#spit on vegitable

[mr-glove]

New type of scarecrow of the fields

Could name them Dusk, but they are more like elder/veteran types. I'm not gonna colour it in but the hat and the "hay" are red, the shirt and eyes orange and the glove green in one hand, and the other has a pumpkin that spits explosive fire. And there's vegitation growing out of it's sacked body showing it's older, wiser and tougher but also slower.

I wanted to make an semi-unique enemy for one of the arcs

[persbaderse]

"Now some of you surface folk like usin' olive oil as lube, and while it might seem effective, undiluted oil makes a darn mess of you and anything you touch, and the last thing you want is to be interrupted by monsters and have your equipment slippin' out of your hands.

"What you want is something water based. And I don't mean spit, I mean honest water. Start by purifying wanter just like you would for drinking--in fact, you might as well make more than you need so you've got drinking water. Hanky-panky works up a sweat, and dehydration is just another way any interruptions could be deadly for you and your partner.

"Boil the water and let the steam gather on a plate or leaf tilting away from the fire, so the condensation collects and falls into a cup or bowl. After that, you're ready to add the slicking element--I suggest at least a 1-to-1 ratio, unless you've got something really messy like a vegitable oil, in which case do AT LEAST 2 cups water, 1 cup oil.

"If you're harvesting lube ingredients from the dungeon, my first suggestion is fats. Harvest and process the fats like you do for makin' soap--it don't need any extra ingredients for makin' it smell nice. Remember where it's going. The fewer ingredients the better if you want to avoid an infection. If you can find it, you can also boil and mash certain plants to make a simple sludge. If you can believe it, smashed yams are pretty popular with the young folk, and if you can find it, there's red seaweed that can make a fine carrageenan if you boil it right.

"Now, lube is only one part of the process. If you want to be safe from diseases, you'll need an extra layer of protection. I'm talking about condoms and dental dams, which are a must. My best suggestions is fish bladders. They're easy to extract, basically the right shape, and have a little elasticity to 'em, so they're less likely to break unexpectedly. If you can't find any fish nearby, any animal membrane will do so long as you clean and dry the skin or organs as well as you would for eatin'. Some people make their own out of leather, but make sure the stitchin' is durable and don't forget to wash and dry it after use.

"In terms of preventing pregnancy, if that's a concern of yours, you've got options. Some folks are satisfied with just the sponge method or douching after sex, but if you're looking for a remedy, you can mix honey, acacia leaves, or vinegar into your lube."

[looking intensely at the party] "I hear some folks out there are using... animal excrement... as a spermicide."

[look of death in his eyes] "DON'T DO THAT."

googling "how to draw marcille and dragon!falin having sex in a way that's respectful to women"

[newsaryavart]

थूक लगाकर फल बेचने की करतूत CCTV में कैद, भरतपुर में FIR दर्ज होने के बाद बाप-बेटा फरार Sambrat Chaturvedi | नवभारतटाइम्स.कॉम | Updated: 18 Apr 2020, 06:15:00 PM IST भरतपुर में यह घटना सीसीटीवी में कैद हो गई

[abloomntime]

A Bloom In Time P 11

(Disclaimer: The moss part I do NOT know is true, if you want to look it up go right ahead. Im just using it as logic on their fake planet and for the story.)

She felt sick.

The stretching fast feeling of teleporting was something she swore she never wanted to after that last incident of her zooming off into space with a tight sickly feeling, that left her crashlanding into a child's bedroom for a couple hours. But here she was again, only this time she was traveling through space in a different light. The blue-white light faded away into sparkles and allowed her to see she was laying down face up towards the endless blackness of space, but as the sparkles of light faded off she could only gasp and stare off into the quiet silence of the black.

Was this it?....Did she die and what happened before was all just a dream? Was she being taken to where ever beautiful place spirits went?

No. Couldn't have been. She was slowly falling backwards, strands of red hair slowly waving past her face as if she was underwater and slowly sinking down ever so slowly. Her blue eyes widened at the sight of thousands of stars twinkling and blinking at her good bye as she continued her decent, reflecting in her eyes as if they were the sea on a starry night. Two shooting stars stars shoot above her caught her attention when she blinked and her head followed them as they distended over her and forward. Following them Poppy's body turned along with her movements and she gasped. The-....The world! Her world! It was right there! Big, bold and wonderful! The round planet seemed to have an aura of it's own and glowed perfectly. The perfect gentle blue of the sea, the bright tan yellows of the desert. Many islands. The highest mountains surrounded by pure white clouds even looked as if she could reach out and grasp it almost. Did she sure she wasn't dead? Something whooshed over head and she looked up again to sparkling light. The two comets or shooting stars where still in front of her but much farther up ahead as they descended to the subcon planet. They were headed right for a giant strange dark, purple spot along one of the coasts as she could see, and even if they weren't on the same path, she could see from where she was slowly falling that she was headed right to that strange purple area too. It looked and gave her a different feeling compared to the rest of the planet. It looked....almost sad. Why? Well she was about to find out as she continued to free fall slowly but steadily down towards the world. She breifly wondered where her kingdom was and what happened to it for all this time but those thoughts were short lived when suddenly a giant gust of air blasted her in the face and on instinct shut her eyes and held her arms in front of her head to sheild her. She had just broken through the atmosphere of the plant and now free falling faster through the sky. Faced down towards the ground but after a moment she dared to reopen them. What came outta her was a sudden gasp of shock as panic and fear once again pulsed through her veins. She wasn't just in the wide open endless space anymore, she was falling through the sky pretty fast with white fluffy clouds whizzing by her now very fast form and she could barely open her eyes with all the wind blasting her right now. Her braid and hair whipping around wildly ultimately coming undone and becoming a red streak behind her. Making her look like a falling streak of a comment ready to strike the planet. She was taking deep breath and tumbling head over heels, her world turning that that time she tumbled down the hill as a kid. Only it went Sky n clouds then Purple land. Sky n clouds. Purple land. SKY N CLOUDS!! PURPLE LAND!! PURPLE!! BLUE!! WHITE!! PURPLE!! BLUE!! WHITE!! By this rate she would meet her doom when she hit the ground!! She slammed her eyes shut as she saw what looked like the ground and her body crashlanded into something hard making pain explode into the side of her body she slammed into what felt like wood!! WOOD definately!! Poppy knew that plant feeling anywhere. She yelled and cried out as her body slammed and tumbled into branches and other vegitation stranded on the vines. Just when she was SURE she would be made into a human pancake- SHE STOPPED!! The feeling of rope wrapped around her made her uneasy as she just kept her eyes slammed shut, shook, and breathed heavily.

