#trekkin turtle

[pick-a-plush]

[bulbabutt]

18 panels oh we turtle trekkin hard boys

[below-average-fangirl]

Fic Recommendations

A list of fics I’ve read and liked.

Please reblog the individual stories if you like them. 

THANK YOU to all the writers who take the time to write and share stories.

Avengers

Flowers Speak the Truth by @dira333

It Takes Two by @dira333

Second Chances by @dira333

The Boys

Adorable Asshole by @becs-bunker​

Between Love and Hate by @becs-bunker​ 

The Dead Ringer by @billybutchersbabe​

Liabilities by @billybutchersbae

The Real Thing by @becs-bunker​

Chronicles of Riddick

Spoils of War by @thevalesofanduin​

Sequel to Spoils of War: Don’t Fear the Reaper by @thevalesofanduin​

Dredd

Vice by @annathewitch

Priest

Black Hat x Reader One Shot by @empounce

Used to the Darkness: Chaper 1 and Chapter 2 by @billybutchersbae​

Red

Separated Twins  by @urban-trek-thru-middle-earth​

Star Trek

An Apple A Day by @annathewitch​

Bite Me by @annathewitch​

Doctor of My World by @grandtheftstarship

Easily by @karasong

Falling by @annathewitch

Fine. I’ll Kiss You, Doctor by @wickedsingularity

Five Minute Ficlet by @star-trekkin-across-theuniverse

Germs by @thatfanficstuff

Imagine Seeing Leonard in a Kissing Booth by @imamotherfuckingstar-lord​

Imagine Meeting Leonard in a Bar by @imamotherfuckingstar-lord​

In These Arms of Mine by @anotherstartrekimagineblog

Matchmaker Jim by @a-confused-turtle​

No Harm No Fowl by @annathewitch​

Parent Trap by @mybullshitsensesaretingling​

Tattoo by @star-trekkin-across-theuniverse​

Things That Go Bump in The Night by @annathewitch​

Well Adjusted Adults by @mybullshitsensesaretingling​

Where Did you Get that Love Bite From? by @damnitstartrek​

White Knight by @annathewitch​

[thefanficfaerie]

Leonard McCoy End of Year Reading List

Tropes AU Beauty and the Beast by @medicatemedrmccoy

Soulmate AU Finding out Bones is Your Soulmate by @youre-on-a-starship Newbie Love by @spacethewritingfrontier Sixth Sense by @outside-the-government I’ve Got You Under My Skin by @outside-the-government Among the Stillness by @outside-the-government Wrapped in a Big, Red Bow by @musingsongbird Quiet by @imagineangryspacegrump Touch by @dolamrothianlady Not Like This by @starshiphufflebadger Studying Sucks by @madhattervanessa Broken Hearted by @goodnightwife Writing on the Wrist by @janeykath318 Colourless by @kaitymccoy123 This Could be the Start of a Plant-less Relationship by @goingknowherewastaken My Ninja Turtle by @trade-baby-blues

Daddy!Character Growing Pains by @outside-the-government Baby Jim- Christmas by @mission-enterprise Joys of Parenthood by @imagineangryspacegrump Wedding Bells Are Ringing by @imoutofmyvulcanmind Toddler Shenanigans by @captainjimsexypantskirk The Zoo by @trade-baby-blues Teddy Bear Doctor by @auduna-druitt It Runs in the Family, Part 2 by @whatif-animagineblog Simple Man by @medicatemedrmccoy Playing House by @kaitymccoy123 Joanna’s First Date by @arrowsshootyouforwards Joanna Gets Sick by @auduna-druitt

A/B/O Dynamics The Natural Order by @outside-the-government Please Alpha by @daybreak96 Enough Already by @bkwrm523 Alpha Bones by @whatif-animagineblog Incoming by @kittenofdoomage

Modern AU The Dance of Destinies by @outside-the-government Biscuits and Gravy by @atari-writes A Rancher’s Fight by @lt-sammi-matthews Crawford by @imaginestartrek Moving In by @arrowsshootyouforwards Surfer Dad and Ice Cream Lady by @janeykath318 *Healing by eyeofdionysus Rodeo by @star-trekkin-across-theuniverse Moving in by @arrowsshootyouforwards 

Canon Shore Leave by @auduna-druitt Meeting the Family by @auduna-druitt Cowboy McCoy by @auduna-druitt Lazy Mornings by @bkwrm523 Unexpected Guest by @medicatemedrmccoy I won’t bite by @medicatemedrmccoy Divided by @medicatemedrmccoy Georgia on My Mind by @star-trekkin-across-theuniverse Being Nervous About Meeting Joanna by @star-trekkin-across-theuniverse Well Documented Debacle by @mybullshitsensesaretingling  Nightmares by @imagineangryspacegrump  Sing It To Me by @kaitymccoy123 Messy Part 2 by @kaitymccoy123 Shore Leave by @kittenofdoomage Enterprise Crew Goes to the Zoo by @littlecarowrites Look The Other Way by @lurkch Leonard McCoy’s Guide to Hula Hooping by @dolamrothianlady Dui-Guee Style by @angryschnauzer NSFW “YOU HAD THAT ON YOU THE WHOLE TIME?!” by @happylilprompts Parental Prospects by @outside-the-government A Sheep in Wolf’s Clothing by @outside-the-government Rhythm and Harmony by @outside-the-government NSFW An Ode to Small Victories by @outside-the-government NSFW Terra Nova by @fanscribbling Surprise by @imagines-for-the-fangirls-soul Foliage Fiance by @imagines-for-the-fangirls-soul   Georgia Gal by @trade-baby-blues Bones Taking Care of You When You Have the Flu by @youre-on-a-starship Staying Warm With Bones by @youre-on-a-starship Getting Stuck in the Mirror!Verse by @youre-on-a-starship There You’ll Be by @imoutofmyvulcanmind Amazed by @musingsongbird Announcing Your Engagement to Bones by @musingsongbird Fear Inside Me by @kimmiearrington89 Angry Sex with Bones by @daybreak96 Long Distance by @residentevilfleet A Night on the Town by @all-sortsa-stuff  Wake Up Call by @madhattervanessa Aviophobia by @pinkamour1588 Make Me by @pinkamour1588 The Fire and the Flood by @mccoymostly Having a Uniform Malfunction by @imaginestartrek How He Holds You by @goodnightwife Personal Grooming by @bkwrm523 NSFW An Itch to Scratch by @starshiphufflebadger Operation by @starshiphufflebadger Need You Now by @imamotherfuckingstar-lord Transmitter Thingy by @imamotherfuckingstar-lord Horrors of the Night by @blueoftheenterprise Alone Together by @blueoftheenterprise  Thrift Shoppin’ by @the-space-goddess-16 An Apology by @coyoteimagines Visions From The Abyss: Bug Hunt by @bkwrm523  We Balance Each Other Out by @dirajunara Scaredy Cat by @enterprisewriting 7 Things Said On Leonard’s Couch by @enterprisewriting  Broken Promises by @dreaming-about-starfleet Jumping to Conclusions by @writingwithadinosaur Don’t Run Yourself Ragged by @nonsensical-lee You Can Tell Me Anything by @whatif-animagineblog Best of Wives and Best of Women by @lt-sammi-matthews  Some Wounds Take Longer To Heal by @galaxycharmed Lazy Morning by @wickedsingularity Plaid and Jeans by @iguess-theyre-mymess Annoying by @unicornladyimagines

[bearalove]

+@#! Build A Bear Green Trekkin Turtle w/ Removable Shell+ Zippered Compartment Plush https://ift.tt/2Ynn0Os

[janeykath318]

Fave Kirk x Reader Fics

Eight Types Of Kisses by @buttons-on-shirts

Dammit Jim by @a-confused-turtle

Star Kisses by @t-adash-i

Second Chances by @girl-next-door-writes

Three Times You Saved His Ass, And One Time He Saved Yours by @edolinlu (It won’t tag this url for some reason)

Here We Are by @a-creative-writing-url

Nine Things Couples Do by @enterprisewriting

Sailor’s Mouth by @coyoteimagines

Thinly Veiled by @starshiphufflebadger (Soulmates!!)

