#ground-dwelling tree frog

[ellethespaceunicorn]

The Howling in Claw Creek Forest, Chapter Two

Chapter Two: The Cabin in the Woods

Rating: Mature, 18+, Minors - DNI

Pairing: Werewolf!Walter Marshall x Reader

Word Count: 3K

Series Summary: You live in a small town called Claw Creek, surrounded by a deep, dark forest. Since you were a kid, an urban legend of the creature in the woods has been told. If the distant howls at night and mutilated livestock are anything to go by, you fear the stories to be true.

Chapter Summary: You search the woods for the house you were taken to that night. It’s been hours and you’re lost. Your phone has no service, it is getting dark, and your dumbass didn’t tell anyone you were going on an adventure.

Warnings: mutual pining

A/N: A special thank you to @peyton-warren for being my lovely beta and soundboard for this. I really hope y’all enjoy this one. It was a tough one to write, Walter was so feisty!

Dividers by me

Support/Reblog banner by me

Cover Art by me

Series Masterlist

My Masterlist

When you arrived at the hospital, you had another nurse and colleague check out your head injury on your next shift. Armed with a clean bill of health and a brain bursting with unanswered questions, you try to go about your day. 

The entirety of your workday was spent having coworkers break you out of a trance. Every few minutes, you’d gaze off into nothingness until those around you noticed and snapped their fingers in front of your face. You kept thinking about the wolf and Walter, trying to piece the two together. 

After work, you change your clothes and put on your hiking boots. Even though the drive from the cabin to Liv’s house was short, that was in a vehicle. On foot, you will need to cover a lot of ground. You decided against driving your car down the road that splits the forest. 

If you parked at the entrance to the forest near the park grounds, you could easily sneak back to your car and bypass the curfew checkpoint at the tree line. Not that you planned on being out until nightfall. 

Parking your car in the gravel-filled lot, you tighten your scarf around your neck and start your journey into the woods. Walking takes you about ten minutes to get to the clearing where you and Olivia enjoyed wine coolers. It didn’t seem like it took you this long to get to the clearing a couple of days ago, but you don’t stay long enough to dwell on it.

Retracing your steps, you walk for another few minutes in search of the tree with the giant roots jutting out from the forest floor. After ten minutes of wandering, you think about giving up because daylight is in short supply. Looking down at your phone, you curse when you see the battery percentage looking back at you. Eleven percent wouldn’t get you far should you need to make an urgent call or use the flashlight since you forgot to bring one.

After another few minutes of traipsing through the forest, you trip over a large root and accidentally find your tree. Following the roots, you find the little alcove that you had planned to hide in during your game with Liv. You notice the setting sun as you turn to sit on the higher roots. 

Taking out your phone, you realize that it had shut off due to low power. Shoving it back in your pocket, you stand up and wipe a hand down your face. You’re pissed off, cold, and now have no way to contact anyone should you need to. Anger boils your blood as you stand in the now-dark forest.

Pacing for a few seconds doesn’t calm you down. You start to hear all the little nocturnal animals coming alive and usually, you would find this peaceful. However, you would give anything to hear a certain howl. But it’s just crickets, frogs, and owls out tonight.

You don’t know what else to do but…

“Fuck. Fuck! Fuuuuuuuuuck!” You scream out into the void, it would seem.

Until you hear a response in the form of a huff behind you. 

When you turn around, you're only a little surprised to see the same wolf from before walking toward you. You stand still until it stops about a foot from you. You look down and study its paws, large enough to rip your throat out. But the wolf just sits down as a dog would and looks up at you before yawning, showing off its sharp teeth and long dusty-mauve tongue. 

If this were a dog, you would have reached out a hand to pet it. But the sheer size of it was enough to keep your hands to yourself. You didn't have to think about that for long before the wolf was back on all fours walking around you and nudging at your leg as it started to walk away. It doesn't make it far before it turns around to look at you.

"Oh, am I supposed to follow you or something?" You feel silly asking the wolf a question, but only less so when it huffs in response, "Okay. Following a wolf wasn't on the itinerary. But it isn't attacking me so whatever," You finish, mostly to yourself.

Following the wolf, you notice you are going in a completely different direction through the forest. Of course, the last time you were here was an inebriated adventure but you could've sworn you would go right instead of left. Either way, you're putting your faith in a four-legged carnivore so you stop thinking about what should or shouldn't be happening.

A light in the distance can be seen through the trees and once you reach it, you find yourself in front of a medium-sized cabin. There is a light at the little fence encircling the property. The black Ford F-150 that Walter drove is parked to the side in the driveway. You have to admit you didn't expect to see this place look so...normal. It almost looks quaint.

You shuffle on your feet and are suddenly too nervous to propel you forward. Whining at your side reminds you that you aren't alone. You absentmindedly reach your hand out to stroke the wolf's fur. Thick, coarse fur slides through your fingers. Glowing, yellow eyes look into yours and your fear starts to dissipate. The wolf licks at your hand and then takes off around the back of the cabin.

You think about shouting after it or running after it, but instead, you walk up to the fencing. You could swear you hear a door being closed in the back of the cabin, but you can't be sure and you don't want to snoop. Opening the latch to the gate, you walk through the front yard dragging your feet. Your fight or flight response makes an appearance when you hear movement in the house. 

'It's now or never,' you think, raising your hand to knock on the door. 

Three sharp knocks and you shove your hands in your pockets, waiting for the door to be opened. You jump at the sound of something crashing to the ground and soon the light above the door is turned on. You hold up a hand over your eyes as the harsh fluorescent beams down on you in the dark of night. The door is opened and you take your hand down to see Walter standing there. You’re once again under the spell of him.

He stands tall at about 6’1", and his hair is a disheveled mess but it only adds to the sex appeal. His brows are scrunched together and it doesn’t look like he needs you at his doorstep right now by the scowl across his pretty pink lips. He’s shirtless, sweaty, breathing hard, and smells like a wet dog. The denim shorts he wears are tattered at the ends and his defined calves are on display. His bare feet are a bit dirty as if he’s been running barefoot.

Your eyes shoot back up to his, a faint glow makes his blue eyes look almost golden. He blinks a few times and the glow is gone, aquamarine replaces gold. 

You run through a mental checklist. Wet dog smell, check. Frayed shorts that were probably thrown on in a hurry, check. Golden eyes, check. You feel so stupid thinking about the last item. Walter’s hair color is the same as the wolf that brought you here. 

“Are you going to come in or are you going to just stare at me like I’m a–”

“Werewolf?” You blurt out, cutting off Walter’s sentence.

“Just come in, and I can explain everything,” He opens the door and steps aside to let you in, but you don’t move, “I won’t hurt you, I promise. Please come in?” 

His sincere tone and pleading eyes get the better of you. You sigh, chewing the inside of your cheek. Walking in, you step just inside the living room, giving Walter enough space to close the door behind you. You notice a side table knocked over, a lamp, and small knickknacks on the floor next to it. You turn back to look at him and his face is that of a kicked puppy.

Of course, it is.

“Look, I didn’t–”

“As much as I want to have this conversation right now, I can’t get over how much you smell. I’m gonna need you to take care of that ASAP. Go get clean and I’ll tidy up. And where is the kitchen? I need coffee if I’m gonna have this conversation sober.” You say, taking off your coat and laying on the back of the couch.

Walter walks you to the kitchen and watches as you busy yourself with the coffee maker. You tell him politely to get out of his kitchen and go shower. He opens his mouth to talk but closes it when he sees your eyebrows raise and your hand go to your hip. He simply nods and walks away. You hear him walk up the stairs and soon the faint sound of a shower being turned on before a door is closed.

You fill the coffee maker with grounds and water, setting it then make your way to the living room. Picking up the end table, you turn it right side up and set it on its legs. You bend down to pick up the figurines from the floor. You’re not surprised when they turn out to be two wolves, the larger one made of light wood and the smaller wolf a dark mahogany.

You hear the coffee maker sputtering and go in to check on it. Pulling out two mugs from their spot in the corner cabinet, you fill one and leave one for Walter, not sure if he even wants coffee so late at night. Did werewolves even drink coffee?

So, that’s it. You’re just entertaining the idea that werewolves not only exist but that you’re in a cabin with one. In the back of your mind, your grandfather’s tale of the Claw Creek creature demands attention. You were going over it when you heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

You bring your mug to your mouth to take a sip when Walter appears in the doorway, just as beautiful as when you saw him for the first time. His wet hair curls around his ears. He’s wearing a tighter-than-necessary heather gray henley, the front of it holding onto his pecs for dear life while the sleeves are pulled up to show off muscular forearms. A pair of jeans hug his meaty legs and boots cover his feet.

“You stare a lot.” His words break you out of your ogling and you finally pull down the mug from your lips.

“Don’t flatter yourself, Wolfie,” you comment, suddenly hyperaware that you may have just said something rude.

Walter’s chuckle surprises you, and you’re put at ease, “Wolfie?” He challenges, walking toward you.

You shrug your shoulders and stand your ground, looking up at him as he stops in front of you. He nods to the coffee maker and you step back to let him make a cup for himself. He takes a sip and hums at the flavor. He turns to ask you about it and you answer before he can open his mouth.

“Cinnamon. Just a few shakes and it takes away the sharp bitterness. Now, if you’re done talking about coffee, can we talk about how you can turn into a wolf?” Your frustration peeks through and Walter nods, leading you back into the living room.

Once you get to the couch, you set down your coffee on the table in front of you and turn to face Walter. He takes the cue and starts to speak.

“So, what do you want to know? Do you want me to go through my entire lifetime? It’s quite long, so far. Or start where I was attacked and bitten by someone I thought was a friend? Should I dispel werewolf myths about uncontrollable shifting during the full moon?” He rambles on, probably trying to confuse you or overwhelm you. 

Luckily, you’re already overwhelmed so his attempt is in vain.

“I have a couple of questions. The first one is: Do you eat people? The second one is: Could you follow my scent to find me?” you offer, pulling your leg up to sit on it while leaning against the back of the couch.

“I don’t eat people. I don’t think Werewolves as a whole, ever eat people. Attack? Sure. But no, I don’t crave human flesh,” he pauses, looking down at his hands, “How’d you know about the scent thing?” He’s suddenly super interested in his fingernails.

“I didn’t know about the scent thing. You just confirmed a hunch, is all,” You reach for your mug, bringing it closer to your lips before taking a sip, “One more question and I’ll release you from the hot seat. Are you safe out here? Like, I mean, with the animal mutilations in the town, they were talking about sending hunters out to look for whatever was doing it.”

“That wasn’t me, just so you know. I’m safe out here. I actually live in town, I just come here to shift and get some time away. No one comes out this way. This used to be an abandoned shack, but I fixed it up over the past years. Got electricity going and made it...wait. You care if I’m safe out here?” he presses, a toothy grin showing off his sharp canines.

“You saved my life, I can’t care about your wellbeing? I’m being nice, don’t push it, Wolfie,” you snap, a little harsher than you meant to. You did feel lied to, but he was being honest with you. You shake your head before insisting, “I’m sorry, I just...this is a lot. And I need you to know that I was really pissed off with you in the beginning, but I know why you didn’t tell me. Safety and all that. Maybe you can drive me back to my car so I can start the drive back home?” You were cut off by an intense yawn that came out of nowhere.

