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recurring-polynya · 3 years

Note

For the AU drabbles, can you do Renji ending up in Spirit Society and meeting Tengu!Rukia and Tengu!Byakuya?

I described the bones of this AU in this art post (you should probably read it first).

Given that I did all that work up front, instead of writing something that makes sense, I am going to be very self-indulgent and write this out-of-context Feels Fiesta where Tengu!Rukia doesn’t want Regular!Renji to go home.

Read on ao3 (features the pictures from the first post) or ff.net

🐦 ✨ 💔

Rukia staggered over to the library table, carrying far too many rolled-up maps. She attempted to tip the first one gently onto the table, but instead, half a dozen rolled out of her arms. “Watch out!” she yelped helplessly.

The Shinigami Abarai Renji had exceptional reflexes, though, and he deftly scooped his ink stone out of danger as a map rolled past the spot where it had sat just a moment before.

“Sorry,” Rukia apologized, her feathers wilting. She wanted so badly to be a help for once, and instead, she couldn’t seem to stop embarrassing herself.

Renji flashed her one of his brilliant smiles. She wondered if all shinigami smiled so freely. It seemed a strange quality for a god of death to possess, but very little about Renji comported with her conception of what death gods should be like. The Shinigami Kurosaki Ichigo smiled often as well. Rukia had assumed that might be due to his human half, but perhaps ushering souls to the afterlife was not such a grim occupation as one might expect.

“Don’t worry,” Renji reassured her, the corners of his warm brown eyes crinkling. “I am a champion ink-spiller, so I’m pretty good at avoiding it. Thanks for digging these out for me. Were you able to find any that show the old kitsune trade route you mentioned?”

“I’ll have to check,” Rukia sighed. “I’m afraid they weren’t very well organized. My brother’s servant, Wakame Ambassador--”

Renji made a face like he was trying very hard not to laugh.

“You must not make fun of Wakame Ambassador!” Rukia warned in a hushed voice. “He is just a magical construct, but he does have feelings!” She frowned at the maps. “It’s not his fault Brother didn’t put a whole lot of brains in him.”

“I would never,” Renji reassured her gently, “make fun of Wakame Ambassador.” He fiddled with his brush. “He just… reminds me of something from back home.”

Rukia knew she should get to work looking for the map he wanted, but she couldn’t help herself. She was so curious about his Soul Society, and he was so close-mouthed about it. “Do you miss it?”

“Hmm?”

“Soul Society,” she said, rolling the word around in her mouth. “Do you miss it?”

“Oh,” Renji replied. “A little. I haven’t really been gone that long, and I do want to help you folks out. I am starting to get these little pangs, though.” He chuckled. “Wouldn’t’ve expected to get one over Wakame Ambassador.”

“They must miss you,” Rukia pressed. “You’re a very important person, there, right?”

Renji let out a sharp guffaw. “I wouldn’t say that.”

Rukia’s brows furrowed. “But you said the captain you serve is a powerful clan head and a great warrior! Aren’t you the leader of his armies?”

Renji rubbed the back of his neck and laughed. “I guess you could say I have an important job, that’s true. It’s not quite the same as being an important person.”

It made no sense, in Rukia’s opinion. She had never seen swordwork to match his, and then he knew shinigami magic as well. He spoke so knowledgeably of strategy and tactics, he must be a scholar of warfare. Yet, he interacted so easily with the tengu troops. He was a natural leader in the way she wasn’t. Not that Brother would ever let her lead troops into battle in any case. “You know,” she started slowly. “Brother is very impressed with you.”

Renji raised one skeptical eyebrow.

“He is!” Rukia insisted. “And… if you are not appreciated in your homeland, I think that Brother would be most happy to have you stay! He would make you his war leader, I am sure of it!”

A very strange look came over Renji’s face. Rukia found herself talking faster and faster, as if her words could outpace his doubts.

“Demons notwithstanding, the Spirit Society is a wonderful place to live, and the tengu are the best of its tribes. I know you would feel self-conscious to not have a set of handsome wings or magnificent horns, but you have such interesting barring on your skin and your plumage is a lovely color. You would be very popular nonetheless!”

“Plumage?” Renji echoed blankly, his hand going to his hair.

“The costumes you and Kurosaki Ichigo fashioned were very clever. They would not fool another tengu, of course, but…” Rukia trailed off, unable to put into words the way her heart had sped up when she had seen him wearing the dark pinions and red-tipped horns of a tengu warrior. Of course, if he had been born a tengu, she was sure he would not have such common coloring. She could imagine him with a fine set of double wings, like her brother’s, blood red, tipped in black, and with great curling horns, like the woodcuts of the mighty warriors in her history books. “Or maybe there’s a spell that could grow you wings!” she realized suddenly. “I am very good at magic, you know, I could look through my spellbooks.”

Suddenly, his big, warm hand with its funny, blunt fingernails encased her own. “Rukia,” he cut her off. “Thank you. That’s a very generous offer, and believe me, I’m flattered.”

Rukia looked into his face. With its sharp nose and narrow, beady eyes, it was so clear that he belonged among her beautiful bird tribe, not a bunch of boring, ugly ghosts. It was unfair. “But?”

He shrugged. “But I gotta go home.”

There was a long silence. “Why?”

“Well, I got my friends, my squad, my captain. People who depend on me.”

“People who care for you?”

“Er, right.”

He hesitated. If he hadn’t hesitated, Rukia would have held her tongue. But it seemed, in that hesitation, there was a chance, and she felt like she had to take it. “There… there could be people here who would care for you, given time. Maybe there are already.” She took a deep breath. “I would like you to stay.”

A deeply pained look came over his face.

Rukia’s gut plummeted. It had been a mistake. “I’m sorry,” she stammered. “I should not have said anything.”

Renji’s face hardened. “Don’t say that. Please don’t say that.” He squeezed his eyes closed for a moment and his hand tightened on hers so hard it hurt a little. “It’s not easy to put yourself out there, but you’ve always been braver than me.”

Rukia frowned. What could he possibly mean by that?

“It’s really hard for me to say this. You have no idea how hard. I like you, too, you know. I like you so much. But there’s… my heart’s already spoken for, Rukia. It has been for a long time. She’s… she’s a lot like you. Tough and clever and beautiful and the best friend you can imagine. And that’s part of why it could never be fair to you if I… if you and I...”

Of course. Of course he already had someone, how could she have been so foolish? But why hadn’t he mentioned this before? And why did his voice crack so when he spoke of her? “She does not return your love,” Rukia realized, the words escaping her mouth before she could catch them.

Rukia expected Renji’s face to look even more pained, but instead, his brow softened and his mouth curved into a fond smile. “I dunno, actually. It’s… it’s never been the right time or the right place. We’ve been through a lot together, though, her and me, and I know that she’d miss me if I didn’t come back.” He snorted ruefully. “I’d give every kan I got to hear Ichigo try to explain to her why I didn’t, though.”

Suddenly, a number of things he had said clicked together in her head. And it had not been wishful thinking, she realized. His smile truly was brighter for her, his gaze softer.

“It’s the other me, isn’t it?” she said softly.

Renji’s face stiffened, and then he sighed. “Of course it is. I can’t manage to keep stuff from you in any world, it seems.”

“I met her once, you know,” Rukia noted coolly, despite the turmoil in her chest. “The last time Kurosaki Ichigo was here.” She paused. “She did not seem a fool.”

Renji laughed, and patted her hand boisterously. The tension between them released like steam from a kettle. “Believe me, she’d have to be, to put up with me after all the grief I give her.”

Rukia regarded him under lidded eyes as she reached for one of the maps. “You already told me that she resembles me. Do not pretend she does not pay you back four-fold.

Renji regarded her right back. “I won’t.”

Rukia’s heart felt tender and achy, but warm, as well. The other Rukia must love him back, she was sure of it, even if she couldn’t say so. The alternative was too sad to bear. “I wonder,” she sighed, “why there is no version of you in this world.”

“Oh, that’s easy,” Renji replied. “There probably is. He’s just not a tengu. You folks are way too elegant and clean-cut for the likes of me. It’s an honest miracle I ever met my Rukia in the first place.”

Rukia gaped. “Surely not! You are a noble warrior! Strong and handsome and polite!”

Renji gave out a bark of laughter. “That’s only because I’ve spent a long time trying to get this way. You got any nue in Spirit Society? Or ookami?” He thought for a moment. “I’m not sure I’m even classy enough to be a wolf spirit. Inugami?”

“We have all of those,” Rukia replied, bristling. But the dog demons are not to be trusted! Brother says they are barely better than the kitsune!”

“Mmm,” Renji replied with a shrug. “Right. Well. Like I said. Never the right time. Never the right place.” He turned back to the war record he’d been looking through.

Rukia’s face fell. She felt like she had failed him, somehow. Was it something about her brother? He could be a bit… insular to be sure, but the inugami were the very worst of the… dog... Rukia blinked and she traced a finger over the map in front of her. “The inugami are not the only dog tribe. Here, on the other side of the mountain. It’s hainu territory, which is why Brother doesn’t want to travel through it, but it has to be safer than that old kitsune trail. The hainu are an honorable people, if a bit unsophisticated, and they, too, would be affected if the demons were to swarm the valley. If they allied with us, I am sure we could fight off Grimmjow’s forces! You are a genius, Abarai Renji!”

“Me? What did I--?”

Rukia jumped to her feet. “Come. Brother won’t like it, but I am sure he will listen to you!”

“Why would you think that?!” Renji yelped as she hauled him from the library. Suddenly his eyebrows drew together. “Wait, this actually isn’t a bad idea. Do you think it would work? Have you ever actually met a hainu?”

“Well, no,” Rukia admitted. “But at least they have wings, how bad could they be?”

🐕 🤝 🐦

A/N: Okay, I know you asked for Byakuya, who… did not appear in the previous scene. So here’s Byakuya omake. A Byak-omake, if you will.

“What do you mean, the other me does not adorn himself with beautiful feathers?”

“Well, you’ve got a whole bird motif goin’ on, he’s not much of a bird guy. I mean, he likes birds. I guess. He just doesn’t dress like one.”

“How does he accessorize, then? Does he have a lush cloak of fine velvet?”

“Er… he’s got a haori?”

“Ah! Is it richly embroidered?”

“It’s got a six on the back.”

“A six.”

“Yeah, like the number six.”

“...”

“He said he’s thinking of adding some tassels? Gold tassels?”

“Gold tassels are good. How many?”

“He wasn’t specific at the time, but I’m guessing… two?”

“...Two?”

“Isn’t two enough? It’s two more than anyone else has.”

“...Two?!”

“...”

“Wakame Ambassador! Fetch my traveling cape and headdress! I must travel to the Soul Society to teach my other self how to dress properly!”

#my writing #wacky au requests #spirit society #i worked so hard to avoid actually referring to the nominal 'plot'#and then i had to end it #and i was like 'ah i'll just loop it back into the plot'#the 'plot'#that definitely exists #riiiiiiiiiight #anyway i'm in love with hainu now #they are DOGGIES with WINGS #what if renji were a DOGGIE DEMON with WINGS?#(and no shirt)#rukia would simply die

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alexius-fr · 4 years

Photo

Chapter 4 - Decay

Click the link for the AO3 version or read below the cut ^^

“How dare he.”

She was furious, raging like a fire. A beautiful, spirited fire, her eyes ablaze.

“He talked down to you like you are not his equal, no- his superior. You are younger, more able, more open minded. More fit to lead.” she spoke with a voice like a crackle of lightning, rough, sharp.

Khadiyah. She stood proud as she faced him, unwilling to back down. Proud, strong. The very embodiment of what a dragon should be. Her muted red hide carried the markings of a warrior, scars, but also her natural markings that made her look ruptured, light red and very dark red mixing in an aggressively striped pattern on her body and wings. Silas had been instantly smitten with her when they met for the first time, only a few months ago. She'd joined the clan and had initially not attracted much attention to herself, but she'd made silent friendships with a lot of the dragons over those few months, asserting herself as a reliable companion, if sometimes harsh. Firm but fair, she was a fearsome fighter, strong willed and stubborn.

“You saw what happened.” Silas said. “I was foolish to think they would betray him. I should have prepared better, but in the heat of the moment I thought I could pull it off.”

“The old bastard's been their leader for a long time, it won't be easy to convince them. We need to talk to them, one on one. Be subtle about it. Bring up the argument, apologize. Win their sympathy. Speak to their imagination. So many of them want to return home, I saw it in their eyes.”

“I know. I saw it too. And I don't want our daughter to grow up here, in this throwaway lair, this land plagued by cutting winds. What if she gets it into her head that she wants to make kites?” Silas shuddered. “No, she deserves to grow up in a territory suited to her needs. If we cannot convince them, I promise you we will leave together, my love.”

“So we shall. But we must try. There is strenght in numbers, and we need those numbers if we are to establish a presence in the Scarred Wasteland.” Khadiyah stated.

“Do you think Seth could make the trip?” Silas wondered. Their firstborn was sleeping on her nest behind them. She was only a month old, but young dragons grew quickly, and she stood to about half of their size already.

“If she cannot, she was never meant to make it.” Khadiyah said. “Such is the way of the Plaguebringer. We must not coddle her.”

“Of course.” Silas agreed. “I would never.” He, in fact, would. But best to not bring that up right now.

“Besides, she shows signs of your blood already. If it persists, she will easily make it.” Khadiyah said, not worried in the slightest, Silas smirking at the compliment.

“But she has your pride and determination.” Silas said, in an attempt to flatter his mate, who smiled coquettishly.

“Of course she does.” Khadiyah stated, matter-of-factly. “She's a combination of the best of us both.”

“You are the best part of me.” Silas said, still as smitten as the day they met. For the smallest moment, Khadiyah's face softened, and she rubbed her head against Silas' neck lovingly. He loved her always, but even more in these very rare moments where she allowed herself to be vulnerable. Silas returned the gesture, but froze when he saw noticed they were being watched.

“Gross!”

