever on your cheek, draping his curls over you both. it takes all your strength to answer him in an inarticulate whine, nestling into his palm until he understands the message and caresses his thumb over your temple. "please," he begs. you try. yet, he demands, stern voice pooling molten lust where he delivers relentless smacks of skin, "look at me when i'm your god."

your eyes fly open.

sleepy blue on the cusp of yawning orange presses through the thin curtains. light floods his smugness in swings between his long hair, stupid shadowed grin glinting in the daybreak. his curls tickle in sweeps across your cheeks, and at once, your weak limbs are threaded in the space where your chests press, and you're bringing him down for a rough kiss, teeth to lips, dirty like the sounds drowning out the birdsong.

muffled moans grow loud as he pulls away, just enough to adore you in the cage of his arms, watching you battle the haze while his eyes shine from vanity. his muscles burn from fatigue, and his smile interrupts his panting, cutting each labored breath with a stutter, but he keeps going, chasing the reason your expression pinches.

it comes on so strong, so fast, you clamp down on him hard, and though he expects it, eddie's whine is punched from his lungs, surprising you both. the pretty sound lends you strength, and he nearly collapses from every wet ridge massaging him as he grinds slow and steady in your heat, driven deeper by your assertive legs forcing him to bite his tongue as you rode out your high. he's dying. "baby," he pleas, nose to nose, forehead to forehead, sweat mixing on his damp bangs, soft body squirming under his, "y'look so fuckin' hot. can i?" poor boy asking to finish.

you soothe him in circles scratched on his scalp while he stills from motion, sighs jumping in time with the aftershocks pulsing on his length. the feeling of weightlessness was taking over. showing mercy, you release him, and he rises. careful as he can be in this state. fast, fast, fast, hiking you higher on the pillow and keeping you in place with one hand on your hip and the other cupped under your thigh, dimpling shadows in the sunrise. strong torso between your legs, top of his stomach flexing on every slap, sending ripples over your skin. light penetrates the center of the curtains to paint his beauty. flushed red, head dropped forward, messy hair kissing his shoulders, long lashes marrying, succumbing to whatever his body decides. watching himself slide into you, mouth hanging open at the sight of your pussy gripping him as he rocks back, upper lip lifting at the sheen of cream coating the base of his slick cock, eyebrows scrunching from the honor.

he picks up the urgency in which he's fucking you, each moan cracking higher.

"look at me," you break his concentration, voice not as powerful as his. he obeys, and the connection races an extra heartbeat in your chest, throat gone tight from the sense of accomplishment.

nothing compares to the flattery of his lidded gaze fighting to stay open as his warning comes late, already spilling into you.

wicked heat spreads in waves, burning your cheeks, pumping your reward in arrhythmic pulses. his tip is oversensitive and red when he pulls out, covered in a beautiful shine. he gives you the pillow, and adjusts himself so his length follows your stomach; though he takes a sharp inhale at the sensation; and lays on top of you, stretching his legs between yours. the magnitude of his understated working-man muscles go lax. amalgamating scents of sex encompass the tangle. birdsong rings through the blood rush. you hum, he hums.

"love starting our days like this."

"mhmm."

you revisit discovering him without sight. his weight limits your movement as he catches his breath from his efforts, but you encircle his middle. trace the tacky skin along his spine, roll your head to feel his curly hair sticking to the dew on your neck, rub your foot along his hairy calf. you lean up to press your lips to the salty crest of his shoulder, and end the motion when thick honey drips to the bedsheets. his spent self softens on your belly. you almost drift into a dream. "you're so corny with the 'god' line," you complain in a whisper, only a tad annoyed, and he sweetens you with his full lips smacking a noisy kiss to your cheek.

"yeah, but it worked," he replies, voice retaining its rasp from sleep, yet sporting a teasing rise, "and you still love me."

"and i still love you," you yield, rolling your closed eyes.

"do you?"

"i do."

"good," he huffs, "didn't wanna lose my grocery shopping partner."

you roll your closed eyes harder.

[mufos-photo-album]

Hmm, with the new kind of dark plant the Season of Radiance is introducing, this brings up a question: will they add dark plants to the Valley of Triumph?

The Valley of Triumph is currently the only realm in Sky that has almost no dark plants. The only area that has them, as far as I can remember, is the little side area in the Valley Elders' temple, and even then it's hidden away from new players. From a symbolic standpoint, this made sense as the Valley is supposed to represent the "peak" of one's life, a time with little to no darkness. I wonder then, if TGC will forego this symbolism in favor of Radiance's dye mechanic.

If they do, I can't lie I'd be a liiiittle hurt. Like, the fact that the Valley has so few dark plants raises many interesting questions about what the place represented and why dark plants rarely take root there. It's special in that sense.

I will say that there could be some evidence that the Valley will be skipped over as a place to find dye. So far, the dye colors have been introduced with sets of 2. 2 dyes for the Daylight Prairie, and 2 dyes for the Hidden Forest. There are 8 pots in front of the Radiance guide's cauldron, and if the pattern continues there is the possibility that the Valley will be skipped over in favor of the Golden Wasteland or the Vault of Knowledge. (see pic below)

Blue light *does* come from the Valley of Triumph, but as we've seen with the previous dyes, the color of the dye does not necessarily correspond with what realm a certain color of light comes from (ex. Red light comes from the Golden Wasteland, yet red dye comes from the Daylight Prairie)

(Now that I'm typing this out I'm also remembering I saw a chart floating around where someone actually *did* figure out which realms all of the dyes will come from, but I don't feel like seeking it out right now)

[maxknightley]

If someone, hypothetically, were to paint some miniatures based on the "Holy Dominion of Northwestern Iowa", what colors and kinds of symbology would they potentially use 👀

okay so can I just say that as a lorebrained vexillology dweeb you have given me such a beautiful gift. Ideas that immediately come to mind:

Overarching colors

Red, to represent military valor and The Passion, but never alongside white or blue. The Heptarchate is part of the "post-American" movement within the former United States, rather than one of the polities seeking legitimacy via translatio imperii.

Gold, representing prosperity and ambition; the state's (relatively) bountiful supply of wheat and maize; and the glory of God.

Pale pink or lavender, representing love, temperance, and the Prairie Rose, unofficial flower of the now-defunct United State of Iowa.

Orange, drawn from the founders' (questionable, New-Agey) understanding of Buddhist monasticism. Symbolically, it represents joy; brown, which is essentially a darker shade of orange, may be used to represent trees or fertile soil.

Specific symbols

BROKEN WHEELS. An end to cycles both mundane and metaphysical; a testament to the Palatinate's effectiveness in repelling and pacifying road-warriors.

SUNRISE AND SUNSET. Naturally unifies all the aforementioned colors. Seen as the "successor" to Noah's rainbow - a symbol of God's pledge that the strife of the 22nd century was over, and that humanity would endure.

CROWNS, in particular A CROWNED DOVE, representing the unchallenged authority of God and his earthly representatives, i.e., the Heptarchs themselves. (The Dove is one of the few exceptions to the "don't put white next to red" rule.)

Additionally, families, monasteries, and social organizations - regardless of wealth or social standing - will often have their own crests or coats of arms that contain more unique, personal symbolism.

Such crests will almost invariably include a "Fursona" (untranslatable), an animal meant to represent that group's values and virtues; often, a family's name is derived from its crest rather than vice versa. For example, Lavender's family - the Spadeharts - were so rechristened in the 2130s, being gardeners and farmers who sought to embody the cervine virtues of Meekness, Temperance, Kindness, and Discretion.

[milliesfishes]

Omg i jist had this thought

Reader secretly pining for billy and hes oblivious to her little crush and innocently rejects her advances to spend time with her because he jjst doesnt think too much about it and unknowingly hurts her feelings until someone has to spell it out for him and he comes to the realization and realizes he returns her feelings

౨ৎ꣑ৎyou love billy (he has no idea)౨ৎ꣑ৎ fem reader x billy the kid

Billy wouldn't describe himself as a ladies' man.

