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rippleclan · 1 month ago

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RippleClan: Moon 81

Sandhollow and Brightreed join their littermates in the warrior’s den.

[Image ID: Sandhollow and Brightreed are graduated adults. Under Sandhollow, it reads LEVEL UP! SANDPAW → SANDHOLLOW, LOYAL → AMBITIOUS, INTERESTED IN CLAN HISTORY → LORE KEEPER. Under Brightreed, it says LEVEL UP! BRIGHTPAW → BRIGHTREED, LONESOME → RIGHTEOUS, LOVER OF ART → STUDENT OF ART.]

Even though spring had officially arrived, snow still covered RippleClan camp as the Clan gathered under the Shiprock. It stood out like paint on gray stone in the dark of late dusk. It dampened the cheers that reverberated around the clearing, capturing the new names of the two toms standing beside Downstar.

"Brightreed! Sandhollow! Brightreed! Sandhollow!"

Sandhollow politely licked Downstar's shoulder and stood tall beside her while his family and friends cheered him on. Spikecrash preened beside her mother, her proud gaze warming Sandhollow's pelt. While Yellowburst was stuck in quarantine, Waspdawn and Stormjump still cheered Sandhollow on, tails high. Bandages still wrapped around Brightreed's shoulders, covering the hunting dog's vicious bite, but he was more than healthy enough to stand before the Clan and accept his name.

"Alright, Brightreed," Wolverineheart laughed, charging out of the crowd and nudging her brother. "Time for your vigil! We suffered, now you suffer!" Brightreed glanced back at Sandhollow while Wolverineheart led him to the camp entrance. Ha! Like Sandhollow would do anything to help him out. He was a mediator. He had no vigil to attend. Sandhollow stood even taller as the newly named warrior left camp.

"Enjoy the warrior's den, Sandhollow," Downstar declared with a deep nod. She slunk into the crowd, which now faded out to finish the day and prepare the Clan to nest. Cats touched noses with Sandhollow, passing along their personal congratulations as they returned to their business. Waspdawn and Stormjump squirmed through the crowd.

"We built your nest next to Yellowburst and I," Stormjump chirped, rubbing against her brother. "I think Spikecrash and Slushtrail worked on your gift. Let's see what they made!"

"Tomorrow, we'll do something fun together," Waspdawn promised, touching his son's forehead. "Whatever you'd like. Consider it a father and son day."

"Alright, Dad," Sandhollow purred. "I love you!" Sandhollow waved his tail goodbye and headed for the warrior's den, Stormjump stuck to his side.

"We're stuck against the rock wall," Stormjump explained as Sandhollow peered inside. It still felt like he was doing something forbidden as his paws found empty spaces between the thick, well-loved nests. His memories found him back in the apprentice's den, setting up his new nest surrounded by the other apprentices, trying not to let his kithood crush on Thundergale show. Speaking of Thundergale, she and Clammask tidied an untouched nest further back along the rock wall. Brightreed's nest, no doubt.

Stormjump tilted her brother's head toward his new nest. Duck down peeked from the curling moss. A small clay rattle sat like an egg in a bird's nest. Sandhollow purred and picked the rattle up. Sand shifted inside. It sounded like the ocean. He chuckled and placed the rattle at the edge of his nest. He settled into the down and moss and gently batted the rattle between his paws.

"I have to fix the clerics' oven," Stormjump said, drooping as she glanced outside. "One of the stones cracked, and Oilstripe assigned me to find a solution before I go to sleep. Sorry we can't lounge around for a while, Sandhollow! Enjoy the new nest, though. I'm glad you're with us." Sandhollow bid his sister farewell with a soft flick of his tail. The rolling sand inside the rattle soothed the joy smashing through his blood. He purred and scooted deeper into the nest.

As Thundergale and Clammask finished with Brightreed's nest and left the den, Sandhollow found himself almost entirely alone. For a moment, the den didn't seem like the warrior's den. It felt more like the apprentice's den had over the last moon, with Brightreed in the medicine den and Cobaltpaw and Lightningpaw busy with patrols. Luckily, he was almost alone, not entirely. Yarrowclaw laid in her nest near the far back of the den, facing the wall.

"Yarrowclaw," Sandhollow called. "You missed my ceremony! I'm Sandhollow now."

"Good for you," Yarrowclaw yawned, rolling over. Her dead eye stared blankly at Sandhollow, her good eye pressed into the moss.

"I'm not very tired yet," Sandhollow admitted, giving his gift another playful smack. "Want to share tongues for a bit?" Yarrowclaw purred. A flick of her ear invited Sandhollow closer. The newly named mediator crept around his Clanmates' nests. He had to sit in Anchovystrike's nest in order to groom Yarrowclaw. Yarrowclaw sat up with a soft groan and moved closer to Sandhollow. Sandhollow raked his tongue along Yarrowclaw's coarse pelt. Sandhollow's tongue caught tangle after tangle, easing them straight with a few focused licks.

"Too busy to clean yourself lately?" Sandhollow hummed as Yarrowclaw bit an itch on her leg.

"I guess so," Yarrowclaw huffed. "I went on a lot of patrols."

"Avoiding Currentsmoke?" Sandhollow guessed. Yarrowclaw's brother hadn't left the medicine den since Yarrowclaw brought Currentsmoke into camp a few days prior, face crunched and bleeding. Yarrowclaw groomed Sandhollow's shoulder rather than answer. "We have four clerics looking after him. If there's any chance he might survive, he'll survive."

"Truthfully, Sandhollow?" Yarrowclaw grunted as she groomed. "That entire day is a blur. Lately, I've gone on so many patrols, the days started blending into one another."

"No wonder you're so tired," Sandhollow chuckled. "You're probably exhausted. You're not the only warrior in the Clan, though."

"I know that," Yarrowclaw huffed, pulling back. "It's just hard to sit still lately. I wake up, and there's so much I need to do."

"If you need time to rest," Sandhollow reminded her, puffing his chest out a bit, "I am a mediator now. I can tell Downstar and Oilstripe to let you off patrols for a couple of days. Considering how much you've done lately, I don't think they'll mind."

"I think I need that," Yarrowclaw admitted, laying back down. "StarClan, for a while there, it felt like I could do anything. I think Anchovystrike was right. I am too much of an overachiever."

"I'm the same way," Sandhollow promised, touching noses with Yarrowclaw. "Tomorrow, you should join me in the nursery! Splashtuft and I are telling this grand story about Clan history to Shrewkit, help him decide what he wants to train as. You're welcome to sit and listen."

"If I fall asleep, don't blame me," Yarrowclaw scoffed.

"Considering Shrewkit's attention span?" Sandhollow laughed. "I don't think you'll be alone in that."

(Sandhollow: 12, male, mediator, ambitious, lore keeper)

(Brightreed: 13, male, warrior, righteous, student of art)

(Downstar: 140, female, leader, wise, trusted advisor, very clever)

(Wolverineheart: 13, female, warrior, troublesome, student of science)

(Stormjump: 12, female, caretaker, charismatic, incredible cook)

(Yarrowclaw: 16, female, warrior, cold, talented fire-starter)

RippleClan, WheatClan, AshClan, and LynxClan discuss SlugClan.

[Image ID: Downstar meets with Ospreystar, Gentlestar, and Eelstar.]

---

WheatClan agreed to escort Downstar and her entourage through WheatClan territory rather than along the border with SlugClan. It simply wasn't safe, especially with a group their size. Downstar picked Wolverineheart, Thundergale, Lemmy, Splashtuft, and Lavendertwist to accompany her to her meeting at the Leader's Stone. With SlugClan's recent behavior, a patrol that size could have been considered a war party.

Downstar's patrol met with Gentlestar and her warriors at the border. The two groups melded together, with both leaders at the front. Spring frost melted under their paws as they crossed through WheatClan's more open land. Sunhigh slowed their progress as everyone ached for their nests, but a tiring time like that was perfect for such a secretive meeting. The warriors muttered amongst themselves, sharing recent news about SlugClan.

"Weevilsight's tail looks awful. How could they do that to a cleric?"

"Who knows what's going through Gorgestar's mind lately."

"He's so apologetic after attacking Honeybuzz and Venturedapple, but doesn't even bother to show up to the Gathering after Weevilsight's attack? I thought Gorgestar was supposed to be a kind leader."

"He's the oldest leader now. Maybe age has changed him."

"My mother became a different cat after she became an elder. By the time she died, I barely recognized her."

"So what, he's old so now he's evil?"

"That's an oversimplification. Gorgestar could have a reason for changing his border policy."

"That doesn't excuse attacking two clerics."

"I know that! Don't act like RippleClan's the only one they've been aggressive towards. Try sharing a border with them. We've gotten into, what, three border skirmishes with them in the last two moons? That's not to mention all the encounters that didn't end with fangs flying."

"All of you, that's enough," Gentlestar called back to the two patrols. "We're working together, not against each other. I don't want to hear another word until we're at the Leader's Stone."

"Yes, Gentlestar," the WheatClan patrol muttered, bowing their heads.

"That applies to RippleClan as well," Downstar noted. Lavendertwist groaned. but Lemmy smacked the back of his head and shut him up.

The path to the Leader's Stone was easier in WheatClan territory. With fewer trees to navigate around and less threat of catching your paw in some muddy crevice, the two Clans arrived faster than Downstar had ever managed on a typical trip to the Leader's Stone. Even when she was in SlugClan, it took a Gathering patrol longer to reach the festivities.

The Leader's Stone seemed harsh and dull in the light bursting through the thin, hazy clouds. Without the usual light of a fire or the joyful chatter of celebrating warriors, the entire clearing had an air of mourning to it. Unsurprisingly, LynxClan was already there when WheatClan and RippleClan arrived. Ospreystar paced around the Leader's Stone. Bandages wrapped around his front leg.

"Ospreystar," Downstar called. Ospreystar pulled himself from his thoughts. He and his entourage focused on the arriving patrol. Downstar and Gentlestar joined the youngest leader by the Leader's Stone. "What happened to your leg?"

"A bite from an eager SlugClan apprentice," Ospreystar sighed, showing off his wound. "Their mentor insisted they didn't know who they were attacking, but I don't think I believe them."

"This is getting ridiculous," Gentlestar huffed, shaking her head. "We have our conflicts, but border aggression typically makes sense. We see the reasons demonstrated at Gatherings. But we're getting conflicting reports from Gorgestar and his warriors."

"We'll figure out a solution," Downstar promised, climbing onto the Leader's Stone. "We've brought along some of our smartest historians and codekeepers. We should find the best way forward if we all discuss the situation."

"Speaking of historians and codekeepers," Ospreystar said, glancing back at Downstar's entourage, "those two are neither, if I recall." Wolverineheart and Thundergale sat with two LynxClan codekeepers, with Wolverineheart signing for her sister.

"I told you about Thundergale at the last Gathering, remember?" Downstar sighed. "Thundergale is experimenting with a new role devoted to teaching her Clanmates. I wanted her to come along and understand the advisory aspect of the historian role. Wolverineheart offered to accompany her and interpret our conversation, as Thundergale is partially deaf."

"Yes, the 'teacher' role, as you call it," Gentlestar hummed. "If you believe Thundergale could add something to our conversation, I'm happy to have her. I'm curious how this experiment will go."

"So am I," Ospreystar sighed, "but let's get back to the topic of the day."

"I hope you weren't planning to start without me!" Eelstar marched into the clearing, furless paws shining with melted frost. His patrol of codekeepers and historians followed behind, heads held high.

"Just getting our bearings, Eelstar," Downstar promised her gray-furred counterpart. "Did you have any trouble on your way here?"

"We followed the river around SlugClan and down along the LynxClan border," Eelstar explained. "Gorgestar shouldn't find out we passed through."

"Then let's begin," Downstar sighed. She flicked her tail high and called, "You all know why we're here. SlugClan's recent unchecked aggression along their borders has resulted in unfair attacks on all four of our Clans. SlugClan warriors have attacked two of my clerics, one of them on the night of the half moon meeting."

"SlugClan's not getting away with attacking my brother!" Splashtuft yowled. The codekeepers around him hissed, silencing his fervor.

"No, no they will not," Downstar declared. "SlugClan's recent behavior will not go unchecked, for the good of us all." Downstar jumped off the Leader's Stone and sat among her fellow leaders. "Now let's figure out the best way to confront Gorgestar and stop this madness before it kills someone."

(Downstar: 140, female, leader, wise, trusted advisor, very clever)

(Lavendertwist: 47, male, historian, playful, great singer, good storyteller)

(Lemmy: 57, female, codekeeper, cold, deep StarClan bond, good mediator)

(Wolverineheart: 13, female, warrior, troublesome, student of science)

(Thundergale: 13, female, teacher, adventurous, great hunter, good speaker)

(Splashtuft: 29, male, historian, adventurous, fast runner, student of art)

The four Clans send a war patrol to SlugClan.

[Image ID: Downstar and Puddlewhisper approach Gorgestar, who says "Downdapple, there you are." Under Puddlewhisper, it reads LEVEL UP! NATURAL INTUITION → KEEN EYE.]