Seth had woken up and was obviously displeased with her parents' show of affection towards eachother, her nose wrinkled as she stuck out her tongue. Silas smiled at Khadiyah, who rolled her eyes, the last of her smile disappearing. She headed over to the nest to berate Seth for listening in on them, Silas watching them with a feeling of strange melancholy. Once, all that had mattered to him was his brother. He'd looked up to him, did everything for him, forgetting himself in the process. Khadiyah had reminded him of his worth. Supported him as he learned to re-assert himself. She gave him a goal. A family. They were his priority now. And if Sanguine wouldn't accept that.. a part of him hoped he would. But he knew better. No, his course was already set, despite a part of his old self wanting to return to the way things were before. But he had a responsibility now, and he had to rise to it.

It was time to put their plan into motion.

Sanguine did not feel good about leaving the lair unattended for a longer time, especially after that argument. But something pulled him northwards, called him towards the border of his old homeland. Something primal, something mystical that tugged at his very core. He wouldn't call it his heart, but it was something ancient, something that he had always known and yet didn't.

The bamboo forests and cliffs gradually turned more orange and yellow, the domain of the Plaguebringer slowly but surely advancing over the borders. Dead, dried out bamboo lined the very edge where the ground turned to dry, ashy brown sinew. It was on this edge that his calling lay. From the skies, he searched, circling the area. For hours, he skirted the border, drifting on the sickly warm winds that blew into the Wastelands.

He didn't know if it was exhaustion, but it seemed like the very land beneath him was starting to move. He looked closer, seeing that oval puddle he'd seen a few times now shift and boil. The very thin green liquid was hardly as toxic as what you'd find near the wyrmwound, this looked more like water with a flim layer of algae on top.

And then it blinked.

Sanguine nearly fell out of the sky when he saw it, doing a double take to be sure. But yes, it actually had blinked. And it did it again, it's dry fleshy edges pulling shut in an almost cringing motion before opening again, this time releasing it's contents as it did so. He'd never seen a puddle blink before, so he had to quell his curiousity, flying down to investigate. He had forgotten how alive the land itself could feel, the ground groaning as he approached the large puddle. It was boiling hot with pestilence, even this close to the border. Like a miniature wyrmwound, almost.

“You have come at last.”

A bombastic voice shook the ground and Sanguine froze, eyes quickly scanning the environment. There was nobody around, he was certain of it.

“The answers are not always in plain view, Sanguine.”

“Who are you? How do you know my name?” Sanguine said, looking around, ready to defend himself.

“You are known to this land, and the land whispers to me. It's been a very long time, child of the Blood.”

“Reveal yourself. I have no time for games.” Sanguine snapped, impatient. For a long moment, nothing happened, green puffs of poisonous air releasing from a gheyser far away. Sanguine was not concerned, a child of Plague could withstand the lands' natural defenses. He was more concerned about where this voice was coming from, staying alert to signs of danger.

Then, with a great heave, the pool opened, parting to reveal the entrance to an underground lair. The liquid bubbled and spattered, sloshing into an invisible barrier. Powerful magic filled the air, the taste of metal on Sanguine's tongue.

“Enter, friend.”

Sanguine warily looked at the putrid liquid as he passed through the entrance that had just appeared, ready to jump up and fly off if it turned out to be a trap, but nothing happened. He entered a narrow tunnel where the floor squished under his feet as he walked along. The smell of the lair might have put off anyone not of the Blood, but Sanguine found himself nostalgic. It smelled of decay, of damp rotted leaves, and the sickly sweet smell of the pools of acid. The smell of home.

Inside, the lair's walls were covered in sinew, that seemed to breathe and move as he passed. He felt like a hundred eyes were upon him, but he saw none of them when he turned his head to check behind him. Still, he cast a warning frown at whatever was watching him.

“Be welcome, Sanguine.” the voice was closer now, Sanguine focusing his attention on it, ready to strike if need be.

“So you have answered the call at last.” Sanguine looked around to see the source of the voice, stepping onto something warm and soft, which grabbed his attention. He inched back and saw two pale white eyes blink up at him, like they had just woken up. With a groan that shook the lair, a large serpentine body started to unravel from the very floor itself, sinew breaking apart to reveal an imperial dragon, face scarred over, their blood red mane long and unmaintained, their wings and body tattooed with mystical drawings of eyes and bones.

“Were you..merged with the cave?” Sanguine wondered, seeing bits of sinew still stuck in the imperial's wild mane.

“I was. I have been for so long it feels strange to be confined into this body again. But I suppose it would be rude not to face the first guest I have had in years.” the imperials voice was deep, bombastic, but with a rawness to it. This might have been the first time in all those years it had to use it's vocal chords.

“Years?” Sanguine frowned. “Wait, how does that work?”

“I spent years alone, communing with the land. Eventually I became so adept at it I simply.. merged with it. Now I can do it at will, but it takes a lot of concentration. But that's not what is important. You're here.” the imperial spread out their wings, the crudely inscribed magical markings blinking as they watched. The 'eyes' didn't even really look like eyes, more like crudely carved spiked circles with a dot in the middle, but they did send a shiver up Sanguine's spine as they focused on him. The imperials face was not quite directed at him, and Sanguine realized only now that the dragon was blind.

“Yes. I see.” the imperial spoke.”You have suffered great pain.” “Doesn't take a genius to conclude that.” Sanguine frowned. “Was that supposed to impress me?” “You are impressed, Blooded One.” the imperial spoke without a doubt. “You were wary as you entered my lair. Every muscle in your body is tense, ready to fight. Rest assured, I would not be much of a match for the firstborn son of Wretch.” Sanguine froze at her name. There was no way the imperial could have known that without-

“I see not who you have pretended to be all these years. Rather, I see who you are. I see your blood.” the imperial said. “But I suppose it is rude to read your blood without first introducing myself. I am Rowan, seer of the land of the Plaguebringer. Pleased to meet you.”

“Who..what are you?” Sanguine adjusted his question. Rowans blind eyes darted for a moment.

“I am ancient. A wanderer. A seer. A soothsayer. A witch. I am all these things, and more. Only The Plaguebringer knows what I truly am. I no longer remember which of the previous is true.” Rowan said, his wings closing themselves. “You have come because you heard my call. Because the land called you.” “Well, something called me, yes.” Sanguine reluctantly admitted.

“You can not deny the call of your blood, child of Wretch.” “Don't call me that.” Sanguine snapped.

“Why do you deny it? All these years you spent looking for power that was greater than hers, when you already had it inside you in the first place.”

“You see much.” Sanguine said, quietly. He no longer hid the fact that he was impressed, but even if he had, there was probably no point. Whatever this imperial was, he was wise far beyond Sanguine's comprehension. It had been a long time since someone's presence had humbled him, but surprisingly he found the experience refreshing rather than annoying. Rowan was a wild spirit, a hermit, but he felt a strange kind of kinship with him. Rowan intrigued him, the runes engraved in his dull red hide radiated power, even under the mess of his long mane. Sanguine was no longer tense, instead finding a strange comfort in the fact that Rowan would see through any front he put up. A slow smile crept onto larger dragons' face.

“Excellent. You have decided to trust me. Very good.” Rowan rubbed his claws together, Sanguine seeing long, unkempt nails scrape past eachother. “Then let's prepare everything for a proper reading. Please, sit.”

#fr #flight rising #fr lore #flight rising lore #my lore

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ionfusionpunk · 3 years

Text

Mando’a Conjugation Tangents Because My Brain Got Lost

AKA: A Study of Ancient Mandalorian Culture and Society and the Development of Mando’a by Dissecting a Bunch of Words in a Bid to Find the One (Which I Don’t Find, but That’s Okay)

Um. So, I got carried away?

It started with me creating a clone oc: Clone Commander Alloy. I love creating fun nicknames for my characters, and I thought it would be cool to give him a nickname in Mando’a. I thought: Hey, ‘alloy’ is close to ‘ally’, so maybe one of his close friends/vod call him tomad: ally. Cute. Then I thought, but what about ‘alloy’ in Mando’a?

(You can jump to the very end for the TL;DR)

Cue me realizing there isn’t a straight translation. Cue me realizing there’s only one (1) metallic element given any sort of name in Mando’a: beskar, which is Mandalorian iron made of a metallic alloy (steel, which itself is an iron alloy, hence Mandalorian iron).

Cue me wanting to dissect the word beskar to figure out where it comes from.

After fighting with my brain for an hour, I finally just made it simple: since beskar is a confirmed alloy of which iron is the major part, then I just need to identify which part of the word is ‘iron’. Easily said and done if one considers that be means ‘of’ in Mando’a, leaving skar to mean iron. (I also cross referenced the Mando’a dictionary to make sure there weren’t any other words composed of skar as a word fragment in any form; it’s not). Literally translated then, beskar means ‘of iron’ which makes sense considering it’s an iron alloy - an alloy made of iron. Thus beskar transliterated is ‘alloy of iron’.

Now I want a word for ‘metal’, because ‘iron’ is too specific to be the only related word in Mando’a.

I started by looking for ‘forge’, like a blacksmith forge, thinking it might hold a clue. It didn’t. ‘Forge’ in Mando’a is actually nau’ur kad: lit. light up a sword. And, like, I can see where that’s coming from? But it’s more poetic than functional. This is when I recall the word goran: blacksmith, metalworker.

Cool. Okay. ‘Metal’ is included in ‘metalworker’, so I might be a step closer. Unsatisfied with the poetic version of forge, I decide I want a single word that means something closer to what ‘metalworking’ implies; I turn goran into a verb by adding -ar, making it goranar: metalworking, and call it good.

But I still want to isolate ‘metal’. Alright, so what part of goran is ‘worker’? Turns out that borarir is worker, and it’s base is bora: job. Instead, goran might come from gotal’ur: make, create/ gotal: made, created (an ‘-ized’ suffix). This is cool because tal means blood, so the Mandalorians seem to believe that to create something is very symbolic/ritualistic (like putting your blood, sweat, and tears into something).

(Kay. Taking the Mandalorian culture into account, it would seem that they would have definitely practiced metalworking as an artform, right? Historically, only the nobility had swords because only they had the time to learn how to properly use them, and we’ve seen that the Mando’ade who aren’t soldiers are often agriculturalists. Yet kad is still a known word, and beskar is basically a deity. It would make sense that, in their development as a culture/society, metalworking would have been way big especially as an art form (I look back at the p o e t i c term for ‘forge’ as an example). It then stands to reason that there’s no reason why the words I want to create don’t exist. They’re just... buried. Deep. Just throwing that out there so I seem less crazy lmao.)

Now, I would think that ‘metal’ would be something close to ‘iron’ considering, logically, there would be a word for ‘metal’ first and then iron later as it was found to be the superior metallic element, especially in alloy form. Kar shows up in a few words, like kar’am: breath, kar’ta: heart, kar’tayl: awareness, knowledge, and kar’taylir: know, hold in heart. As far as kar’ta goes, ta is obviously derived from tal for blood. The am in kar’am is ‘change’. Taylir is hold, keep, preserve. Comparing with mandokar (which we should all know the meaning of by now, it’s used so. often), we can assume that kar either has something to do with the ‘self’ or is more an indication of something personally/culturally/spiritually precious (not the soul, though; colloquially, manda is used as ‘soul’). Furthermore, kar seems to be used in words where emotion is involved (like, 9.5/10 times).

Personally, I think that kar could mean ‘iron’. Think about it: ‘iron change’ or the ‘change in iron’ to indicate breath just like how different levels of oxygen within the metal itself would affect quality. ‘Iron blood’ which, like, duh, but they wouldn’t have had the tech at the time to know human blood contains iron; they would have just compared the red of rusted iron to the color of blood, which, still cool. Mandokar would then be ‘an individual of/containing iron’ which fits with the definition.

Now, I can’t really get behind the fanon definition of kar being ‘star’. I can’t, because Ka’ra is ‘stars; ancient Mandalorian myth - ruling council of fallen kings’, so I would think ka would be ‘star’ and ra derived from the short list of words that start with ‘ram-’: ramaanar: die (general term), ramaanla: mortal (in the sense of fallible or vulnerable), ram’ika: raid, ramikad: commando, ramikadyc: commando state of mind, ram’or: attack, beseige, ramorla: beseiged, and ramser: sniper, marksman. Considering ika is a known diminutive, ram probably boils down to ‘battle’ or ‘war’ or something similar. Ka’ra then, would literally be something like ‘warrior stars’ - the great warrior kings of the past.

Back to to beskar, then, which I can actually keep breaking down. In the dictionary is bes’bev: Mandalorian wind instrument also used for combat, a large metal flute with a sharpened, cut-off end. Knowing that laar is song and bes’laar is music, but also knowing that a defining feature of pure beskar is the ringing sound it makes when hit against more pure beskar, and bev: needle, spike, and considering my ‘metalworking as art’ theory, I can see where bes’bev comes from for sure, especially if we assume beskar as a word was created first so that bes could be used to indicate the sound of the metal-strikes.

(Fun Facts: laar shows up again only in galaar: hawk, jai’galaar: shriek-hawk, the two conjugations of laar that give us ‘singing’ and ‘sing’, and werlaara: myth (archaic). Now, jai- comes from jair: scream, shriek, so that word’s self-explanatory. But werlaara is cool, because wer is archaic for ‘eon’, and laara would be the conjugated form of laar once again. From this we catch a glimpse of ancient Mandalorian culture - namely, the way they told stories: using music. Just thought that was supper cool.)

That still doesn’t really help me except just show where other words branched off. So. Square one (1): beskar breaks down into be: of and skar: iron. I would think the ‘s’ comes from the word for metal, especially if iron specifically, using the kar as an indication of strong emotion, is extra important as a metal to the Mandalorians. Based on the words I could find, the best match seems to be eso: flank, side. (Think of how the metal would have been used as armor to protect their flanks/sides). Look at bes; look at eso. I think metal might have been beso, because they would have used metal for armor before they ever used for art considering their warrior-clan history (again, in my head). So, beso: metal.

Back to goran, ‘cause I think I’m on to something here. So, the closest to ran I could find was rang: ash. Considering the role that ash actually plays in forging metal objects, that makes a lot of sense to me if goran is a metalworker/blacksmith. If I think about how ne’tra is ‘black’, it’s not inconceivable that the ‘ra’ in goran is actually derived from that (again, ran means nothing by itself, and ra is ‘or’). The ‘n’ is most likely just tacked on bc why not and to make it a noun. That just leaves go which seems to have a direct link to whether the word is about creating/making something or not. Conclusion: go: the shaping of something.