He wasn't one to flirt, keeping his interactions with women the same as he did with men. Polite, kind and quick. But everything has an exception, and his happened to be you.

The inn where you'd both been staying at first had you in rooms in the same hallway, and that was how you'd met. Bumping into each other one morning when the two of you were too tired to pay attention where you were walking, the long-term result had been a friendship he wouldn't trade for anything.

Brighter than sunshine, pretty as any flower in the forest, he embraced your bright presence when it entered his life. He'd have been a fool not to. You were one of a kind, the sweetest girl in town. Billy couldn't imagine his life without you.

You were his favorite riding companion, and he sook you out for it as often as he could, racing you through the grassy prairie fields and venturing into the nearby forests and mountains. You were funny, making little observations that had him laughing all too often, and he didn't laugh for just anyone.

He'd walk through town with you, arms linked together as you chatted with him about whatever was on your mind. Though initially shy, as you became more comfortable, you'd talk about almost anything with him. And he loved to listen.

Always so lovely and mild-mannered, he cherished your presence, the fact that you chose to befriend him. A no good, wanted man as far as he was concerned. In the company of the gentlest girl he'd ever met.

Billy was a rough-and-tumble outlaw. You were the kindest girl this side of river. He wasn't about to be the one to corrupt you. In fact, he'd go to lengths to make sure you were never corrupted at all.

You were absolutely darling, so sweet to him even though he'd argue he didn't deserve it at all. Eventually he moved out of the inn and acquired a little cabin in the nearby woods about ten minutes from town, and you frequented it at his request.

One night it was raining hard, and you were sitting by the stove with him to keep warm, just talking in your sweet way. He had opened his mouth to say something when a clap of thunder made you jump, automatically moving into his chest.

His arms came immediately around you, and he couldn't help but smile at the fact that you felt that safe around him. Rubbing your back, he leaned his head down to breathe in your scent.

At that moment, when you were burrowed into his arms, hiding from the storm, he had an overwhelming feeling of protection. That was all he wanted to do forever- to keep you safe from anything that had the potential of marring your precious innocence.

He had you over to his place as often as he could get away with, always nervous about you staying at the inn with no protection, especially since it was mainly occupied by men.

Sometimes when the two of you had lost track of time and the sun was long sunk behind the hill, he'd tell you to just stay over. Lucky for him you often agreed, and you'd spend the night cuddled in his arms like a cat curling up for warmth. His heart always twinged at the adorable sight of you.

He was in awe of just how good you were to everyone to matter what. But even though you were nice to all you met, he liked to think you had a soft spot just for him. Were you staying over at your other friends' houses and sleeping in their arms? No, you weren't.

He didn't realize how close the two of you really were until you came to his cabin late one night, exhaustedly collapsing next to him and seeking comfort. Of course he'd obliged, pulling the blanket up over you on his bed and holding out his arms to you. "Rough night, pretty?"

"Mhm," you smiled at the nickname he'd given you as he'd hoped you would, as you always did. "Tessa had her baby. Took all day."

"You were with her the whole time?" Billy mused, nosing against your hair.

"Yeah," you mumbled into his chest, and he smiled. Your eternal kindness never failed to amaze him.

"You're a good friend, pretty, ya know that?" he mused, rubbing your back. "Always lookin' out for others."

"She has hardly anyone else. Poor thing, her baby's daddy up and left her when he found out," you said softly, and he nodded sympathetically. "Just about everyone in town's shunned her cause of it."

He kissed your temple and marveled at your selfless actions. But your words got him thinking.

Billy didn't often make a habit of worrying what others thought. He was far past that, with his status as an outlaw and his former life on the run. A few days after that night he noticed people whispering as the two of you walked arm in arm through the square, and he started to care again.

He saw the two of you from an outsider's eyes. You could be on a poster for an angel baby doll, so darling and dear. He was on a different kind of poster, with a cash prize underneath.

People talked. He knew that better than anyone. And while he didn't care what they said about him, it bothered him that they might be saying bad things about you. In this world, a woman's reputation was all she had, and he didn't want you to end up like Tessa: abandoned and hopeless, besmirched by an outlaw.

So, the next day when you came up to him in town, asking if he wanted to go for a ride and fidgeting with your fingers, he said he had other work to do. That someone was gonna have his head if he didn't get it done by this-time-or-other.

Your face had fallen, and it made him feel bad. But of course, you didn't argue, just gave him a slightly let down smile and walked away. He felt an odd feeling of disappointment, like he'd wanted you to protest, call him out on his excuse. You wouldn't have, though. You were too sweet to even dream of it.

Over the next few weeks, he continued to brush you off, although it hurt his heart. He didn't want to keep his distance from you- he wanted the complete opposite. But if it kept you safe and protected, he'd keep his distance forever.

It was lonely; being separated from you and spending his weeks without your sunshiny presence was lonely. His bed was cold without you there to cuddle up beside him. His rides through the desert felt melancholy. Billy couldn't recall ever missing a friend in this way before, but then again you were special. He felt twinges in his heart that he set aside to figure out later.

It got to the point where you stopped approaching him at all. It saddened him though it was completely his fault. He'd see you across town with some of your other friends, and long to go up to you and just apologize over and over. But he didn't.

He heard that Tessa had been ill, and you'd gone to care for her and the baby. The news made him smile at how goodhearted you continually proved yourself to be.

It also made his heart jump, hearing about you. He was unsure why.

A couple of times, his boys asked where you were, since they'd been so used to you hanging around, even fond of it. Billy would always shrug and brush it off, saying you were busy. He caught a few of them exchanging odd looks, which confused him.

All in all, he managed to keep his distance. And it was for the best, he tried to convince himself. It was for the best.

This mindset was kept up until one day when it was raining.

He'd been coming back home from a ride, water drizzling over the brim of his hat. It hadn't been the worst day for work, but he was still tired and he looked forward to sleep.

Off in the distance, he noticed something lying in the grass. Thinking it was an animal, he rode a little closer to investigate. But as he got a better vantage, he realized it wasn't an animal at all.

It wasn't just any person either.

You were collapsed in the grass, breathing faint, eyes closed. Your skin was pale, and he could see sweat beading on your forehead. The rain only made the sight more miserable; you were shivering because of it.

Without thinking he jumped off his horse and fell at your side, panicked thoughts filling his head. "Oh pretty..." Worry flooded his senses as he assessed your condition. Shaking your shoulders lightly, he breathed, "Pretty...pretty...wake up...please wake up..." You hardly stirred.

You must have caught what Tessa had, he realized frantically, remembering what he'd heard about you.

Billy could still hear you breathing, which was a good sign, but your skin was hot, your movements feverish. He scooped you up, gently lifting you onto his horse. You gave a little moan, and he gritted his teeth, knowing you must be in pain. "I know," he said hurriedly, grabbing the reigns while keeping his arm around you. Your weak body was slumped against his chest, and he could feel how hot you were through your clothes. "It's gonna be okay. We're just a little bit from home."

He rode as quickly as he felt he could with you propped against him. You were hardly conscious, and the sight of you sunk and settled into his stomach like a stone to the bottom of a river. Anxiety coursed through his blood; he hated sickness and all the tragedy it'd held for him in the past.

Once he reached the cabin, he tied his horse and lifted you into his arms as gently as he could. You whimpered, waking up a little. He hated that you were in pain but he was glad you were hanging on.

"'S okay. 'S okay," he mumbled as he carried you inside, eyes on you as yours sleepily opened. "Hey pretty, I've gotcha."

"Billy?" you mumbled weakly as he laid you down on his bed.

"I've gotcha pretty," he repeated, getting up and rifling through his drawers for something for you to wear. Your wet dress wasn't doing your condition any favors. He decided on one of his shirts for now, resolving to cover the rest of you in blankets.