Love Letters by @star-trekkin-across-theuniverse (This was one of the first Jim fics I read involving reader insert and boy did it give me the FEELS!!!)

Screw You by @wickedsingularity Sizzling with UST and just tension, this pretty much sums up our frustration with Chris Pine and his unfair hotness.

Yeoman, Huh? by @kaitymccoy123 Love the clever way the reader saves Jim in this one!!

Untitled by @star-trekkin-across-theuniverse (this one involves kilt wearing and bets;))

Sacrifice by @whereno1701hasgonebefore 

Losing Sleep Over You by @im-an-octopus

My Little Blue Star by @creativeheartgemini (Lovely Soulmate AU with an interesting OFC, Kat)

Jim Kirk: Raiders Of The Lost Shuttle by @trade-baby-blues

Worrying for two by @the-nerdier-the-dirtier (pregnant reader fic. Jim worrying of course. Much cuteness)

Untitled Drabble by @will-you-stop-it

Imagine Reuniting With Jim by @imamotherfuckingstar-lord

Ten Ways To Say I love You by @enterprisewriting (SO GOOD. This should be on everyone’s go to fic list

Going Into Labor With Jim’s Baby by @imaginestartrek

Considering by @imamotherfuckingstar-lord

Untitled by @ncc1701-imagines (Beautiful fic, featuring a long-distance relationship and touching reunion. It made me tear up)

Trapped by @imaginingthefandoms

Kirk Admitting He Loves You by @imaginestartrek

Dancing With Kirk by @imaginestartrek

Three Word Prompt by @dark-fire-fills-me (key words: “Kirk McStupid Face”) 

Pancakes by @whatif-animagineblog (soulmate AU)

Finding You by @captainjimsexypantskirk (Sequel to The Ball) Royalty AU

First Sign Of Trouble by @kaitymccoy123

Hold My Hand by @littlecarowrites (set post Beyond)

Secretly Dating Jim by @imaginestartrek

Jim Realizing He Loves You by @youre-on-a-starship

Finding George Kirk Alive by @youre-on-a-starship

Taking Jim’s Place In The Warp Core by @youre-on-a-starship (easily one of my top ten faves)

Sentimental by @coyoteimagines

Purple by @coyoteimagines

The Princess by @coyoteimagines

Five minute Ficlet by @star-trekkin-across-theuniverse

Imagine Getting Hurt On a Training Exercise by @imaginestartrek

Big Personalities by @mybullshitsensesaretingling

Where’s My Love? by @dreaming-about-starfleet

Trouble Sleeping by @iguess-theyre-mymess

Accidentally Married by @dreaming-about-starfleet

How You Fell by @captainjimsexypantskirk

Mrs. Kirk by @imaginesofeveryfandom

Accustomed To Her Face by @star-trekkin-across-theuniverse

Lullaby by @taylorjacksonandtheolympians

I’m fine and It’s Nothing by @a-confused-turtle

Baby Blues by @enterprisewriting

Dance With Me by @iguess-theyre-mymess

Only Love Can Hurt Like This by @omg-imagine

Going Home by @imagines-for-the-fangirls-soul

A Kiss To Build A Dream On by @mybullshitsensesaretingling

The Bet, And The Revenge by @the-witching-hours12-3

Six Gifts by @omg-imagine

7 Minutes In Turbolift Heaven by @imamotherfuckingstar-lord

Insides by @mybullshitsensesaretingling

Plan B by @mybullshitsensesaretingling

Desert Hooker by @taylorjacksonandtheolympians

Soulmate by @workingforthewidow

Well, Morale Is my Specialty by @all-time-foes

Five Minute Ficlet by @star-trekkin-across-theuniverse

If you hurt her, I’ll hurt you by @space-helen

Unwinding by @spacethewritingfrontier

Trouble Sleeping by @iguess-theyre-mymess

Imagine Jim Fixing Your PADD by @imamotherfuckingstar-lord

Blue by @wickedsingularity

Untitled by @kaitymccoy123

Imagine Dating Jim and Him Proposing To you by @lets-imagine-trek

At The Center Of The Universe by @goingknowherewastaken

You Talk Too Much by @stardatewriting

More Than Five Minute Ficlet by @star-trekkin-across-theuniverse

Winged Men and Demigods by @yallneedtrek

Pardon My French by @musikat18

Oatmeal by @stardatewriting

Flirtation Station by @all-time-foes

Fragments Of You by @special-agent-fiction

1250 Follower Ficlet by @outside-the-government

Imagine Going To See Jim by @imamotherfuckingstar-lord

Fighters by @mybullshitsensesaretingling

Take Care Of You by @mybullshitsensesaretingling

An Urgent Appointment by @mybullshitsensesaretingling

Two Years by @imagines-for-the-fangirls-soul

Jim Saving You by @whatif-animagineblog

Imagine Bones Catching You and Jim making Out by @imaginestartrek

Cleaning Up A Food Fight by @imaginestartrek

Finding Out Kirk Is Your new Captain by @imaginestartrek

Imagine Being Bones’s Daughter by @imaginestartrek

All About Lovin’ You by @imoutofmyvulcanmind

Soulmates--Words by @mission-enterprise

Something Stupid by @girl-next-door-writes

For Years by @imamotherfuckingstar-lord

[sylviafox21]

I just added this listing on Poshmark: Build a Bear Trekkin Turtle with Shell Backpack. #poshmark #fashion #shopping #shopmycloset

[imaginestartrek]

Rules: Answer these questions, and tag 20 amazing followers that you’d like to get to know better. (tagged by @auduna-druitt)

Name: Bella

Nicknames: Bella actually is a nickname :)

Zodiac sign: Sagittarius (guys, I spelled it right on the first try FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER)

Hogwarts House: Hufflepuff

Height: 5′2″

Orientation: I’m a candy cane. Mostly straight with just a little bit of a curve at the end because who can say no to boobs?

Ethnicity: Northern European. I’m white af

Favorite Fruit: Strawberries

Favorite Season: Fall

Favorite Book Series: Harry Potter, I’m really enjoying Outlander so far too!

Favorite Fictional Characters: The Weasleys, Bones, Kirk, Scotty, uh...there are others I just can’t think of them all

A Fictional Character I’d like as a sibling: Hermione Granger. She’d have been able to help me study more and get better grades. Also, I just love her.

Favorite Flower: Calla lillies

Favorite Scent: After it rains, coffee, the ocean

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Animal: Turtle, tiger, and my puppy

Favorite Artist/Band: I’m really on a Panic! At the Disco kick right now...