In the end, I couldn’t pin down a specific word for ‘alloy’, but I might get there someday. Thoughts? Sorry for the rambly-ness of this whole thing. I leterally was typing this up as the thoughts hit lol.

TL;DR:

beskar: alloy of iron (from be: of and assuming kar: iron)

goranar: metalworking

kar: a uniquely Mandalorian word used to indicate extreme emotional/spiritual importance to the subject; iron

ka: star

bes: a uniquely Mandalorian word that indicates the equally unique sound made by hitting two pieces of pure beskar to together

beso: metal

go: the shaping of something

#mando'a #more language #meta #star wars #language meta #mandalorians #mandalorian meta #thoughts?#star wars meta #sw #sw meta #sw headcanons #disregard of fanon

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doritopaw101 · 4 years

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Arc1, book 2: Chapter 6

"I want to kill the sun" his quick and blunt words made Graypaw jump. Raveneye was used to his words by now.

Raveneye and Dustpelt finally earned their warrior names. Good thing too, Icebelly was getting bored without Raveneye around.

It was how they got their names was what interested Icebelly. Ravenpaw and Dustpaw had to fight their mentors or parents, apparently that was the tradition but it had been getting lost lately. Robinwing very much pushed for this

"You've already let Embereyes, Nettlemist, Gingerblaze, Sandstorm, and Icebelly get their names without honor, you will not do the same for my kits, it was fine with Cherrycloud and Chestnutclaw because of the Shadowclan attack, there's no excuse for this Bluestar" she had spat which was shocking news to Icebelly that she actually called Raveneye her kit.

Leopardstorm and Redtail were fine with it and so it went.

It was shocking true for Thunderclan tradition to fight your mentor to receive your warrior name. If you lost you'd have to keep fighting til you won.

However things were sort okay at the moment, thanks to the weather, he visited Princess every day recently, slipping away to see her between patrols and hunting but he drew the line with Cinderpaw's training. Tiger-roar's talk drove that in his mind. However he finally managed to convince Gingerblaze to meet Princess and they met was...interesting. It was like another version of Luna and Princess trading insults, he was doomed.

He was worried when Flamepaw and Moonclaw finally met Gingerblaze.

Willowpelt's kits had just been apprentices: Rosepaw to Frostbite, Ebonypaw to Raveneye, Petalpaw to Redtail, and Owlpaw to Leopardstorm.

He's been to Riverclan once but that was understandable. Swanlight was kind and he got to spend some time with Condorpaw and Lakepaw as well as Silverstream, he even got to watch Silverpaw and Mosspaw's ceremony a few moons ago.

-Flashback-

Icebelly felt Greenflower's kits curling into his belly fur. It helped ignore the glares he was getting from the other Riverclan cats. Suneyes and Blackclaw were staring him down with hate in their eyes as they passed the nursery, or at least that's what Flamepaw described them being.

"They sure love you" Greenflower purred.

"It's like this in the nursery back at Thunderclan I swear" he replied holding Poolkit up when the kit slipped down to his neck. Flamepaw chuckled, Tidekit climbing on her head.

The nursery walls were lined with a fresh batch of lilies and lotus. It helped to brighten the already lively nursery, helped match the beautifully colored camp. It was a great contrast to the dull Thunderclan camp that Icebelly lived in.

"Well you are a fluffy mess so I don't blame them" Silverstream purred, rubbing himself against him, the tabby curling his tail around his own. Icebelly tried wrapping his paws around the tabby's neck, when he began to Silverstream smirked at him "Can't keep you paws off me Fluffball" Icebelly stuck his tongue in return "You're a handsome tease, I will get you back" he wrapped his paws around Silverstream's neck, nuzzling into Silverstream's fur.

Him being so close to Silverstream was sort of a test between the tabby and Greenflower, to know the cat who her lover was with. Greenflower nuzzled Silverstream softly "He's right when he says you're a tease Silver"

Silverstream stuck his tongue out at them "Ya'll love me anyway"

Greenflower licked his check "Indeed I do"

"All cats old enough to swim, gather round the high rock for a clan meeting" Stormstar called

"Should I go back to my camp?" Icebelly asked

"I don't see why you should" Swanlight mewed as she padded by, Condorkit and Lakekit following close behind her.

"Yeah besides Silverpaw and Mosspaw enjoy your company, they'll be grateful that your here to see their ceremony" Silverstream added

"Our ceremony is today" Lakekit burst out "You said you'd be here"

"Yeah but Blackclaw-"

"Say no more" Icebelly mewed "I'm glad I stopped here today"

"Really?" Lakekit mewed, she came up to his neck at full height

He licked her ears "Really"

Icebelly slowly stood up, letting Greenflower collect her kits and padded out with Flamepaw on his right and Silverstream on his left. He sat at the back, to draw the least attention to himself.

"More company" Flamepaw purred "Vixenpaw and Grasspaw are crude"

"Hey don't forget Shadepaw and Bluepaw" Silverstream mewed "Shadepaw's great"

"Too much energy in that cat" Flamepaw replied, her moss scarf shaking slightly "I can't deal with that and Bluepaw's a seer in training" she looked ahead at Mosspaw and Silverpaw "What kind of names will they get?"

"Probably -ripple, -creek or dive for Mosspaw, she's one of our best divers so far or -pelt for her fur and probably -tide or -river for Silverpaw, he's a trickster and he's a great swimmer"

"We gather here today for a warrior ceremony of two apprentices: Silverpaw and Mosspaw" Stormstar lowered his gaze, his flower crown slipping a little but was knocked back. "Mudbelly Mistyfoot do you believe these two are ready for warriorhood?"

"I do Stormstar" Mistyfoot mewed

"He's ready Stormstar" Mudbelly agreed

"Very well, Silverpaw and Mosspaw step forward"

The two apprentices stepped forward, both looked ready to burst with anticipation. Silverpaw hid his scar with his head fur well, cars still got him and Silverstream confused.

"Mosspaw from this day forward you shall be known as Mosspelt, your clan thanks you for your abilities in diving and fishing and Silverpaw from this day forward you shall be known as Silvertide, your clan thanks you for your abilities in fighting and good spirit"

"Mosspelt Mosspelt Silvertide Silvertide"

Stormstar straightened up "As is tradition, these two warriors will do The Great Night Swim, they will catch the night scaled fish and bring it back to camp as proof as well as anything else they find worthy"

"May you do well young warriors" Oakjaw mewed

"Come on you two" Fallowtail purred, her red smithstone ear rings gleaming in the light "Me and Frogleap will lead you" Silvertide and Mosspelt quickly followed their parents out of camp, determined to complete the swim.

"Otterstrike going to join them?" Icebelly heard Grasspaw ask, he glanced at the heavyset warrior. Strong muscles that he very much didn't get from Frogleap or Mallowtail.

Otterstrike huffed "Can't, Oakjaw wants me on otter patrol"

"Can't we just chase them out" Grasspaw drawled

"I wish" Otterstrike replied "at least they bring some prey"

"Someone's too sun-eyed" Silverstream muttered

Icebelly glanced at Silverstream and Greenflower "How was The Great Swim for you two?"

"Amazing" Silverstream mewed "I found a big one, Willowheart had to help me carry it since it was too heavy to fit in the vine bag I had. I also found some great shells"

"You gave them to the kits" Greenflower purred "Eelkit wouldn't let one go"

"Of course, my kits deserve only the best" Silverstream puffed his chest in pride "I'm the spoil parent"

Greenflower rolled her eyes "Clearly"

"Greenflower?" Icebelly asked "What about you?"

"Mine was alright, I was the only new warrior at the time and I'm not clanborn so the pressure was greater. The fish were small but still valuable though. I remember when Dawnscale made them into a necklace for me, I have it in my nest"

"Don't forget the challenge I had to do" Flamepaw called

"Challenge?"

"Yep, some of the clan wasn't fine with me just blindly joining so they called for The New Fish Challenge"

"What did you have to do?"

"They taught me a few things then sent me out to bring some items back, so show what it means to be a Riverclan cat"

"Not as tough as it can get" Greenflower added "It could've been much worse"

"That is not all Riverclan" Stormstar continued "We have two new minnows ready for apprenticeship: Lakekit and Condorkit, step forward"

The two kits stumpled forward, both held smiles of excitement.

Reedtail sat beside Swanlight, tails entwined "Already know who's Lake's mentor" he mewed

"Did you sway Stormstar or Oakjaw to tell you?" Swanlight smirked

"Maybe"

"Lakekit until you have received your warrior name you shall be known as Lakepaw, Voleclaw, you were an excellent mentor in Suneyes and I know you'll pass on all your skills to young Lakepaw and Condorkit until you have recieved your warrior name you shall be known as Condorpaw, Whiteclaw you are ready for your first apprentice. You have excellent training from Leopardclaw and I know you'll pass on all your skills to young Condorpaw"

Voleclaw and Whiteclaw padded over to the apprentices, they were holding two ends of an otter pelt bag, they tossed it up revealing white roses and rosebuds that showered over the new apprentices.

"Lakepaw Condorpaw Lakepaw Condorpaw"

-Flashback ends-

Icebelly smiled at the memory, the beauty of Riverclan would always interest him to no end.

"Why do you hate the sun?" Graypaw asked breaking his thoughts.

"It burns my fur constantly" he replied simply "Why do you think I go to Riverclan this often? To laze around and braid my fur"

"That's what Lionheart says you do" Graypaw muttered

"Lionheart can spend the day at the bottom of the river for all I care" Icebelly replied, tail high

"Can the fish eat him too?" Raveneye asked with a smirk

"Oh absolutely"

Graypaw rolled their eyes. "You two hang around Yellowfang to much"

"Not enough if you ask me" Icebelly mewed

"You're just glad she's there to help you deal with Robinwing"

"Not really, I can handle myself it's more my entertainment"

-Flashback-

Icebelly didn't like being treated like kit, he was a full grown warrior for fucks sake but here he was, being fussed over by Frostbite and Goldenflower.

"How's the feathers?" Goldenflower asked "Got them from a dove"

"They're fine" Icebelly mewed

Frostbite sniffed the nest "Needs more"

"No no" Icebelly scrambled to sign |It's fine, It's good|

He moved on his limp leg and winced. He fell back down but the feathers didn't do much to fall back on.

"Icebelly?" Frostbite mewed

"Is it too soft?" Goldenflower asked

"A little..." They were already off and out of camp. Icebelly would be more annoyed at them if they didn't have good intentions. He could only image what it'll be like when he has his kits.

"I don't believe it" Icebelly turned his head to see a pissed Robinwing, her ear was cut which made most of her feathers fall from behind her head.

"Believe what?" he replied, confused as hell.

"There's no way my Chestnut would mate with you, these aren't his kits"

Icebelly rolled his eyes "I can give you details of what we did but I'd like to sleep tonight" he flicked his tail "Never said they were his, but he is a likely sire of some, I can't throw out that possibility"

"A flea ritten outsider, traitor's kit, a river lover and a lier. You keep piling on" Robinwing sneered

"I stopped being an outsider the moment I beat Fogtail, your son" Icebelly retorted "You're just jealous Riverclan can actually tolerate me unlike you and I think your head's to comfortable up your ass to realize the obvious in your face"

Robinwing scoffed "You really are Dewflare's son"

"Last I checked, Frostbite declared me hers so no" he mewed bluntly "if you try to pull the blood is thicker than water shit, Fogtail isn't your kit by blood, he's Dappletail and Stormtail's son"

"Please, Dappletail was so happy to dump him, dumb bitch she was, I saved him" Robinwing replied, placing a paw to her chest.

'She's gone mad' Icebelly thought

"Are you trying is cause the miscarriage of your grandkits?" Yellowfang's voice while raspy at times still held great terror in it "or are you trying to kill yourself with an infection from that bleeding ear?"

"Piss off shadow cat" Robinwing growled "Go back to the rathole you crawled out of"

"Could say the same for you stone cat" Yellowfang replied swiftly "As they say, takes one to know one" she padded over to Icebelly "Now, if you don't mind, I need to do a check up"

-Flashback ends-

"How's Embereyes?" Raveneye asked

"And Miststrike?" Graypaw added "Will Yewkit really be okay?"

It had been somewhat recent, Miststrike, Leopardstorm, Tiger-roar, and Willowpelt were all in a new relationship and Graypaw and Cranepaw were already attached to Tiger-roar and Leopardstorm. Miststrike more so since they were already close to her in their kithood from what Gingerblaze mentioned. Nettlemist was basically their older brother, a nicer and polite version of Darkstripe in Cranepaw's words.

Cranepaw and Graypaw were all over Swiftpaw and Lynxpaw and were ecstatic when Goldenflower announced her pregnancy.

He heard Graypaw refer to Leopardstorm as dad and Tiger-roar as father, both fitting.

"What did they call Featherwhisker and Thrushpelt?" he whispered to Raveneye

"Featherwhisker was papa and Thrushpelt was papa bird" the black tom replied "They stopped at five moons"

"How is it so easy for them to replace them?"

"Why is it so easy for you to replace Dewflare?" Graypaw retorted overhearing his words "Before you found about the wolf attack"

Icebelly curled his lip slightly "My relationship with her is much different than what you had with Thrushpelt and Featherwhisker, best remember that"

Not everything could be calm, greencough was still present in the camp. Adderkit and Leapkit's deaths were evidence of that:

-Flashback-

He had just finished a training session with Cinderpaw, Lynxpaw, and Willowpelt, while Leopardstorm did oversee the training it didn't stop Lynxpaw from trying to do something reckless.

Spraining her paw in the process.

Neither Willowpelt or Leopardstorm was impressed.

Goldenflower had been all over her kit, questioning what had happened and Icebelly explained the whole ordeal. Swiftpaw complained at not being able to watch to which Tiger-roar cuffed him over the ears.

Icebelly had left Lynxpaw to get fixed up and lectured by Thymeroot. He started to pad over to the nursery but Gingerblaze stopped him.

"It's Adderkit" the ginger and white tom mewed "I don't think she's in a good state, she might lash out"

Icebelly nuzzled his brother's cheek "I understand but she might need someone and I'll be that cat if no one else"

Gingerblaze looked worried then sighed "Please just be careful, I don't want you to get sick either"

Icebelly touched his nose to his brother's "I will, relax blaze"

In the far corner of the den he heard small sobs, from Embereyes.