---

Downstar won the right to lead the war patrol. Sure, the other three Clans had their fair share of skirmishes with SlugClan, but none had been as insulted as RippleClan. SlugClan's attacks against two clerics could not go unanswered. Downstar picked her most trusted codekeepers and warriors (Puddlewhisper, Waspdawn, Rapidleaf, Halibutdusk, Scaleripple, and Leathermask) and set off for SlugClan two days after the secret meeting.

They chose the dead of night for their assault. The chosen warriors could better ration their energy throughout the day, and there would be a few less warriors in SlugClan's camp upon arrival. Winter's chill still dug its claws into the land, frost coating everything living in a cocoon. It was the work of an Autumnfrost, those new spirits born of Autumnstar's Shardlings, Downstar was certain of it. They were mocking Downstar, rejoicing in her newfound warlust. What they didn't know was that there was no lust for war in Downstar's heart. Necessity drove her paws through the frost that night.

When Downstar stepped across the SlugClan border, she stepped across time. The weight of dozens of moons faded like snow melting across the territories. For a moment, she was Downdapple, a young caretaker, exploring her home with Fennelspot at her side, pulled into whatever hijinks Downdapple had planned for the day. A youthful vigor stirred her muscles as the smell of her kithood home filled her senses. Yet a wave consumed Downstar's nostalgia with a sickening reminder; she would be leading a war patrol into SlugClan's camp, the place she had been born, where she held vigil for her mother, her father, her littermates. She prayed their spirits would forgive her.

"I can smell AshClan's patrol," Puddlewhisper noted as they trailed along the SlugClan border. "They'll be at the meeting place before us." Downstar nodded, her thoughts too focused on the past to fully take in Puddlewhisper's report.

The four Clans decided to meet in a large dip along the SlugClan border. More than a few cats found themselves tumbling into the dip on their way to Gatherings, so everyone would know of it. Warriors from WheatClan, AshClan, and LynxClan were already waiting for RippleClan within the dip. It was a sizable group, able to match SlugClan's numbers. Oh StarClan, why was this the solution? The RippleClan war patrol merged with the other Clans as Downstar stood at the lip of the dip.

"Your leaders have all agreed," Downstar said, voice low and caught within the dip, "that for tonight, for this mission, you are to treat me as your leader, regardless of your Clan. As such, I expect everyone to follow my commands. Under no circumstance is any warrior to target the nursery. You'll answer to me if any harm comes to a kit during this attack. Allow noncombatants to leave camp freely, we are not taking prisoners."

"They attacked your clerics," an AshClan warrior hissed. "They attacked one of our artisans. Why shouldn't we attack theirs?"

"Because we are following the code," Downstar snapped, fur bristling. "Our four Clans have allied with each other because SlugClan's behavior has broken our code again and again. We are not going to return codebreaking with codebreaking. We are going to find Gorgestar and force him to Warriors… follow me." Downstar marched past the SlugClan border and deep into the territory itself. The war patrol climbed out of the dip and slunk after her, each Clan putting their unique training to use.

Still water pooled throughout SlugClan territory; leftovers from spring showers and runoff from the Great Northern River, forming thick, permanent puddles and tiny ponds. Downstar could almost hear the slugs and snails worming along the muddy shores and along the giant protruding roots. Downstar jumped from root to root, avoiding the algae-filled water. She hoped the other warriors were wise enough to know about leeches. How many times did Downstar go back to SlugClan camp as an apprentice with those disgusting creatures sucking on her legs? At least RippleClan copied their leader, following her path through the territory.

Downstar's mediators and artisans had been to SlugClan's camp since the founding of RippleClan; they often visited for trade and diplomacy's sake. Yet Downstar herself had not seen her birthplace since she set off with her fellow founders. How would it look now? How would Downstar's memories, her glories and tragedies, melt into the battle yet to come?

"Downstar!" a LynxClan codekeeper hissed from the back of the patrol. "I saw movement, racing past us. I think a patrol's seen us."

"That was bound to happen eventually," Halibutdusk muttered.

"Then we move quickly," Downstar huffed. She jumped off a buldging root and let her memories carry her to SlugClan's camp. The paws of her war patrol thundered behind her.

Thorn bushes marked out the walls of SlugClan's camp. Two willows, only just showing signs of spring growth, sheltered the Clan, with one standing amongst the thorny walls and another blossoming from the camp's heart. The nearly full moon danced through the fuzzy tendrils of the willow trees, dappling the area. Downstar could already hear warning yowls ring out inside the camp, stirring the sleeping warriors. The warriors on guard arched their backs, eyes darting about for signs of the incoming swarm.

Scaleripple and Leathermask lunged past Downstar. They tackled the two guards, spinning into one another. Two WheatClan warriors followed suit, pinning the guards down. With a flick of her tail, Downstar and her patrol stormed into SlugClan's camp.

If it weren't for the well-formed walls, it wouldn't have been strange to assume SlugClan's camp was just another part of the forest. All their artisan tools and ovens were hidden in a small grove away from the main part of camp, leaving just the giant willow tree and a series of thick bushes visible. The camp was too crowded for even a fire to warm the warriors through the night. Each bush marked the entrance to one of SlugClan's many dens, with the warrior's den right near the camp entrance. This meant, as Downstar and her war patrol breached the safety of SlugClan's camp, a horde of warriors met them before they got a tail-length in.

"Gorgestar!" Downstar yowled as her claws dug into a SlugClan caretaker. This particular caretaker was a bulky mass, shoving Downstar back into the swarm of intruding warriors. An AshClan codekeeper helped Downstar up and lunged at the offending caretaker. Downstar couldn't help but laugh; had she ever imagined an AshClan cat helping her in battle?

The tendrils of the willow tree that formed part of the camp wall shook. Waspdawn's gray eyes beamed from the branches. He, Puddlewhisper, and the rest of the AshClan warriors launched from the willow, landing on the SlugClan warriors. Tufts of fur flew across the clearing. The war patrol streaked around Downstar, finding the closest SlugClan scent and digging into their pelts. The queens scrambled out of the nursery, standing guard in front of their beloved kits. Elders who still had fire burning in their pelts stalked toward the chaos, daring the intruders to strike. Young, skinny warriors ushered mediators and artisans across camp. None of them were important to Downstar, not that night. No, her focus rested on the thick bush at the base of the central willow. The leader's den.

Downstar pounced on a SlugClan warrior. She tore into his ear, just as one of SlugClan's ranks had ripped into Honeybuzz. The warrior threw his head forward, flipping Downstar onto her back. Downstar's back paws slashed at the warrior's belly. The warrior yowled, stumbling back, giving Downstar enough time to get back on her paws. Her patrol tumbled and caterwauled across the camp, pinning down any SlugClan warrior they could get their claws on. One of the mediators burst from the procession of retreating noncombatants—Voleflake, that was his name, he was the go-to mediator to visit RippleClan—and raced into Gorgestar's den. Fine. Having a mediator during this confrontation would be better. There wasn't a hair on Downstar's pelt that wanted to draw blood from her old friend.

Downstar ran for the leader's den. She jumped over Waspdawn and a SlugClan codekeeper, teeth buried deep into one another. Downstar was just a few tail-lengths from the den. A pale gray blur slammed into Downstar's side. The tortoiseshell leader stumbled, but stayed on her feet. A pale gray tabby tom sneered at her with glistening green eyes. The huge scar along his chest, an infamous mark from a roaming wolverine, identified the muscular tom as Lettucecloud, the deputy of SlugClan.

"Downstar, why are you doing this?" Lettucecloud yowled, claws bracing for Downstar to pounce. "Why would you attack us?"

"Why would we attack you?" Downstar spat. "Why would you attack us? SlugClan has been out of control, Lettucecloud! I can't let you maul my clerics and go unpunished."

"Clerics?" Lettucecloud snapped, rearing back. "As in more than one? I only know about Honeybuzz."

"Weevilsight—" Downstar hissed, but a screeching mass of lilac fur smacked into her face. A long-furred SlugClan warrior pinned Downstar into the frosty ground.

"Carvingfur, we are talking!" Lettucecloud yowled. The warrior, Carvingfur, froze with a paw raised to claw at Downstar's eyes.

"Well forgive me for fighting an intruder," Carvingfur hissed.

"You've been attacking everyone you see by the border!" Downstar yowled. She shoved Carvingfur off, loosing a chunk of fur in the process. "You've mauled noncombatants! You tried to kill Weevilsight at StarClan's Shrine!" Lettucecloud's eyes bulged. Downstar stood tall, keeping an ear pricked for another would-be attacker.

"Call off your patrol," he gulped. "Stop the fight. We need to talk."

"You…" Downstar muttered, her ears ringing from the battle cries around her. "You don't know what I'm talking about." Downstar scurried up the central willow. She jumped onto the lowest sturdy branch and yowled, "Warriors! Halt! Halt!" Lettucecloud hurried up the tree beside Downstar. He yowled as loud as his lungs could manage. Slowly, the bloody warriors filling SlugClan's camp slowed in their bloodshed. Waspdawn hacked out another cat's blood and fur. Scaleripple and Leathermask limped into camp, covered in scratches and bruises. A SlugClan historian stepped off Halibutdusk. Warriors slipped on melting frost, which diluted the blood dripping from long claw marks. All eyes turned to the central willow.

"Give Downstar and I a moment to talk!" Lettucecloud yowled. "We… we will resolve this peacefully." Outrage tore through the warriors. SlugClan warriors hissed and batted at their camp's intruders, while the war patrol demanded SlugClan's heads.

"Remember why we came here!" Downstar snapped. "We've made SlugClan listen. We will draw no more blood tonight. I expect the codekeepers in our ranks to keep the peace. Puddlewhisper, with me."

Downstar's war patrol crept to one side of the camp, licking their wounds. The two clerics of SlugClan hurried to their Clanmates, sniffing their pelts for serious wounds. Codekeepers and the cooler heads of the war patrol held back vengeful warriors with a few curt words. Puddlewhisper slipped around the grumbling cats and scaled the willow. She eyed Lettucecloud closely and sat beside her leader.

"What's going on, Lettucecloud?" Downstar sighed.

"I have a theory," Lettucecloud sighed, staring down at the leader's den. Downstar suddenly realized that despite the chaos of the battle, Gorgestar had not shown his face since the war patrol's arrival. Sure, he couldn't fight, but he should have at least confronted Downstar.

"Start with why you attacked our clerics," Puddlewhisper huffed.

"One of your patrols told us they had orders to increase their aggression at the border," Downstar said. "Did Gorgestar give those orders?"

"He must have," Lettucecloud admitted. "I thought I stopped it after the incident with Honeybuzz. Gorgestar must have encouraged our warriors behind my back."

"You're trying to say your warriors got into skirmishes and you never knew of them?" Puddlewhisper said with a less-than-convinced sneer.

"In a cruel twist of fate," Downstar chuckled with a sad shake of her head, "that's the most believable part of this story. Gorgestar loves to handle patrol duties, he was that way when I was a caretaker here." Downstar's battle hardiness returned as she set her face and continued, "The rest of what you're saying, now that is less than believable. Gorgestar is a just leader who has always sought peace along his borders. He wouldn't change overnight." Lettucecloud's ears sunk low. He jumped out of the willow, in front of the leader's den. Downstar and Puddlewhisper followed him down.

"Talk to him yourself," Lettucecloud muttered. "You'll understand then." Lettucecloud peered into the leader's den and said, "Voleflake, Downstar and her codekeeper are coming in. They don't mean Gorgestar any harm." With that, Lettucecloud stepped back, giving the mollies room to enter.

The last time Downstar saw Gorgestar's den, she had been bidding her Clan farewell, preparing to take the lead over RippleClan and start a new story for the Clans. The cocky youth that still stirred in Downstar's chest laughed at the den's simplicity; the shipwreck and the overturned human basket Downstar nested in were far superior. Gorgestar's nest was the only thing of note within the bushy den, pressed against the trunk of the central willow. Voleflake sat beside the nest, whiskers twitching rapidly as he watched the two leaders meet. Gorgestar himself stood in his nest, trying to slide himself into his sled. Moss tore from his nest and collected on his motionless hind legs. He muttered something unintelligible, sparing nary a glance toward Downstar and Puddlewhisper.

"Gorgestar?" Downstar called. Gorgestar jolted from his work, eyes glazed. It took him a moment to settle on Downstar. The tension in his neck relaxed and his entire face softened.

"Downdapple, there you are," Gorgestar sighed. "What's the situation out there? Who attacked us?" Dread dripped down Downstar's throat and drowned her voice. "It was Autumnstar, wasn't it? Who else would come into camp like this?"

"They're gone, Gorgestar," Voleflake promised, touching his nose to Gorgestar's shoulder. "Down… Downdapple is just making sure you're alright." Voleflake's long, tense stare clued the two RippleClan mollies in.

