#yellow stone river

[shotsonsight]

Yellowstone river

Wyoming, august 2018.

Photo : © Julien Rouvel on • Threads • Instagram • Behance • Dribbble

[pellinni-photo]

trees on the shore of a mountain river. autumn scenery on a sunny day

[quitealotofsodapop]

[Jade Emperor would explode if he ever found out since by Celestial law, Wukong is his firstborn daughter's son, aka his Heir]

XD Goodness, imagine if Azure'd just reveal that tidbit to the Jade Emperor - no fighting needed, just a cardiac arrest of celestial proportions.

Though, granted, if no actual fight for the throne, wouldn't that just mean the power goes to the next in line? Hmm...

Damn, this family tree is complicated - add in reborn JE as Freenoodles River Baby Bao and we're gonna be needing to make this tree 3-dimensional.

Wait, does Luzhen also count as JE's and Queen Mother's grandkid?

referencing.

Probably would XD

Atleast in the AUs he has his wife to back him up emotionally, during the Brotherhood's siege he's on his own in the throne room.

Heck, if Azure managed to dig up that dirt while in Diyu, then he'd double down on his infatuation of Wukong. Cus, a strong powerful leader AND the legal heir to the Celestial Throne!? He want for political clout. Full on Gaston-level; "I'll make this go away if you marry me and I become the Emperor"-type manipulation. Not conciously at first.

When the MKrew and Wukong are released at Camel Ridge, Azure would make a point of proposing to Wukong then and there with the knowledge he's found. Wukong thinks its all nuts and refuses, leading to his recapture.

Meanwhile...

The Jade Emperor - Yudi - Emperor of the Celestial Realm Cause of Death: Heart Attack from Shock of hearing that he's a Monkey's Grandfather.

Every demon, immortal, and mortal feels a skip in their chest when it happens.

Also in terms of baby Bao from the Mother River Tang AU; you suddenly have a situation where by celestial law, Tang is now considered Wukong's great-grandmother. Also Pigsy is the reincarnation/decendant of Zhu Bajie, who in turn used to be Marshal Canopy - Xiwangmu's brother. Pigsy is now considered both the brother of the Queen Mother, and the brother-in-kaw/father of the Jade Emperor. Not even time-travel family trees get this weird. Again its all Celestial/Immortals not understanding the differences between reincarnations, and/or that the new incarnation doesn't have the memories or personality of the "originals".

As for Luzhen its a little complicated since while his birth parent ("The Consort") was the Stone Matriarch's mate/marriage partner, he himself was partially formed from the Matriarch's shared Dao due to being an asexual stone egg. He's considered the genetic brother (nearly twin) of Sun Wukong despite not technincally being "blood" related.

The Queen Mother and Jade Emperor would consider him a grandchild just to avoid the headache of trying to understand Stone Monkey reproduction methods. They'd also see him as a "second chance" to raise their daughter's child, as they had failed with Wukong. However, Luzhen is very confused and clearly prefers his fellow monkeys over the royals, and Wukong in turn has taken him in as his own cub. They argue a lot about the proper way to raise Luzhen.

[scoutingthetrooper]

[colorsoutofearth]

Water flowing over weathered rock with natural patterns, Northumberland Coast, England

Photo by Guy Edwardes

[dimalink]

Duckling Pseudo 3D - Bonus Levels Demo Show 2 [ Work in Progress ]

Example of bonus levels. They are same levels, as a normal levels. But, here, there are no decoration effects (grass, stones). And, just, background. Background is the same as normal level. And, here, already, runs, not a big duckling, but small one. And, he can move up and down and left and right.

After level - additional animation, as duckling runs beyond the screen. And, it is shown game menus. Green and summer by colors!

There are sounds in game, now. Duckling speaks - quack! Random way. Quack! Quack-quack! And, when you get little coin - then, also, a sound of funny ducklings!

Basic Pascal version 1.17 "BLOCK" – most newest version. In this version there are 4 new games! Platform Ball, Cabin Pilot, Free Blocker, Free Bee. And even more retro games! It is a pack of retro games with modern versions of Basic and Pascal.

It is now in development new version Basic Pascal pack games. This game will be included in a new version.