The blue-gray queen was sobbing into Adderkit, Volekit, and Doekit, their little coughs were barley audible. Icebelly didn't exactly know what to do but he followed what his gut told him. They padded over to the queen, sat next to her and curled their tail over her back. He slowly licked between her ears, trying his best to comfort her.

"Yellowfang told me...it's not likely they'll survive" Embereyes whispered

Icebelly felt his heart go out to Embereyes. No deserved to lose a kit. He continued softly groom her "If that's what's going to happen, let's make sure they have unending love til the end"

Embereyes buried her head into his chest, crying softly. Icebelly saw Adderkit stop moving, Volekit kept coughing and Doekit looked still as a twig aside from the small rise and fall of her chest.

"Ember...Adderkit"

"He's gone, I know" she replied

A thought came into Icebelly's head, he didn't know if it would work but he had to try. "Embereyes, I think I know of a way to help"

Icebelly had been surprised when she agreed even more so when Miststrike overheard them and told them to take Yewkit. They took Doekit, Yewkit, and Volekit to Barley's barn. He met with Violet,Barley,and Mary who took them to a house close to the barn. Violet told to visit in a half-moon and would tell them what would happen. Volekit and Doekit were old enough to know what was happening and they in their weak state said they hoped he got better for Embereyes which made the dark gray and white molly cry with sadness and love.

The clan had a burial for Adderkit and Icebelly saw Rosetail come to collect Adderkit. Rosetail told him to make sure Embereyes didn't blame herself for this and he would. Embereyes told the clan what she had done and why and Icebelly backed her up. The clan was shocked and many spat at of how she could do something like that

"Have you no faith in your clan" Darkstripe had hissed

"Not in this moment I don't, I don't want the others to die" Embereyes had spat "I'd rather give them away and they live than them staying here just to die"

Icebelly slept with Embereyes in her nest in the nursery that night. She practically begged him to not leave her alone and they wouldn't say no.

-Flashback ends-

"Embereyes and Miststrike will...survive as will Yewkit, Doekit, and Volekit now" lack for a better word seemed nothing but unsettle Graypaw even more about Yewkit.

The nursery was still full and there were few cats that didn't have apprentices at the moment. Bluestar might put a stall on apprentices for now.

He walked with Graypaw and Ravenpaw along the short trail to the sandy hollow where Cinderpaw and Ebonypaw would be waiting.

"I hope more clouds come" Icebelly mewed

"Let's hope rain won't come" Graypaw replied. Icebelly knew how much the their thick-coated friend hated rain-when Graypaw's fur got wet, it clung to them and stayed damp long after Raveneye's shorter fur had dried off. Icebelly's fur was fluffy but not to Graypaw's level, unlike Graypaw though he enjoyed the rain, it felt so good on him especially if he had been in the burning heat all day which was rare.

They arrived at the edge of the hollow just as Cinderpaw pounced on a pile of frosty leaves, sending them flying in all directions and Ebonypaw catching a few. Cinderpaw leaped and twisted to catch one as it fluttered back to the ground.

The three toms glanced at each other, amused.

"At least Cinderpaw and Ebonypaw will be warmed up and ready for today's assignment" Raveneye observed.

Ebonypaw stood up straight, her eyes wide "Good morning, Raveneye, Icebelly, Graypaw" she mewed "What is today's assignment?"

"A hunting mission" Raveneye told him. He padded down into the hollow, followed by Icebelly and Graypaw.

"Where?" mewed Cinderpaw, dashing toward them. "What are we going to catch?"

"We're going to Sunningrocks" Icebelly mewed "And we'll catch whatever we can"

Bluestar told all the cats with apprentices to make sure they are battle ready first and hunting can come after with Shadowclan and Riverclan at their heels. Icebelly didn't need to be told this because he followed Tiger-roar's method of training to a T. He once saw the two-colored tabby watching them train and he nodded in approval. Cinderpaw's training had been going very well, they were shaping up to be a good fighter managing to beat most of the other apprentices aside from Lichenpaw and Lynxpaw.

"I'd like to catch some voles" Cinderpaw declared "I haven't tasted vole yet"

"Now now Cinderpaw, everything we catch has to go to the elders, queens, and sick cats to help fight off their greencough" Icebelly warned

"But I'm sure if you asked the elders nicely, they'd be happy to share" Graypaw added with a purr

"Okay" Cinderpaw mewed "Which way is Sunningrocks again?" They bounded up one side of the hollow and peered into the forest, their tail sticking straight up.

"This way!" Icebelly, leaping up the opposite side.

"Okay" Cinderpaw raced down the slope, across the hollow, and up to Icebelly's side, sending fallen leaves flying everywhere. Graypaw followed with ease while Raveneye leaped up and caught one it drifted past his nose. He pinned it to ground with a purr of satisfaction and saw Ebonypaw staring at him "Er, never miss chance to practice your hunting skills" Raveneye told her quickly

Ebonypaw chuckled "Sure Raveneye"

The five cats made their way along the familiar scent trails to Sunningrocks. The sun above the trees by the time they emerged into open territory. Ahead of them, a slope of rock rose out of the soft earth, its smooth surface lined with cracks.

After the shade of the woods, the flat rock face reflected the sun with dazzling glare. Icebelly hissed in pain, in pain from burning his fur to his eyes. He dashed into the shade in an instant.

"This is Sunningrocks" Raveneye announced, blinking. "Come on!"

"Mrrrrr! It feels nice!" Cinderpaw mewed as she raced up the stone slope behind him. Icebelly knew Cinderpaw was right but was not going to burn to feel the warmth.

Icebelly watched the others rest at the top, where the far side fell away steeply to the forest. Icebelly listened for the gentle bubbling of the river that followed the Riverclan border, flowing down from the uplands. It touched the Sunningrocks before turning to run deeper into Riverclan territory. He could barely hear it-perhaps the water was low after the scalding dry weather.

Graypaw joined Raveneye "Come on" he mewed "Make most of the sun while it's here"

"Is this where Sweetheart died?" Cinderpaw asked

"Yep, Blackclaw and her fought and ender up cracking her head open" Icebelly replied "Fucking bastard"

Raveneye prickled his ears. "Hush" he hissed "What can you hear?"

The two apprentices strained their ears forward.

"I think I can hear some scrabbling" Ebonypaw whispered

"It might be a vole" Graypaw murmured "Can you tell where it's coming from?"

"Over there" Ebonypaw mewed, leaping to her paws. The scrabbling noise became more furious and then disappeared.

"I think it heard you" Icebelly remarked.

Ebonypaw looked crestfallen. Cinderpaw purred with amusement at their friend's clumsiness.

"Never mind" Graypaw mewed "Now you know that it's better to creep up slowly, especially on voles. They're fast!"

"Fast little pricks" Raveneye grumbled. He was a tree hunter, made for the trees and hunting birds. That's the one and only thing he and Robinwing will ever get along with.

"Sit still and listen" Icebelly advised "Next time we hear something, work out where it is and then begin to move toward it very slowly"

The cats remained where they were, no one daring to move until they heard the scrabbling sound again. Icebelly's ears pricked, Icebelly rose and crept forward, biting his tongue when he felt his pelt sting, he placed each paw noiselessly in front of the other until he reached the edge of a small crack that ran across the rock face. They paused. The scrabbling noise continued. Icebelly lunged forward and reached down into the crack with a forepaw. Their fur and skin were burning as he scooped out a fat vole that had been hiding in the shadows and flung it onto the bright stone. It squealed as it landed, but the hard ground stunned it and Icebelly finished it off quickly.

"Wow!" Ebonypaw mewed "I want to do that!"

"Don't worry; you'll have plenty of chances. For now, let's get back to the forest" Graypaw mewed

"Aren't we going to catch anything else? While we still have sun" Cinderpaw protested

"Nope" Icebelly replied "There's only so much sun I can take"

"Also did you hear the vole squeal?" Raveneye cut in, the apprentices nodded "Well, so did every other creature around here. They prey will be hiding for while."

"I should caught it and killed it before it made a sound" Icebelly said in embarrassment

Graypaw rubbed himself against him, whisker twitching with amusement "It's fine Snowy"

Icebelly chuckled through the dead vole. Graypaw had been calling him this nickname for the past half-moon and Icebelly couldn't help but laugh and call Graypaw his fluffy pigeon.

While Icebelly could hold a facade, it had to come down some time. He felt his fur heat up, his skin boiling, eyes starting to blur. He dropped his vole and screeched in pain. Raveneye and Graypaw knew what was wrong and tried to calm him down but Icebely wasn't having it. The shade wouldn't help now, he needed water. He broke into a run, Raveneye and Graypaw's calls rang on deaf ears, literally as his ears started to ring. He followed his nose to the river.

"Icebelly, the river's frozen!" Graypaw called through the ringing but Icebelly didn't stop. He wanted this to stop, he was numb to everything. He tripped and fell onto the ice, sliding a little.

"Icebelly don't move" Raveneye mewed

"What is going on?" Ebonypaw asked

"Icebelly's pelt is burning and he's having another episode" Raveneye replied

Icebelly felt the ice crack a little but he was to out of it to be concerned. "Relax" he heard Graypaw mew as he picked him up by his scruff

"Graypaw, get off the ice your too heavy you'll-" but Raveneye's warning was too late. The ice gave out with a terrifying crack. Icebelly tried swimming but his vision wasn't coming back so he didn't know what to do and Graystripe's weight wasn't helping.

They were moving raping lightly that Icebelly knew, being carried downriver.

Icebelly thought them and Graypaw were sleeping with the fish, they almost were if not for two sliver tabbies. He felt Raveneye grab his chest fur and pull him up. Icebelly laid there coughing up water and Graypaw doing the same beside him. Even though he almost died, at least he wasn't burning anymore.

"You idiots!" Silverstream spat "What were you thinking?"

"Drowning?" Graypaw replied

"Can't you drown in your own territory?" Silvertsream mewed, his eyes flickering with amusement

"Yeah but who would save us there?" Icebelly purred

"Starclan help us" Silvertide chuckled, licking the top of Icebelly's head.

"That was awesome" Shadepaw mewed jumping beside Silvertide.

Raveneye sighed and turned to them "Look, Icebelly Graypaw, we've got to get out of here"

"We can't have you freeze to death" Ebonypaw advised

They said goodbye to the Riverclan cats and made their way back to their camp.

"What do we tell the clan?" Cinderpaw asked

"Just say Icebelly was trying to teach us how to fish" Ebonypaw suggested "From what Riverclan taught him"

"I doubt they'll work" Icebelly muttered leaning against Raveneye

"What are you fools doing this time?" Tiger-roar's voice was powerful as always, though it sounded more tired than annoyed.

Fuck

//////////////////////////////////////////////////

"That was fun" Shadepaw purred, tail waving

Silverstream rolled his eyes at his apprentice "Let's hope it happens again" he said sarcastically. Silvertide chuckled.

Shadepaw's eyes dark blue eyes widen "Really?"

"N-...sure" Silverstream replied honestly done at this point. "Should've let that Thunder drown" He heard Blackclaw drawl "They don't know swimming if it came and swallowed them whole"

Oh how Silverstream wanted to rip him apart. He knew Blackclaw as nothing but a fishbrain in his opinion, others respect him as one of their best warriors and honor his words and methods. Mistyfoot and Blackclaw have a little rivalry going on their pretty neutral to Blackclaw but hate his methods. Stonefur and Blackclaw decided kits were what they wanted and were having Skyeyes surrogate for them, glad it wasn't Suneyes who was Blackclaw's first choice.

Silverstream did worry for his cousin's choice in a mate after Splashsong. It seemed to break something in him, only really holding himself for Shadepaw and Bluepaw. Him taking Blackclaw as a mate didn't help Silverstream's concerns at all, they didn't really even do a courting process according to Mistyfoot.

At least the rest of the clan was still normal. The clan was booming with Swanlight and Fallowtail announcing their pregnancies. There was also the addition of a molly named Soot joining the clan and was expecting Stormstar's kits. Not to say Silverstream wasn't excited about being a big brother, he very much was and Sootwhisker was a lovely molly to be around.

"We're already on Thunderclan's bad side when you decided it was a good idea to attack and kill at Sunningrocks" Silvertide pointed out with a hiss

"They killed Beetlestrike" Blackclaw retorted "Suneyes had to raise Vixenpaw and Grasspaw on her own and now they've killed Splashsong"

Shadepaw's ears and tail dropped at the mention of her father, her head hung low.

'So you actually admit that Stonefur had a mate before you' Silverstream thought bitterly "After you killed Sweetheart, on purpose and a patrol killed two more of their warriors, what did you expect to happen?" Silverstream shot back

Blackclaw scoffed "Whatever, how's training been?" changing the subject. 'Your views will get you killed' Silverstream thought 'And I will be laughing 'I told you so' during your river ceremony when that happens'

"Awesome, Silverstream's been showing me some fishing techniques" Shadepaw replied, her cheery attitude returning

"No swimming?" Blackclaw's amber eyes narrowed "Did the great Silverstream not want his paws wet" he muttered the last part and only Silverstream heard him.

"He's been teaching me some swimming techniques" Shadepaw mewed cheerily "It's fun"

Silverstream was glad for Shadepaw's more calm and cheerful nature and didn't catch the insult in her step-father's words. Seriously how was Skyeyes his sister? Rippleclaw made sense to be his son but Whiteclaw is a different story since the gorge attack.

"Hey Silverstream Shadepaw" Silverstream was glad for the gift in Stonefur and Morningriver who was behind him.