Going back over to you, he kicked off his boots and sat on the bed next to you, pulling you into him to sit against his chest. You gave a weak little noise of protest, but he rubbed his hand up and down your arm soothingly, unbuttoning the back of your dress and easing it off you. "Shh, I know, I know," he said softly. "'m just gettin' ya more comfy. 'm not gonna do anything bad for ya."

He got you into his shirt and settled you back down into bed, pulling the covers up around you. You were still shivering despite your fever. Billy went to get more blankets, and he wrapped them around you, cocooning you in warmth in an attempt to quell your cold.

Billy went to get a rag and some water, and once he returned, he mopped your sweaty brow diligently, trying to get you to sleep. "Shh, pretty...try 'n rest."

You whimpered, opening your eyes and looking at him so desperately it broke his heart. "Billy..."

"Don't speak," he muttered, his thumb smoothing your cheek. "You're real sick pretty. Ya need some sleep."

"Was I awful to you Billy?" you mumbled, stirring.

"You ain't never been awful to me," he said quietly, mostly focused on getting you to close your eyes. "Pretty-"

"I must've," you insisted weakly, reaching a limp hand out for his. "If you didn' wanna be 'round me."

Billy's brow furrowed as he realized what you were talking about and a tidal wave of guilt crashed over him. He shook his head, squeezing your hand. "No...no pretty. It ain't nothin' you did. It was somethin' I got in my head."

You were too exhausted and sick to respond, and he wouldn't have let you if you tried. He smoothed a hand over your forehead, and you relaxed at the feeling. "Shh, sweetheart. You just rest. I'm 'boutta take care of ya."

He nursed you all through the night, trying to break the fever. When your lips were dry, he squeezed water over them. When you shivered even under all the blankets, he got under them with you and let his body heat warm you up. When you thrashed feverishly from your sick hallucinations, he held you tight in his arms, whispering things to you until you calmed down.

The next day, you weren't better by much. You mumbled things about secrets and guilt, and all he could do was listen and try to calm you down. It hurt him dearly to see you like this. He worried for your life at different intervals in the day, when you were passed out from exhaustion.

After a worrisome night, he woke up next to you and felt your forehead, relieved beyond belief when he felt that the fever had broken.

You opened your eyes, looking up at him tiredly. He gave you a little smile, stroking your hair. "Hi sweetheart. How ya feelin'?"

"Tired," you murmured, blinking sleepily. "Achey."

"Oh," he leaned down and kissed your forehead, his lips lingering there. "My poor girl."

A little smile came to your face, and you rested your head back on the pillow next to his. "You've been so good, taking care of me."

"Course I have," Billy tucked some of your hair behind your ear. "I found ya lyin' in a field pretty. I wouldn't ever just leave ya there." He traced his fingers up your cheek. "What were ya doin' there anyways?"

You looked away, biting your lip. "I was...I was just out walking."

He nodded, half smiling. Then he sat up, resting his hand on your head comfortingly. "I'm gonna go into town for just a bit. 'm gonna try 'n find some medicine, okay? You just rest while I'm gone."

Looking up at him with something in your eyes he couldn't quite place, you nodded. Billy rubbed your cheek once before standing up and tugging his boots on, kissing your forehead before he left.

At the general store he found what he needed quickly, heading over to be rung up. It happened to be one of your other friends at the counter today, and he greeted Billy kindly, noting what he was buying. "Feelin' under the weather?"

"Nah," Billy explained the situation. "She's doin' better now but I want her to stay better so-" he gestured at the little bottle.

"Ah," your friend smiled. "Mighty kind of ya to care for her. Course I shouldn't expect anything less from her man."

Billy tilted his head. "Oh...we ain't like that. I'm just helpin' her out."

Your friend frowned in confusion. "Oh? That ain't what everyone's sayin' 'round here."

"What d'ya mean by?" Billy asked, unable to help his curiosity.

"Y'all are so close, everyone thought you were together," your friend chuckled. "Sides, she's head over heels for ya. Anyone could see it." He handed Billy the medicine bottle. "Guess we got it wrong though."

His words hit Billy like a punch to the gut, his head nearly spinning. The thought of you...loving him in that way was shocking...new...he'd never thought you'd ever care for him in that way.

So when he'd thought everyone was whispering awful things about you, it'd really been rumors about the status of their relationship. He felt...relieved at the fact, but still confused at what else your friend had said.

Head over heels? Billy left the store in a daze. He somehow was able to get on his horse and start the journey home. But the thought kept swinging back around like the pendulum on a clock.

If what your friend said was true and you loved him...he'd made a huge mistake over the past few weeks. Brushing you off, refusing to see you...how could he have made such a mistake?

On the way home it was all he could think about. How he'd been trying to protect you, but he'd inadvertently ended up hurting you. But he'd truly had no idea.

The thought of you loving him sent his head into overdrive. He toyed with it, let it bounce around for a second...his heart fluttering at the thought.

Did he love you? He knew he did, but he'd never thought in a romantic way. But now as he thought of your head on his chest as you slept, and your laugh, and your smile, the way he'd felt when he thought you could die from your sickness, and the protection he wanted to give you, the everything he wanted to give you...he realized he did.

He loved you. And he'd been fool enough not to see it.

By the time he came to this conclusion, he was back at the cabin, jumping off his horse and rushing inside to you, the medicine bottle clutched tightly in his fist. He eagerly went to your bedside, kneeling beside you and setting the medicine on the side table.

You opened your eyes when you saw him, and he couldn't help his smile when he saw the sweet sparkle back in them. "Hi pretty," he said softly, reaching for your hand and stroking it. "Feelin' any better?"

Nodding, you sat up a little, a tiny smile on your face. "Better."

"Good," Billy kissed your knuckles. Now that he'd realized how he felt everything about you seemed so much brighter. Your soft hair, your soft skin, your bright eyes.

You looked nervous for a moment, looking down at your joined hands. "Billy...I need to tell you something. I...I lied about why I was in the field. I was coming to see you that day." By the look on your face, you'd been thinking about this all day.

He looked into your eyes, showing he was listening. "You were? When you were sick?" There was a little jump in his chest at that.

"I didn't know I was that sick." You nodded, finally meeting his eyes. "I missed you so bad, Billy. And I was tired of keeping it all inside. I was ready to say I was sorry for whatever I did, whatever I said that made you upset."

Billy lifted his hand to your cheek, stroking it softly. "You didn't do a damn thing. I was tryin' to protect ya...went about the wrong way of doin' it for sure, but I only had good intentions."

You seemed to understand, and you looked down. "I felt awful..."

"I'm sorry," he murmured, coming up to sit next to you on the bed and holding you close. "I am. I shoulda told ya 'bout how I was feelin'. I was worried people were sayin' bad things 'bout ya bein' seen with me." He took in a breath, preparing himself for what he was about to say. "I was tryin' to protect ya cause I...cause I love ya."

There was a little moment of silence. You looked up at him with the sweetest baby doll eyes he'd ever seen, and then he saw that tiny smile again. Sitting up slightly, you brought your hand to his chest, your expression soft. "You love me?"

He nodded with a quiet smile. "I love you."

"You love me." Your face burst into the sweetest smile he'd ever seen, and then your arms came around his neck, leaning against him. He folded his big arms around you, holding you nice and close to him, right where he liked you. "And I love you."

"You do," Billy murmured into your hair, pulling back so he could see your face. "You love me and I love you."

He'd never seen such joy on your face, and you leaned forward, nudging your nose with his. Billy didn't want to play the waiting game, and he pressed his lips to yours, reveling in the way they locked together perfectly, like they'd been made for it.

"I love ya," he mumbled, kissing your nose. "I love ya to the stars. Ain't no more questions 'bout it."

come talk about billy here!