Basic Pascal: http://www.dimalink.tv-games.ru/packs/basicpascal/index_eng.html Website: http://www.dimalink.tv-games.ru/home_eng.html Itchio: https://dimalink.itch.io/basic-pascal

[sleepysomnia]

💙☁️💧/🐈🐱/🥮🍦🌼

[brianshoe]

The woman in the golden dress stood on the stone bridge, bathed in moonlight. The river below shimmered like liquid silver, reflecting the glowing trees and yellow flowers of the enchanted forest. A massive wooden portal gate framed the full moon, its light spilling through like a celestial doorway. Stars and constellations swirled above, painted across the sky like a dream. The air hummed with unseen magic as fireflies traced golden patterns around her. She gazed into the cosmic abyss, feeling as if the universe itself had paused, waiting for her to step beyond the gate into the unknown.

[uaninja]

Environmental Orb!³ #aiart #digitalart #nature #landscape #orb #environment #elements #city #rocks #stones #river #stream #bonfire @nightcafestudio #hyperdetail #hyperdetail #BlueYellow #Blue #Yellow #fire #water #balance #floating #unreal #stablediffusion #colorful https://www.instagram.com/p/CpVEjmxOzBC/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[flannelshirtandjeans]

I designed my own Monster High ghoul doll! She is the daughter of Näkki, a water spirit that can camouflage itself as rock or driftwood and drowns people who are careless in water. She is Finnish, loves metal music and coffee, and cares deeply about sustainable fishing practices and protecting lakes and ponds and rivers. Her pet is a skeletal seal pup, who once died in fishermen's nets, but was brought to a new life by Lumme's sadness and anger. She's a part of the metal club at MH, but doesn't play or sing, more just enjoys listening to it and bonding with her fellow students. She my seem quiet and reserved, but won't stop talking if you get to know her properly!

Some design notes under cut:

Also I'd like to add design notes to this:

- fishing nets and hooks & related things are a big design note in her doll because she did almost die by drowning stuck in a fishing net, and she has Feelings about questionable fishing practices.

- there's a permanent tangle of netting around her neck to represent the way she technically died

- her purse is a glass float

- her hair is a light ashy blonde-brown - dirt road brown as we call it in Finland, which is a common hair color in Finland, with accents of darker brown, green, and blue.

- blue eyes, cloudy iris, dark eye whites. Netting eye-shine

- her base skin tone is a light grey, but she has rocky camouflage and birch-tree camouflage on her limbs, ears, and forehead to represent her camouflage/shapechanging abilities

- Luunappi is a skeletal "kuutti", baby northern ringed seal, who died of getting stuck in nets, and Lumme's anger and sadness at the injustice magically revived it

- frappe bc Finns drink ridiculous amounts if coffee per capita but I didn't want to give her straight up black coffee

- Karelian boo-strie is a Karelian pastry but made to look like a fish with big teeth

- her object heel is a fishing loom stone, a type of a fishing weight

- her phone is not an iCasket bc she's _Finnish_ and obvs reps Nokia instead. Hence Noakiasket

- sea glass bottle bottom sunglasses. Seaglass is frosty so that's a little funny for sunglasses but listen.

- the CD is "Nemo" by _Nightfish_ which is obviously a silly riff on Nightwish, which is a Finnish metal band, and she loves metal (Finland has so many metal bands. We just really love metal.). I decided on a CD-player purely for nostalgic reasons.

- "Land of a thousand lake monsters" refers to Finlnd, and you can see the shape of Finland on the cover. Finland is called the land of a thousand lakes, so we probably have a lot of lake monsters too.

- yellow comes a little out of nowhere for this, but I like raincoat yellow and it reminds me of fishers, so I can have it.

[selinay-in-wonderland]

The princess and the jester pt.1

ART THE CLOWN X F! READER

Slow burn

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

Once upon a time, in a prosperous kingdom nestled between towering mountains and deep forests, there lived a kind and beautiful princess. She was the light of her father’s heart, the king’s only daughter, and he adored her beyond measure. Her laughter filled the castle with warmth, and her kindness spread through the kingdom like sunlight, brightening even the darkest corners. Her people loved her, and her father, a strong and protective king, would do anything to ensure her happiness and safety.

But darkness knows where joy lies and seeks it out.

One winter, a terrible plague swept through the land. Crops withered, rivers dried, and sickness gripped the people. Nothing the king did could save them. Physicians, healers, and magicians from far-off lands tried their best, but each left the kingdom defeated. The people grew sicker, the fields turned barren, and the warmth of life seemed to drain from the once-lively kingdom.