"Hey Papa hey Auntie Morning" Shadepaw purred padding over to them

"How's my niece doing?" Morningriver mewed as she rubbed Shadepaw's head

"Great, I saw Thunderclan cats today"

"Really now?" Morningriver chuckled

"Silverstream and Silvertide saved two from drowning" Shadepaw added with pride

"Drowning would have been better" Blackclaw growled

"We've already killed three warriors from Thunderclan we don't need more Blackclaw" Morningriver said coolly

"Come on let's head back to camp" Stonefur quickly mewed

"We need Sunningrocks back if the fish continue to disappear and die" Blackclaw replied falling beside Stonefur who carried Shadepaw like a kit. "Shadowclan taking the good fish doesn't help either"

"And when we need it Stormstar will give the word" Silverstream cut in "Simple as that Blackclaw nothing more nothing less"

Blackclaw curled his lip but said nothing.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Whitethroat laid on his side numb to the whole world. He ignored the wails and moans of the camp. He was lost to it all or he was if not for Marshshadow bringing him out of it with Wolfstep's help. Beepaw was mostly being trained to deal with wounds by Brokenstar's orders and Palecloud could only handle so much.

"How're you feeling?" his mother mewed softly, her scent still soothed him even now in this fucked situation.

"Tired and sore" he replied. He saw Wolfstep glance at his kits "I haven't named them yet" he mewed

"Are you gonna wait for Mossclaw to get back?" the black tom asked raising an eyebrow "I made a pelt nest for you but I don't know if Mossclaw will..." he trailed off for a moment "I mean I made one for Hollowpaw before got apprenticed and Burdockpaw and Rippedkit before he..."

His oldest kit, apprenticed to Barkfoot. Already covered in scars and being breed, to her it was her purpose. It hurt watching his daughter to this willingly. It hurt more that he couldn't do anything to stop it. Burdockpaw wasn't much better with her mentor being Nutwhisker. It felt strange to lose his only son so soon after his birth, he expected sadness but it wasn't there.

"Could I train to be a pelt-maker under you?"

"I'd love that" Wolfstep replied "I'll have to see if Brokenstar will even let you"

Brokenstar didn't allow for any ceremonies of kits, they were too weak for Shadowclan so they didn't deserve a proper send off. Palecloud brought the kitten skulls to an area in the graveyard as far as Whitethroat was concerned.

Whitethroat was about to say yes to Wolfstep but caught himself on what he was doing. This wasn't like him at all, he was fiery, rough, and tough and he'll be damned before he lets Mossclaw get into his head like this again.

It was hard to think since Brokenstar decided it was a good idea to mate with him. It was bloody and he ended up passing out with Littlecloud and Wetfoot dragging him back to camp. It didn't help with Mossclaw adding onto harshness and Brokenstar told him he needed to be a good breeder for the future of Shadowclan if Dawncloud, and Darkflower ever finally give out.

Not like Dewflare made anything easier. The only thing she made easier was that Brokenstar didn't seem interested in Fernshade as much. Leaving her to raise her third litter with him mostly in peace. Dewflare was expecting another littler already. Marigoldpaw was different story. If there was one thing Brokenstar seemed to like, it was tortoiseshells. Did it matter that it was his own kin he was breeding, of course not. If Brokenstar wanted something, he'll get it.

"No screw him" he answered gazing down at the little ones suckling at his belly. Two black kittens, both mollies.

"Hollylock-kit and Dark-kit" he mewed

"My lovely granddaughters" Marshshadow purred

'Let's hope' He'd rather not think of the other option.

Whitethroat was glad however that while the elite grew, the other clan's tolerance for Shadowclan was thinning in Thunderclan and Windclan's case. Riverclan has been submissive at the moment.

"Move it breeding stock" Dawncloud was shoved to the ground by Mossclaw. The dark brown tom displayed new scars on his shoulders and back from the recent Windclan attack, it was hilarious that he got them from an apprentice, Runningpaw from what he heard from Clawface. Palecloud had told Brokenstar it wouldn't work but Brokenstar ignored him and told Mudfoot and Deerfoot to attack the medicine cat but not kill him. Palecloud could barley stand on his own now but always made the painful walks out of camp with Tangleburr's help, just to get away even for a moment.

Poppyflower and Darkflower jumped over Dawncloud, protecting her in case Mossclaw tried anything else. "You don't attack us unless you want to lose valuable members Mossclaw, even Brokenstar says that" Poppyflower hissed.

"Duh because that's all you mollies are good for, cats that have miscarriages like Poppyflower are failures to Shadowclan, like my lovely Whitethroat" Mossclaw sneered as he padded over to Whitethroat. He looked down at him, his green eyes locked on the kits.

"What are those?"

"Your daughters dumbass" Whitethroat replied, gently licking the kittens.

"Daughters? I wanted sons" Mossclaw snarled, his tail lashing "Rippedkit was a disappointment, I want proud sons"

"Too bad" Whitethroat spat, anger filling him at the disrespect of his son's memory "it's an equal chance for both, you're just sore because you didn't get a son from raping Houndbelly" the molly in question seemed to shrink at her name, trying hiding in between Whitethroat and Marshshadow.

Mossclaw's eyes narrowed, he lifted his unsheathed paw. Whitethroat covered his kits with his tail, teeth bared.

A rush of white appeared in front of Whitethroat and shoved Mossclaw away.

"B..Blackfoot?" Whitethroat mewed in shock

"Enough" the pointed black tom stated

"Excuse me?" Mossclaw spat, rushing back to his paws

Blackfoot fluffed up his fur, he towered over the dark brown tom. "I said enough Mossclaw, Are you going to argue with your elite?"

Mossclaw glared at Blackfoot but said nothing. "Deal with it later" it was Nutwhisker who mewed that "Brokenstar wants Whitethroat in his den and wants Marshshadow for day watch with Blackfoot"

Whitethroat felt his skin crawl "I'll watch them" Dawncloud mewed. The young queen had just given birth to her third litter of Hemlock-kit and Cloudykit sired by Toadpelt.

Whitethroat rested Dark-kit and Hollylock-kit into Dawncloud's paws and headed to Brokenstar's den. He entered quickly, he was used to the smell.

He spotted Brokenstar leaning against the den wall, Whitethroat never forgot how large his uncle was for a Shadowclan cat. He had Blossompaw taking his cock, pushing his hips upwards. Marigoldpaw was rubbing against Brokenstar and what made horrified Whitethroat the most was Hollowpaw was there as well.

"Clawface told me about your recent birth" Brokenstar mewed "Two mollies, great job"

Whitethroat nodded stiffly

"I want you to be one the front lines rather than kit making"

"Why?"

"My kin deserve the best" he shoved himself fully in Blossompaw at the best

"What do you want me to do?" he tried to ignore Hollowpaw cleaning Brokenstar's paw pads

"The overseer role is back in the clans once more, I want you and Lizardstripe to be ones" Brokenstar groaned, placing more pressure on Blossompaw's hips "I already have an apprentice in mind for you, Batkit"

"Alright, I'll train her well"

"I expect so" he groaned as he finished inside Blossompaw who moaned her own release. "Come along" he mewed

Blossompaw and Marigoldpaw followed silently. Hollowpaw glanced at Whitethroat

"How are you?" it was all he could ask

"Living" his daughter replied

He licked Hollowpaw's forehead softly, not being able to do much else. He walked outside with Hollowpaw leaning against him. He sat next to Badgerfang, his cousin was covered in blood but seemed unbothered. Blossompaw sat close to Palecloud and Beepaw, Whitethroat raised an eyebrow.

"All cats gather around for a clan meeting;" Brokenstar called "Time to raise our cats, Goldenpaw, Pinepaw, Foggypaw, Foxpaw, Hollowpaw, Viperpaw, Blossompaw, Marigoldpaw, and Whisperpaw come forward"

The apprentices did.

Brokenstar had been...well...going more bat-shit insane than normal. He and Bluestar had fought and Bluestar had took one of his lives and left him with a bad chest scar. He seemed to want to declare that he was still strong and had control over his clan.

Brokenstar had been encouraging cats of his elite to 'make sure the young ones stay in line'. Mossclaw followed his words to a T when he decided to rape Houndbelly. The young molly had gotten pregnant and gave birth to three kits, she was too young and her body couldn't take it well, one was born still, another died three days after birth and the only survivor was Batkit. Whisperpaw had been attacked by Toadpelt and was knocked out in the medicine den for a half-moon.

Brokenstar has been trying to increase his bloodline to no end. Dewflare's new litter on the way. Dawncloud's expecting again, Darkflower already had Scorchfang's kits, Redkit and Emberkit was now expecting Brokenstar's kits again.

Brokenstar has been expanding his connections through Dewflare trying to round up new members for the clan. Duskthorn was a good start but Whitethroat knew it would expand in time.

"Goldenpaw you will be known as Goldendusk, Hollowpaw you shall be known as Hollowheart, Pinepaw you shall be known as Pinetail, Whisperpaw you shall be known as Whisperleaf, Foggypaw you shall be known as Foggyclaw, Foxpaw you shall be known as Foxtrot, Viperpaw you shall be known Viperfang, Marigoldpaw you will be known as Marigoldcloud you will become a permanent queen and I've already offered myself as your mate. Blazefang, since Viperfang and Marigoldcloud have shown promise you may return to your warrior duties for the next 3 moons"

Blazefang just stared at Brokenstar but said nothing. There was nothing really to say if she didn't want to be killed.

"Blossompaw you shall be known as-"

"Wait Brokenstar" Blossompaw cut in, her voice was honey sweet

Brokenstar's gaze snapped down to the white molly "Yes" he said this with gritted teeth, he didn't like to be interrupted. What he liked was watching cats in pain or below him.

"I want to be a seer, I've been having dreams lately" Blossompaw mewed

"It's true, we've been talking" Palecloud mewed "She picks up signs better than Beepaw at the moment Brokenstar"

Brokenstar drew his unsheathed paw to his face, seeming to fight a hiss. "Fine, Palecloud you may train Blossompaw"

The gray and white tom padded over quickly, touching noses with her and leading her away into the medicine den with Beepaw following after them.

"Anyway" Brokenstar growled "Dirtkit you will be known as Dirtpaw and Goldendusk will be your mentor, Rottingkit you shall be known as Rottingpaw and I will mentor you, Elderkit you will be known as Elderpaw and Hollowheart will be your mentor, Lizardkit you will be known as Lizardpaw and Cinderfur will mentor you, Muddykit you shall be known as Muddypaw and Viperfang will mentor you, Adderkit you shall be known as Adderpaw and Mudfoot will mentor you, Copperkit you shall be known as Copperpaw and Turtleshell will mentor you, Pricklekit you shall be known as Pricklepaw and Sootmask will be your mentor, and Batkit you shall be known as Batpaw and Whitethroat will be your mentor"

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youreallyshouldtalkmore · 5 years

Text

The Weight of Love

An M’BakuXReader, ya’ll!!

At first I thought to have an Erik, T’Challa and M’Baku version of this story but for some reason I think this topic fits better with M’Baku so here is it!! This is technically a two parter though each story is a stand alone. The second part will be called The Weight of Groceries and is actually mentioned it as a flashback in this story.

Taglist: @killmongerthiskoochie @chaneajoyyy @great-neckpectations @muse-of-mbaku @sonofnjobu

You sat on the plush furs of your shared bed as M’Baku continued to do push-ups on the floor. He was only wearing his night shorts sans a shirt and wanted to get in a few rounds before turning in as was his custom.

You were minding your own business, engrossed in your book, when suddenly a voice asked,

“How much do you weigh?”

You blinked as the words took time to register. Once they did your head snapped up, “Uh-uh!! You don’t ask a woman that!” you cried.

M’Baku stopped his pushups and plopped down on the ground, hands on both of his knees. He forked an eyebrow at you, “And why not, dear wife? It was just a question. I don’t ask idly, you know. I need some weight to make this harder. So I was wondering how much you weighed.”

You twitched and twitched again, “Enough I’m sure!”

M’Baku cocked his head as you stabbed your gazed back into the book. Your hands were holding it tightly as your gaze burned a hole into the pages not actually reading anymore.

He might have accidently made his new wife angry, he realized. The two of you had been married for only three months and there were some things that the both of you were still learning.

“I have angered you somehow. I apologize. That was not my intent.” he said softly.

He saw your fingers loosen but not enough.

You only muttered but did not look at him, “I’m not angry.”

M’Baku stood up from the floor and walked over to sit on the edge of the bed, “You clearly are, Y/N. Please tell me what it is about my words that incited such a strong reaction.”

You still didn’t look at him but did you answer, “Nothing. It’s just impolite to ask a woman what her weight is, that’s all.”

Surprise colored his voice, “Even my own wife?”

You gave a strong nod, “Definitely.”

“Might I inquire as to why?”

You looked at him then and found it hard to stay mad. Your new husband looked genuinely confused and his question was nothing but an honest one. There was no maliciousness behind them. There were times you had to remind yourself that he was not American.

You gave a soft sigh and dropped your book into your lap, “Honestly….” Your words hanged for a long moment before you murmured, “.....I’m considered obese.”

M’Baku stared at you, “Obese?”

“Yeah, you know. Overweight. Some might even call me fat.”

M’Baku blinked and his eyes roved your figure. You were obviously big-boned, with curves and assets to match. You were 5’7 to his 6’3. However he was trying to figure out where you got the idea that you were fat. In fact, compared to some of the Jabari women, you were smaller than they were.

You were healthy and took care of your eating. Even before the two of you met, you had become a stickler for healthy eating and exercise and had a mild obsession with taking care of yourself. You weren’t vegetarian before meeting him because you weren’t convinced that you could get all the nutrients that you needed without actual meat and still be full and satisfied. However, he taught you beyond anything that you would have been able to find out on your own or from the TV and Internet on how to eat such a way and feel full and satisfied.

You also had diabetes on both sides of your family and was trying everything to make sure that you didn’t get it when you were older. For all intents and purposes, the doctor would consider that you were doing everything right yet they would be concerned about your number on the scale.

M’Baku finally gave a shake of his head, “I don’t understand why you were call yourself fat. I know you are still toning up but I would not call you fat by any means.”

You grumbled as you poked yourself in the stomach, “I’m still working on my stomach. I still got a pouch.”

M’Baku resisted the urge to smile at your pout. He sensed it wouldn’t be welcomed right now. Instead he asked, “Where did you get this ridiculous idea to begin with?”

You looked at him, “The same place that would tell you that you are obese as well....”

You burst out laughing when you saw M’Baku’s mouth fall open and he just stared at you for a long moment.

Finally he managed to sputter, “Me? Obese? Me?”

You grinned, “Yep!! I know you are over two-hundred and something pounds. They’d tell you to lose some weight.”