"Yes, yes, of course," Gorgestar muttered. "You're a devoted caretaker, Downdapple, even if you turn a few of my hairs gray." He chuckled as he shuffled himself into his sled. "Tie me in, Downdapple. I should address the Clan, check on our warriors."

"Fennelspot is taking care of everything," Downstar said quickly, hurrying to Gorgestar's side. "He wants to focus on his work. Maybe you can address SlugClan once he's finished?"

"Clever molly," Gorgestar chuckled. His eyes caught on Puddlewhisper, who still lingered near the entrance. "Downdapple, I didn't realize, I should have known you wouldn't stumble in here without cause. We have a prisoner! Puddlespeckle, isn't it?" Puddlewhisper suddenly seemed too big for her pelt. "Good work, Downdapple. Make sure the codekeepers keep a close eye on this tom."

"I'll take care of the prisoner right now," Downstar said, backing up. "I just wanted to check on you." Downstar brushed against Puddlewhisper, easing the unnerved codekeeper out of the leader's den. "Don't strain yourself… sir." Downstar escorted Puddlewhisper out of the den before she could face more of Gorgestar's delusions.

"I've had a few cats misgender me in my life," Puddlewhisper groaned as they rejoined Lettucecloud outside, "but somehow, that was the worst." SlugClan glared at Downstar and Puddlewhisper, but most were too busy licking their wounds to speak up. Downstar's patrol tried to approach her, but Waspdawn and the other codekeepers kept them at bay.

"You'll have to forgive Gorgestar," Lettucecloud insisted in a soft voice. "His mind is caught in the past. It's anyone's guess what he'll think is real. He's been like this for some time now. It was managable for a while, at least I thought."

"He shouldn't be leader," Downstar growled, the fog of shock and grief fading. "He should have retired as soon as his mind began to fade. Surely your clerics and mediators would agree."

"He only has one life left," Lettucecloud sighed, lowering himself before the furious leader (much to the shagrin of Lettucecloud's Clanmates). "I've taken over most of his duties and keep him comfortable. I didn't want to disgrace his legacy by forcing him into the elder's den. How would it have looked to the other Clans? Do you think Eelstar, Gentlestar, or Ospreystar would respect my leadership if I ousted my predecessor?"

"He's been organizing patrols behind your back," Puddlewhisper huffed. "I've heard how age can cripple the mind, make one paranoid. StarClan knows what he's been telling his Clan, Downstar."

"It stops tonight," Lettucecloud declared. "I'm calling together a vote to officially remove Gorgestar from leadership. If I had realized what he was having SlugClan do, I would have ousted him moons ago, Downstar."

"You let your sentimentality endanger your Clan and mine," Downstar growled, ears and tail high as she spoke. "I speak for the other four Clans when I say this. When you come to the Gathering in a few days, I expect to be calling you Lettucestar. We will not tolerate any more skirmishes along your borders. It's up to you to keep your Clan in check, Lettucecloud, or the other leaders will do your job for you." Downstar looked back into the leader's den. Voleflake spoke softly to Gorgestar, but the paralyzed leader's eyes were far away.

Truthfully, the war patrol could only be called a success, Downstar knew that. But somehow, it would have been better if Gorgestar had some secret plan for Downstar to thwart. She couldn't thwart her old friend's mind.

All Downstar could do was grieve.

(Downstar: 140, female, leader, wise, trusted advisor, very clever)

(Puddlewhisper: 47, trans female, thoughtful, keen eye, ghost sense)

(Halibutdusk: 73, nonbinary (they/them), gloomy, masterful storyteller, clever)

(Scaleripple: 34, male, warrior, lonesome, formidable fighter)

(Leathermask: 29, male, warrior, nervous, good fighter, eloquent speaker)

(Waspdawn: 47, male, codekeeper, strict, learner of lore, clue finder)

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writergirlll · 23 days ago

Text

Ocean blue eyes

Chapter 1

Instagram

@𝘼𝙣𝙙𝙮_𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬:

@A𝙣d𝙮.𝙛𝙖𝙣: it suits you!

@𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙚_𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙡: I hope you enjoyed your time off, because it's going to be a lot of work. But it looks good on you!

» @𝘼𝙣𝙙𝙮_𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣: Don't bother with work. 🙄. Do you know that children's work gets paid? But thanks

@𝘿𝙞𝙤𝙧_𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙟𝙤𝙝𝙣: Love you babe! I look forward to tomorrow.

»@𝘼𝙣𝙙𝙮_𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣: I wish I could say that too

»@𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙚_𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙡: And why don't you say that?

»@𝘿𝙞𝙤𝙧_𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙟𝙤𝙝𝙣: Walker, right?

»@𝙋𝙟𝙤𝙁𝙖𝙣: OMG they actually hate each other, right?

»@𝘼𝙣𝙙_𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣: Can you stop writing as if I'm not here?

@𝙏𝙖𝙮𝙡𝙤𝙧.𝙎𝙬𝙞𝙛𝙩: You've come a long way, I'm proud of you!

»@𝙐𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚: What is Taylor doing here?

»@𝙐𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚: She's her sponsor LMAO

@𝙒𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙚𝙧_𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙡: I hope you're not annoying like in kindergarten

»@𝘼𝙣𝙙𝙮_𝙅𝙤𝙝𝙣: Scobell since kindergarten, it's been a few years..

»@𝙒𝙖𝙡𝙠𝙚𝙧_𝙎𝙘𝙤𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙡: Exactly, and that's why you're still the same

»@𝘿𝙞𝙤𝙧_𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙟𝙤𝙝𝙣: kids, leave it alone and try not to kill yourself

»@𝘾𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙡𝙞𝙚_𝘽𝙪𝙨𝙝𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙡: Dior feels like a mom again?

»@𝙐𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚: OMG Walker commented on the post

@𝙐𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙢𝙚: The new album is great!

Andy Pov:

I read all the comments on my last post and sighed. I closed my phone and placed it on my lap while looking out the car window. I was just on my way to the first official PJO casting but I don't know if I'm looking forward to it. It's not that I don't like the actors there.

On the contrary. I absolutely loved some of them - like Dior and Charlie, who I hung out with quite often, as we've known each other for a long time. But there are also people I definitely don't look forward to.

And one little devil in the form of a young blond, blue-eyed boy named Walker Scobell will unfortunately be there. And according to the concept I saw for the first season, we'll have to have a few romantic moments in front of the cameramen if nothing changes and I play Anabeth. So great.

"What's up?" my dad looked at me from behind the wheel and raised an eyebrow before going back to drumming his fingers on the steering wheel.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye before shrugging. "I don't know. I guess I'm not much of a troublemaker there"?

"Why?" he looked at me and for a moment I could see his frown. "There will be Dior and Charles right?"

"Charlie," I corrected him and she laughed a little. Ever since I met them at my concert a few years ago, he still can't remember his name and keeps calling him Charles. ,,And yeah, they'll be there. They're not the problem," I shook my head.

"So what's the problem?" he looked at me again before turning onto a dirt road where there was a huge CAMP HALFBLOOD sign, signifying that we were getting closer.

"Do you remember Walker? Walker Scobell. He went to kindergarten, elementary school, and high school with me," I asked him, and I had to tell him exactly where Scobell went with me, because dad is a worthy forgetter. Almost sclerosis?

"Yeah. That's the one with the nest on its head, right?" he asked and I nodded. "So this Scobell will be on set because he plays Percy and we have a romantic line in the first season," I sighed and rolled my eyes. I don't even know why I nodded to the set.

"And why don't you love each other?" my dad asked me and I slapped his hand.

"You should go to the doctor. We've hated each other for almost fourteen years and you're only asking me why, now"? I laughed at him and he started rubbing his hand like a little child where I had slapped him. I swear I don't have a father, I have a child.

"Well, sorry, I guess I forgot. It's obviously not that important," he shrugged and I smacked him again before my chest tightened when I saw that we were slowly coming to a stop.

Fromm the car window, the camp was breathtaking in the golden light of the sunset. Orange banners flapped lazily in the breeze, casting dancing shadows over the tents. Behind the set, large trees stood tall, swaying gently, and the faint sound of waves crashing against the shore carried over from somewhere nearby. Cameras and equipment were scattered around the area, with people moving like a coordinated machine.

I sighed again when we stopped completely. I really didn't want to go there. Like really. But I already signed the contract and everyone is ready for me to play in the PJO, so it can't be changed..

I grabbed the phone that was on my lap, stuffed it into my shorts pocket, and opened the car door before turning back to my dad. "Will you pick me up at Dior tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow"? he asked and I slapped my forehead.

"Yes, tomorrow. I told you I'm sleeping at Dior's, tomorrow I'm going home and the day after tomorrow we'll sleep here on set until the end," I explained to him as I opened the back door of the car and took my black backpack, which I slung over my shoulder.

Dad just saluted, as if he understood, even though I'm 101% sure he'll call me later today to tell me when and where to pick me up, and I closed all the car doors.

"Hey," I waved to him through the window, he did the same and drove away from the campsite. Okay, one worry is over. Another one begins.

I looked around to see if I saw anyone I knew, but so far I had only seen people I had never seen before, so I just walked straight ahead, even though I had no idea where I was going. The sun was slowly setting, casting beautiful rays on everything around, even though my idea of wearing a white top and shorts wasn't ideal at the moment.

I wandered around all the cameras, greeting me here and there, until I saw a familiar back and curly black hair sitting on a chair in the booth. I slowly approached the person in question and touched his hair. "Baf" I whispered and Charlie jumped out of his chair.

"Are you normal? I almost had a heart attack," he ironically grabbed his heart and immediately opened his arms so he could hug me. I climbed into his arms and enjoyed the feeling, because Charlie was like a older brother which I never had.

"When did you get here?" he asked as we let go and moved a little apart. Charlie was incredibly tall, so I had to look up a lot to see him.

"A while ago. I just didn't know where you all were, so I was wandering around," I replied and saw him nod before turning to someone behind him. He turned to a little boy about the same age as me, curly hair and a bit darker. He probably wasn't from America.

They whispered something to each other for a while, glancing at me after every other sentence, before Charlie pushed the boy in front of me. Literally.

"This is Arian," Charlie said proudly, as if he was proud of introducing us, and I smiled sweetly at Arian. He seemed like a nice guy. He didn't look very enthusiastic at first, but eventually he smiled and shook my hand.

"Arian" introduced himself again and shook hands. "Andy" I said back and then let go of his hand.

We stared at each other for a while and when it was really awkward Charlie came between us again and broke our lingering gaze. "Dior won't be here for two hours. She's not in time or something," said Charlie when it was still quiet and I nodded, aware that I would be pretty bored by the time Dior arrived.

"I have to go now. I was invited for an interview, so bye," Arian said suddenly and just as quickly as he came, he left. We didn't even have time to answer him because when we turned our heads, he was gone.

"Can he teleport or what?" I laughed as I looked around and sat down on the first free chair I saw. It happened to be Charlie's chair, so he threw an angry face before turning around again for a moment and then back again.

"I think you might want to go away. Right now," he glanced at me and I looked confused while he stood in front of me, tense.

"What?" I raised my eyebrows because I definitely didn't want to get up from his comfortable chair and I dug myself into it even more. Charlie opened his mouth to say something but before he could, a very familiar blond head appeared next to him with piercing blue eyes as he stared straight at me.

"Johnas," Walker said simply, standing next to Charlie, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.I rolled my eyes, deliberately looking away.

"Scobell," I replied, matching his tone.His lips twitched, almost smirking.

"Still as friendly as ever, huh?"

"Still as full of yourself as ever," I shot back.

Charlie shifted uncomfortably, clearly regretting not stepping in earlier. "You two are like stray cats ready to fight."

"Funny," Walker said, tilting his head. "I'm more like a lion. She's the stray cat."

I crossed my arms. "Better than being a show-off who roars for attention."Walker took a step closer, his smirk fading just slightly.

"At least people listen when I roar."

I refused to back down. "Yeah, and sometimes they just want you to shut up."

For a second, his blue eyes glinted with something unreadable, but then he chuckled softly, shaking his head.

"This season's going to be interesting."

"You have no idea," I muttered as Charlie dragged him away, clearly done with the drama.

#percy jackson #pjo #percy jackon and the olympians #walker scobell x reader #walker scobell #charlie bushnell #dior goodjohn #arian Simhadri

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crazycatgirl420 · 1 year ago

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Saving Daylight p2

Dpxdc Jazz and Dani povs. Civilian life is still weird to write buy I suppose that's why its a challenge huh? It should get easier as I write more and explore more drama and such.

Part 1

Jazz knew her best quality tended to also be her worst one. She knew her optimistic attitude often blinded her from the red flags others practically smack her with. From the deadly house she lived in as a child to the government sanctioned genocide, the reality of it went right over her head until she found her brother dead, his core the only thing remaining of who he'd been.

She knew her optimism blinded her. That's why when she started dating Jason, she also asked her friends Johnny and Kitty to be roommates with her for a while.

"He's a crook" Johnny said. "Red Hood's gang based on affiliation markers,"

"So a bad guy," Jazz sighed, a bit disappointed.