Over head crows cawed and flew away sensing something bigger than her and the giant spider who might've attacked her for food immediately decided to climb up higher in the trees away from her and try to hide within the branches. With her eyes shut she didn't see the giant shadow rush past her on his way home, nor did he notice her hung above stranded by vines. She continued to breath heavily until with the confidence she was blessed with by her father, she opened one eye..... and seeing herself hung maybe three feet above the very edge of a dirty pond, she opened the other. Still breathing heavily, she blinked at the ground before wipping her head up and around. Purple. Around herself was lots of purple, dead trees, and when she looked behind her she saw what would would be called a bog. The only problem was there was enough fog surrounding her to make it where she couldn't see more than maybe ten feet away from her current position. Her body like suspected, was held up by vines most likely from the trees she crash landed into. Leaves and sticks stuck into her now long waist length hair. Her mind worried about not being able to see where exactly this bog began or ended, but after a moment she sighed. Heart beat going down. Glad she was still alive at least- SNAP!! She yelped and a moment later a loud splash echoed out as the vines finally gave under her weight and left the poor lady crashing into the swamp water. Thank peck it was only a few inches but that didn't stop her from becoming all dirty and wet from it. She quickly pushed her front from the swamp water and spat out the dirt tasting water from her mouth coughing and reaching one arm up to rub at her eyes as she use the other to crawl out from it. She didn't see the magic arm from the swamp reach out to drag her further in but stopped because 1. She was already too far close to the edge to really drag in, and 2. She was out within a few seconds anyways. The magic arm retreated from where it came from just as fast and she still didn't see it as she continued o cough and spit out the taste. Groaning and sitting upon her knees as she got her bearings and let her body have a moment from the light feeling of falling from space, pain from crash landing in trees, and now cold and wet from the water now. Once she was done getting the taste out of her mouth she stuck her tongue out in a normal 'yuck' expression and blinked around at the strange fog induced place of purple. She....She must've crash landed in some kind of bog or swamp. Either way, she was glad she wasn't dead at least.

"......Frozen to death for a thousand years loosing everything by the hands of a crazy queen turned into a monster, who then got rescued by aliens on a spaceship with a ghost father, then I fell from space into a bog and now I'm all dirty and wet while almost dying again......Can't get worse than this surely," she muttered as she shakily pushed herself on aching legs and shimmied out of whatever vines were left clinging to her. Now was not the time for sitting down and feeling sorry for her situation no matter how unbeleivable it was or how much her body ached. What she needed right now was a way out. Now what did she learn on her Dad's farm? "Let's see." She held her chin. "The planet's sun rises to the very middle of the sky when it's exactly 12 p.m. every day except in winter when days are slower and it changes to 2 p.m., so depending on where I landed on the planet it could be any time. ...And it's too foggy to determine what time zone or direction it's heading." She could pull her hair at that. Ok. THINK Poppy! The sky was a bright blue when you fell. So at most it's somewhere between a late-ish morning and early afternoon. So at most she was somewhere realtivly in the middle of a continant right?  So either way if her planet's sun was somewhere in at least the north of the sky...That would mean...She still had no idea. "UGH!! How do sailors navigate like this!?"

OK!! Obviously the fog was messing up her surroundings and even looking up proved no results as she groaned and looked around some more until she spotted it....MOSS!! OF COURSE!! WHY HADN'T SHE THOUGHT OF THAT SOONER?! MOSS USUALLY GROWS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TREES!! Poppy instantly began looking around at these poor, poor trees. Breifly wondering why they were all so devoid of life and low and behold there it was!! A small patch of green dingy moss stuck out on one tree near the swamp water and quicker than she thought, she raced towards it and grabbed the old crusty bark where it was. Now moss didn't ALWAYS grow on the side of trees but it was the only thing she could go on at the moment and guess. She stood up slowly after inspecting it and looked in the direction it was pointing, towards the water.

"So if north is presumably in THAT direction, then south would be in the complete opposite. Which means east would be behind me and west in front." She gave a cringe look at the water again. "And considering the water seems to end there....the most likely way to avoid this water would be to go in the opposite direction." She pointed a hand in what hopefully was south. "So that way would seem the best way to get out of this creepy place."

Or at least she hoped so. Hang on a second? Wasn't she supposed to be with some kind of little alien? Where the world did they go?! She literally free fell was space to her doom for crying out loud! Was this how aliens traveled to planets?! By freefalling from their ship? She shook her head, some of the dirt and sticks falling to the ground from her tangled up mess. She had better get stepping if she wanted to find some way out of here..and get a bath. But she soon discovered it wasn't going to be that easy trudging through the weird swamp or dead forest fast. The fog was so thick it would've taken at least four of the strongest lumberjacks in the land to make so much as a dent in it. The only thing she could see were tall long slender shadows which turned out to just be more dead trees. It was strange, these trees had no life in them that's for sure...but also showed no signs of rotting away like she was sure they should've had by the looks of them. strange. The only plants that she had seen so far that were alive was the strange vines she had thankfully been caught in before hitting the ground, it was strange. Purple dirt, heavy fog, dead trees all around...Made for something out of a campfire story. She couldn't even see the any sunlight beyond this stuff. As the woman made her way through the thick fog and strange forest of dead wood, she was VERY unaware of the dangers that lurked in them. After about maybe twenty or thirty minutes of this walking she brought her arms up to start rubbing at her sides. It wasn't very warm where ever she was, and her damp clothes clinging to her weren't helping either. Maybe it would've been better if she had just stayed on that ship with that blanket....

Maybe she would've been better off not even coming to this kingdom in the first place. If she knew a crazy queen was going to-

"Miss Poppy!?"

She jumped and snapped her head around at hearing her own name being called. It sounded very soft and distant, but still loud enough to be heard faintly. Could it be someone was looking for her or was she hearing things?

"HELLO?! IS SOMEONE THERE!! I CAN SURE USE A PECKIN' HAND HERE!!," she yelled out but got no response in return for her shout.

Whatever it was, it left as soon as it came but that didn't stop her from still looking around and not paying attention to where she was going so she shouldn't have been surprised when the ground suddenly swallowed her up making her fall backwards and yell out. What swallowed her up was a large flash of white and she once again felt herself get stuck up feet in the air again. Oh pecking GREAT! What had she gotten herself into NOW?! The white sheet felt like some kind of rucksack her father used to use to sack the potatoes before charting them off to the market place. But it was a dingy white from being hidden under a layer of dirt for who knows how long, and instead of potatoes it was HER that was stuck in them. Well not on her watch! Poppy, fed up with everything at this point just gritted her teeth and began pushing against the confines of her new prison. It was tight, compact, and obviously meant to hold tightly. Whoever had made it knew EXACTLY what they were doing when making it.

"PECKING STUPID TARP THING!!" She pushed against it and it wasn't easy in the cramped space and the swaying she caused with her pushing against the sides trying to get loose. Too bad she didn't have some kind of sheers or sharp object to cut through the thick tarp thing. "LET ME OUT!! IM DONE WITH THIS PECKING SHI-"

She was shut up when she felt the whole world shake. Knocking the poor trapped woman back onto her behind within the trap, what sounded like a humungous tree cracking and falling over with the shaking made her freeze up more as a sudden feeling of dread came over her and it was backed up by the swaying of the trap. Also caused by the shaking. The panicked cawing of crows as they flew to safety amplified whatever she was feeling, blue eyes looking around wildly until they locked onto movement. SOMETHING. BIG. Was just outside the tarp. A shadown silently moved along side the outside of the tarp and her breath hitched. OK! Don't freak Poppy! It was probably just a wild animal. Like a deer or a giant bird. Oh she hoped it wasn't a bear!