M’Baku placed his hand on his chest, “Me? Where?”

Your eyes took him in then.

Where indeed?

There was not an ounce of fat on him. He was pure muscle, steel running through his veins. He picked up things that you thought ordinary men that worked out where you were from would have to pause and reflect.

And M’Baku did it without a thought.

He was obviously a big man at 6’3 but he kept himself in shape as well as eating right. However, he was a warrior and leader of the Jabari clan but then again, all Jabari was warriors to some degree.

“You shouldn’t feel bad…” you said reaching out to lay your hand over his bicep. You couldn’t help but to flex your hand feeling the muscle there.

M’Baku was still staring into space when he finally murmured, “I don’t feel bad…....I feel confused…..that’s what I feel…..”

You hit his arm once before retracting it, “Do you remember that movie, we watched, the one with the Rock, Scorpion King?”

M’Baku grinned then, “Ahh, yes. I really enjoyed that movie..."Then he let out a sigh, "Though the series got progressively worse the longer it went on but the Rock was magnificent as a warrior. And a sense of humor to boot.” he chuckled then and nodded to himself.

You giggled, “He’s considered obese.”

M’Baku looked at you like you scandalized him.

You nodded, “Seriously. All those muscles and not an ounce of fat on him and he’s considered obese. There are several men like him who are of similar build and they are considered obese. In fact I bet that if they looked at the Jabari clan as a whole, they’d think you’d promote obesity.”

M’Baku shot to his feet and with hard glare down at you.

“Hey, don’t shoot the messenger. Shoot the message!” you cried with a wave of your hands, “I know better obviously, but you know that’s what they’d say.”

M’Baku’s nose widen as he crossed his arms, “And if you know how utterly stupid this...wherever you got this stupidity from, why do you listen?”

You slowly sunk down into yourself.

That was a good question. Why did you listen to a rule that was obviously malfunctioned? In fact research was beginning to realize how ridiculous the BMI chart was yet no one has made a move to correct it. It didn’t even take into account muscle mass or bone density. It just categorizes everyone as being one thing when most people wouldn’t even fit that at a skeletal stage.

Not everyone can be Miss Twiggy.

You shuddered at the thought. And frankly not everyone wanted to be that skinny. You shook your head coming out of it.

You folded your arms and looked wide-eyed up at him, “Well, I don’t pay attention to the scale anymore! I stopped weighing and looking at the number long ago. In fact, the only time I know my number is when I go to the doctor. Instead I go by inches and how my clothes fit.”

Your so-called triumph didn’t seem to be shared by your husband as he just stared down at you. You were unsettled by M’Baku’s probing eyes the longer he looked at you. It was the way he was looking at you, as if trying to see into you. Finally you swallowed and gave a lopsided smile with a nervous chuckle.

“And knowing all of that, you are still sensitive about your weight? You just said that you stop looking at the number but it still sounds to me like you still care about said number. Whatever that is…”

You fidgeted and mumbled lowering your eyes, “Well, you know how it is…..”

“Actually I don’t…” came the deep grumble.

You gave a shrug and began twiddling your fingers, “Well, you just want to fit in. We all want to be accepted and….you know be ‘beautiful.’” Here you did beautiful in air quotes.

There was a long bout of silence. The longer it went on the more uncomfortable you became. How did you even get to this conversation? Finally you felt the bed dip and looked up to see that M’Baku was leaning into his palms pressed in the mattress. He moved his head closer to yours, coal eyes unblinking. You blinked and moved your head back.

He was looking at you unblinking and you couldn’t fathom what was going on in his mind at all at the moment.

He stared at you for so long you finally asked softly, “What...what is it?”

M’Baku blinked then and asked his voice husky, “Have I not made you feel beautiful?”

You floundered and sputtered and all the while M’Baku kept his gaze on you. His mouth didn't so much as twitch.

When you finally could produce a coherent word you were saying, “That isn’t….that’s not…..that’s not the conversation!! Wait, that has nothing to do with this!”

M’Baku voice was even, “It has everything to do with this.”

You shook your head, “I didn’t know you all my life, so it doesn’t have anything to do with this.”

M’Baku lulled his head to the side and gave you a hooded look as he drawled, “Soooo…. you are saying that you felt ugly your entire life up until now?”

You gaped before shaking your head, “No!”

M’Baku raised an eyebrow as his full lips thinning out a bit, “But what I’m hearing is that weight equals beauty.”

You waved a finger, “Hey, we all need to take care of ourselves. We shouldn’t just let ourselves go. Our bodies are a gift and we should take care them as best we can. There can be no excuses about that!!” you said with a firm nod.

M’Baku’s head bobbed lazily, “I agree with you. There is much people can do to help themselves and when they choose not to, that is on them and they have to live with it. Everyone should seek to the have the best body they can have regardless of size. This I agree on but that isn’t the issue. I’m not interested in other women right now. I’m interested in you. Are you saying that you haven’t felt beautiful because of these stupid rules….?”

You shrunk under his gaze, “I didn’t say all that…”

“Then clearly state what you are saying.” M’Baku ordered.

“Shouldn’t we be going to bed?” you asked trying to shift the conversation.

M’Baku glared at you unamused, “No. Now answer the question.”

You looked away. It took a few moments to gather your thoughts, “It’s not like I’ve felt ugly all my life. There were many days I was feeling myself and knew I looked good. But then there were days when, you know, you had body problems. Nothing looks right. Nothing fits right. So I’d say it comes and goes.”

He stared at you a moment longer before straightening to his full height, “I see.”

There was a bout of silence for a bit.

“You Americans complicate things.” you heard him mutter before suddenly you found yourself being picked up bridal style. You gave a little shriek before wrapping your arms around his neck.

You glared at him but his face was impassive. After a moment he spoke softly, “I believe this explains your hesitance when I go to pick you up, especially that first night.”

You mumbled, “No guy has ever picked me up before you.”

Here a small smirk appeared on M’Baku’s face, “So I was the first? I feel honored.”

You sniffed, “Don’t bother. I just didn’t trust no man to pick me up.”

M’Baku stiffened, “You trust me, don’t you?”

You looked at him, “Well, you are holding me. What do you think?”

M’Baku watched you closely, “I meant the first time. Did you trust me then?”

You slowly gave him a side-eye, before slowly dropping your gaze, making his own widen, “You didn’t? You should have said something if it was that uncomfortable.”

He went to set you down but you tighten your arm around his neck so he took as a sign to continue holding you.

You cupped his cheek, running your thumb over his cheekbone making him look at you. You hated that he looked so troubled by this.

You sought to soothe him, “I do trust you. It’s just, well, I’m a big girl and most men where I came from, I didn’t feel comfortable with even the best of them picking me up. I was afraid I’d be too heavy and they would drop me. I didn’t want it to be awkward. Most of them I didn’t trust to pick me up. I always worried if I fell out or something would they be able to pick me up and get me the help I’d need. And I didn’t want everything to be going well and then I’d break their backs or something if they tried. I know I’m a whole lot of woman. Like where am I supposed to put everything so that they’d transport me well…….”

M’Baku couldn’t take it anymore, listening to you talk about yourself like this, so he crashed his lips on yours, effectively silencing you. The kiss was deep and conveyed his feeling of frustration over this issue of yours.

He heard your words but he still could not quite understand them.

In Jabari culture, they were warriors and being in shape was a by-product. But even those that were not full time warriors knew the value of their bodies. They knew that their bodies were a gift and should be treated as such. They were critical of the things that went into their bodies, wanting to lead the best lives with the best bodies they could. As such the concept of being fat didn’t really exist. As far as food, they believe that eating was one of life joys but it should also be done moderately. There were ways to enjoy the finest foods and still maintain the best body. The Jabari perfected it over the centuries and most of them enjoying the art of cooking to some degree.

It seemed to M’Baku that perhaps American society allowed too many liberties to be taken with the gift of their bodies. They did not believe in stringent rules especially when it came to health. They saw it as a hindrance and as such wanted to toss them out.

Only to wonder why they had the consequences of such actions.

Why, M’Baku could never fathom.

He had been shopping with you before in America and it disgust him so badly he came back to your apartment and had to make sure that your food was good. The two of you were engaged to be married by that time and he began to send care packages over with T’Challa or Erik that was filled with “real food.”

If nothing else than for his peace of mind.

He shuddered as the memory of that shopping trip passed through him.

So because of these things perhaps American society as a whole didn’t see much need to try to have the best bodies they could and it came down to personal choice.

For M’Baku it was simple, if you took care of yourself with all that it encompassed then there was no need to worry about whether you were fat or obese or overweight or whatever other hundred terms they came up with.

But it bothered him that you had to suffer under than that kind of societal rule. He saw your lifestyle even before your marriage. You did everything humanly possible and whatever else that needed to be done, you were working on it. How much would you torture yourself? How much did you torture yourself growing up? Now he realized looking back why there were random times when you went into this, “Is there anything else I can possibly do to be better?” kicks.

M’Baku’s thoughts faded as he lifted his head, his voice was husky as he spoke, “As I said before, you American’s complicate things. You are a lot of woman and I adore all of it. You aren’t heavy to me and I would never drop you. If something happened, I know I would get you the help you needed even if I had to move this mountain myself. This is not something you need to worry about. ”

M’Baku walked a little ways before gently letting you back down on your feet. You felt touched at how careful he was.

“Y/N, you need to cut this out." your husband continued, "Those American rules of yours are a broken system anyway. You said that much, yourself. You eat well. You work out. You know that you are doing all you can do to maintain your best body. You of all people have no reason to doubt yourself. And I don’t want to hear this again. As you said, your body's a gift and you utilize it well.”

Here M’Baku gave a wolfish grin, “Extremely well…..I might add.”

You hit his chest as your eyes slid away from him. He captured your hand and turned it over kissing the inside of the palm. You rocked absently on your feet once, twice.

“Now, that, that’s stupidity is over, I need your help.”

Here M’Baku dropped down to the floor, his back facing you. Your eyes couldn’t help but to rove around his form watching the muscles budge as he laid flat on the ground.

“Sit on my back.”

“You’ve got to be kidding!” you cried, “I ain’t trying to break your back.”

You heard M’Baku sigh, “Did you hear nothing I said this evening?”

“I heard you but I’ve only seen this in movies. Does anyone really do this? Can anyone really do this? Do you know how heavy I am? And you want all of my behind to rest on….”

“Oi!!” M’Baku barked quickly rising so he was resting on his knees glaring up at you, “Are you done? Are...Are...Are you done? You said you trusted me to carry you. Trust that I know what I’m doing. I’m not trying to show off. Trust that my back is strong and sturdy enough to support you.”

You found couldn’t look at him after his words, the emotion in his eyes and his words hitting you hard. You turned your gaze away.

“Now, if you are calm, just sit cross legged in the middle of my back, facing the wall. Then your entire weight will be distributed properly. Make sure to keep your back straight. If anything this will also be beneficial to you and help your balance. Now, are you ready?”

You couldn’t do anything else other than nod. Wordlessly you did what he said after he straightened his body back out. You sat stiff on the middle of his back, hands resting in your lap. You didn’t say anything but your eyes moved to look at him out of your peripheral vision. It took a moment longer before you slowly started to feel yourself rise. You fought not to move or fall off as he rose. Then he went back down.

Slowly, a rhythm was set as you breathed in as he rose up and out as he rose down, your body relaxing. You found it was easy for you to hold your posture and your eyes drifted down as you felt yourself being lulled to a certain degree.

After 20 pumps, M’Baku eased down on the floor and tucked his arms so that his head was laying on them. “Nice, eh?”

You floated out of your revere and looked at him, “Yes, nice motion.”

“Thank you.”

“And I wasn’t h…..?”

“Don’t start!” M’Baku hissed making you clamp your mouth shut.

Fine you wouldn’t ask then, but if he was sore tomorrow, he didn’t need to tell you about it. You warned him. It wasn’t going to be your fault.

After a moment you started to move, however his voice made you freeze, “Don’t remember saying you could move either. After all, your behind is very toasty to my back.”

“You’re an idiot!” you snapped with a laugh.

“Whatever.”

It was still odd to hear M’Baku say such slang. However, he grunted when he felt you stretch out your length over his. “Very nice…very toasty” he mumbled as you nuzzled your face into his neck.

You murmured into his ear, “I’m sure the bed will feel better.”

You saw one coal eye peep out at you, “Oh yeah?”

You grinned.

And what did you know, M’Baku was not sore in the morning.

You however was another story…..