Coffee, Tea, or Hot Cocoa: All of the above? I love hot or iced coffee, sweet tea is my jam, and peppermint hot chocolate from Starbucks is heavenly.

Average Sleep Hours: 4-6 hrs

Number of Blankets You Sleep With: Just a comforter

Dream Trip: Europe 

Last Thing Googled: Short story prompts

Blog Created: I think I started it in September or October so about 8 months or so?

How many Blogs do I follow: A lot

Number of Followers: 1865

What do I usually post about: Star Trek, fun stuff I think the followers will like, motivational things

Do you get asks regularly: No and I really wish I did, I love them!

What’s your aesthetic: I don’t really have one

Tags: @kilismaiden @feelmyroarrrr @angryschnauzer @outside-the-government @bkwrm523 @lurkch @gracieminabox @mccoymostly @imagineangryspacegrump @star-trekkin-across-theuniverse @wonders-of-the-enterprise and anyone else who wants to do it!!!

[medicatemedrmccoy]

Let the games begin - Ch. 5

Photo created and gifted by the stupendous: @wonders-of-the-enterprise

We’ve finally made it folks, the top of the roller coaster. Please keep all hands and feet inside this ride at all times ;)

Today dear reader, we’re focusing on our star and Jo, trying to do anything and everything to survive.

6,528 word(s) of angsty, violent, hurt, goodness. I told you this would make up for the last two chapters. Be ye warned, all who enter here.

Chapter 1  Chapter 2  Chapter 3  Chapter 4

There will be two more chapters, plus a prologue. SO, if you want to be tagged for the rest, yay! Just shoot me a message. If you don’t want to be tagged, then shoot me a message and I will try to keep my tears to a minimum, and go to my room and sit in the corner. Be gentle. I am a delicate flower.

Special thanks to: @outside-the-government for encouraging me to write again, and for being my beta and idea bouncer. Also @imoutofmyvulcanmind for being an idea bouncer, and letting me torture you with snippets, yay!

Tags: @star-trekkin-across-theuniverse @feelmyroarrrr @fandomheadrush @yourtropegirl @darlinleonard @bkwrm523 @trekken81 @trekkimagines201 @arrowsshootyouforwards @captian-hannah-kirk @hellhoundsandunicorns @kaitymccoy123 @starmission @kilismaiden @malindacath @starr-trekkk @the-the-sound-of-the-bees-blog @lurkch @random-fandom-lady @supernaturalgeekygal @captainjimsexypantskirk @devanshade @imagineangryspacegrump @pokemonlover591 @earinafae

You were busy stretching your sore and tight muscles. It didn’t seem to be doing much good, unfortunately.

“Honestly, there’s really not a whole lot that we can plan.” Paul said glumly “You know the only thing we can do to get you and Jo out of here.”

“I was really hoping you’d say that you know of a super secret escape hatch,” You said wistfully with a sigh.

“I wish, lass. I wouldn’t be here if I knew of one.” Paul laughed, shrugging his shoulders.

“Well, there’s nothing for it and we can’t just hide in here.” You said as you started to gather up your bow and arrow, which Paul had brought into the cave earlier with Jo.

“You never told me why you’re helping me.” You said as you slung the bow over your shoulder.

Paul snorted “because screw Ajek, and screw this place. I’m done playing by his rules. Besides, he’s never dragged a kid into this before. That’s low, even for him, offering her up as bait like that.”

Paul walked up beside you and handed you a rock sharpened into an arrow head, tied to a branch with twine. “For the little lass” Paul said quietly.

You took the crude spear from his hands silently. You look to Jo as she’s staring at the last of the fading fire. You have an internal struggle. She’s too young, she shouldn’t have to have any reason to use a spear. On the other hand, there’s no reason that the two of you should be here either. You can’t just leave her completely unprotected. You cursed inwardly.

“Hey, Jo. Come here.” You asked quietly. Jo turned and strode over to you, looking up into your eyes. “Jo, you know what this is?” You asked gently while holding out the spear to her.

“Yeah…” Jo trailed off apprehensively, eyeing the long piece of wood.

“I want you to hold onto this Jo, and keep it close.” You said as Jo got the implied meaning. She really was too smart for her own good.

“You want me to… use this?” Jo looked at the spear like it had just turned into a snake.

“I want to be smart Jo.” You began, phrasing your words carefully “I don’t know what else is out there. I’m going to do my best to protect you, but it’ll make me feel better if you at least have something.”

Jo regarded you and the spear for a few seconds. “You’re right Aunt Y/N.” Jo tightened her grip on the spear.

“Thank you, Jo.” You said relieved as you kissed the top of her head.

As if the universe had just heard what you had just told Jo, you heard a soft snuffling sound coming from the larger cave you came in from. The snuffling noise sounded deeper than what any wolf could make. “Great”, you thought, ��just perfect.“

You immediately grabbed Jo to keep her calm and placed your finger on her lips. You looked to Paul, his face steeled but still showing slight lines of worry. You closed your eyes and groaned softly. Here you go again.

You went out of the small cave first, with Jo clinging to your shirt with her good arm, and Paul close behind. You made your way to the front of your little off set room and stole a glance out into the larger room. Well, unfortunately, you were right. It was big, really big. Your eyes went wide. It looked to be a bear, a really, really big bear. It’s giant white face was matted with blood. You hoped it had saved you the trouble and killed one or two rivals.

“Its blocking the entrance.” You whispered to Paul, pointing toward the exit.

“We need to distract it.” Paul said, looking around the room. You looked around the cave floor looking for a rock or anything you can throw. You managed to find a few that you hope will make enough noise and threw them against the other side of the cave. It seemed to work.

The bear began to lumber to the other side of the cave. You slowly made your way out and around the off set door way. You waved your hand to Jo and Paul for them to follow. You made your way to the entrance of the cave slowly.

The bear snuffled and made a low growl, getting frustrated at not finding the source of the sound. You stole a glance to see that the bear was still investigating. That is, until Jo, turning around to see the bear for the first time, made a small gasp.

“Oh Jo...” You cringed inwardly. The bear turned around at the noise and growled loudly.

“RUN!” Paul screamed. His yell snapped you to attention and you’re turning to run before you can even think.

“Come on Jo!” you yelled, grabbing Jo by the arm.

“I’m sorry!” Jo tried to apologize, stumbling along the cave floor.

“Just run!” You ordered, as you took Jo’s good arm and pulled her in front of you, putting yourself between her and the bear.

“What do we do now?” You yelled at Paul “where can we go?”

Paul was quiet for a few moments, which felt like years when there’s a gigantic bear, behind you. A gigantic, fast bear. “Why is everything around here so damn fast?” You curse inwardly. Why couldn’t it be killer turtles, or violent snails?

“Follow the stream!” Paul yelled, pointing at the long stretch of water “it gets bigger down river!”

You pretty much have no choice but to trust him. You kept the steady pace as you guide Jo closer to the stream so you can follow it easier.

You could hear the bear crashing through the trees. It was like a juggernaut. Instead of being slowed down by the trees and foliage, it seemed to just be gaining momentum with every stride.

You weren’t sure which is worse, being torn to shreds by wolves or mauled by a bear.

“We’ve gotta pick up the pace!” Paul yelled “we’re not going to make it if we don’t.” The bear roared loudly behind him, as if to reiterate his point.

“Jo!” was all you managed to say, lungs burning.

