#shouting at the rain - the dear hunters

[reign-its-raining]

Shouting at the Rain

Whumptober: Day 14 feat. flare ~ water inhalation wc: 297

The thing about water… it was merciful to an extent, just as dangerous as fire. And yet, it killed flames. 

And the thing about Kai, well, in a deadly game of elemental Would You Rather, he would rather burn at the stake than drown. 

This fucking water burned in more ways than one. He laughed - inhaling more of the freezing substance as he did so. His lungs were screaming in his place, the water grated against fragile tissues as droplets swarmed the place they definitely shouldn’t be. At the same time his skin was crawling, numb from the tendrils of cold that pushed and pulled against his skin. 

The hands that (barely) held him in the rushing river pulled roughly and heaved Kai out of the water. The master of fire hardly even noticed. At first sign of air his body shook, gasping and choking on air and words and water. 

There was something buried inside him that caused every flinch, every recoil. Kai almost didn’t want to know what it was. 

A stiff kick reached his ribs and red hot to flared up his spine, the coughs grew more guttural. The asshole that was trying to kill him hadn’t been Kai’s priority for a good few minutes and it seemed to be getting to the poor guy’s head. 

Kai was too busy to care, his chest shuttered and struggled to bring in any more air than the bare minimum. The foot tried to nudge him onto the side. How thoughtful. The movement caused Kai’s blurring vision to spin, his stomach churning. 

If he could sell his soul he would. Just be floating in a realm without pain. Without the rushing rushing water. 

Something knocked him hard in the head and every conflict in his body dimmed. 

[moonstrider9904]

If you could get to know and/or write with another writer (or more) who would it be?

Hey there! Sorry for taking all day to answer this. You really got me thinking and I didn't want to give an answer halfway just to get it done quickly.

I would first and foremost want to write with my dear friend @photogirl894. As a fellow major fan of The Bad Batch, I think a mutual love for this show and the characters would make way for an awesome story, and plus, the way that she can bring her original characters to life is stunning to me. Y'all should read her works, such as Sun and Rain (Hunter x OC) and Mirrors in the Force (Kanan x OC)

I would also love to get to know @freesia-writes since I know the love for TBB is also mutual. I'm so in love with the way she writes Crosshair particularly.

Another writer I respect greatly is @nahoney22. Not only does Honey capture each bad batcher fantastically well but her personality is top tier and I think everyone should get to know her.

@darthzero22 is very dear to me as well, and we share many fandoms besides Star Wars that we have bonded over the years with. She is a kind, wonderful soul who writes beautifully and I'm honored to know her.

Of course @lizartgurl your writing does not go unnoticed as well!!

And there are so many other writers I'd like to give a shout out to! @eyecandyeoz @eloquentmoon @firstofficerwiggles @arctrooper69 @rowansparrow @arctrooperechy @emperor-palpaminty @dragonrider9905 @angelltheninth @imabeautifulbutterfly @justalittletomato and I'm sorry if I forgot anyone!! Y'all are incredible and getting to know any of you / write with you over fandom love would be AWESOME!

Thank you for this ask, Lizart!! I had a lot of fun giving this little shout out :D

[officialspec]

(this is about the music post)

im currently obsessed with the song Bird in Space by Screaming Females and it would be so so so so great to listen to a song similar to it. or just music with space themes in general

[clanborn]

for spotify wrapped: could you do mudclaw + 23 ? :)

I tried to give you all I had to give

But you just wouldn’t take it

No, you wouldn’t hear the words I cried out in the dark

‘Cause you had turned away

Shouting at the Rain - The Dear Hunter

[f1rstb0rn-auth0r]

Countryside Spidey

(Slight Hobie Brown/Spider-Punk x Spiderwoman!OC) (Little bit of Yandere Green Goblin! OC x Spiderwoman! OC)

Warning: A bit mature themes in the beginning

Emma Ritter spent two years in denial and grief. She was seventeen, turning eighteen in a month. When she was fourteen, she was bitten by a radioactive spider. 

Two years ago, her best friend, Henry Owens- betrayed her. She was going into her second year as Spiderwoman, the masked heroine when she so-called “figured out” the identity of perverted Green Goblin. Her conclusions came to Nickolas Owens, Henry’s father and CEO of Owen Industries. She never considered the possibility of Henry actually being the Green Goblin.

She went to confront Nickolas on November 7th at 10:37 PM EST. It was raining heavily that night. When she arrived on scene, she found Nickolas’ head on a little fancy plate, on a nicely set table. Around her lied different parts of Nickolas, and his blood seemed to have repainted the walls a scarlet red.

On the table where Nickolas’ head, fixed with a horrified expression, a candle was lit. Two wine glasses were set down, and then filled with Nickolas’ own blood. 

Emma looked at the man responsible, completely mortified. Henry Owens, her best friend, grinned at her. His black hair was drenched wet, indicating he just took a shower. He wore black dress pants, and a white dress shirt. His green eyes stared at Emma, with a rather lustfully and obsessive glint in them, rather then a murderous psychopath who just murdered his only family.

Henry walked up to Emma, and cupped her face with his firm hands, forcing her to look at him. He smirked when her lips parted. “My, my.” He giggled. “You showed up in your Spidey-Suit? Darling, I find that rather... hot.”

Emma felt beyond furious and terrified. She fought Venom, Vulture, Doc Ock, Electro, Rhino, Kraven the Hunter, Kingpin, and even Doctor Doom! Why would she so terrified of her own best friend who went completely nuts?!

“Why do you look terrified? I thought you wanted him dead.” He chuckles. “I overheard your conversation with Willow, how you were so convinced he was the Green Goblin! Oh, how you planned to confront him and kick his ass. Sorry, darling, I beat you to it.”

The rest was a blur, all Emma could remember was Faith Harrison, aka Black Cat stopping her from punching the lifeless corpse of Henry Owens and forcing Emma to flea the scene both the cops arrived.

Now here she was, almost three years later. Almost eighteen with long, light brown hair wrap-up in a messy bun with her hazel eyes clearly tired. She wore her black-and-red Spidey suit, but with her mask off. She also wore grey sweatpants and a grey cardigan sweater.

The brunette fell onto her Grandparents couch, absolutely exhausted. The week had been her running around stopping petty thieves, college interviews, homework, and managing to find time to eat and sleep and shower.

She was back in her home state of Sweet Minnesota. Visiting her beloved grandparents in their little town, called [REDACTED].

Her peaceful moment, like all her others, was cut short, this time by her grandmother letting out a fearless shout, “GET THE HELL OUT OF MY HOUSE, YOU COW LOOKING MOTHER-” It was clear where this universes’ Spiderwoman got her short temper and vocabulary of insults from.

Emma quickly jumps up and pulled her mask on while running into her grandparents bedroom. Her grandfather was out fishing with her uncle and father. Her mother, aunt and little sister were trap-shooting.

“Wow! Jesus!” A completely white man from head-to-toe expect for the small black spots across his body was covering his head as Granny Donna smacks him with a broom. “You are a very vile old lady-” 

The Spotted Man was cut off by getting round-house kicked in the face by Spiderwoman. “Grandma, are you alright?” She asks her grandmother, concerned written across her face.