#black panther fanfiction #black panther #m'baku x reader #mbaku x reader #obesity #weight loss #plus size #black body

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geek-gem · 6 years

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So years ago when I was still new to the Steven Universe fandom in 2014 like in the Summer and I haven't revealed that crossover idea of mine. Because it was mentioned in a post about my reaction of even more details of how Earth is in Steven Universe because it's in a different reality of ours. With the Gem War possibly affecting the Earth's history. The crossover idea was basically of Aliens Vs Predator Vs Steven Universe. Or basically some ideas just being Predator because the Alien timeline is a tricky thing or I'm just being stupid. Including oh a reply if I remember I was seriously surprised by even more details of the Earth's history being possibly radically changed by the Gem War. Because it made me think how the timeline of Predator 1 and 2 would turn out. Maybe some mentions are different while the story is still the same. Yet aliens are known already because of the Gems mainly the Crystal Gems. Along with this is another like if you put Alien and Aliens but I'm getting off topic. Yet I drew these years ago. The drawing with Pearl and a Predator which the Yautja in that drawing is Knight Predator and that was also my first ever Steven Universe drawing and first ever Pearl drawing. The Knight Predator was a Yautja I thought of to make but I gave up drawing new Yautja. Including Pearl with her sword skills and....some knight references probably I forgot. But basically the story I remember is of a Yautja more interested in knight culture has decided to take on Pearl one on one. Basically the outcome is Pearl winning to fit in canon of the show Steven Universe. Now the other one is interesting. This is a Yautja named Gem Predator whose backstory is of being a Gem Yautja hybrid and staying with the Crystal Gems and the Gem parent was supposedly a father who disappeared or some shit. Basically this was made before I found out or whatever all Gems are basically female or some shit. Including the idea seems crazy. Even the name and I forgot and don't know or some shit if I picked a gem for the Yautja. Now about the crossover. Remembering right I like Predator I'm a Yautja fanboy. I also like Alien and respect the Xenomorph. Now Steven Universe I love the show. I know their are flaws yet I still adore the show. I keep thinking in my mind this was inspired just...hear me out..... inspired by the idea of Alien Vs Predator Vs Satam, Freddy Vs Jason Vs Sonic or some shit, and basically horror icons like Freddy, Jason, Michael Myers, Leatherface the 2003 version, and Pinhead vs Sonic mainly the Satam version. So make of that as you will just I'm not a fan of Satam. Honestly I've been thinking including the idea of Yautja were gonna speak of them first. Of them a crossover head canon Yautja in the universe of well Steven Universe is interesting. Including knowing Earth was seriously changed by the Gem War and I don't know I should say for the better. Because I guess I don't understand some aspects. Yet basically if the Yautja in the universe of Steven Universe. I basically have the head canon along with humans and the Xenomorph's, Gems are considered respected prey. But the difficult thing or some shit like that is of hunting them and trophies. The Yautja view the Gem race again as respectable prey, their society, their warriors, and technological advancements are on par with the Yautja species. The real biggest difference are the species themselves. Including the ritual, and clan based race the Yautja are. Along with having a code of honor. During the Gem War between home world and the Crystal Gems on Earth. Their have been times when Yautja would drop in for the hunt. Considering their were many types of Gems. Including the Quartz, fusions, and others. Yet getting a Gem as a trophy was difficult. Considering a Gem will poof back if they are stabbed or anything else. Unless they are shattered. Their were ideas of developing tech that can keep a Gem simply as a Gem but they can never get their physical form out. But the Yautja went the easier route. By simply shattering any Gem they found as worthy prey. Keeping their shattered gems as trophies. Yet the Yautja weren't around when the Diamonds attacked the Earth. Spoilers here in case seriously had to go on the wiki after I changed the channel to The Splat but the timeline. Okay let's add that Yautja have been to other areas where Gems fought. Including other planets where even after the Gem War they still hunted Gems on other planets that were harvested by home world. But they don't have a name for the Diamonds attack on Earth which corrupted many Gems kept thinking light mass bombing the fuck. Yet basically their were even rumors of a Yautja maybe even a Bad Blood might of been the one that shattered Pink Diamond. But considering what the Diamonds said they denied this. Yet their conflict with the Yautja is not so good. The Yautja home world and by fans I've found out is named Yautja Prime a fan name but nice. It is one of the few planets that home world hasn't harvested. Including Gems along with the Diamonds know of the Yautja's existence. They despise them considering their hunts on their own species including during the war and other home planets. If a Yautja is spotted on any sort of Gem harvested planets, ships, any where else even on home world. The order is to kill on sight. With Yautja Prime being one of the few planets not colonized by home world. Their have been huge battles of Yautja fighting Gems. Yet amazingly the Yautja race's power in technology is on par with the Gems. Both being equally matched. Along with Yautja Prime being difficult to locate and the Yautja wanting to make sure the Gems don't find them. Helps theirs rocks it seems like orbiting around it. A war between Yautja and Gems is something the Yautja don't want. Even though being equally matched and if they catch the Gems by surprise. They could take them over. But that's not their goal. The goal is to simply enjoy some good hunting, no world conquering. It's just the Gems are one of the few powerful races in the solar system that can really take on the Yautja. In a way the Gems and Diamonds themselves while the dislike for the Yautja is huge. They are weary and worried if Yautja are possibly more powerful. Including the idea that another race is as powerful as them. Sorry of just I wanted to make that. I did have ideas the Gem home world knows where the Yautja home world is at. But they know not to fuck with them. It's still in my mind. I keep having it in my mind that the Yautja race is the Predator universe is one of the most powerful races. Yet considering their code of honor and rules they rather not be conquers. Not that Hish thing I heard about and many fans hated. So I wanted to keep the lore in line the best I can going with lore from Predator 1 and 2. Along with other forms of media. Yes even the AVP films while I see those in a different universe. Not really anything with Predators because the lore in that changed shit a lot. Also Predator Concrete Jungle and Aliens Vs Predator 1990 too. Maybe AVP 2010 and forget it mainly going with the first two films. My own personal timeline of the Alien and Predator series goes from Predator 1, Predator 2, Alien, Alien Isolation, and Aliens. Other things I'm still thinking including seeing Predator 1 and 2 again which was two weeks ago or something after some years or it's been a while. Been thinking of watching other films. Along with some films I've haven't seen. Which means Prometheus and Alien Covenant despite so much I've read. Including an idea such as interactions with Gems and Yautja. Is that well this was before I guess more details of the Gem War and about each side. Is that the Yautja pretty much despised pacifism that the Crystal Gems were fighting for. Or basically Rose Quartz's reason of defying the Diamonds including Pink Diamond. But the idea to me seems to give out a stereotype that all Yautja seem to think the same thing. Which is stupid considering they are all different or something. A very diverse culture or some shit like that. Probably going with the idea they don't care and they care simply of a challenging hunt. Including if it's with a species that has summom it's weapns from a Gem stone, shape shifting, the power to fuse with other Gems to create a even deadlier Gem. The Gem War and the outcome might not be there business. The main thing is are the prey worthy of a good hunt. Yet the outcome truly changed Earth's history. Where I feel if the first Predator film happened in the world or universe of Steven Universe. With Dutch and his team mentioning if their attacker is two or three men like Dillion suggested or in this universe a rogue alien possibly Gem killing them off one by one. Then it's revealed it's a entirely new alien a Yautja. Honestly considering if I remember the Gems didn't really involved themselves with the wars of the world. They might of been not well known or just the idea nobody gave a shit now if their were aliens living with them because it's the norm. Including I've been thinking basically in the universe of Steven Universe or yeah I know SU. Since Earth's history was changed. This is basically a different reality compared to the normal one with Predator 1 and 2. Where Earth made contact with possibly the Gems first. Possibly making the concept of aliens on Earth the norm until Yautja came along. Including hunting on Earth even around the time of the Gem War. Including the idea for a crossover. Please don't hate me it's mainly while humans in Steven Universe known of alien life in a major way almost. Considering the Gems and if you put the Yautja in encounters in the events of Predator 1 and 2. Might the first contact with the Xenomorph in Alien maybe not all that special unless you count Prometheus and Alien Covenant which I feel I should watch despite some shit I've read. Also the stupid theory in this universe. Humans might of probably took left over Gem tech from the Gem War. Which advanced the technology as seen in the Alien franchise. Basically such as a group Weyland Yutani taking some of that Gem tech and using it or whatever you gonqirh Weyland or whatever basically this universe Gem tech got us to fucking fly even more in space and shit. Along with the Crystal Gems should be more careful yet I don't know if the world's governments even fuck around with Gem stuff. It's something I'm interested to see. How the military views the Crystal Gems and other shit. But basically since this is a new version of the Yautja and Xenomorph's it's different from the proposed time line I mentioned. Yet the story would probably be on a different planet. Similar to the idea of the story in Aliens Vs Predator 1990, where Yautja drop off some Xenomorph eggs to infect some animals and hunt down the Xenomorph's. Makes it more easier. Tags done and wondered if I should put Alien tags okay since no I didn't draw them despite I talked about them. Hope fans of ether Predator, Alien, and Steven Universe enjoy this. Sorry if I rambled but decided to I guess finally talk about my crossover head canons

#predator #yautja #alien vs predator #steven universe #pearl

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rageagainstthemarine · 6 years

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Do Not Reach Beyond the Sky (10/?)

Warnings: None Tags: Canon-typical violence, Freeform, Retelling, Original Characters, Additional Tags Pairing: None yet Characters: All of them

Fahleon Lavellan is several things, a Dalish elf, a deserter Warden, but Herald of Andraste is not of them. The Creators have played a cruel trick if anyone is to believe he played some part of the Conclave even if the evidence is a rift-sealing mark on his hand. Where he does fit, he doesn’t know and isn’t fond of finding out.

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"We're descending the valley," Cassandra warned when the rocky slope of the Hinterlands turned steep and muddy. There were signs of fighting even here, higher in the hills: scorch marks that raked the grass and clawed up the bark of trees, glaciers big enough to look out of place even in Fereldan's winter, and the faint screech of metal on metal from some fight not yet far off. It made Fahleon's fingers around his bow twitch. The further they followed the path the worse the signs became. Ashes were still hot and, in some places, fires still crackled to consume what was left of hovels and the animals trapped on the land.

It was altogether...underwhelming. Cassandra had stressed the matter so harshly he'd come to expect piles of corpses, some still walking from the possession of one demon or another. For templars to be slaughtering the innocents out of just the fear of magic use. His armed burned more with the presence of rifts than it did from the use of his bow - the only demons they'd encountered so far only dropped from the tears in the air like flies. And the flies were more numerous.

Not that all the druffolo droppings Fahleon stepped around where attracting them or anything.

Maybe this had been a bad idea, he thought, as he scraped dung off the bottom of his soles while Cassandra and Varric wooed the horsemaster into working with them. There were several no's followed by a series of choice words that he couldn't help but nod along with. It was a good thing to keep him out of the room while they spoke - Fahleon didn't think he could keep himself from telling Dennet to walk away while he still had the chance. They could find horses anywhere, really, now that everything was on fire. There had to be another farm somewhere left abandoned from the fighting they could steal a few mounts from. Fahleon was no halla keeper and a horse was no halla but the...anatomy was still the same. He thought. Hoped.

Varric slapped a piece of parchment against his thigh and Fahleon prayed before he peeled it from the dwarf's fingers to get a look at it. Jagged lines and squiggly curves mirrored a crude version of some of the pages he'd glanced at in the war room. A map, then, with just a few more marks added to it. Fahleon flipped it upside down before handing it back.

"You just love making friends, don't you, Smiles?" Varric chuckled without humor and rolled the map up.

"The horse master has refused to work with the Inquisition," Cassandra clarified. "But he did say there were errands we could run to make him...more persuadable."

"Is that what we do now?" Fahleon felt himself make a face that matched her furrowed brow and down turned mouth and cleared his expression into something more resembling boredom.

"If it gets us his horses, it is what we do." Fahleon let out a breath through his nose. "We've been...asked," Cassandra, continued, through tight teeth, "to chase a pack of wolves from the farmland and secure several areas in the valley to make way for watchtowers."

Varric waved the map and Fahleon snatched it from his grasp to glance at again. He eyed one of the wigglier lines. It looked a bit like the hill they'd passed on the way to get here.

"Let's get started."

He wouldn't say he was enjoying his work with the Inquisition, Fahleon thought as he let another arrow fly at a rabid wolf. He wouldn't say Cassandra was a warrior worthy of her sword even as she finished the beast off with a swing that took its head off at the shoulders. There was a howl from deeper in the cave followed by an unholy screech he was, unfortunately, growing accustomed to. A demon had taken shelter within the cave, but Fahelon's hand stung with only the smack of his bowstring against his fingers with no static that came with coming close to a rift. He grinned, all teeth, and marched inside, arrow nocked.

He half expected to find Tamlen stalking behind him, and with all the noise Solas and the rest made as they made their way into the cave, it could have been. He almost believed it, too, when the demon fell under his arrow and his snarl sent the rest of the wolves running deeper into the caverns. One less threat to the camp, one more day for the clan - but Tamlen had fallen from a similar arrow and there were dozens, if not hundreds of more demons to fell before his clan was safe. Fahleon let out a breath and turned away from the sight of Varric clearing out several rotten knapsacks left behind from some unlucky refugee. He felt a familiar tension settle between his shoulders and he rolled them with a soft pop. He added a frown to his face for good measure.

"The last watchtower should be just above this cave," Solas said, and Fahleon pulled out the map to mark his own line within the others drawn on the picture. It was...probably in the right place.

He found Ada perched on a tree just outside the caves and called for her to settle on his shoulder. Her talons dug in deep to the leather that protected him from her, and he worked one leg free to tie off the map. Another whistle and she took off in the direction of home. He pursed his lips. Would she go to Haven or to Skyhold? He'd find out, later, but he'd get the horses he was owed well before that.

They were less skittish than the ones they'd rode down the mountains with, and the horses moved easily though the carnage of the mage-templar war. What was left of it. The fade rifts had taken over and both sides had turned to fend off the demons that poured from them before they focused on killing each other again. If only the Chantry could see them - there'd be no need for any of this Inquisition business. He could go back to the Free Marches, Cassandra could stalk some other innocent soul with threat of death and Solas could bother someone with a longer attention span. He hadn't thought of what Varric could do in the meantime, but he had plenty of time - all of it was wishful thinking in the end.

Fahleon shook his hand out after the rift was closed. His fingers felt slimy, greasy, with magic and he wiped it on his leggings. He raised a brow when the templars turned to him. He rolled his eyes and unslung his bow a second time. The templars didn't look much more inclined to meet them in a fight, either, with their shields held low and their helmets left behind. Foolish of them, in the end. Demon, templar, innocent - so long as they stood in the way he had no resolve to yield. Fahleon drew his bow flush against his cheek through the sting of his fingers and let it loose to wedge in the naked skin of the neck of the closest man. Solas through a wave of magic at them before they could scramble for their helmets and Cassandra picked up the momentum. The mages they stumbled upon on their way to the Crossroads met a similar, if more messy, fate, and Fahleon knocked his leggings free of ice against the low stone walls that ringed the refugee camp.

There were cries of help - that he ignored - complaints about hunger and cold and pain - which he also ignored. Names were shouted from one corner of the camp to the other as loved ones sought each other out in the aftermath. Fahleon kept his gaze forward and his steps quick through the mud made from rains as much as blood. The others were not as determined, and he found himself alone after a winding path around cots and low tables towards a stash of supplies overseen by a red robed woman. The great, rising sun that made up most of it was similar enough to the Grand Chancellor's for Fahleon to pick out Mother Giselle within them.

"Don't let them touch me." A man occupying one of the cots, wounded or sick, snarled as vehemently as he could through the rasp of a dry throat. "I won't let a mage-"

"These are good men, men willing to help you. Let them tend to your wounds," the Chantry woman said - a gentle reprimand. Fahleon crossed his arms.

"Mother Giselle." He didn't ask.

