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reasonsforhope · 3 months

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"Many people know about the Yellowstone wolf miracle. After wolves were reintroduced to the national park in the mid-1990s, streamside bushes that had been grazed to stubble by out-of-control elk populations started bouncing back. Streambank erosion decreased. Creatures such as songbirds that favor greenery along creeks returned. Nearby aspens flourished.

While there is debate about how much of this stemmed from the wolves shrinking the elk population and how much was a subtle shift in elk behavior, the overall change was dramatic. People were captivated by the idea that a single charismatic predator’s return could ripple through an entire ecosystem. The result was trumpeted in publications such as National Geographic.

But have you heard about the sea otters and the salt marshes? Probably not.

It turns out these sleek coastal mammals, hunted nearly to extinction for their plush pelts, can play a wolf-like role in rapidly disappearing salt marshes, according to new research. The findings highlight the transformative power of a top predator, and the potential ecosystem benefits from their return.

“It begs the question: In how many other ecosystems worldwide could the reintroduction of a former top predator yield similar benefits?” said Brian Silliman, a Duke University ecologist involved in the research.

The work focused on Elk Slough, a tidal estuary at the edge of California’s Monterey Bay. The salt marsh lining the slough’s banks has been shrinking for decades. Between 1956 and 2003, the area lost 50% of its salt marshes.

Such tidal marshes are critical to keeping shorelines from eroding into the sea, and they are in decline around the world. The damage is often blamed on a combination of human’s altering coastal water flows, rising seas and nutrient pollution that weakens the roots of marsh plants.

But in Elk Slough, a return of sea otters hinted that their earlier disappearance might have been a factor as well. As many as 300,000 sea otters once swam in the coastal waters of western North America, from Baja California north to the Aleutian Islands. But a fur trade begun by Europeans in the 1700s nearly wiped out the animals, reducing their numbers to just a few thousand by the early 1900s. Southern sea otters, which lived on the California coast, were thought to be extinct until a handful were found in the early 1900s.

In the late 1900s, conservation organizations and government agencies embarked on an effort to revive the southern sea otters, which remain protected under the Endangered Species Act. In Monterey Bay, the Monterey Bay Aquarium selected Elk Slough as a prime place to release orphaned young sea otters taken in by the aquarium.

As the otter numbers grew, the dynamics within the salt marsh changed. Between 2008 and 2018, erosion of tidal creeks in the estuary fell by around 70% as otter numbers recovered from just 11 animals to nearly 120 following a population crash tied to an intense El Niño climate cycle.

While suggestive, those results are hardly bulletproof evidence of a link between otters and erosion. Nor does it explain how that might work.

To get a more detailed picture, the researchers visited 5 small tidal creeks feeding into the main slough. At each one, they enclosed some of the marsh with fencing to keep out otters, while other spots were left open. Over three years, they monitored the diverging fates of the different patches.

The results showed that otter presence made a dramatic difference in the condition of the marsh. They also helped illuminate why this was happening. It comes down to the otters’ appetite for small burrowing crabs that live in the marsh.

Adult otters need to eat around 25% of their body weight every day to endure the cold Pacific Ocean waters, the equivalent of 20 to 25 pounds. And crabs are one of their favorite meals. After three years, crab densities were 68% higher in fenced areas beyond the reach of otters. The number of crab burrows was also higher. At the same time, marsh grasses inside the fences fared worse, with 48% less mass of leaves and stems and 15% less root mass, a critical feature for capturing sediment that could otherwise wash away, the scientists reported in late January in Nature.

The results point to the crabs as a culprit in the decline of the marshes, as they excavate their holes and feed on the plant roots. It also shows the returning otters’ potential as a marsh savior, even in the face of rising sea levels and continued pollution. In tidal creeks with high numbers of otters, creek erosion was just 5 centimeters per year, 69% lower than in creeks with fewer otters and a far cry from earlier erosion of as much as 30 centimeters per year.

“The return of the sea otters didn’t reverse the losses, but it did slow them to a point that these systems could restabilize despite all the other pressures they are subject to,” said Brent Hughes, a biology professor at Sonoma State University and former postdoctoral researcher in Silliman’s Duke lab.

The findings raise the question of whether other coastal ecosystems might benefit from a return of top predators. The scientists note that a number of these places were once filled with such toothy creatures as bears, crocodiles, sharks, wolves, lions and dolphins. Sea otters are still largely absent along much of the West Coast.

As people wrestle to hold back the seas and revive their ailing coasts, a predator revival could offer relatively cheap and effective assistance. “It would cost millions of dollars for humans to rebuild these creek banks and restore these marshes,” Silliman said of Elk Slough. “The sea otters are stabilizing them for free in exchange for an all-you-can-eat crab feast.”"

-via Anthropocene Magazine, February 7, 2024

#otters #sea otters #conservation #erosion #coastal erosion #coastline #marshes #saltwater #marine science #marine biology #marine animals #sea creatures #ocean #sustainability #soil erosion #erosion control #crab #good news #hope

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cyb3rtarot · 6 months

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Pick a Pile: A Cycle You Have an Opportunity to Complete

Disclaimer: tarot readings are not replacements for professional advice. Take what resonates; don’t force a reading to fit! Readings are based on current energy; your future’s in your hands.

pile 1⇘pile 2 pile 3⇘pile 4

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Pile 1:

What’s the cycle? [the tower, ten of wands rx, the high priestess, Indecision (Venus in Libra, 7th house), the empress (bottom of the deck), Elk rune]: hello pile one! I feel like you guys take on too many burdens at once, both your own as well as others’. You give so much until you can’t take it anymore, and this leads to a cycle of burn out. You’re well aware of this. You know when you’re carrying too much or need to reprioritize. Even though you can see the burn out coming, you cling on. Some of you get so stressed that you take sudden, impulsive actions to escape, like quitting a job or lashing out at others. I feel like the fall out or consequences you endure afterwards tend to be good learning experiences that open up new paths, but the continuous crashing is not sustainable. A few people in this pile also experience this cycle through romantic relationships, for example not being able to commit to one person and eventually losing multiple people.

Why is it repeating? What lesson do you need to learn? [two of cups, Change]: this pile has such amazing intuition, but you don’t listen to it! You ignore bad feelings and red flags and try to keep working through them. There’s a lot of people pleasers or recovering people pleasers in this pile which could partly explain this habit. You don’t have to immediately act on your feelings, but if something seems off, it’s important to note what your body and mind may be trying to tell you. It’s also important to balance out your giving and receiving sides, not only doing one or the other (especially giving).