SNAP!!

The woman tumbled out from the bottem of the trap and her yelp was interrupted as she face planted the dirt. Dirt and small twings sticking to her still damp self. Purple. EVERYWHERE. Suddenly dark purple. Her head raised in horror as reality itself disappeared and purple warped her view everywhere. Her red hair coming down to block her face and screw up her world veiw even more but she preferred that over the same giant shadow suddenly falling over her and the booming raspy voice behind it that turned her body back to ice.

"AAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! FFFFFOOOOOOOLLLLL!!! YOU BLEW IT PUNY MORTAL!! NO ONE ENTERS MY DOMAIN AND WALKS OUT THE SAME!!" Poppy's frame began to shake as the foreboding feeling of something LARGE looming over her leaned down closer to her body. Goosebumps covered herself and the tall figure could literally hear her teeth chatter and her body shake. The fanged smile of Snatcher smiled despite himself, despite the day and a half. At least he could get a little pleasure out of seeing puny mortals shake before his might like they should be and see the fright in their eyes....Only he couldn't see her eyes, she was facing away from him. That would soon be fixed though. "You came at a very bad time, Lady. Unfortunately for you I'm not in a 'living' mood today. But tell you what, I'll grant you the honor of seeing your demise before it happens. Now. Turn. Around. And maybe I'll allow you to say some last words."

Poppy couldn't!! She just remained frozen within the dark of the shadow before her...but her body as if under some kind of spell, shaking badly, slowly turned to meet her doom. Snatcher smiled his best menacing smiled at the dirty sea of flame red hair, as the woman's arm was shaking. SLOWLY reaching up to move her hair away and he could clearly see the oh so scared blue horrified eyes and red freckles dotted along her face like rose petals blowing in the wind. But when they met....Both had opposite reactions. Poppy let a sudden inhale and loud gasp come from her throat. Feeling the blood drain from her face as the shadow blocked out any light avalible and what met her in the light's place was two round yellow eyes and a frowning mouth. She was an ant compared to him and for another time in her life, felt very very small. The entirety of the ghosts amusement and glee ABSOLUTELY disappeared once the features of the woman was shown to him. Making the ghost look like he's seen a ghost.

.......No.....NO!...NONONONONO!! This wasn't-.....N O!  The ghost's arms shook as he just stared down this woman. Yellow eyes wide and many many memories suddenly slapping him in the face as those yellow eyes saw the seen play before him as a downward spiral for him in panic and fear. A seen in a dungeon, a sobbing prince hanging from shackles as the cold crept in, one last promise escaping his lips to a Princess of Flowers. Sharp as a thorn. Hair red as roses. Blue eyes like hydrangeas. Skin as soft as petals. And always surrounded by a scent better than any lily. A final promise and good bye he made long ago with his final dying breath-

"I-Im s-so sorry, Poppy. I-...love-...you ..w-with all my heart and soul....may my soul...never....forget...that.."

"A-A-A-.......AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

Poppy frightfully ducked her hand back down at the unholy yell coming from the ghost and even when it stopped suddenly she didn't look up as it echoed throughout the plain of existance she was currently in.........It was like a weight was suddenly lifted from her chest and the heavy feeling of being small went away, as did the feeling of indemping doom and fright...She blinked utterly confused...and dared to look confused back over her shoulder. The....snake shadow...thing was a little ways from her facing away and having his back towards her having a moment it seemed. She guessed whatever was considered his back(she was also guessing it was male by the voice) was facing her and it's tail and two arms was sprawled on the dark purple ground holding it up as it seemed to heave and make raspy breaths. Snatcher's mind went absolutely blank and his noodle arms shook every few seconds as he gathered himself from the sudden flashback he didn't expect. Poppy gazed at him breaths heaving before looking around this strange purple place, looked as it it was some sick purple snowglobe. And began to back awa- Poppy stopped. Literally stopped as her back made contact with some kind of invisible wall she couldn't see as she tapped the palm of her hand against it a few times. Still glancing at the giant purple creature to her rig-

"You can't get out," he rasped out. Poppy jumped whirling back around to her captor as Snatcher still stared down at the purple dirt. Eyes narrowing and a frown coming over his face but he still didn't look at the petrified girl. "...WHO are you and why are you in my forest?"

Poppy's mouth was already open in fear, but at this ...thing speaking to her in her own language..Well. It was that shock that drove away the shock from being scared and make her blink at the giant thing. Only one thing could escape her mouth and she didn't mean to say it either. "Why?"

....The thing's head raised to twist around to her with that fed up expression and she shut up again. "I ask the pecking questions here fool! And I won't repeat myself either so you better fess up before I change my mind. And trust me when I say no one likes that."

She gave a shutter and curled her knees up hugging her arms. "I-I....I don't know-"

"That's NOT an answer. You got here and I want to know HOW and NOW!!" His voice shook the empty space and she ....well she scowled back at him temper at the back of her mind started to flare up a wee bit from all she's been through.

"I said I don't know! I don't know where I am and the only way I got here is by crash landing from space and falling into from rotting wood! You pecking purple jack-o-lanturn worm!!" If he was going to be her doom then so be it! She had nothing to gain or lose.

The thing seemed to almost flinch and a brief moment of surprise flashed across his face before the scowl came back. Thick country accent sounded like her- "How did you get in space?", he asked getting up and floating again staring down at her. He was easily sixteen feet.

Her brow rose. "I was rescued by a little girl-''

"Hattie," Snatcher mutter gazing off in thought. ...Woman in an apron. Those eyes snapped back to her. "What. Is. Your. Name?"

"......Poppy."

He flinched back eyes widening.....before a hum escaped him and he just...stared at her for a good long time. Neither said anything as they stared silently at each other and Poppy felt as though he was suddenly her every feature right down to staring into her very soul. And he might as well with what he mentioned earlier. Her blue eyes widened again when he floated forward, herself straining against the invisible wall as the purple reality slowly disappeared back into the foggy forest of dead trees and fog-

"Oof!"

The wall suddenly disappeared and had her landing on her back and looking up at the thing as it loomed over her again, this time reaching down and picking her up by the back of her dress and once again she was magically back in the air suspended by his arm. She got a good look up close of his face with was human-like in shape and what looked to be hair on his head and a sorta like lion mane of more purple hair around his neck and shoulders. Those narrowed eyes stared at her suspended messy self another glance before he hummed again.

"You and I are in for a very long talk to catch up."

[thicctransboi]

A Last Confession? (Sam+ Grizz)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/19366624

prompt by: @casualcloudlighttrash on my Ao3

(This will be in Sam’s Point of View)

Summary: Sam and Grizz have been fighting non stop since Grizz came back from the exhibition. Sam has yet to tell Grizz the truth, and Grizz is feeling defeated and used. What will happen when Grizz falls ill, and Kelly and Gordie have to use a sub-par method, unsure whether or not it will save Grizz’s life?