"I mean not really? You are living in Hood territory," Kitty said.

"He's a good guy then," Jazz smiled.

"He could be," Johnny agreed. "We'll have to hang around a bit more to find out."

Jazz stared into her coffee mug. This whole 'is he isn't he' was driving her batty. She just wanted to know if falling in love with him was okay, of her son would be safe, if he could be trusted. Because she knew it wouldn't be long before she fell for his boyish smile and charming personality.

Kitty squeezed Johnny's hand on the table, and Jazz sighed again. She wanted what they had. A love that not even death could separate or stop.

"Even if he's not the one," Kitty said. "We'll make sure the cutie is safe. There'd be no harm is seeing where this thing you've got with Jason goes,"

Jazz nodded, and smiled at the text poppingup in her phone screen. "Good," she said. "Because Jason asked my out to coffee tomorrow morning and I need someone to watch Danny,"

Dani needed to get out of her apartment more. Ever since her template died, things have been weird. Dark Danny, the evil Dan, now known as Dante, became her so called Father. How could a future version of her template exist if her template was dead? Simple. Alternate universe.

Dani had accepted that and stopped caring. Jazz was her cousin now, and she had a legal identity and she had to go to school all the while she watched the core of her once template re-grow a body in Jazz's stomach for nine-months. Her template didn't look anything like he used to now. Before he was literally reborn. An entirely new person with her temple's core.

And she watched him learn to talk, and walk, and start kindergarten.

It happened so slowly but too fast and now she just didn't want to think about it anymore.

So she tossed notes at the other weird kid in her class. And when he forcefully held her hand in the hallway she smiled.

It was easy to forget her issues when she was dragging Wayne around. The bird nest above the senior science laboratory window. The carving of initials in the old stadium bleachers that could possibly be his father's. The weird relationship the volleyball coach had with the soup lunch lady.

Her worries drifted to the back of her mind with every quirked eyebrow or haughty smirk.

"If you like animals then you should accompany me to the rescue center this weekend." He said.

Dani looked away from the bird nest they'd been watching. "I'd love too!"

"Then it shall be a date. I will pick up you up at nine Saturday morning. See you tomorrow Danica,"

Her name, so new and still so weird to hear, sounded special on Damian's lips.

"See you tomorrow Damian,"

She had a date. Her first date.

#dpxdc #saving Daylight

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kissorkill16 · 5 months ago

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Chasing The Raven: A Hello Neighbor Fanfic

By JJ

Summary: Back before the incidents, Aaron, Mya, Lucy and Nicky went to investigate the raven man.

Nicky walked out of the school, and was about to walk home, but someone called out his name.

"Hey, Nicky!"

He turned his head to see his best friend, Aaron. He was waiting outside of Raven Brooks Elementary school, Nicky walked towards him and leaned back against the sign of Raven Brooks Middle School.

"How's it going, Aaron?", he asked. "Waiting for Mya and Lucy?"

"Yeah.", replied Aaron. "But later after we all go home, I want us to meet in the woods."

Nicky's eyebrows furrowed in confusion, "For what? Are we working on another machine?"

Aaron shook his head, "Nope. We're doing something different."

"How different?"

"You'll see.", said Aaron, "And bring your lockpick set."

Nicky was confused. He didn't really like surprises that much, he was scared of whatever it would be, good or bad. But he trusted Aaron, and he was his friend.

After Lucy and Mya walked out of the school, the four kids walked home. Nicky walked through the door of his house, and was sort of relieved to see that Bubba was sitting on the couch, sleeping.

He tip-toed upstairs, and gently shut the door. He flopped down on his bed, waiting for Aaron to call him.

Considering he said they'd meet in the woods to do something different, that was the only information he gave him. He'd very much like to know when they were leaving so he didn't have to travel to the woods by himself. Not that it was scary, he just didn't like going in there without someone by his side.

Yes, he knew it was childish, but if you understood him or knew him long enough, you'd know that being alone was kind of scary.

He ended up falling asleep and waking up an hour later, once he heard a noise come from downstairs, he ran to his front yard. He found a note on his trellis. He picked up the note and read it.

"In your backyard."

He walked to his backyard, and was shocked to see his friends. Aaron, Mya, and Lucy. But for some reason, they were all wearing night vision goggles.

"What's all this?", asked Nicky.

"We're going back into the woods!", said Lucy. She gestured down to her outfit, which was a pair of gray jean shorts and a red shirt, not like her usual red dress. "Look! I even dressed for the occasion!"

Aaron rolled his eyes and walked to Nicky, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"Listen, do you remember that night in the woods where that creepy bird thing? Yeah, well we're going to go and find it.", he said. Nicky jumped back in shock.

"What?! Are you crazy? We chased after that thing last time and we barely made it out of the woods with our lives!", he said. "I'm sorry, but I can't risk my life again just to play Scooby Doo."

Mya pouted and looked at Nicky with her shiny green eyes, "But Nicky, our group isn't the same without you. We want you to come with us. Please?"

Nicky crossed his arms and looked away, and Lucy tapped his shoulder with something metal. Nicky looked at her and saw that she was holding a pair of night vision goggles. "We even brought you your own pair."

Nicky gave in and took the goggles. "Alright, but I have to make it back before my grandma wakes up."

"So we got until tomorrow?", Aaron joked.

"Hardy har har."

The kids walked past all of the warning signs and bushes, being careful not to step on any animal poop.

"How do you even know that he's here?", asked Nicky.

"Well have you seen any raven people walking around town? He's gotta be somewhere in these woods.", said Aaron. "Maybe we'll find him in a nest or something."

Lucy rolled her eyes, "He's the same size as a regular human, how could he possibly fit in a nest?"

"A human sized nest, duh."

Nicky rolled his eyes as he listened to them bicker. He was behind them, but he tried to keep up, along with Mya, who got her dress tangled in a branch. Nicky helped her pull it out, and miraculously didn't tear a hole in it.

"Thanks, Nicky."

"No problem, Mya."

The two held hands and walked quickly behind Aaron and Lucy to keep up with them.

The four kids were starting to get a little scared. The sky was turning darker, and it almost looked like it was going to rain soon.

"Do you think it can talk?", asked Lucy. Everyone looked at the girl.

"What?", asked Mya.

"It's getting scary, so I'm trying to lighten the mood.", said Lucy. "Do you think the crow man can talk?"

Aaron let out a dry laugh, "Probably not. It's got a beak, not a mouth. I doubt it can talk."

Three of the kids laughed.

"But do you think it can fly?", asked Mya. "Ravens fly, so it has to fly."

"With what wings?", asked Nicky. Then his eyes widened, "Unless he can shapeshift into flying animals!"

Lucy jumped up and down, "That would be so cool!", she said.

The kids were so engrossed in their conversation, they didn't even hear the strike of thunder that ripped through the air. Well, no one except Nicky.

Nicky jumped at the strike. "It's getting worse out here. We should go home."

Lucy shook her head, "But we didn't even find the crow man yet.", she said.

Aaron put his goggles over his eyes, "Put on your goggles.", he said, watching everyone do the same. "We can see where we're going with these."

As Nicky put his goggles over his eyes, he had frightened thoughts coursing through his mind. He didn't want to see where he was going, he wanted to go home.

He looked around the woods, and jumped back when he saw a familiar cloaked figure hiding behind a tree.

"He's right there!", he said to the others. "Let's go!"

By the time the others realized, they started chasing after the figure. The cloaked raven man started running, and it was running faster than them all put together.

Nicky was ahead of the group, he felt so close that he could almost touch the raven man.

"Guys, hurry up!"

"We're hurrying!"

But the kids didn't hurry fast enough, because they followed the cloaked figure into a dark and shadowy part, and he was suddenly gone.

"Where'd he go?", asked Nicky.

The four kids looked around, and there was no sign of the raven man.

"Did he teleport away from here?", asked Lucy. "But ravens can't do that."

"Maybe not other ravens, but this one is magic.", said Mya.

"A magic raven.", whispered Aaron. "Now that's interesting."

A moment of silence.

Then another strike of thunder ripped through the air once again, and Lucy felt a drop of water fall on her head. Then another, then another.

Before anyone knew it, it was raining.

Mya gasped and grabbed Aaron's shoulder, pulling her in her direction. "Come on, it's raining! Let's go back!"

Aaron obliged, letting Mya pull her to wherever she thought the start was, Nicky and Lucy following close behind them.

As Nicky followed them, he rolled his eyes. "Sure. You'll listen to your sister when she says it's time to go, but won't listen to your paranoid best friend?", he thought. "But then again, she is his sister."

Nicky got so lost in his thoughts, he didn't even notice that his friends weren't even in front of him anymore. That's when he really got scared.

"Aaron? Mya? Lucy?", he called out. "Where are you guys?"

As he looked around, he got even more scared when he felt the world start to spin.

"Aaron! Mya! Lucy!", he called out once again. This time, he got an answer back.

"Nicky!", it was Aaron who answered back. "Where are you?"

"I don't know!", Nicky answered, trying to calm down. "But where are you guys?"

"We're over here!", said Lucy.

Nicky looked around once again, but still didn't see his friends. "Where?"

"Just follow the sound of my voice!", said Lucy.

As Lucy began to sing an unfamiliar song, Nicky tried to follow where it was coming from. But it was getting kind of difficult with the rain, thunder and lightning.

"Oh God, where are you guys?", he thought. But his sudden thought made him accidentally trip over a log and fall down a cliff.

He rolled and rolled down the hill, dirt and mud covering almost his entire body. It was only when he was already down the hill that he heard Lucy's voice.

"Nicky!", Mya called out, running to him. She helped him up and dusted him off. "Are you okay?"

"I'm wet and dirty, but I'll be fine."

Thunder ripped through the air once again, making everyone jump and scream.

"We gotta get back!", said Lucy.

"But we don't even know the way back!", said Mya, beginning to cry.

Aaron grabbed Mya's hand and pulled her close to him, "Then we'll see if we can find any shelter in these woods and hide there until morning."

Everyone nodded and started running.

For some reason, Nicky could feel someone gaining on them. It was weird, because there wasn't even anyone in the woods but him and his friends...

And a human crow man.

That thought was enough to give Nicky more adrenaline to run past his friends, and he bumped into something metal and cold. "OW!", he yelped as he backed away from the metal surface. He opened his eyes to see an abandoned building.

"Thank God!", said Aaron. He gently pushed Nicky out of the way and jiggled the handle. "Damn it! It's locked.", he dug around in his pockets. "And I forgot my lockpicks! God fucking damn it!"

"I can use mine! Move out of the way!"

Aaron moved out of the way, letting Nicky pull out his set of lockpicks and tried jiggling the lock open. When the first pair didn't work, he tried using another pair. When that pair didn't work, he tried using another one. Nicky was starting to hyperventilate as he tried one last pair.

"Please open! Please open! Please!", he didn't even notice he was screaming.

By some miracle, the door opened, and the kids wasted no time running in and slamming the door shut.

Nicky wiped his eyes. At this point, his face was so wet that he didn't even know whether he was crying or if it was just rain. He got his answer when he let out a choked sob.

"Oh God...oh God that was so...", he couldn't even finish that sentence before he felt Aaron wrap his arms around him.

"Dude, it's okay. We're safe now.", he whispered into his ear. Nicky felt himself calming down, and he wiped his wet face.

"Thanks, man. I'm good now.", he said. "Now where the hell are we?"

"I don't know, I wish we'd brought a flashlight.", said Lucy.

Then they heard a voice coming from down the dark corridor.

"Did anyone else hear that?", a man's voice asked. "It came from down there."

"I don't know. Let's go check.", said another voice.

The steps came towards the hallway, and the four kids started panicking.

Luckily, Lucy found an unlocked door behind her, and she pointed inside. "In here!"

Everyone ran in here, and slammed the door behind them once again. Nicky flinched at the slam.

"Careful! There's people here!", he whispered. Aaron shrugged, "Sorry, man."

Lucy found a light switch and flipped it on. The sudden light made everyone squint their eyes.

Aaron seemed to recognize this place immediately when the lights turned on.

"Guys, this is my dad's office.", he said. "We're in the Golden Apple factory."

Nicky stiffened at that, "What?! We're in your dad's freaking office? What if he's here?"

Aaron rolled his eyes and nonchalantly put his hand up, "Oh relax, would you? He usually goes home when it's this late.", he said. Nicky crossed his arms and rolled his eyes, and Aaron put a hand on his shoulder.

"But all jokes aside, I'm sorry we forced you to come along with us.", he said.

Nicky angrily looked at him, but his gaze softened. He sighed, "I can't stay mad at you.", he said. Then he looked around Mr. Peterson's office. "So I guess we just stay here until morning?"

Aaron nodded, "Yeah, assuming no one comes in."

Well that didn't make Nicky feel any better.

Lucy turned the light back off and sat down on the floor, "Well, we better get some sleep. It's been a long one.", she said.

Everyone else sat down, and were about to go to sleep, but they immediately jumped back up while the doorknob started to jiggle.

"Crap!", said Aaron.