“Speaking of safety, you look like you’re ready to fall over. You’ve had all of about two sips of coffee and that yawn almost unhinged your jaw a bit there. Just, I won’t be able to sleep if I know you’re tired behind the wheel,” he admits, turning concerned eyes on you.

“You know, as a wolf, using puppy dog eyes on me should be considered unfair. And how do I know this is not some elaborate excuse to get me into your bed so you can have your way with me, huh?” you huff, squinting at him as his eyes glimmer in the low light of the room.

“Do you want me to have my way with you?” he leans back, head over his shoulder, and crosses his arms over his broad chest.

Your hand flies out to slap his bicep. You figure that was easier than giving him the answer that was on the tip of your tongue.

He rolls his eyes and gets up from the couch, pointing to your coffee cup in your hand and motioning for you to give it to him. He takes both of your unfinished cups to the kitchen and when he comes back, he heads for the stairs. “You coming, pup?”

“Pup? Is that because I called you Wolfie?” You stand up from the couch, tilting your head at him before walking to follow him up the steps.

“I don’t know, give me time and I’ll think of something better.” He winks at you and smiles when you duck your head.

Once Walter shows you to his bedroom, you don’t hide your urge to look over everything in the room while he leans against the open door. You almost get upset when you see that his bedspread isn’t a large picture of a wolf’s face. Somehow you thought it would just fit in with his vibe. But the midnight blue damask comforter that covers the bed is actually way more fitting.

“Wait, where are you gonna sleep if I sleep in here?” You question as you sit on the bed and take off your boots.

“I figured I would sleep on the couch. I don’t need much sleep anyway. Unless that was an invitation…?” he smirks and is surprised when you look to be thinking it over.

“Can you stay in here ‘til I fall asleep? I don’t want to be alone.” you confess, looking everywhere but who you were talking to. You can’t believe the words coming out of your mouth, but you also know you won’t sleep in a bed that’s not yours all by your lonesome.

“Are you alright? I mean, of course, you’re not. What am I saying?” he rambles, coming into the room fully and hunching his shoulders so he can seem less intimidating.

Walter walks over to the bed, pulls back the bedspread, and motions for you to crawl under the covers. Once you are comfortable, he turns on a low light on his dresser and turns off the overhead light of the room. Coming back to the bed, he sits at the edge and toes off his boots before you pull him to lie down next to you.

Turning to face him as he lays on his back, you stare at his face as he looks up at the ceiling. You’re interlacing your fingers so that you don’t reach out and trace his jawline when a thought pops into your head.

“When’s the last time you had a woman in your bed?” You breathe, mentally kicking yourself for not thinking longer before you voice your thoughts.

“It’s been a while. Years. I don’t really...mingle much.” He murmurs, eyes never moving from one particular spot.

You refuse to acknowledge the “lone wolf” analogy, instead, you steady yourself before putting a hand on his. “Thank you for saving me, Walter. Goodnight.” Taking your hand back, you close your eyes and let tiredness take its course.

“You’re welcome.” His soft voice is barely above a whisper, but it’s the last thing you hear before you’re fully asleep.

To be continued…

A/N:  Wow, you mean to tell me I got these two folks in bed together and they’re both dressed still? What?! Don’t hate me!

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#walter marshall #walter marshall fanfic #ellethespaceunicorn fanfic #henry cavill fanfiction #henry cavill fanfic #henry cavill #walter marshall fanfiction #walter marshall fic #night hunter #night hunter fanfic #night hunter fanfiction #walter marshall smut #walter marshall x reader #walter marshall x you #werewolf!walter marshall #night hunter au #henry cavill characters #henry cavill smut #henry cavill x reader #henry cavill x female reader #henry cavill x you

[totally-a-different-person]

Paultryk, Pats a fisherman who meets an extremely HORNY seamonster and decides “IMMA LET MYSELF GET SCREWED BY THIS THING” and you can kinda get the gist

This is honestly a really cool idea, it took me a bit to come up with a design for Paul but it was fun. I ended up going with the same sort of thing they did in Luca but less smooth and pretty, like he's an actual sea monster not just some green child, also he's got two of those little angler fish lights and they change colors because I say so (nsft past this point)

Patrick waited until the boat was fully stable before stepping off into the sand and pulling it further onto the beach. He heard from all the other people in the town not to come to any of the islands near here because there are monsters that dwell. All Pat heard was that he'd have the whole area to himself because everyone else was dumb enough to believe the stories. There was a small cluster of four islands, separated by water shallow enough for Pat to walk through at most points. The biggest of which had a small cave with a pool inside that connected to the ocean. That's where he planned to go. He grabbed the bag full of tackle and fishing polls. He was wearing a yellow turtleneck sweater and jeans because it was pretty chilly out that day. He wasn't planning to be there long so it didn't bother him much, he just wanted to check it out.

He walked to where the cave was supposed to be. The island was sorta pretty, nothing special but it hand sand and grass, lots of trees in certain parts, and a cave. He took a deep breath to try to get rid of the nerves that started building when he saw the cave. It was darker than he had expected, but he wasn't going to let a little fear of the dark stop him, he's not a child. He walked in cautiously, it took a bit of a dip and it wasn't too steep and he had boots so he wasn't very worried. The opening was right there, and in the area there were plenty of cracks and holes in the cave walls and ceiling since at this point the top was almost level with the ground outside. It lit up the room quit a bit, so it wasn't nearly as intimating. Pat smiled a little upon seeing how clear and pretty the water was, you really could see pretty far down before it faded. This was nice, and it could be just his spot since everyone else thought there were monsters. He chuckled a little at the thought setting his bag down and crouching to get his tackle box out. That's when he heard something in the water, his smile fading a little as he stood up and turned around, feeling his paranoia starting to climb.

After another few seconds of silence as he looked around the room he shook his head a little and laughed at himself for being so worried. Monster, so dumb. He still felt kind of uneasy, convincing himself he wasn't. He pulled his hair back into a ponytail, intending to crouch back down and rig up a hook, but he didn't get a chance. Before he could retaliate or brace himself, of even process what happened at all really, he was pushed quickly and harshly against the wall by something cold and wet. He shrieked and instinctively tried to push it off of him but stopped when he felt it's razor sharp claws against one of his wrists. That's when he understood really how dangerous the ting currently smelling him was. It was almost humanoid and that's the part that made him feel the most weird about it. He had never seen, heard about or read about anything like this ever, except in those insane stories about sea monsters. Pat felt it inhaling deeply and pressing it's face into the crook of his neck causing him to shiver at the sensation, it was strange. "You're so warm..." it... it spoke? He really had no fucking clue what he was dealing with right now, but what he did know was that one of it's hands was traveling up his shirt and up his stomach. It had smooth sticky skin like a frog or salamander.

The polish man realized what it was going to do to him when he felt something hard and big, worryingly so, pressing against his ass. He was a little relieved he wasn't going to be killed or eaten- or not in the way he expected at least, but he honestly didn't know how he felt about getting banged by a glorified fish. He tensed up when it stopped sniffing his neck and started kissing it, using its sharp teeth on a few times. It... had just been a long time since anyone had touched him other than himself and it felt nice, even just the body heat of the monster against him. He ended up sort of melting into it, justifying it by saying he didn't really have a choice because fighting back could get him killed and it was just what he had to do. Meanwhile in the real world, not he one in Pat's brain, his face was all red and his breath was really shaky. Paul was trying to get the taller man's sweater and shirt off without putting him in a situation where he could get away. He wanted to press himself against the sun kissed male's bare skin. He was clearly struggling to do it with one arm while trying to keep Pat in place, then Patrick moved and his immediate reaction was gonna be to bite him but he didn't try to move away, he just helped Paul take off his clothes, sweater then shirt.

The monster was surprised, the two bobbles on the end of his antennas slowly glowing a light pink when he pressed Pat back up against the wall, now fully pressing his chest against his back. It was quiet for a few moments before it spoke up "Don't leave." Patrick swallowed and nodded slowly. It let go of his wrist and started putting kisses and hickies down the back of his shoulder, struggling to undo his belt before huffing in frustration and just pulling them down off him belt and all. He harshly turned him around and pressed his back against the wall, wanting to see it. One of his hand was on Pat's shoulder and the other went down to his member, it seemed like he wanted to touch and see every part of it. He certainly wasn't oblivious to the effect this seemed to have on the thin man, he leaned his head back a bit and was taking deep shaky breaths, and the expression he was making was very appealing, he looked cute and flustered. Pau started repeating the things that seemed to effect him the most, now stroking his length while rubbing the tip with his thumb. It was leaking now, but Pat let out a little high pitched moan when Paul smeared it over the head, making him shiver.

Paul had a natural lubricant that acurse when aroused, it came from the head of his cock a lot like human precum just more. He took his hand off Pat's shoulder but he wasn't worried about it, he was currently struggling to keep himself on his feet so it was unlikely he'd be able to fight. He used the hand to spread the lube over his dick, effectively preparing himself. He spread Pat's legs with his knee and stopped teasing his dick, using his hand to hold up on of his legs. Patrick seemed slightly alarmed when he fully processed what Paul was about to do, but didn't really retaliate. It pushed inside of him rather easily, and the taller man groaned quietly. It was huge, and felt strange, the stretch hurt more than a little but the monster was already moving. It made a noise that was something akin to a growl, squeezing his leg and arm, starting to go a little faster. Pat was starting to enjoy the feeling as well, it pressed so deep inside of him. The stretch was still very much there, but if he was being totally honest he was starting to enjoy that as well.

Pat was huffing and gasping, even fully crying out when it pressed into the right spots. Paul buried his face in the crook of the taller man's neck, biting down onto his shoulder and groaning, going harder as he listened to Pat's noises. He liked them a lot, he sounded and felt so much different than he did before, tense and scared but now he was just soft and totally open, he was holding onto Paul like he needed him to live. He oved the raw submission so much, the human was his to play with and use however he pleased. He started fucking him harder, huffing and grunting when Pat made an especially loud noise, his voice cracking a bit, as he came hard on Paul's hand. Before the monster had time to react he nearly doubled over at the way Pat squeezed around him. He growled and shoved him harder into the wall, digging his nails into his side making shallow scratches as he came inside him, a pretty surprising about actually, Patrick was a little overwhelmed with all of t inside of him, some spilling out when Paul pulled out making Pat shudder, sliding down slightly when Paul let him go. He could barely think, just leaning against the wall taking deep breaths.

The monster pressed up against his chest and held on to him, it mumbled something about "warm" and started... purring? It was the only think Patrick could think that it could be doing, so he just held it for now. He was trying to repeat and remember everything he could about it so he could write it down, but he wasn't worried because this definitely wouldn't be the last time he came to this special little cave.

