#spirit animals stead

[dark-night-star-light]

Spirit Animals: The Book of Shane (Reread pt. 18)

DISCLAIMER: WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THE ENTIRE SERIES EXCEPT THE LAST FOUR BOOKS OF THE SECOND SERIES (THIRD ARC). 

Masterpost

Who is Shane?

“It isn’t very often that a gorilla and an octopus have a polite conversation” (1). God, I forgot how much I love this book.

“‘Hello, hello,’ said a deep voice . . . ” (1). I adore Mulop. He’s probably the best Great Beast.

“‘A villain through and through. The perfect choice to destroy the world and hand it over to me’” (2). This . . . is not how villains think. They genuinely believe they’re doing the right thing. Especially Kovo. He’s not just a mustache twirling villain. He has complex motivations. Why’s he pretending otherwise???

“‘I see a boy who will regret his mistakes . . . and who will miss his only true friend’” (2). The Shane and Abeke crumbs are going to destroy me. “His only true friend” I’m going to start sobbing.

“‘Is there a soul in there with any hope of redemption?’” (3). Shane’s redemption arc is truly one of the best I’ve ever seen. Also, this book clearly hints at the Wyrm, so I wonder why the writers didn’t make Kovo seem even the least bit sympathetic.

“‘I am quite certain,’ said Mulop. ‘that he would disagree.’ ‘I am quite certain,’ said Kovo. ‘that I don’t care’” (4). Obsessed with this interaction.

I don’t know if this is an unpopular opinion or not, but I actually really like the fourth wall break at the end of the introduction.

Venom

I forgot about the quotes . . . 

The parallels to the main story are so good. Both stories start with the summoning of a spirit animal but the contrast between terror and happiness is so jarring.

 “It was only then that the true horror of the situation finally dawned on Shane” (11). I think it’s so interesting that Shane himself never summoned one. That’s such a good choice on the writers’ part.

Shane’s jerking awake and obsessive checking is so sad. It almost feels like a form of PTSD. I love how they characterized him and his bare room.

“It was only after he was satisfied that he had not summoned a spirit animal in his sleep that he remembered to breathe” (11). How would you not know, though? You’d feel it.

“The tapestries showed legendary scenes of Stetriol’s ancient past. On one, torrents of water flowed from the mouth of a frog, creating all the lakes and rivers. Another showed two lizards painting patterns on each other, one with a fine brush and an eye for detail, the other without care” (12). I feel like that means something. Also, that must be Stetriol’s legendary water frog.

“But the Great Beasts had cursed Stetriol. They were better forgotten” (12). I wonder if Shane believes in the Great Beasts’ existence. Also, it’s so interesting how the “God” interpretation works here for the Great Beasts too, seeing as how Shane blames them for Stetriol’s curse. It’s strange he never learned about the First Devourer War.

“Shane imagined that if she attempted to lower herself any more than that, she might never manage to get up again” (13). Shane is hilarious, actually. Just not in a conventional way.

“He wasn’t sure exactly how old she was, but during her history lessons it was easy to imagine that she spoke from personal experience. The oddest thing about her, though, was that she sometimes spoke of the future as if it were history, too” (13). Wait. Did Yumaris bond to the earthworm before the events of the series??? I thought she got it when she drank the Bile??? Also, wow, lots of potential for plot holes there . . . 

“‘You will be glad to have this blade,’ she said . . . ” (13). OMG WAIT. DID SHE SEE THE WAR COMING? IS THAT WHY SHE GAVE HIM THE BLADE??? I think I got it, guys . . .

“Yumaris answered, a faraway look in her eyes. ‘For words and learning do little to impress a jackal.’ Shane tightened his belt and gave his tutor a questioning look. ‘There are no jackals in Stetriol’” (13). Wait. Yumaris saw Zerif coming??? That’s how I’m going to interpret it . . . 

It’s funny how Shane sees Gar as this wicked man, then does nothing about it.