Grizz stormed out of the room, I could physically feel the vibrations from the door slamming beneath my feet. We had been fighting nearly every day since Grizz got back from the exhibition; never seeming to reach a mutual understanding over the situation between Becca, Eden, and myself. I still hadn’t told him the truth yet, I needed to speak to Becca.

           Making my way downstairs, I found Becca sitting on the sofa, Eden in her arms, sleeping soundly. Becca looked worse for wear; her hair was wild and matted, thick bags hung underneath her eyes. “I finally got her to sleep.” Becca signed, a greatful yet tired smile written across her face.

           “I take it the food making machines are working better now then?”

She rolled her eyes at me, “I wish you’d stop calling them that, but yes. Those books were right, the massaging helped a lot. Thank you for that, by the way.”

I shuddered at the memory, “Don’t mention it. Literally.”

Becca raised an eyebrow at me, “Where did Grizz go? He stormed down the stairs then left out of the back, I heard the door slam.” Her one handed signing got her message across well enough, and I let out a sigh.

“He’s upset that I won’t tell him the details of our relationship, that brought Eden along. I guess a lot of the guys were giving him shit after they saw me kiss him, and he isn’t sure what to tell them. Apparently, the girls as well, keep making comments about everything.”

Becca sighed, “I trust Grizz, but what exactly is upsetting him? About our situation I mean.”

“He says he doesn’t know if he can trust me, if im not being honest to him. He says he feels like I’m in love with you, and that’s what brought Eden along. That the whole being ‘gay’ thing was a cover up.” I sighed, my hands fidgeting for a moment, “He doesn’t want to break up a family. Our family. I need to tell him the truth, Becca.”

She glanced down at Eden. “I trust him, like I said. But, if you tell him, he needs to know that this stays between the three of us. No one can know, especially not those stoner Guard assholes. That’s the last thing I need.” Her look was dead serious.

“He won’t, I’ll make sure of it.” I say, giving her a hopeful smile.

“Alright, fine. Go find him while Eden is still asleep.” Becca gave me a defeated smile, but a smile nonetheless.

I pulled out my phone, texting Grizz.

To Grizz: Hey, where are you? Need to talk.

Incoming text from Grizz: The garden, gathering the rest of the harvest.

           “He’s at the garden, gathering what’s left, you sure you’re okay for me to go?”

           Becca gave me a tired smile, letting her head fall back onto the sofa.

           I quickly shrugged on my coat and sneakers, making my way quietly out of the house and towards the garden. It was nearly nightfall now, the sun setting behind the New England skyline, blanketing the sky with shades of velvet purples and brilliant pinks.

***

           Arriving at the garden, I couldn’t spot Grizz anywhere. I tried texting, but no response. I checked the greenhouse, not there. I wove in between the empty vegitable beds until I saw him; Grizz was sprawled out on the ground, clutching his side and curled into the fetal position. A look of agony on his face. I felt my heart contract and my mind raced a mile a minute at the sight of him.

           “Grizz!” I exclaimed, running to his side. I crouched down next to him, “What’s wrong? Tell me what’s wrong?”

           My heart shattered to pieces at the sight of his face scrunched up in pain. He pointed to his right side, “It’s my stomach. On the right. I think it might be my appendix, I’m not sure.”

           My heart suddenly jolted back to life as adrynaline coarsed through my veins; his appendix? We weren’t equipped for this.. I sure wasn’t. I immidaitely texted Becca.

To Becca: Call Kelly or Goride, call them both. Grizz needs help, he’s sick. It’s his stomach, right side. Hurry! At garden by mill. Send someone!

We waited another 10 minutes, unknowing that Becca had fallen asleep.

           He was crying in pain, his eyes spitting out tears. I could see him grunting and groaning in pain, clutching his right side for dear life as if it might subside the pain.

           “People are on their way, okay? I texted Becca.”

           Grizz clutched onto me with his free arm, forcing himself up into a sitting position. His jaw dropped, I could tell he was screaming. “Sam, you need to help me get up, I can’t sit here and wait.”

           My heart was racing as I worked my hardest to remain calm and read his lips. “I don’t want to hurt you..” I stammer out, feeling my words fumbling on my lips.

           “You have to, okay?”

           I sighed, rising to my feet and stepping behind Grizz, bending over and locking my arms beneath his arm pits. I lifted as gently as possible, feeling his back to rigid as I got him to his legs, quickly moving to his side to let him lean on me. His arm fell over my shoulder, the other clutched my hand as he put a substantial amount of weight on me.

“Okay, we need to get to the hospital. Gordie’s shift is there today so he’ll be there.” He signed to me with one hand, his lips moving too fast for me to read.

We walked for what seemed like years. Having to stop every few paces or so due to the amount of pain he was in.

Grizz patted my shoulder. “Sam, i might need you to carry me. I can’t walk anymore.” Grizz said, annouciating his words for me to understand him. His face was scrunched together in pain, and he was putting nearly all of his weight on me. I knew I had to carry him, no matter how difficult it may be. We were in town now, only a block away from the hospital.

I made quick work of picking Grizz up carefully, holding him bridal style as I hoisted him up into my arms. He burrowed his face into the crook of my neck, gripping onto me for dear life. The vibrations from his cries and sobs could be felt against my skin, and I wanted to cry as well. My back screamed at me to stop, my knees threatening to buckle beneath me. But I was determined to get Grizz help.

By the time I reached the hospital, I was drenched in sweat and Grizz was trembling in my grasp. Making my way to the front desk, I let out a shreek, the only way I could think of getting someones attention. I quickly caught sight of Gordie, an exasperated look on his face at the sight of his two new patients. 

“What happened?” Gordie asked, signing along with his words. 

“He collapsed! Get a wheelchair!” I shout, or tried to. 

Gordie disappeared behind a corridor momentarily, before running out, wheelchair in front of him. I carefully set Grizz in the chair, the look on his face was helpless. His skin looked ashen, almost green looking. 

I watched in silence as Gordie asked Grizz questions, Grizz answering with a tired expression, and myself unable to tell what they were saying. Confusion overwhelmed me, but not as much as my concern for Grizz. I watched as Gordie shoved a thermometer in between Grizz’s lips, murmuring incoherently to himself. I felt frustrated, I wanted to know what they were saying, but I couldn't read their lips; I couldn't hear them. 

I watched as Gordie picked up his cell phone and placed it to his ear, presumably calling Kelly. Grizz was nodding out, waking himself up by jolting in pain and clutching his side. I saw a figure rush from behind me, it was Kelly. They were both crowding him now, speaking to him, their backs turned. And their figures blocked his lips from my view. 

“Would someone please tell me what’s going on?” I yelled, frustrated. 