[allthecanadianpolitics]

An Alberta First Nation in the province's oilsands region is seeking more control over the traces left by ancestors on their traditional lands. "We'd like to manage our historical resources," said Shaun Janvier of the Chipewyan Prairie First Nation, which considers a vast tract of land in northern Alberta its territory. "The archeology is directly linked to the native people in the area. It belongs to us." Chipewyan Prairie is one of the first bands in Alberta to begin developing a cultural resources policy in an attempt to have more say in how artifacts and the places they come from are found, studied, preserved and displayed.

Continue Reading

Tagging: @newsfromstolenland, @abpoli

[tinyurbanwilderness]

Still seeking prairies. There weren’t many butterflies or bees.

[mushbeast]

rewards for november have finally dropped!

i wanted to focus on a cozy universally loved bird - the quail, specifically the california quail for both the sticker & print reward. the sticker sheet also includes the infamous grey partridge that many think are prairie chickens (i don't know how many times i've had to tell people prairie chickens don't live in saskatchewan). i love seeking them scurry around in the parks <3 it also includes the common quail which you can find in europe, asia, and africa. all of these are in the same order called the galliformes. i recommend geeking out via ebird to see just how many birds are in this family!

[redstringraven]

Fika

characters: don, klunk, leo, mikey and raph rating: g content warnings: n/a word count: 4288 relevant tags: sick fic, sick leo, post-episode: good genes

(n.) a moment to slow down and appreciate the good things in life a leo sick-fic, requested by @sakuradiva for @tmnt4p !

[ read on ao3 ]

You may as well have called the first sneeze an alarm bell. The instant it echoed through the reservoir station, each and every one of them in range perked up, heads swiveling like a bunch of prairie dogs.

Raph seeks out Don first. He scans the open first-level of the reservoir station until he catches Don’s eye--a second after Mikey does. Don glances between them, his expression at first wide. Then his lips curl downward, and he huffs. “—that wasn’t me.”

There's no attempt to hide the irritation in his tone (and Raph couldn’t blame him); a week or two of one helicopter sibling is annoying enough. Don had three. Plus Master Splinter. Plus April and Casey. Plus Leatherhead. Seven people in a semi-constant state of worry, hovering, asking questions, growing tense with anything that could be a small sign of 'relapse'. It had to get smothering at some point. And even Don had a limit to his so-called infinite patience.

“—Oh!” Mikey says. He pauses, his eyes darting from Don, to Raph, and back again--clearly scrambling to deflect from what Don had drawn attention to. “—Well. It wasn’t ME. My sneezes are a lot more… uuuuh…”

“Needy?” Raph offers.

“Yeah!” A beat. Mikey's eyes widen, then he shoots a squint at Raph. “—Hey, wait.”

“Sorry.” Leo moves out of the kitchen, mug in hand, having lowered the heel of his palm from his beak. “I, uh. I think I might’ve stirred up some dust while I was looking for the chamomile.”

Mikey relaxes, likely happy to accept this answer and move on, but Raph’s brow arcs. “Thought you’n Mikey gave the cabinets a good wipe-down earlier this week.”

“We did,” Leo says. He shrugs. “Guess… some of it must still be in the air. I dunno.”

...lying, Raph thinks, though he’s careful to keep the suspicion from reaching his eyes. He shifts his attention to Mikey just in time to catch the tell-tale signs of worry: a sudden stillness, like a deer in headlights, and the slightest strain around the eyes. It’s gone as soon as it arrives, and Mikey replaces any sign of it with an impish grin.

“Looks like someone was slacking on cleaning duty,” he jabs, knuckles propped on his hips. He tilts his weight forward and tuts his tongue. “For shame, Bronardo.”

Leo sends Mikey a passive smirk. He huffs and starts up the steps toward his room. His free hand finds the stair-rail and stays there. Raph locks onto it. He can't help but notice Leo's not resting his palm on the metal; he's holding it.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes with an idea of what we need to knock out today,” Leo says. There's a slight wilt in his posture—and now that Raph thinks about it, he realizes Leo's feet drag just enough to make his usual silent steps borderline audible. Raph shifts his weight and fixes his jaw, forcing himself to hold his tongue. Leo looks back over his shoulder after reaching the threshold of his room and continues, “Donnie, I’d appreciate it if you sat it out another day.”

Don sighs, but he waves a hand lazily over his head. “Heard loud and clear, boss.”

Leo’s door shuts, and silence settles back over the station. Raph remains by the weapons rack, and Don keeps his attention on the blueprints he has spread across the table he'd claimed as his temporary workbench. Only Mikey moves, plucking at one of his wrist bands, becoming increasingly uncomfortable with the subtle rise in tension.

“...--you think I can squeeze in just enough Resident Evil 4 that I can get far away from a save point, and he’ll have to wait until I reach the next one to turn off the game?” Mikey asks. He doesn’t wait for an answer; instead, he flashes Raph a wide grin and bolts for the couch with a cackle. The televisions flash and hum to life, and Raph lets out a blend of a sigh and a growl. His eyes shift to Don.

Don’s already looking at him. Even with the faint purple stains under his eyes, the mild sag of his skin, there’s a sharpness in his stare. Raph recognizes it. He knows they harbor the same concern.

“Donnie?”

“Yeah, Mikey?”

Mikey huffs as he enters Don’s room, scratching at his cheek.

“Have you seen Klunk? He was snoozing on me like usual this morning, but… I kinda didn’t want to get up and give him his breakfast just yet." A terrible betrayal, if he were being honest. But he'd really just wanted five more minutes (which turned to ten, to fifteen, to twenty), and Klunk grew bored of swatting his face. Totally lost track of time after that. Mikey frowns, sending another short glance over his shoulder to eye the station. "He must’ve gotten cranky and left, but he wasn’t in the kitchen.”

“No,” Don says. He rotates a bit more in his chair to face Mikey and sets his pen aside. His jaw tightens, shivers as he points toward the door (an attempt to redirect attention as he stifles a yawn). “But--uh. I know he’s really fond of that one spot by the water?”

Mikey shakes his head. “Checked. Nada.”

“Oh…” Don’s brow furrows. “Well… --have you asked Leo? He might’ve seen where Klunk ran off to; he's been up a while.”

“Good idea. Thanks, Donnie!”

Don grunts a sound in place of a “you’re welcome”, and Mikey jogs back into the heart of their new lair.

There is, of course, a risk he ran entering Leo’s room: he’d narrowly managed to wiggle his way out of work yesterday, and he doubted he’d get similar results today. Leo may not be… grumpy anymore, but he was still Leo. A bit of a stickler—a: wet blanket, one might venture. You could only keep up a single ruse with him for so long.

Leo's door is open when he reaches it (a welcome sight, considering how often it’d been closed in the months before), and Mikey allows himself to cross inside. The space is rather bare--with little left to salvage from the second lair and a mutant outbreak to clean up, they found themselves back at square one in terms of decor. But Leo still found a way to make the few things he had feel clean and in order. Mikey could feel almost a rhythm in the way he'd stacked books on the floor, where he placed candles, and where Leo chose to sit when he meditated. He’s also quick to spot the ball of orange fur settled into Leo’s lap.

“Hey, Leo!” Mikey chirps, careful to keep his voice just low enough so as not to startle either of them. He waits a second for one of Leo’s eyes to open before continuing, “mind if I steal Klunk off ya?”

Leo smiles. But it’s… a tired? smile? Mikey can’t remember the last time Leo looked tired in the morning (y’know; like a normal person).

“I’m surprised you didn’t come get him sooner,” Leo mutters. He closes his eye again. “Sure.”

“Thanks!”

Mikey takes a wide step into the room and crouches. He digs around in his belt, locating one of Klunk's favorite snack-tubes.

“Oh Kah-looooonkkkk,” he says, putting on his best sing-song-I-totally-got-treats-for-you-love-me-please voice, “you want some tube~?”

Klunk lifts and tilts his head. Rather than get to his feet and trot to Mikey’s side, he shifts his weight, tucking his legs securely under his body. Mikey blinks.

That's weird. Klunk never turns down an offer for tube.