Paul picked up on your thoughts and maneuvered his way around you and picked up Jo, who yelped in surprise, and sprinted ahead.

“Damn” was all you could think as you watched Paul sprint almost effortlessly ahead. Then you suddenly realized you were now at the back and promptly quickened your pace. You ran a few hundred more feet until you noticed the stream getting wider and starting to flow faster.

“It’s just up ahead!” Paul yelled. You noticed that he was beginning to tire as he continued to run. Him carrying Jo had helped to put a little bit of distance between you and the bear at least. Not nearly enough though, the bear was relentless.

Soon, you reached the part of the river Paul must have been talking about. It was quickly turning into a roaring river. You didn’t have a good feeling about this at all.

Paul ran further down to an overhang before suddenly screeching to a halt. You ran right into the back of him and almost sent you all toppling over the edge.

“Paul what...?” You breathed out, chest heaving.

“Quick, there’s no time!” Paul said quickly as he handed Jo to you. You took Jo and held her close as she clung to your neck.

“Paul, don’t. Whatever crazy thing you’re thinking, don’t. We need you.” You pleaded as you could see the bear bounding closer in the distance, looking madder than ever. Jo whimpered into your neck quietly.

“You know this has to be done. It’ll just follow you downstream otherwise. Good luck Y/N, now GO!” Paul shouted as he pushed you forcefully, making you lose your footing as you topple over the edge.

You’re quickly enveloped in an icy cascade of water. Somehow in your surprise, you lost your grip on Jo. You kicked frantically as you tried to break the surface. You gasped as you’re finally able to take in a mouthful of air.

“JO!” You screamed out, choking on the water trying to escape your lungs.

You don’t see Jo anywhere. She couldn’t have possibly gotten that far, she was clinging onto you as you fell, wasn’t she?

“JO, where are you?” You cried out once more. You searched around frantically until your eyes land back up at Paul.

“You stupid son of a bitch, Paul!” You screamed up at him, watching him twirl the spear that he took from Jo in his hands.

“I know, lass.” he replied, steeling himself for the oncoming attack.

That was the last you saw of Paul before you were swept down river and around a bend.

You smacked the surface of the water in frustration and said a silent curse for his stupidity. Not wasting anymore time, you resumed your search for Jo.

“Jo!” you screamed desperately “please for the love of god, answer me. JoJo!”

You searched frantically as the river became wider and more swift. You’re having to kick, and strain harder to try to keep your head above the water and go in a semi straight line to avoid rocks and fallen branches.

“Please, Jo. I’m begging you, kid. Answer me! Anything!” You pleaded as your eyes scanned everywhere.

You were close to having a meltdown before you finally saw the hint of pink from Jo’s favorite shirt 50 yards away or so.

“Oh thank god!” you murmured. Your thanks were short lived as you notice she’s face down and not moving in the swift current.

“Shit! JO!” You screamed, trying desperately to get your arms and legs to start working together to try to reach Jo.

You were making good progress as the river started to pick up even more. Worry flitted across your mind of another cliff. You pushed it down and concentrated on swimming. You grimaced every time Jo would bump into a branch or into a rock.

You noticed in your peripherals the river turning fierce. Rapids, and not any gentle ones either. They encased your body and began thrashing you around, head bobbing under and above the water repeatedly.

“Shit!” You exclaimed, coughing up water. You thrash around trying to get your bearings back, trying desperately not to take your eyes off Jo. You should have though. Then you would have seen the jagged rocks sooner.

Your eyes went wide. With the current of the river not only getting faster, if that were even possible, hitting those rocks was going to hurt and Jo seemed to be drifting right to them.

“Dammit Jo!” You cried, as you went into overdrive. Jo was still, maybe, 25 yards away and those rocks weren’t much further out.

You kicked and paddled as hard as you could. You tried to work with the river instead of against it. You pushed off from branches and rocks, clawing at the water, desperate to gain any ground, willing your body to work harder.

Your hard work paid off and you finally made it over to Jo with one last push off a rock. You grabbed Jo by the ankle and pulled her toward you and lifted her head out of the water. Her head lolled back onto your shoulder, she wasn’t breathing and she was beginning to turn blue.

You were so focused on Jo, you had forgotten about the rocks until it was too late. Having no time to swim out of the way, you do the only thing you have time for.

You quickly moved Jo behind you as you slammed into the rock hard, Jos added dead weight, not helping. You gasped and sputtered as pain shot through your ribs, making nothing but white explode in your vision. You tried to take in a few breaths but even that’s excruciating. It’s all you can do to keep your vision focused and keep a hold of Jo.

“Fuck it.” You breathed out, not having much other choice. You launched yourself and Jo from the rock. Your chest exploded with pain, but there’s nothing you can do about it for now. You have to make it to the bank, or you’re both dead.

This time though, you started making your way across the river, towards the bank. Every movement sent pain flaring from your chest, but you grit your teeth and choked it down.

You’re finally able to make it to the bank after what seems like an eternity. Being out of the water and having your ribs feel the full weight of gravity and pressure on them was absolute agony. You had bigger issues to deal with at the moment.

You hauled Jo up on the bank and immediately open and sweep her mouth before beginning CPR. You frantically began humming “another one bites the dust” to match your compressions.

“Damn, why do they pick the most morbid songs?” you thought as you pinched Jo’s nose and gave her small puffs of air.

“Come on Jo, don’t you dare give up on me” you cried as tears streamed down your face. You switched to “Stayin’ alive” as you restarted compressions. Not a lot better, but it helped.

You continued chest compressions and breathing for what seemed like hours, but it had probably been only minutes. Your chest was continuing to protest angrily.

“Jo, come back to me!” You ordered, getting angry “after all we’ve been through Jo, I am not letting you give up! Not now!”

You gave Jo another breath and she started to sputter and tried to cough up the water in her lungs.

“Jo!” You yelled “That’s my girl! Come back to me Jo” you encouraged as you began to tilt Jo on her side as she choked and spit up all the water.

“Atta girl Jo, you’re ok, get all that water out for me.” You said quickly, as you rubbed her back.

Jo choked and sputtered for a few more moments before finally taking a deep breath and gulping in all the air she possibly could, like she had never breathed before.

“You’re ok Jo, you’re alright. Calm even breaths for me Jo” You encouraged, patting her back softly.

“Y/N...” was all Jo could croak out.

“I’m here Jo, I’m here. I got you.” You reassured her. At those words, Jo began to sob.

“Hey now Jo, it’s okay, you’re safe. I’m not going to let anything happen to you, I promised.” You said softly. Jo sat up now and turned to you and went to wrap her arms around you and squeezed you tight. You yelped at the pressure.

Jo immediately withdrew. “Did I hurt you, Y/N? I’m sorry.” she said softly.

“It’s not your fault Jo.” You said as you began to press in on your ribs. You grimace as you hear a slight crunch each time you did. “Yep” you thought “definitely broken”

“Jo, help me take off this shirt.” You asked, thinking quickly.

“What are you doing?” Jo asked, moving to help.

“I have to splint these ribs Jo. This is all I got.” You said as you pull your shirt over your head gingerly, leaving you in a tank top. You folded up your shirt the best you could and lay on top of it.

“Alright Jo, I need you to push in right here for me, okay?” You say as you guide her good hand to your broken ribs.

“Is this going to hurt?” Jo asked, grimacing slightly.