The opportunity to close it [ace of wands, the emperor rx, ten of swords, Enthusiasm (Sun in Sagittarius, 9th house), Laguz rune]: this pile is going to get an opportunity to do something for themselves. This could be an opportunity for a personal project, to travel, or just something that will make YOU happy. However, it seems choosing yourself in this situation may feel hard, and it may upset others. You might have to pull your energy and time back from other commitments to take this opportunity. You might feel bad for choosing yourself, or others could try to manipulate you. This can include guilt tripping, passive aggressiveness, or using whatever method you usually respond to. It’s important to put your foot down against toxic people as well as your own toxic thoughts. This will also be a great opportunity to follow your intuition, and you may find it getting stronger if you don’t ignore it this time.

Extra details: fairy tale, carriage, tomatoes? You may feel like Cinderella, love the story, or similar movies. Or you may feel like you’re swept up in a fairytale when this opportunity comes to you (for some it’s meeting a new person). For those meeting someone new, they could be higher up in position than you. You may have people around you who try to attack your work ethic, morals, or credibility when you choose yourself.

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Pile 2:

What’s the cycle? [four of cups, knight of wands rx, the hierophant rx, Control (Jupiter in Capricorn, 10th house), Jera rune]: hi pile two! this pile feels very ambitious and capable. You guys have a lot of energy and talents that can be honed in many ways, but it feels like you’re put off by the actual process it takes to get to the end goals. You tend to daydream, contemplate, or brood about things you could be doing with your life, but then hesitate to actually do those things. For example, you may get really interested in certain fields of study, but then get discouraged by the academic or training process needed to work in that field. You want the end result but not the steps. You may feel stunted by society, like your dreams or creativity exceed the bounds of the “normal” paths you’re expected to take (like higher education, or a 9-5 until retirement). This cycle of piqued interest and disappointment leads to a lot of restless energy and melancholy; a feeling of wasted time, potential, and dreams.

Why is it repeating? What lesson do you need to learn? [king of wands, New Vision]: this pile will not be satisfied with being bound by convention nor letting all their potential go to waste. You guys are being pushed to realize your capacity, your endurance, and that you have a lot of power to do what you desire. You already see the limits and shortcomings of how the world operates; you’re encouraged to use this ability constructively. Break outside the box set for yourself and don’t underestimate your ability to see things through to the end.

The opportunity to close it [king of pentacles, two of cups, temperance, Speculation (Jupiter in Cancer, 4th house), Mannaz rune]: there’s a few different things going on for this pile. It seems like most of you are currently in a situation that could prove to be financially beneficial or otherwise a good opportunity. It seems like a new environment where relationships are forming, for example (but not only) moving in with roommates, a family move, or a new relationship (romantic or platonic). If this isn’t current then I feel like it's on your mind. Either way, the main focus for you is patience! Patience is necessary to nurture the parts of your life you want success in. It’s especially important for this pile to support their mental health as they work towards what they want; your perception and willingness to be patient gets filtered through your mental state. By waiting when necessary, you allow sustainable avenues to channel your energy. For some of you who are entering new relationships or communities right now, I feel like one person in particular will be significant to you in these matters, such as someone who offers help in your business or creative ventures.

Extra details: Jupiter may be a prominent planet in the birth chart, as well as the signs of Cancer, Capricorn, Sagittarius, Pisces. Heavy oppositions or squares in your chart related to the push-and-pull feelings. Road blocks. Forests. Journaling, writing, or wanting to be an author. Traveling across a body of water. Feeling discouraged by travel delays (some of you may have travel delayed by family?). Wanting a career that needs a degree but not wanting to go to school. Family pressure to take conventional paths. Fear of life commitments. Some of you in relationships (or your partner) are wanting to step up the seriousness, like by meeting families.

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Pile 3:

What’s the cycle? [four of wands, wheel of fortune sideways, queen of pentacles rx, Harmony (Sun in Libra, 7th house), Protection (Moon in Aries, 1st house), Sowilo rune]: hi pile three! You guys seem to have a generational or family cycle; you may notice very similar themes or lessons throughout your family’s relationships. There’s a cycle of relationships coming together to a high level of commitment, and then ending very significantly. This may play out as a cycle of divorces or broken families, especially where one partner cheats or otherwise neglects the family. In particular, I feel like the feminine energies in these relationships (so if not you, your female relatives/loved ones) are usually left in worse positions than before. This feels like cycles where someone is ambitious, skilled, talented, or financially stable, but after they experience a relationship, it’s very hard for them to get back on their feet. I also see this could have played out as one parent or guardian taking on more work to offset the neglect of the other parent. With this popping up as you guys’ cycle, you may notice traits of your relatives manifesting in you, or you have experienced similar relationship cycles.

Why is it repeating? What lesson do you need to learn?: [the devil, the fool]: much like pile one, you also seem to ignore red flags. You may be drawn to people and vices that you know are not good for you. Putting on rose-tinted glasses and falling into the thrill of something new. The enthusiasm and passion is wonderful, but you must still protect yourself. Be observative when things seem too good to be true. If something feels off, identify what makes you feel that way, and also what you’re going to do about it. You may need to reflect on how you self sabotage and why.

The opportunity to close it [the magician rx, temperance sideways, ace of cups, Status (Jupiter in Taurus, 2nd house), Friendship (Moon in Cancer, 4th house), Othala rune]: this pile seems to have went through an event that made them feel destitute or powerless, and for a lot of you this is a breakup (of any kind). There’s an emphasis on relaxing and being very gentle with yourself, especially if you’re trying to make some kind of quick rebound. This is a time to pour love into yourself and find what makes you feel balanced and stable. Many of you are being pulled back towards something you’re passionate about, whether this is personal projects or your career. You may be interested in self care through creating material stability and comfort right now, as these bring a sense of security. This might manifest as nurturing relationships with family, and those of you that are focusing on material comfort may find your family helps provide that at this time. Some of you are also focused on building generational wealth, and others are directing more energy into socializing. These are all great ways to create a strong foundation for yourself that is not so easily shaken. The important thing is investing in what makes you personally safe and fulfilled.