#sinsworld #sw pat #sw paul #paultryk #monsterfucker hehehehehehe

[seventeendeer]

at my childhood home there was SO many frogs. green tree frogs all over the windows. toads on the back patio. big bullfrogs in the ditches. tiny little brown frogs in the driveway. i miss them. i feel like i haven't seen a frog in person in like 10 years...

omg I somehow missed this ask back when we were talking about frogs, anon this sounds so magical

I'm sorry you haven't been seeing them around lately ... I've been pretty deprived of any ground-dwelling animals since I moved out of my childhood home also, it's not easy to have to adjust to less Creatures in your life ;_;

someday, I will move back to where there are More Creatures again ... I can't go the rest of my life without easy access to frog

#asktheherd

[gabyalexa-g]

Note for Tutor

Tumblr keeps glitching on me saying it hasn't uploaded somthing but I can't figure out what is missing so I have placed it all in my sketchbook as a backup.

10 Animals in danger due to climate change

Our planet is getting warmer, the threat to climate change is real, and our dependence on fossil fuels is the biggest contributor. Unless we make some radical changes, global temperatures will continue to rise and it will have severe consequences for humans and animals.  

Amphibians such as frogs are vulnerable to desiccation and require moist conditions to reproduce. They are thus at risk from climate change. Decreasing water bodies in Yellowstone National Park, for example, is driving declines in the Columbia Spotted Frog population. Climate change is also causing the rapid spread of the deadly chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium Dendrobatidis, which is endangering amphibians worldwide.

Staghorn Coral (Acropora Cevicornis) has experienced a population decline of over 80% since the 1970’s, mostly due to climate change. It is listed as Critically Endangered on The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Staghorn coral is particularly vulnerable to bleaching, whereby increasing water temperatures cause coral to expel the symbiotic algae that provide its nutrition. Coral reefs are some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth – as ocean temperatures continue to rise, we also risk losing the countless species that depend on reefs for their survival, such as clownfish and hawksbill turtles.

Close relatives of rabbits and hares, Pikas are adapted to cold alpine conditions and are very intolerant of high temperatures. The American Pika (Ochotona Princeps) has been retreating upslope to escape rising temperatures and it is feared the species will eventually have nowhere left to go. In some locations, American Pika populations have already entirely disappeared. Other Pika species native to Eastern Europe and Asia are facing the same dire fate.

The Adélie Penguin (Pygoscelis Adeliae), a well-established resident of Antarctica, is facing tough times due to climate change. The birds are declining on the West Antarctic Peninsula, which is one of the most rapidly warming areas on Earth. The Adélie Penguin’s coastal nesting grounds are becoming increasingly unsuitable for chick survival, and sustained periods of warmer than usual ocean temperatures is negatively affecting the ability of prey such as fish and krill to survive.

The Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys Coriacea), weighing in at half a tonne, is a giant among reptiles. Like all marine turtles, Leatherbacks are threatened by bycatch, poaching and pollution. Climate change is an additional, rapidly emerging threat to marine turtles globally. Rising sea levels and extreme weather events wash nests away and decrease nesting habitat. In sea turtles, sand temperature determines the gender of developing young – warmer eggs turn into females, cooler eggs turn into males. Under global warming, turtle sex ratios are likely to become skewed, resulting in population decrease.

The Koala (Phascolarctos Cinereus), Australia’s most iconic fluffy marsupial, is likely to become rarer over the next century due to global warming. Koalas have an extremely specialised diet consisting only of eucalyptus leaves. Increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are decreasing the nutritional value of leaves, resulting in Koala malnutrition and starvation. Longer and more frequent droughts will increase the occurrence of bushfires, which kill millions of forest-dwelling animals like Koalas. Koalas will also increasingly be forced to descend from trees in search of water and new habitats during dry conditions, exposing them to predators and road traffic.

A popular food fish, Atlantic Cod (Gadus Morhua) has been the victim of decades of disastrous overfishing. While the implementation of fishing quotas helped stocks to recover, recent rapid ocean warming has severely impacted cod spawning and survival, causing populations to plummet again. It is thought that warmer waters decrease the availability of zooplankton critical to juvenile fish survival and development. Moreover, to escape the high temperatures, young fish are likely to venture into deep water where they at greater risk of predation.

Beautiful Monarch Butterflies (Danaus Plexippus) are famous for their impressive migrations across North America to reach southern overwintering grounds. Like all butterflies, the Monarch is very sensitive to weather and climate. Increased frequency of extreme weather events is threatening the future of this charismatic species. Furthermore, Monarch caterpillars eat only milkweed – as the climate continues to warm, the butterfly’s range is becoming drier, resulting in loss of vital food plants.

Ringed Seals (Pusa Hispida), polar bears’ favourite prey, are highly dependent on Arctic sea ice and almost never come onto land. Warming spring temperatures and early sea ice breakup are causing nursing pups to be prematurely separated from their mothers. Additionally, warmer ocean temperatures are likely to boost seal parasite populations and the forced migration of seals to more stable ice habitats will facilitate the spread of disease.

The majestic Polar Bear (Ursus Maritimus), a flagship for climate change awareness, is facing an uncertain future due to dwindling sea ice in its Arctic habitat. Longer, warmer summers are causing much of the Arctic Ocean to be ice-free for extended periods of time, decreasing the bears’ access to their primary prey – seals. Consequently, the bears are forced to spend more time foraging on land, where they are at risk of coming into conflict with humans.

#SP2.2022

[mahayanapilgrim]

Vassa, the annual "rains retreat." is an annual three-month monastic retreat practiced especially in the Theravada Buddhist tradition.

The three months are determined by the lunar calendar and, usually, begin in July.

During Vassa, monks remain in residence within their temples and leave its grounds only when necessary.

Laypeople show their devotion and appreciation by supporting the monks with food and other necessities. Lay people sometimes give up things like eating meat, drinking alcohol, or smoking during Vassa.

The Vassa retreat is timed to coincide with the monsoon rains of India and southeast Asia. Many Mahayana Buddhist monastic traditions also have periodic retreats or intensive practice periods modeled after Vassa, but they may be observed at different times of the vear.

In the Buddha's day, Vassa was observed by both men and women. There are few Theravada Buddhist nuns today, however, so this article is going to focus mostly on monks.

The first Buddhist monks and nuns did not live in monasteries. In the India of 25 centuries ago there had long been a tradition of wandering mendicant "holy men" who took shelter in forests. Most of the time the Buddha and his disciples followed this tradition. They traveled in groups from village to village, offering teachings, receiving alms, and sleeping beneath the boughs of trees.

But much of India had monsoon seasons then, just as it does today. Usually, the rain begins sometime in June or July and continues until sometime in September or October. The incessant downpour didn't just make travel difficult for the Buddha and his monks. Small animals that come out in the rain -- leeches, snails, worms, frogs --could be crushed underfoot. Occasionally monks traveling in the rains damaged newly planted rice paddies.

To spare animals and crops, the Buddha established a rule that monks and nuns would not travel during the monsoon rains. Instead, they would dwell together and practice as a community. This practice proved to be beneficial, providing more time for teaching and guidance for younger disciples.

At first, the Buddha and his disciples would spend the rains retreat wherever they were offered shelter, sometimes at the estates of wealthy benefactors. The lay disciple Anathapindika is credited with building the first permanent building complex dedicated to housing monks during Vassa.

Even though the Buddha and his disciples didn't stay there year-round, this complex was, in effect, the first Buddhist monastery. Today, readers of the sutras may notice that the Buddha delivered many of his sermons "in the Jeta Grove, in Anathapindika's Monastery." The rains retreat became a time for more intensive practice. The Buddha also placed great emphasis on living together harmoniously.

Traditionally, on the first day of Vassa, each monk formally declares he will remain in residence in the temple for the three-month period. A monk may engage in regular temple duties that take him outside its walls, but he must return by nightfall. If an unforeseen circumstance requires a monk to travel he may be allowed to do so, but he must return within seven days. Strictly speaking, the monks are not "cloistered"; they may interact with lay people as much as they usually do.

During these months effort is "dialed up" a few notches.

More time is given to meditation and study. Senior monks give more time to teaching younger monks. This more intensive schedule might be exhausting if attempted ear-round, but for just three months it's more sustainable.

Laypeople also make commitments to Vassa, usually to step up alms-giving and to give up some kind of indulgences, such as drinking or smoking. Some people call Vassa "Buddhist Lent," although that's not really accurate. On the full moon day of the eleventh lunar month, Vassa ends with the observance of Pavarana.

Monks assemble together, and one by one they tell the assembl where their practice fell short, or when they might have given offense.

Each monk invites the assembly to reprimand him. If there is a reprimand, it is to be compassionate and instructive.

Vassa closes with the Devorohana ceremony, which welcomes the Buddha back from celestial realms.

Following Vassa is Kathina, a month-long observance in which it is traditional for laypeople to make offerings of cloth for new robes.

End of the description on the rainy retreat

#buddha #buddhist #buddhism #dharma #sangha #mahayana #zen #milarepa #tibetan buddhism #thich nhat hanh #thailand #tantric #padmasambhava #avalokiteshvara #amitaba buddha #shantideva #Dakini #Dzogchen #guru rinpoche #heart sutra #four noble truths #vipassana #vajrasattva #Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche #meditation #mind training #manjushri #mindfulness #medicine buddha #m

[beyond-abyss]

CHAPTER TWO

*~*~* (sorry I posted three before two)

Never before had Noa set foot on a migrating island, but this was to be a day of firsts, she thought, as she threw herself after Diumer and onto the forested back of a humongous dragon-turtle. "This is the drakback Riin, and we who dwell upon her back are the Riintons," Distinguished Diumer said by way of introduction. "In time you'll meet everyone, but today we prepare to depart, so Jenrock will need help from you two."

Noa glanced back at the rowboat which Velkyn struggled to climb out of with his dignity intact. She smirked and made a mental note of his discomfort around water, filing the information away to destroy him with later.

The forest growing out of the mossy back of the drakback was unlike anything in the world Noa had come from. The trees were not dissimilar to birch, yet somehow leaning and occasionally shaped into nests high above. Covering the open sections of the tree-coves were patchwork blankets, accessible by rope bridges here and there. Noa saw frogs jumping about the mossy ground, purple snails along the roots of trees, and four-armed monkeys swinging along the rope bridges above. Noa began to smile in awe of such a place, when Velkyn spoke up.

“What a dreadful place,” he grumbled, catching up to Noa and Diumer. “There’s too much…light.”

Noa looked again at the environment, and realized that the frogs glowed faintly, and fireflies of green light bobbed about the denser areas of trees. In the higher branches, large birds of black and white stripes had feathers so soft they reflected sunlight. “Get over yourself,” Noa said, and slammed her shoulder into Velkyn as she stomped past to meet the dwarven woman ahead.

“Jenrock!” the eladri Diumer sang as the dwarven woman accepted the hug. “I have two new helpers for you,” they said, winking at Noa.

Jenrock raised an eyebrow at the drow boy and human girl. “Aren’t those the hot-headed idiot kids tearing the town apart last night?”

“The very same!” Diumer smiled, swishing their robe.

The dwarf sighed, “And now they’re our problem?”

“Indeed!” Diumer said, and skipped away.

Jenrock put her hands on her hips and chuckled. “Alright then problem children, come on. I’ll teach you the ropes."

“Is there anywhere here that would count as indoors?” the dark-elf scowled, following behind Noa and Jenrock through more trees.

“Afraid not, lad. But…” and she reached into her satchel, tugging out a long, brown cloak and passing it to Velkyn. “Here, that should help shield you from the light.”