“ . . . rumor had it that King Feliandor himself had added them during his reign, sometime after he had taken to calling himself the Reptile King” (15). So, the people of Stetriol know something at least . . .

“That was only made worse after the great war and the Greencloak invasion, when the island nation’s shores were overrun” (15). Wait, so. Then that means they know the full story, right??? Also I don’t know if I’ve talked about it before but the parallels between the Devourer Wars and the World Wars. The first ones were both referred to as “the great war” and the second was directly caused by the attacking nation being sidelined after being defeated during the first. I almost wonder if the inspiration for the First and Second Devourer Wars came from World War I and II.

Okay, so Zerif’s sunburn makes sense given that he climbed to Muttering Rock, but how was he not fried alive???

So Magda appears to be a servant, but earlier it’s stated that they didn’t have money to pay servants???

I kind of wish they’d shown more scenes of Shane and Drina before the bonding sickness incident.

“‘A worm? A slug? Something small and worthless’” (19). Interesting that Drina says this, because Yumaris’s spirit animal is a worm. Almost feels like Drina has a strained relationship with Yumaris. Foreshadowing the fact that Yumaris is the one that held Drina down when she got killed by Gerathon?

[cut because block limit]

“‘It’s not fair,’ she said . . . ‘I’d be great. I’d be so great’” (19). That’s actually so heartbreaking. 

“But in that moment, he felt no pity for her, and no love - only hate. Then he saw the handkerchief she held against her mouth. It was wet and heavy with blood” (19). This hits so hard. Just straight observations with no emotions attached. It feels so hopeless.

This snake anecdote is interesting. Might talk about it more in my Shane analysis. 

“But then their mother was there” (20). Doesn’t she have the bonding sickness??? Maybe this was a good day.

“‘This is the prince of Stetriol,’ she said. ‘He’ll never bow to a mere snake’” (21). This could either be irony, considering what happened with Gerathon, or it could be symbolism, with snakes representing evil and his mother saying that Shane would never become evil.

“In her absence . . . ” (21). Is Shane’s mom dead?

“ . . . when the Reptile King’s soldiers had bonded with any animal they could get their hands on” (21). So he knows about the Bile, too???

“‘I am in charge!’ Shane shouted” (23). Yeah, gettem. Also it’s hilarious how this must look to Zerif, to have this child shout at him like that.

Why doesn’t Shane just show Zerif to his father? Like, yeah, he’s sick or whatever, but he can just have him thrown in jail afterward again.

Shane casually calling himself leader in front of Gar!!!

“‘We’re the most peaceful nation in Erdas. The rest of the world pretends we don’t exist’” (25). He literally knows the entire story except the part about the existence of Nectar??? Also, why is Gar so insistent on starting a war? Like all he cares about is building his fleet. But why?

“‘It is my honor as regent to stand before you today to christen this ship . . . ’” (27). Erdas had Christianity???

The Stetriol-post-WWI-Germany parallels are. Not subtle.

Isn’t this the scene where Shane realizes that Gar wants to send him away to war to secure his own power??? Why is that not mentioned?

The idea of a small eight-year-old child who’s determined to kill all snakes is simply adorable.

“He was armed for war” (29). *insert picture of small child in scraps of armor*

“‘He wants to hurt the snakes,’ Drina said . . . ‘Because they hurt him’” (30). It’s interesting how Shane’s mom teaches him about harming innocents with revenge as young as eight, but this scene never actually says he processed or learned that.

“‘Most snakes are harmless, Shane. And the one that bit you was only surprised. You don’t want to hurt snakes for being snakes, do you?’” (30). Parallels between the war on the snakes and the war on the Greencloaks? The Greencloaks hurt Shane first, so he tries to hurt all of them, even the innocent ones. 

Small Shane yelling about how he’s not scared is so cute.

“‘Sometimes hate and fear are the same thing’” (30). Is this coded toward his relationship with Drina or the Greencloaks?