“Oh, I’m fine, dear.” Donna Ritter smiles softly. “Now, I’m gonna go make some waffles. Deal with him, won’t ya?” She left the room. Unbothered Queen.

Spiderwoman opens the bedroom window, and toss the Spotted Man outside. She then jumps out and lands on his stomach before doing a front-flip off of him.

“I’m really getting tired of you Spider-people.” The Spotted Man mutters under his breath. 

Spiderwoman raises a brow. “Other?” She chuckles. “Buddy, I’m the one and only Spiderwoman. There is no others. No Spider-Man, no Spider-Girl, no Spider-Boy. Only me. Maybe in some other universe but not here.”

“I was talking about the Spider-people from other universes!” He snaps. “Spider-Man from Earth-1610! He turned me into this! Just look at me!”

“Uhh, do I have too?” Spiderwoman winces.

“Excuse you!? Look at you! You’re wearing sweatpants and a sweater over your suit. And what is that? A messy bun? How lazy are you?!”

“Bitch, I haven’t slept in over four days! I’ll kick your confused-zebra looking ass-”

“What is it with the people in this universe and swearing every second they get-”

 Suddenly an yellowish-orange portal appears above him and four other spider people land on top of him.

“Uh, where are we?” A Spider-Man dressed in a full-body black Spidey suit with a sprayed-painted red logo on it.

“Earth-16730.” The only Spider-Woman of the group tells him, she wore a black and white Spidey suit with a hood.

“Oh, hello this world’s Spiderwoman!” An Indian Spider-Man waves at me.

“Is she wearing sweatpants?” The first Spider-Man asks.

“Yes, she is.” Emma Ritter cross her arms. “Also, who the hell are you guys?”

“Where the hell are we?” Spider-Woman, looking around. “Like where in your Earth are we?”

“Countryside Minnesota, Miss. Lady.” 

“You fight crime in Countryside Minnesota?” The first Spider-Man asks.

“Only during Christmas. For the rest of the year, I’m stationed in the twin cities. It’s a lot easier to swing and shit.”

“Yeah, no shit.” 

“Wasn’t there four of you? Where’s the fourth one?” Emma asks, looking around the yard. The other three don’t say anything.

“I’m right here, Luv.” Said the fourth one from behind Emma, she turns around and is face to face with a punk. A Spider-Punk, eating a waffle. “Your grandmother’s quite nice, Luv.” Man was quite literally flashing between pink and red.

“I know she is...” Emma stares at him, wondering what the fuck is going on.

Spider-Punk suddenly grabs her by the hand and twirls her around. “And what’s your name, Luv?”

“Emma... Emma Ritter.”

“That’s a pretty name.”

[phanfictioncatalogue]

Fics Including Kath and Nigel (2) Masterlist

part one

2018 (ao3) - outphan

Summary: Dan has a chat with Kath, about his relationship and future with Phil.

a matched set (ao3) - cityofphanchester

Summary: “Mum,” he says, and his voice sounds like a balloon about to burst from happiness. “Mum, would you do me a favor.”

(a mother's view of the christmas adventure)

And, Like Putting On Glasses, I Saw the World in Perfect Clarity (ao3) - cactuslester

Summary: Dan thinks this trip to the Isle of Man will be like all the other trips to visit the Lesters. Little does he know, Phil has a 3 carat surprise for him.

Becoming a Lester (ao3) - scifi

Summary: it’s december 2009 and after dinner, phil tells kath about the nature of his relationship with dan

Better Than Planned (ao3) - TwistedRocketPower

Summary: Dan and Kathryn take a walk and have a talk.

Brave (ao3) - TortiTabby

Summary: A vacation on the Isle ends up being the worst and best place to be at the start of the end of the world.

catching up (ao3) - neopold

Summary: Phil's very tired and Dan talks to Kath on the phone.

Christmas at the Lester's (ao3) - troyiesivanie

Summary: Kath finally convinces Phil he should bring Dan up for Christmas, and it ends up being the best Christmas of his life.

december 10th: welcome, love (ao3) - angelmichelangelo

Summary: coming out isn't easy, but it's a little less shit when you're surrounded with family

december 18th: mama's boy (ao3) - angelmichelangelo

Summary: when phil said kath had put up that shout poster in his bedroom when he came home for christmas :3

no matter how old phil gets, he's still babied by his mum

even while the dust moves (ao3) - cityofphanchester

Summary: Nothing bad is supposed to happen when he’s with the Lesters. (Or, the day after Phil's birthday brings darkness, and Kath makes tea. Set 2019.)

family - phillestatos

Summary: When Dan met Phil, she never thought an eighteen-year-old boy could change his son’s life in that way and how he could become family to her. Or, a reflexion of Dan and Phil’s relationship through the years in Phil’s mum point of view. Too floof.

falling away (generations) (ao3) - CapriciousCrab

Summary: Nigel watches Phil's video and has a moment of realization

familiar perspectives (ao3) - cityofphanchester

Summary: Kath twinkles in Dan’s direction, and he knows she’s been watching his hands move across the puzzle. “Is he, now? Shame you’re stuck with him, then.”

(scenes from the isle, oct ‘21.)

Happy Birthday My Love (ao3) - phansuniteinluv

Summary: It's Phil's 33rd birthday!!! Laughter, fun, and a birthday proposal that Dan has been planning for ages!

he's his mother's son after all (ao3) - watergator

Summary: dan visits phil's family on mother's day whilst feeling depressed

house full of noise and laughter (ao3) - dizzy

Summary: Dan finds himself home alone at Kath on a late December morning.

House Hunters (ao3) - citizen101erased

Summary: Kath and Nigel go down to London to help Phil and Dan find a house to buy.

just me, her, and the moon (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: He's been thinking a long time about coming out, about how he just needs to be alone with his mum and then he can just finally say it. But now, he could really do it. He could really tell his mum he's gay.

Lester Family Hospitality (ao3) - yikesola

Summary: The morning’s misty rain has turned into a genuine Manchester autumn downpour. As Kath walks past a novelty shop, she spots a young man facing the brick wall of the building. His arm is bent against the wall, and he’s leaning his forehead against his arm, and the poor thing is shaking with what Kath fears might be sobs.

An au fic about hot meals and serendipity.

Long Live (all the walls we crashed through) (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: “Phil, dear?” Dan asks that night, when he’s climbing into bed next to his boyfriend. Phil makes a small noise to show he’s awake, and Dan prepares himself.

“Do you think you’ll ever propose?”

Silence.

The three seconds before Phil answers feel like an eternity to Dan, his whole world shifting, threatening to fall apart.

“When the time is right, I guess,” Phil murmurs, the tiredness clear in the way his voice sounds gravelly and deep.

When the time is right?

God, Dan thinks, it’s good that he loves Phil so much.

Or: a very special Christmas, featuring The Lesters and several boxes.

Love Isn’t Like That - adorkablephil

Summary: The Lester family is obviously too good to be true.

make this feel like home (ao3) - happy_endings15

Summary: It's senior year. There's two boys. And only one scholarship that will get them out of this tiny Pennsylvania town. But when the universe forces them together, Dan finds a mystery in Phil that just might force him to confront the most deeply buried parts of himself, whether he's ready or not.