Noa frowned as she watched him wrap himself in the cloak and pull the hood low over his sharp features. “Are you allergic to sunlight or something?” she scoffed.

“Yes.”

No one said anything as they walked, and finally it hit Noa. The race of elves which had long ago been forced into the Realm of Darkness, Nokt and became the drow over thousands of years, and now found themselves unable to tolerate direct sunlight. “Oh,” she whispered as they walked, recalling stories her older brother Aureli used to tell about deep dungeons and deadly dragons.

Jenrock stopped at the hollow base of a tree. Scattered about were crates and bags filled with food. “I’d like you two to help me put away our groceries. Departing is sort of… Well, it can get a bit shaky sometimes living here atop good old Riin.”

Awkward silence followed Jenrock’s absence as Noa and Velkyn stored food in the various cabinets in the tree’s hollow. When two crates were emptied, Noa stood still and waited until the drow made eye contact. “I’m sorry.”

“What?”

“I said I’m sorry. The comments I made about sunlight earlier.”

Velkyn grunted and went back to unloading boxes and bags. Noa let out her breath and focused on the task at hand. Even if he was a jerk, apologizing assured Noa that she was not.

After an hour, the very ground on which they stood lurched, and Noa heard all the food in the shelves shift. “Looks like we finished just in time,” she said, but the dark-elf walked past her and sat under a tree, keeping his new cloak wrapped tight around him. Noa sighed, but followed it up with a deep breath as a cool breeze dashed through the forest. She glimpsed the shoreline of the town being left behind as the drakback moved downriver. “No going back,” she mumbled to herself.

Velkyn continued to sulk in the shade as Noa began to climb a tree. About halfway up, she was startled to find herself face to face with a hoblin boy. Big, wide eyes watched Noa as she nearly lost her balance, slamming her butt into a rather pointy branch to avoid slipping backward. "Uhh… Hello there," she said, the big green eyes unblinking.

"...You aren't one of us," the hoblin stated, still unblinking.

"I just got here. Diumer is helping me."

The creature chuckled. "Diumer helped us all. They can't seem to stop picking up strays." The little boy finally blinked and shifted on his branch to reveal the green-rainbow poncho he wore. "So…what kind of stray are you? Lost, or abandoned?"

"I'm sorry?" Noa felt as if the small creature were studying her, perhaps even reading her mind with his keen eyes.

"Are you coming or going?"

Noa shuffled her feet and smiled, "Well right now I'm…hanging out!" and she let all her weight onto her hands as her feet dangled. The hoblin boy did not answer. And he did not blink.

"Lame!" came Velkyn's drawl from below.

"Mind your own business, Stray Number Two!" Human Noa felt like her usual middle-child self, caught between a cool older sibling and an unimpressed younger sibling. Her face heated with blush and she sighed, then climbed down. On the mossy ground again, she trudged past Velkyn wearing his hood and jerkish smirk and walked until she found the food pantry, where she sat alone with her thoughts.

Noa sat, feeling the breeze on her brown skin, wondering if anyone at home had noticed her absence. Being the middle of nine children meant that she had to fight for any attention at all, but now solitude felt like her only friend. Noa was so deep in her thoughts, she didn't notice Diumer until their robe swooshed as they sat beside her. No one said a word for another prickly moment.

"I heard you met Mobo," Distinguished Diumer nudged away the silence. "The young hoblin boy? Likes to hide?"

"And ask cryptic questions?" Noa added. Diumer chuckled and nodded. "He kind of reminded me of my family. I have a lot of younger siblings…"

The eladri understood her change of tone and asked, "Do you miss them?"

"I guess I do. But I've only been gone for two days."

Diumer shook their head, waving their spring-colored hair. "No, I think not. Time moves differently in this realm, so perhaps you've only been gone two minutes."

Noa frowned. "Magic is weird," to which Diumer replied with a chuckle and a nod. "Can I learn magic?"

"No, problem child. Humans do not have magic and cannot sense it. That's also why they're so rare here in Daeun. Humans can only be guided to portals."

"Guided?" Noa locked eyes with the elven companion. Those deep electric blues picked up on Noa's intensity. "No one guided me to the portal I came here through. I was just wandering in the woods, and felt a tingling buzz in the air nearby."

Diumer continued to study Noa's brown eyes. "Hm. How unusual," they eventually concluded. The eladri stood, swooshing once more, and held out a hand for Noa. "Come. Let's help Jenrock prepare dinner for everyone."

Taking the slim fingers, Noa stood and asked, "How many people live here?"

The pair began to walk and Diumer admitted, "Today? Nine. But Riintons are always coming and going."

"The child…Mobo? Said that you like picking up strays."

Waving to Jenrock setting a tablecloth upon a large stump ahead, Diumer smiled. "Travelers looking for a bit of peace are always welcome here with Riin and I."

Noa hesitated, stopping short of the stump. "I don't think I'm looking to find peace," she said quietly, running her fingers over the tablecloth.

Diumer gave Noa a sideways glance. "Looking for something and finding it are two very different things."

*~*

Dinner was a strained affair, as Diumer and the other Riintons tried to ease the murderous tension between Noa and Velkyn. Nine people, and still the drow and human managed to create awkward silences.

Diumer, the fey-elf, formally introduced everyone. "Lunnoa and Velkyn, meet the Riintons. Jenrock Ironfast you've met," the elegant host started by nodding to the dark-haired and brown-skinned dwarven woman Velkyn had come to know as rather stoic. "This is Rose-Heart," the next nod toward a shaggy, grey, wolf-elf woman eating with her hands, "and Fei Song," Diumer continued. The pink-and-white cotton-candy-haired young woman with beautiful, curved, violet eyes was neither eating nor blinking. Velkyn thought she looked vaguely elvish, but he'd never seen anyone like her.

"I'm Mobo Horrible!" the small, evergreen hoblin boy announced with a chicken leg in each hand. Diumer smiled and ruffled his red hair, then gestured toward a large man with three, long, black braids covered in jewelry and fur. 

The wolf-ape-like bubu man nodded, stating, “Name’s Fen.” Velkyn had never seen one of the Aeyr realm’s natives before. The humanoid had incredible muscles under a thin layer of auburn fur.

“I am called Nofi,” an aquatic-elf man flashed a smile when Velkyn and Noa turned to him last. “I teach martial arts, which is much easier to do on land,” and he laughed at his own joke. His head was shaved in strange wave patterns of blue hair on bluer skin, and Velkyn found himself staring. The marini elf leaned toward him and added, “Do you have an interest in martial arts?”

Velkyn stared at the aquatic-elf, pushing down thoughts of his mother and brother beating the shit out of him every Friday night for “training”. He swallowed all of the bruises he felt were certainly rising to the surface of his skin again. With a carefully neutral expression, Velkyn finally replied, “No.”

Silence pervaded the dining party. The various Riintons slurped their soup or munched on chicken. Noa asked Rose-Heart to pass the almonds, and received a carved bowl smeared with chicken grease. Velkyn could see Noa squirming under the weight of silence. She finally inquired, “...So, where are we headed?”

Fen grunted. “No real destination, kid. We go where Riin goes.”

Velkyn snorted. “So you’re hobos?”

“Did someone say Mobo?!” the tiny boy shouted, climbing up on his bench beside Diumer.

Distinguished Diumer patted the boy’s shoulder until he sat down. “Riin chooses our destinations. Daeun is an ever-shifting realm of jungles and rivers that decide to be elsewhere on occasion.”

Noa smiled, “Magic is so weird.”

“Do you have much magic where you’re from, human Noa?” the wolf-elf Rose-Heart put down the bones in her hand.

“Uh, yeah, there’s magic on Yrth. Nothing like this place, though! On Yrth people learn spells or find magic items, but it seems like magic is in everything here! The world feels alive.”

Another silence sat among the dinner party. Everyone was staring at Noa, Velkyn included. “Did I say something wrong?” she asked, squirming under the attention.

“Humans can’t sense magic,” young Mobo blurted. “Are you sure you’re human?”

“Uhh…” Noa stammered, and for the first time, Velkyn really looked at her. A tall girl, slender with curvy hips, kinky, brown hair pulled back in a poofy ponytail, and brown eyes that never dimmed with the lack of light. Her rounded ears and earthy scent indicated she was human, but if she could sense magic, if she had not been guided to a portal to the Realm of Light… but perhaps she was lying. She moved carefully at all times, but decisively. Velkyn did not sense deception from the way she ogled everything, amazed by the tiniest details. “Well, I suppose I don’t know 100% if I’m human. I was adopted, like all of my siblings.”

Jenrock leaned close to Noa, peering into her brown eyes. “Mighty strange that you can feel magic. I suppose I have heard stories of mixed bloods out there on Yrth.”

“Mixed bloods?” Noa and Velkyn said at the same time.

“Oh yeah,” the dwarven woman nodded, “Mostly half-elvish humans, but I once heard of the child of a dwarf and a human having a touch of magic. He was hit with an age spell and it didn’t work!”

Velkyn frowned. Noa said, “Is that weird? I know lots of people with mixed heritage.”

Jenrock continued, “It’s the blood, see? Human blood can’t carry magic, so when a part-human is born, they never get the magical aspects.” Diumer, Nofi, and Fen all nodded along. “Humans can’t sense magic, though. If a kid is born unmagical, there’s human mixed in there. That’s why human blood is known to taint family bloodlines.”

Noa’s face fell as the woman talked, and before she could react further, Velkyn slammed his fist on the stump-table, shaking everyone’s dishes. Suddenly all eyes were on him. “Obviously you all know nothing of Yrth,” he growled, “home of the wild-elf, aka orcs, who changed over thousands of years and are nearly unrecognizable as elf-kin. Yrth is like that, warping things. Changing them. Maybe humans on Yrth are starting to sense magic.” Diumer tilted their head at his words, and Jenrock opened her mouth as if to retort. “Don’t speak of things you don’t understand,” Velkyn hissed, and continued eating.

Everyone followed suit, eating in silence. The gentle breeze through the trees could not cool the boil in his blood at these ignorant fools. What did they know of tainted blood?

#A. Sad. Universe

[jamiewinchester3987]

Eggnog frog: Part 1

Not a single tree stood for miles. The ground was scarred by endless vains of fire and destruction. The feathers of fallen doves decorated the burning pits while clumps of fur floated in the wind. The air is thick with the smell of blood and burning flesh. The matter of fauna coating the ground creating a picture of pure death. At the center of this hell sat this hells creator, its inventor it's beginning and end. The destroyer of worlds, the butcher of light. The Egg Nog Frog. "They should of Known better, all wise men know; Hell hath no fury like a Egg-nog Frog...".

Zael covered his head waiting for the next blast. Blood leaked down his head and clogged his eyes, but he didn't care. He prayed the blood would harden and scab growing a permanent shield over his little brown eyes. Permanently hiding his thoughts from the hell outside his door. In his heart he knew this was impossible. His body's goal was to help him survive; and surviving meant seeing. The shaking about him began to peak rocking the walls. Large cracks started to shoot through the plaster and the beams started to twist and bow. Zael watched his walls start to collapse around him. He clasps his eyes shut hoping he can create a world where he lives behind his lids.

