#wampus cat hair

[boyneptunee]

4k, tomarry, time travel with a dash of fluff

(or) Harry follows Sirius through the Veil and somehow ends up in the past. Tom just wants the pretty songbird to land on his hand and sing.

Sirius Black fell through the veil.

There was a defeating silence, a calm, then: a raw scream tore through the air of the Department of Mysteries.

Sirius Black was gone.

Sirius Black was dead.

And so Harry Potter had lost the only family he had left, the only hope for love, for a better life and new beginnings and sweet Merlin, he wanted to be dead too.

Harry fought to get out of the arms holding him back, barely noticing who it was in the struggle to get himself moving, to not be stagnant in this too. He brought his elbow back to strike a face and suddenly he was free again.

And he ran.

There was anger and there was sorrow and pain and so many, so many mixed feelings tearing through his head a mile a minute, spreading it's spiderlike fingers and clinging to the cracks of his very being. He felt like he was being consumed from the inside out and the only thing he could do was put one foot in front of the other.

And so he ran.

He ran through the polished black marble floor, past people fighting left and right, dodging spells as he went, then up the couple of steps that separated the Archway from the rest of the World.

He barely heard his name being called, a desperate plea to wait, to come back. People were running desperatly after him, lights of different colours coming from multiple directions, trying to bring him back to safe ground.

But it was too late.

Harry Potter slipped through the Veils of the Archway of Death without making a single sound and disappeared into it's depths.

Tom Marvolo Riddle liked to collect things. Hoard knowledge. Discover new realms and hidden places. Branches of magic long forgotten. Dark tomes and jewelry, magical stones and trinkets from all over. He liked to learn all he could, keep all that he desired, like a hungry dragon protecting its precious treasure.

So it came to no surprise that he liked to collect people too.

The songbird was not the first, of course. that would have been Abraxas Malfoy. If venous snakes didn't count as people, anyway. The boy had been excited when they first crossed paths on the train compartment, both acting too grand but too unsure of how to talk to other boys his age. He had been interesting, with his pale hair and clear eyes, and new, and above all: he thought Tom was interesting too.

So, Abraxas had been the first.

It didn't stop there, clearly.

Naturally, with a curiosity to rival a wampus cat and the means to get whatever he wanted no matter the cost, Tom liked to travel.

After applying for the Defense post at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry fresh out of school and getting shot down faster than he could blink; he had considered his options.

Then, without thinking too much of it in a rare display of reckless fueled by rage, he had marched through Gringotts Bank in his best robes, eyes blazing and had claimed the Slytherin Lordship right then and there.

He had been the first in a century to do so, and it had caused a right stir within the British Magical Community.

Many argued it had to be a farse; after all, if such a Lordship existed why hadn't someone else claimed it before? Many turned their noses at the mention of the Gaunts, the inbreed House that lived in poverty, with fates worse than a squibs and no recorded student in a magical school in at least three generations. Surely if the Lordship was available to them they could have claimed it and saved their family from all the misfortunes.

No one outside the Family knew, of course, that the Slytherin Lordship came with clauses. Each and every one had to be met to even be considered for the Heirship, much less the tittle of Lord of the House.

And Tom, in all his rightful fury at being turned down in the only place he had considered a home for seven years, met each and every last one of them.

Tom had killed the girl on accident.

He knew this. The basilisk knew this. But the girl, and the rest of the school didn't.

And he would keep it that way, least they frame him for murder and strap chains around his neck and snap his wand. He would not be caged again, like he had been when he was but a boy.

At the threat of the school closing down, he had directed the magestic serpent back to Salazar's Chamber. He refused to go back to London, to the Orphanage. Back to war.

He promised to come back for her, once he had a place big enough to hold her body and mask her magic.

And he did, years and years later, when he had the Slytherin Lordship at his fingertips and the old Manor at his call.

He set her loose on the forest around the property, big enough and warded enough for her to live a comfortable life. The old serpent couldn't remember ever feeling the sun on her scales, the warmth on her soul. It was the happiest she'd been on centuries.

She passed on, not a year after being set free, of old age. It seemed to Tom she was waiting for this.

He had traveled here and there, with no destination in mind for a couple of months after claiming his Lordship.

He had seen creatures he had only read about in books. He learned that some cultures had proper and complete languages for spell casting. Found out some didn't use wands at all.

He visited some parts of Asia, of course. Curious about the rumors of the serpent tongue having originated from there. It was not entirely true, after all. There were other ways to communicate with snakes, different but entirely as efficient as parseltongue.

He learned from musicians on the streets of magical alleys, tucked between merchants, who hypnotized snakes to their will at the hand of an instrument. He asked after venoms and cures and uses for potion ingredients only found in snakes. Found enchantresses and dancers who manipulated magic in ways he had never thought possible.

And when he bored of wandering and felt his curiosity sated for the moment, he went home to put it all away in his hoard.

 

A couple months later, Lord Malfoy set Abraxas on a trip, with strict orders to get new silk traders or not come back at all.

House Malfoy had always been cloth merchants, since an age as far back as before the Round Table. They had grown and changed as times came past, moved with the magical world to more densely populated areas, where Magic was more dense and not as easily dispersed by nature, and even if many of its children persued more political roles in their communities, their base business always stayed the same, as a nod to their ancestors.

Tom, curious about countries not yet visited and Orion Black, sent by his father and Lord in the hopes that his son and Heir could learn a thing or two about adulting from his friends, came with.

It started, as things are wont to do, with a letter.

A letter that stated that the merchant who Abraxas was supposed to meet the day after they arrived, at first light of Dawn before the markets opened, was off to India, trying to sabotage his biggest competitor to date.

The letter, of course, didn't state things in quite as many words, but Abraxas would renounce his name before being unable to read between lines.

And so, they were stranded in Romania until their wayward seller decided to come back. That, or risk Lord Malfoy feeding Abraxas to the winged horses of the Manor. Or worse yet, betroth him to House Lestrange, like he'd been threatening to do for a while yet, regardless of all the happenings within the House, with murders and back stabbings and the Head of House changing at a drop of a hat without a clear view of who would come out on top in the end.

Neadless to say, Heir Malfoy was stranded, his feet rooted to the city without a way out.

Tom didn't think of it that way, anyway. His sights were set on the older parts of the magical side of the city, with it's rich history and full markets and grand castles nestled between bast forests. Yes, Tom didn't think of the merchant and his friend's predicament at all.

"Well." Orion said, cautiously looking from one friend to another, the three of them standing outside a quaint old house, where the merchant's husband had handed them the letter and closed the door in their faces without as much as a greeting. "Have you arranged for a place to stay?"

No answer from any of them, Abraxas too busy glaring at the letter and Tom too lost in the sights of the street around them, full of people and little shops and alleys and adventures to be had.

"Abraxas?"

"Sorry, what?"

"Have you made arrangements." This time Orions voice was flat, his grey eyes steel as he glared at his friend, somehow he thought he knew the answer to that.

"...for what?"

"Oh for fucks sake, where are we to stay, you dumbwit! Don't tell me you received orders to come cross continent without as much as your fathers say so and didn't prepare for the time we would be here!"

"..."

"Did you think it would only take a day? Are you half mad? Abraxas—"

"That's enough." Tom's voice cut through Orions like a knife. He looked annoyed too, but his head was already turning with possibilities. "Standing around will solve nothing. Come, let us go through the magical side and see if we can find something there."