Channeled details: Europe (especially Southern), impatient, some may be getting drinks out a lot—especially with friends (this can include cafes), shadow work for harmful habits, gold, orange, crystals, working out, going to church (especially with family), returning to a religion, glow up, luxury, wearing a lot of jewelry or going to a jewelry store, family business, Mediterranean, dark brown hair and olive-toned skin, oceanside town, jogging/running, single mothers, generational cycles, talking to your mom or aunts more

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Pile 4:

What’s the cycle? [judgment, two of wands rx, queen of wands, Excitement (Mercury in Gemini, 3rd house), Mannaz rune]: hello pile four! Like pile two, this pile feels stuck in a cycle of wasted potential. However, it feels you have ongoing expectations placed on you; some of you may have to look after family members or are expected to “stay in your place.” This pile’s cycle feels the most directly influenced by their environment. You might feel trapped or stuck, maybe at home or even by your own self doubts. Deep down, most of you know you could succeed at what you want and this makes you more frustrated when chances pass you by. For example, some of you may feel disappointed in yourself for not going to school for what you actually wanted to do. There’s a lot of mental energy and anticipation with no outlet. A specific detail for a lot of people in this pile: troubles physically communicating or reading in school could have hindered your studies and contributed to your present day hesitancy. It feels like you want to change the world or feel called towards a bigger purpose, but as of right now this remains a feeling and not action.

Why is it repeating? What lesson do you need to learn? [six of pentacles rx, Sharing (queen of action)]: there’s two different groups within this pile. Some of you are very generous with your time and energy when it comes to taking care of others, and you must learn when to pull back and direct those resources into your own life. There’s a tendency to always put your self on the sidelines. Others of you are very reserved and closed, but on the inside you have a lot of ideas, love, and creativity to share. You might flip-flop between a lone-wolf stance and wanting community. Fears are understandable, but don’t deny yourself space to be intertwined and vulnerable with others.

The opportunity to close it [the magician, eight of pentacles, five of wands, Concentration (Saturn in Gemini, 3rd house), Tiwaz rune]: the overall energy for this pile is success, excitement, and talent, though I am picking up on a lot of different things going on here. For most of you, it feels like your opportunity is actually already here—or imminent. Some of you are finally going after something you’re passionate about or good at, whether in an institution (school, for example) or by yourself. Similarly, some of you may have gotten recognition for something, or been accepted into a program. There’s a strong willpower in you that’s been hampered, and I feel that something is triggering you to come out of your cocoon. For those of you that do have learning or speaking difficulties, I see you wanting to power through this. This might manifest very literally, like by having a long-delayed argument or conversation with someone that you feel you must do no matter what. Or, your opportunity may literally be working on your communication, like through speech therapy. Whatever your individual situation is, the energy got much lighter and more excited during this part of the reading; there’s a lot of positivity surrounding your pursuits! Please don’t feel you have to give up on your dreams!

Channeled details: bladerunner, “do it even if it’s hard,” boosts in confidence. Many different communication difficulties in this pile: anxiety, social/family pressure, neurodivergence, mental illness, speech impediments (this is the main one I was picking up on), language barriers, deafness, volume control. Vocal stimming or repeating oneself constantly. Sibling dynamics where one has to be taken care of by another. Unsupportive parents. Hyperfixations. Big arguments. Mediators (some of you are interested in diplomacy or law). Announcements, recognition. Returning to a hobby. Past difficulties in school. Perception anxiety. Overthinking. Strategy. Court cases. Finding things funny no one else does. Glasses, round face. Mami tomoe? Doing something for the greater good; social justice. Chess. Memes, vine. You may really like the Burger King foot lettuce meme lol?, courage the cowardly dog, Tinker Bell. Tea parties (or party planning). You may like things others find childish.

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greenwitchcrafts · 4 months

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January 2024 Witch guide

Full Moon: January 25th

New moon: January 11th

Sabbats: None

January Wolf Moon

Known as: Bear Moon, Chaste Moon, Cold Moon, Disting Moon, Goose Moon, Moon of Little Winter, Moon of Strong Cold, Quiet Moon, Snow Moon, Stay at Home Moon, Sun Has Not Strength to Thaw Moon & When Snow Blows Like Spirits In The Wind Moon

Element: Air

Zodiac: Capricorn & Aquarius

Nature spirits: Brownies & Gnomes

Deities: Freya, Hera, Innana & Saraswati

Animals: Coyote & fox

Birds: Blue Jay & pheasant

Trees: Birch & Hazel

Herbs: Cones, holy thistle &marjoram

Flowers: Crocus & Snowdrop

Scents: Mimosa & musk

Stones: Chrysoprase, garnet, hematite, moonstone, onyx & jet

Colors: Black, blue-violet, grey, silver & white

Energy: Adventurous, ambitious, awareness, beauty, beginning & conceiving; business, career, conserving energy, energy below the surface, organization, political matters, potential, protection, recognition, reputation, reversing spells & spirituality

The name for the January full Moon is believed to have originated from Celtic and Old English roots, which European settlers then brought to the New World.

At one point, gray wolves were among the most widespread land mammals on our planet. According to the Wolf Conversation Center, gray wolves “inhabited most of the available land in the Northern Hemisphere.” Habitat destruction and persecution by humans have reduced their range by about a third worldwide and 90 percent in the lower 48 states.

The wolf’s adaptable nature to survive in a wide range of habitats and ability to prey on the largest mammals living in those regions made it widespread. Basically, if there are enough deer, moose, elk, caribou, bison, and musk ox, wolves can survive. Predation of domestic animals caused friction with European settlers and early Americans who aggressively hunted the wolves.

Werewolf myths can be found in ancient Greek and Roman societies, throughout European history and among some Native American tribes. In modern storytelling the transformation from man to wolf has been closely tied to the full Moon in films like “The Wolf Man” and “American Werewolf In London.”

Howl at the Moon means to waste energy pursuing something unattainable. It’s shorthand for doing something crazy. However, howling is hardly a waste of energy among wolf packs. And they aren’t howling at the Moon. The Moon just happens to be shining during times when wolves most often howl.

A wolf’s howl can be heard miles away. The vocalization helps wolves locate separated members and even communicate between packs marking their territories. One study recorded spontaneous howls and responses happen most often between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The cry of wolves doesn’t play into the Sioux name for the January full Moon, which is known as “The Time When Wolves Run Together.” Wolves do plenty of running to defend territory that can stretch hundreds of square miles to find enough prey to support the pack.

Other Celebrations

• Hogmanay | January 1st: is the Scots word for the last day of the old year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year in the Scottish manner. It is normally followed by further celebration on the morning of New Year's Day (1 January) and, in some cases, 2 January—a Scottish bank holiday. In a few contexts, the word Hogmanay is used more loosely to describe the entire period consisting of the last few days of the old year and the first few days of the new year. For instance, not all events held under the banner of Edinburgh's Hogmanay take place on 31 December.