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

Naomie pressed the cloth flush to the stump that stood where her arm ounce stuck. The blood seemed never ending leaving red ribbons down the side of her leg. And yet she couldn't stop she had to walk on. The path before her was new. Recently burned into the ground by... by... well it's not healthy to dwell on the past. This mark of destruction was her only way home and she intended to make it back. She limped forward slowly looking for anything left but all she saw was smoke, dust and ash for miles in every direction. "How did this happen what did we do?" Naomie thought, tears welling in her eyes. The blood from her stump quickly soaked the cloth and she was forced to stop yet again. "There is a way to stop this" She thought frantically. Her dad had shown her she didn't understand. why couldn't she remember. She slowly removed the cloth and the blood poured with vigor and she began to feel lightheaded. "Stop! please stop!" She yelled patting the wound with the soaked cloth. It was no use Naomie felt her eyes start to droop and her mind drifted away. Just like that she was gone.

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

"Hello?" called the little sheep. There was no response other then the echo as his cries bounced of the cave walls. "Hello!" she screamed again drawing out the word. Nothing. She wanted to cry this was to much and yet not enough. She wanted someone to find her but she feared what might. Instead she tucked herself back under a ledge protruding from the cave wall; scared and alone. She stayed there for hours her eyes closed and her ears open. And finally she got what she was dreading." "Hello" Croaked a far away voice. The little sheep froze fear sending ice through her veins. "Do you think you can hide", The creature called again. The lamb knew she was dead and as thought her bones had a mind of her own she left her safe hole to stand in the entrance of the cave. far in front of her she saw a small creature sitting just outside. In its eyes the little lamb saw its death. The creature curled its mouth in a mocking smile. "Found you." it called before filling the cave with searing white light.

[theaussieway]

The Best Places To Visit In Australia For Wildlife Enthusiasts

Australia is blessed with lovely sunny weather, spectacular natural landscapes, good wine, and a friendly, laid-back population. It is also well known for its unique flora and peculiar creatures, many of which are unique to Australia, like bioluminescent glow worms.

The phrase “our land abounds in nature’s gifts of beauty, rich and rare” from Australia’s national anthem describes the picture. Wildlife enthrals those who adore the outdoors. With millions of visitors each year, an increasing number of local and foreign visitors direct their animal senses toward some of the most well-known Australian wildlife areas. Numerous of these famous locations are also among Australia’s most attractive places to visit.

Endangered wildlife abounds, including the well-known koala and the vicious Tasmanian devil, as well as less well-known species like the echidna, bandicoot, quoll, and fairy penguin. But how can you even start to see Australian creatures in the wild in such a big country?

Whales and sharks Whether you like dolphins, penguins, camels, or horses as your favourite wildlife species, we have found the most incredible locations and unforgettable experiences for the greatest Australia wildlife holidays for animal lovers.

The Great Barrier Reef

This enormous structure, which is visible from space, is situated not far from Queensland’s shore. The reef, which stretches over 2300 kilometres, is home to numerous fascinating and endangered species. These seas are home to a wide variety of marine life, including clownfish, mantis shrimp, dugong, humpback whales, whale sharks, green turtles, blanket octopuses, and many others. You should have no trouble visiting this World Heritage Site if you want to dive, snorkel, or swim in the Great Barrier Reef and get up close and personal with some of the animals that dwell here because it is reachable by land, sea, and air.

More than 500 varieties of coral, more than 100 shark and ray species, six species of marine turtles, more than 30 species of marine mammals, and more than 215 bird species can all be found on the Great Barrier Reef.

You can cruise Michaelmas Cay, fly over Heart Coral, cruise Agincourt Reef, stay on Herron Island directly on the reef, or take a seaplane over Agincourt Reef to experience this astounding richness of species. A variety of lodging options are available on Hotels.com that provide access to the Great Barrier Reef’s stunning wonders.

Ningaloo Reef and Exmouth

The finest wildlife location in Australia to see whale sharks is here. Additionally, visible are manta rays and, of course, all the other reef dwellers. You want to go to Ningaloo Reef when you eventually find yourself in Western Australia. You will have the chance to go diving among some of the most beautiful marine life in existence at this World Heritage Site. For instance, Ningaloo Reef is home to the whale shark, the largest fish in the world. They are harmless, but they will undoubtedly make you gasp for air. Turtles, manta rays, and a variety of tropical fish live on the bordering coral reef.

Marine life loves Ningaloo Reef, which is their paradise. Every year, from April to July, whale sharks gather in enormous numbers in this one location alone, close to the beach. Information on the various trip choices for seeing these marine giants is available from the Exmouth Visitor Center.

In addition to the whale sharks, the reef is also home to six different kinds of sea turtles and manta rays. On their annual migrations between their breeding grounds in the warm tropical waters and their feeding sites in Antarctica, humpback whales stop at Ningaloo Reef.

The biodiversity at Daintree Rainforest, Queensland

The Daintree Rainforest in northern Queensland is the oldest rainforest on Earth and is home to a wide variety of unique plants and animals. It’s one of the best sites in Australia to watch animals because of this. Cassowaries, bandicoots, musky rat-kangaroos, rufous owls, sugar gliders, huge tree frogs, and many other animals can be found in this 180 million year old jungle.

BirdLife International has designated the Daintree Rainforest as an Important Bird Area (IBA), primarily due to the presence of a population of southern cassowaries there. Two endemic species of bowerbirds, gorgeous fairywrens, fernwrens, owls, kingfishers, and several other bird species all have habitat thanks to it.

It serves as a reminder of Australia’s hot, muggy past, which occurred millions of years ago, before the continent’s climate started to get drier and hotter. Choose a guided tour so that your knowledgeable guide can locate and point out the local fauna. Alternatively, maybe a river cruise through the mangroves is more your style.

Kangaroo Island

Kangaroo Island is a fantastic location to find wildlife in Australia where you may see animals and is home to kangaroos, birds, seals, sea lions, koalas, and many more.

It’s home to a variety of animals. This island is home to a variety of natural animals, including the Kangaroo Island kangaroo, the southern brown bandicoot, the short-beaked echidna, and six different types of bat and frog. Visit Hanson Bat Wildlife Sanctuary to observe koalas, wallabies, kangaroos, and more than 40 different bird species. Seal Bay is the place for you if sea lions are more your style. Kangaroo Island is easily accessible by ferry from Adelaide, and more than a third of it is protected as national parkland.

Some of the must-see locations are Seal Bay, where you can see sea lions, Admiral’s Arch, where you can see fur seals, Flinders Chase National Park, where you can see echidnas, platypus, and Cape Barren geese, American River, where you can see sea colonies, and Little Sahara, an island-wide area with dunes.

On Kangaroo Island, you can book accommodations where the amazing animals can be viewed out your window or even just outside your door. For information on the top animal locations on Kangaroo Island, go to this trip report.

Kakadu National Park

Kakadu National Park, which is situated in the Northern Territory, is a place with a unique ecosystem and biological population that you should not skip visiting. This protected national park has a great concentration of animals due to its four river systems, six primary landforms, including estuaries, lowlands, and stone country. For instance, Kakadu is home to 280 bird species, 117 reptile species, and about 70 mammal species, many of which are uncommon and endangered. The biodiversity of this area is simply breathtaking, with species like the Australian darter, the red goshawk, the distinctive frill-necked lizard, and the nimble wallaby. You might not be able to see all the animals you were hoping to observe due to the sometimes harsh weather conditions and the fact that many of the species are nocturnal. There are no commercial flights to the national park, so the only way to get there is to travel to Darwin or Alice Springs and then drive from there. Everything from camping to hotels and cabins is accessible in terms of lodging.

There are 90- and 120-minute cruises along the Yellow Water Billabong offered by Yellow Water Cruises. Numerous species of wildlife are present throughout the vast marshes. Kakadu is, therefore, the place to go if you enjoy a daring trip close to crocodiles that eat flesh. Read Full Article: The Best Places To Visit In Australia For Wildlife Enthusiasts

#Australia Wildlife parks #Australia Wildlife #Visit Australia

[snakemanaustralia]

Taxonomic Vandalism - Grant Webster

Two amateur zoologists, masquerading as scientists have just bootlegged the work of Hoser (2020) to attempt to illegally rename the frog genus Wellingtondella Hoser, 2020, as Anstisia Webster and Bool, 2022. The two thieves even stooped so low as to cite the Wuster et al. (2012) rant, better known as Kaiser et al. (2013) as their justification. Recall the ICZN squashed that plan in 2021 by voting against Kaiser et al. and Rhodin et al. (2015). It goes without saying that the fake science was published in the notorious online PRINO (Peer reviewed in name only) "journal" Zootaxa! The lying thieves even went so far as stealing the work of Hoser (2020), relying on the same diagnostic characters as Hoser, but being so low as to not even cite the work from where they stole their alleged new discovery! If this is not the lowest form of fake science possible, then who knows what is? The Wuster gang of thieves continue to attack the ICZN and the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature and remain the biggest threat to the Code in over 200 years.

The original Hoser (2020) paper can be downloaded as pdf and is: Hoser, R. T. 2020. 3 new tribes, 3 new subtribes, 5 new genera, 3 new subgenera, 39 new species and 11 new subspecies of mainly small ground-dwelling frogs from Australia. Australasian Journal of Herpetology 50-51:1-128. available as pdf at: http://www.smuggled.com/AJH-I50-Split.htm

The Webster Bool shit piece in Zootaxa, published online on 14 June 2022 is cited as follows: Webster, G. N. and Bool, I. 2022. A new genus for four myobatrachid frogs from the South Western Australian Ecoregion. Zootaxa (PRINO) (Online) 5154(2):127-151. PS It is only published online and stashed behind a paywall in breach of sections of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (recommendations) and as it has NOT been fully registered with Zoobank, the ICZN Name repository (as of a day after publication online), it is not validly published according to the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (THE RULES for publishing online nomenclatural acts) and so besides being an invalidly coined junior synonym Anstisia is an unavailable name and should not be used!

PS Webster and Bool are effectively unknown in herpetology and have now merely identified themselves first and foremost as plagiarists and thieves.

PPS On his Facebook page, Webster has claimed his above referred to paper is the result of years of hard labour and work. Nothing could be further from the truth! It is merely a theft of the work of Snakeman Raymond Hoser, published 2 years prior. He did not tell any of his Facebook followers this critically important fact. The Hoser paper, being a two volume book monograph on the relevant group of frogs, was in fact the result of more than 50 years of intensive field and lab research on Australian frogs! On his Facebook page, Webster also lied in claiming he was the first person to name a frog in honour of well-known frog catcher, Marion Anstis. The species Mahonabatrachus marionanstisae Hoser, 2020 is a species of tree frog from Western Australia. The snake Walmsleyus anstisae Hoser, 2014 also formally named by Hoser in honour of Marion Anstis was named 8 years prior to Webster's unscientific incursion into herpetological taxonomy and nomenclature. Webster was well aware of both but lied to his friends and followers in pretending that they did not exist.