“I sure hope not Jo, but probably. No matter what, don’t let go, okay?” You ordered. Jo just nodded in response as she moved into position.

“Okay push in.” You said. Her little hand felt like a 20lb weight. The pain made you see a few stars. You tried to muffle your cries, but despite your best efforts, a few get through. Jo is a trooper though, and doesn’t let up. You maneuvered your shirt around your chest the best you could and tied it tight.

“Okay Jo, you can let go now.” You said, completely out of breath. You laid there for a few seconds trying to catch your breath and wait for the pain to settle down to a manageable level. You had hoped it would anyway.

“How are you doing Jo? Are you okay?” You breathed out, trying to take your mind off the pain.

“I’m okay Y/N. I just want to go home.” Jo said, as a tear slipped down her cheek. You didn’t blame her one bit, you were ready to cry and get off this damn planet too.

You lifted your hand to wipe Jo’s cheek, “You’ve done so well Jo. You’ve been so brave. I’m so proud of you. I know this has to be hard for you Jo. This is a scary place, but I’m going to get us out of here, I promise.” You said as you gave her a tiny smile.

“I’m trying.” Jo said as she sniffled and gave you a tiny smile back “and I know you will, you’ve gotten us this far”

“You’re damn right, Jo. Now let’s get going. Help me roll over?” You asked. Jo leaned against your the best she could and helped you roll over to your side. You took a short breath and steeled yourself. You slowly got up to your hands and knees.

“Whew, Jo, this sucks.” Tou joked, trying to take your mind off of the pain.

“You move around like daddy after he works out too much.” Jo observed, also trying to help. You gave out a tiny laugh. What you wouldn’t give to see that right now.

You crawled your way to a rock and hoisted yourself up slowly. Jesus, that sucked. If you ended up on your back again, you would be toast if your lives depended on it. You decided to keep that bit of information to yourself.

“Where to now, Y/N?” Jo asked, looking around the open landscape.

“I really don’t know, Jo. Were in new territory now.” You admitted defeated, as you made you grab your bow once more, thanking the heavens you didn’t lose it in the river.

“I guess we just pick a direction and go.” Jo said as she took off first, you right  on her heels as you made your way through the foliage.

You had been following Jo for what seemed like hours. Every breath and step made your chest flair in agony.

You felt warm, was it warmer outside than what it had been earlier? You lift your hand to your face where you’re greeted with a slight sheen of sweat and felt your forehead. You feel warm. “Fever?” you question. Surely not, you began to go over your symptoms in your head.

“I need to sit down for a minute, Jo.” you said as you plop down on a rock, not waiting for a response.

“Are you okay, Y/N?” Jo asked concerned, giving you the once over.

“Yeah Jo, I just need to rest a minute.” You replied tiredly.

You sat on the rock for a while trying to regain your strength. You began to wonder if this place had a beginning or end. While you were deep in thought, you notice a big flock of birds take off and fly away, accompanied by a soft rumbling noise.

“What the hell?” You ask thoughtfully as the rumbling began to get louder. Your thoughts immediately went to the bear, had it finally caught up with you? What happened to Paul? You put those thoughts aside as you noticed the rumbling sounded like hooves thundering against the ground.

You stand up on your rock and begin to look around. In the distance you noticed a herd of what look like deer. “Huh, finally, something that won’t try to eat us.” Tou thought fleetingly.

Your thoughts then went to, “what might be trying to eat them?” The thought didn’t comfort you one bit.

“Come on Jo, we need to get going.” You said as you went to grab her hand. As you go to reach out for Jo, you heard another type of rumble, not of hooves, nor footfalls. This was a deep earthen rumble that shook down to the very core of where you were standing. The whole landscape began to shake.

“Y/N, what’s going on?” Jo asked beginning to get scared

You begin to panic slightly as the landscape began to shake even more. How the hell do you outrun an earthquake?

“Come on Jo, we have to get out of these trees.” You yelled as you grabbed her hand and headed for the clearing. You ran out of the edge of the forest and to a more rocky terrain. The ground shook violently and you wondered how long this was going to last.

You held Jo tight to you and crouched where you stood, trying not to lose your footing. You looked down at your feet as you noticed tiny cracks starting to dance across the ground.

“This is not good” you think to yourself “shitshitshit”

“Jo, we gotta run!” You screamed as you grabbed her hand and pushed her in front of you. You couldn’t run back to the forest for the falling trees, the only way to go was forward and that didn’t look promising, but you had to try. Taking in a breath and tightening your t-shirt around your ribs, you took off.

The cracks started to move more swiftly through the rock laden earth as you tried to outrun them. It wasn’t helping that the earth’s shaking was throwing you two off balance as you went.

The earth was quickly giving way to the relentless shaking and it started to open all around you, making you have to jump over small fissures. You were looking around trying to figure out where to go, when you started to see a break in the earth unaffected by the shaking.

“Jo, that way!” you yelled as you changed her direction. You two made a beeline for the edge. The earth is breaking up faster than you thought. The crack ran by you swiftly and the earth began to open up before your eyes at an alarming rate.

“Shit Jo, brace yourself!” you screamed as you did your best to pick her up with your chest screaming in utter agony from the running and the shaking. You managed to pick her up enough and toss her across the gap, as the earth opened up even more and swallowed you whole, disappearing from sight.

Jo skidded across the ground from where she fell. “No! Aunt Y/N! Aunt Y/N!” she yelled as she picked herself up and ran back to where you fell. Thankfully the relentless earthquake was starting to calm.

“Aunt Y/N, where are you!?” Jo screamed as she skidded to a stop at the edge and tentatively looked down.

“I’m here, Jo. I’m okay, kinda...” You yelled up as your finger tips were clasped onto a tiny outcrop to cling to and your feet barely finding a tiny ledge to rest on.

“What do I do?” Jo asked as she tried to reach her little hand down to you “I can’t reach you” as tears began to fall down her cheeks “please tell me what to do”.

“I don’t know Jo, let me think a minute.” You replied quietly. You had no idea what you were going to do. Your arms and legs were shaking from the strain of trying to hold yourself up and close to the edge. Your chest was on fire from the running and shaking and now trying to hold yourself up. There was no way you could climb up the side, even without broken ribs, there was nothing to cling onto.

“Aunt Y/N, please..” Jo trailed off choking back a sob “I’m scared”.

“It’s okay Jo, go see if you can find something to lower down to me, vines, stick, anything. But be careful and watch your surroundings.” You yelled up at her. You heard her little footsteps race off into the distance. You hoped she’d be okay off on her own.

You rested your forehead against the cool earth. You sent Jo on a fool’s errand you begin to think. Even if Jo did find something to pull you up with, Jo wasn’t big enough to hold your weight and you didn’t know if there was anything big enough around to tie anything to.

And your ribs? Could they even handle the force and pressure of trying to haul yourself up? Tears slipped down your cheeks, you were exhausted and angry. It couldn’t end here could it? You’d come so far, you had to get out of this somehow, if only for Jo. She didn’t deserve to die here.

You clung to the side of the earth for what seemed like ages. Your arms and legs were beginning to turn to jello. You began to think even if Jo did by some miracle find something, you didn’t know if you’d have the strength to do anything with it.

“JO!” you yelled out, starting to get worried “Jo where are you?” as your feet began to slip off their small crevice. This wasn’t going to last much longer and you had no place to go.