Desperate and brokenhearted, the king spent countless nights in his chambers, searching through ancient scrolls and texts for any last hope. With every passing day, he watched as the light in his daughter’s eyes dimmed, as her laughter became a rare and fragile sound. “Please,” he would whisper to the heavens, his hands clasped in prayer. “Not my daughter. I cannot lose my only diamond. I would give anything to see her smile again.”

His pleas echoed through the halls of the castle, reverberating against the cold stone walls. Each night, he stayed awake, tormented by visions of a future without her, imagining the kingdom’s beauty turning to ash as the plague took hold. In his darkest hour, he came across an ancient tome, its pages yellowed with age, detailing a desperate solution—a creature known only as the Jester.

The tales spoke of him as a being of pure mischief and malice, a shadow draped in a twisted jester’s attire, marked by his ghastly painted smile and silent laughter. He was known to wander through sorrowful places, delighting in suffering. But it was said that if one were desperate enough to summon him and make a pact, he could grant wishes—for a price.

Haunted by his daughter’s weakened smile, the king cast aside his fear. That night, he crept from the castle and ventured into the cursed forest on the outskirts of his kingdom. There, beneath the twisted, ancient trees, he followed the ritual instructions he’d read, whispering words forbidden by time. And then, from the darkness, he heard it: the soft, squeaking honk of a horn.

The king turned to find the Jester—a terrifying creature standing just beyond the firelight, his face painted in a grotesque grin, his eyes dark and dead, yet somehow glinting with a twisted joy. The king swallowed his terror and took a step forward, clutching his sword. But Art the Jester didn’t move. He only tilted his head, his silent laughter seeming to fill the night air, a soundless mockery that turned the king’s blood cold.

Summoning his courage, the king made his plea, his voice trembling with urgency. “Spare my people from this suffering. Heal the land. I… I will give you anything. I will pay whatever price you ask.” Each word tasted bitter, the weight of his desperation hanging heavy in the air.

Art watched him, eyes glittering with dark delight. Then he pointed at the castle, at the highest tower where the princess slept, innocent and unaware. The meaning was clear.

The king’s heart broke. “No…” he gasped, voice cracking under the weight of his realization. “Please, not her. She is my only child… my light. I would give anything but her.” He fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face. “Please, I beg you! Not my daughter!”

Art’s gaze remained fixed, his grin unmoved, his finger still pointing toward the tower. The choice was clear: either his daughter or nothing. The king staggered back, feeling the ground shift beneath him as despair threatened to consume him. He had to think of something—anything! But with each passing moment, he saw his daughter’s face, so fragile, so innocent, fading before his eyes.

“Tell me what you want, and I will give it to you!” he pleaded, desperation dripping from each word. “I will sacrifice my throne, my treasures, my very soul! Just… just not her!” He choked on his sobs, the torment of losing her washing over him like a tidal wave.

But Art’s cruel smile widened, reflecting the darkness that enveloped the king’s heart. The king sank to his knees, clutching his chest, feeling as if his heart was being ripped from him. “I accept your terms,” he finally managed to choke out, each word a knife twisted in his soul. The weight of his choice settled heavily upon him.

With a low, mocking bow, Art vanished into the shadows, leaving the king alone in the night, a shell of the man he once was. The pact was sealed ,leaving a devastated King behind…

[apiswitchcraft]

altars for titans and protogenoi

This post more than any of the others is going to be mostly upg or spg. Hardly anyone in antiquity spent a lot of effort worshipping most of these deities, especially the protogenoi, so resources are limited. If you have suggestions or personal addendums, feel free to leave them in the comments. I made a lot of decisions based on what the herbs/crystals are usually associated with: for example, black tourmaline is associated with Nyx (the night) therefore Chaos (the embodiment of the primordial soup and basically the universe) has black tourmaline too.

Also, all the deities on this list can be honored with libation of wine, milk, honey, and oil; offerings of meat or desserts; and burning frankincense/myrrh.

Disclaimer: this is not all of the protogenoi or titans that exist, these are just the most recognizable ones that have the most lore attached. I used theoi.com to research all of these deities.