"You just want to put your paws into new obscure tomes, Tom, don't even try." Abraxas said with a laugh, putting the letter away before looking to Orion. "I didn't think this would take a day, just so you know. I just thought the merchant would be kind enough to point us to somewhere nice enough for us to stay."

 

It wasn't, as Tom foolishly thought at first, easy to find lodging.

They went through a big archway, carved into white stone and hidden away in an alley full of muggle-repelling charms with only a sign half washed away by the fierce sun above their heads that read Calea Vrăjitorului.

The streets beyond the alley didn't change much, unlike Diagon Alley wrapped between London's heart, surrounded by newer looking buildings; the city of Sighișoara was nestled with old buildings, winding passageways and cobblestone roads. The Magical side of the alley was bursting with people coming to and fro, a big market greeted them in the distance, little tents set up on long rows on one side and the other, older shops standing tall behind them. It was much like a controlled chaos.

A large man standing off to the side leaning on a wall, dressed in browns and reds and holding the day's paper in his big hands took one look at their faces and gave a hearty laugh, beard moving with beads of gold intertwined glinting in the sun. He asked them a question in romanian, the language thick and melodic on his tongue; and at the look of confusion on their young faces laughed again before saying in heavily accentuated english:

"Not expecting the crowd, ye'?"

"The muggle side was much quieter." Tom said, eyes going over the crowd with apprehension.

"They usually too get like this, if not worse. You're just too early."

"We were looking for accomodations, actually. Would you be so kind as to point us?" The man looked at Tom like he had grown two heads and laughed fiercely again.

"Oh, by the love of— Ignore him, he's not had his morning coffee yet." A voice called behind them. His accent was not as thick, and was almost British in nature, if not for the vowels jumping now and then. He was young, possibly their age and his curly hair was braided in gold, much like the mans beard. "You've come at possiblity the worst time of the year to look for a room, just so you know. It's the festival, this weekend." As he walked closer all Tom could smell was chamomile and Magic.

"How do you know we are not here for the festivities?" Was Orion's knee jerk reaction to ask.

"I can just tell by the look on your faces." The stranger said, rolling his eyes. He had not taken his eyes off Tom. "Come, we'll have to ask The Kindly One if he has any rooms left."

 

He did not, in fact, have any rooms left, but was kind enough to point in a map of the Alley possible places where they may find accomodations good enough to suit their tastes.

"Well, good luck with that." The boy that had accompanied them said with finality, turning on his heel and disappearing on the crowd outside.

"Much help he was." Muttered Orion, glaring at the map on his hand and cursing himself for wearing the new leader shoes his mother had gifted him. They were already killing his feet.

"Well, he got us a starting point. And a map. And now Tom can fuck off wherever he wants to go and let us find somewhere to sleep." Tom whipped his head around from where he was watching the shops with greedy eyes.

"I was not about to leave you."

"You totally were." Said Abraxas.

"Definitely." Responded Orion, just to be contrary.

They did end up finding a place with three rooms available. Definitely overpriced and old and nestled in a side alley, but after walking and asking all day it was the best they could find.

The bar keep, a tall woman with greying hair and kind blue eyes had taken one look at their tired faces and told them the best place in the alley to eat was just around the corner, away from the bursting main street and sort of a hole-in-the-wall type of gig. They offered entertainment too.

"Tell the man manning the door that Old Oma sent you, he'll let you right through without paying a single coin." Her speach, much like every person's they had come across was accentuated. But her's where a different kind of accent, words more brusque and chipped, but kind none the less.

"Is it a private thing?" Abraxas couldn't help but ask.

"It is sort of a word of mouth kind of thing, yes. If you didn't know about it, you wouldn't even be able to see the bar. The man at the door is just assurance, they would let anyone who knows in, at the right price of course."

"Is it a Fidelious, then?"

"Nothing of the sort, boy. Much simpler magic. Now, off you go."

Orion looked at his feet and let out a groan.

"I think I'll just head in, my feet are killing me."

"Actually, I'm heading in too. I feel like I'm going to pass out standing up and that won't be fun for anyone." Abraxas took his key from the counter and pocketed it. He took one look at Toms face and knew it was a lost cause. "Come, Orion. Let's let wander boy fly away." They both snickered as they ascended the wooden stairs.

"Fine companions, those too" said Oma, a big grin on her wrinkled face.

"Don't you tell me." Tom sighed, resigned to exploring the alley alone but not discouraged. It wouldn't be his first time alone in a magical city, much less one where he couldn't tell left from right and up from down, even with a map in hand.

The little hole in the wall bar, was not, in fact, just around the corner. It was more like this: two lefts and one right, up a flight of stairs that led to another side alley and at the crusp of two streets. He had to ask directions thrice, the first two times the locals had looked at his like he had grown a second head, and the third a man had taken pity and took him aside from the stern looking woman he had been trying to get directions from.

"It's just off the corner, you can't miss it" he had said.

You can't miss it muttered Tom under his breath, cursing both the old woman at the small inn and the man on the street.

But, just as he was about to give up he had quite literally stumbled across the building. It was surrounded by fairy lights, vines creeping up the walls and moving in the night breeze. A string instrument could be heard from the outside, the big windows were open wide even if the stained blue glass couldn't let Tom discern how many people where inside.

A big sign stood proud above the door, The Hallow it read, in big bold golden letters half dwarfed by the leaves of a crawling ivy.

A man stood by the entrance, bored look on his face and his hands moving over what looked like a muggle puzzle made out of wood. He looked up, however, when Tom approached.

"It'll be two galleons and nine sickles." He downed, hands still on his puzzle.

"Old Oma told me it wouldn't be worth more than a penny."

He looked up and into Tom's eyes, before he shrugged as he stood aside to let him through.

Inside, much like the outside, was scarcely illuminated by floating fairy lights. Much of the wooden tables were occupied, but it didn't feel overly crowded. The ceilings of the building were tall, the multiple windows open, and the very center of the bar was barred of tables and people, a space clearly meant for performances to be had. A sole musician was sat on a low stool, strumming his guitar gently and filling the space with background music. The bar stood off to one side, imposing and big, with the same vines that hugged the walls outside intertwined with the wooden beams that supported a hanging piece where cups and glasses where held. In the back wall, an impressive amount of bottles stood stark against the dark brown woods and Tom could even discern some he had seen on his travels abroad.

He looked back to the floor plan, and decided on sitting against a window on one of the few open tables, clearly meant to house five or more people. The wooden surface of the table was rough and made to imitate natural bark, but polished and shiny non the less. Rustic, in a way. The chairs, by contrast, where upholstered, none two chairs matched another, with different cloths and textures and shapes, like they'd somehow found their home inside the little bar from different families and different countries.

The lull of conversation and the soft strumming of the guitar gave a sense of warmth unlike anything else. Tom relaxed back on his chair and was about to get one of his newer books out of his expanded coat pocket, when someone sat directly across from him. The comforting smell of chamomile hit him before he could think to look up.

It was the same boy from this morning, cheeky grin and golden beads braided in his hair. A pair of golden wire glasses sat askew on his face.

"Found the bar, did you?" Tom didn't answer and deliberately took his book out. "Oh, don't be like that" he continued with a snicker, "you won't be able to read anyways, the lights will go out in a few minutes." Up close, he noticed, his eyes were very big and very green.