The origins of Hogmanay are unclear, but it may be derived from Norse and Gaelic observances of the winter solstice. Customs vary throughout Scotland and usually include gift-giving and visiting the homes of friends and neighbours, with particular attention given to the first-foot, the first guest of the new year.

• Compitalia/ Feast of Lades | January 3-5: was an annual festival in honor of the Lares Compitales, household deities of the crossroads, to whom sacrifices were offered at the places where two or more ways met.

Dionysius said that Servius Tullius founded the festival, which he describes as it was celebrated in his time. Dionysius relates that the sacrifices consisted of honey-cakes (Ancient Greek: πέλανοι) presented by the inhabitants of each house; and that the people who assisted as ministering servants at the festival were not free men, but slaves, because the Lares took pleasure in the service of slaves. He further adds that the Compitalia were celebrated a few days after the Saturnalia with great splendor, and that the slaves on this occasion had full liberty to do as they pleased.

During the celebration of the festival, each family placed the statue of the underworld goddess Mania at the door of their house. They also hung up at their doors figures of wool representing men and women, accompanying them with humble requests that the Lares and Mania would be contented with those figures, and spare the people of the house

Sources:

Farmersalmanac.com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Llewellyn's 2023 magical almanac: practical magic for everyday living

Wikipedia

Encyclopedia Britannica

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elk-scribe · 1 year

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random eye study

#eye #art #digital art #photo study #elk art

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headspace-hotel · 1 year

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of course, bison and wolves as keystone species should be top priority for rewilding in the USA

I feel like the Appalachians are ready for wolves to be back. Like, the deer are out of control here. The elk reintroduction was a huge success in Eastern Kentucky, but they don't have any natural predators (apart from whatever cougars might still be here...if they are...)

i'm doing all this important work and i'm going back 2 school in the fall to study the ecology of Appalachia, scicomm and sustainability

but i'm still impatient. my heart says rewild the all of the kentucky Now

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daryl-dixon-daydreams · 7 months

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Words: 3,704 Pairing: Daryl Dixon x Fem!Reader Reader pronouns: she/her Era: pre-Alexandria Warnings: descriptions of blood and gore, language, angssstt, frightening scenarios Summary: Y/N and Daryl take a closer look at the elk kill they located. A/N: This is part of a series! Find all the previous parts on the Master List! Previous Chapter

Daryl followed silently behind you and the approach was cautious and measured. Your eyes were fixed ahead on the blur of red in the snow, the same place the ravens had risen from. As you got closer, your heart began to pound. Any elk kill by native wildlife was messy, but you could see even at a distance that this was entirely something else. The carcass finally came into focus and a swell of nausea rose in your stomach. Your feet continued to carry you closer as if of their own volition. They finally stopped when the toes of your boots reached the edge of the crimson-stained snow. Daryl stood slightly behind you, staring at the residual violence of the scene.

There was hardly anything left but puddles of clotted blood mixed with melted snow. It had been a large bull, a majestic set of antlers still attached to the head, but was now reduced to scraggly tufts of hair and nearly clean bones. The area surrounding the bull was messy with gore and blood. The ravens had been feeding on scarce scraps and picking at the little bit of flesh that was left behind. Your eyes roamed over the scene as your stomach turned again.

Daryl broke the thick silence. “This ain’t—this ain’t somethin’ natural, is it? This wasn’t wolves… or a bear?” He didn’t really need you to answer, but you shook your head.

“No,” you said, moving over and bending to look at a particular pattern of blood in the snow. You stood up abruptly and drew in a shaky breath.

“What?” Daryl asked, still not fully understanding the gravity of what the two of you had just stumbled upon.

You gulped down the sick feeling welling up in your throat and nodded at the spray you’d just examined. “This wasn’t scavenged by infected,” you said, turning to look at him. He still had a questioning look on his face. “I mean—this elk wasn’t dead when they found it. That’s an arterial spray. Something that only happens if the heart is still pumping.”

Daryl’s eyes drifted down to the blood in the snow and you watched his face darken. “How fast can—?”

“Forty miles per hour,” you interrupted him. “An elk can run forty miles per hour.” Your eyes drifted over the terrain. “They probably couldn’t hit that in here with all the trees and terrain, but still… They’re fast. And a big bull like this would have fought with his antlers, even if it was sick or weak or something. But it must have been completely overwhelmed…” You sighed, staring again at the complete decimation of the carcass. Nothing was left behind; no fat, no organs, no skin… nothing but hair and bone. “Shit,” you swore, squeezing your eyes shut against the horrific scene.

Daryl walked around it, studying the muddle of tracks in the snow. He began to follow a trampled path smeared with blood leading away from the carcass, crossbow in hand. “Hey—Y/N…”

You heard the apprehension in his voice as plainly as the whine of an emergency siren. “Hmm?” You hurried around to the other side and met him. He nodded ahead into the trees.

“There’s a path that goes off this way,” he drawled, though he didn’t need to point it out. The smears of blood and the trampled and disturbed snow was plain.

Behind you the dogs seemed on edge, sniffing at the carcass but staying alert and pacing the perimeter. You were sure they could smell that the place had been swarmed with infected. You whistled to them softly and they came to your sides. This time, Daryl let you go ahead as he scrutinized the surroundings, adjusting his grip on his bow, his fingers flexing a bit anxiously. His eyes swept behind, left, right, in front, and repeated.

The path ahead wove through the trees and you could feel your body tensing with each step. Perhaps one of your senses already knew what was coming. The anticipation had you feeling sick.

When the trees began to open up again ahead, your eyes landed on another crimson mass in the snow. Your feet stopped on their own. Your hand went to the hilt of your knife and you pulled in a long, nervous breath. Daryl heard it.

“What is it?” Daryl’s voice from behind you.

“Another kill,” you said. “Come on.”

You pushed forward again, but more slowly, and you kept your footsteps in the snow as silent as possible. It was slippery where the horde had been, the snow compacting into ice that was spotted pink and red. There was another, larger clearing ahead and it slowly came into view. Behind you, Daryl was so concerned about watching the rear and flanks that he almost bumped into you when you stopped abruptly at the edge of the meadow. The next thing he was aware of was the rapid, agitated sound of your breathing.

“No—oh my God,” you breathed out, more to yourself or maybe to the ether than to him.

Daryl stepped around you and looked ahead, getting his first glimpse of what had you so frozen and rigid. Bathed in the winter light was a meadow that looked like a warzone. The snow was stained with many ponds of blood and gore and among them were endless elk carcasses nearly picked clean. The bodies of a few infected lay motionless in the snow, perhaps killed during some struggle with a bull. The mountain air carried the sickening tang of copper and the stink of decomposition, masking the usual fresh and invigorating scent of pine.