“Aunt Y/N!” You hear Jo yelling faintly in the distance “Aunt Y/N! I found the perfect thing”! Jo’s tiny footfalls fell softly on the earth as she came to a stop at the edge. Jo peeked over the edge down at you and smiles.

“I found the perfect thing!” She said triumphantly, grinning from ear to ear.

“What did you find Jo?” You replied as a hand is shoved roughly in your face.

“What the f…” You said staring at the hand and followed an arm up to the owner’s face.

“PAUL! Oh my god, Paul, you glorious bastard! You have no idea how glad I am to see your ugly mug!” You said as tears now streamed down your face in relief.

“You didn’t count me out that easy now did you, Lass. I have to say I’m a little hurt.” Paul smirked down at you “now let’s get you topside”

“Thank god, but I broke some ribs, I dunno if I can..” You began to explain.

“Shut up lass, I don’t want to hear any excuses from you. We’ve been chased by a bear and you went swimming in those rapids, you can do this. Time to put up and shut up” Paul said sternly “Now take my hand.”

“You’re right” you replied as you grasped his hand, steeling yourself for what’s to come. You link your hand and arm together as Paul slowly started to shimmy his way backwards. The sudden expansion of your chest makes stars explode in your eyes. You bit on your tongue to keep yourself from screaming out and just focused on getting up. You scrambled the toes of your shoes against the side of the earth, trying to get as much traction as possible. You neared the top and stretched out your free hand to grasp the side of the ledge.

“Come on lass, almost there, put your back into it. It’s like I’m doing all the work here.” Paul grunted, trying not to hurt you too much as he pulled you up further.

“Shut your face, Paul.” you wheezed out, utterly spent. Paul just chuckled.

“I got you Y/N.” Jo said as she put her hands under your armpit and tried to heave you up with as much strength as a ten year old could muster. Paul repositioned himself further down your arm and hoisted you up the rest of the way.

You flopped down on your back, so thankful to be on the flat surface once more.

“Solid, flat ground! I will never take the ground under my feet for granted ever again.” you panted out of breath. Jo immediately coming to sit by you and taking your hand into her lap, holding it tightly.

“I’m just glad the little lass found me. I’ve been looking everywhere for you two. I followed the river and saw the indention of where you crawled out on the bank, but there wasn’t much else to go on.” Paul said, panting slightly

“I am too. You did a good job Jo, I’m proud of you.” You said softly as you squeezed Jo’s hand tightly.

“We’ll give you a few minutes to rest, then we better get going.” Paul said as he stood guard.

“Just… just 5 more minutes.” You wheezed as you again check your shirt “help me tie this back Jo”. After your shirt was securely back in place, Paul helped you slowly to your feet.

“You gonna to be okay, lass.” Paul asked, giving you a once over.

“You kidding? I’m alive! I could run a marathon!” You exclaimed and went to take a few steps and winced in pain “Okay maybe a half marathon”

Paul just laughed at you and patted your back softly “Whatever you say lass”. Paul started off in front of you and you and Jo follow closely behind.

You had begun to walk back through the forest. It at least provided some shade from the relentless sun. You had been walking for what felt like ages. You were exhausted, you were hungry and your mouth so very dry.

“Jo, Paul, I gotta stop for a minute.” you said as you sat down on a rock, as a wave of nausea hits, not even waiting on a response.

“Are you ok, Y/N?” Jo asked concerned.

“Yeah, Jo. I’m ok, I just need a rest.” You answered, winded. The nausea got increasingly worse. “Please don’t puke” you plead with yourself, not wanting to imagine what retching would do to your poor ribs.

You closed your eyes and focused on just breathing. Paul came and sat beside you and started rubbing your back with his hand, his gesture oddly comforting. Jo crawled over to your side, rubbing your arm gently.

“I love you, Jo.” you said as you head is between your knees.

“I love you too, Y/N.” Jo replied as she rested her cheek on your back.

The three of you must have dozed off because you didn’t hear the commotion before it was too late.

You heard a twig snap, and voices coming from the trees. Your eyes flew open. You and Paul leapt to your feet, much to your ribs protest, and swallowed down any hint of nausea that might have remained.

You immediately unslung your bow and had an arrow knocked in two seconds flat. Paul had his trusty spear out, covered completely down the hilt with blood.

“Jo stay close.” You whispered. You didn’t have to say anything as Jo was already attached to your leg. You and Paul scanned the forest for the owners of the voices. You didn’t have to look long before you found the source of the noise before four men stepped out from the tree line.

“Son of a..” You thought to yourself.

“Take one more step, and this arrow flies in between your eyes.” You said threateningly, knocking an arrow.

“Aye, we don’t want to have to hurt the lot of ye!” Paul added, equally as menacing. Apparently his accent came out in full force when he was stressed.

Three out of the four hesitate slightly. The fourth just gave you a smug smile and began to advance. Not giving him one more step, you released your arrow. True to your word, the man fell backward with an arrow planted firmly in between his eyes, a look of shock forever strewn across his face.

“Holy hell, lass. Where’d you learn how to do that?” Paul asked, clearly impressed.

You don’t reply. You quickly knock another arrow and are faintly aware of Jo clinging even tighter to you, burying her head in your hip.

“Anyone else want to try?” You ask menacingly, moving your bow from person to person.

“Give us the girl.” The one with the mace said “our beef isn’t with you.”

“If you want her, then your beef is entirely with me. You’re going to have to get through me first.” You warned, pulling your arrow back further.

“Aye, me as well, ya bloody wankers!” Paul said as he twirled his spear around.

“Very well.” The man replied as the remaining three began to spread out “this should be fun”.

You let another arrow fly as they began to advance. They were expecting it now, and quickly dodged out of the way. “Damn” you thought glumly. You reached back into your quiver for another arrow, last one, better make this count.

Since they were expecting head and upper body shots, you decide to take a different approach. You quickly loose the arrow before they could react, hitting your target. You took out the guys knee, who was carrying an axe, with a clean shot. He dropped to the ground in agony, that quickly turned to rage as he broke the arrow in half and pulled it out.

“Shit” you said quietly to yourself.

“Leave him to me, lass.” Paul said as he advanced, tightening his grip on his spear.

“Now what are you going to do sweetheart? You’re all out of arrows.” The man with the mace asked.

“Don’t count me out just yet, asshole.” You muttered as you turned to face him head on. You weren’t quite sure what you were going to do honestly, you were still outmatched and your ribs were still on fire.

That is until you felt Jo, moving beside you. Before you had a chance to see what she was doing, you saw a rock whiz passed your head and hit the man squarely in the nose. “Kids got aim” you thought as she kept throwing rocks, one after the other.

“Cut it out you little runt!” The man growled, focusing his attention on Jo “I’m going to enjoy gutting you.”

You saw nothing but red at his words and you used the temporary distraction to charge the man and tackle him like you did the very first. This time though, your tackle wasn’t quite as efficient thanks to your broken ribs and utter exhaustion.

You did at least manage to knock him off his feet, but he grabbed your pants and brought you down with him, as his mace tumbled out of his hands.

You managed to land on top of him, and got in a few blows first, successfully breaking his nose. This made him angry, he bucked you off and grabbed you by your waist and threw you down hard. You grunted from the pressure and pain flared up through your chest once more.