CHAOS: the first to emerge at creation, the protogenos of the space between heaven and earth, and the air

Colors: black, grey, purple for the concept of chaos Offerings: feathers, burning incense, cinnamon, anise, cardamom, clove, black pepper, representations of the four elements Crystals: obsidian, tourmaline, labradorite, lava rock, angelite, amethyst Animals: birds

PHANES/EROS (the elder): protogenos of procreation

Colors: red, pink for love/procreation. blue, green for nature and creation Offerings: heart shaped objects, eucalyptus, flowers, egg shells Crystals: rose quartz, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, malachite, azurite, garnet, desert rose selenite Animals: birds

NYX: protogenos of the night

Colors: black, dark blue, purple for association with the night, anything galaxy patterned Offerings: blackberries, blueberries, plum, dew (morning is fine but after sunset is best), dark feathers, dark chocolate, night-blooming flowers (like moonflower or wisteria), black tea/coffee, mugwort Crystals: obsidian, black tourmaline, labradorite, moonstone (especially black moonstone), selenite, lapis lazuli, amethyst, smokey quartz Animals: owl

also, she is associated with symbols of keys and veils/cloaks

EREBOS: protogenos of darkness

Colors: black for darkness Offerings: dark chocolate, black pepper, black salt, charcoal, asphodel Crystals: black tourmaline, obsidian, smokey quartz, lapis lazuli, azurite, red jasper Animals: moths

AETHER: protogenos of light and the heavens

Colors: yellow, orange, white for sunlight. blue for the sky Offerings: sunflowers, bee pollen, morning dew, fruit, feathers Crystals: honey/blue calcite, yellow/bumblebee jasper, angelite, celestite, milky quartz

HEMERA: protogenos of the day

Colors: blue for the sky, white for the heavens Offerings: chamomile, sage, lavender, basil Crystals: angelite, blue calcite, selenite, celestite, milky quartz, sapphire

GAEA: protogenos of the earth

Colors: blue, green, brown for the earth Offerings: flowers, wood, dirt, anything from nature, really. doing good deeds for the environment Crystals: unakite, jaspers (various), agates (various), lava rock, tiger's eye, bumblebee jasper, jade, nephrite, serpentine, amber Animals: serpents, bull, pig, bees

OURANOS: protogenos of the sky

Colors: blue, white, grey for the sky Offerings: rosemary, sage, mint, leaving your windows/curtains open Crystals: angelite, celestite, selenite, blue calcite, moonstone, sunstone, star jasper, blue lace agate Animals: birds

OCEANUS: protogenos of the ocean

Colors: blue and white for the ocean Offerings: shells, gull feathers, fish scales/bones, sea water, pearls, sand from the ocean Crystals: larimar, aquamarine, turquoise, lapis lazuli, azurite Animals: gulls, pelicans, fish

TETHYS: protogenos of fresh water

Colors: blue and green for fresh water Offerings: lake/pond/river water, fish scales/bones, cattails, sand from a fresh water beach Crystals: larimar, aquamarine, fluorite, amazonite, petoskey stone Animals: fresh water fish, dragonflies

THEMIS: protogenos of divine law and order

Colors: white, silver, gold for law Offerings: thyme, rosemary, anything resembling scales Crystals: pyrite, bloodstone, smokey quartz, obsidian, alexandrite, lapis lazuli Animals: owls

TARTARUS: protogenos of the depths

Colors: red and black for the underworld Offerings: sulfur, saltpeter, black salt, charcoal, deadly nightshade Crystals: jaspers (various), obsidian, black tourmaline, bloodstone, garnet/ruby, pyrite (contains a lot of sulfur) Animals: bats, black dogs

KRONOS: titan of time, harvest, and abundance

Colors: yellow, gold for his scythe. white, grey for the concept of time. green, brown for fertility Offerings: grain, bread, clocks/watches, vervain, poppy, nightshade, clove, allspice Crystals: jaspers (various), agates (various), labradorite, quartz (various), amethyst, honey calcite, serpentine, amber Animals: snakes

RHEA: titaness of motherhood, fertility, and generations (like of family)

Colors: red, pink for motherhood. green, brown for fertility Offerings: menstrual blood, milk, red clover, raspberry, allspice, clove, cinnamon Crystals: rose quartz, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, amethyst, pink opal, jade, nephrite, tiger's eye, cat's eye, amber Animals: lion

PHOEBE: titaness of bright intellect and prophecy

Colors: blue, white, and grey for intellect. purple for prophecy Offerings: sage, bay leaves, lavender, tests/quizzes/homework, yarrow Crystals: lapis lazuli, amethyst, labradorite, howlite, celestite, moonstone, selenite, celestite