"Oh?" Tom raised his eyebrows, eyes looking the boy up and down. He wore a long blue flowy coat, flowers and stags delicately embroidered in bold colours, a forest in itself, glinting even in the low light. "You work here?"

"Mhm, in a way." He answered, distracted. He looked at Tom with inquisitive eyes. He could very well be staring at his soul, from how intense his gaze was. "Your friends ditched?"

"They did, yes."

"You found accomodations, then?"

"We did. No thanks to you, by the way" The smile Tom offered was sharp and mean, about to make a pointed comment about the boy—.

"I'll order you an special. On the house, for being without company on this fine night" without waiting for an answer, the boy stood, taking the scent with him and making his way between tables with practiced ease. A waiter, perheaps? A barman? Maybe he greeted people upon entering?

He couldn't even get a page of his book open before a man dressed in black came rushing to his table, food and drink with him.

The lights did go off a couple minutes later, just like the boy had said they would. There was a shush in the crowd, and they all looked towards the center of the establishment.

The guitar was strung again, this time louder, with purpose.

A voice, off to the side begun to sing.

And then, the most spectacular thing happened: lights appeared, smaller than the fairy lights that had illuminated the room not a moment ago and began to dance. First, flat against the floor, but as the song gained speed so did the lights gain height. They swayed this way and that, before moving and condensing in one place. It took a moment for Tom to realize they were making shapes. In magic. In magic and light.

First, a knight. His sword raised in victory of a battle won; then another: dressed in long robes, young face glinting and bright, and eyes molten gold. It was a retelling of a story, sung in rhymes and shown through lights.

It was the most singular and beautiful show of magic Tom had ever seen. A testament to the whilders experience and fine control of their magic, to be able to get the smallest of details in the dance. From the knights armour, his brilliant sword breathed in dragon fire to the mages staff with a single precious stone embedded in the wood.

Then the images changed again, this time young faces greeted the crowd. A proud prince, an insolent witch. A mad king and a kind man. A lonely witch, followed by warm hands.

The song went on, a tale of two young lovers that could never be. Pride and secrets and duty to the crown. Fear and death and disloyalty followed them everywhere they went, every corner they turned. Every nook and cranny and speck of dust against them.

But, a light at the end. A dragon, a boy and a sword. A long awaited death at the hands of another; fights, and wars and magic.

Magic and love.

In the end, it was a tragic tale of two lovers.

One destined to live on, and the other destined to die.

Tom had almost forgotten someone was singing in the background, so caugh up in the tale he almost jerked when the light show came to and end.

Some witches in the crowd were crying, dabbing their faces with handkerchiefs, others were staring transfixed where the lights had disappeared. Others, like Tom, were looking beyond: for the one who had created such a show.

It was, perhaps then, not a surprise to see a familiar face sitting behind the musician. He was holding his wand in one hand, a small book in the other. He was smiling, even if his face looked sad.

"We beging strongly today, sorry folks" his voice was as melodic as it was but a moment ago: a fact that had flown over Tom's head. "There was a request from an espectator who goes back to her home country today, to start with the Tales of Merlin. However, onto happier songs!" He stood and twirled in place, before bowing to the crowd "I'm Procyon and this fiend here behind the guitar is Mirz. We'll be yours tonight!" His smile was full of teeth and full of mischief and Tom was entranced.

He never wanted the night to end, if it meant he could watch this pretty songbird create stories out of magic and song.

 

The songs that followed were not as sad, not as profound as the first one. They were however, as one, an espectacle to witness.

In the end, when most of the patreons had already left and Tom had mostly finished his food, Procyon approached his table again.

"Liked it?" he said, wolfish grin not leaving his face. He tilted his head in an infurating way that made his curls bounce and the golden beads in his hair shine.

"I suppose it was adequate" Tom returned, smirk firmly in place.

"Ade— what!?" He almost screached, voice still rough from singing late into the night.

"Satisfactory, competent, decent—"

"I know what it means!" he whisper-shouted, trying and failing not to attract the attention of the people remaining. Laughable, considering their eyes followed him from the very moment the lights came back on. He turned, and without looking back at Tom walked right back to the bar, muttering to himself as he went "I'll fucking show you, 'adequate', the fuck does he mean adequate."

He supposed he would have to come back, after all, if this was the reaction he got out of the singer with a single comment.

He had, perhaps, enjoyed himself too much. Drunk on magic and wine and song and the pretty eyes of a man possessed.

Of course, his night didn't end there.

He lost himself on the way back, map firmly in the back of his mind as he tried to make sense of the winding little streets and side alleys in the dim light of the moon. There were much fewer people now, and Tom was feeling too full of magic and satisfaction and full of himself to ask for help.

In the end, it took nearly half an hour to realize he was walking himself in circles in the darkness, and another to find the little stairs he had taken up the side street.

By the time he made it safely to his bed, he was dead on his feet both from the portkey they had taken to Romania and the long day of walking up and down small hills. However, no matter how much he twisted and turned on the dark sheets his mind wouldn't shut off, and kept going back to sights of green and gold.

Sleep was a long time coming.

After an unproductive day following Abraxas around, looking at silks and cloths and embroidered tapestries Tom went back to the bar. It was easier to find this time, even in the moonless night.

He went back the next night.

And the next.

He kept dreaming of songbirds and tanned hands and green forests.

(OR, because yes, there is indeed more) run to show that love is worth running to on AO3, 27k, completed, so much fluff, magic in an ancient city, festivals and murder

[sheawritesstuff]

Redacted Pet Headcanons

[In no particular order]

Aggro is a black persian cat with yellow-golden eyes

Wampus is a short-haired white cat with orange tabby spots

Ivan had a green and gray conure growing up

Asher won a goldfish at a fair once and killed it by trying to feed it bacon bits

Marie spoils Aggro like she would a human grandchild

Sam had an old cattle dog he had to leave behind in Mont Blanc

Anton has a soft spot for senior animals and has adopted several throughout his life

David grew up with a basset hound but it died not long after Gabe did

Ollie's parents have a crusty-eyed white dog

Aaron has always wanted a rottweiler but has never had the time to actually take care of one

Elliot has a bearded dragon

Caelum once made a list of reasons Gavin and Freelancer should adopt a puppy because he wanted a reason to come visit them more

Camelopardalis loves snakes but doesn't like feeding them mice, so he's never had one of his own

Sam grew up raising chickens and always named them so he could refer to them all respectfully

Vincent has never had a pet but he spent a decent chunk of his childhood and adolescence visiting and volunteering at animal shelters

Geordi had a terrarium of insects that were very well taken care of

Lasko got a puppy for his birthday once but his mom got mad at him and took it to the pound a few weeks later

Huxeley's moms feed the deer in their yard every day and some of them still recognize Hux when he comes to visit

Damien had a hampster in middle school - he refuses to give details on what happened to it

Guy's family has what can only be described as an army of golden retrievers

Marcus had a gecko that would just lay on his shoulder while he went about his day

[nioumin-draw]

Facts about Lorelei Sanders ( HPMA) #1 :

•Lorelei been sorted in Gryffindor house, if she were in ilvermony she would be sorted to Wampus or Thunderbird

•she live to Nothing hill with her family

•When she spent her summer vacation to Uganda her family for visit her mother's family side , the thing she loves most is doing Safari.