Gordie turned to me, “It sounds like its appendicitis. He has a fever of 104, so we need to bring that down. We’re going to get him a bed, and try to do some fluids.” 

I felt my heart drop to my ass, “Appendicitis? That’s like really serious! You need to do surgery!” 

Gordie’s face looked defeated as Kelly wheeled Grizz out of view. “We’re not Surgeons, Sam. While Kelly is getting an IV set up, I’m going to see what can be done, okay? Try to stay calm. Maybe go home? Grab him some clothes?” 

I shook my head, “No, im not leaving him.” 

***

Hours passed, and I felt hopeless. I sat in a chair at his bedside, watching as Kelly finally managed to put an IV in, giving him fluids and some pain killers to help with the pain and bring down his fever. He had been throwing up violently, but it had since subsided. For now. 

I felt a rush of relief when Gordie arrived in our little room, looking rather chipper considering the circumstances. 

“I have good news! I found out that sometimes, antibiotics can relieve appendicitis if the appendix hasn't ruptured completely. Kelly is getting them ready now.” 

“If? You said if? What happens if it did rupture?” 

Gordie’s face fell, “He could die... But, we should know in a couple of days if the antibiotics work-” 

“Die?!” I shout, cutting him off and rising to my feet, “No! No, we can’t just sit here and hope he doesn't die! I can’t do that!” 

Gordie approached me slowly, placing a hand on my shoulder, “We don't have another choice, Sam.” 

His gaze was stern, his large black eyes pleading with me to calm myself. He was right, we didn't have another choice. 

***

“Gordie!” I shouted, trying to hold Grizz’s head to the side as his body convulsed and tremored beneath my touch. 

Gordie and Kelly rushed into the room, Kelly toying around on the monitors and with the IV, Gordie holding Grizz down. Vomit spewed from his lips an onto his bedside, coating my jeans. But I didn't care, I needed him to get through this. 

“Come on, Grizz. Baby, you can do this, stay with me!” I pleaded. 

I saw my life flash before my eyes, not my past; but my future. I saw Grizz’s hands entertained with my own, a small red-headed toddler running around, stumbling on their chubby legs. I saw the sun rise, and set. My future hadn’t even begun, and it was coming to an end. 

I felt tears flow from my eyes at the sight of his temperature spiking to 105, his heart rate erratic. I was grasping on some emotion, dying to be released, and yet it didn't come. 

***

It had been 5 days and 6 nights. Or maybe it had been longer than that, I couldn't be sure. Grizz had been stable for two of those nights, but my mind held vexing images of the four previous nights of instability; vomiting, screaming in pain, temperature spikes, one seizure... Many had come to visit; Luke, Clarke, Ally, Will, Helena, even Becca and Eden. But, I remained in the same spot: Glued to the chair by his bedside. They had moved Grizz into a larger room on the third floor, a few accidents from a bad game of fugitive had lead to the emergency room being packed. The room had a pull out bed, but it was too far away from Grizz; so I had settled for the chair. Only rising for trips to the bathroom, that were always hasty, and once to scream out for someone to help ease Grizz’s tremors. 

So, here I sat; my body folded up awkwardly in the small chair, unmoving. All I could do was watch him. Stare at him. Study the steady rises and falls of his chest. I rubbed at my temples, arching my back to relieve some gained tension a series of cracks rippled up my spine. I couldn't remember when I had last eaten, let alone slept. I was sure I looked awful, nights without sleep and constantly in solitude. I ignored everyone’s offers, their questions, pleads. Perk of being deaf, I suppose. It made it easier to ignore others. 

Gordie said it would take three to five days to know if the antibiotics had worked. His vomiting had stopped, his tremors subsided. His skin, while still rather pale, was no longer green, his cheeks holding the faintest blush. He hadn’t opened his eyes in his two days of stableness. Kelly had told me it was his body recovering. Maybe, just maybe he was healing. 

I watched him, I wasn't sure of the day, nor the time anymore. Night, or day, it didn't matter.  I couldn't feel, nor speak. All I could do was think. And my thoughts were dangerous. If he died? I’d loose the one person, the only person, who’s ever reciprocated my feelings. The only person who made me feel safe. I’d loose my person. He was the only part of me that felt valid, that was real. 

The flutter of an eyelash. 

I could have sworn I had hallucinated it, convinced the lack of sleep had gotten to me. Then I saw it again, his eyelashes fluttering. I felt my heart skip a beat, the first time I had felt my heart at all. Like I had forgotten I was alive. 

And then, like sunrise, Grizz opened his eyes. And I held my breath. I watched as he stared up at the ceiling, his throat bobbing slightly as he took in his surroundings. His eyes landed on me, and I felt my heart stop. 

“Sam?” He croaked out, his lips hardly moving. But I knew what his lips looked like when he said my name. 

“I’m here.” I called out. 

His gaze caught mine finally, registering who he was seeing. “Come here.” He said, a small smile appearing on his face. 

I had no recollection of moving to his bed, nor the pain that shot through my body upon rising from my position. I took a moment, just to study him. Taking in his appearance. The color had returned to his cheeks, and the light had sparked again in his eyes. He was no longer sweating, nor short of breath. Moon shaped blue crescents sat beneath his large brown eyes, small embers of gold and cinnamon lining his chocolate brown orbs. 

“How are you feeling?” I rushed out, my eyes lingering on the monitor. His heart rate was normal. 

Grizz tapped my hand, “I’m okay.. Better, the pain is gone. Lay with me?” 

“I don’t want to hurt you.” I murmured, letting my finger tips graze over the back of his hand. “I'm so sorry, Grizz.” 

He raised an eyebrow at me, “Sorry? What for? You didn't give me appendicitis, Sam.” 

“No but, we fought. If I hadn't upset you, maybe we could have gotten you help faster...” 

I felt the tears slipping from my eyes. 

“Hey, Sam, come here. Lay with me.” I settled besides him in the bed, carefully nestling into his side. 

I watched his lips as he spoke, “You didn’t cause this, Sam. I’m not angry with you. I’m just, confused I guess. Hurt.” 

“Eden isn't mine.” I blurted out. “Becca and I agreed to say I was the dad, because she didn't want anyone to know the real story behind it. Don't ask her either. She only told me I could tell you what I know, and what the truth is. We never slept together, I promise. I just had to protect my best friend. I’m so sorry, Grizz.” 

I saw relief wash over his features. “Thank you, for telling me the truth. I get it, why you did what you did. I’m sorry for overreacting.” 

I rested my head on his chest and breathed him in, letting my hands rub circles on his abdomen. I felt him tap my hand to get my attention. 

“Have you not left? This entire time?” Grizz asked. 

I shook my head, “I couldn't leave you. I.. I was so scared, Grizz. I thought I might loose you. And when I thought I might loose you, that killed me. I can’t.... I can’t loose you. I just can’t..” I found myself sobbing again, and Grizz ran soothing fingers through my hair. “I’m so sorry for everything. I was so pissed about the circumstances and everything. But when I realized that you could die? It killed me... I.. I love you. Please, don’t ever get sick like that on me again..” 