Featuring high school theater shenanigans, college app stress, plenty of mutual pining, and DOG CONTENT!!!

midnight cereal (ao3) - watergator

Summary: kath wakes in the night to find dan in her kitchen

Missing you (ao3) - roman

Summary: Phil watched as the Skype call went through and Dan's beautiful, pixelated face showed up on his laptop. His smile was wide and he looked really happy, Phil missed seeing this side of Dan; he just missed Dan in general.

-

Phil is in Florida, Dan is not. Phil misses him

More Converts Than Reason (ao3) - iihappydaysii

Summary: Dan and Phil go to visit the Lesters for Mother's Day and each have a talk with one of Phil's parents.

safe place (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: when dan has an argument with his dad, the only place he wants to be is in the north, in phil's arms

The Christmas Fic || 2017 (ao3) - Yiffandquiff (paradisobound)

Summary: How Christmas 2017 should have went

The Isle (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: For Phil's 32nd birthday they go up to the Isle of Man once again. It's slowly becoming their favorite place on earth.

The one where Dan should have packed more tissues (ao3) - counting2fifteen, itsmyusualphannie (itsmyusualweeb)

Summary: Dan wants to ask Phil to marry him, but he wants Kath and Nigel's permission first.

turn my head with talk of summertime (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: there's a lot of sides to Phil that Dan hasn't seen yet, and maybe summer Phil is the one he's really looking forward to

Weight on my Shoulders (ao3) - ByTheFire

Summary: When Phil starts getting some unexpected gifts from his dad he starts to worry if he knows something he is not ready to share. Thankfully Dan is there to make it all a bit less scary. All Phil can hope is his dad doesn't want to change who he truly is.

What We Are to Each Other (ao3) - orphan_account

Summary: So maybe they both suck at communication. Maybe Dan needs to talk to Phil about what they are to each other. And maybe Phil needs to sit his parents down and tell them that big, slightly scary thing about himself. But maybe it'll all work itself out, one way or another.

wrecking ball (ao3) - bloodyscarab

Summary: you gotta wanna break the hearts

of all those pretty porcelain dolls

[mysticstarlightduck]

Excerpt from Enchanted Illusions:

@lassiesandiego @rickie-the-storyteller @writernopal @lyutenw

A little excerpt from my other WIP Enchanted Illusions, a Gothic Victorian Fantasy that follows the misterious lives of a few supernaturally unusual characters. This snippet happens soon in the story, as a young vampire named Clarence Van Sterlling races through the city to escape being caught by a mob of Vampire Hunters.

“[...] The young vampire raced through the cobblestone streets, dimly lit by the flickering amber glow of the street lamps mercilessly hammered by the falling rain. Thankfully, night had already fallen, because he had worse problems than the sun to worry about - like the fact that those Hunters would not stop until they put a stake through his heart, and how he managed to upset the most powerful Vampire Lord in the city. Whatever the hunters had in store for him would be child’s play compared to that man’s wrath. He had no choice but to run away. Though he had no idea what he was doing or what he would find the human world, he preferred it to the other options.

His speed had lost the hunters behind him, but not quite as quickly as he would have liked, a slash in his arm still bled from the attack with a silver knife. Clarence was soaking wet, bleeding, and in a part of town he could not be more clueless as to where he was going. Everything was strange here, it was nothing like Father’s mansion or the vampire neighbourhoods. A gunshot rang in the dark of night, sizzling past his face and hitting a wall in front of him. He startled backwards, his boots skidding to a shaking halt in the wet stone, red eyes scanning for the source of the sound. Far of in the distance, he barely noticed a metallic glint flashing through the night, but that was enough for him to dash on the opposite direction, just as a silver bullet flew right past where he’d just been standing. 

Almost tripping on his own legs as he made a sharp turn, shakily searching for somewhere to hide - if he kept running, those guys would catch him eventually, he thought, racing through the night with the last of his inhuman speed. All of the buildings around him where locked, he noted as he sped through the street, nearly toppling quite a few unlucky passerbies, leaving them a polite string of “excuse me” and “i’m so sorry”, as he looked over his shoulder to see the hunters gaining on him. 

Thankfully, he was reaching a more populated area, as the streets grew more crowded and the buildings became almost all lit - in another occasion, he might have find it beautiful, now, he was just thankful for the obstacles on the way of his pursuers. He almost smiled as he saw the Hunters struggling to push through the crowd, cursing him with their every breath. Everything was too loud, and bright, too strange and full of human people, and dear lords he was scared, but he had to keep running. Scrambling past a passing carriage, he took the chance to use it as the distraction he needed slide into an alleyway, dodging into the side and hiding by a pile of boxes as he watched the Hunters race past him. This wouldn’t last long. 

In an act of desperation, he looked to the alley behind him. It was dirty, and full of buildings squeezed precariously on top of each other. Almost all of it was pitch black, except for one. There were people gathered there, and there were sounds he could only describe as a mix of laughter and a strange song. He supposed it was some kind of inn, he’d read about those in Father’s library.

It looked unassuming enough, he figured, but still, he hesitated for a moment, stuck in place at the thought of entering a place filled to the brim with unknown humans, and looked around as if trying to find another option. That is, until a hauntingly close shout by one of the Hunters echoed in the street behind him, the silver cut on his arm flaring up almost as a warning. His blood ran cold. Clarence didn’t even think as he raced towards the strange building and all but threw open the door. Almost immediately, conversations ceased and the song came to a halt. All eyes were on him. He wanted to shrivel up and die as he closed the door behind him. He must make for quite a sight, he mused - his thoroughly rain soaked clothes already making a pool beneath his boots where he was standing, eyes frazzled like a deer in the lions den, long black hair clinging to his face awkwardly. 

Whispers slowly replaced the former conversations, and he stood by the wall peeking out of the window beside the door, as if waiting for the Hunters to barge in, but eventually, they never did. Pointedly, he avoided any eye contact with the humans surrounding him as he walked further in, bombarded by strange sights, sounds and smells, and settled in the furthest corner of the inn like a little ghost. At this point, he just prayed to whomever was up there, if there was anyone up there in the sky like the humans used to think, that the people here hadn’t stared at him because they knew he was a vampire. He needed a plan, one that didn’t involve running around on a wild goose chase, because he didn’t want to die just yet. 

On the other side of the inn, the strange, blond haired young girl disguised as a boy would soon become his only hope and he her only clue on her strange mystery, but first, they’d have to meet. [...]”

[smoosnoom]

Newtmas!!! I never read the books and I watched the movie for the cast rly cause big fan of dylan/tbs/kaya/will initially and I really liked the movies. I dunno if they're good good but they're fun to watch. My bf read the books after seeing the movies and really didn't like them lmao A song that reminds me of Byler, Dig Your Own Grave by The Dear Hunter reminds me of Mike and Will, maybe not Byler specifically but esp their self-sacrificing personalities. Also: Shouting at the Rain, The Kiss of Life, Bring You Down, This Vicious Place, Owls. They're kind of sad songs but like. Sooo good. If you don't like the songs I still highly recommend reading the lyrics at least! In fact just this whole album is great okaaay https(:)//youtu(.)be/fsTtegev-eAIdk I've just been on a TDH binge lately :D

omg thats the exact thought i had LOL i dont know if theyre Good good but they are so fun !!!! i loveee the first movie the most i think, just the hype and mystery and the griever scenes are sosooo good and exciting !!!! also seeing newt in his The Glade outfit <3 incomparable ! but yea the books and the movies arent exactly . on the same level LOLLL the movies are mostly just very entertaining with the action :D

also oh my god u were not joking "dig your grave" is so them 😭 "i've been staring at the edge too lok / wondering if my legs are gonna push me off" soooo mike at the quarry vibes . also "the feelign on the back of my neck / when i trouble trust in the person" ??$)#$ that is Literally will oh my god . the entire thing is very self-sacrificial and very them 😭😭

thank u for the recommendations :D ill be sure to check them out !!!!