“ . . . Shane widened his eyes as if he cared” (31). Shouldn’t . . . he? Isn’t he kinda poor? Stolen food could be expensive . . . Also why are there servants now???

It’s so interesting how we don’t see Drina’s response to Shane asking her to leave with him . . .

“The planks that made up the fort had been painted pink and green - Drina’s and Shane’s respective favorite colors” (32). I’m going to assume that Shane’s favorite color is green based on the order the names and colors are listed in . . . his favorite color used to be the color of his future enemies . . . 

“He trailed his hand along a pink plank, curled his fingers into the gap, and with sudden violence ripped the board free” (32). He’s ripping away his childhood . . . ?

Oh, this is the scene where he realizes Gar’s plans to send him away to danger.

“If Shane refused to sail with the fleet, he would look like a coward” (32). He says . . . right before the exposition about his plan to leave Stetriol. Does he think that won’t make him look like a coward???

“Perhaps they’d even have a cure for Drina” (33). He’s right . . . in a sense. Even though it’s never explicitly stated, it's definitely implied that Nectar can’t cure bonding sickness, it can only prevent it.

Nobody: Literally nobody: Shane: *screams*

“‘Sugar water. Salt water. One maniac tried to convince my father to drink snake venom’” (34). But like. Why??? Was he unhappy or something?

“‘And during the day, it’s as hot as a cauldron.’ ‘I do not burn easily,’ Zerif said . . . ” (35). Only during the day??? Well, then, a lot of people should’ve been able to get to the top, right??? Just do it during the night . . . why is Zerif the only one who’s done this???

“‘One can learn all sorts of secrets,’ . . . ‘if one takes time to listen at the base of that great pillar’” (35). So Kovo didn’t hire Zerif, Zerif just overheard him talking???

“But Shane wasn’t allowed in the water. He knew he’d never be free” (36). Free, as in freely bonded to a spirit animal??? 

I forgot Shane’s mom died. 

“ . . . the Great Beasts were all but ignored in Stetriol . . . ” (37). Because Stetriolans believe the Great Beasts cursed them? 

It’s interesting how Shane thinks of the Four Fallen as “aid[ing] the Greencloak invasion” (37).

It really means something that Shane chose Mulop and Mulop is the only Great Beast that canonically saw the best in him. Shane and Mulop both have soft spots for each other.

Feliandor-Shane parallels!

“He looked over the portrait for a moment more, and decided he didn’t see much of a resemblance” (38). Shane! Fel! Parallels! Feliandor looking at the portrait of his parents and seeing no resemblance, but seeing that as a negative thing, and Shane seeing the portrait of Fel and seeing no resemblance, but seeing that as a positive thing.

“‘So smug,’ Shane said, feeling a little smug himself” (39). Heh.

[cut because block limit]

“‘Feliandor’s soldiers all used the Bile, and none of them suffered the bonding sickness’” (39). Okay, Shane came to the right conclusion, but did nobody tell him that the bonding sickness didn't even exist before the war?

How does Shane know what a talisman even is? Isn’t that some sort of secret?

The idea of the true king having the Jade Serpent is such a cool concept, and having the talisman be in the throne as a very literal interpretation of that is kind of interesting, because it kind of symbolizes how frivolous and material Kovo saw being king of Stetriol as. By “true king” he literally meant “guy who sits on the throne”, instead of something like “had the qualities of a king”.

“Would that mean Gar was the true king of Stetriol?” (41). See, this is what I mean. The narrative implies that having the talisman equals being the true king, even though that’s just what Zerif says.

Shane tries to save the kangaroo! That’s such a cool symbolism moment, representing how he truly just had good intentions.

“But there were no jackals in Stetriol” (43). Throwback moment.

“He refused, too, to admit that his wife had been sick” (44). Why did the king marry a woman with bonding sickness, anyway?