• she used to have some muggle "friends" before Hogwarts , after she go to Hogwarts she told them she been accepted to a boarding school. She tried to sent them some letters but they never write her back but she haven't been upset because she knew it will happen and she have new true friends now.

•her patronus is a lioness

•the most happiest memory she remember for creat her patronus is : when she met the Holyhead Harpies atvher first quidditch game.

• Robyn Thistlethwaite became her best friends during Hogwarts because of their love for quidditch and she also have a bond for Daniel Page and consider him as a precious friend, she is always worry about him and protect him if it's necessary.

•At first the first sight she found William Lee too immature and is annoyed by him and his shenanigans but appreciates his kindness towards animals and his optimistic and funny personality and you'll never find a better dance partner than him , people wondering how that could work between them XD 🤣.

•During the 3 first year she had long curly hairs and cut them for year 4

• her cat , Comoros ( Named from a African région) is a present from her parents for her first year to Hogwarts.

•She realize she fell in love with William Lee at the end of year 2 and in year 4 the became officially a couple.

• she can't stand Cassandra Vole but is always ready to help her.

•Fischer Frey have a crush for her but she rejected him all time.

• according to William Lee , she smell Vanilla and coconut, probably because of hair care cream.

• Because of a misunderstanding with William she was a bit jealous of Abigail Grey ( who had a crush on him ) but after a explanation they become great friends

• She play quidditch as chaser with Liam Whitlock-Kim @chirithy564 at year 2 and became seeker at year 4

•William and her first date was supposed to be in Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop in Hogsmeade but it finally end to The three broomsticks because it was to Pink for them XD and a butterbeer sound better than tea 🍻.

•she a big fan of the Holyhead Harpies.

•she is inspired from the actress and Singer Zendaya.

• she is very proud of her father despite the fact he is a squib and would punch anybody who say trash about him.

• She is Aries 🐏♈

• her favorite flowers are begonias , tulip 🌷 and flowering plant.

[dailydemonspotlight]

Day 17 - Nekomata

Race: Beast

Alignment: Neutral

April 12th, 2024

Ferocious felines are a commonplace story in fiction- Whether it be the Matagot of French fairytale, the Wampus cat from Cherokee myth, or the Cat-Síth of Scottish folklore, many a cat has become a cornerstone of popular mythology. However, none are as famous, or perhaps infamous, as the yōkai pair, Bakoneko and Nekomata.

Based primarily in the mountainous regions of Japan, though some are domestic, Nekomata are twin-tailed cats that are perceived as ferocious monsters while out in the wilds, yet kind and loving long-living pets when domesticated. Nekomata purportedly had very long shelf-lives, so to speak, typically growing very old, and as each year goes on, their tail would grow in length. This is actually due to a reason for why they come to be, as it was commonly believed that, when a normal cat grew old enough, its tail would split, and it would become a Nekomata. As Arai Hakuseki put it, "Old cats become 'nekomata' and bewilder people."

This is a borrowed observation from Tony4You, but commonly, people inflicted with a so-called Nekomata disease from the mountainous variety of these mystical cats likely began to suffer from rabies instead, and the erratic, almost unnatural behavior of the cats within the mountains was likely as a result of them being rabid as well. Nekomata likely had a very real and natural explanation, as unfortunate as rabies can be.

In terms of the SMT series, Nekomata is a very common early-game demon, typically specializing in physical and force skills. This likely is related to the commonplace depictions of Nekomata lashing out physically within the mountains, as well as their wise ways possibly giving way to an understanding of magic. The depiction in the series is rather faithful visually, with my personal favorite version being far more unique with a humanoid shape and brown, long hair, alongside a furry coat and black tights. It looks like something that I would personally wear, honestly. My main question with the design is, where are the two tails? The double tails are the main thing separating Nekomata from Bakeneko, yet they appear absent in the SMT design.

Despite that, Nekomata are a rather strange bit of folklore with a very real explanation, and they have one of the most iconic and cute designs in the series, earning a favorite spot from me.

[humonculuss]

Finished painting of my sphinx sona, Laurel.

This time with wavy red Oni hair as an alternate look~

She is in the Legendary category of Haint*. *(org. Gullah: spirit/ghost/demon)

She's a Wampus Cat, Sphinx type.

A six-legged version of the black panther cryptid of Appalachia.

[markowitzbrothers]

All Markowitz Quality Wand Cores

The core has a strong interest in childhood of its master and what their master identifies with. Without these two aspects matching a core will not choose you.

Earth cores are all markedly different but have commonality in choosing a master with a strong sense of responsibility to their family blood.

Nundu Hair Core

Proficient in poisonous magic

Adept in quiet spell casting

If uniquely attuned, parts of the wand will have the Nundu hide pattern

Substantive handle. (Stubborn level 5)

Matagot Hair Core

Proficient in multiplication curses

Engraved handle. (Stubborn level 1)

Wampus Cat hair core

adept at consciousness altering magic

Engraved handle. (Stubborn level 3)

Unicorn hair core

Adept at defensive magic

Spiral handle. (Stubborn level 1)

Qilin

Adept at revealing spells

Spiral handle. (Stubborn level 3)

Erumpent Horn Fragment Core

Adept at explosive magic

If uniquely attuned, the Erumpent horn will appear on the wand

Substantive handle. (Stubborn level 4)

Graphorn Horn Fragment Core

Adept at defensive magic

If uniquely attuned, the wand will have earth runes.

engraved handle. (Stubborn level 3)

Centaur Hair Core

Adept at counter curses

Strength of the core makes the wand physically durable

If uniquely attuned, the wand will have earth runes

Engraved handle. (Stubborn level 2)

Sphinx Hair Core

Adept at hexes

If uniquely attuned, the wand will have hieroglyphics

Substantive handle. (Stubborn level 4)

Demiguise hair core

Adept at invisibility magic

Engraved handle. (Stubborn level 1)

Water and Air cores have many differences but all of them belong to a master who's responsibility to loved ones outweighs the responsibility to their blood.

Giant squid bone fragment core

Has proficiency in revealing magic

If uniquely attuned, the wand will have tentacle shapes

Skeletal handle. (Stubborn level 3)

Water Dragon Heart String Core

Well suited to water magic

Will have fin shapes if uniquely attuned

Substantive handle. (Stubborn level 2)

Hippocampus Heart String Core

Has magic especially suited to water

If uniquely attuned, the the wand will have fin shapes

Substantive handle. (Stubborn level 1)

Siren hair core

Adept at sound magic

If uniquely attuned the wand will have alchemical water runes

Spiral handle. (Stubborn level 2)

Kelpie heart string core

Adept at living transfiguration

Skeletal handle. (Stubborn level 2)

Fwooper Feather Core

Especially good at consciousness altering

If uniquely attuned the wand will sport bright colors

Engraved handle. (Stubborn level 4)

Thunderbird Tail Feather Core

Adept at electrical magic

If uniquely attuned the wand will have lightning shapes

Engraved handle. (Stubborn level 2)

Occamy

Adept at shrinking and enlarging magic

If uniquely attuned the wand will have spiral shapes

Substantive handle. (Stubborn level 1)

Dragon heart string core

If uniquely attuned the wand will have dragon wing shapes

(engraved handle. (stubborn level 3)

Augurey tail feather core

Adept at weather magic

If uniquely attuned the wand will have Augurey beak shapes

Engraved handle. (Stubborn level 2)

Phoenix tail feather core

Adept at defensive magic

Particularly detached from the needs of the wood

If uniquely attuned the wand will have phoenix beak shapes

Substantive handle. (Stubborn level 4)

Thestral hair core

Notoriously known for its sheer power

If uniquely attuned the wand will have runes

Substantive handle. (Stubborn level 4)

Harpy hair core

Adept at laceration spells

If uniquely attuned the wand will have talon shapes

Skeletal handle. (Stubborn level 3)

Basilisk Fang Fragment Core

Adept at petrification magic

If uniquely attuned the wand will have spiral shapes

Engraved handle. (Stubborn level 4)

Hydra Fang Fragment Core

Has powerful multiplication magic.