[neocaridinas]

girls (me) will hear shouting at the rain by the dear hunter and have a middle aged man in front of a bathroom mirror type breakdown. like. I know! everything's a mess!!! but with a steady hand!!! I can fix myself among the men!!!!!!!!! h

[dfroza]

A simple Sunday sunset

the 27th of October 2024 in west Michigan

the 36th day of Astronomical Autumn

imagine life with no Light?

the world is black but (Light is Love)

some things may “thrill” us in this world, but we still have to find eternal treasure (above all things)

there is A beautiful simplicity in this

(and childlike faith)

the 6th track on the 2013 album Migrant by The Dear Hunter

The Kiss of Life

On a search for “significance”

And pressing reverse to the 5th track

Shouting at the Rain

[3dyingsucculents]

Description: The door to the owl shack with Hooty screeching that “HOOT THERE'S SOMEONE HERE” the mystery person is offscreen

MILD SPOILERS FOR HOLLOW MIND FROM HERE

Description: Eda answers the door pissed shouting “Who the hell is here I have a kid to comfort” this is in reference to Luz and this is presumably after hollow mind so if you know you know why Luz is so upset

Description: Eda realizes there is seemingly no one there and says “Ah hell is this some ding dong ditch” she is an annoyed and tired mom.

Description: At this point Darius jumps out of his hiding place shouting “where’s my fucking kid bitch” at Eda who replies “shit.” Darius has gone full feral protective guardian mode over Hunter who is currently missing because hollowmind. He is attacking Eda with an abomination enhanced flying kick from a hiding place off screen. Do I truly think Darius would get the drop on Eda like this? Not really but I wanted to have the joke of “ding dong ditch where’s my fucking kid bitch” of since watching hollowmind.

Description: Meanwhile the bat queen is asking Hunter “my dear why has my child (flapjack) brought you here?” Hunter between sobs hiccups out “I-I… F-Flapjack s-said you were s-safe and I-he’ll (belos) kill me.” He’s stuttering out the words as he’s still hysterical from learning the truth. While I enjoy the idea of him running into Darius, Raine, and/or Eberwolf when he ran into the forest also like the idea of the bat queen taking him in. As a grimwalker he’s part palismen (or at least the wood) and the bat queen takes in palismen who have been betrayed by their caretakers. Also flapjack would know the bat queen to be a powerful but safe resource who protected them for presumably centuries. Her taking in Hunter has the added bonus of her not being connected to any coven which at this point I think Hunter just wants to distance himself as much is possible from Belos and potentially society and covens in general.

[roodles03]

Cave of Confessions (Huntlow Fic) Chapter 2

Warnings: Dangerous Weather.

Word Count: 1,741.

Summary: With the boiling rains approaching, Hunter scoops up Willow and is forced to abandon their picnic to seek shelter, and once they find one, things start to get quite antsy and awkward.

********

Hunter sped through the air like a falcon, Willow and Clover holding on for dear life. Hunter furiously checked the ground, looking for any spot that could shelter them from the rain. He knew he didn't have much time before the rains would begin, which would burn all of them to a crisp. Willow had to wrap her arms around Hunter’s weist in order to not get blown away, and the fact that she was grasping onto him like this made her heart skip a beat. This was gonna be a long flight, and dang, Hunter really knew how to fly, didn't he? They were going so fast…no wonder he won the game for the Emerald Entrails back when they had met. 

Meanwhile, Hunter was far too focused on finding shelter to even think about getting flustered by Willow grasping onto him. His military training instincts had completely engulfed his mindset. He was on a mission, and nothing was gonna break his focus until he found shelter. After flying at max speed for several minutes, Flapjack was getting tired, so he was forced to slow down quite a bit. At this point, Hunter was getting worried, knowing he was running out of time fast. He couldn't find a single place for them to hide out which was getting rather frustrating, "Flapjack!!! Why are you slowing down?! We don't have time for this!" Hunter snapped. Flapjack tweapped at him, telling him if he sped up any more he was going to end up crashing from exhaustion. "Oh, of course," Hunter growled. This couldn't get any worse, but then, Hunter felt a hot drop on his arm, and so did Willow. There was no avoiding it now, the rain had arrived.

Willow gasped, knowing they were all about to get burned, "The rain is here! Hunter, we gotta hurry!" She shouted.

"I'm trying! Flapjack is getting tired!" Hunter shouted back, immensely frustrated. He winced as the rains started coming down harder, beginning to burn Willow, himself, and their respective palismen. To make matters worse, Flapjack only slowed even more from the pain of the scorching hot rain. Hunter was about to panic, knowing that he didn't have much time before Flapjack would run out of energy and they all would crash, leaving them stranded in the rain. He considered teleporting to try and avoid the rain, but that would only tire Flapjack out quicker. He was running out of options fast. Just then, a large boiling raindrop landed directly on the scar on his cheek, causing him to cry out in pain. 

Willow gasped from Hunter's sudden scream, "Hunter! Are you okay?!" Hunter didn't respond as right then he had spotted a tiny cave down on the ground. He instantly nosedived, rushing all four of them inside it. The cave was rather small, but it was more than enough to keep them safe for the time being. Willow hopped off Hunter's staff, Clover buzzing around her. Flapjack turned back into his animalistic form, visibly very exhausted and weakened. He began resting on Hunter's shoulder, barely moving an inch. Hunter faced away from Willow and Clover, looking out the entrance of the cave at the rains while grasping at his right cheek, "Alright," He moaned, clearly in pain, "This should be good for now." He inhaled through his teeth, grasping at his cheek harder.

Willow noticed that Hunter was in pain, the rains must’ve gotten him bad. She placed her hand on the shoulder Flapjack wasn't on, "Hunter, are you okay?" 

Hunter turned his head towards her, still holding the cheek his scar was on, "You know the giant scar I have here? Well, it's more sensitive than the rest of my skin and a huge raindrop landed directly on it." He eyed to the side for a second, not sure how to ask this question without getting nervous, "I-I know you specialize in plant magic, but…you wouldn't happen to know any healing spells, would you?"

Willow frowned, sadly shaking her head knowing she couldn't help, "No, I don't. I'm sorry." 

Hunter didn't say anything in response, instead giving Willow a simple nod of understanding. He then sat down on the rocky ground, crossing his legs over each other. He sorrowfully stared outside at the boiling rains, still holding his cheek. The weather in the demon realm was one thing he didn't miss about the place. Flapjack leaned against his neck, resting. He was completely worn out after that intense flight, and on top of that, he had done it while running on next to no lunch. He let out a pained chirp, letting Hunter know that he was gonna need a lot of time to rest before he could do anything. Hunter quietly petted him in response, knowing there was nothing he could do to help outside of letting the poor bird rest.