Even Klunk seems to acknowledge this; his tail twitches irritably, and his ears flatten out. It's like he wants to get up but…

“...hey, Leo?” Mikey props his elbows on his knees, frowning. “Has Klunk been with ya like this all morning?”

Leo’s shoulders lift in a half-shrug. “Guess so.”

“Huh.” Mikey pouts. Klunk hated a late breakfast. There hadn’t been scraps in his bowl, so no one had fed him yet. Why isn't he screaming for food? ...he's definitely still sending me dirty looks.

Mikey drums his hands on his inner knees. He opens his mouth—another question forming on his tongue—but snaps it closed when Leo suddenly sniffs. It's a wet, strained sound, and his posture rolls forward a little. Almost like he’d just gotten dizzy, or the breath had taken more effort than it should've. Come to think of it, it... did look like Leo was breathing through his mouth more than his nose. His lips were parted slightly. Mikey squints—glances from Klunk to Leo—and straightens up. “...your, uh... nose still bugging ya, bro?”

“A little.”

“...iiiis that all that’s bugging ya?”

Leo frowns, but he keeps his eyes closed. His brow wrinkles. “What do you mean?”

“I dunno,” Mikey says, “iiiit’s just… y’look kind of tired? And… Klunk super doesn’t wanna leave your lap. Which is weird! Because he hasn't had breakfast! And I offered him a tube! He ALWAYS wants tube.”

Leo opens his eyes and frowns as he looks at Mikey. Mikey shifts his weight and wrings his wrists in his lap. Leo didn’t have that needling look in his eyes like he had a few months ago, but… guess he’d started expecting a half-hearted glare and a growl.

Leo must have realized this, too. He winces, and his features weaken.

“Mikey, I’m okay,” he says. Mikey's lips twitch into a weak smile, but it must not have looked convincing. Leo sighs, "really, I’m just… Maybe I've just got a cold.”

“—a cold?” Mikey echoes, all at once alert. His throat tightens. Somewhere, in the back of his mind, he knows it's irrational, but he doesn't care. He searches Leo’s limbs—any visible section of skin. But nothing looks open, or irritated or… mutated. They'd gotten separated in Bishop's lab for a while after Don got loose. Leo hadn't said anything about encountering other feral mutants, but...

Mikey rolls his lips together, eyes snapping up to meet Leo’s. “You… didn’t get, y’know. Stung. Or anything and didn’t tell us, did you?”

Leo’s expression drops. “What? --no, Mikey. Why would you—”

“—I should get Donnie,” Mikey interrupts, springing to his feet. “Just in case!”

“Mikey, I didn’t—”

“—I’ll be right back!" He jabs a finger at Leo and shakes his head. "Don’t even think about going anywhere! Klunk's loafing on you for your own protection!! DON'T DISRESPECT HIM!”

And he bolts before Leo has the chance to respond.

Don hadn't been the only one tailing Mikey back to Leo's room. Raph followed close at their heels, but he took to leaning on the corner wall rather than hover at Leo's side. Something Leo, admittedly, found himself grateful for.

Quick to busy himself as always, Don took to checking Leo for scratches, bites, stings--any possibility Mikey listed off, thought about or began to fuss over. Klunk, his duty now fulfilled, had grown tired of Don's close proximity, and he swiftly sprang from Leo's lap, trotting to headbutt and rub against Mikey's heels instead. He still circles them now, a soft, steady purr vibrating in his chest. Leo wonders if all cats are like this: aware and attentive of who needs their comfort, and so eager to provide. Or if it's something unique to Klunk... like the little animal knew Mikey had given him a better life, here, and he was in their debt. 

He almost snorts at himself. Probably silly to think cats thought in transactional ways... and something he still needs to work on, himself.

“You’re SURE he's not sick?” Mikey asks suddenly. He fidgets with his mask-tails, unable to stop himself from glancing in Don’s direction. “Like..." he winces, but hints anyway, "sick-sick?”

Don huffs, keeps his eyes down.

Leo frowns, and he shakes his head. “I didn't get stung or bit by anything, Mikey. I promise."

Unless we’re counting that mutant the dragons had set loose. There's a brief second where the thought sends a wave of alarm through his chest, but it's quick to settle. That happened months before the mutagen outbreak in the city. Surely, if it was a similar kind of illness, it would have made itself known by now. He'd been bitten long before Don had been stung, and Don's symptoms began surfacing in the following weeks. His brothers must be thinking something similar; Mikey continues to send looks in Don's direction, and Raph remains oddly quiet. The silence starts to feel heavy, and Leo winces. “Sorry, Donnie.”

“—don’t,” Don hastens, frowning at him. “Really.”

"So," Mikey starts, "he's not sick-sick? He's just... siiiiick-sick?"

Don sends him a dull stare. "You can just say 'infected', Mikey."

"Sorry."

"It's fine. But, no. I don't think he is." Don glances at Leo and shrugs. "There aren't any 'entry points', like he said. And I doubt he ate anything at Bishop's."

Leo grunts and wrinkles his nose. Mikey shifts his weight, unsatisfied. "What... --what about that thing we stole from Karai? --he's the one who touched it first. Do you think it cursed him?"

"Mikey--"

"--don't act like it's not possible, Don!" Mikey interrupts, clenching his fists at his sides. "We've time traveled! Space traveled! There's a whole city under our feet right now! --And--what about that... that big, red alien-monster thing that almost got Angel's bro?! --That old guy--he was totally cursed and stuff!! What if--"

“--it ain’t that deep,” Raph grumbles, his voice low but sharp enough to cut Mikey off. He pushes off the wall, propping his hands on his hips. “I bet it’s ‘cuz this bozo got back from Japan and hit the ground runnin’. Ain't stopped since.”

Leo squints, and Raph holds up a hand, 'counting' off his fingers as he continues, “I doubt ya slept on the boat trip over. Y’came lookin’ for each of us—got us all back in one place. Fought Karai. Got us back on our feet, the station up 'n runnin'. The first few mutants start showin’ their ugly heads. We get sent back to the jurassic period—”

“—cretaceous,” Don mutters, and Raph scoffs.

“Whatever! --Look, my POINT is, y’ain’t stopped movin’ once. You probably went and wore yourself out! Even more than usual!”

“You were kinda training like crazy for a while,” Mikey adds, rubbing his neck. “Like. A lot a lot. All the time. I guess maybe you chilled while you were in Japan, but... also not really.”

“Raph… has a point, Leo,” Don says. He looks to Leo and shrugs. “April’s talked about this sort of thing before. Like, when she was in college? She said during the holiday breaks, she’d come home and not have anything to worry about, and it was like her whole body released a ton of tension all at once. She’d have a horrible stomach ache for that first day home. Maybe… this is your version of that.”

“This is the quietest it’s been since…” Raph pauses, growls, and shakes his head. “It’s the quietest it’s been in a good, long while.”

Leo frowns. He can't think of any kind of argument. Or, at least, all the arguments that were coming to mind wouldn’t help with anything. Either Raph would get irritable, or Mikey would get antsy and more nervous than he already was. And Don... while Leatherhead had been confident there wouldn't be a chance of relapse, they'd decided not to risk anything. Guess it'd be pretty hypocritical of him to go on insisting he was fine, when they'd all decided he wasn't.

What was it the Ancient One said about surrender? Leo almost couldn’t help but smirk and chuckle to himself. “Alright. I guess I could take a few days to do nothing. Join Don in being a couch potato.”

“Sounds ideal to me,” Mikey says.

Leo’s smirk widens. “I bet it does.”

“If anyone deserves a ‘nothin’ day ‘round here, it’s you two workaholics,” Raph says, pointing a finger interchangeably between Don and Leo.

“And Klunk will make sure you both stay sitting down!” Mikey scoops Klunk off the floor. The cat mews in protest, wiggling for a moment before tucking against Mikey's chest. “He’ll be making the best biscuits this side of Brooklyn. Aren't you lucky?”