LETO: titaness of motherhood, modesty, and womanly demure, protector of children

Colors: pink, red for motherhood. white for modesty Offerings: raspberry, allspice, clove, cinnamon, lavender, flowers, Crystals: moonstone, sunstone, selenite, rose quartz, carnelian, lepidolite, howlite Animals: wolf, rooster

also, she is associated with veiling

ASTERIA: titaness of falling stars, night time divination, and astrology

Colors: blue, black for the night. white/galaxy pattern for stars. purple for magic Offerings: star charts, feathers (especially quail), lavender Crystals: celestite, selenite, star jasper, amethyst, azurite, obsidian, black tourmaline, labradorite, jade Animals: quail

HELIOS: titan of the sun

Colors: yellow, orange, white for the sun Offerings: anything that refracts sunlight, sunflower, st john's wort, sage, cow pelt, chicken feathers Crystals: sunstone, yellow jasper, honey calcite, carnelian, citrine, milky quartz, celestite, angelite, amber Animals: cattle, sheep, white horses, rooster

SELENE: titaness of the moon

Colors: white, grey for the moon Offerings: yarrow, moon shaped objects/food, lavender, night-blooming flowers (like morning glories), nighttime dew Crystals: selenite, celestite, angelite, moonstone, labradorite, smokey quartz, howlite Animals: horses, oxen, mules

EOS: titaness of dawn

Colors: blue for the sky. white, yellow, orange, pink for colors of dawn Offerings: morning dew, morning glories, lavender, yarrow, sage Crystals: rose quartz, citrine, honey calcite, yellow jasper, milky quartz, moonstone, sunstone, selenite, celestite Animals: horses, cicadas

MNEMOSYNE: titaness of memory

Colors: red, yellow for memory Offerings: forget-me-nots, myrtle, rosemary, jasmine, Crystals: jade, amber, turquoise, fluorite, red/yellow jasper Animals: animals with good memory, like an elephant or raven

PROMETHEUS: titan of forethought, creator of mankind

Colors: red, orange for the fire of creation Offerings: fennel, burning things, charcoal Crystals: bloodstone, carnelian, citrine, amber, jaspers (various) Animals: eagle

divider by @vibeswithrenai

[roseybunny73]

all of the wukongs ( plus the destined one ) scents! ( at least what id imagine them to be ) LMK : waterfall. mint. orchid. orange. sandlewood. pineapple. banana. hazelnut destined one : cedar leaves. river. thyme leaves. maple syrup. lavander. netflix : river stones. cherry. lake. coconut. cherry blossoms. honey. leather. cloves. BM sun wukong : cumin. wood chips. passion flower. rain forest. white sage. rain. metal scent. cooking sage. MKR : vanilla. yellow dragonfruit. dried leaves. passion fruit. rivers. wild soil and clays HIB : raspberrys. magnolia. dried leaves. anise seed. cinnamon. wild clay. rivers. NR : cloves. leather. orange marmalade. white hyacinth. coconut. rust. pine needles.

[lucifersgurl444]

Elemental Stones

Earth 🌍

-Agate (Not blue)

-Apache Tears

-Apatite

-Aventurine

-Boji Stone

-Orange Calcite

-Carnelian

-Cats Eye

-Diamond

-Flourite

-Granite

-Iron Pyrite

-Jade

-Jasper(Not red)

-Jet

-Malachite

-Morion

-Moss Agte

-Onxy

-Petrified Wood

-Rutilated Quartz

-Rhodinite

-Ruby

-Salt

-Staurolite

-Smokey Quartz

-Sugilite

-Tiger eye

-Tourmaline

-Unikite

Air 💨

-Amethyst

-aquamarine

-azurite

-beryl

-blue lace agate

-carnelian

-chalcopyrite

-chrysocolla

-chrysoprase

-citrine

-diamond

-flourite

-hemitite

-kyanite

-lazurite

-moldivite

-opal

-pearl

-snow quartz

-sapphire

-silver

-sodalite

-topaz (blue)

-tourmaline (blue)

-turquoise (blue)

-vivianite

Fire 🔥

-amber

-beryt

-bloodstone

-calcite (gold)

-carnelian

-citrine

-coal

-diamond

-flint

-geodes

-gold

-jasper (red)

-lorimar

-obsidian

-peridot

-pumice

-quartz (smoky) obsidian

-rhodochrosite

-sunstone

-topaz (yellow) peridot

Water 💧

-alexandrite

-aqua-aura

-auricalcite

-beryl

-calcite (green

-chalcedony

-diamond

-dioptase

-emerald

-jacinth

-jade

-jet

-kunzite

-lapis lazuli

-magnetite

-moonstone

-onyx (black)

-opal

-quartz (rose)

-river rock

-rock crystal

-sardonyx

-topaz (blue)

[dimalink]

Duckling Pseudo 3D - full game ( 7 levels + Bonus level) [PreView, PreRelease]

Pseudo three dimensional runner about duckling. Based on retro games (Ms Dos, M s x 2, K u v t 2). Full of joy duckling runs across the field. And, also, by shallow river, grass, little road. And collect duckling coins.