Spiral handle. (Stubborn level 2)

Zouwu hair core

Adept at vanishing magic

If uniquely attuned the wand will have Aether runes

Substantive handle. (Stubborn level 2)

[elizabethplaid]

evening notes - dec 19, 2024

TL;DR summary

Still not wearing pants; taking time to rest

Helped dad put away groceries, which barely fit

Rewarded with empty boxes

Cleaned part of my bathroom, put boxes to use

Texted LL-K about scarf measurement

Dug out more yarn; might make a new pumpkin?

Dad will deliver holiday treats tomorrow (Friday) and Saturday

I know I'm long-winded. You get a summary, because I love you.

Another day of sensory issues means most of the day was spent laying down. Dad went grocery shopping by himself today, and he brought back a ton of stuff. I helped put away as much as I could, but I got light-headed.

There was just so much food. Dad stocks up when he goes shopping, because it's such a long drive to these stores. (Military and wholesale discounts, plus better prices in the city, versus rural area stores.)

He brought me more empty product-display boxes from BJ's (a wholesale store like Costco), which included one big enough to hold 3 loaf-shaped cats side-by-side. One seemed like a generic "tray" size. Like for boxes of printer paper, it'd be the same size as the lid for that. A friend gave us a similar box that her canning jars came in.

Once I got upstairs, I had about 20 minutes of ambition and cleaned off one shelf and the the under-the-sink cabinet. The shelves were made with scrap wood to cover some pipes in the back corner, so they are very long and narrow. Basically, they're a pain to use for storage, because things get lost in the back. So I put my most-used items in a long basket (just the right size, too!) and wiped out the dust bunnies.

I combined some things into the same boxes, then threw out the empty ones. A variety pack of bandaids, with only the tiny ones remaining, got combined with the another open box of bandaids. Two sizes of tampons into the same box; same with pads.

The "lavatory library" was set aside. It's mostly magazines with pretty pictures and my dream-symbol dictionary. Wiped out the dust bunnies and trash under the sink. Found a washcloth I forgot about? Found another good hair clip, one of the bigger ones. Most of mine broke over time, and the only ones I can find now are smaller.

Since I wiped everything with a damp sponge, I'm letting it air dry before I reload it and close the cabinet doors. Boxes and books are in the hallway, but I don't think the cats will disturb anything. Wampus might steal some plastic? Moscow is keeping guard, in the big box. ===========

Texted LL-K (library lady K) about her scarf. She said she'll text me back about the measurements later tonight.

To keep myself from adding more to the scarf, I dug into my yarn stash in the living room. There's some pale pink baby yarn that I'm thinking of making into pumpkins, maybe with a cable knit. It's been more than a year since my last pumpkin. (There's still some that never got stuffed, haha.)

While dinner was in the oven, I worked to separate a double-stranded yarn. It's a "fun fur" or "eyelash" novelty yarn, but it has this funky rainbow pom-pom as the other strand. It looks like clown pox; I hate it. Separately, it might make a cute trim or a fun accent to a plush. Not really knit together with something else, maybe just woven between stitches. =====

Checked in with phone-friend tonight. They're cool with skipping holiday gifts. I went on a mushy tangent about how our friendship means more than gifts - that my heart already overflows and I don't feel the need to ask for more. It's true, but the brain fog is the bigger hurdle.

We're skipping our call this week, so they can spend time with family. I think my brain will be in better shape by next weekend. I'm in a good place with everything else. Plus, I'm having fun browsing through the videos my friend recommended to me last week. =====

My brain-word capacity is running low, but I want to make note of ideas for future discussions - whether here on tumblr or with my friend or my counselor.

Different levels of goals I'd like to meet this upcoming year, like tasks or returning to the library.

Something about my long hair?

Revisiting long-abandoned organization tasks

(Counseling) Comparing and contrasting current and past me

Clearing drafts on here and my side blogs

I also need to back up my computer files again. Probably need to cull some files, too. God knows I don't label files with appropriate names.

[esbenandall]

This is Amy, randomized OC of day #35. He's a Harry Potter OC, technically my first Harry Potter OC if you don't count my persona.

Amy has an ENTP personality type, and a Kit Fox patronus, which is the sketchy blue thing beside his feet. He's in Ravenclaw, his second year, and most enjoys his astronomy classes. He's pure blood, tall, (I haven't decided exactly what height yet), and has a pet ferret (I wish I had had time to draw the ferret).

Moving on to his wand it's made of Rowan wood, 14 inches long with a swishy flexibility and veela hair & wampus cat hair core. It also has a elegant swirl design on the handle colored blue.

[chaotic-starlight24]

The Appalachian 4

Me and my friend @wise-wolfie are co-authoring this together! So here is...

CHAPTER 2

Word count: 1.3k

Emmy-Lou and Natalia (pronounced Na-tall-ya) walked into the downtown area. Not that their town was a bustling metro or anything. On their main street was a department store, a candy shop, an abandoned movie theater, and at the very end of the road was the library. The building was actually quite large for such a small town. It was nestled in the undergrowth, covered in winding vines and moss. Natalia was friends with the librarians so the duo thought maybe they would know something about the Appalachian legends. Or at least details or sightings. Emmy-Lou creaked open the door. Now compared to the outside, it was incredibly nice on the inside. Not quite an architectural masterpiece but it was kept-up. At the desk was a teen with scruffy black hair and headphones in. Just staring into space.

“Sorry, Ems. Mrs. Yarly would probably know everything about the legends. I forgot it was Nathaniel’s shift.” Natalia sighed.

Emmy-Lou shrugged, “He might still know something?”

“Alright, I’ll talk to him. You go search for some books on it.”

Emmy saluted and strided off to look. Natalia then made her way up to the desk.

“NATHANIEL THOMPSON!”Natlia shouted, slamming her hands onto the surface.

Nathaniel yelped and fell backwards with a thud.

“What the heck, du-oh it’s you.”

“What do you mean “Oh It’S yOu” I feel offended by your tone.” 

“Nevermind… What do you need.”

“Do frogs have bones?”

Nathaniel gave her a glare. She always liked to ask strange questions to bother him.

“Probably, what do you actually need?” He responded, annoyance tinging his voice.

Natalia scanned the library, “Have you ever gotten attacked by a 6 legged creature? Or like… walked into a ring to h-e double hockey sticks?”

“Are you serious? That is your question? Those are just legends you know…” He tore a hand through his hair.  

Natalia shrugged and began to walk off, “Well, if you're going to use that attitude then I’ll just leave without telling you what we’re doing.”