I let my face fall into his shirt, grasping onto him for dear life, as if if I let go, he might slip away again. 

I felt him nudge me, looking up I saw him signing one simple phrase, one that meant the world to me: I love you. 

I leant into kiss him, when I felt him turn his attention towards the door, it was Gordie and Kelly. I watched as they asked him a few questions, and Kelly took his temperature. 

“You don't have a fever anymore.. No more vomiting or anything. I think it worked!” 

A wave of relief washed over me. 

[jeanjauthor]

Sometimes I go off into research tangents, and in doing so tonight, I ran across this list of do’s and don’ts for mainstream Chinese culture.  It’s quite interesting!

Writers, in your created cultures, what are the gift-giving customs for each of those cultures?  And not just the giving of gifts, but what are the customs for receiving gifts as well?

Try to be conscious, and conscientious, of your choices.  They should make sense within the rules of the culture, the context of the culture (not always the same thing, since context can depend on how it meshes or clashes with other cultures/outside influences), and even the rules of the universe you’ve created.

More than that, be aware of how one set of cultural rules can blend into the next set of cultural rules.

For instance, a gift of drinking water is far more precious in a desert environment, but if you’re giving it to visitors from a land of lakes and frequent rainfall, they won’t have a clue how very important it is to a desert culture--and it might show up in unique ways, too! Water that you just used to brush your teeth or rinse your mouth could even be expected to be reserved in a glass or a bowl and carried off to water the local plants!

Or there might be a custom of watering some plants, but not all plants. As an example, many cacti can burst if they get too much water in a short period of time.  Culturally, watering those plants might be seen as a wish of ill-fortune upon that household, but you’d definitely want to contribute to a greywater system that drip-irrigates edible vegitation. 

And don’t think this is limited to fantasy or low tech societies!  A lot of “earthship” house designs have greywater systems that irrigate vegetable gardens, and they are very much not only modern, but could be considered the way how space station or spaceship life is handled.  Above all, you definitely wouldn’t want to mix greywater--rinse water from brushing your teeth--with blackwater systems!  (Greywater = runoff from showers & sinks; blackwater = sewage waste from toilets.)

In fact, if you’re the outsider character coming from that rainy water-rich land, and you’re in a desert land with a desert-minded culture, you might need to be told that no, this precious gift of water is strictly for drinking, not rinsing, gargling, & spitting on the potted plants! (Even if the potted plants look like they could use it.)

[architectsjournal]

Ossama Aboallaban 

London Metropolitan University BArch 

Here I’m looking to reintroduce the term factory. Here the proposal mimics a fort that’s placed on a marina. Sparks marina is located at the edge of a large wetland found within the south coast of England.

Here my proposal would harness the manufacturing of bread by slowing down the speed of common bread production and optimising overall quality. The choice of this production came about through intense research that was inspired by the economical impact of the bread industry within the UK.

Additionally further visits to factories and bakeries helped to strengthen the design type.

Accompanied by the timber cladded building, a smaller building focuses on a natural spit that’s used by local wildlife for feeding and resting.

Cladded in Cor-ten, the building’s exterior responds to the environment and can transform from public to private with its rotating plates. It is combined with a central courtyard used to plant endangered wetland vegitation.

[abloomntime]

A Bloom In Time Ch11 Fixing One Problem At A Time P3

(Disclaimer: The moss part I do NOT know is true, if you want to look it up go right ahead. Im just using it as logic on their fake planet and for the story.)

She felt sick.

The stretching fast feeling of teleporting was something she swore she never wanted to after that last incident of her zooming off into space with a tight sickly feeling, that left her crashlanding into a child's bedroom for a couple hours. But here she was again, only this time she was traveling through space in a different light. The blue-white light faded away into sparkles and allowed her to see she was laying down face up towards the endless blackness of space, but as the sparkles of light faded off she could only gasp and stare off into the quiet silence of the black.

Was this it?....Did she die and what happened before was all just a dream? Was she being taken to where ever beautiful place spirits went?

No. Couldn't have been. She was slowly falling backwards, strands of red hair slowly waving past her face as if she was underwater and slowly sinking down ever so slowly. Her blue eyes widened at the sight of thousands of stars twinkling and blinking at her good bye as she continued her decent, reflecting in her eyes as if they were the sea on a starry night. Two shooting stars stars shoot above her caught her attention when she blinked and her head followed them as they distended over her and forward. Following them Poppy's body turned along with her movements and she gasped. The-....The world! Her world! It was right there! Big, bold and wonderful! The round planet seemed to have an aura of it's own and glowed perfectly. The perfect gentle blue of the sea, the bright tan yellows of the desert. Many islands. The highest mountains surrounded by pure white clouds even looked as if she could reach out and grasp it almost. Did she sure she wasn't dead? Something whooshed over head and she looked up again to sparkling light. The two comets or shooting stars where still in front of her but much farther up ahead as they descended to the subcon planet. They were headed right for a giant strange dark, purple spot along one of the coasts as she could see, and even if they weren't on the same path, she could see from where she was slowly falling that she was headed right to that strange purple area too. It looked and gave her a different feeling compared to the rest of the planet. It looked....almost sad. Why? Well she was about to find out as she continued to free fall slowly but steadily down towards the world. She breifly wondered where her kingdom was and what happened to it for all this time but those thoughts were short lived when suddenly a giant gust of air blasted her in the face and on instinct shut her eyes and held her arms in front of her head to sheild her. She had just broken through the atmosphere of the plant and now free falling faster through the sky. Faced down towards the ground but after a moment she dared to reopen them. What came outta her was a sudden gasp of shock as panic and fear once again pulsed through her veins. She wasn't just in the wide open endless space anymore, she was falling through the sky pretty fast with white fluffy clouds whizzing by her now very fast form and she could barely open her eyes with all the wind blasting her right now. Her braid and hair whipping around wildly ultimately coming undone and becoming a red streak behind her. Making her look like a falling streak of a comment ready to strike the planet. She was taking deep breath and tumbling head over heels, her world turning that that time she tumbled down the hill as a kid. Only it went Sky n clouds then Purple land. Sky n clouds. Purple land. SKY N CLOUDS!! PURPLE LAND!! PURPLE!! BLUE!! WHITE!! PURPLE!! BLUE!! WHITE!! By this rate she would meet her doom when she hit the ground!! She slammed her eyes shut as she saw what looked like the ground and her body crashlanded into something hard making pain explode into the side of her body she slammed into what felt like wood!! WOOD definately!! Poppy knew that plant feeling anywhere. She yelled and cried out as her body slammed and tumbled into branches and other vegitation stranded on the vines. Just when she was SURE she would be made into a human pancake- SHE STOPPED!! The feeling of rope wrapped around her made her uneasy as she just kept her eyes slammed shut, shook, and breathed heavily.