The door opened and the kids stilled in fear, but they somewhat relaxed when they saw who it was.

Mr. Peterson.

He was shocked to see them in his office. "What're you kids doing here?", he asked. "Aaron, Mya, did you kids sneak in here?"

Aaron looked down at his shoes, and Mya nervously rubbed her arm. "Kind of, but -"

"And you guys are soaking wet!", he said. "Did you guys get caught in the storm? Oh my God, this is why I tell you kids to stay inside on rainy days."

Nicky felt kind of relaxed as he listened to Mr. Peterson talk to them all like the worried dad he was. Well, in Aaron and Mya's case, he was their dad.

Mr. Peterson sighed, "We'll talk more when we get home.", he said, "Lucy, after I drop them off, I'll take you back to your house."

"Okay, Mr. Peterson."

The man led the kids out of the factory and to his car. The drive home was quiet, but no one seemed to mind.

As Mr. Peterson led his children into their house, Nicky walked across the street to his own house. He barely made a foot inside before he felt someone grab him and pull him into a tight hug.

"Oh thank goodness you're okay, little wolf! I was so worried!"

Bubba.

Nicky relaxed in her arms, but it was only for a second. She pulled away and that worry quickly turned into anger.

"Where in the hell were you, young man?! You had me so worried, I was about to call the police!", she said. Nicky looked down at his shoes, ashamed of himself. "I'm sorry, Bubba. I was just hanging out with my friends and...I guess we didn't know it was going to rain tonight."

Bubba sighed, pushing Nicky upstairs. "Just go upstairs and clean yourself up. I won't tell your parents about tonight, just don't ever scare me like that again.", she said.

Nicky was surprised, but he did as she said.

It was the first time where Bubba didn't yell at him for doing something stupid or just push him back outside to teach him a lesson about wandering. It was the first time where she'd just been...worried.

It kind of made Nicky feel relaxed.

The rest of the night, he just took a shower, changed his clothes and went to bed.

#hello neighbor #welcome to raven brooks #aaron peterson #mya peterson #nicky roth #lucy yi #my fics #hello neighbor fanfic #theodore peterson #bubba fein #the guest

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cresent2003 · 1 year ago

Text

You put a spell on me.

Seth Borden x fem! Reader smut.

Unedited.

**********************************************

The cold wind blew through Salem as the amber leaves mixed in with it's harsh force.

Harper walked through the Witches Nest Inn as she admired the old architecture that blended so well with the modern parts of the ancient in.

It hadn't been opened since 1895 yet it was barely noticeable as she explored.

She saw the spiders as they made homes in the corners and cracks as she felt the energy that radiated from every corner of the Inn.

It was well known by her friends and some of the public that she was related to a witch who died in the Salem witch trials which was most likely why Sam and Colby asked her to come along on another ghost hunt.

She had been in many videos but it was always with Seth and Josh.

They were her best friends.

Harper went around a corner before smiling as she saw Seth exploring.

"Hey" she said catching his attention.

"Hey.

I'm guessing you didn't want to go on the tour" he said as he walked to her.

"I used to live here" she said.

"Oh yes I remember you telling me that.

I've already been here for a video years ago so I thought I would explore" he said.

"Same.

This place is beautiful.

It makes me wish I still lived here" she said.

"Hey?

Wanna explore together?" he asked.

"Sure," she said with a smile on her face.

"Cool.

I already know a place but I was waiting so I didn't have to go down there alone" he said before taking her hand causing her heart to race.

There had always been tension between them.

She had liked him for a while but didn't know if he shared her feelings.

"Your hand is cold.

Are you ok?" she asked.

"Yeah.

This place is fucking awesome but very cold" he said.

They walked down to the basement together as they heard the tour in the distance.

"This reminds me of when we would go to abandoned houses together.

I forgot how fun this is" she said.

"You know we can do that again.

No cameras and just us in some awesome locations that wont end us in jail" he said.

She laughed before looking into his eyes "I would like that" she said.

"Cool.

Remind me to plan that once we get to our rooms" Seth said.

"My memory is the equivalent of a goldfish Seth" she said.

"Then I'll remind me" he said.

"Good idea" They walked further into the basement.

Harper looked around before gasoing as she tripped over a brick that was thrown at her.

"Woah" Seth said before catching her.

"You ok?" he asked.

"Yeah.

Something threw that brick right in front of me" she said.

They looked into each others eyes.

"You sure you're ok?" he asked softly.

She nodded.

"Good," he said as he kept his arms around her.

Seconds passed as he slowly leant in before freezing as Sam and Colby walked into the basement.

He looked down as she swallowed harshly as a perfect moment shattered in front of them.

"There they are.

Dude we've been looking all over for you" Sam said.

"We were exploring" Seth said.

"Cool well we were just talking about what were going to do tonight.

Obviously, we have a few days here so I was thinking we should just settle in tonight and pick things up tomorrow" Colby said.

"Ok.

I like that a bit better than starting the video right now" Harper said.

"It's settled then.

Also sadly because we waited too long we could only get two-rooms.

So it will be me and Colby in one and if you're okay with it you and Seth in the other" Sam said.

"That's fine" she said before looking at Seth.

"Yeah we'll do that" Seth said.

"Ok then good night.

Meet up in the kitchen tomorrow around twelve" Sam said before he and Colby walked back upstairs.

"We should head up to our room" Harper said.

"Or we could stay down here for a while" he said.

She looked into his eyes "I want to see our room first and then definitely" she said.

Butterflies filled his stomach as her heart pounded against her ribs.

Harper and Seth started to go up to there room ignoring that he just tried to kiss her.

She would have let him if Sam and Colby didn't interrupt them.

Minutes later they walked into there room.

Harper looked around before flopping on the bed.

"Wow" she said.

"You love this place dont you?" Seth asked.

"So much" she said before looking at him as he sat next to her.

"I have a feeling these few days are going to be a start of something" she said.

"Are your witchy senses tingiling?" Seth asked as he looked down causing there eyes to meet.

"I think so.

By the way I wanted to ask you something" she said.

"What?" he asked.

"Sometime during these few days, I want to find where my very great-grandmother is buried and I want you to join me.

It'll be like old times" she said.

"Cool.

Yeah I would love to" he said.

"Yay," she said.

Their eyes met as Harper heard someone watching TV next door.

"Still want to go to the basement?" she asked.

"Maybe not right this second" he said.

She smiled before placing her hand on the side of his face causing the coldness of her rings to give him chills.

He placed his hand on hers as he blushed.

He laced there fingers before looking at her and her lips.

Harper watched him as he leaned in softly so there was time for her to push him away not like she wanted to.

Suddenly there lips met as he kissed her.

Harper gasped before melting into the kiss.

It was heavenly.

She never wanted it to stop.

She kissed back allowing the kiss to become more heated.

Harper wrapped her arms around his neck pulling him down with her.

She tangled her fingers in his long hair as he moved so he was straddiling her.

Both of his hands were beside her head as she broke the kiss.

She looked at him "You sure you want to do this?" he asked.

She nodded.

"I need a verbal response," he said.

"Yes" she said.

"You sure?" he asked.

"Yes.

I've wanted this for so long" she said.

"Me too" he said before kissing her again as their bodies moved in sync.

She lifted up his baggy sweater causing her nails to scratch him lightly causing a whimper to slip from his lips.

He broke from her before taking off his sweater revealing his thin but slightly toned body.

Harper looked at him with hearts in her eyes as he started to kiss her neck.

She gasped before throwing her head back softly as he sucked on that one spot.

"Seth," she said causing him to grow harder in his ripped jeans.

He slipped his hands under her shirt before squeezing her breasts, feeling the black lacey bra.

Her body was so warm and perfect as they both grew more needy.

Seth looked at her before taking off her long sleeve black shirt as she took off his belt.

"You're driving me crazy" he said.

She unbuttoned his jeans as he did the same to her black skinny jeans.

"Please" She didn't know what she was begging for but was desperate for something other then soft touches.

"What to you need sweetheart?

Tell me" he said as he kissed her temple.

"I need you to touch me" she said.

He nodded before taking off her jeans revealing her black thong.

"Fuck" he groaned as he took off his jeans before tossing them somewhere in the room.

"Come here" he said before getting on top of her.

He kissed everywhere he could causing her to laugh.

He then took off her bra releasing her breasts.

Seth looked at her for any inch of uncomfort before taking one of her nipples in his mouth causing her to moan as she grabbed the old sheets.

He then switched the the other one as she arched her back.

"Sensitive?" he said out of breath.

"Yeah" she moaned.

He sucked on her nipple as he slowly started to grind against her causing him to moan against her breast.

He took off her thong before looking at it.

"Dirty girl," he said before kissing her as he threw the thong against the wall.

Harper slipped her hand down there bodies as she let out moans from the feeling of his dick rubbing against her.

She palmed him causing him to groan.

She took his dick out of his boxers before giving it a few strokes.

"Don't tease.

You have no idea how much I want you" he said.

"Put it in" she said.

"Really?" he asked.

"Please Seth.

I need it.

I need you" she said.

That was enough to leave him drunk with lust as she rubbed his tip against her clit causing her to moan.

He sat up as he lined himself up to her entrance as he watched her arousal coat his tip causing him to throb.

He slowly pushed in causing her to gasp before letting out a loud moan that was mixed with the slight pain.

He continued to slowly slip inside her as he felt her warm walls squeeze and flutter around him.

He groaned before watching her take all off him.

"Good girl.

Oh fuck" he said.

She kissed him as she pulled on his hair slightly as her body got used to having him inside her.

"Move.

Please move baby" she said before moaning as he hit her cervix.

Seth pulled out slowly before rolling his hips allowing his dick to hit all the right places inside her.

Harper couldn't control her moans as he hit places inside had that she didn't know existed.

It was amazing.

It was like ecstasy.

"I'm positive that your fuck a witch" he said as her walls squeezed him perfectly.

He knew he wouldn't last long but wanted to make her cum at least once before he thought about himself.

"Why?" she said before moaning.

"Because you put a....spell....on me" he said before groaning.

She wrapped her arms around him as he started to speed up.

Sweat began to cover their bodies as Harper's moans got louder as she stuffed her face into the crook of his neck.

"More" she moaned before biting his ear lobe causing him to throb inside her.

He slid his hand down to her glistening clit before rubbing small circles on the bundle of nerves.

She screamed out as the pleasure began to overwhelm her.

Her legs began to tremble as she git closer to her release.

Suddenly he hit the spot that made her see stars.

She let out a scream like moan "Right there.

Fuck it's so good baby" she said.

He continued hitting that one spot as she bit his shoulder as she clung to him.

"Gonna cum" she said as she struggled to get anything but moans out.

"Me too" he said before moaning.

Harper threw her head back before screaming as her release washed over her leaving her brain dead.

Seth grunted and whined as his thrusts became sloppy before moaning as he held her hips in place as he shot his cum deep inside her.

He panted before collapsing beside her.

Harper could feel his cum rushing out of her as he sat up.

"Where are you going?" she said thinking he was going to leave.

"To the bathroom to grab a wash cloth so I can clean you up.

I'll be back in a second" he said before walking to the bathroom.

She smiled as she realised that she wouldn't have to hide her feelings for him anymore.

He came back out with a fresh pair of boxers on and a damp washcloth.

He sat next to her and began to clean her up as she looked at him.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

"I like you.

I've liked you for so long and I feel like I can finally admit it" she said.

He smiled "I feel the same.

I honestly thought you weren't interested until now" he said.

She let out a soft hiss from the over-stimulation as he tried his best to be careful.

"Sorry" he said.

"It's ok" she said.

He then put the washcloth in the laundry basket before coming back to the bed.

Harper got dressed in one of Seth's shirts as he wrapped his arms around her.

"Did you enjoy everything?" he asked.

"It was the most incredible thing I've ever done in my entire life" she said.

He kissed her shoulder before leading her to the bed.

"Lay down" he said.

She laid on the bed before laughing as Seth tucked her in.

He smiled before kissing her.

Harper looked into his eyes before laughing as he rushed to get into bed with her.

"You're too adorable" she said as he laid beside her.

She moved so she was lying on his chest.

"What does this mean?

Are we dating now?" she asked.

"Yeah.

I mean what we did wasn't just a hookup to me" he said.

"Me neither" she said.

"Tomorrow is going to be interesting" he said.

"They don't need to know what we did.

This is just for us to know" she said before placing a kiss on his chest.

#seth borden #mature #maturity #maturelanguage #oneshot #smut #love #feelings #mature themes #salem #Spotify

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butts-bouncing-on-the-beltway · 9 months ago

Text

Amara's Day 2

We started today off with the goal of teaching a young lady about choices! Most important choice? Indoors or Outdoors. But there have been others along the way.