#grant webster #taxonomic vandalism #anstisia #wellingtondella #Zoobank #junior synonym #frog #Australia #new genus

[funkyfrogoftheday]

today’s funky frog of the day is: litoria aurea! commonly known as the green and golden bell frog, green and golden swamp frog, or ground-dwelling tree frog, they are native to australia. they can reach up 4.5 inches in length, making them one of australia’s largest frogs, and true to their name, they are colored gold and green. they generally feed on insects, but will also eat larger prey like worms and mice. despite their classification as tree frogs, they do not spend much time in trees and usually stay close to the ground. they are often found in areas of infrequent disturbance, such as golf courses, disused industrial land, brick pits, and landfill areas. they can also be seen basking in the sun on vegetation, rocks, and reeds, and unlike most frogs, they are active during the day. they can live up to 15 years.

#frog #frogs #litoria aurea #green and golden bell frog #green and golden swamp frog #ground-dwelling tree frog #funky frog of the day

[evolutionsvoid]

There is a part of that temperate rainforest that no local dares to tread. A large chunk of its map has been blacked out, as if it is a curse to acknowledge its existence. People won't speak of it, the only words granted to this condemned land are scrawled on the numerous warning signs circling its borders. Such fear and avoidance would make one think that this piece of forest is cursed, haunted by evil spirits. The tales seem to treat it so, claiming that all who set foot in this horrid lair shall die a tortured death. That your fate is sealed when you hear that terrible howl shatter the silent forest. Many scoff at such stories, but such dismissal will start to weaken when they approach the edge of this wretched place. The many rotting signs covered in feverish scratches and warnings, the abandoned belongings of those who broke and fled in fear. After walking through the lively rainforest to reach this border, you will notice how all falls silent when you approach. There is life to be found in the ferns, moss and trees, but no creature dwells among them. No birds fluttering through the branches, no frogs croaking in the flowing streams, and not a single beast crashes through the undergrowth. It is all silent and still. After experiencing this haunted dread for themselves, many turn back, but some fools choose to conquer this unseen evil. They gather their wits and courage, then march in, perhaps thinking they can prove the legends wrong. They will find the truth to this cursed land, either it being nothing but silly superstition or a mortal foe that can be slain. This answer, sadly, has yet to be found. Despite the dozens who plunge into this silent forest, none live long enough to find its source. Many never return, the curse swallowing them completely. Some, however, claw their way back to civilization, but they are no longer welcome. The locals fear this land, as well as those who tread it. Return, and you will find nothing but sealed gates and flaming arrows greeting you. They will offer no sanctuary or aid, only the promise of a quick death. No matter how much they plead and beg, they will be granted no hope. They will be cut down and their remains burned to ash. But the ramblings of the condemned bring scraps of what lies in that rotted heart. They babble about the things they have seen, the towering stalks and the swallowed corpses. Bodies split and buried beneath tendrils and clusters, almost as if the very forest itself has feasted on them. The ground is littered with drained bodies, the trees are coated in quivering moldy webs. All around them is death, but they see no foe. Not a living beast to be found, but then they hear that howl. They reach for their blades and bows, but they will do them no good. Only after a moment of panicked preparation will they realize that this roar is nothing but the wind. Just a simple breeze blowing through the reaching stalks and curtained trees. They will then think it was all a trick, just a boogeyman conjured by superstitious minds. Such explanations may bring comfort, but that will be nothing when they begin to cough...

Those who step foot in that cursed forest are doomed. From the moment they hear that howl, their life is forfeit. The earth is covered in carcasses and the air is filled with nothing but death...         ------------------------------------------------------- "Death's Bed: The Bed That Sleeps"

A deviant Mossy Sleeper! Something so slow and lazy couldn't possibly be dangerous, unless something extra nasty grew on the sluggish beast.

#fungi #fungus #monster #creature #art #drawing

[her-wolf-of-shadows]

Blessings of the Shadow

It was the singing of frogs that pulled him from his slumber. Blinking at the high, rhythmic singing, Cayden yawned widely, jaws popping slightly, before he pulled himself from the nest of blankets and indulged in a long, full body stretch. Taking a deep breath, he pulled the scent of the evening forest into his lungs, tasting the air for anything out of place or that required attention. Nothing stood out, so he calmly stepped out onto the stone ledge that made  the doorstep to his home. Leaning against the door-sill, he watched as the sinking sun cast stripes of light and shadow, red and deepest black, between the trunks of the trees surrounding the home of the Moonstone pack.

His Alpha marks thrummed gently along his arms and over his chest, the energy conveying his packs general contentment. Older pups began emerging first, calling to each other and bumping shoulders companionably. Parents followed, carrying the youngest and joining small groups, pups playing under their watchful eyes.

Glancing off to one side, he nodded to the small group of unmated males, grinning as they wrestled and roughhoused together, showing off to the unmated females that could be seen a bit further away. Once they were of mating age, the unmated males and females of the Moonstone pack separated into dorm style dens. Once they paired up, they would choose a den space in the main area of the pack home.

Cayden slowly walked around the moss covered clearing, exchanging greetings and smile with the families and individuals that made up his pack. Settling comfortably under a huge tree, he again looked over their home, proud of the prosperity he could see.

His grandfather and grandmother had let the pack to this place  before his mother had been born. Nestled in the heart of a verdant forest, a natural hot spring bubbled from the rocks, forming many pools of fresh, hot water that was available year round. His mother and her first mate had been the ones to suggest the creation of individual dwellings with a spring each, giving the pack members sheltered access to a hot bath even in the coldest winters. With the river close by, game was plentiful, and the pack had prospered.

His mothers first mate had died while hunting moose, and in time, she had been courted and accepted the suit of a foreign alpha. Foreign or not, he had been a wonderful father to Cayden and a strong help to his mother. They had raised him with love for family and taught him well how to care for those who were his responsibility. Eventually, he had faced the shadow trials that determined his fitness to be the head alpha to their pack and passed, being gifted with full access to the shadow magic that had been a part of their pack strength since time immemorial. It granted each member the awareness of their pack mates, and to some, it enhanced their ability to shift. The other alpha candidates accepted him as leader and it had been a healthy and prosperous two years. Now, it was time to gather the hunters and set out for another hunt. Plenty of meat meant healthy pups.

Standing, he stepped back into his home briefly to pull on his hunting leathers. Back in the clearing, he glanced over the group of men and women who would come with him. They were all dressed similarly, blessed by the Shadow with the ability to shift form as quickly and easily as breathing, as hunting was much simpler in wolf form. They were ready, he could feel it. In the shade of the evening, he stepped into the shadow and became the wolf, leading his fellow hunters out of the clearing in a ground eating lope.

@fairest-winter

#roleplay #closed starter #alpha Cayden

[toadschooled]

This wrinkly fella is a Bocage’s tree frog [Leptopelis bocagii], a species native to Central Africa. This species is relatively large for its genus, with females reaching 2.3 inches in length from snout to rump. These frogs are ground dwelling and often hide in burrows during the day. Images by Daniel Rautenbach. 

#bocage's tree frog #tree frog #treefrog #frog #frogs #herps #amphibians #animals #nature

[frickfrackiwastakingabath]

Woo! Three word prompts!

angle, heart, fold

Gah! Okay!

Bent

Tw none really, just injury I guess?

I'm halfway through writing this and I just realised that said anGLE and not anGEL. Sorry.

Summary

Hannah has finally turned 100, earning her fairy wings. Unfortunatly she damages them within the first day pretty much, and gets assistance from a human looking figure.

...

Hannah did her best to stretch her wings and winced. Of course it was her! Of course she would be laying there, alone on the forest floor with bended and folded wings, unable to move from the pain. The other fairies were sure to laugh at her, if she even got out if this alive and no random animal came up and ate her.

Of course Hannah just had to be a show off on her first day with wings. She was a soldier, she had a little thorn for a spear and beetle exoskeleton armour on for her wing ceremony, so she thought she was more than prepared to fight a stupid frog.

But, no point dwelling on the past. The frog had flung her away from the village, and Hannah could feel footsteps. That meant two things, the other fairies were hiding and not looking for her, and something human sized was coming.

Hannah gave into her fate and shriveled up, waiting to be crushed by whatever human happened to wander by.

-

His first day 100 years old, Sam weighed his heart and got his wings. He could now be a fully fledged angel, going to humans to bless them and give them strength and courage when they needed it.

So of course, it was just his luck that he forgot the directions to the town he was guiding, and he was now lost. Cuz why not?

He wandered through the forest, careful to not let his pristine white wings get dirty by touching the ground.

But, in his heart, he felt something. An empathic pull, deeper into the forest.

Someone needed his help.

Sam zipped through the trees, like how he's seen some other angels do, before feeling the tug pull somewhere else. He wandered around, but there was no humans in sight. Dejected, he sat criss cross on the floor, hugging himself with his wings. He was going to be the laughing stock of the whole angel temple, if they even let him back after this catastrophe.

But looking down, he saw something shine in the dirt. He leaned closer to look, but heard a whimper.

A fairy.

-

Hannah curled up tighter and shut her eyes as she felt the figure lean over, looming above her. Hopefully her armour made her look like just another dead bug.

She yelped in shock and pain as a large finger touched her wings. Well, she couldn't play the bug card now. Ignoring the sore and stinging pain, she scrambled backward away from the man, holding her spear out in front of her.

"Woah!" The man spread out his feathery wings and held up his hands. Hannah didn't remember anything about humans having giant wings in her training, but there wasn't much time to think about that. "Sorry! Do you need help?"

Hannah's heart raced as she tried not to make a sound, doing her best to shift into a lunge with her spear extended out at the winged human.

"Here let me just..." The man held out his hand as Hannah glared at him. He hesitated. "I've only just got my powers today, so bear with me."

Hannah flinched as she felt her wings unwillingly move. She turned around to see they were glowing the same soft shade of green as the winged human.

Hannah stretched out her wings as they unfolded like paper, the creases gone, like they never happened. She stood up, still holding the spear, amazed at how the pain had disappeared.

"Thanks?" Hannah said slowly, fluttering up to the man's face. She put down her spear and extended her hand, not that he could shake it. "Hannah. How did you do... that?"

"Sam," the man- Sam- said, nodding, he jumped up and shook off his wings. "I'm an angel. It's sort of like... my divine purpose to go around and help people."

"Interesting..." Hannah inspected Sam like a particularly interesting bug. She guessed what he did lined up with his story. "Why would you help a fairy though?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Sam blinked back and shrugged.

The two stood in silence for a bit, both taking in what the other had said. Until Hannah heard a small noise from down below.

"Hannah! Where are you!"

Hannah looked down to see Purpled, one of her friends who didn't have wings yet, yelling and looking for her. Right. The village was probably wondering where she was. Purpled finally caught sight of Hannah and Sam, as he froze.

"Hannah...?" Purpled looked up, his eyes wide. "What-"

"Nice talk!" Hannah shrugged and waved bye to Sam, gliding back down to Purpled. Sam waved bye as well, jumping and taking off into the air. If his story was true, he was probably off to look for another person to help out.

"So..." Purpled drawed out, looking between Hannah and where Sam was standing a second before. "What the fuck was that?"

Hannah weighed her options before shaking her head and sighing. "Promise you won't laugh?"

#mcyt gt #mcyt g/t #tiny!hannah #giant!sam #tiny!purpled #3 word gt prompts #frick fr-ask

[mayfairs]

this little light of mine (billie dean howard x audrey tindall)

wc 1901. nothing but fluff & the slightest recovery trope.