Over head crows cawed and flew away sensing something bigger than her and the giant spider who might've attacked her for food immediately decided to climb up higher in the trees away from her and try to hide within the branches. With her eyes shut she didn't see the giant shadow rush past her on his way home, nor did he notice her hung above stranded by vines. She continued to breath heavily until with the confidence she was blessed with by her father, she opened one eye..... and seeing herself hung maybe three feet above the very edge of a dirty pond, she opened the other. Still breathing heavily, she blinked at the ground before wipping her head up and around. Purple. Around herself was lots of purple, dead trees, and when she looked behind her she saw what would would be called a bog. The only problem was there was enough fog surrounding her to make it where she couldn't see more than maybe ten feet away from her current position. Her body like suspected, was held up by vines most likely from the trees she crash landed into. Leaves and sticks stuck into her now long waist length hair. Her mind worried about not being able to see where exactly this bog began or ended, but after a moment she sighed. Heart beat going down. Glad she was still alive at least- SNAP!! She yelped and a moment later a loud splash echoed out as the vines finally gave under her weight and left the poor lady crashing into the swamp water. Thank peck it was only a few inches but that didn't stop her from becoming all dirty and wet from it. She quickly pushed her front from the swamp water and spat out the dirt tasting water from her mouth coughing and reaching one arm up to rub at her eyes as she use the other to crawl out from it. She didn't see the magic arm from the swamp reach out to drag her further in but stopped because 1. She was already too far close to the edge to really drag in, and 2. She was out within a few seconds anyways. The magic arm retreated from where it came from just as fast and she still didn't see it as she continued o cough and spit out the taste. Groaning and sitting upon her knees as she got her bearings and let her body have a moment from the light feeling of falling from space, pain from crash landing in trees, and now cold and wet from the water now. Once she was done getting the taste out of her mouth she stuck her tongue out in a normal 'yuck' expression and blinked around at the strange fog induced place of purple. She....She must've crash landed in some kind of bog or swamp. Either way, she was glad she wasn't dead at least.

"......Frozen to death for a thousand years loosing everything by the hands of a crazy queen turned into a monster, who then got rescued by aliens on a spaceship with a ghost father, then I fell from space into a bog and now I'm all dirty and wet while almost dying again......Can't get worse than this surely," she muttered as she shakily pushed herself on aching legs and shimmied out of whatever vines were left clinging to her. Now was not the time for sitting down and feeling sorry for her situation no matter how unbeleivable it was or how much her body ached. What she needed right now was a way out. Now what did she learn on her Dad's farm? "Let's see." She held her chin. "The planet's sun rises to the very middle of the sky when it's exactly 12 p.m. every day except in winter when days are slower and it changes to 2 p.m., so depending on where I landed on the planet it could be any time. ...And it's too foggy to determine what time zone or direction it's heading." She could pull her hair at that. Ok. THINK Poppy! The sky was a bright blue when you fell. So at most it's somewhere between a late-ish morning and early afternoon. So at most she was somewhere realtivly in the middle of a continant right? So either way if her planet's sun was somewhere in at least the north of the sky...That would mean...She still had no idea. "UGH!! How do sailors navigate like this!?"

OK!! Obviously the fog was messing up her surroundings and even looking up proved no results as she groaned and looked around some more until she spotted it....MOSS!! OF COURSE!! WHY HADN'T SHE THOUGHT OF THAT SOONER?! MOSS USUALLY GROWS ON THE NORTH SIDE OF TREES!! Poppy instantly began looking around at these poor, poor trees. Breifly wondering why they were all so devoid of life and low and behold there it was!! A small patch of green dingy moss stuck out on one tree near the swamp water and quicker than she thought, she raced towards it and grabbed the old crusty bark where it was. Now moss didn't ALWAYS grow on the side of trees but it was the only thing she could go on at the moment and guess. She stood up slowly after inspecting it and looked in the direction it was pointing, towards the water.

"So if north is presumably in THAT direction, then south would be in the complete opposite. Which means east would be behind me and west in front." She gave a cringe look at the water again. "And considering the water seems to end there....the most likely way to avoid this water would be to go in the opposite direction." She pointed a hand in what hopefully was south. "So that way would seem the best way to get out of this creepy place."

Or at least she hoped so. Hang on a second? Wasn't she supposed to be with some kind of little alien? Where the world did they go?! She literally free fell was space to her doom for crying out loud! Was this how aliens traveled to planets?! By freefalling from their ship? She shook her head, some of the dirt and sticks falling to the ground from her tangled up mess. She had better get stepping if she wanted to find some way out of here..and get a bath. But she soon discovered it wasn't going to be that easy trudging through the weird swamp or dead forest fast. The fog was so thick it would've taken at least four of the strongest lumberjacks in the land to make so much as a dent in it. The only thing she could see were tall long slender shadows which turned out to just be more dead trees. It was strange, these trees had no life in them that's for sure...but also showed no signs of rotting away like she was sure they should've had by the looks of them. strange. The only plants that she had seen so far that were alive was the strange vines she had thankfully been caught in before hitting the ground, it was strange. Purple dirt, heavy fog, dead trees all around...Made for something out of a campfire story. She couldn't even see the any sunlight beyond this stuff. As the woman made her way through the thick fog and strange forest of dead wood, she was VERY unaware of the dangers that lurked in them. After about maybe twenty or thirty minutes of this walking she brought her arms up to start rubbing at her sides. It wasn't very warm where ever she was, and her damp clothes clinging to her weren't helping either. Maybe it would've been better if she had just stayed on that ship with that blanket....

Maybe she would've been better off not even coming to this kingdom in the first place. If she knew a crazy queen was going to-

"Miss Poppy!?"

She jumped and snapped her head around at hearing her own name being called. It sounded very soft and distant, but still loud enough to be heard faintly. Could it be someone was looking for her or was she hearing things?

"HELLO?! IS SOMEONE THERE!! I CAN SURE USE A PECKIN' HAND HERE!!," she yelled out but got no response in return for her shout.

Whatever it was, it left as soon as it came but that didn't stop her from still looking around and not paying attention to where she was going so she shouldn't have been surprised when the ground suddenly swallowed her up making her fall backwards and yell out. What swallowed her up was a large flash of white and she once again felt herself get stuck up feet in the air again. Oh pecking GREAT! What had she gotten herself into NOW?! The white sheet felt like some kind of rucksack her father used to use to sack the potatoes before charting them off to the market place. But it was a dingy white from being hidden under a layer of dirt for who knows how long, and instead of potatoes it was HER that was stuck in them. Well not on her watch! Poppy, fed up with everything at this point just gritted her teeth and began pushing against the confines of her new prison. It was tight, compact, and obviously meant to hold tightly. Whoever had made it knew EXACTLY what they were doing when making it.