“Holy fuck,” you muttered, your eyes moving frantically over the scene. “Holy fucking shit.”

Daryl could hear and sense your panic. The dogs could too; they were on either side of you and stayed still, ears alert and noses sniffing furiously in the air. Bear seemed to be scanning the surroundings just as Daryl had been.

Daryl took one further step out into the clearing and studied the tree line. Carcasses everywhere. Carcasses as far as he could see. Hundreds. He adjusted his grip on his bow. “We should leave,” he said, his blue eyes frantic as he watched for the dead. He finally glanced back at you over his shoulder when you didn’t respond.

Your eyes were wide and glassy and all color seemed to have drained from your face.

“Y/N?” He walked over and you finally looked at him. His expression was grim, his mouth tight and concerned.

“We—we hunted bulls from this herd—me and my dad,” you stammered. “Every fall since I was ten. There—how could—”

Daryl gulped, for the first time realizing there was a barely suppressed feeling of panic in the pit of his stomach. “’M sorry,” he murmured. “But we can’t stay here. We gotta go.”

You didn’t seem to register what he’d said. Your eyes drifted back to the gruesome, brutal scene over his shoulder. A tear broke out onto your cheek.

Daryl touched you lightly, sweeping a finger under your chin and along your jaw so you’d meet his eyes. “Y/N, we have to get outta here. This just happened this mornin’. Whatever horde did this is probably still around and we dun wanna be caught by surprise out here. We gotta go. ‘M sorry…”

Finally, you nodded and seemed to come back to yourself some. A swell of nausea rose in your stomach and bubbled nearly to your throat. Sick. You felt horribly sick. “Yeah,” you breathed. “Yeah. You’re right. Come on.” You turned away and started back down the trampled path you’d come in on, hurrying to get away from the smell of death and the brutality that had been done in that place.

_ _ _ _ _ _

When you and Daryl arrived back at the cabin, the tense silence that had nearly suffocated both of you the entire journey home remained. Unlike after the view of the valley, Daryl was determined to talk with you about what you’d just discovered. After seeing the massacre of the elk herd, he realized the issues of the infected and the new terrifying runners were even more pressing than either you or he first realized. The snares being full were a warning, the dead at the cabin during your recovery were a warning, and the infected popping out of the snow were warnings—more dead than you thought were already up the mountain.

You were hanging up your wet winter gear as Daryl stood on the rug in front of the fire. He gulped, wringing his hands anxiously but his voice finally cut through the silence. “Y/N…” he drawled gently.

You turned, but it took a long moment before you lifted your eyes to him.

“I think—we should talk ‘bout—”

You sighed heavily and pinched the bridge of your nose. “I don’t want to talk about it…”

He took two hesitant steps toward you. “I know. But we gotta.”

“I just need a little time, okay?” You were still trying to fully process what you’d seen and what it meant.

But Daryl wasn’t going to give up. This was dangerous and urgent. “We might not have time,” he said, his voice more insistent. “It woulda taken… hundreds and hundreds of infected to do what they did to that herd—”

“I know. I saw it.” There was a rising edge in your voice now, but Daryl plunged ahead despite it.

He crossed the room to stand in front of you and his voice was almost pleading. He wanted to reach out and touch you, but your body language was guarded and closed off. “Y/N, please listen to me. Ya can’t stay here. With how many of them have already made it up the mountain—shit could go real fuckin’ bad real fuckin’ fast up here now. A horde like that? Especially with those runners? They could tear the cabin apart.”

“You think I don’t know that? I was there too, Daryl. It was my idea to go to the lookout. I saw the fucking valley! I saw the—the elk—what they—” you stopped, swallowing another swell of nausea.

Daryl went rigid for a moment at the sharpness in your voice but softened again when he saw the expression on your face. Your eyes were wide, almost wild and desperate, and they were glassy. “We can’t stay,” he said again softly,

“I know what—I know what it all means, okay?” you said more quietly. “And right now, that feels like losing the last fucking thing I have from any bit of my old life.” Your voice broke as you said those last words and Daryl’s heart ached.

“I get that. I do, and ‘m sorry but—we gotta make this decision now and get the hell out before we can’t.” He finally reached for your hands and took them in his. “Come with me. We’ll load up more supplies, get the dogs, and we’ll head out, go back home—to my home. Please.. I made it before. We can make it back there together.”

Your eyes were searching his face, your expression unreadable.

“Look, I know it ain’t the easy way but—”

You abruptly pulled your hands from his and took a step back, looking at him with a furrowed brow. “Easy? Easy? Is that what you think it’s been like up here? You think surviving here alone has been easy?” Your eyes were wide as you stared back at him, flitting between his. “You think staying here, surrounded by the ghosts of my dead fucking family, was easy? You think surviving alone in this world as a woman was easy? Early on, three men broke into the cabin and tried to abduct me, take me somewhere. I killed them. You think that was easy? Groups have moved through here when the weather is good, found me, found this place and tried to take it or do worse. I’ve had to do shit to survive that no one should have to do. You have any idea how many times I just wanted to give up?”

“No—that ain’t what I—” But you were already walking away. “Y/N, that ain’t—I didn’t mean—” He was desperate to get you to look at him. You had to know that wasn’t what he’d meant. In the moment, all you wanted to do was not think. The dogs trotted behind you, tails down and ears pinned, as you made your way to your bedroom door. “Y/N—”

“None of this has ever been easy,” you said, turning back to glance at Daryl. “None of it. And neither is this shit.” Daryl flinched at the slam of the door behind you.

“Fuck,” Daryl swore, angry at himself and had how you wouldn’t just stop for one second and listen. How could he have chosen his words so poorly? He found himself lashing out at the nearest thing which happened to be a stack of books and old magazines. His hand flicked out at them and they toppled to the floor in a jumbled heap. He rubbed a hand over his face and paced the length of the room, consumed by a jittery, anxious energy. His eyes kept going to the closed door of your bedroom.

Inside, you found yourself shaking as you walked to your bed and collapsed onto the edge in a seated position. Bear gave a soft whine and laid down at your feet. Strider ambled over and rested his chin on your leg, looking up at you with big, chocolate brown eyes. You stroked his head a few times before collapsing backwards onto your bed, your legs still dangling off the side.

It felt like there was a weigth on your chest, pressing on your lungs.

Leave? How could leave? But you had to leave.

Your mind careened between these two thoughts endlessly.