Just move left and right and collect little coins. It is like runner. 7 normal levels ingame.

And, also, after level it can be bonus level. There little duckling can run up and down almost at the all the screen size and left and right.

There are sounds ingame, sounds quack-quack. Duckling speaks quack-quack!

Game is about yellow duckling!

Quack-quack!

Basic Pascal version 1.17 "BLOCK" – most newest version. In this version there are 4 new games! Platform Ball, Cabin Pilot, Free Blocker, Free Bee. And even more retro games! It is a pack of retro games with modern versions of Basic and Pascal.

It is now in development new version Basic Pascal pack games. This game will be included in a new version.

Basic Pascal: http://www.dimalink.tv-games.ru/packs/basicpascal/index_eng.html Website: http://www.dimalink.tv-games.ru/home_eng.html Itchio: https://dimalink.itch.io/basic-pascal

[dutifullylazybread]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh for kiss roulette 25 (kiss that's an accident) would be really fun, especially if it's pre-relationship

I am so sorry it took me so long to answer your ask! I'm so happy I could post this (a day after) Valentine's day!!

I hope you enjoy!

Rolan x f!Tav - Accidental Kiss

Content warnings: Accidental kiss, over the clothes groping, under the clothes groping.

“I thought I’d find you out here.”

Tav glanced over her shoulder. Rolan stood in the doorway, his yellow eyes bright and his silver mantle gleaming in the moonlight. His tail, usually snapping a peeved beat behind him, swayed to and fro as he approached her.

She rubbed her arms, desperately trying to pull some warmth back into her frame. Of all the things the Shadow-Cursed Lands needed to be, cold was absolutely not one of them. She would tolerate the zombies and the wraiths and the life-sapping curse… but did it have to be so damn frigid?

It didn’t help that the Last Light Inn sat on the riverbank--though Tav wasn’t improving on the situation by lingering on the second floor’s outdoor dining area.

“Did you need something?” she asked Rolan. She leaned against the stone railing, taking in the fellow as he paused beside her. Rolan looked out on the river, his posture pensive. He flicked his tail, cutting at the air with its barbed tip.

“I mostly came out here to ask you why my money isn’t good enough for you to take,” he said with a snobbish lilt to his voice—one that he further accentuated by turning his nose upwards.

Tav quirked a brow at him. “Careful how much you flare your nostrils—a bug might try to make its home in one of them.”

He scoffed. “Cute.” The curl of his lip indicated that he found her comment anything but endearing. “That, however, fails to answer my question.”

“Is it so hard to just accept that I helped you and your family without needing a reward?” she asked. The stone railing bit into her hip, but she still relaxed into it.

Rolan turned to face her. “Yes.”

“Why?”

“You expect me to believe that you didn’t have any ulterior motives? None at all?”

“You can think whatever you like,” she said with a shrug. “I’m still not taking your money.”

He glared at her. “I take it that you intend on wringing a favor out of me then? Your wizard companion was quite interested in me introducing the lot of you to Master Lorroakan when you reached the city.” Condescension practically rolled off of him.

He braced one hand on the rail—Tav was vaguely aware of how the stone seemed to shudder with the added weight.

She disregarded it.

No, she was more keen on setting the record straight.

“Gale wanted to meet Lorroakan, yes,” she said. “I’m content to never put a face to the name.”

“I don’t believe—“

“Rolan.”

He paused, his lips still shaping his rebuttal.

“I care about you,” she said. “And I care about your brother and your sister.”

She laid a hand on his elbow, half expecting him to pull away.

He didn’t.

“You don’t have to believe me,” Tav said. “I didn’t do any of this to prove a point to you or to them or anyone else for that matter. I just…”

“Just what?” The demanding edge in his tone had softened to an impatient query.

She exhaled softly, preparing herself for a cutting dismissal. “I… I see how the three of you laugh together. How you joke and rib and bicker. And… it reminds me of how I used to talk with my family when they were alive.”