“But when his daughter . . . was similarly stricken, something in the king has snapped” (44) and “‘But the real trouble happened when he decided he could cure himself . . . He killed his own spirit animal’” (45) imply that the king killed his spirit animal around the time Drina got the sickness. It’s interesting how the combination of the death of a spirit animal and the bonding sickness compound on one another instead of canceling each other out. 

“‘ . . . I’d have to admit that the king is . . . unfit. That Stetriol is without a true leader’” (44). Not really anything wrong with that, though? He could just claim his position as leader.

Zerif refers to Shane as “Prince Shane”!!!

So Shane knew the entire story of what happened except the part about the Greencloaks having the Nectar. And that’s the turning point. That’s the moment he goes from being innocent to . . . not so much. 

Kovo’s message being so literal is perfect symbolism for how Shane saw being king as a surface-level thing. Just have a powerful spirit animal and no sickness and you’ll be a great ruler! Never mind any other qualities a king may need!

“The sense of triumph he experienced in that moment . . . ” (46). This reminds me of how he’s described to have “cold triumph” in his eyes during the showdown on Muttering Rock.

“ . . . bracing himself for her verbal abuse” (46). It’s so sad how he got used to that, though, even though he knew it wasn’t her fault.

“The curse had been broken” (47). Ironic.

“Shane stood on the beach that night and watched his sad little handmade boat go up in flames” (47). Symbolism for destruction of innocence, me thinks. The boat was made out of his childhood playhouse.

It’s so interesting how Shane didn’t get a real spirit animal, unlike Fel. Just thinking about how in another nation, he’d have been the only one in his family to not live up to expectations.

“He felt neither. But while their eyes were averted, he allowed himself a furtive smile” (48). Sort of makes me think that Shane’s morals immediately going out the window is about the destruction of his innocence more than him finally realizing it was an option to kill his father.

“What kind of person would want a spirit animal? A ruler, thought Shane. A king.” (48). This is what I meant when I said that Shane saw very shallow things as qualities of a good ruler rather than actual good qualities.

“Shane dreamed he’d bonded with a crocodile” (48). Ohohohohooho. 

“The creature had drowned one man and maimed two others before it had been subdued” (48). Kind of reminds me of that scene in Blood Ties where Shane sacrifices his own soldier to save Abeke. He doesn’t care who’s loyal to him.

“He woke slowly from an untroubled sleep” (49). Unlike the past two years . . . 

Also this story proves that Zerif’s jackal was a natural spirit animal . . . but we know he took the Bile. We also know after the war, it runs away, but wouldn’t their bond have been natural by that point? How did it leave him?

Vendetta

“The war was over, and he’d won it” (55). Gotta love the stark contrast between this section and the next one (Vengeance).

“But who needed to tell them apart anymore? What was the point of borders, anyway? It all belonged to him now” (55). Shane being up high symbolism for his ego?

“They’d both been lying for a very long time, hiding their true natures, like a crocodile hides beneath the surface of the water, waiting to strike” (56). The crocodile-Shane symbolism is just such a cool thread. It represents his corruption and redemption beautifully.

“The days he’d spent on the boat with Abeke had been … Well, they had been a pleasant respite from months of war” (56). I love how subtle this book is with Shane’s feelings for Abeke. You just get these little gems throughout that show how much he does truly care for her and how much it did hurt to betray her.

I like how it’s shown very clearly how hard the Greencloaks tried to fight to get the talismans back. Like they didn’t just give up hope at the end of Rise and Fall like the narrative suggests. No, they still tried to get them back. And they very nearly did.

“‘Have a care!’ Shane shouted. ‘Lose me and you lose the talismans’” (58). The ego that drips off of Shane in this section is just. Wow, this guy really talked back to a Great Beast. It’s honestly so well done.

“If there was one thing Shane couldn’t stand, it was feeling powerless. He’d had enough of that back in Stetriol. But he hadn’t truly been powerless in a long time. Not since he’d drunk the Bile and joined Zerif in his campaign against the Greencloaks” (58). I kind of want to know what Zerif’s motive in all this is? Why does he hate the Greencloaks? This is a great way of tying Shane pre-corruption and Shane post-corruption, though.