_ _ _ _ _ _

Daryl looked away from the frosted window where night had fallen and his eyes landed back on your door. He hadn’t heard a sound since you’d shut it and him out. He chewed on his bottom lip and climbed to his feet, restacking the books he’d shoved off the coffee table in his anger. He hadn’t managed a fucking thing since the argument. He felt unsteady and sick. He’d only accomplished taking a shower and he’d blasted himself with cold water like some kind of punishment…

He gulped and paced over to your door, hesitating with his hand ready to knock. He just needed to hear your voice. He needed to know you were at least somewhat okay in there. Shoving down his anxiety, he softly tapped his knuckles on the door. “Y/N?” His voice came out more gravelly than usual.

“Daryl, please just—just leave me alone. I need some time...”

He was relieved to hear anything from you, but the worry in the pit of his stomach didn’t vanish. He sighed and shut his eyes but no magic words to convince you to open the door came to him. “I’m—‘m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”

“I know. But I need some time,” you interrupted him.

“Alrigh’. I’ll be—I’ll be in the other room if ya need anythin’,” he finished lamely. When you didn’t say anymore, he drifted away to the other bedroom and laid down on top of the quilt on his back. At some point, he heard you move through the cabin, speaking softly to the dogs. He deciphered the clink of their food bowls and then the creaking of the cabin door.

He rushed to the doorway and looked out toward the front door, suddenly seized by worry that you’d decided to go off into the night for some unknown reason, but when all your winter gear was still hanging by the door his panicked eased. In a moment, you came back in with the dogs and looked up to see him standing in the doorway across the cabin. Daryl felt an electric jolt up his back like he always did when your eyes met, but it was quickly replaced by a chasm of space in his chest at how sad and drawn you looked. Your eyes were a bit red and puffy, a clear sign that you’d been crying and he found himself desperate to put things right.

“Y/N, I—”

You lifted a hand gently to stop him. “I know that isn’t what you meant. I know. But I just can’t right now, okay? Let’s just go to bed and we can try and—and talk tomorrow. Alright?” Daryl nodded, but the look on his face was agony. There was a sharp, insistent pang in your heart as you looked at him. The man thought he’d ruined everything.

To Daryl’s surprise, you wove your way across the room and stopped close in front of him. Your hand came to land lightly on his cheek, and although you didn’t smile and your expression was still drawn, you leaned in and press a kiss to his other cheek.

His eyes closed at the soft touch of your lips and when you stepped back, much of the distress was gone from his face. His blue eyes flitted over your features as you withdrew. “Tomorrow. Okay?” you whispered.

He gulped and managed a nod and watched you until you disappeared into your bedroom again.

_ _ _ _ _ _

At some point, perhaps from sheer exhaustion, Daryl had managed to fall asleep. You had too, despite the churning and biting anxiety in your stomach. But sometime in the early hours of the morning, Strider sat up in bed beside you and growled. It shot you awake immediately.

The room was dark, the fire in the hearth having died down. Even the coals were cloaked in a fresh layer of still hot ash. You sat up and strained your hearing, but for a long moment you didn’t hear anything. You reached for the light on your nightstand and clicked it on. Still nothing you could hear. The only sound was the thumping of your heartbeat loud in your ears.

Then Strider growled again. And Bear was alert where he had been lying in front of the fireplace.

Then you gasped as you heard a dull thud on the wall of the cabin. Your breaths came quickly now. Silence. Then a dragging along the outside wall. Strider growled again and you calmed him and continued to listen, trying to identify if this was animal, dead, or human…

Another bang and a growl, which was clearly not an animal. Then a deranged yell, the kind those fucking runners made. Another thud, but in a different part of the wall. A scratching sound. Shit.

You were frozen, sitting up in bed, straining your hearing to its limits. Please just let them move on. Please. Worried that some of the light from your lamp would show around the edges of the building, you clicked it off, but that only increased your unease. You wondered if Daryl could hear them on his half of the cabin.

There were a few final sounds, but eventually everything was still and silent again and it seemed that any infected outside had moved on. The dogs had settled again, easing your concern further. You felt for the hilt of your knife beside you on the nightstand, and being reassured it was within easy reach, you laid down again and settled into the pillow. Sleep took you again.

_ _ _ _ _ _

Another jolt awake. It was still dark. Barking. The dogs were barking. Your throat burned. You coughed, sitting up in bed, disoriented. Your hand flew to your knife on the side table. Smoke? You smelled smoke. You tasted smoke. Fire. The cabin was on fire?

You flopped out of bed onto the floor, the dogs moving around you urgently, chaotically. Why hadn’t the smoke alarms gone off? You crawled, coughing from the thick, hot air and groped for the light switch by the door. Nothing. No power? There was no power. No power, no smoke alarms. Had the main fireplace caught? Had an ember gone unnoticed somewhere?

What the hell was happening? Everything was happening so fast. Your thoughts were racing.

You reached the doorknob but let out a yell when it burned your palm. Your pressed a hand to the wood of the door experimentally and it was entirely too warm. Your eyes went to the bottom of the door and keyed in on the reddish—orange glow. Fuck! A big fire. Outside your door. SHIT. Out. You had to get out. Daryl? Was he awake? Was he okay? You couldn’t stop coughing. Every breath singed your throat. You pulled your shirt up over your nose and mouth in hopes of filtering out some of the smoke and soot. “Come on, boys! Come here!” you yelled to the dogs, and that’s when you finally registered the noise. That pounding, dragging, growling, scratching sound was loud in your ears—loud enough you had to yell over it. The dead.

You continued your crawl to the window, calling for the dogs to follow you, and as you approached it the volume of the cacophony of noise grew. You stayed hunched on the floor below the sill, panicked, frozen. Infected. The dead were outside, and by the sound of it, it was a flood of them.

You were trapped. Any moment they could come through the glass on the window. It was rattling in its pane.

The cabin was on fire. And the dead had come. And you were trapped.

#dead of winter #daryl dixon fanfic series #daryl dixon angst #daryl dixon fanfiction #daryl dixon x reader #daryl dixon twd #the walking dead #twd fanfics #daryl dixon drabbles #daryl imagines #daryl x y/n #fanfics #writers of tumblr #twd drabbles

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blogforfauna · 2 years

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Canis lupus

Grey wolves are the largest canine species, usually weighing between 75 and 125 pounds (34 and 56.7 kg). The largest wolf ever recorded weighed 175 pounds (79 kg). This was a Mackenzie Valley wolf, and they are generally a lot larger than other grey wolf subspecies.