Willow couldn't bear to see Hunter so sad again. She had to cheer him up somehow, but this time she didn't know how. There wasn't really a bright side to this. She sat down on the ground next to him, quietly staring out at the rain with him. Then, she remembered something her dads always did whenever she got hurt when she was little. She turned to Hunter with a slight smile on her face, "You know, when I was very little and I got hurt, my dads would always give kisses to my injuries to make them feel better." 

Hearing this made Hunter's face instantly turn from pale white to bright red. Is she…implying she wants to kiss me? D-Does she want to kiss my SCAR?! He thought, internally panicking. I mean, it's not like I'd mind. Actually, I would REALLY enjoy that for some reason, but how would I explain that to her?! W-What do I do? What do I say?! AUGH! Hunter, think of something! Hunter tried to collect his rapid thoughts into words, but all that came out of his mouth were jumbled stammers. The nonsense that came out of his mouth only succeeded in him embarrassing himself on top of already being quite flustered. He gave up on speaking and turned his head away to avoid eye contact, feeling like a complete utter fool.

After seeing Hunter's reaction, Willow suddenly realized that what she had said could easily have been taken the wrong way. Just by his reaction Hunter probably thought she was implying she wanted to kiss him, when she was actually just trying to cheer him up. Well, she did want to kiss him, but definitely not without his consent. Willow quickly became embarrassed and frantically explained herself, "it's not what it sounds like, I-I swear!" She stuttered in a panicked voice, "I didn't mean it in the way you think! I'm sorry, I-I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable-" 

"You didn't make me uncomfortable!" Hunter blurted out, cutting Willow off while suddenly turning to face her. It went quiet as they gazed at each other's reddened faces for a moment. Willow gazing at Hunter's ruby eyes, and Hunter gazing right back at Willow's emerald eyes. Then, both of them rapidly faced away to break the awkward moment, both completely and utterly embarrassed from that whole debacle. 

About a minute of silence passed over. All that could be heard was the steam outside from the boiling rain. It was enough time for them both to calm down from that very awkward and embarrassing moment. Willow didn't want it to stay quiet for too long, though, so she forced herself to say something,  "Hey, Hunter, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault we're in this mess." Willow folded her arms, eyeing at the ground, "I just wanted to treat you to a normal, relaxing day after the nightmare that was the past month, and now look what's happened. We're trapped in a cave hiding from the rain, and now you're hurt. I should've checked the weather before doing this. I'm so, so sorry,"

"Captain, shut up-" Hunter growled in a slightly angry tone. This surprised Willow, not expecting Hunter to respond like this. Hunter looked at her directly in the eyes, showing that he was serious, "Don't you dare blame yourself for this! None of this is your fault!" He hissed. Hunter then realized how forceful he was being and then facepalmed, feeling like an idiot, "Darn it, I'm sorry, captain. I have no right to be talking to you like that. It's just…" Hunter tensed up a little, somewhat hesitant to admit this, "I can't stand seeing you being down on yourself like that when you're such a powerful, confident witch." Hunter brought his knees close, holding his leg with his free arm. "Honestly, if anything, this is more my fault rather than yours. I was the one who grabbed you and took off. I didn't even think about it. I just sort of…reacted. I don't know what I was thinking. I should've just let you guide us back home," He stared back outside at the rain for a moment, "Look at this mess. Who knows how long we're gonna be stuck in here for." He buried his face in his knees, becoming completely engulfed in his self-doubt and guilt, "I was being stupid, I'm sorry."

Willow put her hand on Hunter's shoulder again, causing him to pull his face out of his knees and look up at her. She glared at him directly in the eye, letting him know that now she was serious, "Hunter, one, you're being a hypocrite, and two, you're not stupid, and you know what, there's no point in blaming ourselves for this. It's not gonna get us anywhere," she smiled weakly, "Besides, even though we're stuck here, at least we're stuck here together, right?" She then gave a wink, "Us half-witches have to stick together."

Hunter's eyes widened, feeling his cheeks heat up once again. That last bit rang in his head like a bell. 

‘Us half-witches have to stick together.’

He didn't know why, but hearing that was touching. Deeply touching. The captain was so compassionate and sweet. She clearly cared so much about him. His heart skipped beats as he silently stared at her, unable to look away as he drowned in her beautiful green eyes, speechless. Willow grinned, a faint blush dusting her cheeks, "Come here," she then pulled Hunter in for a hug, which made those strange feelings he was experiencing nearly explode. 

********

Notes: I figured out how many chapters there will be, there will be four, and this is the shortest one. I will be uploading the next two chapters on the 16th and 20th of June, so there's something to look forward to!

Read full fic at #Cave of Confessions Huntlow Fic

[ashintheairlikesnow]

Zero pressure at all but I desire some modern Auri fuckin people up in their usual ways. How about they make a snack out of a random homeless kid they find on the streets with Erich? They don't have to be mean to them, actually, but y'know, it IS whump...

CW: Vampirism, blood drinking, ~murder!~, Auri being immensely fucking creepy, dubcon touch and kissing, nonexplicit spicy times

-

"When Irish eyes are smiling, sure it's like a morn in spring," They sing, voice low and husky, seemingly too deep for their lithe, lanky frame. They move with their head tipped to one side, blood-spattered white-blond hair hanging across cheekbones, sliding smooth as silk against jaw. Their eyes glimmer as they move in and out of shadows, flashing brilliant like a cat's, slit pupils blown wide in excitement.

They walk slowly - the prey runs.

It doesn't matter.

The man stumbles back and away, trips over his pretty rose garden, shaking droplets of water like a whole new kind of rain, scented lightly in a way that makes Auri think of perfume. The world is a heavy, humid fog around them, too warm and yet they feel nothing but the breeze.

They laugh when he falls, watching him scramble to stand. He's up and moving again, sure he'll survive them, but of course it isn't only them he should be worried about, now is it?

"In the lilt of Irish laughter, you can hear the angels sing..."

"Shut up!" He shouts, half-screams, and their laughter rises over the top of it until a light in the grand house behind him turns on. Auri looks up, bathed in darkness, to see a little girl pushing a window up to open it.

"Daddy?"

"G-go back inside, Frances!" The man's voice trembles, and Auri licks at their lips, a shudder of desire for that fear racing down their spine, the thrill of a hunt nearly finished.

"I am inside, Daddy, what's going on?" She can't be more than seven, the pretty thing. Auri looks up at her. "Is Mummy outside there with you? Or... or should I go get her?"

"No!" His voice is less a scream than a shriek, this time, and Auri feels the purr beginning to rumble even though they haven't bitten him yet. "N-no." The man tries to calm himself, and Auri holds perfectly still, all but invisible beneath the shade of some ancient tree, the last of what must have been a forest here, once. Now it's all civilization and boring as fuck. "No, darling. It's just... Daddy was thinking about a scary dream, that's all."