“Just don’t get killed, ok.” Nathaniel called out.

Emmy-Lou emerged from the depths of the library with a giant stack of books. Way more than they probably needed. This was going to take forever. Natalia slid the books onto a wide table close to the front desk. Then flipped the first page open.

“Hey, those books won’t give you the answers you probably need.” Nathaniel relented, “I guess I can help.”

Natalia had realized that as soon as she discovered that Emmy had grabbed any book that had “Appalachian” on the cover. Something told her they weren’t going to need anything about Gatlinburg: Guide to the Tennessee part of the Appalachians. 

Nathaniel began to flip through the pile of books, “So what are you looking for?”

“Anything on the creatures of the Appalachians.” Emmy-Lou answered.

“Like this kind of creature?” Nathaniel inquired, holding up a birdwatching book.

“No!” Natalia explained, “Like the ones of legend obviously!”

Nathaniel nodded and skimmed through the book covers. He worked quickly, throwing out those that they didn’t need. Eventually he had come up with a neat pile of 10 or so books.

“Thanks so much! That saved us a lot of time.”

He shrugged and returned to the front desk. Right then another girl with white-blonde hair burst in.

“Charlie!” Natalia exclaimed.

A boy who looked similar to Nathaniel followed her in as well.

“Nash…” Natalia mumbled.

“What are you guys doing?” Charlie questioned.

“Oh, just studying the legends of the Appalachians.”

Nash raised an eyebrow, “You really think those are real?”

“Hey! They might be! You never know.” Nathaniel argued.

“You were arguing with us a few minutes ago, don’t even.”

The duo began to bicker over the topic. Charlie sighed with a roll of her eyes and took a seat next to Emmy-Lou and looked into one of the books. Chuckling to herself when she came upon the Wampus cat.

“Six legs, a lot harder to get around then!” She said between fits of giggles.

“Yep, but they still move fast.” Natalia warned, “Now, why are you here?”

“Well, I was helping referee a soccer game and it finished. Then I realized I had a library book that I needed to turn in and Nash just happened to be hanging around the bleachers since there was no Track & Field. So we headed here.” 

Natalia acknowledged the response and went back to work glancing through the books. In the background they could hear the brothers arguing louder and louder over something stupid.

“You know this is a library right?!”

Nathaniel and Nash stopped and looked at her.

“...Yes?”

“Then respectfully, shut up!”

Emmy-Lou then burst out laughing while flipping through the creature profiles.

“These creatures may be scary, but they don’t exactly have creative names.”

“Lemme see!”

Natalia took the book from her hands and also started laughing.

“The Not-deer? Wonder how long it took to come up with that!”

“Well, I for one wouldn’t want to run into one of those.” Nathaniel grimaced, looking over her shoulder.

“I think I saw those digging through our trash cans.” Nash nonchalantly announced. 

Emmy-Lou went rigid. Natalia did agree with Nathaniel on his statement. No one wanted to greet the Appalachians mountains and their mysteries at midnight. 

Emmy-Lou shook her head, “We best not psych ourselves out before we go out there.”

“You-You’re not going alone are you?!” Nathaniel clammored.

The group did have to admit, it was kind of stupid.

“You can’t do that! You will actually die!” Charlie agreed.

Nash shook his head as well, “We can’t have “attacked by the Not-Deer” written on your gravestone. Or like, have a gravestone at all.”

Emmy-Lou rolled her eyes, “I know. But we need to know more about what is going on in the mountains.”

“Well, you’re in the mountains. Boom, research done.” Nathaniel retorted.

Zoiee then paraded in, “SALUTATIONS YOUNG FE-”

Everyone gave her a look.

“This is a bad time. I can come back later?”

Natalia sighed and leaned back into her chair. Maybe they were making a bad decision. And if she died then Charlie and Nathaniel and all her friends would probably kill her again. What were they going to do?

“Here, I’ll make you deal.” Nathaniel exhaled, “How about, we all go with you too.”

“HEY! I’M NOT GETTING SACRIFICED!” Nash refused.

Charlie smacked him across the head.

Natalia objected, “Nash is right, I don’t want any of you getting hurt.”

“I know you care about us. But what is the worst that could happen?” Charlie answered.

“Yeah! What’s the worst that could happen? Death?” Nathaniel smiled.

Of course only he would say something like that.

Natalia groaned, “Fine! Fine. I agree to your conditions.”

Emmy-Lou gave her a look of are you sure? And Natalia was honestly not really sure.

Zoiee was still standing awkwardly at the door. 

“Should I get slushies for all of us? Might cool our brains a bit?”

“Yeah, go ahead. And grab Lil. She needs to hear this too.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zoiee was right. They all needed the break. And sugar. While they were slurping the cool liquid down Emmy filled Lillian in.

“Wait a second. Isn’t Emmy the one deciding on what we do. She is the one who sort of devised this whole expedition in the first place!”

Emmy-Lou took a deep breath in, “I know, I know. But Natalia just sort of took the lead.”

“Sorry, I did get a bit into it.”

“Nah, it’s all good. But I think if we are going to be a team we should, you know, decide as a team.”

Everyone made different sounds of agreement. Finally.

“Ok, if you vote for the original expedition, me, Natalia, Lillian, and Zoiee, go into the woods raise your hands.”

Only Natalia and Nash raised their hands. Which earned Nash a kick from Charlie.

“And if you vote for Nathaniel, Nash, and Charlie to join us, raise your hands.”

Everyone else raised them.

“Well that settles it. It’s time to prepare for it.”

[kowbelll]

◇◈◆ Request Guidelines ◆◈◇

Note: I appreciate all of the wonderful and creative requests I have gotten from everyone and thank you all very much. I doubt I will ever not accept them, so if anyone has an idea they would like to read, send it my way!  

However, I realized that I have allowed myself to get overwhelmed by them, and I somehow forgot that I have freewill and don’t necessarily have to write everything that is asked of me. I am a people-pleaser and people have asked about a guideline for requests before, so to help everyone and myself, I decided to finally make one. Please keep the following in mind when making a request...

◇◈◆◈◇

◆ Reader/POV:

◇ Everything I write will be based on a female reader insert.

◇ I do not use y/n, pet names, or an original character, unless explicitly stated (which has not come up yet).

◇ I will likely not make physical appearance specifications (e.g. race, weight, hair color, etc.).

◆ Fandoms & Characters/People:

◇ Dylan O'Brien

◇ Teen Wolf - Stiles Stilinski

◇ The Internship - Stuart Twombly

◈ I am open to writing about other characters that Dylan O'Brien has played, but only if I have seen the movie/TV show and think I understand the character well enough.

◆ Alternate Universes:

◇ High Schooler!Dylan x Reader

◇ Stiles x POTS(Chronic Illness)!Reader

◇ Stiles x Wampus Cat!Reader (coming soon/hopefully someday?)

◇ Stiles & Stuart Twins x Reader

◈ I would love to hear ideas and fantasize with you, but it is fairly unlikely that I will start a drastically new AU because I would like to continue the ones I have started.

◆ Excluded Themes:

◇ Smut (though it may be hinted at or implied)

◇ Anything hateful towards a group of people and general slander (e.g. racism, homophobia, sexism, etc.).

◇ Anything political. I don't want to hear what you believe, let's just peacefully exist in dreamland together.