Although wolves in captivity have been observed with rigid roles in their packs like alpha, beta, “mid-rank”, and omega, this is not how it works in wild wolf packs. There are vague positions wolves have in a pack, but these are exaggerated in captivity when wolves are kept in close proximity to each other. Dispersal wolves, which are wolves who have left the pack they were born in, do sometimes join the packs of unrelated wolves, but wolf packs are usually just families. And in a family, of course the parents are going to be the most dominant. They are the “alpha” wolves. What people consider to be beta wolves would generally be older siblings- obviously less dominant than their parents but more dominant than siblings from newer litters. “Omega” wolves are believed to be extremely submissive, rejected, outcast wolves. It might appear to be like this in some cases, especially in captivity, but this role along with alpha and beta are clichés and rarely influence wild packs.

There is probably only one “true” wolf species in the world, and that’s the grey wolf. Many people believe that the Arctic wolf, timber wolf, or Eastern (Algonquin) wolf are different species, but they´re all subspecies of the grey wolf. Critically endangered red wolves are currently considered to be their own species, Canis rufus, but recent studies show that these wolves are likely the result of interbreeding between grey wolves and coyotes.

Domestic dogs are wolves too. They are considered to be a subspecies of the grey wolf just like Arctic and Eastern wolves are.

Just like red foxes aren't always red, grey wolves aren’t always grey. While the most common coat is agouti, which is a banded fur pattern consisting of grey, tan, black, and white, their coats can also have distinctive patterns or be solid colors. Wolves with mostly black fur are considered melanistic, which is sort of the opposite of albinism. They got this trait from domestic dogs that interbred with them centuries ago. Grey wolves very rarely come even close to being solid white, with the Arctic subspecies as an exception. Except for when they are young, since all wolves are born with brown fur, these Arctic wolves are almost always a solid white or cream color.

Found throughout much of North America, Europe, and Asia, grey wolves are second only to the red fox when it comes to distribution size among canines. In North America they generally hunt large prey like elk, moose, bison, and musk ox. In Europe and Asia they target musk deer, roe deer, and wild boar. Wolves in different regions or even individual packs specialize in hunting different prey. All wolves tend to hunt in a similar manner, running prey down using incredible stamina and sometimes chasing prey 30-40 miles (48.3-64.4 km) in a single day.

Many people believe that wolves howl at the moon. This is a cool idea, but it's a myth. Wolves do tend to howl with their faces pointed up towards the sky, but they only do that to help the sound carry farther. This way their howls can be heard up to 10 miles away. These howls are used to communicate with other wolves, sometimes to find members of their pack and other times to scare strange wolves away.

SUPER LONG POST OOPS

I rate the grey wolf 20/10. This is the animal ever

Photo credits:

(1) livingwithwolves.org (2) William Ervin (3) Jim Brandenburg (4) William Ervin (5) Michigan Technological University (6) Ross Forsyth (7) National Geographic

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queerasfact · 8 months

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Happy birthday Elke Mackenzie!

British lichenologist Elke Mackenzie was born on 11 September 1911. She's best known for her participation in Operation Tabarin, where she travelled to Antarctica during the 1940s to collect and study lichen samples. Elke came out as trans in 1976, and announced in the International Lichenological Newsletter, that she “should now be addressed as Dr. Elke Mackenzie.”

Before coming out, Elke had subtly inserted her true identity into her work - a 1972 paper of hers, published under her deadname, acknowledged "Miss Elke Mackenzie for technical and bibliographic assistance in the preparation of this paper."

Learn more

#elke mackenzie #trans history #queer history #lgbt #lgbtq #queer #lgbt history #queer scientists

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themotherofhorses · 2 years

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- last of her house no more: I

Series Summary: She was born to Daenerys Stormborn and Khal Drogo on the Dothraki Sea, the youngest of their dragon brood. Known as the Seven Kingdom’s Delight, she trains with swords and arakhs, studies philosophy and history, and takes immense pride in the woman she is becoming. But her life is forever changed when she comes face-to-face with her long-deceased Green ancestors, including the man the maesters refer to as the one-eyed kinslayer. Now, this princess faces a future not even her mother could foresee in her dreams

pairing: aemond targaryen x targaryen!reader

warnings: none.

main masterlist | series masterlist | series playlist

Chapter One:

Targaryens

It was nearing the early afternoon sun when the young princess parted Winterfell for King's Landing.

Waving goodbye to the Starks, she held tightly to Drogon's scales as he took to the sky, massive wings stirring up the surrounding snow and dirt of the land. Throwing one final look over her shoulder, she spied a look of awe on Arya's face and smiled. She greatly enjoyed the second youngest Stark's company and would be counting down the days until their next gathering.

It would be some time before she arrived home. Dragons were faster than horses and ships, but still, a great deal of the day would be stolen during the journey. Drogon was a fast flyer and smooth like the summer winds. He also despised the cold and would be sure to put enough distance between them and the North as quickly as possible. From that hour onward, she allowed herself to get comfortable, stretching her arms and legs and laying her head down close to him. It was her favorite thing to do while on dragon-back. This way, she could hear her eldest brother's heavy breaths as he glided across snow-capped mountains, farms, and riverlands, and then the bluest waters.

Small fish, of hundreds of colors, leaped out, maybe to greet them, and a few fishermen paused to watch them sail overhead.

These were the reasons why she enjoyed flying, this young Targaryen princess.

It was exhilarating and peaceful, unlike no other thing in the world. The old maesters in the Citadel would never be able to truly record it in their scrolls. Her mother was the first dragon rider in over a century, and she became the second on her sixth name day, when Drogon grew large enough to be ridden and allowed her to climb on his back. As a gift, he took her to see the nearby lands, where great elk and bears and direwolves, as well as other creatures, wandered in the woodlands. When they returned, Ser Jorah said she reminded him of Rhaenys Targaryen, the sister-wife of Aegon the Conqueror, and how she rode her she-dragon Meraxes. But her ancestors used saddles and ropes and horns for holding onto, and the princess had no such thing.

Her mother would not allow it. Zaldrizes buzdari iksos daor, Daenerys Stormborn would remind her every time they mounted the dragons. A dragon is not a slave.

"Drogon, do you feel different?"

She had suddenly felt a tug in her chest, not but a second before. It was strong, with some pain. It lengthened over her ribs and up to her heart, almost choking out a breath within her throat. Drogon chirped but made no other noise. The tug felt weird. As if it was trying to tell her something. But as soon as it arrived, it left her body, and she was left feeling fine but confused. "Something felt wrong, but only for a second. Maybe it is the cold? We are not used to it, after all," she decided.