His eyes land on Auri's, and he holds their gaze in a sudden burst of bravery. That English stiff upper lip, they suppose, their own curling back to bare their fangs. The English always did like to say they could stare death down with dignity.

Well.

Auri would see about that.

He keeps their gaze, and repeats, quietly, "It's just a nightmare."

The words are a plea.

The little girl hesitates, then closes her window, and Auri lifts their chin, listening to the faint sound of her little footsteps as she races down the hall to wake her poor dear mum, so soon to find her darling husband dead in the garden.

"Please," He says, softly, putting his hands up to them. Harmless, unarmed, whatever he thinks might engender pity - but they are far too old and merciless for that. This is far too fun a game. "Please, let this be only a dream-... please don't hurt my wife-... my daughter-"

He backs directly into Erich, a solid steady weight. As hard to move from his place as any tree.

When the man spins around with a cry of alarm, Auri leaps.

Their hands curl around his once-strong biceps, their fangs bury into his shoulder, right through the thin fabric of his nightshirt when they misjudge the spot. They spit cotton and have to pull back and grab and tear it right down the seam before they can bite him again, ignoring Erich's mocking laughter as they pull heavy blood thick with gin, laden with overwhelming cheap false juniper, from the wounds they've made.

"What a mighty hunter you are," Erich teases, cruelty in his gaze, watching as they pull the man to his knees in the grass, dew soaking into every ounce of clothing both of them wear. He only watches - his own eyes sparkle bright while he waits.

"Killed you easily enough," Auri hisses, blood smeared around their mouth in a horrific pantomime of lipstick before they lower their head to drink again.

He snorts. "I was not in my right mind at the time."

"Are you ever?"

They take their fill, then rip out his throat just to see the last spray of life's blood before the body goes still. They stand, slowly, swaying from side to side. They're spinning with the gin he'd had in his veins, and the empty bottle lies on its side not far away. The smile they give Erich is loose, and they exhale in a sound not quite unlike a moan.

"Drunk," They say, as if discovering a new revelation.

"I'm shocked to hear it," He replies, kicking the dead man onto his back to see the way his eyes are still white-rimmed in horror. "He smells like a liquor store." Lights come on in the house behind them, cries for the father and husband who now cannot hear them. The little girl and her mother. Auri licks their lips, only to see Erich shake his head.

For once, they listen, and wonder who else, in other yards, is out in the middle of the night for the taking.

"I wanted children," Erich says suddenly, looking in the direction of the door, as if he will simply stand here and wait for it to be open. "Before the war. Before I fought, before everything around me died. I wanted children, and a family, and-"

"And I wanted to study with Botticelli," Auri replies, grabbing him by the hand and tugging him away. "You see how our dreams come true."

He can't resist their wants - he follows them all but helplessly, and they giggle as they hear the first screams when the man's body is found.

"Tell me he was wicked," Erich says, in a burst of earnest and sudden self-disgust. "This man I helped you to kill. Tell me he was wicked, like the others have been."

Auri is silent, focused on trying to walk steadily when their blood seems to slosh like the last of a bottle in a bar passed around the regulars. They make it to the road at the end of the drive before Erich spins them around, puts his hands to either side of their face, and looks them in the eyes.

"Tell me he was wicked," He whispers. "Evil. Tell me he deserved to die."

Auri stares right back, then leans forward and kisses him, opening their mouth until he licks the blood back off their lips, until they feel him shudder, his dead body coming to life. "He was evil," They say, only slurring their words a little. "And he deserved t'die. Better?"

"Are you lying?"

"Does it matter?"

He growls and they bark laughter right back, pulling him across the road and into someone else's yard, shoving him onto his back on the ground and climbing on top of him, straddling his thighs with their knees on either side.

"Auri-"

"Sssshhh." They press a finger to his lips, looking up to listen as the sounds of sirens begin to wail in the distance, coming ever closer. "We're going to listen to their agony, Erich., as they see him."

"I don't want to hurt innocent people-"

"But you will." They pull his head down to their neck, feel the way he starts to open his mouth by instinct before, with difficulty, he manages to pull it back again. "No. Nein. I said drink."

"You didn't say-"

"I say it now. Drink."

Their fingers bury into his short dark hair, the occasional hint of gray showing through. "When Irish hearts are happy," They sing in a whisper against his ear as his teeth just barely graze their skin, fighting with all he has, "all the world seems bright and gay..."

"You are not Irish," He hisses back. The fresh blood in them smells maddeningly good, though, they can tell - his mouth is watering, his pupils widening, overtaking his iris and lust is overwhelming all his silly remaining morality. Their commands are overriding any hint he has of an ability to control himself. "We are both German."

"No such thing as Germany when I was born," Auri says, laughing again. "We are both dead, Erich, and that is all that matters. Feed from me, meine Liebe-"

"Don't call me that." He hissed and then gave in.

He bit into them viciously, tearing open the side of their neck, and they had to muffle their cry of pleasure with a fist shoved into their own mouth as the stolen blood burst free to fill his.

Even still, they heard from across the street a woman's anguished voice call, "Did you hear that sound?"

They almost can't help the laughter, even as Erich's hands make quick work of their jeans, yanking them down their hips and discarding them to one side, his own pants pulled halfway down his thighs while he still has his fangs buried in their neck.

"For your smile is a part of the love in your heart," they sing in a half-whisper as they spread their legs for him.

"Shut up," He growls, as they lock their ankles behind his back and jam their heels into his skin.

"And it makes sunshine even more bright-"

He jams his hand over their mouth to stop them, and they bite those fingers hard until he groans and lets go again, both of them smeared in red, moving in unison.

They'd been ready for him from the second they had bitten the poor asshole who'd had the bad luck to have insomnia too close to a hungry monster.

By the time he starts to lose himself, hips rocking with abandoned thrusts that would have broken the living, both of them are purring and he has their hands in his, shoved above their head. Their fingers brush a dandelion, yellow as the sun even in the darkness. Friction rubs, pleasure building and building, coiling a spring that soon must snap.

They come with a burst of laughter, and though he glares his body follows their commands effortlessly, even the wordless ones, and he finishes inside them.

Across the street, their laughter drifts, sparkling and brilliant as shards of glass waiting to be stepped on. Men and women standing around a corpse look up, and then run towards it.

The police find nothing but the impression of a human figure in wet grass, and blood from the dead man across the street spilled on the ground.

And also a pair of discarded, forgotten jeans.

-

@mylifeisonthebookshelf @insaneinthepaingame @keeper-of-all-the-random-things @finder-of-rings @newandfiguringitout @astrobly @endless-whump @pretty-face-breaker @gonna-feel-that-tomorrow @doveotions @boxboysandotherwhump @oops-its-whump @cubeswhump @whump-tr0pes @downriver914 @whumptywhumpdump @whumpiary @orchidscript @nonsensical-whump @outofangband @hackles-up @thefancydoughnut @evermetnotforgotten @wildfaewhump come get y’all nonbinary whumper

[navar44]

Hunted

A bit of writing based on @aaytaro-gt ‘s Inktober prompt list.

Day 11 - Monster

==

Dear journal, 

I ruined my last sock today. The hole in the sole did not hold up well after the rain yesterday, and my foot tore through it this morning. That leaves me 100% sockless now.