Audrey was beautiful, and Billie needed beautiful things.

---

On days that Audrey would stay over, Billie Dean would make sure the house was clean, the shower curtains were drawn back, the garden tended to, and at least one source of light in every room turned on. It was just the way things were. She provided the safe space, Audrey dwelled in it, and she was able to watch her from a distance as the old came to surface and the thin, oil-like layer of personality gave way to clear waters and high tides. They would cook dinner together sometimes, with the TV blaring in the living room to drown out any noises from stray animals outside; they would curl up on the couch, tucked into each other under a fleece blanket. Popcorn in Billie’s lap. Audrey’s dainty little fingers gripping her wrist as she guided a piece from Billie’s hand into her mouth, doe eyes stuck on the television screen. These were good days for Billie. Sometimes they would even go outside, past the walled-in safety of her home, and they would sit in the woods behind her house and eat strawberries, nothing but the birds and the sway of the trees in the wind. If she were lucky, a little bit of juice would dribble down Audrey’s chin, and she’d reach over to wipe it with the pad of her thumb. “Careful,” she’d murmur, voice smooth with a kind of hidden adoration. “Don’t want to get it on your dress.” And she knew she was doing something right when Audrey’s cheek would dimple with a grin, and Billie could see just the tip of her tongue pressed against her teeth with glee.

There were some days, though, when things didn’t happen the way she planned for them to. Sometimes they would go to sit in the woods, Billie would spread out their patterned blanket across the ground, the tupperware full of berries tucked under her arm. And then she would turn around, and Audrey would be curled up against a tree, face covered with both hands; anything could have spooked her, really: the ruffle of a bird taking flight, a twig snapped under the weight of a small frog, leaves rustling in the breeze. Billie would kneel down beside her and cradle her so, so close. Kiss her temple and brush a palm across her trembling shoulder. Whisper ‘it’s okay’ and ‘I’m right here,’ over and over and over again. Tupperware tossed to the side, berries discarded and laying scattered across the ground. It wasn’t hard when these things happened, but it weighed hard on her. Billie Dean knew all too well how it felt to be haunted by something you’d willed yourself to be rid of. Some days it took mere seconds for Audrey to lift her head out of her little nest of fingers and peek at Billie, eyes wild with something that frightened the medium just a little bit. Some days it took hours. They’d have gotten there when the sun was just peaking over the canopy of the trees, and they’d leave when the sun dipped down over the horizon. Never past dark. Never, never.

Eventually, though, and as all things do, Audrey began to change. Billie imagined that something had happened that she wasn’t quite aware of; something or someone had gotten to Audrey out of the blue and made her realize how much potential she still had. It didn’t matter. Audrey was different. She would go outside by herself during the day, which she’d never done before. When Billie would go to turn on the television for background noise, Audrey would put a hand out and shake her head, tilting it to the side as she smiled just slightly. “It’s okay, Billie Dean,” she said, and Billie loved the way her name fell off of her lips, rounded and supple and ripe, “I’ve got you. I’m not worried.”

Billie would be in charge of fixing lunch on days that Audrey wanted to sit outside and read on the patio. Every now and then, she would step over to the kitchen sink and peek out of the window, eyes scanning frantically until they landed on sunflower hair and the prettiest profile she’d ever seen. She’d watch until she couldn’t, when the timer on the stove went off or the kettle whistled or the food burnt just a little bit. She’d just watch. It was hard, even after things changed, to catch Audrey with a full smile on her face, and sometimes, when she read, Billie would see teeth and dimples and a wrinkled nose and bright eyes and a smile so big that she wasn’t sure she’d see it again, but she would. She’d walk outside with lunch on a broad silver tray, sit down on the painted-white bench next to Audrey, and say, “What are you reading?” with cool indifference. And every time -- well, almost every time -- it would be, “Shakespeare. This is when…” and Audrey would fill her in.

Initially, Audrey struck her as the type of woman who put on a facade. Shakespeare was for looks, as was the acting school experience, and the heavy accent, and most of the things she said out loud. But as Billie grew closer to her, she realized that these things, all of them, were just Audrey. Audrey loved Shakespeare with an unwavering passion. She’d dreamt of going to a specialized school since she was barely out of toddlerhood. The accent, bless her heart, was just an outcome of her upbringing, and as for the things she said, well… She lacked a bit of a filter, but so did Billie, and so she never said anything about it.

Once going outside on her own was regular, Billie realized that her habit of looking through the window was unwarranted and unnecessary, but she couldn’t stop. Audrey was beautiful, and Billie needed beautiful things. Craved them, sometimes, when Audrey wasn’t around. And even when she was, Billie didn’t have her. They weren’t what she wanted them to be, but it was intentional. The necessary journey before the long-awaited destination. Audrey had been hurting when they’d met, and Billie knew better than to step over the carefully guarded boundaries that she had delicately put up for herself. The wait was long, but it was worth it. The time spent together made up for the time apart.

The first time they kissed, it was springtime; a year after Audrey had first started coming over to her house. Audrey had looked so pretty that day: cream sundress, sandals. Bright, unwavering smile. A single thread hanging loose from the seam at her shoulder that she didn’t know about. “Come on, it doesn’t take that long to put berries in a piece of plastic, Billie Dean!” It was the first time she had ever been so eager to go to the woods, and Billie had raised her brows and surrendered with a loose shrug. Okay, she’d said, Okay, Audrey, I’m coming.  She’d clamped the lid down over the tub and Audrey had grabbed the blanket, and she trailed after her outside, watching the way the sun bounced and dived along her crown. It was hot. The sun was in the center of the sky, blaring, making Billie regret wearing a full blouse and loose pants.

“Is there a reason you’re so excited?” she’d asked cautiously, not wanting to overstep but anxious to figure out what was behind the sudden change in Audrey’s demeanor.

“Yes,” Audrey replied. She rolled her eyes. The hint of a grin at her lips. Might as well have said it was the most obvious thing in the world, Billie Dean, can’t you see?

Billie followed her with a furrowed brow until they arrived at their usual clearing. Audrey draped the blanket over the ground, patted it down with her foot. Plopped down on the side furthest from where Billie Dean stood, and Billie herself followed suit, sitting cross legged diagonally from Audrey. She set the tub of berries in the center of the blanket, glanced up, smiled, opened it.

“Raspberries today,” she said nonchalantly, ignoring the way Audrey had been looking at her like she was something to eat. “I didn’t know if you liked them, I probably should have asked. I was getting tired of strawberries.”

“I love raspberries.” Rasp-berries.

Billie smiled to herself and popped one into her mouth. The heat of the sun bore into her back, sinking into her blouse. It was nice. Audrey was beautiful. The raspberries were sweet. She remembered watching Audrey’s knee wiggle impatiently. The anxious-excited glances she gave Billie. And then there she was, leaning across the blanket, knee knocking over the perfect raspberries and sweet, floral perfume following in her wake. Soft lips on Billie’s. Like clouds. She had to remind herself to breathe. There was something off-putting about the chirp of the birds and the whistle of distant cars passing by. She wanted them gone. Wanted only to be aware of Audrey, Audrey, Audrey. She felt hands on each side of her face, the gentle prod of a tongue against her own. Raspberries. Raspberries. Heavy on the P, slow on the R.

Audrey pulled away, but didn’t go far. Her breath still pressed, dense and sweet, to Billie’s mouth, and Billie realized that she was straddling her lap.

“It’s been a year since you first invited me here,” Audrey panted, eyes closed. There’s a moment of silence where both of them had trouble catching up with their breath. With their heartbeats. Billie felt as though hers would thump right up her throat, out of her mouth. Bloody red mass on the blanket. “I am in love with you, Billie Dean,” she’d whispered, pressing the smallest kiss to Bill’s mouth. “You have done so much for me, and I would have never gotten to where I am without you, and I have so much to thank you for, but I am in love with you.”

There was a scary moment where Billie thought that this was something rehearsed. A practice run, maybe. Something to see whether or not Audrey still had her ‘juice.’ But then Audrey was kissing her again, and Billie could feel wetness on her cheeks, and when the former pulled away she sniffled hard and pressed her face into Billie’s neck.

Bill wrapped her arms around her frame. Rubbed into her back and kissed the shell of her ear, the side of her head, anywhere she could reach with her mouth. “I love you, too,” she said simply. She didn’t read Shakespeare in her free time. She wasn’t sure about what to say. What could she say? How would she describe how she felt? I’ve won the fuckin’ jackpot, baby, and you’re it!

Their relationship grew with fervor. Billie had known her all her life, it seemed, had been in love with her for twenty lifetimes and beyond, and it came to a point where she couldn’t imagine life without Audrey there with her. Audrey, who still called for Billie at random intervals as she showered, just to make sure she was there in case something happened. Who still, though very, very rarely, burrowed into Billie’s side at the sound of something outside. Billie still watched her read from the window. Just a glance, she’d tell herself, but it always turned into more than that. Her girl. Improving every single day. Her Audrey.

#billie dean is whipped #billie dean howard #audrey tindall #billie dean howard x audrey tindall #ahs #ahs roanoke #ahs murder house #sarah paulson #american horror story

[babypandawrites]

Allies, Pt. 5

The Blue Spirit

Pairing: Sokka x F Reader Warnings: Death Threats Word Count: 2,742 Summary: While the sickness alimenting Sokka wasn’t affecting you, you still end up with some problems to deal with. 

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“Haha! Classic Appa.”  Y/n’s eyebrows furrowed together as her and Aang walked into the temple that the siblings had been in. Sokka being sick was enough of a worry, him having delusions added another level of it.  “How’s Sokka doing?” Aang asked, as the two of them walked closer.  Katara looked at them, worry clearly written into her features. “Not so good. Being out in that storm really did a number on him.” She paused, looking at Y/n. “You're sure you're feeling alright Y/n?”  When Sokka got sick, Katara and Aang assumed that she would as well since she’d also been out in the storm with him. Turns out living in the forest without proper shelter for several years really amped up her immune system so she was a lot luckier than her friend was. That didn’t stop Katara from expressing concern every time she saw her, though.  “Yes, I’m sure Katara. Save your worry for your brother.”  She nodded, looking over at her brother when he sniffed back his runny nose.  “We couldn’t find any ginger root for the tea, but, we did find a map.” Aang brought out a scroll, and spread it on the ground. “There’s a herbalist institute on the top of that mountain. We could probably find a cure for Sokka there.”  “Aang, he’s in no condition to travel. Sokka just needs more rest. I’m sure he’ll be better by tomorrow.” Katara started to cough after finishing her sentence.  “Oh no.” “Not you too!”  “Relax you two, it was just a little cough. I’m fin-” She cut herself off with more coughing.  Aang took a step back and behind Y/n. “That’s how Sokka started yesterday. Now look at him- he thinks he’s an earthbender!” The three looked over at Sokka, who was swinging at the air. “Take that, you rock.”  Y/n nodded in agreement with Aang. “Yeah. A few more hours and you’ll be just as bad as he is.” She sighed, holding her head in her hand. “I knew you should have let me take care of him.”  Grabbing his glider, Aang went to the edge of the temple. “I’m going to find some medicine. Y/n, can you watch them?” A large flash of lightning cracked in the distance. “Uh, maybe it’s safer to go on foot.”  Y/n, who was getting Katara laid down and comfy, looked at Aang. “Maybe I should go with you, just in case, if you need to get something for an antidote it’ll be faster with the two of us.”  Glancing between her and the sick siblings, he was hesitant to agree. But, Y/n was right, and they should be fine up here. It’s out of the way, the Fire Nation shouldn’t find them. “Hmm.. Alright. Appa, Momo, keep an eye on them.”  Appa grunted, as Y/n joined Aang at the edge of the temple. Sokka laughed. “You guys are killin’ me!”  Aang grabbed onto Y/n, and used his airbending to launch them into the air, before safely landing far down onto the hill. 