Rolan’s eyes widened.

Tav pressed forward. “I only have memories,” she continued, “and as time has passed, those have faded. I… I don’t even remember what my mother’s voice sounded like. I most certainly don’t remember my father’s laugh.” She swallowed the salt-thick lump forming in her throat. It stuck in her chest. “It’s silly and it’s sentimental and ridiculous and it very likely makes me a bleeding heart of a person… but if I can make sure that you have more than memories, even if it’s just for a little longer, then I will.”

A chilled wind stirred the trees beyond the moonlight-cast barrier that enclosed the inn and its grounds. Tav shivered, drawing away to rub warmth back into her arms.

She waited for Rolan to say something—anything. He’d have some acidic remark to make, she was sure.

But… nothing came.

She didn’t know what was worse—the silence or the promise of a biting reply.

Rolan’s eyes glowed a pale yellow in the moonlight.

“I… am grateful,” he said slowly, “that you would risk your life for us. Thank you.”

The ghost of a smile skirted across her mouth. “You thanked me once already.”

He huffed a laugh. “That I did. Well, I suppose I can manage one more—one good turn deserves another after all.”

The tension left Tav’s frame. “Your altruism knows no bounds,” she teased.

And, to her pleasant surprise, Rolan broke into a grin.

Her heart stuttered in her chest.

She’d always thought that he was dashing—even while he was scowling. But when he smiled so genuinely and without restraint? Tav couldn’t put words to how lovely he was.

And then, as she rested the brunt of her weight against the rail, her attentions fully devoted to Rolan… the sickening sound of stone fracturing and crumbling caused her to tense.

And the rail, buckling as it tumbled away, sent her lurching out into empty air.

Tav grasped Rolan’s arms, whose gaze remained trained on her face—on her lips. He seemed almost oblivious to the risk at hand… and more intent on closing the space between them.

He took a step towards her, setting her further off kilter, and as Tav desperately plucked at the strands of the Weave, urging it to slow her descent to the ground below, Rolan kissed her—

—only to find himself dragged off the veranda, falling with Tav.

Tav held Rolan close, one hand pressed to the crown of his head as she urged the Weave to buoy them up, to make them as light as feathers knocked loose from a wing.

Were it not for her heart slamming in her chest, she would have suspected that the spell had emptied her insides, leaving her as hollow as the core of a bird's bone.

Their fall slowed from a plummet to a smooth, steady glide.

They were deposited into one of the hedges running the length of the inn, and their combined weight returned, crushing the dead brush beneath them.

“Are you hurt?” Tav asked Rolan. His face was pressed to the crook of her neck—were it not for his tail slicing an agitated tempo into the air, she wouldn’t have known anything was amiss.

“I’m fine,” he snapped. Rolan drew up, his cheeks a heady wine red. He tried to rise to his feet, but dried branches held him fast, their thorns snagging into his robes. “Zurgan!”

He thrashed about, which served to only entangle him deeper into the hedge and draw him down against Tav.

“Stop laughing,” he snapped.

Tav pushed her mouth into her palm. “Sorry.” She smothered a small giggle.

Rolan glared at her. “I suppose that this is all rather amusing to you?”

“Getting caught in a bush together? Well, it is a little funny.” She shrugged, and the spindly branches held her fast in place, digging into her exposed skin and raising welts. “But I imagine that isn’t the whole of what you’re referring to, is it?”

Rolan’s mouth snarl twisted up into a grimace. “The kiss--that was a… foolish misunderstanding,” he said. “I would appreciate it if you treated this entire ordeal, including my momentary misstep, as an accident. And I would beg your forgiveness.”

As much as she wanted to tease him, as easy as it would be with him all but disheveled and pinned in place on top of her to easily reach for a well-placed, and very suggestive, comment, the mortification was written clear on Rolan’s features.

She didn’t want to be cruel.

But she also didn’t want her affections to go wholly unknown either. After all, there was the distinct possibility that, once they were out of this bind, Rolan would retreat into hiding and she would see neither hide nor hair of him when she reached the city.

Tav bit her lower lip, searching for the proper words. “No apologies are necessary,” she said. “It was an accident, after all.”

The tension left Rolan—marginally.

Tav pressed forward to say. “Though… I wouldn’t have been upset if the kiss was entirely intentional.”