“‘Why not? Let them come in force,’ Shane scoffed. ‘I took them on single-handedly. What chance would they have against my army?’” (59). Shane is such an egoistic little bitch in this section, it's hilarious.

“‘You would not wish to displease Gerathon.’ ‘I know that,’ Shane spat. His face grew warm despite the blustery wind. ‘I know that well’”  (59). Ohhhhhhhh.

Shane’s fear of spiders parallels Meilin’s fear of spiders. They both started hating spiders during the same incident (Drina getting murdered by her own spirit animal). And Shane’s ego in this section perfectly matches Meilin’s near the beginning of the series, as well. 

“ . . . the most beautiful to Shane’s eye was the leopard of amber. It seemed to glow with its own inner light” (62). Well, warning that I’m about to read into this way more than the author probably meant for me to. The talisman is almost definitely symbolism for Abeke. It says “to Shane’s eye” meaning that objectively, the talisman probably doesn’t look that much better than the other talismans. Just like how, objectively, Abeke looks pretty average, but to Shane she’s more than that. It also says there’s an “inner light” which implies something that shines from within, not necessarily anything physical to see. Just like how Abeke has an inner charm. Also, the obvious leopard-Abeke symbolism.

Why does Shane have a vial of Bile??? Why would he need that???

“Kovo’s Obsidian Ape likewise enhanced his vision, but in a subtly different way than the falcon did” (65). I wonder how the Greencloaks got their hands on Kovo’s talisman and why they never used it before.

“[The Amber Leopard] made him feel at ease in this Niloan jungle Uraza had once called home. It was simply the most practical choice, he told himself” (66). Mhm.

“They had trusted their neighbors. That had apparently been a mistake” (67). Love the detached, almost unreliable way this is narrated. Out of context, you would think that Shane was not the one responsible for all the destruction.

“‘You killed me, whether you meant to or not. And that,’ he said, ‘is your nature’” (69). Probably more about Drina, honestly, not Gar.

“ . . . Shane jolted awake . . . ” (69). Hmmmm. So that didn’t go away then.

“Conor and Rollan had almost bragged about it when they’d told him” (70). Wow, Shane is an unreliable narrator.

“He was completely cut off from his sword, the talismans were a hopeless tangle on the floor . . . ” (71). This is why he should’ve kept the talismans on his person.

“ . . . feigning innocence before he remembered that he was in fact innocent” (73). Wow. Shane corruption arc go brrrrrr.

“The village, he decided, must have been protecting Greencloaks. It was the only explanation for the savagery with which the Conquerors had descended” (73). Wow, Shane really is such a manipulative ass in this section, and I love it. 

[cut because block limit]

“ . . . he couldn’t bring himself to pose as a Greencloak” (74). Shane’s ego is really getting in his own way, like my guy. Come on.

“ . . . Shane couldn’t leave him alone in the jungle. Could he?” (75). Reading on a bit further, you can tell that Shane kind of really doesn’t care about Achi and only takes him because he’s useful as a guide.

“But he knew what question Achi was waiting to hear, and he asked it” (78). Shane is manipulative and charming as hell.

“‘Abeke?’ Shane called, louder this time. ‘Abeke, if you’re out there, I can explain everything’” (80). God, I want to know what he would’ve said. Like think about the possibilities. 

“Shane made an involuntary gurgling sound” (81). THAT’S SO FUNNY.

Shane giving the Amber Leopard to Achi cements the Achi-Abeke parallels, in my head.

“He climbed even more nimbly now that he wore Abeke’s talisman - Uraza’s talisman, Shane corrected himself” (82). Ohhhh, so he does think of it as Abeke’s. 

“‘Did you ever hear the story about how the goanna and the perentie got their coloring?’” (83). Kinda wanna hear that one.