"The Herald of Andraste," she said, returning the gesture with a slight dip of her head. Fahleon snorted and he narrowed his eyes when her lips curled into a small smile. "We seldom have the choice in what decides our fate, but it is what we do with the hand He gives us that makes who we are. Not what others perceive us as."

"Is that one of your songs?"

Her smile twitched. "Not one I know, if it is at all. I will not presume to know what the Maker intends for any of us."

Fahleon rubbed at a temple. "You wanted to see me."

Mother Giselle smiled the same little quirk of her lips again. "Yes, I did not ask you here to debate with me. I know of the Chantry's denouncement - and I am familiar with those who voice them. Some of them are simply grandstanding in the hopes of increasing their favor with the Chantry to become the next Divine. Others are truly terrified of what happened, of who you are, and what might mean for them. After so many good people were senselessly taken from us..." She motioned for him to walk and he followed her through the camp.

It wasn't any more impressive the second time, and the far corner of the medical tents was a worse corner than the others. It smelled like piss and vomit and the mud sucked at his feet and chilled his toes even within his boots, but he appreciated the privacy the stench afforded.

"That's their reason? They're afraid so they'll make everything worse?"

"My point is," the Mother explained, chided, " is that they do not know the real danger. You must convince the remaining clerics that you are not the demon they should be fearing." Fahleon scowled. "I only mean that they have heard frightful stories of you. Give them another story to believe in. You do not have to convince all of them - just enough to make them doubt. Their power lies in their unified voice, as you have seen. If you take that from them, you will receive all the time you need."

"You want me play into their trap. They want me dead already."

"You are no longer alone."

Fahleon cursed. He'd leave that bit of advice out of the report he gave to Cassandra when he was finished with Mother Giselle. Even then, he'd give it out of earshot. Creators, Varric could have likely heard it already. Let him say what he would - he'd ignore it. Whatever the dwarf had in store for him, it wouldn't affect the next stage of the Inquisition. Because he was not only going along with the charade, but was making plans for it, too. Fahleon dragged a hand down his face. He'd leave that bit out, too.

The Mother dipped her head again. "I will go to Haven and provide Sister Leliana with the list of names of those in the Chantry who would be amenable to a gathering. I honestly do not know if you've been touched by fate or sent to help us... but I hope," Mother Giselle admitted, and Fahleon would have called her fearful from the way she clutched at the the symbol that hung around her neck. "Hope is what we need now, more than anything. The people - they will listen to your rallying call as they will listen to no other. You could build this Inquisition into a force that will deliver us. Or destroy us."

Fahleon cleared his throat and turned when that infuriating smile was back on her face.

"I will do what I can for now. It is not much, but it is all I can provide for the moment."

His thank you was short and unvoiced, but a nod sent her back to the cots to calm the wounded that still required healing, magically or otherwise. He didn't watch her leave, but scanned the refugees for a familiar face. A familiar voice spoke in his ear, unsettling close, and Fahleon shoved Solas away from him before he could finish. The mage brushed it off.

"Was her advice helpful?" he asked, as he smoothed down his tunic. Fahleon rolled a shoulder. Whether the list of names provided anyone willing to hear them out wouldn't be determined until Mother Giselle reached Haven with it. It would take time, still, even after that to set the meeting up.

All in all, it was stupid question.

"Then it's been decided that we'll head back to Haven to regroup," Varric grumbled. Fahleon heard a complaint behind his words. Cassandra shook her head above him like the shadow she was - ever present and always darkening the mood.

"It will be some time before any more can be done," she said, as Fahleon had thought. "We will talk to Corporal Vale to see what we can do for the people here."

Varric cursed an impressive string of words and Fahleon raised a brow. Maybe they could be friends.

#dragon age inquisition #dragon age inquisition fanfiction #inquisitor lavellan #cassandra #varric #solas #mother giselle #giselle #fahleon #dragon age #dragon age fanfiction #fanfiction #my writing #do not reach beyond the sky fic

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wyrdsistersofthedas · 7 years

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HI, I just wanted to say you have a great site. I noticed you put up a number of art drawings and I am not sure if you have looked here but have you seen Matt Rhodes Concept Art for for Dragon Age? It has some great official concept art from Dragon Age 2 including Fenris and Merril. I would love to hear some of your comments on this. The first part is about Mass Effect but halfway down is about Dragon Age. Thanks again.

Hey Nony!

Sorry for the delay getting back to you. We went through quite a few Matt Rhodes posts (the man is everywhere!!) to find the one we thought you were talking about. Anyone who hasn’t seen Matt’s review of DA2’s concept art is missing out.

All four of the Sisters Wyrd sat down together for tea and to talk about these designs.

Fenris’ Evolution

On his blog, Matt Rhodes talks about how difficult it was to find Fenris’ look. They had not done much with Tevinter so they hadn’t finalized its cultural style and that is apparent in these early designs.

Perhaps the most surprising of the early Fenris concept art was this version, which looks an awful lot like D&Ds Drow Elves. That would have been quite a departure from the lore that Dragon Age had established concerning elves, who had always been shown having the same skin tones as humans races across the real world. Fenris’ skin also shows no signs of lyrium tattoos, which suggests that concept was developed later in the creative process.

Dorothea pointed out that this early design shares many facial features as Solas’ design. Long face, prominent cheekbones and jaw, and a similar nose.

Every inch…

The next design incorporates an intricate tattoo pattern with, what looks like, lyrium highlights. Unlike Fenris’ final design, the tattoos look more like a ritual pattern rather than the skeletal structure the developers used in the end. This pattern would have been really hard to create in game and cleanly animate In this art, Fenris looks like he is wearing mage robes rather than being dressed like a warrior, and the Tevinter look still isn’t there yet. The belt seems to have been a favorite. It will show up in several subsequent art designs. (He looks a bit like Prince Zuko! Wonder if Avatar was an inspiration?) Can you imagine cosplaying this? Those tattoos would be a nightmare!

The next image has several interesting updates. The tattoo’s have been simplified and the lyrium is clearly etched into Fenris’ skin with what looks like words, perhaps in Tevene or Elvhen. (As if these suckers weren’t hard enough to draw as they are in game!)

In this image, Fenris looks very much like a warrior. Almost Conan the Barbarian-esque. One thing Artemis found particularly interesting is that this look has been carried forward into the most recent concept art Mark Darrah has teased all of us with, which appears to include Fog Warrior designs that echo this early art design. This concept for Fenris is definitely more wild, almost feral. This Fenris conveys so much of his personal history: breaking free of Danarius and living among the Fog Warriors before having to run for his life and freedom.

The next design makes some very dramatic changes, and Fenris now has the look we see in game. Mostly. He has the “new look” for elves in DA2, which was a little too close to the Na’vi from Avatar. Larger eyes and ears, long necks, and the distinctive broad noses with high bridges. They managed to make Fenris, Merrill and a few other key elves look beautiful with this new design, but many other elves were…well, not the ethereal beauties they are often described to be in the lore.

The designers have also developed an obsession we feathers. Fenris has feathers, Anders has feathers, Flemeth has feathers, etc. Must have been a texture they were rather proud of and wanted to incorporate in lots of places. Some of the bird fluff disappears off of his legs by the time we get to the final game, but the ones on his wrist cuffs and shoulders stayed. (And the belt is back!)

Fenris’ tattoos change a great deal from his last iteration. They now look like they follow his skeleton, which might make them easier to animate (even if they are still a pain in the ass to draw. But these are far easier than any of the previous designs or the ones Matt would use now. More on that later.) Did they forget the three dots on his forehead in the game? Artemis has tried every angle in game to see them but can’t see them. Yet all the later concept art has them. There probably is a mod for that.

It is interesting that Fenris’ hair is black in this art. We assume that the pain and trauma from lyrium being fused to his skin was what turned his hair white, but as far as we know this has never been confirmed in the canon.

In almost all of these pictures, Fenris is drawn more sinuous than muscular. This implies, to our thinking, that his strength comes more from determination than muscles. Add lyrium as another source of strength and you don’t need big muscles. This idea was confirmed in World of Thedas 2, which stated that Fenris’ “determination, more than his physical abilities impressed Danarius.”

This was one of the last designs for Fenris, but not all of the elements made it into the game. Matt would very much have liked to hack off his hair. Bleh! Yeah, we know everyone thinks he has emo hair, but we think it says a lot about his personality at the beginning of the game. Fenris’ hair veils his eyes and the emotions on his face, creating a kind of barrier between him and those looking at him. This look and his posture convey that he was supposed to be a beaten dog, who has only just begun to remember that he is a wolf.

Matt’s Dream Fenris

On his tumblr page, Matt posted a design for he wishes Fenris looked like… Our response: meh. Fenris is stockier here, with a smaller sword and very clear Tevinter design elements. They were deep into Inquisition at this point and knew what Tevinter’s art style would be and we can certainly see those elements here. Persian slipper style shoes, “harem” style pants, pointed tunic, and curved daggers. (Hey! Matt put him in shoes! What in the Void?) Fenris is also notably heavier set, similar to the stocky elf design we see for ancient elves. Considering how slim male elf Inquisitors are, this is an interesting choice. Sera also has a heavier build also.

Bleh. We don’t care for the bald design, although it does allow us to see the tattoos Matt gave him more clearly. We now see a dragon motif that does seem very Tevinter, but not very practical. And a nightmare to draw again. (We’ll take the ones that made it into the game, thanks!)

Whatever Matt Rhodes would do with Fenris now, his design was set by Dragon Age 2. We did get an updated look, however, in The World of Thedas 2. Notice the changes to his hair and his posture. This Fenris is far more self assured, but armed to the teeth. He knows who he is, and is not hiding from anyone anymore. Slavers better hide from him.

Merrill’s Many Faces

Origins of Merrill

You would think when you already have a character designed, there wouldn’t be much to do for Merrill in DA2. Developing her character, however, also meant updating her look to match the new elements for the second game. Their first attempt produced…interesting results.

Scary lady!

Merrill certainly looked different than she did in Origins in her first draft for DA2. She has a variation on the same outfit she wore in the first game, but without her underpinnings or outer gear. But the most startling change was her face and countenance. Her new look screams “I’m a blood mage!!! Rawr!” It would have been an interesting concept to explore, this malevolent Merrill. She was certainly more stern and imperious in Origins than we see her in DA2. Perhaps losing Tamlen and Mahariel, her closest friends in the Sabrae Clan, could have driven her to more and more dangerous blood magic. She seems to even have augmented her vallaslin to reflect her grim purpose. An interesting AU for peeps to play with, but it wasn’t what the writers had in mind.

After the writers gave Matt more info, he redesigned and created a less scary version, but still rather stern Merrill. The innocence and seeming naivete she shows in DA2 isn’t there yet, but otherwise she looks pretty much like the Dalish elf we know. The new mail hauberk may reflect a new desire to protect herself in an increasingly uncertain world. This armor appears in DAI as a medium armor, suggesting that Daisy is tougher than one might assume (or they just decided it looked more like rogue armor in Inquisition).

There was an attempt at playing with Merrill’s armor, but makes her look more like a rogue instead of a mage. The designer’s definitely liked the art, however, as it too appears in Inquisition. This phase of Merrill’s development also show the influence of the new elf facial structure. Long neck, large eyes, etc. We wonder how the developers would handle her appearance and Fenris’ if they were to appear in a future game. Would they try to make them look as much like their DA2 appearance? Or would they get another makeover to match the newest version of the elves? Tricky either way…

In this concept art, she finally has an expression that is befitting her moniker: Daisy. Her outfit certainly changed. More mage-y, perhaps a little more formal, yet very elvhen.

Several of these clothing concepts eventually did make it into Inquisition. (It is just me, or did they mess up the codes for these three? It seems to me that the heavy and light armor should be reversed.) The middle armor is clearly Merrill’s outfit from DA2 ported into Inquisition. Its presence, along with several other character armors from the second game make me think that cameos were planned for some characters. In fact, several character armors actually made it DAI. Isabela was obviously wearing hers in the multiplayer, and I probably said something naughty when I saw this on the sellswords in the Hinterlands.

It seems likely that they either really liked the designs for these armors or they were planning cameos for several DA2 characters, including Merrill and Anders. (Thank the Maker they dropped the Anders cameo, especially if the picture below was what they had in mind!

Yes, we know that this probably would be his appearance if you let him live, but ordered him to leave Kirkwall without helping the mages, but still!!! We loves him. *Morta sobs in the corner for a few*)

Simply Merrill

Unlike Fenris, Matt said there is little he would change about Merrill. There are, however, a few interesting details in the “how I would draw her now” picture. Her eyes are wide and bright, filled with both curiosity and some trepidation. Her clothes are far more simple than the look he created for his ideal Fenris. Other than her near trade scarf, her clothes are plain and nondescript with no embellishments we can identify with city elves or the Dalish. She is not wearing her mail hauberk either, and we assume the many bindings on her arms are from bloodletting for her magic. Merrill seems very unprotected from the forces she is wielding. It is a night and day difference from the first piece of concept art of her.

In Merrill’s World of Thedas 2 design, she looks virtually unchanged save for two features. Her hair is done with cornrows on the right and her cheek vallaslin is missing. We are going to assume that her vallaslin was an oversight or oversimplification of her Dirthamen tattoo from DA2. (If her vallaslin has changed again we may have to say “Oh, dear!”, shake our heads, and write theories about why.)

Thanks again for the ask, Nony. We had fun going back over these designs and hope it was what you were looking for. There is a lot of other interesting material on Matt’s Blogspot/Tumblr/DeviantArt that we can look into in the future if folks are interested. And we will keep our eyes open for DA4 teases.

-The Wyrd Sisters of Thedas

Bonus! Bela-licious!

Did y’all see this concept art for Isabela?! We love it! I mean, yeah, we love her any way we can get her (and she is a rather inventive pirate queen), but this art is gorgeous. The style deliberately echoes Duncan’s outfit in Origins, and therefore show some insights into Rivaini fashion. To our eyes, it looks very Romani with a pirate flair. It would be awesome to have a mod of this outfit in game, either for Bela, Hawke, or the Inquisitor.

#dragon age #dragon age concept art #Fenris #Merrill #Isabela #Tevinter #Dalish #Rivain #wend the wyrds a wondering #long post

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