I still have my boots, as worn down as they are, but the chafing is already annoying since I’d been swapping which foot my sock was on last week. I might need to use those dinky sandals now, but they’re not really made for rugged terrain.

I miss when I first got here and my pack was full of the gear I’d packed for camping in the Catskills. When I’d wandered amongst the trees that were as tall as I was, watching tiny deer and little bears scatter at my feet.

It was weird, but I had what I needed. Now that it's been nearly two years, I just miss things my size. I miss bathing in warm water. I miss eating normal food, I miss latrines. I miss my friends, my parents.

The writing smudges out

Sorry journal, They found me again. Not that it's hard for them to find me, I leave giant trails, but they caught up all the same.

I miss not being treated like a monster.

When I first came across the village in the mountains, I hadn’t known what to do, but the villagers wasted no time riddling my clothes and arms with arrows. They stung, so I ran.

They must have told someone about me, because these hunters, for lack of a better term, started popping up all over the valley. I’d leave if I could, but the mountains are very cold and tall and the only pass between them is through the village.

I’ve tried talking and reasoning with them, but they speak a language I don’t know; it sounds like nothing I've ever heard before. I wonder if they’d even listen anyway.

The only saving grace is that I think they think I'm harmless. They’re not trying incredibly hard to kill me, which I’m sure they could, given time, and I have made sure not to harm a soul. 

Hell, I even saved one of the hunter’s lives when a boulder nearly crushed him! I don’t think he’s come back at least, but the others always do.

One is a barrel chested man with a crossbow and two dogs. The bolts stick in my skin like large splinters, and it's hard to not hurt the dogs as they run between my feet. I usually just run as fast as possible until I reach the highlands past the river, then I just try to hide in the mountains until the barking fades away.

Another is a trio, wielding bows and arrows lit with pitch or tar. Those three have ruined most of my clothes, destroyed my sleeping bag, and they even stole my matches! They don’t pop up as much, but they’re always shouting what I can only imagine are insults.

There's a pair, who I think are married, that hunt me on horseback, another group that seem more like mercenaries than hunters, some kid who probably just wants a name for himself, and many more that come and go as the seasons change.

After two years you’d think they’d stop, you’d think they’d realize I didn’t want to hurt them, I didn’t want to scare them: I just want to go home. 

[beansthough]

•His Brave Hunters•

{Ch.2} Fondness and Butterflies

Warnings: fear, fear of death, misunderstandings, a little angst, minor injuries, confrontation

If Karl was being honest with himself, he was panicking like he never had before. He currently had a human in a firm but gentle grip as he struggled to finish freeing himself from the many ropes and nets. He had to get out of here before the other hunters came. 

The small hunter squirmed in his grip trying to get free as he finally cut his legs and feet free. He moved onto his other other hand that was stuck to the side of the hill. What am I going to do with the human? Karl had no idea. Karl pulled onto the restrains and finally they gave way just in time. Karl heard the shouts of a distant human. Oh no. He quickly glanced down at the human wondering what to do. Karl gasped. Tears were streaming down the man’s face, he flinched at the eye contact from Karl. “Oh no no no, please don’t cry,,, shh shh.” Karl tried to comfort the human, but only panicked more as he heard the shouts get closer. Karl stood to his full height and held the struggling human to his chest. He needed to escape.

The human let out a few more muffled cries as he seemed to hear the shouts as well. “I’m sorry...” Karl whimpered. He climbed the side of the hill and ran into the forest. He had to go back to The Otherside. I can’t put him down here, he’ll yell and give my position away. Karl continued to run, glancing at good spots to put the human. Everywhere he looked there were Monsters and he knew for a fact the little guy didn’t have anything to defend himself. He would have to hold onto the human for a little longer.

Sapnap returned to the campsight to find Quackity missing. He didn’t panic at first. He probably went to check on the trap. “Quackity! Where’d you go?!” He called around the camp. “Big Q?” Now he was concerned. Quackity always answered back when they went on hunts. Maybe he just didn’t here me...

A rumble of thunder roared in the sky above. It would rain soon. “Quackity!” He shouted once more. Then he heard it. It wasn’t the thunder, no, it was far to close to the earth. The Trap...

Sapnap sprinted to hillside cliff where the trap was left. Surely that wasn’t the ropes and net he heard ripping. He sprinted out of the tree line just in time to see trees sway back into there original position on the other side. Sapnap felt his face pale as he saw the nets and ropes torn to shreds. He quickly slid down the muddy cliff to investigate. He walked around in total disbelief, then he saw it...

It....it was Quackity’s songbook. Sapnap quickly picked it up before it got caught in the rain. Quackity would never be so careless with this. Sap looked back to where he saw the tree line sway. Oh dear gods....

Sapnap quickly pulled out his arrows and readied his bow. He sprinted up the hill as fast as he could across the clearing. The Beast had Quackity. If Quackity wasn’t dead already. Sapnap felt his lips quiver at the thought. If anything happened to his fiancé, there would be hell to pay. Rage took over as he started screaming for the beast next. “I’LL KILL YOU! I SWEAR IF YOU LAYED YOUR HANDS ON HIM YOU’RE MORE THAN DEAD! YOU HEAR ME?!”

Quackity has no idea how he was even conscious. He really did think he would have passed out from fear alone at this point. No, he wasn’t surprised he was conscious, he was surprised that he was even alive right now.

Fingers bigger than tree trunks were currently wrapped around his body, and he was squirming all the while. The giant was saying something to him, but Quackity could barley hear him over the beating of his own heart.

It had just started to pour after a loud crack of thunder, and now rain mixed with tears. The rain silenced his already muffled cries as it fell around him. Quackity felt like throwing up. He wanted Sapnap. Why did I have to go to the trap by myself?

Quackity was pulled out of his thoughts when the Monster and himself came upon the true border of the lands. Quackity had never seen The Otherside before, but he wasn’t an idiot in guessing that the gigantic,large, purple-black trees were a little out of the ordinary. Only in stories did he ever hear about them.

The giant stopped abruptly, and Quackity thought that this was it. The giant quickly checked his surroundings and ran into the trees, making all sorts of twists and turns. The running stopped and the rain calmed down. The giants slow heavy breathing was the only thing filling the air.

Quackity’s eveys widened at the sight was a rather cozy, but giant cottage door inbetween some large trees and a rocky hillside. Oh dear gods, the beast had took him home.

The giant opened the door and let it close behind him. He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. His gaze quickly shifted down to Quackity, and he couldn’t help but let out a whimper at the sight of those dark eyes on him.

They started to move again and finally the giant set at what appeared to be a stone table. The thumb was slowly lifted off of Quackity’s mouth and he was set on to the table ever so carefully. He immediately started pleading for his life, for what else were you supposed to do. His desperate pleas finally slowed down as sobs overtook him once more.

The giant turned around and started digging in a drawer for something. Quackity’s heart froze thinking about all the terrible things the monster would do to him. But the last thing Quackity expected was for the Giant to pull out a soft white rag, and gentley drap it over Quackity’s shoulders. For the first time in all that night, Quackity heard the giant. “Hey You’re alright, I’m not gonna hurt you little guy.”