But it was no longer cold around them. The snow clouds fell apart for blue skies long ago, and the sun god followed the two closely. She rested her head against his blackened frame and closed her eyes. She thought about the previous conversation she had with Sansa and Arya Stark.

Would you ever take a husband? They asked her over hot tea and baked delights. There are plenty fine Northern men; perhaps a marriage between one and our Targaryen princess would strengthen our alliance. Sansa leant closer, and said, After all, the North remembers, with a wink.

The sun god was closer to the land, and farther from his woman wife the moon goddess, when King's Landing appeared below them. The smallfolk were bustling in the streets as the two broke from the clouds and flew overhead. Some stopped to watch, craning their heads to catch the slightest glimpse of their Delight, while others cried out, tossing their hands up towards her. A few laughing children raced after the dragon's shadow, trying to touch it.

Adjacent to the Red Keep was the private courtyard, large enough to fit three dragons. It had been around since the years of King Viserys I's reign, almost two centuries before the princess's birth, and was used for their own dragons. Several nearby kingsguards stepped back as Drogon landed on the cliff overlooking the yard. Ever the largest of the dragon brood, Drogon favored making an entrance wherever he went. He screamed a piercing screech that rattled the close walls and chariots and left some of the knights clutching their ears before descending downwards. The princess held on tightly, jerking forward to meet his movements. Off in the distance, two similar roars rang. Rhaegal and Viserion. And to the side, Ser Jorah and Ser Barristan stood watching them, and to her front, her queen mother entered the courtyard with Missandei and Tyrion rearing behind. She failed to take notice of the strangers hanging back towards the Red Keep's doors.

Drogon touched his shoulder towards the ground, and she slid off with great ease.

"Welcome back, princess. I trust your journey was both safe and pleasant?" Ser Barristan asked.

She smiled as she ran a gentle hand up Drogon's neck to his face, receiving a purr in return. "Peaceful as usual," she said, slipping her gloves off with her teeth. "One day, you ought to join me in the sky. I believe Rhaegal or Viserion wouldn't mind treating you to such magnificence." He laughed, shaking his head, "Thank you, princess, but I am quite content in staying on the ground."

"And you, Ser Jorah?"

Ser Jorah smiled as well, "I leave the sky to you Targaryens."

Both men were uncles to her, having watched her mature from a small babe following her mother's conquest for the Iron Throne to the proclaimed heir of the lands. And she loved them dearly for that, though they never took her invitation to ride. "But I believe your mother is nearing, princess. It seems as though she has come baring us some news."

She turned as Daenerys came upon her, dressed in a long black gown. Their house sigil was embroidered with scarlet stitching on her chest, and her long silver locks were held together with multiple, elaborate braids and a three-headed dragon pin. "Hello, mother!" she called out, moving to greet her with a hug. She smelled of rich spices and the pretty perfumes the merchants sometimes sold by the docks. Despite being gone for no more than two mornings, she missed her. "House Stark sends their regards and best wishes."

"And how is Lady Sansa?" Tyrion asked, coming to stand next to them with Missandei.

"She is well! In fact, she was the one that received me when I arrived, next to Arya. Showed me how her people are faring; I am afraid they are prepping for yet another harsh winter, but that is nothing new for the North. Perhaps we can visit them before the season ends?" She looked at her mom, who smiled and nodded. "That would be wonderful."

"Maybe we should send her next time to broker with the Baratheons and Lannisters?"

She glanced at Missandei, who had said that. "I have just returned home, my dear aunt. Please allow me some time to rest and prepare myself to be fed to the lions."

They shared a laugh, and Tyrion shook his head with the shadow of a grin. "Has anything changed while I was gone? Ser Jorah said you come bearing news?" Her mother seemed hesitant, a worrisome glint in her lilac eyes. And it was then that she noticed the Red Priestess standing only a few feet away. Such was an unusual sight; it made her remember the feeling she felt while returning home. Something has happened, she thought. I fear something is indeed different. "Red Priestess Kinvara," she bowed her head.

"Hello, princess," Kinvara smiled. "It is a lovely sight to see you again. I take it you have been well?"

"Yes, Priestess. The Gods continue to bless me with good health and fortune, and for that, I am thankful."

Beside her, Daenerys shifted and took her daughter's hand in hers. "I am happy you have returned today, daughter, and in good spirits and health as well. Kinvara, in her graciousness, has brought several…guests for us to entertain, my dearest love."

"Guests? Oh, if I had known, I would have been home sooner. My apologies.”

Kinvara angled her body towards the Red Keep's door. “Do not fret, princess. You had no way of knowing. I believe no one did. Consider these guests a gift from the Lord of Light.”

The princess followed her gaze to a family settled at the steps, clustered around each other as if cattle. From the light of the setting sun, she saw that three of them were silver-haired, like her and her mother. The other two wore green and were stiffed in their posture, and had features that marked them not of her noble house.

“I do not understand,” she said, confused, looking at her mother. It made her remember the times Tyrion would join her at the table whilst she studied history. The two quickly discovered they were quite fond of the war between Aegon II Targaryen and his half-sister, Rhaenyra. Many days they sat over scrolls and notes regarding Aegon the Usurper, his sister and queen consort Helaena and their mother, Alicent Hightower. And of their damned brother Aemond One-Eye, the Kinslayer. Long deceased before this time.

She did not understand.

Standing before her were her ancestors, the ones belonging to the days of the Dance of the Dragons.

notes: everyone say thank you to my dear sweet lovebug @dothrckis, who is helping me with this series and is quite literally the backbone.

tag list: @dothrckis @dudfahsn @xcharlottemikaelsonx @animusxy @nsainmoonchild @rosaryos @xceafh @winxschester @trshngyn @aemcndtargaryen @hightidelowmood @theroyaldixon @hotleaf-juice @sustisama @filmelunar @brezzybfan @khaleesihavilliard @averagethottie @babyblue-chaos @nomugglesallowed @letsloveimagines @queenofterrasen418 @persephonesportal

(if you would like to be added or removed from the tag list, please let me know. if ur name is crossed out, i was unable to find you to tag! message me so we can fix it :)) reblogs and comments are greatly appreciated <3)

#aemond targaryen x reader #aemond targaryen x targaryen!reader #house targaryen #aemond targaryen #aemond one eye #aemond the kinslayer #daenerys targaryen #mother of dragons #game of thrones #house of the dragon #house of the dragon imagine #hotd fanfic #vic writes 🧸

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