 Raph snorts, and he thumps a fist against Mikey's shoulder. “Mikey and I will finish what needs t’be done around the lair for the day. Take a load off. Enjoy free biscuits from the stupid cat, and be ready for movies and a hot meal t'night.”

Leo could hear Mikey and Raph in the kitchen, but he couldn’t tell if they were bickering or just talking. Guess those were one and the same when it came to those two.

He and Don had taken to the couch, as promised. Don tinkers with his shell-cell while Klunk watches from his lap, and Leo, settled under a thick blanket, adjusts the book in his hand.

It'd been surprisingly difficult to pick which of his few books he'd wanted to start, and there was something bittersweet in the reminder that he'd have to rebuild his library a second time. He'd selected one of the fiction novels--an old fantasy, filled with mists, magic, and a winding world. He'd already read it a time or three, but the familiar pages were comforting and easy to get lost in. A small voice in the back of his mind still grumbled and tutted that there was work to do, things to check, responsibilities and tasks he'd been setting aside for higher priority items. But he ignores it (for now).

Klunk stands and arches his back. His mouth splits into a large yawn, and he gives his tail a lazy little flick before carefully padding out of Don's lap. Leo smiles and chuckles as the cat moves onto his legs instead, already purring loud enough to drown out whatever conversation fills the kitchen.

Don smirks. “Looks like it’s your turn to get cat-sat, Leo.”

“Yeah.” Leo opens a hand so Klunk can headbutt it, and he ruffles his head with the heel of his palm. “Guess it is.”

Don chuckles. He sits back against the couch again and sighs, letting his hands and the shell-cell drop into his lap. Leo slants his eyes toward him. His smile sinks a little as he watches Don tug one of the throw blankets higher over his chest. “...feeling alright, Donnie?”

“Yeah,” Don huffs, “my energy just gets totally sapped after a certain hour. It’s really annoying.”

“I’ll bet.”

“Mn. ...what about you?”

Leo’s brow furrows. “I… think so? I mostly just feel… heavy.”

“Yeah.”

“But not… --not the same kind of heavy I felt before, just…”

“I know,” Don murmurs. There’s something… different in his tone, now. Leo can’t quite put a word to it. Don continues, “I think Raph hit it right on the money. You get back from Japan and… we get you back… but you haven’t really let yourself have much time to breathe, have you?”

“I could say the same to you,” Leo says, “you’ve been working to get the reservoir station up, functional and livable since we got here. Even while you were getting 'sick'.”

“Maybe. But… I hadn’t just come back from a huge trip with a completely different timezone—a-and, I hadn’t been…" He pauses, cautious. "...I dunno. ...struggling...? At least not like you."

Leo frowns. “Donnie. Whether you’re drowning in an ocean or drowning in a puddle… it’s still drowning.”

Don blinks, glancing at him. There's a moment where Leo can't quite read his eyes, but he remains quiet. Then, Don smirks, and he lets out a weak chuckle.

“I guess you’d know about that better than anyone,” he says, “considering you’re the one who dove in after me when my toy car almost got me waxed.”

“It’d be a pretty embarrassing way to go out," Leo says. "Especially for a turtle.”

“You’d also know a thing or two about that, wouldn’t you? Embarrassing ways to go out.” Don’s eyes glint, and his smirk sharpens. “Big Foot?”

Leo lets out a laugh, ducking and shaking his head in attempt to mask any show of sheepishness. “—Jeez! A guy steps on a landmine one time.”

“It wasn’t just a landmine. It was a landmine in clear water.”

“Please don’t remind me.”

Don laughs. There’s a small pause as his smile softens, and his shoulders sink into a more relaxed position. “...it’s good to have you back, Leo.”

“Hey.” Leo shifts his weight enough to gently jab his elbow into Don’s upper arm. “Right back at you, bro.”

“Alright, sickos.” Raph rounds the couch, his arms held out flat on either side of him. Two large plates balance on either inner-elbow, and in each hand he has a second plate and bowl of steaming soup. Its warm, soothing smell somehow seeps through all the congestion in Leo's nose and throat, and he sighs, letting it fill his ribs. He sits forward and extends his hands, offering to take one of the sets from Raph's person. Raph shoots him a knowing smirk, and he leans just enough to let Leo lift a plate from his arm. “Grilled cheese and tomato soup: comin’ in hot.”

“Oh, sweet,” Don says.

“Think you mean savory, dude!” Mikey chirps as he vaults the couch (and their heads). Leo passes Don the first bowl and plate, and he looks Mikey’s way as his brother drops to his knees to slide the remaining distance to the television set. He spots a DVD case in one of Mikey’s hands and realizes he recognizes it.

“—wait,” he starts, sitting up, “is that what I think it is?”

Mikey turns, flashing him a toothy grin. “Iiiiiiif you mean Kiki’s Delivery Service?”

“Where’d you get that?!” Leo asks, unable to hide the excitement in his voice.

“April,” Raph answers. He chuckles and hands Leo the other plate and bowl, “figured it was time t’start usin’ her access to things to our advantage.”

Don arches a brow. “Like we weren’t doing that already?”

“I mean, sure,” Raph says, “but Kiki’s a classic! Gotta look a bit harder t’get your hands on one’a those; ‘specially a copy that ain’t totally trashed.”

“And because she’s totally awesome, she SPLURGED!!” Mikey says, jamming a finger against the DVD player's eject button. “This one’s got behind the scenes—interviews--storyboards even!!!”

“He’s real excited about the storyboards,” Raph mutters, though he fails to mask the fondness coloring his tone. He ambles back toward the kitchen, likely to retrieve food for himself and Mikey.

Leo settles the plate and bowl into the blankets on his lap. Klunk rises from where he'd curled between Don and Leo, and he pads onto one of Leo's knees in attempt to sniff the tomato soup. Leo gently nudges him away. “No, Klunk.”

“Let’s put you on the ground until food’s eaten, little guy,” Don says. He scoops a hand under Klunk’s stomach and lifts him off the couch. Klunk protests with a soft, but long, meow. He allows himself to be placed on the floor, but the look he sends Don—paired with a flick of his tail—is more than enough warning that he’ll be back before food’s finished.

Raph returns with a second round of plates and bowls, and Mikey finishes setting up the DVD. He sprints to the light switch as Raph eases their meals onto the coffee table. The lights shut off, and they’re left in the cool wash of the screen’s glow.

What comes next is a feeling Leo can’t quite put into words. Mikey slides into the open seat on his right, and Raph settles into the nook at Don’s left. The room fills with a familiar score—A Town with an Ocean View, if he remembers the track name correctly--and Don thanks Raph for dinner as the two pass down napkins. Mikey shifts his weight, taking care to move and tuck the blanket so it's evenly distributed between himself and Leo. Then, he curls up, bowl in lap, and lets himself lean into Leo's side. He takes a napkin when Leo offers it to him, and Don and Raph begin banter over who gets the remote for the movie's run time.

Leo has trouble putting a name to this feeling... and even more trouble recalling the last time it fell over him, warm and soft, like an old blanket fresh from the drier.

A sense of peace. Familiarity. Safety and home. He wants to wrap himself in it and stay. Let everything else sink away.

"Remember the first time we watched this?" Don asks. He fixes the plate on his lap and settles a napkin over one of the grilled cheese pieces.

"Feels like years ago," Mikey says.

Raph lets out a soft snort. "'Cause it was years ago."

"Think we were eight," Leo mutters. "It was the first and only time Mikey ever wanted to be near a broom."

"You're just mad 'cuz I won the race," Mikey sniggers. He wiggles enough to poke his elbow into Leo's bridge. "Totally left you and Raphie in the dust. Which you had to sweep up."

"Oh, brother," Don sighs, and Raph rolls his eyes, letting out a low growl.

"Leo? Smack him. I don't wanna spill my soup."