Amara needed to be carried out this morning to the yard for potty time, because she was feeling really anxious about leaving her overnight nest. She'd had an accident overnight without waking us, and I think was feeling scared of how we'd react. When we need to carry her somewhere, we've been establishing consent first to make sure she knows it's safe. Mostly that looks like keeping a respectful distance and offering her the back of our hand or finger tips to sniff. If she leans in and gives a lick, we'll go ahead and approach and pet her a little. If she turns away or growls, we'll drop the hand and try again after a few minutes, usually with a treat. If she takes the treat from our hand, we can pet, but if she waits for it to be on the ground, we give her some space until she seeks out a sniff. Once we're able to pet her without triggering any discomfort, we'll scoop her up with her legs and hind quarters supported and carry her where we need to bring her.

While that *was* how Amara got out to the yard this morning, we were able to get her to return indoors voluntarily! It took about 30min of back and forth before she wasn't afraid to let me close the back door again with her inside, but moving her water bowl and a dish of ground rabbit into the kitchen helped.

Medical observations for today so far are as follows:

Amara is chronically dehydrated (indicated by thinning of skin, poor elasticity, dry nose without heat, etc) and underweight (indicated by manual evaluation of ribs and hips, and full weight while carried) with possible malnutrition. She's eating and drinking well while here, indicating this is likely related to access rather than apetite.

Care plan accommodation: morning meal consisting of wet food, evening meal consisting of kibble moistened with nutritional supplement, and consistent access to her own bowl of water with added electrolytes. Duration 1-2 weeks, or until sufficiently hydrated to see physical improvement. Feed at rate of current weight plus 20% per meal after first week (first week refeeding up to rate for current weight in 1 cup intervals 2x-4x daily as sought) and until rib and hip bones are less sharply visible/felt under the skin.

We've made a lot of trust building progress, and currently Amara will seek out brief affection by seeking the consent process and licking as her affirmative. She also climbed up on the bed for a bit while humans and other animals were on it! She mostly prefers not to be touched, and gets nervous around sudden movements, but she has been able to coexist in shared spaces with the dogs, cats, and people largely without issue today!

She makes a BIG SIGH whenever she relaxes in a cozy spot, and she crosses her front paws just like Jaxxine does.

We're gonna try the outside again voluntarily soon and see if she's up for it, but first I have to get dinner started (harissa-tahini gravy with wilted greens over meatballs served inside of baked sweet potatoes bowls) so I can leave it to simmer while I supervise the pups. I'm hoping the kitchen time will help with the gradual adjustment back outside since it's an in-between space.

I think even if we don't get to bath time until later this week, we can still call today a victory if she goes in and out willingly and starts to learn the potty schedule. I'm going to mix a spray tonight and try to use tomorrow for introducing her to the curry comb so we can work towards cleaning her wounds and completing a more thorough physical exam.

#RazisDoggieRehab #animal abuse #tw animal abuse

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tavolgisvist · 8 months ago

Text

Woke up with a lot of Paul's moons dancing to 'Distractions' in my head. My work can't help: they swim, spin and sway before my eyes and Paul's voice deadens the noise from outside.

Paul's moons, John's laugh and Yoko's words: I said, 'You're a good songwriter, it's not June with Spoon that you write.' So, I give up.

I’ll Be on My Way, 1959 (wirtten by Paul but on the BBC's record we hear John's lead vocal and Paul's harmony). Later John and Paul dismissed this song and kidding on it.

'That’s Paul, through and through. Doesn’t it sound like him? Tra la la la la [laughs]. Yeah, that’s Paul on the voids of driving through the country.' (John Lennon, 1980, All We Are Saying, David Sheff) and 'It’s a little bit too June-moon for me, but these were very early songs and they worked out quite well.' (Paul McCartney, Many Years From Now, Barry Miles)

But look: The sun is fading away That's the end of the day As the June light turns to moonlight I'll be on my way <…> They were right I was wrong True love didn't last long As the June light turns to moonlight I'll be on my way hey

youtube

It isn't one time story, apparently:

One day, you'll look To see I've gone For tomorrow may rain, so I'll follow the sun

<...>

And now the time has come And so, my love, I must go And though I lose a friend In the end, you will know

(I'll Follow The Sun, 1959)

But we're looking for the moon - so go to Just Fun (1957):

They say our love is just fun* The day that our friendship begun There’s no blue moon that I can see There’s never been in history Because our love was just fun

youtube

*as it was in the original lyrics (and as Paul sings now), or 'They said our love was just fun' as Paul sings in 1969, during Get Back sessions

(and it leads us to others songs, where Paul say about who was/can be wrong, but we need only moons just now)

And if we suddenly remember what I’ll Be on My Way originally was 'a gentle guitar ballad', we can also remember another gentle song about the moon (early days, birds which 'flown from our nest' - sounds a bit like children leave their parents' home or maybe someone' songs elude their autors- and about some other things):

When the moon lays His head on a pillow And the stars settle Down for a rest, Just do me one small favour I beg you Please play me My baby's request

It's the song That we heard When we started. Now the bird have all Flown from our nest But you could bring back memories Departed by playing My baby's request

My baby said That she knows How it goes But you're the one That really knows So go ahead Just one more time and then We'll go to bed

Hmm play me baby's request Please play me my baby's request One more time

(Baby's Request from Back To The Egg, 1979)

youtube

Of course, it means nothing, only distractions, which 'like butterflies are buzzing 'round my head'.

#blue holy moons #the beatles #john lennon #paul mccartney #poetic license john #wings #john and paul #interview: john #interview: paul #interview: yoko #Youtube #the songs we were singing #distractions #baby's request #just fun #I'll follow the sun #I'll be on my way

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kazimakuwabara · 2 years ago

Note

For the word and series thing: Liar and TMNT please :D

TMNT my love! Spoilers/ head canons for the TMNT Rise movie!

Liar-

Lies are told in threes, and then passed down like a curse.

Someone had said this bit of wisdom in Leonardo's ear, and he was not sure who, but it had stuck. A useless bit of information that sat like a stone in the back of his head.

Present, and remembered at odd times. At bad times.

He recalls it, as he tucks an exhausted toddler into a nest of clothing, and soft things that had his mother's lingering scent. All that would be left of her, save a few pictures Leonardo would start looking for tomorrow. If there were pictures...

Hours ago, Casey Jr. was thrust into Leo's arms as the Krang survivors tried to bug out. Their latest safe-place... made unsafe once again.

"Raph-what are you-" Leonardo sputtered, trying to cradle the screaming child, and cling to his brother.

"Raphy has to go back in!" Raphael snapped, his kind friendly voice, unusually sharp and urgent. The way it always got when he was concerned for family.

"Cass is still inside! She was fighting a Krang!"

"She was getting shish-kabobbed by a Krang!" Leonardo interrupted, hating the anguished look it caused his big brother. But Leonardo pressed on, because they had to go, "She told us to go! So we need to go! All of us!"

"She was giving us a distraction, but we're all out! She's still in there, and I'm gonna get her!" Raphael persisted, trying to turn to a warehouse that was slowly going up in smoke, and becoming swarmed with crawling pink and metal monstrosities.

Raphael dropped two heavy hands on Leonardo, "I can't leave her alone, Leo!"

"But-"

"Casey Jr. doesn't have to grow up without his mom, if I go back now! I know I can save her!" Raphael persisted, his words sure and strong. As if he had all the answers.

Leonardo hesitated.

"Casey Jr. deserves to grow up with his mom! And I can save her! Raphy is sure!" And then Raphael flashed a big smile. It was always a comfort, that smile.

Giving in, Leonardo tried one final plea, "I can help you!"

"No... you can't. You got to get Casey out of here. Go to the next safe-place! The one Donnie told us about! Raphy will gett Cassandra, patch her up, and we'll be back before dark! I promise!"

Raphael had smiled that big grin that made Leonardo feel safe, and worst of all, believe in whatever his brother said. Raphael was always someone Leonardo could believe in... if he said he'd be back... he'd be back.

Leonardo turned from the scene, and Raphael went back inside.

It was well past dark now. And Leonardo could see the lies for what they were now.

Raphael could not save Cassandra, they would not be coming home ever again, and worst of all... Casey Jr. would grow up without his mother.

Three lies sad to Leonardo, were the three lies he'd passed on to Donatello and Michelangelo. The latter had looked hopeful, but Leo's twin knew him better. And worst of all... he wasn't mad at Leonardo for believing in Raphael. But Donatello had turned his back to Leonardo, not in anger, but in knowing. Knowing a lie for what it was.

It was well past dark.

Raphael and Cassandra, would never come home.

And that was the truth.

Leonardo looked down at Casey Jr. the toddler finally asleep.

Leonardo had been cursed by the three lies his brother had told him... so, what lies would he tell this little boy in the future?

...When they were at the end, when they had well and truly lost to the Krang, Leonardo had known exactly what lies to say.

"But it isn't over." It was over.

"We still got a Ninja's greatest weapon... hope." That, was gone too.

"Find the Key, stop the Krang." He just wanted Casey to go to the future and live a life away from all... this.

...Sometimes, you just wanted those lies to be the truth. Sometimes you just wanted to save the ones you loved. Sometimes, you didn't want to be liar.

#kazi fanfic #tmnt #tmnt rise #movie spoilers #angst

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lostinthewoods-kristoff · 2 years ago

Text

country roads (take me home) || oneshot

Swyntask: Vacations All I Ever Wanted Summary: Kristoff's family arrive in Swynlake for their first family holiday Dated summer 1996

Kristoff wasn't really paying any attention to his parents as they stood by the bonnet of the rental car, leaning over the map. He was only glad to be out of said car, even if the sun was almost uncomfortably hot on the back of his neck. At five years old, he had no idea how long they had been driving round in circles for, only that it felt like forever, and he was bored.

"Aha!" His father cried, jabbing a finger at the map. "It was the second left, not the third left, see?"

"I told you to take the map," His mother sighed. "You're better with them than I am - and I'm a better driver than you are."

"Kristoff, lille sjef, let's go!" His father called.

Kristoff didn't move, however. He looked over at his dad, who Kristoff was quite sure knew every species of animal and insect, and said, "Pappa, these ants are blue."

Promptly abandoning the map - earning him a disgruntled huff from his wife - Ole Bjorgman crossed to the side of the road and crouched down beside his son, watching the trial of ants that were dutifully carrying cookie-cutter leaf chunks back to their nest. "Hm." He said. "So they are."

Kristoff waited for his father to tell him what they were, but all he said was, "Must be magic ants - now come on, back in the car, kiddo. Places to be, eh?"

Anna, his mother, was waiting by the door when Kristoff hopped up into the car, leaning in to help buckle his seatbelt. She almost hit her head off the roof when the driver's side door opened, whipping her head around to look at her husband. "Ole - I'm driving! Get in the other side."

"Alright, alright," He huffed. Kristoff watched him walk around to the other side of the car, distracted by his mother when she yanked on the belt to make sure it was in position, pressing a kiss to his forehead before she ducked out of the back and into the driver's seat. "Off we go!" Ole crowed, turning to look at his son with a grin.

Kristoff grinned back, already eager to get back out of the car.

~*~

The holiday cottage they were renting was close enough to town that there was no need of the car until the end of the week rolled around and they had to go back to the airport. They had spent the first few days shopping and sightseeing and doing very many boring things that apparently his parents had been looking forward to.

Kristoff, however, had been wanting to go to the forest ever since he had clapped eyes on it. He had never really been in a forest before; Hardangervidda National Park, where they lived and his father worked, was characterised by a landscape of barren moorland, frequently interrupted by various bodies of water. Kristoff knew that fact off by heart, because he had learned it for Parents Day at Kindergarten, when they had talked about what their parents did for a living. But all that meant was that he had never seen such a dense cluster of trees, tall and foreboding, looming over the town.

Kristoff had asked again that morning if they could go for a hike, the words garbled around a mouthful of toast.

"I don't see why not." His dad had said, around his own mouthful of toast. "I've got a map of the trails--"

"We're having a picnic by the lake today," Anna said, gesturing with the butterknife in her hand to the picnic basket on the bench. "I'm halfway done making all the food."

"We can take it with us!" His father grinned, nodding encouragingly at his son, who beamed back. "We'll need food if we're going on a proper hike."

"We'll hike tomorrow - how does that sound, darling?" His mother offered, though Kristoff knew it wasn't actually an offer. He also knew that there might be more bickering if he twisted his face, so he nodded around another mouthful of toast, and tried to hide his disappointment.

That had been this morning; it was now afternoon, and Kristoff had already been swimming, caught a few fish (and set them back), and eaten his fill. His mother was reading her book, and his father was still set up fishing, and Kristoff? He was bored.

He dug into the sand in front of the shady spot he was sat in, and frowned. This holiday was boring. They had only really done grown up stuff - gone on tours of old buildings and visited all the little weird shops on the main street. Kristoff didn't want to sit around next to the lake all day doing nothing. He wanted to explore! He wanted to go on an adventure!

The forest lurked at the edge of his vision. He kept trying to remind himself that tomorrow they would go -- maybe his Pappa would let him choose the trail, and they could look at all the strange plants and animals in the forest that they didn't have at home. It was exciting to think about what might be lurking in it. Kristoff propped his head on his hand, looking at the treeline, when he saw movement -- it was something small, grey. It looked like a pile of stones at first, but it was definitely moving. In fact, it was scurrying, toddling along on stumpy legs back into the trees.