◇◈◆◈◇

If my guidelines are ignored, I will happily delete your request for the sake of my comfort and boundaries. Otherwise, I will take everything into consideration. Thank you!

-KC 💜

[umbrellacleanupduty]

[ TOWEL ]:          the sender uses a towel to carefully dry the receiver’s hair.

Usually Lijah lets time and nature dry his hair because it's not a single person job. In this case he is fresh out of a decontamination after cleaning out some recently vacated containment cell, but needs to be able to help clean the vents in cold storage. Lijah passes the task to Petrov when his arms are too tired to continue.

He's not sure if it's surprising that the Russian is actually really good at this task.

"I've got two more towels at the ready and one to wrap it in when it's dry enough. We'll need them." He closes his eyes and wonders if he would be purring if he were a cat. Probably. He hums softly, "I bet the Wampus cat purrs. Probably didn't need to be towelled off though; they're short haired, I think."

[dadzxwa]

Wand kind of want to you have?

"I have an acacia, wampus cat hair core wand. Eleven inches, rigid. It's an heirloom wand actually, I'm lucky it bonded with me the way it did."

[janushawkins]

American Wand Cores: The Big Four (Canon)

While in Britain the “big three” are nearly the only wand cores seen, the american “big four” are more accurately the most powerful and often held in highest regard, but they are not even remotely the only cores used.

Horned Serpent Horn

An exceptionally powerful core, horned serpent wands are quite rare, and unheard of outside the american continents. Horned Serpents themselves are quite diverse, but may usually be grouped into either saltwater or freshwater serpents.

Horned serpent wands of any variety are very powerful in all areas of magic, they have a knack for magics to do with water and perform especially well in transfiguration and divination. 

Horned serpent wands are capable of warning their owners of danger by emitting a low musical tone. They are also unique in the behavior between twin cores, if two wands of horned serpent horns from the same serpent work together for a singular goal (often in combat) their power is increased exponentially.

Rather like the Ilvermorny house named after the creature, horned serpent wands prefer owners who are intelligent and quick-witted. However, their preferred owners are not bookish scholars who stay shut in a library all day, but rather creative and innovative individuals who enjoy exercising their mind and putting things they learn into practice. Absorbing information like a sponge, these wixes brilliant in subjects they find interesting and above average in those they don’t. They are constantly thinking. Wixes chosen by these wands are absolutely brilliant and fiercely independent.

The type of horned serpent has some bearing over what they look for in an owner as well. Horned Serpent horn wands from a salt-water horned serpent are playful in nature, and look for owners who share that lighthearted playfulness, these are extremely imaginative, spirited and outspoken wixes.

Fresh-water horns, on the other hand, seek owners who are pragmatic, secretive and a bit slow to trust. These wixes are often very cunning and patient.

Horned serpent wands are sensitive to Parseltongue and vibrate when it is being spoken. It is possible they favor owners capable of speaking in parseltongue.

“I like to keep a special eye on students who are chosen by these wands. I keep track, in a notepad in my desk drawer--right next to my paints and emergency bertie botts--of what individuals have wands from the same horned serpent, and watch patiently for the day when they discover the peculiar connection of their twin wands. Interestingly, if they do not already know each other, it seems they always naturally gravitate towards one another, becoming incredibly close and often becoming the best of friends or incredibly close partners.” - January Hawkins, Resident Wandmaker, Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Thunderbird Tail Feather

One of the most powerful cores available, Thunderbird feather’s are somewhat rare, and make for mighty wands with power and range rivaling that of the british Phoenix feather wands.

Thunderbird feather core wands are incredibly powerful in most if not all areas of magic, and are especially good for transfiguration magics and any magic to do with weather, air and travel. Owners may have an exceptional talent for flying.

As powerful as these wands can be, Thunderbird feather wands are uniquely difficult to master, perhaps retaining the original creatures independent nature. However, once mastered they bond with their owner for life, and their allegiance is almost certain to never change.

Like  Thunderbirds themselves, these wands can sense danger and may preemptively cast curses to protect themselves and their owner, acting independently.

It is very rare to be chosen by a thunderbird wand, even most of those that match up to the cores preferences aren’t chosen, these wands wait for someone truly extraordinary, with the potential for greatness. Thunderbird feather wands seek owners with an adventurous spirit, as extraordinarily free and independent as the creature they came from. These wixes are natural travelers and loath having to stay put, always aching to explore the next horizon. Daring, adventurous and curious, they refuse to hold still or conform to any stifling rulesets. With the soul of a wanderer and the skills to seek the unknown, these individuals were born to run.

“When I say they’re picky, I mean it. I’ve gone 3 years in a row without a single thunderbird feather wand choosing a student, I’ve still got over half my original stalk! But when a student is chosen by one of these wands, I know they are destined for truly great things, those kids will see the world over and make a huge impact on it. I also know their restlessness is going to give the teachers hell.” - January Hawkins, Resident Wandmaker, Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Wampus Cat Hair

Though a very powerful core, wampus hair wands are rather uncommon due to the incredible difficulty and danger of procuring the hairs. 

Wampus wands are quite powerful. They are renowned for their flexibility, becoming very strong in any forms of magic their owner favors. This core is also very good with magics to do with the mind, especially legilimency, and it can produce mind altering effects both dazzling and horrifying. 

Enchantments and charms created by wands with this core are known to be very long-lasting.

Wixese chosen by this core are often bold and always enigmatic. Possessing a somewhat nebulous view of good and evil, these individuals reject simple dichotomies of light and dark. However, this does not mean that they are evil or without conscience. Rather, they prefer a more complex morality that bases right and wrong on cause and effect rather than convention and idealism. Because of this they are more willing than others to use dark magic. They are also often fiercely protective of those they have accepted on their own, using any means necessary to defend what they hold dear.

Dripping charisma, these wixes have an intense presence, able to grip the attention of any room they enter. They have an air of unpredictability, as they fluctuate between decisions and emotions based on feedback from their environment. Constantly adapting to the current situation.

Wixes chosen by Wampus hair wands also tend to be incredibly resilient, able to survive more than most.  There is a trend of some level of magic-resistance in these wixes, It is unknown whether this is a pre-existing trait or one gained by bonding with a wand with this core.

“Just how a student chosen by a wampus hair wand will turn out is, ironically, black or white. While it is true that their complex and adaptable morality does not necessarily lead them down a dark path, I have seen many wixes chosen by a wampus hair wand become truly evil individuals. There are, however, a great many who have become heroes and healers, genuinely good people. One thing is absolutely certain, Owners of wands with a wampus hair core will always, ALWAYS go on to do great things, whether good or bad they will always be extraordinarily powerful, very likely passing into legend.” - January Hawkins, Resident Wandmaker, Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Snallygaster Heartstring

A somewhat fickle wand core whose tendency towards change can make it difficult to master, Snallygaster Heartstrings are nonetheless the most powerful of the four major wand cores in North America, and have been highly prized in the american wizarding community. 

However, Snallygasters are not as plentiful a species as dragons, and the fact that taking this wand core requires killing one is causing a decline in their numbers, and as consequence a decline in snallygaster wands. There have been petitions to have this core banned in order to protect the species and many young wixes have taken a disliking to it.