The man gladly returned the broken nose you gave him. Stars once again danced in your vision as blood poured down your face. You struggled violently until he rendered you immobile by punching you in your ribs. You screamed an ungodly scream as pain seared through your abdomen.

You figured you were done for, as your body shook as pain ripped through every fiber. So many things went through your head, from Jim, to Leonard, to Jo. God, how you completely failed them all by not being able to get you two back safe.

You stole a glance over at Paul, who was busy getting his face beat in, trying to reach his spear. Hot tears began to streak down your face.

“That’s it, cry for me you little bitch. I’m going to have so much fun with this.” the man smiled menacingly as his hand began to play with the top of your pants and started to slip a couple fingers behind the seam.

The man suddenly shrieked in pain as something thudded against his temple.

“Leave my aunt alone!” Jo screamed with all she had as she held the mace in her hands. The man was stunned to say the least, but not for long. He began to recover.

“You little RAT! That’s it, I’m done playing games!” He yelled as he went to grab Jo. Jo wasn’t fast enough and only made it a few feet before he grabbed her and began to choke her.

“I’m going to enjoy this.” He said, tightening his grip. Jo tried to scream but she couldn’t.

“Hey, jackass!” you shouted from behind him. Startled, the man turned quickly, just in time for you to run the other man’s axe across his throat. He immediately released Jo and clutched his throat.

Blood cascaded like a waterfall down his neck and down the front of his shirt.

“If you relax, you might have four minutes to live, less if you panic.” You said coldly “each beat of your heart is just going to push more out.”

You leave him to his slow agonizing suffering and turn toward Jo. She’s just sitting there watching the man, slowly bleed out, rubbing her throat absently. You quickly go to her and turn her around.

“Jo, hey, are you okay?” You asked and she just nodded in reply, as you lifted up her chin gently with your hand as you inspected her throat. Slightly red, but not too bad.

“Can you speak for me, Jo?” You asked quietly, trying to get Jo to focus.

She nodded “yeah, just sore” she replied.

You pulled her in for a quick hug as you survey the scene. One man with an arrow between the eyes, another with Paul’s spear through his chest, with an unconscious Paul laying beside him, and thanks to other man’s axe, one was seconds away from bleeding out in front of you.

You pause for a second. “That’s 3” you muttered “wasn’t there…” you began to think, but were cut off as you look down as you feel a pinch and see a shiny red gleam now protruding from your stomach. “Four?” you finished in you head as the man twisted and yanked the sword back out.

How could you have lost track of how many men there were? How did you not hear him sneaking up behind you?

You were vaguely aware of Jo screaming and yelling your name as you drop to your knees as blood began to pour from your wound and your mouth. You wondered if he punctured your lung as well as your breaths didn’t seem to be doing much good. The man moved in front of you and pushed you onto your back.

“I want you to watch as I kill you.” The man said. You’re not sure you could anyway as your eyes are beginning to lose focus as you lay choking and sputtering as your own blood began to fill your lungs and mouth.

As the man brought up his sword to deliver the final blow, all you could think was of everyone you were leaving behind. The people you loved, who you would never see again. The things you wanted to do but would never be able to now.

You waited for the blow, but it never came. You could make out some commotion and some voices here and there as your hearing and eyesight began to fade.

“Uncle Jim!” you swore you heard Jo yell. Jim? It couldn’t be. Could it? You continued to choke on your blood, slowly losing consciousness from lack of oxygen.

“…choking, Unc- Jim… her over” you heard faintly as you felt pressure on your side. You figured if by some chance you weren’t dead yet, you were fixing to be as you felt your eyes roll back into your head as you began shaking violently and uncontrollably.

“Shit… seizure… Scotty…. us up”  was the last thing you heard before darkness consumed you once again.

[thetravellingbutler]

Keep on trekkin’

Happy New Year!

I’m writing this from the airport in Cusco before I fly out of Peru and on to Ecuador. This was my second time in Peru, I loved it the first time I came here in 2014, it was my favourite South American country. My second visit has only reaffirmed that so far. 

As i mentioned in my last post, I was excited to meet up with many of the friends I’d made to celebrate Christmas and welcome the new year. Some i’d travelled with for weeks, others for a few days. Now I’ve said goodbye to all of them again, It’s a strange feeling. Some I will see in a month or so, others in a few months when they show me their homes in Europe or the US, and some I may never see again. But i guess that’s the nature of travelling.

Of course in between all of the partying and celebrating for Christmas and the new year I also did a lot. I hiked up Rainbow Mountain, the hike itself was fairly easy with a lot of flat areas but doing any physical activity starting at over 4000m above sea level is tough no matter how flat. Rainbow mountain was not a tourist attraction just 2 years ago when I was here, only the past 6-9 months the mountain has been open for tourists. I’m so glad it is, because it is breathtaking. Fortunately we were the first 2 people to reach the top in the morning so we were able to take in the views by ourselves with very little tourists around and a cheeky celebratory Rum, it was definitely worth the 3am pickup from the hostel.

Now I’m thinking about it, the reason I was back in Cusco was to take care of some unfinished business. When I visited Machu Picchu in 2014 it was amazing, I did the 1 day Inca Trail trek, around 20kms and a lot of stairs and then stunning views of Machu Picchu at the end. I remember when we finished, talking to my friends about how good it would have been to do a whole trek, the sense of achievement was huge after just 1 day, imagine after 3 or 4. So this time around, I was going to take that chance. I wasn’t going to leave Peru again without doing it, so I took on the 4 day Salkantay trek. (I probably listened to this song 4 or 5 times on the trek - fitting of course).

The first 2 days tested my resolve, there’s no doubt about that. I was quite ill and couldn’t eat. So energy was low and it wasn’t necessarily the ideal conditions to be hiking 4500m above sea level. The first day was a bit of uphill, but nothing too strenuous, the main challenge for me was simply not to shit myself (I succeeded by the way). We hiked to a Glacial lake, I got the feeling that I’ve been lucky enough to get many times on my travels, the feeling of utter amazement. Greeny blue water, a huge mountain covered in snow and small waterfalls and then rolling hills all around. This is not something I was expecting to see on the trek, what a wonderful surprise it was. We then camped in a cool little hut, it was bitterly cold and windy, you could feel the power of thunder rumbling through the ground as you were trying to sleep, it was intense but beautiful. Then the 4:30am wakeup, greeted by a hot coca tea to prepare for another full day of hiking.

The second day was the hardest of the trek. Climbing to the summit around 2-3 hours. This was when I felt the most sick, I dropped to the back of the group and without some fairly dark, strong music I’m not sure I’d have made it without needing an emergency donkey. From somewhere though I got a lot more energy and once it got to about 9 or 10 am I was back. At the summit it was fairly cloudy/foggy so there wasn’t much to see. After resting for 30 minutes or so we continued the hike downhill for another 6 or 7 hours toward the jungle part of the trek. There we could rest, drink some wine, play cards and talk about the day.

Day 3 was interesting, before I left home I kept banging on about how diverse South America is and why I was coming back. I think the 3rd day of this trek summed it up in many ways, out of the cold, rainy mountain we hiked for hours into the jungle where it was warmer and abundant with trees and rivers. All in 1 day we went through 3 micro-climates, it was intriguing. Other than that it was a fairly cruisy day, most importantly I was feeling well again. 