His eyes widened and the intense flush of red returned to his cheeks. “I—what? That is to say—“ He sharply cleared his throat. “You—you’re mocking me. I think it goes without saying that I—“

She tugged on the front of his robes, drawing him down so that she could gently press her lips to his cheek. The warmth emanating off of him was utterly delicious, and it was so tempting to let her mouth linger.

But she laid down, settling back into the bed of dead foliage. She couldn’t exactly free herself until Rolan got off of her…

…and he was frozen in place.

He opened his mouth only to close it again, caging a strangled sound in his throat. His eyes were bright with confusion…

…but was there something else caught in the facets of his stare?

Tav wondered.

He cupped the line of her jaw in his shaky hand.

“You…” he whispered, the yellow of his gaze warming to a honey gold, “are impossible. Infuriating. Impulsive.” He huffed softly. “And I’m still the bigger fool of the two of us.”

And he pressed his lips to hers.

At first, his kiss was soft, tentative. And so warm.

As the darkness pressed in upon them, as the curse threatened to snuff out this one pocket of light, and as a cold breeze lifted off of the river and stroked a finger down Tav’s spine, she found herself set alight by Rolan’s touch.

She whispered his name, and he swallowed it.

Try as they may to be slow, furtive even, it took one well-placed moan from Tav and a smothered whimper from Rolan before they were grabbing at each other’s clothes—he pushed his hands under her shirt while she tangled one of hers in his hair and palmed his cock through his trousers with her other. He moved into her touch, rolling his hips. The bush shuddered and crackled around them, swaying with their movements.

“Gods,” one of them whispered—or perhaps neither of them did? They didn’t particularly care.

Rolan’s lips were hard on hers, as if he wanted her to remember how he felt against her when they finally parted. His breath was hot. His soft gasps were honey-sweet. She was content to lose herself in his touch.

But their reverie was cut short by the sound of a door flying open and slamming into stone.

“Hurry! I heard it come from over here”

Tav’s eyes snapped open.

Shit—of course someone would have heard a stone rail break.

And here they were, tangled up in a hedge.

“Rolan, we need to move,” Tav hissed. She pushed against his shoulders, but instead of prising himself free, he dug into his spell components pouch.

“Just a moment,” he murmured.

“Rolan—“

Invisibilis

The spell unfurled itself, cloaking them in a shifting illusion.

Though she could still feel the comforting weight of Rolan on top of her, all she could see was the moonlit sky. Her hands, once braced flat on his chest, were gone as well—as was the rest of her body.

Two Harpers rounded the corner, looking around for the source of the disturbance. And then, with slow and assured steps, Jaheira followed several paces behind.

“I could have sworn I heard something,” a Harper insisted, her eyes catching on the bush before shifting to the chunks of crumbling rail that, were strewn about it. “Was it the…”

“It is an old building,” Jaheira said. “Isobel’s magic may protect us from the curse, but natural decay? Not so much.”

“Better safe than sorry,” the second Harper said, patting their comrade’s arm.

Jaheira was silent. She looked to the broken rail on the veranda above before her trailing her gaze down to the somewhat flattened hedge below. Her eyes narrowed and her mouth quirked.

“I’d rather too much caution than too little—especially after Marcus attacked,” she said. “Get back to your posts for now. Keep your wits about you.”

The Harpers moved past Jaheira, who remained a moment more before she, too, departed.

With a shaky exhale, Rolan’s spell fell away. His eyes were bright with relief.

“That was awfully close,” Tav said, biting the inside of her cheek to keep herself from laughing.

He rolled his eyes. “Far be it from me to protect our dignity.”

She pushed herself up and planted a kiss on his cheek, her lips lingering. “You know… there is a loft over the forge. Shall we make our way there? Pick up where we left off?”

“Even after—why am I not surprised?” Rolan snorted.

“Is that a no?”

“Hardly.”

Rolan wrenched himself free from the bush, its thorns snagging in his robes and its limbs snapping like kindling as he drew away. “Well, are you coming?”

For all his bluster, he offered Tav his hand and, as she rose, he freed her from the hedge’s grasp.

“Thank you,” she said.

In the moonlight, she wasn’t quite certain, but she could have almost sworn that he blushed, his cheeks burning a wine-dark red.

He cleared his throat and gestured to the staircase mounted to the side of the forge. “That the way?”

Tav nodded, weaving her fingers between his. “Shall we?”

They would have liked to think that they managed to keep their voices down while enjoying each other’s company.

They were wrong.