What? Quackity’s mind went blank as he stared up at the giant’s looming, but surprisingly handsome face. “Y-you’re not?” Quackity quietly spoke out. His eyes widened at the incoming of the giant’s hand and another white rag. He flinched away from the hand, and the giant hesitated before whispering out some more sweet nothings to him. “I promise you, you’ll be alright. I’m gonna let you go as soon as the daybreaks and the storm lets up.” Quackity didn’t flinch again as the giant gently wiped his tear stained face with the warm damp rag. It felt surprisingly nice as the giant worked to remove the dirt and grim he received in fall down the hill. And now his terror had finally calmed down, he started to feel the soreness in his ankle.

The giant pulled away and accidentally bumped his foot, moving his ankle in the process. Quackity let out a yelp of pain before covering his mouth. He looked up at the giant in worry, but it soon turned into confusion as he saw the giant’s face turned surprised to panicked. “I-I didn’t hurt you did I? Oh no I’m so sorry.” He stuttered out, and now that Quackity thought about it, the giant had never hurt him.

“U-Uh no, you didn’t. It must of been when I fell down the cliff earlier.” Quackity explained with a nervous glance at him. “W-what are you gonna do with me?” He finally asked the question that was eating away at his soul. The giant stared down at him with a blank look on his face. Then recognition showed in his eyes. “Nothing, nothing at all. I promise I’m not gonna do anything to hurt you I swear.” Quackity felt his nervousness turn into anger as he started to question the giant more. “Oh, so your pet then? Or am I just a small little snack for later?!” Quackity spoke with venom. “You’re just gonna steal me away and eat me?! Like you do to the people of the village?! Huh?!” The beast’s eyes filled with shock and then fear to Quackity’s suprize.

“What? N-no I would never harm anyone from the village! I didn’t steal anyone away, I just took a few of their resources every once in awhile. I swear I would never hurt anyone!” Quackity glared a thousand daggers at the beast and continued on. “Then why did you take me then?”

“I panicked, okay! I didn’t want to leave you so you could tell the hunters where I went! And I wasn’t about to leave you out in a storm, unarmed, with monsters all around! Just please don’t let the hunters find me!” The giant cried. His hands curled around Quackity, but he surprisingly felt little fear of them. “You’re afraid of the hunters?” He questioned in a soft tone. The giant slowly shook his head yes, and rested it on the table facing Q.

“What’s your name?” Quackity asked in a soft voice. The giant wiped a tear from his cheek and mumbled out a tiny “Karl...” Quackity nodded his head and thought really hard. If this giant-.No, if Karl wanted to do anything bad to Quackity he would have already done it. He hadn’t hurt him in anyway, and if he was faking all the emotion he’d shown to the smaller man for some sick trick, then he must be an amazing actor. Big Q sighed, reached out, and patted the giant hand. This was crazy.

“My name’s Quackity.” He finally broke the comfortable silence as he stroked the Karl’s palm. Quackity looked up at Karl to see his giant cheeks flush red, at the sight quackity felt his own turn darker. “I wish we could have met under better circumstances.” Karl whispered to him. Quackity nodded, agreeing with him.

“Are you hungry?” Karl asked and finally broke eye contact with Quackity. “Uh yeah, I could eat.” Maybe this Giant isn’t so bad after all... Quackity watched Karl with a strange new fondness as he watched him go through the cabinets to pull out a jar of cookies. It wasn’t fear giving his stomach butterflies.

The harsh storm had finally let up. Sapnap stood at the border of the Inbetween. Mud and scrapes covered his figure. He glared at the Otherside with a new found hatred rooted deep in his soul. He would get his Bard back. If he could not, he would make sure the Giant would go through a long suffering death. He took out his sword and started onwards through the strange woods, following the broken branches and occasional giant footprint, cutting down any monster that came across his path. He was getting Quackity back, even if it was the last thing he would do.

[of-forossa]

"How many times have I burned you?" The inquiry came suddenly, sharp and to the point, "How many times have I left you freezing to the core, or eaten by rot and stopped dead in your tracks? My dear, adamant hunter mine, you are not my eager Hawk, and I linger not in your way? Why hunt me so? What was promised to you if anything of true value?" She steps around him in half, circle-- every word spoken with a rolling coo, every last one carefully expressed in that sing-song and melodious way of hers. The one that welcomes answers as readily as it taunts, "You pursue a phantom-- something you cannot touch." Her words settled, simmering out on a low note as blackened finger tips move from neck, to shoulder to the shape of his powerful jaw urging him to look upward with a turn of her wrist. His gaze meant with the frigid silver glint or her own, not permitting him even a second to glance away. Lush lips pressing into the shape of a thin and fatigued frown.

"That is exactly why you are snared in my thorns now, run through. Is there no other way to get you to speak truly rather than in your bouts to capture me? Must I send you to the hereafter time and again? Why do you still come for me?"

@hexenjagd // chance encounters on a journey without rest.

“...” How difficult it was to speak, stretched out and spread as an effigy of misery and pain upon the death blighted thorns she had grown from within his flesh and bone. To speak, to breathe or even think at all seemed impossible as the hideous growths continued to work their way under his skin, coiling beneath plate and maille only to puncture through it as if it were mere sodden paper. Gnarled branches sprung through the gaps of the armor along his broad arms, wrenching them apart and thwarting any attempt to pry himself free from their hideous embrace even if he’d wanted to. Likewise they’d punched through his knees and out his back, suspending him off the ground and keeping him from gaining any leverage.

Yet even as he struggles to speak he too denies her the luxury of a scream, a shout or plea for this torture to end and his suffering along with it. Knowing full and well the witch before him would take some satisfaction in her dogged pursuer’s pain, if not indulge in the brutality her power over death had wrought of him, Brom keeps his jaw clenched against the pain to the point the bone creaked in protest even as it wormed ever deeper through his body. Rivulets of blood dripped from hundreds of thorns, running down the blackened brambles and splattering in so many drops of uneven red rain onto the ground below. Every flex and tense of his muscles against the intrusive growths only spilled more blood, and his eventual death from blood loss was assured even without the sheer destruction done within.

His head hung, helmet long since fallen from his head in the sudden rush of violence from the blight’s emergence, revealing a head of sweat-matted hair and an expression likewise soaked with sweat and blood. His brown eyes were clouded, seemingly unseeing, and his mouth was pressed into thin white lines against the pain. At her inquiry there is the smallest jerk of the head towards her, though nothing is forthcoming even as his mouth parts...

Finally a single thought climbed through the haze of pain within his mind. Rogier, forgive me. I could never have imagined what you endured for so long.

“... prophecy.” He manages after such a long, long wait. It’s accompanied by a mouthful of blood and bile, staining his beard and painting his lips darkly. Those eyes fixate on something just past her, his gaze piercing yet already fading. Yet another denial of her desires no matter how she crooked or tugged with those fingers of hers. “I chase a... prophecy.” An admittance made with seemingly little fanfare given the circumstances of this death along with so many of the ones before it. “One I won’t... allow your Hawk to... hear. Only the woman... mentioned in it...”

Darkness fills the edges of his sight. Weakly he jerks his head to no avail, likewise his entwined appendages. Blood pours all the faster, and he’s slipping away from his flesh and her company with a dying whisper. “... find me then... witch... prove... self...”