Leo smirks. He shifts his weight, gently jabbing one elbow into Mikey's arm. Mikey whine-groans at him, but the end of it is colored with a chuckle.

Raph (apparently having won whatever game he and Don were engaged in) lifts the remote and hits the center button. The town's melody quiets, and the room goes dark as the title menu fades to black.

[runecatwrites]

All About Rift!

Howdy, Linked Universe fandom! I’ve been seeing a lot of headcanons and art about how our new lil guy would fit in with the rest of the Chain, which is amazing - he deserves all the love! I thought I’d make a list of things we know about him from the game so everyone can get to know him better.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

-His hometown is called Suthorn Village, and is at the southernmost edge of the map. It seems to be in a deciduous forest, but it never (or almost never) snows there, so the climate is probably like that of the southeastern US. He has his own house and lives alone.

-As a child, he was “stolen away.” Being “stolen away” is how people in this Hyrule refer to being drawn into a rift. Historically, it’s usually just children who are stolen away, and they never return. However, Link miraculously survived and made his way home, along with all the other kids he was stolen away with. This is probably because he and Zelda are the only ones who can move inside rifts, and it’s implied that not only did Link get out, but he rescued all the other kids that were with him too.

-Each person who’s been stolen away loses something. It seems that most of the kids lost their memories of the event, and became quiet and despondent after. Link lost his ability to speak, but that seems to be the only negative aspect for him. He also gained the ability to sense rifts, and so has dedicated his life to seeking them out and keeping people safe from them.

-He makes a habit of patrolling the nearby woods and protecting people from monsters. One of the first NPCs you encounter in Suthorn Forest/Suthorn Prairie area is calling out for help from Link, as he is surrounded by monsters while out foraging.

-He has a close relationship with Lueburry, an old man who lives in the woods near his village. Lueburry is a researcher and the one that crafted Link’s weapons, including the Sword of Might.

-He is very expressive!!! It’s noted that though he can’t speak, his expressions and emotions shine through loud and clear. It should also be noted that though he can’t speak, he can vocalize (like wordless yelling). So unlike Wild pre-Calamity, he doesn’t hide behind a mask and appears to have little trouble conveying his intentions and how he’s feeling.

-He seems to be fairly outgoing and is a notable figure in his village. He’s well loved! He makes a habit of interacting with people, including children. One boy in the village recounts how Link taught him about snow.

-He doesn’t know Zelda at all. He knows of her, of course, but they have never met (until the events of the game).

-He gains possession of the Triforce of Courage during the final boss battle with Null, but after the battle it seems that it leaves him and the full Triforce (or Prime Energy, as it’s called in this game) reforms.

-He gets his voice back at the end of the game. It’s noted at one point that he keeps fighting back against the rifts as if he hopes that if he fights hard enough, he might be able to speak again. And he does! After Null’s defeat, he and Zelda are teleported to Castle Town and Link is shown animatedly telling a crowd of people what happened, seemingly at great length.

[ohburgee]

𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐫

performance guide x wanderer!reader

c: soft yandere, soft obsession, imaginative threat, fluff an: I know Sky Cotl is a wholesome and cozy fluff but I want to show my love for the performance guide so I made a fanfic about him :3 Also who is in love with the performance here's the fanfic of him hope you Sky fans enjoy it, I'm a Sky Cotl fan and my heart devoted to that game <3 summary: you were a wanderer taking a journey and traveling through the kingdoms as you collected some information and helped others when you stopped by the Valley of Triumph to take a rest when an invitation from your friend to watch a show in the village theatre. You met the guide of the performance and he absolutely admired your kindness and your beautiful appearance and he fell for it like a light can't let it go.

You almost finished writing about the citadel in Valley Triumph when you heard your name called.

It's your friend, Sota. She helped you know the places in the valley and is the one who gave you a map. "Hey, I'm sorry to disturb you. I just came here to check on you," she said, smiling, and you smiled back.

"It's fine. I actually finished it. What is it?" you said and then asked. "If you don't mind going with me later to the theater it's a great show and also don't mind the food, I'll do it," she said and winked at you.

You chuckle and look at the sky it is getting night so maybe a rest here will be good since you're going back to Prairie Peak, your home place.

"Also you can take a rest at my house," she said and you nodded your head "Well head there before the night comes" she added and waved her hand then glided down.

A free theater show I guess, maybe you'll write it to your discoveries for the valley.

You have been a traveler, a wanderer you fly over the realms seeking beautiful things and places and also knowing other creatures.

After the tragedy happened you sought to yourself that you needed to know more about your world and understand it, you looked up to see the sun brightening.

You fall down from the high structure of the citadel then glide down going to the village to meet your friend after flying you reach the village as you look down seeing few people gathering in the small market.

Then you landed at the house of your friend then you saw her walking towards you carrying two baskets one it's on her shoulder then the other it's on her hand carrying it.

You quickly walked towards her and took the other basket and she smiled, "You don't have to do that" she said as you two walked "Nah it's fine I see you having difficulty carrying" you said and you both outside her house and put the baskets full of fruits.

Suddenly a person comes and you look up to see a bird-like mask, it has a gold long brow then an owl-looking hair, is this rhythm related?

Then he bowed and you and Sota bowed too, "Greetings my guide, you here for the fruits?" Your friend asked "No I came here for the theater show later" he said and Sota nodded her head then his face turned to you.

"Oh I'm sorry, I'm Y/N it was nice meeting you" You introduce yourself and offer a handshake and he takes your hand and kisses it.

"Nice to meet you too ah, Performance Guide, actually that's what they call me here," he said chuckles and you did along too "So are you around here?" He asked and you looked at Sota and she smiled and turned your head to him.

"No I'm a wanderer, traveling through realms and places writing some beautiful things this world has," you told him and he nodded as he looked at you like he admired something from you.

"Well I will be heading back to my theater, hope you two get on time," he said and waved goodbye before he walked away he looked at you and smiled and you couldn't clearly see his mouth but you could tell that his mask and the eyes making a sign of smile inside it, you bit confused and smiled back instead.

...

While he was just greeting people from the village of dreams he caught his eye to someone when he turned to see you ran towards your friend, Sota.

Sota was one of the supporters of his theater and he is very thankful for her support now he looks at you as you helped her carry the baskets and at that moment he admires how you suddenly helped her and the way you smiled at her, it was beautiful and peaceful.

I want to see that smile forever, it was peaceful to see such a bright smile.

He shrugged his shoulder bid goodbye to the people and walked towards you and Sota.

He looked at you and admired how you were really beautiful and cute and to compare on his height you are small and it made him even like you more.

You greet him and hold a hand which you think to handshake but he does something sweeter as he takes your hand and kisses it, and he looks up to your face.

Those beautiful faces wanted to see every time I woke up feeling the day was always good.

Then he asked about you and hearing that you are a wanderer discovering the whole realms he was amused at how you are alone to travel by yourself and that made him more like to you, maybe it's not like anymore.

Then he bid goodbye when his time came to prepare for a later theater show.

As the time came he prepared himself and his other friends, one of his friends, Frantic Stagehand came to him and patted his back.

"You ready my friend?" He asked and he nodded his head the curtain turned up and saw a few people start to clap their hands the performance guide went to the center smiling and bowing to his audience when he looked around his smile wide even more seeing you clapping your hands.

And the show started with the performance group doing their entertainment the Modest Dancer did an amazing dance then The Forgetful Storyteller made funny magic and the Mellow Musician made a rock song and the Frantic Stagehand made a funny small entrance and a lot of people were amazed and clap their hands even more as the performance guide next to entertain his attention was on you all the time when he performs.

When he finished he saw you smile brightly as if a light was coming to bless him for his shows.

Damn, my light.

When the show ended everyone congratulated the performance group and sayings goodbye to head home then you and Sota greeted the other's when you spotted another wanderer and you came to them and greeted them and talked about the discoveries and the journey they had.