"Mamma, I saw something!" Kristoff cried, jumping to his feet. He looked over at his mother, but she didn't seem to hear him. Well, he didn't want to disturb her, so he said, "I'm going to go look!"

"Alright, darling," Anna said, turning the page of her book. "Ask your father to go with you."

Kristoff huffed; that seemed like it would take too long. The thing would be long gone by the time his dad had put his fishing stuff away and followed him into the forest. But, still, he knew better than to disobey his mother, so he hurried along the edge of the water to where his father was stood.

"Pappa, I saw something in the forest!" He said, reaching up to tug on his dad's arm.

"What kind of something?" Ole asked, looking down at his son.

"It was small, and sort of fat, and gray, and it was walking like this--" Kristoff began to demonstrate the strange way of walking the creature had when there was a tug on his father's fishing line. Ole leapt to life, beginning to reel it in, pulling back on the rod.

"Well, go have a look, but don't go too far." He said. "This is a big one--"

Kristoff didn't need to be told twice. He ran to the edge of the forest, skidding to a halt just before the trees.

He wasn't sure what direction the thing had gone in. He couldn't really see it anymore, though he scanned the forest for it. He hadn't really wanted to go in or anything, he just wanted to try and catch a glimpse of it...

And then he saw it. A flash of gray, a few words spoken in a strange language. The sound of pebbles clinking against one another.

Kristoff looked over his shoulder. His mother, still reading. His father, still fishing. He wouldn't go far. He would be back before they knew it.

Kristoff took off into the forest, and didn't look back again.

#( journal. )#swyntask

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sadoeuphemist · 2 years ago

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"And that's everyone," said Mrs. Felbaum, setting down the roll call sheet. "So. A big day tomorrow. Your first Heca! Is everyone excited?" She was met with a smattering of cheers, a couple of woos, kids shifting excitedly on their benches. "All right, we'll get to that in a second, but first order of business - whose turn is it to recite the pledge? Hm, Tiffany?"

Tiffany Thistlesnout shuffled up to the front of the room, shoulders hunched inward in bashfulness. She raised a hand and began to recite the pledge in a loud, toneless voice, and the other members joined in:

I pledge to serve the cause of Heroes, to see all Horrors for what they be, to blaze the way to greater Hecatombs, in my art of Husbandry, for my home, hearth, and community.

"All right," said Mrs. Felbaum, "thank you, Tiffany." The girl gratefully scampered back to her seat. "Next on the agenda, before I let you all get back to work on your tributes - does anyone have any old or unfinished business that needs addressing?"

They went over Aifmir's scalerot and if the current quarantine measures were doing enough to prevent its spread to other draconids, and whether supply chain issues were going to continue to interfere in the supply of clover in the months to come, before Caldon Judd raised his hand. "Yes, Caldon?"

Caldon Judd stood. He had a flat broad face with a scruffy head of brown hair, and freckled cheeks that seemed to darken when he talked. "Um, my grandpa, he said - um, I told him we was about to have our provings, and he said, uh, he said -"

"That's all right," said Mrs. Felbaum kindly. "Take your time."

Caldon took a deep breath, and then continued. "My grandpa said, when he was young, that he raised monsters himself for provings. And that people'd come. Gamblers. Laying bets on it. Who'd win and who'd lose. And he said -"

Caldon swallowed and took another breath, and then went on with a curious vehemence. "And he said he hated 'em. The gamblers. 'Cause it was all blood money that they made. Playing for sport. On who lived and who died. And he said - he said there wasn't any difference between them and the heroes neither!"

A murmur ran through the barn. Only Mrs. Felbaum seemed unfazed, her clear eyes shining behind her spectacles. "That's quite true, what your grandfather said. I know we've discussed the history of monster husbandry before, but certainly we may have skipped over some of the - how should I put it? - some of the more sordid sides of it." She looked over the H-ers. "Do any of you know anything about the history of monster gambling rings?"

A few hands went up. "It used to be more like dogfighting?" Flithllip Phaedrith offered. "'Cause, like, they weren't really rearing horrors back then. Like, maybe they'd capture some cubs or something, or find a nest, but then they basically just threw them in a pit and let them grow up feral in there? And so, uh, it was like fifty-fifty on whether the heroes would actually manage to kill it?"

"That's absolutely right, Flithllip." Flithllip flushed with pride, looking over and nudging her seatmates. "We've learned a lot about the advances made in monster husbandry, how we're able to raise these horrors from spawn to adulthood in captivity, study them, learn how best to slay them, but it's easy to forget that this wasn't always the case. And while we certainly have to respect the many brave pioneers who risked their lives to capture those horrors, we also shouldn't overlook that there was also a lot of very dangerous, unethical behavior that was commonplace in those days."

She turned her attention back to Caldon, who had been standing silently the whole time, his face inscrutable. "There were, absolutely, people who made their living gambling on the outcomes of fights. And a lot of the heroes back then - well, there was no certification process, so just about anyone with a sword could declare themselves a hero and try to prove themselves by slaying a captive beast. A lot of them didn't actually end up protecting anyone, or slaying any horrors out in the wild. Why, a lot of the time, these so-called 'provings' were just ... just bloodsport! A cruel spectacle to entertain a mob!"

Mrs. Felbaum cleared her throat. Every eye was on her, ears pricked at the mention of bloodsport. "But of course, things are very different today," she continued, reeling herself in. "You've all learned how to safely handle horrors for yourself, care for them, feed them, raise them. But Caldon does raise a good point, that perhaps we've glossed over certain parts of the history of this profession." She smiled at him. "Caldon, perhaps your grandfather would be willing to come share his experiences with us? I'm sure we'd all be very interested in hearing the stories he could tell."

Caldon startled, and then stared down at his toes, seemingly struck dumb by all the attention on him. "I'unno," he mumbled at last. "I'll ask him." Mrs. Felbaum nodded, and was about to move on to the next order of business when Caldon suddenly spoke up again. "So there's no one - there's no one takes bets on provings now?"

Mrs. Felbaum's smile deepened. "No, dear, no, I'm afraid there's no secret gambling ring where you can place a bet on your tribute." The other kids tittered. "Why, when's the last time you saw someone seriously fail a proving? Of course, accidents happen now and again. Sometimes people do get hurt. But ninety-nine percent of the time, everything goes off swimmingly." She shook her head. "Why would anyone ever bet on that?"

---

With the administrative business out of the way, the H-ers began the work of preparing their tributes for the big day. Caldon lugged a bucket of chicken guts over to the pens, the stinking innards sloshing around with every step. There was the rustle of scales on hay as he approached, like the sound of a scythe through wheat, the same inexorable and effortless motion.

Caldon paused, touched his fingertips to the wide, white oak boards. The scythe moved behind them, sweeping through the rows. Between the slats, a golden yellow eye, its pupil horizontally slit, gleamed out at him.

Though he normally talked as he went about his duties, mumbling incomprehensibly in his usual taciturn way, Caldon was silent this time as he pulled open the feeding chute, dumped the guts down to the trough. Live prey was the standard, of course, but not today, not so close to proving. This wasn't a meal, just something to whet the appetite. A great scaled head bent low behind the boards, a black tongue flickering out, tasting the offal.

He had ran his fingers along that scaled head when she was newly-hatched, felt the diamond pattern on them, beheld her coiled up beneath the heat lamp, still blind, bright as gold. His to raise. His to nurture. He had forced field mice down her throat, shoveled manure to raise the temperature of her pen, had puppeted the striking bag in front of her, pushing down hard on the lever so that it swung in a great arc, watching in pride as her fangs had found the burlap time and time again, leaving it bleeding venom, so that the instinct to kill would not be bred out of her.

She was eating now, reluctantly, snuffling up the inadequate feed. Caldon laid his head against the oaken boards and turned out his pockets. A handful of coppers, and the single golden drachm he had been given for his birthday and had yet to find an opportunity to spend. He laid them down on the barnyard floor amidst the straw, an offering, the dull coppers scattered like mouse droppings, and the single golden coin like a lidless eye staring up at him.

He could feel her weight pressing against him through the boards.

"I'd bet on you," he said.

Text: My monsters are raised on our farm, then bought, and fought to the death. I grow to hate heroes and gamblers alike, as if there’s really a difference.

#fiction

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multifandomfix · 3 years ago

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Home To Her - Ellen Harvelle

Summary: You get separated from Sam and Dean on a hunt and Ellen is worried.

Word Count: 965

Warnings: Some angst, mentions of injury and blood

A/N: This turned out longer than I expected it to, but I’m happy with it. Likes/Reblogs/Feedback welcome.

"You what," Ellen asked from over the phone to Sam, the outrage evident in her voice, speaking so loud that even Dean could hear her though he was standing several feet away from Sam.

"Look, Ellen, we’ve searched everywhere. We can’t find her. I’m sure she’s safe. She can handle herself, but—"

"But nothin'! You’re hunters. Hunt," Ellen ordered before hanging up.

"She pissed," Dean asked.

"Yeah, Dean, what did you think? You knew Ellen didn’t want her on this case. Not after what happened last time with the last vamp nest."

"We’ve searched everywhere, Sammy, she’s not here anymore. I don’t know where the hell she's gone, but wherever it is, I don’t think we're going to find her. Not tonight. Let's just get back to the Roadhouse and face Ellen's wrath so we can get it over with."

You knew Sam and Dean would be gone by now. Hell, you planned on being long gone yourself, but one of those vamps cornered you and had taken you away from the main fight to ambush you with two more of his fanged crew. You hadn’t seen either of the brothers since you got separated. You suspected the vampires had lured you quite a distance away, as you didn’t recognize your surroundings, not even from when you’d first passed into town. Now, with three vamps dead at your feet, along with your broken cell phone, you had to find your own way home.

As you started to head out into the night, you felt a pain shoot up your leg. You looked down and found your jeans had been cut through, leaving a fairly deep cut in your leg that you hadn’t noticed in the heat of the moment. Luckily for you, it didn’t feel like you’d severed any muscles or arteries, though it was bleeding pretty bad. You ripped part of the sleeve off your flannel shirt and tied it around the wound, hoping to get somewhere with supplies to bandage it properly.

"What do you mean, you’ll go back tomorrow? That’s my wife out there and I trusted you to keep her safe," Ellen shouted at them. "If she’s dead, I won’t ever forgive you boys."

"We'll head right back out at daybreak," Sam promised. "It’s not that far. She probably just got lost and took shelter. She’s smart, Ellen. She’ll be alright."

"You better damn well be right, Sam," Ellen huffed. All the shouting had prevented them from hearing a car roll up the gravel drive.

After your leg was bandaged, using some supplies from the local gas station, you made your way further into town, looking for something to get you home. Normally, you’d call Ellen or the Winchesters, but those damn vamps had cost you that option by smashing your phone to bits. Finally, you spotted an old beat up Ford for sale and took it upon yourself to jimmy the lock, hot wire it and drive yourself out of town. Your leg still burned a bit from the alcohol you’d put on it, but you could power through the pain. You looked at the time on the clock radio. Quarter after one, if it was even set right. Felt close enough. You were just twenty miles out from the Roadhouse, so you stepped on the gas, set on getting home before Ellen had a chance to rip the Winchesters a new one. None of this had been their fault.

You cut the lights as you pulled up to the Roadhouse, relieved to finally be home. You needed to see Ellen and be able to clean your wound out properly. You heard shouting from inside, figuring out the context without actually understanding the muffled words coming through the door. When you opened the door, the room went silent, save for the loud creak of the door on its hinges.

"I’m home," you said, careful not to put too much of your weight in your injured leg. You winced in pain as you stepped on it to get the rest of the way inside. "She’s hurt, way to go, boys," Ellen scolded.

"Not their fault, Ellen," you informed her. "You want to blame someone, blame the vamps that ambushed me. All dead, by the way. Thank you very much," you boasted before putting weight on your bad leg again and cursing.

"I’ll take it from here, boys. You go on and get yourself back to your motel." Ellen helped you to the bar, easing you onto one of the barstools so she could take a look at your injury. "Eh, it’s not so bad," Ellen said, after the door closed behind the Winchesters. "Might want to stay off it for a couple of days, but you’ll heal." Ellen went to the back to get a fresh washcloth to help wash it out.

"You know, I really thought I lost you tonight," Ellen said. "Threatened to disown those boys if anything happened to you."

"Did you really," you asked, sharply inhaling as Ellen peeled off the soaked, sticky gauze you had wrapped around your leg.

"I sure as hell did," Ellen confirmed. After wiping the wound clean with the cloth, Ellen made her way around the bar, grabbing her first aid kit. Wasn’t the first time a wounded hunter wound up at her place. Probably wouldn’t be the last, either. "I’m glad you’re home," she said, once your leg had been wrapped up right.

"No more glad than I am. I think I’ll cool it on the hunting for a while. Maybe a good old salt and burn now and then, but those vamps are gonna be the death of me, and I don’t want to leave you just yet. Not ever, in fact."