They’d ran basically the entire way to the herbalist institute, once they got there, they barged in completely out of breath. A cat meowed, and jumped out of their way. Y/n had leaned her hands against her knees, attempting to catch her breath, while Aang babbled off to the herbalist.  “Hello! I’m sorry to barge in like this, but we need some medicine for our friends. They have fevers and they’ve been coughing and-” The herbalist cut off his quick speaking, mixing something in a bowl that sat in front of her. “Settle down, young man. Your friends are going to be fine.” She walked over to another table, where the cat was sitting. “I’ve been up here for over fourty years you know, used to be others, but they all left years ago.” She started to pet the cat, who began to purr in response. “Now it’s just me and Miyuki.” “That’s nice.”  “Wounded Earth Kingdom troops still come by now and again, brave boys, and thanks to my remedies they always leave in better shape than they arrive.” “That’s nice. Are you almost done?”  “Hold on, I just need to ass one last ingredient.” The herbalist walked amongst the shrubbery, looking around and muttering to herself.  Aang was exasperated, Y/n was starting to get the feeling this lady might be nuts.  The herbalist was looking for the ingredient for a while, the two of them just decided to sit themselves while they waited. They both sat with their heads resting on the table.  “Here’s what I was looking for! Plum blossom!” Both of their heads shot up, Aang got up and tried to take the bowl from the woman, but she smacked his wrist making him drop it. “Hands off! What do you think you're doing?” Aang’s eyebrows furrowed together. “Taking the cure for our friends?”  Y/n got up, and moved to stand behind him as the herbalist laughed aloud.  “Ahaha! This isn’t a cure, it’s Miyuki’s dinner.” The woman sat the bowl down on the table in front of Miyuku, the cat began to eat it. “Plum blossom is her favorite.” Aang breathed out a sigh. “What about our friends?”  “Well, all they need is some frozen wood frogs. There’s plenty of them down in the valley swamp.” “Why couldn’t you have mentioned that sooner?!” “What are we supposed to do with frozen frogs?” They spoke at the same time, the herbalist decided to only pay mind to Aang’s question.  “Why, suck on them of course!” Both of their expressions twisted into shock. “What?!” “Suck on them!?”  “The frog’s skin excretes a substance that’ll cure your friends, but make sure you get plenty. Once those little critters thaw out, they’re useless!”  Silence lingered in the air for a moment. Aang broke it.  “You’re insane aren’t you?”  “Thaaat’s right.”  “Wonderful. Aang, let’s go.” Y/n grabbed onto his wrist, and dragged his out of the building so they could go get these frogs. Soon after they left though, a pair of arrows was shot at them. An arrow landed on each side of the two. They looked around, as a large number of arrows zipped through the air at them. Aang used his airbended to blow them away. He reached down and grabbed one of the arrows from the ground, and held it out.  “Uuh, I think you dropped this.”  Both of their eyes widened as several archers surrounded them in the trees above.  Y/n glanced over to her friend. “We should probably run.”  “Yeah.” 

Running didn’t do much for them, seeing as the two ended up getting caught by the archers. This was… just great. Their captors had brought them to a Fire Nation base and separated them into different rooms. Y/n had been shackled by her wrist, with two short chains that connected to the floor. She struggled against the restraints, as someone opened the door to where she was being kept.  “Well, well, well, look who it is. I almost didn’t believe it when I was told that not only the Avatar was retrieved but you were as well, Y/n.”  Looking up, she glared at the man, but didn’t say anything.  “I always thought you were a lot of things, a traitor wasn’t one of them. Though I guess coward and traitor go hand in hand.”  Zhao stepped closer to her. “I have to keep the Avatar alive, so he doesn’t reincarnate. But, there’s nothing stopping me from killing you. I’m sure you’d love to join that pathetic mother of yours.”  “Don’t talk about my mother like that.”  He laughed. “Or what? You’ll handstand me to death? Maybe throw in a somersault? I’m so scared.”  She gritted her teeth as Zhao turned on his heel, walking back to the door.  “I have some business to take care of, you’ll be dealt with later.” He slammed the door behind him.  The way he spoke made her think that she would be facing death. Or worse.  Probably worse. 

Y/n went to grab the chains that held her in place, but stopped at hearing a commotion outside. “Aang please let that be you…”  The blue masked figure who pushed open the door was definitely not Aang. Though, judging by the knocked out guards in the hallway, they might not be here to kill her. They didn’t say anything as they approached her, and sliced the chains that held her down with their dual swords.  Wait… dual swords?  There was no time to dwell on the thought, the person was already leaving the room. Pushing herself off the ground she followed them, swiftly taking one of the guards' swords on the way out. She followed the masked person through the halls, silently following their stealthy movements.  They approached a hallway with a few guards watching over it. The masked person looked back at her, and nodded their head to the guards, before sneaking to the other end of the hallway. So she needed to deal with these guys, alright. Bringing her bow would have been a big help right now. Though on second thought, it probably would have just gotten taken in her capture.  She carefully slid through the shadows to get closer to the guards. There were only three of them, so this shouldn’t be too hard. Adjusting her grip on the sword, she stepped next to one of the guards and grabbed them by the shoulder. Using the handle of the sword, she jabbed it into a pressure point on the neck, causing the guard to collapse immediately. She ducked under a wave of fire sent her way, taking the chance to crouch and knock a guard to the ground. When his back hit the ground she grabbed onto his head and slammed it into the ground.  Once she knocked out the third guard, the masked person came back, this time dragging Aang by his collar. He perked up, as the masked person released his shirt collar and led them through the building.  “I’m glad you're okay Y/n.” He kept his voice to a whisper.  “Yeah, I could say the same to you.”  The masked person turned to look at them, telling them to be quiet by putting a finger to their mouth. After a bit more sneaking, the person slid down into a large grate, it led to the sewer. Y/n and Aang glanced at each other, before the latter motioned to the grate as a silent way to say ‘ladies first’. She rolled her eyes playfully, tucking the sword she stole into the rope tied around her waist, before slipping through the grate, Aang soon followed. They slid along the wall, as Fire Nation soldiers walked above. The masked person peaked up through some of the grates, they turned to look at the two and motioned upwards before climbing out. They must have gotten to an area clear of soldiers. Y/n grabbed onto the grates and pulled herself up through them, helping a slightly struggling Aang once she was up. The three ran through the base, to a conveniently placed rope that hung from one of the guarding walls. It was probably used to get in. Aang started climbing, the masked person going next, then Y/n last. As they were climbing an alarm sounded through the base.  “There, on the wall!”  A soldier appeared at the top of the wall and cut the rope they were climbing, sending the three falling. Aang shouted, but used his airbending so the three of them had a soft landing. The masked person unsheathed their dual swords, Y/n did the same with the sword she stole, and the trio started running.  “The Avatar has escaped! Close all the gates immediately!”  Aang ran to the front of the trio. “Stay close to me!”  As they got close to the closing gate, a group of soldiers blocked it, but Aang sent a blast of air to blow them out of the way. While he got close to the gate, Y/n and the masked person got surrounded by a group of soldiers. The two engage in battle with the soldiers, fighting together effortlessly. Aang stepped in, and used his airbending again to blow the soldiers away. Using a large gust of air he boosted the masked person up to the top of the gate then did the same to Y/n.  She landed at the top with a roll, knocking down one of the guards by crashing into his legs. By the time she got up, Aang was flying towards them by spinning a makeshift staff above his head. He grabbed onto the masked person by the torso with his legs to fly off with them. Y/n grabbed onto their leg so she didn’t get left behind. While Aang struggled to keep them all afloat, the two used their swords to block the spears being thrown up at them. 

The trio barely made it to the next wall, crash landing at the top of the gate. Almost immediately they were engaged in battle. There were three guards, each of them took one on. Y/n was able to shove the guard she fought off the wall of the gate, while the masked person and Aang did as well.  It was a struggle to do so, but they ended up making it to the final gate. Though they were still stuck on the inside, and hadn’t managed to get out yet. A small group of firebenders sent a blast of flames their way, but Aang was quick to push the two behind him and airbend the flames away.  Zhao held his hand up at the soldiers. “Hold your fire! The Avatar must be captured alive.”  The masked person slid up behind Aang, and crossed his swords over his neck. Y/n looked at them with wide eyes, but didn’t do anything. This was a ticket out, Zhao couldn’t risk Aang being killed and this person knew that.  “Open the gate.” Zhao spoke through gritted teeth.  “Admiral, what are you doing?” “Let them out, now!”  The gate opened behind them, and the masked person started to back out with his swords still crossed at Aang’s neck. Y/n backed out with them, keeping her gaze fixated on the soldiers with narrowed eyes. Suddenly, an arrow zipped through the air, and hit the masked person's well… mask. Knocked out, they fell backwards. After recovering from a moment of shock, Aang airbended a large cloud of dust around them.  Curious, Aang reached down to remove the person’s mask, revealing Zuko. Both him and Y/n looked at the Prince with wide eyes, shocked. Aang started to back away, scared, before tripping and falling backwards. Y/n didn’t move, expression contorting to a mix of both shock and concern. What had happened to him…  Aang had started to run away, but halted his steps when he realized Y/n wasn’t following. “Y/n, we have to go!”  “We can’t leave him...” Mumbling, she hooked her arms under Zuko’s and started to drag him along the ground, in the direction Aang had started running. The other hesitated for a moment, before he came over to help her. 

They’d found safety in the nearby forest. After laying Zuko down on the ground, Aang took a seat on a nearby root.  “I’ll stay here until he wakes up, you should get back to Katara and Sokka and make sure they're alright. I’ll get the frozen frogs on my way back.”  Y/n’s gaze bounced between the two. “Are you sure, Aang? I can stay if that would make you feel better.”  He shook his head. “I’d feel better knowing all my friends are safe. Zuko is dangerous, I don’t want to risk you getting hurt or worse.”  “...Alright.”  She was hesitant, but left the two and made her way back to the temple Katara and Sokka were at. They seemed to be doing fine, or as fine as they could be while sick. Aang returned not too long after Y/n, and put a frozen frog in Katara and Sokka’s mouths.  “Suck on these. They’ll make you feel better.” Aang collapsed onto Appa’s tail with a sigh. Y/n looked at him with a concerned expression.  “Are you okay, Aang?”  He offered a silent nod.  “How was your trip? Did you make any new friends?” Sokka’s words were slightly muffled, from the frog in his mouth.  “No, I don’t think so.” Aang rolled over, facing away from the others.

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