The performance guide turned his attention to you as you smiled at the other wanderer and that made him a bit mad, seeing you showing your bright smile at the other wanderer.

No, why are you showing that smile to them, you should show that bright smile to me... Only me.

When the wanderer gifted you a small flower you took it and smiled and that even made the performance guide even more irritated.

If I could bring that wanderer to the wasteland and throw them to a field of krills and watch them lose their lig-

Before he could finish his imaginative threat a hand patted his shoulder and he turned to see his twin brother, Rhythm Guide.

"Hey bud you okay?" He asked his brother and the performance guide sighed and patted his brother's shoulder too, "I'm fine brother how about we eat dinner together" "Yes then brother" his brother replied and smiled at him.

"Hey, can we join?" The performance turned his head to see Sota and you and that made him blush and see you smiling, "Yeah sure might this beautiful wanderer be hungry" he said and smiled at you.

When you all gather in the dining room all of you pass plates of food to each other and talk to each other about some history and news that's happening in the realms.

When everyone was busy with their business, the attention of the performance guide was always on you as he stared at your innocent, beautiful face as you ate your food and helped others to pass the food.

He admired how peaceful you were there sitting in front of him eating, he could do this always when you two live together seeing you always together eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

If I would just take you as my companionship, and tell me everything you know about the sky realms, hearing those beautiful stories you know.

After the dinner, you all finished and decided to head home you and Sota bid goodbye to the performance group and you turn your eyes to see the Performance Guide and his twin brother, Rhythm Guide.

"We're going home now the night is out," Sota said and the two nodded their head, "Also my friend needs a rest since she is going to travel tomorrow" Sota added and that took the Performance Guide's attention and he looked at you.

No, I don't want you to go, please stay here for a while, stay with me.

"I'll be heading to my home place," you said to them and he nodded his head, yeah you needed to go home to your place, some people miss you.

"Where is your home place, little wanderer?" The Rhythm Guide asked and you replied "In Prairie Peak, I'm the apprentice of your fellow guide, Moments Guide" you said and smiled.

"Well it was nice having you here wanderer I wish your journey is safe also don't get killed when you go to the wasteland," Rhythm said and you chuckled and nodded your head.

The performance guide was smiling as he heard your cute chuckling, "Well then my beautiful wanderer I hope to see you again here in Valley" he said and you replied a smile to him and you took something from your pocket and took the small wooden figure.

And the performance guide took it as your hands brushed to his, he did that on purpose to touch your soft hand.

"It's a mini figure manatee, it's one of our creatures in our place," you said and he smiled and kept the mini figure in his hand like a light that needed to be cared for.

"Thank you, my beautiful wanderer"

[redheadspark]

20. whispering to them like they’re alone in the world Freburary Prompts with...Druig (No surprise here from me lol)

A/N - STELLA! I love this for our favorite Mind Controller! Thanks for requesting this, bestie!

Braid

Summary - Druig seeks you out after the near Emergence

Warnings - Angst and fluff mixed together

“Has anyone seen her?”

“Last I saw, she snuck to the second floor.  Probably needed to be alone,”

“Thanks,”

Phastos with a hint of amusement watched as Druig was making his way up the wooden stairs, rolling his eyes as he spoke up again from the loveseat where he was perked, “You know she might have gone off to be…I don’t know…alone?”

Druig ignored him, though Phastos only smirked and went back to talking to his husband and son on the first floor.  Druig was merely thinking of you and where you went off to as soon as you all made it to Ajax’s farmhouse.  You were mostly quiet on the Domo when you all left that beach, battered and yet still breathing.  Druig’s condition was still on the mend, the massive bruise in the middle of his chest thanks to Ikaris and his beams was making it hard for him to breathe at times.  He was glad to have dressed out of his armor in his regular clothes.  He knew he needed a good night's sleep, maybe a few cups of coffee to at least function, but that could be done later.

He needed to find you.

Once he made it to the second floor, he spotted one of the bedroom doors perched open and the view of an open window that showed the prairie landscape.  A crisp breeze came from the window, the white window drapes blowing by with the wind as Druig saw a flicker of hair from the outside of the window.  There was a person outside the window on the roof, making Druig walk through the bedroom door and right to the open window.

He sighed in relief at the sight. You, his wife of 400 years.

You had your knees tucked to your chest, and the sweater you were wearing made you a bit warm as you were sporting leggings and boots as well.  Your long hair was still somewhat in a Dutch braid behind you, though strands and snags were floating in the wind as your eyes were on the horizon.

“Darlin’,” he said in concern, his head poking out of the window as you were looking over in his direction.  He saw your bright eyes, looking rather calm and relaxed a bit as he smiled, “You alright?”

“I just need some time alone,” You replied, then grinning at him as you held out a hand for him, “Join me?”

Druig would follow you to the ends of the earth if you asked, even through intense pain or flowing fire if it meant you would be on the other side with him.  Druig took your hand willingly, crawling his way out from the open window to sit on the roof right next to you as you clutched your hand in his tightly.  He scanned your appearance, seeing the few scabs and scratches from the battle and yet you still look beautiful to him.  The softness of your cheeks, the brightness of your eyes that seemed like diamonds, Druig never saw anything so beautiful in his life on earth.  

“Here, let me fix yer hair,” Druig said to you as he moved to sit behind you, moving his fingers in your hair as you were looking at the horizon again with softness in your eyes.  You hummed, the sensation of Druig’s fingers along your neck and shoulder while he was fixing your braid was one of your favorite things he would do with you.

It started back when you two were tip-towing around each other, you asking Druig to fix your hair since there was a larger snag that was hard for you to reach.  Neither Thena nor Sersi were around to help you since they would have helped you in the past, so to ask Druig to help with your hair was a bit embarrassing.  Yet to your surprise, Druig was willing to help.  Feeling his fingers go through your locks, was almost a calming sensation that was almost hypnotic.

It was safe to say that Druig would do your hair and has been ever since.  

After you left with Druig when he separated from the family, you felt more at peace with your life with Druig at your side.  You two were head over heels in love, though you never shared it with the others.  In fact, you both were married in secret, wanting it to be shared with just the pair of you under the stars in the Amazon.  It was one of the best nights of your life on the planet.  

Druig was easily moving the locks of hair, knowing how to make the braid to your liking since he’d been doing it for so long.  At that point, he could do it with his eyes closed, but he loved watching your highlights in the sun as you finally spoke for a long moment or two.

“I was scared today,” You admitted, Druig pausing on his movements with your braids as you clutched your legs a bit tighter to your chest and watched some of the clouds go by thanks to the wind, “For the first time in a long time, I was scared that you were going to leave me,”

“No no, don’t think like that anymore,” Druig said in earnest as he kissed your clothed shoulder, wrapping you in your arms to lean against him and keep you secure, “I’m right here with ya, I’m not goin’ anywhere,”

You nodded, feeling him tuck his chin on your shoulder as you two held one another on the rooftop.  Druig loved having you in his arms, whether it was when you two were in bed together or simply watching the stars high above you back in your little village, Druig found peace with you.  No matter how dark his thoughts were or how lost he seemed, you were his safe space and true happiness. 

“We’re going to go to the stars, remember?” Druig whispered to you as you softly smiled, feeling his press his head against yours as he kept talking, “We’re gonna find others like us and tell them how to live like we did,”

“Like we did?” You breathed, Druig grinning widely as he snuck a kiss on your cheek.

“Living our best life,” He answered in a whisper, “Ajak would want that for us, and she’ll want that for the other Eternals that could be out there,”

“As long as you’re with me, I don’t care where we go,” You hummed, Druig squeezing you a bit tighter while you both were watching the sun hide away behind the gray clouds.  You were no longer thinking back to that small flicker of a moment when Druig was almost killed, you were not drinking in that joy that he was there with and not willing to let you go.  You both leaned and relied on each for for so many centuries, almost as if you both were molded together and would rather die than be split apart.  

To think it all started with a simple request to braid your hair.

The End