"Good, because I’m not about to let you."

For anon

Ellen Harvelle: @beth-winchester21, @mythandmagik

#ellen harvelle #ellen harvelle one shot #ellen harvelle x reader #supernatural #supernatural one shot #spn #spn one shot #request #send requests #requests open

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venushasvixens · 4 years ago

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Life is but a Dream (Spike Spiegel x Reader) Chapter. 5 - Jet

As much as Jet drank tonight, he felt pretty straight right now. His only goal was to head home, shower and go to bed. He wasn't really one to party, since he left all of that to Faye and sometimes Spike. He had his moments where he wanted to, but always managed to get hurt while doing it.

Now that Jet realized, he only hurt himself while partying, and never when trying to collect a bounty.

I'm getting old. He thought. He was already cranky, but Jet had always been like that. He didn't like to dwell on the subject of getting old. He hated the idea of someone trying to take care of him, or him getting slower and weaker. And retirement wasn't really in Jet's future. At least for now.

Deciding to squash his thoughts of aging, he decided to focus on dinner. It was definitely nice, since the bounty was big enough for them to get a good supper. But that wasn't what the highlight of his evening was. It was the tension between Spike and their new found friend. Or was it just chemistry?

Jet didn't mind third wheeling at all. Company at dinner time is welcomed, especially if it's someone other than the Bebop crew. (Y/n) was a breath of fresh air, compared to the constant bickering of Spike and Faye, and Radical Ed being himself. The only melllowed one of the bunch was Ein, who Jet just knows is the smartest one on the goddamn ship (even smarter than himself). He's already an intelligent dog, and the only one with their priorities straight.

Either way, it was very noticeable. Jet would like to think that Spike acts like he doesn't care and doesn't notice. But traveling with him long enough, Jet could read Spike like a book. He was very, very interested. There was one thing that Jet was suspicious of about their new companion.

Will Faye be joining us?

He shouldn't read too much into it, maybe Spike told her about Faye. But one couldn't help but wonder. As far as Jet knew, Faye was still wanted. Housing a criminal could ruin Jet and Spike, but Faye's helping hand was her way of convincing Jet to let her stay on the Bebop. Her contribution was welcomed, but everything else, (especially her attitude), was not.

Taken aback by (y/n)'s question, Jet just replied with a simple no. Sweet, simple. Nothing else to it. Paranoia took no time in settling into Jet's mind. What if she was just trying to get close to Spike to get to Faye? Kind of sick to think. Jet hadn't seen Spike in semi-high spirits in so long. And if it was some cruel scheme? We'll get there when we get there. Jet thought.

Yawning, Jet certainly was excited to bother Spike with questions about his late night with (y/n). It was none of his business, and Spike made sure of that. Any talks of relationships had always been shut down, but this one might be different.

Jet made his way to the bridge, powering on the navigation console. As tired as he was, he needed to check and see where their next rendezvous may be, and how long it would take. They may just take a few more days off here, but he would need to ask the rest of the crew if that was okay. Especially Spike.

Jet propped his head up on the table, the light from the navigation console illuminating off of his metal arm. Fiddling with the buttons, he debated on staying up and waiting for Spike to come home, but his drooping eyelids told him otherwise. There was always tomorrow. It felt like eternity until Jet snapped out of his tired, lazy state when he decided to head to bed. Heading towards the door, Jet stretched his arms out, his stomach still full from dinner. Man, he was going to sleep really good tonight. Nothing to worry about at the moment, just rest and relaxation for the next week or so.

Jet scooted underneath the covers, the hum of the Bebop luring him to sleep. Out of nowhere, there was the muffled sound of a loud boom. Jet opened his eyes, sighing. He had a feeling that some obscure part of the Bebop was bound to break down, or better, Faye or Ed broke it.

Throwing back the covers, Jet got out of bed, the cold air hitting him as he left his nest of warmth. As he walked towards the bridge, the sudden urge to just say fuck it and go back to bed was getting stronger by the second. But then he would have to deal with it later, and he might as well get it out of the way.

It wasn't until he reached the top of the stairs to the bridge did he realize that the problem wasn't in the Bebop. It was across the port, in massive flames that could very well take the surrounding ships down with it. A slight panic arose in Jet. A ship explosion was just as unpredictable as a car accident. At any given moment, things could turn from bad to worse.

And worse for Jet was realizing that Spike was still in town.

[AN] it's been a while, but here's a point of view from Jet and what he thinks of (y/n). I'm working on the next chapter right now. I feel like I have to get you a little taste for what's to come or to hold you over for a little bit longer. Thank you so much for your patience, and I hope you're ready for this next chapter !

#cowboy bebop #faye valentine #radical edward #jet black #90s anime #toonami #ein #adult swim #fanfiction

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liron-ao3 · 4 years ago

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But of course.

Dean runs a hand over his face, completely exhausted. He's so tired. It's nothing unusual. He never sleeps enough. But this again?

Damn it!

Where is the angel!? It's a question he has asked a thousand times, never getting an answer. Just once and then he had found him, pulled him against his chest, smiled from ear to ear, huffed in relief as he felt Castiel's rigid body in his embrace.

He had managed to ignore that Cass didn't hug back. He didn't want to think about what it meant. He didn't want to question his own motives, either. Sure, Castiel was his friend. Dean is a loyal person. But more than once, Benny had asked him, "Why?" If the angel was really worth the hassle. He had never found an answer other than a disgruntled, "Yeah."

Dean pushes up from the empty bed, pulls a shirt over his bare chest and pitter-patters barefooted over the bunker's cold floor. He'd like to call for his boyfriend, but that would wake Sammy and with him likely Eileen. She's seven months pregnant and struggles enough to get sleep with her restless legs and heartburn.

It's the fifth night in a row that Dean woke up to an empty bed. The former angel suffers from insomnia that even tops Dean's worst phases. Every night, Dean prays that his love might find rest in his arms. He's not sure who he is praying to. Jack? Maybe. Anyway, his son isn't listening. Hand's off.

Dean shuffles through the common places where Castiel usually tries to kill time - the kitchen, the library, the main room. Once, he even found him in the storage room where the Empty had taken him, standing at the exact spot where he had smiled while Dean's heart shattered into pieces. But he hadn't smiled then.

He hasn't smiled a lot since he's back. Not even when Dean had told him that he loved him, too. Not when they first kissed. Not when they first made love. He assured him that he wanted it, wanted him. And Dean decided to believe him. It would become better with time, he hoped.

To each of the few smiles that Castiel mustered, there is melancholy. No. This word isn't strong enough. There's something as heavy a lead pressing the former angel down, tinting every good emotion grey.

Dean hates it, can't shake the feeling that it's his fault. He thought he did the right thing, fighting him out of the Empty. But all he had gotten were tired eyes and a "You shouldn't have done that."

It had made Castiel so happy when he told Dean that he loved him that it was enough to summon the Empty. But now that he has him, nothing really seems to pierce the veil of darkness. It's so much worse than the worrisome, honey-collecting version of Cass all those years back. At least, he had smiled then.

It's superficial and stupid to wish for this, Dean knows that. It was just another way for Castiel to cope. He always carries all the world's burdens on his shoulder, especially Dean's crap. But it's not fair!

Dean never expected an apple pie life. Not really. But with Cass, he had hoped for a slim slice of it. At this point, he'd be thankful for a crumb.

He scolds himself inwardly for this train of thought. He's ungrateful. He falls asleep with his man snuggled against him every night. He looks in blue eyes when they make love. He holds his hand when they watch a movie. It's so much. More than he ever dared to dreamt of.

Dean's steps grow wider and faster as he nears his Cave. Maybe—yes! There are flickering lights under the door and subdued music coming from the room. Dean takes a deep breath before he pushes the door handle down.

Castiel sits in the armchair that is labelled his boyfriend's in Dean's head. He looks at the tv screen, his eyes fixed on a bumblebee collecting nectar.

Dean chuckles softly, calling attention to himself, hoping not to startle Castiel. He doesn't. His partner doesn't even so much as flinches.

"Bumblebees are funny. By all rules of aerodynamics, they shouldn't be able to fly," Dean says, hoping to pull his boyfriend's gaze to himself.

"That's not true Dean. Humans were just too fixated on their formulas for aeroplanes to see the dynamics behind the wingbeats, the vortex they produce, not to mention the joint I added to make it possible for them to kink the wings and heighten the weight they can move even further.

Dean sinks into his armchair. "You worked on creating them?" Castiel hums in affirmation. "Why are you watching a documentation then? You know them better than anyone."

Castiel is silent for a long moment and Dean wonders if he somehow insulted him. But then, there's a sound that he hasn't heard way too long and it makes his heart clench.

A chuckle.

Not as free and loud as he knows it can be, but it's there, echoing in the sparsely decorated room.

"It reminds me that my existence had meaning."

The short burst of hope crumbles to dust at these words. Dean fights against the tears brimming his eyes. Castiel saved the world, more than once, and especially with his self-sacrifice. They wouldn’t have defeated Chuck without him!

"Your life has meaning," Dean says, his voice carefully schooled. Castiel chuckles again, bit tjis time without mirth.

"I know."

It feels rehearsed, like an automatic reply to soothe Dean's nerves. No. This won't do! Dean gets up and down on his knee in front of the man he loves. He cups his cheeks with both hands, relishing that Castiel leans into the touch.

"You are important. To me, to Sam and Eileen, to Claire and Kaia, and so many more. We need you, man."

"You'd be well off with or without me," Castiel answers evenly and Dean covers the pain with anger, lets it build up in the very familiar way. He clenches his jaw and lets go of this boyfriend's face, gets up, turns, and kicks a pile of DVDs through the room.

Then he turns back, outstretched pointer hovering mere centimetres from Castiel's face.

"You have no idea!" The force of Dean's words makes Cass pull back - not in fear but in gut-wrenching surprise. "I burnt you on that pyre, spread your ashes in the meadow. I got you back just to let Chuck let us screw over once again. I'm not proud to say this, but with you gone, I thought of flipping the bird to this shit of a life and go down in a damn vampire nest or something."

"Your life is not shit!" Castiel counters, always willing to make Dean feel and think better of himself. Hell, he did it even when he thought he would die for good.

"Yes, you're right. But still—" Dean runs a hand through his hair. His brain isn't awake enough for the depth of discussion they need to have and neither is Castiel's judging by the looks of his lover's red-rimmed eyes. He takes a deep breath. "You are my home, Cass. My rock. I don't say this to make you stay or to make you put on a brave face. I appreciate that you're not acting as if everything is fine. But we need to talk about what's going on in your mind. What makes you so sad all the time. I can't—"

Castiel looks at him with unhidden fear. Hell! The man fought demons and angels, God himself. He shouldn't look like that because of a hunter who feels so many things that he can never properly put them into words.

"I can't ignore it any longer. You need help. Hell, we all need therapy. But, damn it, Cass! I want us to be happy. I want you to be happy. And don't tell me you are. You're a terrible liar."

There is another chuckle and Dean wants to cry. Because it's all too much and not enough. He can't make his boyfriend better and that sucks big time. He's a doer, a carer, a damn Acts of Service love languager. He's shitty at gifts that his man understands, he's bad with words when it counts. But he can touch, is allowed to touch now. So he does.

He pulls Cass into his arms, feels him melt against him. He brushes his hand through the unruly mop of hair. "Come to bed. Sleep. Tomorrow, we'll take care of this, okay?"

He feels Castiel's head nod against his shoulder. He presses a kiss into his hair and pulls back, scrutinising him for a long moment. There is the ghost of a tired smile on his lips. Dean counts it as a win.

He switches off the tv and leads him to their bedroom, tucks him in before he slides under the covers, and pulls him close. "I am here. And I am happy that you are here. Never doubt that," Dean murmurs. "You're the best thing ever happening to me."

"But I'm broken, Dean. I can't be of any use to you, now that I lost the rest of my grace."

Dean huffs his anger out through his nose. "If you're broken, we'll find a way to fix you. And the other bullshit—don't you dare think that's what we kept you around for. You're family. Like a brother to Sammy, a father for Claire, the man I love. Don't get pissed, but your love has always been your strongest asset. You saved me from me a million times. Hell, just think of Jack." He takes a deep breath because his anger won't solve anything. "You are love and you are loved. You don't need to be useful and still, you are. Every. Single. Second."

Castiel looks at him with glassy eyes. "I want to believe you."

Dean presses a kiss on his forehead. "I know." He brushes a strand of hair out of Castiel's eyes. "Just promise me you'll try."

"I will," Cass whispers and then he smiles. Tired, but enough to form crinkles around his eyes. And it's just a start. Dean knows that. But it's enough for now.

"Sweet dreams, honey," Dean whispers and cradles Cass' head to his neck. "I'll watch over you."

#dean winchester #castiel #deancas #destiel #fanfiction #deancas fanfiction #deancas fanfic #destiel fanfiction #destiel fanfic #deancas oneshot #destiel oneshot #depression

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