Similar to Europe's dragon heartstring wands, wands with this core create some of the most dazzling and powerful spells. They can be considered a jack of all trades, as they perform admirably in every area of magic. It also excels at combat magics, and offensive spells often pack quite a punch. This wand does seem to be easier to turn to the dark arts.

For some reason, the visuals of spells cast with wands with this core are heightened. Light’s are brighter, colors are more intense and flashes are more erratic. These wands are also often incredibly sturdy for the wood they use, and almost impossible to break, no matter their flexibility.

Owners of wands with this core should have a firm hand to temper the wands fickle nature. This wand’s preferred owners are driven, ambitious and often focused on uncovering hidden truths. With unbreakable resolve and a deep curiosity, these wixes are natural born investigators, almost unstoppable in their pursuit of truth. 

This core suffers no fools, and refuses to work for individuals it sees as dim, lazy or lacking in sufficient drive. Wixes it chooses are often wise and animated, but if something doesn’t effectively capture their attention they will grow bored quickly and become restless, wishing to be anywhere else but where they are. 

These wixes are superb spellcasters who take very little time to master new magics, but this gift is more often attributed to being a natural with magic than an excellent study. It can seem that they were born with a wand in their hands.

“Even I’m growing uncomfortable with this core, I’ve been considering refusing shipments of it, or even snallygaster wands donated by other wandmakers… maybe the feather? It wouldn’t be as power-... but… we wouldn’t need to kill any… Um… So this is the last one we’re talking about today? I can just go now? Great, I’m gonna go find some… uh… I’m gonna try something-- bye!” - January Hawkins (he just started rambling about feathers and disaperated, wtf is with this guy?)

[the-wampus-cat]

Burgundy

[elizabethplaid]

midday notes - June 5, 2024

It's 11am and 84F degrees outside. I think I woke around 10?, after going back to bed after 6am. Earlier, when I was playing on my phone, Moscow was spread out in front of the fan. I didn't realize how warm it is, because I was so comfy.

Talk about chores and self-care below the cut. Coping nicely, but I still like to type out my thoughts.

Gathered trash upstairs and rounded up the TP tubes from the hall and the stairs. 20 tubes total, but there are more in the living room. The trash was def an obstacle for my mental health. Here's to hoping the next step will naturally progress after the sun goes down tonight.

Downstairs, I grabbed a bottle of water to sip on, along with a soda refill and light snacks. Put the last of my portable drinks in the fridge. (Flavored sparkling water, in this case.) Will snack after I finish the water; saving soda for snacking*. Will also inquire about the cooler, to store drinks by my bed.

Checked Wampus in the living room, before returning upstairs. She was in my spot on the couch, able to see me in the kitchen. I turned on the fan and pointed it at her. The window was open, even had a breeze, but it was def too warm for a long hair cat. I expected her to be in the basement or laying on a cool floor somewhere. Nah, she was cuddled next to my nest of blankets.

======

I'm typing this on my phone, which still feels like a novelty. I just KNEW it'd be that much harder for me to leave my bed if I had tumblr on my phone. Hence my resistance.

On the other hand, not getting up in between my short bits of sleep has been helpful. Like I said, I just need hydration, and then things will be better.

To think that it's only been a year since "baby's first cell phone". This past year has been an incredible journey of testing my limits, finding new limits. And yeah, I am experiencing the blow-back of finding one, at the moment. But like... I feel so loved and supported that I don't mind. Very grateful, practicing patience, trying not to rush myself.

=======

*John (oak23) mentioned cutting out flavored drinks helped affect the changes in his eating habits that he wanted to see. I have also seen in some non-American shows that people only drink water with their meals, which helps them from over eating? I forget the exact explanation.

It's something about how a flavored drink leaves some of the flavor after you sip it. Still feeling it, you are inclined to refresh that sensation. So you keep seeking out those happy flavor signals.

By drinking plain water, you help flush out the flavor from your mouth, so you don't get the temptation to keep seeking those signals. Not quite the same, but I think the collective association of mint with toothpaste is a similar thing. I know mints after meals are used as a palate cleanser, at the very least. It's a signal to the brain that meal time is over.

I'm obviously not phrasing it well enough to feel confident about what I'm saying. And I don't have the stamina to hunt down source links on my phone atm.

What I was trying to say is that I'm reserving my flavored drink to help with snacks. I prefer to use plain water for just hydration. Also, water doesn't taste as nice when it warms up, but soda is fine.

Thank god I used a cut on this post. Then again, everything seems longer when it's on the phone. (That's what she said)

[marshfiend]

Fearsome Critters

Agropelter, a beast that amuses itself by hurling twigs and tree branches at passersby.

Axehandle hound, a beast that reputedly subsists on axe-handles left unattended, mentioned in Jorge Luis Borges' Book of Imaginary Beings.

Ball-tailed cat, a feline similar to a mountain lion, except with a long tail with a bulbous end used for striking its prey.

Bigfoot is an alleged ape/human-like hybrid creature of North American folklore. Cactus cat, a feline of the American Southwest with hair-like thorns that intoxicates itself by the consumption of cactus water.

Dungavenhooter, a crocodile creature with no mouth and huge nostrils. The creature uses its tail to pound loggers into a gaseous vapor, which it then inhales for sustenance.

Glawackus, an animal resembling a mixture of a lion, boar, or bear.

Gumberoo, a rare, hairless bear-like creature with nearly invulnerable skin. The animal's hide repels anything fired at it. Fire causes the gumberoo to combust in a massive explosion.

Hidebehind, an animal that seizes loggers and devours them. The animal was said to be so swift that it could hide behind the nearest tree before being seen.

Hodag, a creature of the Wisconsin swamps possessing horns and spines.

Hugag, an animal similar to a moose, with stiff, jointless legs, and a large upper lip preventing it from grazing or lying down.

Jackalope, a jackrabbit with the antlers of an antelope or deer.

Jersey Devil, a predatory creature that inhabits the pine forests of Southern New Jersey. The creature is often described as winged and bipedal, and sometimes connected to witchcraft and devil worship.

Sidehill gouger, an animal legged for hillsides having legs on one side taller than the other, thus always having to travel on hillsides.

Splintercat, a legendary cat of the Pacific Northwest that uses its incredible speed and stiff forehead to smash into large trees, knocking the branches off and withering the trunks.

Squonk, an animal which, saddened by its deformed countenance, cries incessantly and even dissolves into tears if seen.

Teakettler, a small variety of vermin that makes a noise like a teakettle.

Wampus cat, a large phantom panther that varies widely in appearance.

Whirling Whimpus, a gorilla-like monster with large arms and horse-like hooves, with the ability to spin around into a small tornado to catch prey, similar to Taz of Looney Tunes fame.

Belled buzzard, a vulture with a bell affixed to it. The ringing of which is cited as an omen of disaster.

Gillygaloo bird, a bird that lays square eggs, so they do not roll.

Goofus bird, a backwards-flying bird that builds its nest upside down.

Fur-bearing trout, a species of trout that grows a thick fur coat for warmth in cold climates.

Hoop snake, a snake that bites its tail to enable it to roll like a wheel.

Joint snake, a snake that can reassemble itself after being cut to pieces or break apart when hit with something.

Snallygaster, a bird/reptile-like hybrid beast said to inhabit the hills surrounding Washington and Frederick Counties of Maryland

Snow snake, a snake that is active only during winter months.

-Wikipedia