The fourth and final day we were again up at 4am so we could hike up to Machu Picchu. It was around an hour of walking up stairs, sweating bullets but certainly worth the effort. The hike is up 2000 stairs to reach the Machu Picchu site, once there though we’d doubled down and signed up to climb Machu Picchu mountain as well. Another 2000 or so steps, this was arguably the hardest part of the 4 days, tired legs, 4am wakeups everyday and then a further 2000 steps more or less directly up. It was tough but again the sense of achievement made it worth it. Once we got to the top it was slightly disappointing that there were so many clouds, below us of course, we were a long way up after all. So looking down onto Machu Picchu could have been more spectacular but it was great just to be up there.

So it was time to end our trek and second visit to Machu Picchu. A place many people will never get to see, I felt lucky and of course grateful to have been able to see it once let alone return for more. From there, getting back to Cusco was a calamity. But one that I won’t forget simply because looking back now it was quite funny. We waited an hour or so for a bus to begin the 6 or 7 hour drive back to Cusco. After eventually figuring it out, we’d found our bus and they asked why we were all so late. Then, the race was on to catch up to another bus in front with the rest of the people on it so we could join their bus. I think we changed buses 3 times, each with very little or no understanding of the reason why. The final one the driver refused to start driving until he sprayed air freshener throughout the van on our hiking shoes and all, and directly on my legs (I think he was hinting something). We made it back to our hostel against the odds in the end, a gruelling and uncomfortable 6 or 7 hours, the last of which was driving in a storm where the driver was wiping the window with toilet paper and salt as he was driving, like me, he couldn’t see a thing out the window. It was slightly unsettling but he got me home so fair play to him.

After arriving back in Cusco to celebrate New years we thought we’d have one last hurrah in Peru and go to the Amazon jungle for a few days. Puerto Maldonado is around 9 hours from Cusco so we got an overnight bus. Overnight buses can sometimes be tough, but with the promise of monkeys at the end it wasn’t so hard at all. We arrived, gumboots in hand and began a 3km walk in the jungle. Along the way we spotted monkeys and the biggest Tarantula I’ve ever seen. This thing was the size of my face! We arrived at a quaint, little lodge, had a couple of hours in a hammock to relax before heading out into the lake to spot some more Caimans (crocodiles). We spent 3 hours or so on the lake as the sun went down. It was one of the best sunsets I’ve witnessed and the sky full of stars afterwards was astonishing. Perhaps my favourite part though was the sounds, from monkeys in the trees to macaws screeching, it was like an orchestra. Most amazingly though was the howler monkey, from around 2 or 3 kilometres away we could hear the alpha monkey, it sounded like a subway train, everyone, everything in the jungle knew he meant business. (I guess you could say monkey business.....get it?).

Over the course of 2 days or so we saw many Caimans, Macaws, Monkeys, Otters, spiders, turtles, it was amazing. It was yet another unforgettable, and different experience for me. It wasn’t without some discomfort of course, cold showers, sweaty, hot conditions and mosquitos everywhere. To this moment I’m not sure if it’s true but the guide warned us that outside our specific lodge there was a Tarantula’s house and it’s quite common that one will go inside the lodge during the night. I slept fairly well inside the mosquito net but it took just about everything I had to block that comment out of my mind. 

Needless to say, Peru certainly delivered again. Now, onto Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands.

[thefanficfaerie]

Weekly Reading List 38

Weekly Recommendations get posted every Thursday. All stories are character x reader unless otherwise stated. Graphic by the awesome @wonders-of-the-enterprise.

Wonder Woman Steve Trevor Don’t Let Me Go Tonight by @imamotherfuckingstar-lord

Game of Thrones Robb Stark Colors by @steves-starsandstripes

Jon Snow

Avengers Steve Rogers Hesitant by @floatingpetals Harbinger of Doom Part 2/Part 3 by @my-emotional-self NSFW Impromptu Boyfriend by @thepokyone Strip It Down by @alternateafterthought Framed Photos by @imamotherfuckingstar-lord WOC!Reader Light in the Dark by @language-rxgers Mixology by @emilyevanston NSFW Sledgehammer Part 12/Part 13 by @tilltheendwilliwrite NSFW Heart and Soul by @kalliria Everything’s Better With a Beard by @4theluvofall NSFW Hands Off by @imamotherfuckingstar-lord WOC!reader

Tony Stark Hydra Hotel Stays by @oneshot-twoshot-redshot-blueshot Just A Dream by @let-it-go-and-let-it-live 2 am by @alternateafterthought Midnight Talks by @imagine-the-fluff Iron Man and Mrs. King Part 10/Part 11 by @goodnightwife Five Stages of Love by @secondxreality Without a Fight by @captain-brns It Will Be Perfect by @not-moose-one-shots That’s My Boy by @imagine-assembling-the-avengers with Peter Parker

Steve Rogers x Reader x Bucky Barnes  Fuel to Fire Part 1/Part 2 by @avasparks NSFW Savages by @avasparks NSFW All the Things You Can Have (and the One Thing You Can’t). by @emilyevanston Decades Dance by @marvelous-fvcks 

Law and Order: SVU Rafael Barba Reception by @hiddndaydreams I’ll Wait For You by @mrsrafaelbarba The Shameful Scavenger Hunt by @ohbelieveyoume Critical Part 4 by @miamorbarba

Star Trek Jim Kirk The Room Where It Happens by @musikat18 Its Fine and Its Nothing by @a-confused-turtle Marriage Material Part 6/Part 7/Part 8/Part 9 by @enterprisewriting Things Unsaid by @mybullshitsensesaretingling Accustomed to Her Face by @star-trekkin-across-theuniverse Lullaby by @taylorjacksonandtheolympians

Leonard McCoy Night on the Town Part 13 by @all-sortsa-stuff Living, Not Surviving by @outside-the-government Jumping to Conclusions by @writingwithadinosaur Sunshine and Shattered Glass by @the-space-goddess-16

McKirk Begin Again/Part 2 by @pinkamour1588

Jim x Reader X Bones

NCIS Tony DiNozzo Stay With Me by @littledizzyhurricane Late Night by @whatcha-gonna-do-about-it-huh

Tropes AU  Atlantis by @kalliria Steve Rogers 

Soulmate AU Operations Soulmate Part 1/Part 2 by @a-splash-of-stucky Steve Rogers The Color Red by @imaginativemarvel Steve Rogers  No Sleep Til Brooklyn Part 9 by @imamotherfuckingstar-lord Steve Rogers

Daddy!Character You Found My Arms Not A Moment Too Soon by @thatgirlwhosalwayssinging Rafael Barba 

A/B/O Dynamics

Modern AU Boundaries Part 9 by @imamotherfuckingstar-lord Steve Rogers Billion Dollar Man Part 6 by @marvelous-fvcks Tony Stark  Happenstance by @redgillan Steve Rogers 

Misc Fandoms Afraid by @writefasttalkevenfaster Aaron Hotchner Peace of Mind by @coyoteimagines Eomer

Chris Evans Getting Back with Chris by @ohevansmycaptain Helping Scott Hustle Chris by @ohevansmycaptain Jealous by @sincerelysaraahh Luckiest Girls in the World by @mightyshieldevans

Mood Boards

tags: @thelawschooldiva @outside-the-government @isaxhorror @rayleyanns @sistasarah-sallysaidso @grumpykate @auduna-druitt @pinkamour1588@engineeringtrashcan @impalaanddemons @dirajunara @the-space-goddess-16 @catbutsfurrever

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