"PECKING STUPID TARP THING!!" She pushed against it and it wasn't easy in the cramped space and the swaying she caused with her pushing against the sides trying to get loose. Too bad she didn't have some kind of sheers or sharp object to cut through the thick tarp thing. "LET ME OUT!! IM DONE WITH THIS PECKING SHI-"

She was shut up when she felt the whole world shake. Knocking the poor trapped woman back onto her behind within the trap, what sounded like a humungous tree cracking and falling over with the shaking made her freeze up more as a sudden feeling of dread came over her and it was backed up by the swaying of the trap. Also caused by the shaking. The panicked cawing of crows as they flew to safety amplified whatever she was feeling, blue eyes looking around wildly until they locked onto movement. SOMETHING. BIG. Was just outside the tarp. A shadown silently moved along side the outside of the tarp and her breath hitched. OK! Don't freak Poppy! It was probably just a wild animal. Like a deer or a giant bird. Oh she hoped it wasn't a bear!

SNAP!!

The woman tumbled out from the bottem of the trap and her yelp was interrupted as she face planted the dirt. Dirt and small twings sticking to her still damp self. Purple. EVERYWHERE. Suddenly dark purple. Her head raised in horror as reality itself disappeared and purple warped her view everywhere. Her red hair coming down to block her face and screw up her world veiw even more but she preferred that over the same giant shadow suddenly falling over her and the booming raspy voice behind it that turned her body back to ice.

"AAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! FFFFFOOOOOOOLLLLL!!! YOU BLEW IT PUNY MORTAL!! NO ONE ENTERS MY DOMAIN AND WALKS OUT THE SAME!!" Poppy's frame began to shake as the foreboding feeling of something LARGE looming over her leaned down closer to her body. Goosebumps covered herself and the tall figure could literally hear her teeth chatter and her body shake. The fanged smile of Snatcher smiled despite himself, despite the day and a half. At least he could get a little pleasure out of seeing puny mortals shake before his might like they should be and see the fright in their eyes....Only he couldn't see her eyes, she was facing away from him. That would soon be fixed though. "You came at a very bad time, Lady. Unfortunately for you I'm not in a 'living' mood today. But tell you what, I'll grant you the honor of seeing your demise before it happens. Now. Turn. Around. And maybe I'll allow you to say some last words."

Poppy couldn't!! She just remained frozen within the dark of the shadow before her...but her body as if under some kind of spell, shaking badly, slowly turned to meet her doom. Snatcher smiled his best menacing smiled at the dirty sea of flame red hair, as the woman's arm was shaking. SLOWLY reaching up to move her hair away and he could clearly see the oh so scared blue horrified eyes and red freckles dotted along her face like rose petals blowing in the wind. But when they met....Both had opposite reactions. Poppy let a sudden inhale and loud gasp come from her throat. Feeling the blood drain from her face as the shadow blocked out any light avalible and what met her in the light's place was two round yellow eyes and a frowning mouth. She was an ant compared to him and for another time in her life, felt very very small. The entirety of the ghosts amusement and glee ABSOLUTELY disappeared once the features of the woman was shown to him. Making the ghost look like he's seen a ghost.

.......No.....NO!...NONONONONO!! This wasn't-.....N O! The ghost's arms shook as he just stared down this woman. Yellow eyes wide and many many memories suddenly slapping him in the face as those yellow eyes saw the seen play before him as a downward spiral for him in panic and fear. A seen in a dungeon, a sobbing prince hanging from shackles as the cold crept in, one last promise escaping his lips to a Princess of Flowers. Sharp as a thorn. Hair red as roses. Blue eyes like hydrangeas. Skin as soft as petals. And always surrounded by a scent better than any lily. A final promise and good bye he made long ago with his final dying breath-

"I-Im s-so sorry, Poppy. I-...love-...you ..w-with all my heart and soul....may my soul...never....forget...that.."

"A-A-A-.......AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

Poppy frightfully ducked her hand back down at the unholy yell coming from the ghost and even when it stopped suddenly she didn't look up as it echoed throughout the plain of existance she was currently in.........It was like a weight was suddenly lifted from her chest and the heavy feeling of being small went away, as did the feeling of indemping doom and fright...She blinked utterly confused...and dared to look confused back over her shoulder. The....snake shadow...thing was a little ways from her facing away and having his back towards her having a moment it seemed. She guessed whatever was considered his back(she was also guessing it was male by the voice) was facing her and it's tail and two arms was sprawled on the dark purple ground holding it up as it seemed to heave and make raspy breaths. Snatcher's mind went absolutely blank and his noodle arms shook every few seconds as he gathered himself from the sudden flashback he didn't expect. Poppy gazed at him breaths heaving before looking around this strange purple place, looked as it it was some sick purple snowglobe. And began to back awa- Poppy stopped. Literally stopped as her back made contact with some kind of invisible wall she couldn't see as she tapped the palm of her hand against it a few times. Still glancing at the giant purple creature to her rig-

"You can't get out," he rasped out. Poppy jumped whirling back around to her captor as Snatcher still stared down at the purple dirt. Eyes narrowing and a frown coming over his face but he still didn't look at the petrified girl. "...WHO are you and why are you in my forest?"

Poppy's mouth was already open in fear, but at this ...thing speaking to her in her own language..Well. It was that shock that drove away the shock from being scared and make her blink at the giant thing. Only one thing could escape her mouth and she didn't mean to say it either. "Why?"

....The thing's head raised to twist around to her with that fed up expression and she shut up again. "I ask the pecking questions here fool! And I won't repeat myself either so you better fess up before I change my mind. And trust me when I say no one likes that."

She gave a shutter and curled her knees up hugging her arms. "I-I....I don't know-"

"That's NOT an answer. You got here and I want to know HOW and NOW!!" His voice shook the empty space and she ....well she scowled back at him temper at the back of her mind started to flare up a wee bit from all she's been through.

"I said I don't know! I don't know where I am and the only way I got here is by crash landing from space and falling into from rotting wood! You pecking purple jack-o-lanturn worm!!" If he was going to be her doom then so be it! She had nothing to gain or lose.

The thing seemed to almost flinch and a brief moment of surprise flashed across his face before the scowl came back. Thick country accent sounded like her- "How did you get in space?", he asked getting up and floating again staring down at her. He was easily sixteen feet.

Her brow rose. "I was rescued by a little girl-''

"Hattie," Snatcher mutter gazing off in thought. ...Woman in an apron. Those eyes snapped back to her. "What. Is. Your. Name?"

"......Poppy."

He flinched back eyes widening.....before a hum escaped him and he just...stared at her for a good long time. Neither said anything as they stared silently at each other and Poppy felt as though he was suddenly her every feature right down to staring into her very soul. And he might as well with what he mentioned earlier. Her blue eyes widened again when he floated forward, herself straining against the invisible wall as the purple reality slowly disappeared back into the foggy forest of dead trees and fog-

"Oof!"

The wall suddenly disappeared and had her landing on her back and looking up at the thing as it loomed over her again, this time reaching down and picking her up by the back of her dress and once again she was magically back in the air suspended by his arm. She got a good look up close of his face with was human-like in shape and what looked to be hair on his head and a sorta like lion mane of more purple hair around his neck and shoulders. Those narrowed eyes stared at her suspended messy self another glance before he hummed again.

"You and I are in for a very long talk to catch up."