“Kovo escaped, but he lost the tail to the cats” (85). I wanna say, it’s pretty unlikely that this story actually happened in canon, because as seen in Tales of the Great Beasts, Uraza did actually like Kovo before they were enemies, saying that it unsettled her that he would work with murderers and calling him her neighbor. But a cute story nonetheless.

Also the story is kind of foreshadowing in its own sense, since in it Kovo is manipulative, but is still defeated in the end. 

“But that was the beauty of the Bile, wasn’t it? No one could resist it in the end. Not even stubborn, foolhardy Drina” (86). Foolhardy??? It’s still unclear whether Drina was in on the plan to get herself killed. In fact, it’s unclear whether Shane knew that the plan was to get Drina killed. 

“He didn’t need to bribe Achi, and he didn’t need to bully him either” (87). Well, at least Shane still has a shred of decency in this section.

“‘She was no Greencloak. She wasn’t even Marked’” (88). Wow, the Conquerors are straight-up stupid. How dumb do you have to be to realize that a non-Marked person means you got the wrong person??? And how dumb is Achi’s dad to gamble that they’d be that dumb?

“In [the jackal’s] jaws was a bloody crown, forged in the shape of a snake devouring its own tail’” (88). Wow, foreshadowing for Zerif’s betrayal for sure.

“‘He got the cats to stop fighting. He saved the day!’” (89). It’s ironic because Shane is clearly paralleling himself, but also he’s the one that started a fight in real life. 

“He was Uraza, and he was home” (91). Kinda cute, if you ignore the context.

“Not that it would have been a very strategic choice with a man-eating cat bearing down on him” (92). Right, but he’s used to sifting through talismans while running. He’s done it several times before in this section. Yes, he’s carrying Achi, but he’s also got Uraza’s talisman to take care of him while he searches. 

“‘And I lost the man I - a good man, Tarik’” (93). Well, that’s about as close to canon as we’ll get.

“‘I haven’t killed anyone,’ Shane growled” (93). Someone needs to teach this guy that killing can be indirect. And also, I don’t think that’s true. There are several battles that he’s been in, so I feel like it’s unrealistic to say he’s never killed anyone.

“‘So high and mighty. Not against sending an assassin after me, though, are they?’” (93). Yeah??? This is a war??? They’re gonna send someone after you, duh. Bro, what kind of logic is that???

“He acted quickly, and replaced the Amber Leopard with Kovo’s Obsidian Ape” (94). Kind of showing him throwing his morals out the window, since he was so repelled by the Obsidian Ape earlier.

“Black and white. Precisely how the Greencloaks saw the world” (95). As if you don’t??? My guy???

“‘Achi, it’s okay,’ Shane said quickly. ‘Grahv won’t hurt you’” (95). Wonder how true that would be if Lishay had called his bluff . . . 

“Shane had given him Jhi’s talisman and carried him all the way here despite the ache in his limbs” (96). Why did Shane carry him? Achi should’ve been healed? And why did Achi let Shane carry him?

“ . . . Shane turned to Achi and winked . . . ” (97). Bitch, he really tried that??? Like unironically??? I’m laughing. Man, I’m laughing so fucking hard.

“He tried to grasp at a fleeting sensation of victory, but it slipped through his fingers and was gone” (97). Kind of like how his victory over the Greencloaks in this section is short-lived and he lost anyway.

Vengeance

The quote. I’m sobbing.

“‘You won. We lost. Do you have to rub it in?’” (103). My guy. Do you know how war works???

“There was real hatred there. Real hunger for revenge” (103). Shane trying desperately to convince himself he’s not as much in the wrong as he is is simply splendid.

“‘Don’t play innocent with me,’ Shane countered. ‘I wrote the book on that particular trick . . . ’” (105). Paralleling the previous section?

“But he could always get more money” (106). How???

“‘Deadly?’ Shane echoed. ‘A frog?’” (107). Does he seriously not know about the whole bright-colors-warn-predators thing??? Huh . . . 

Why does he have a vial of Bile on him??? That is so weird.

“‘They came close, though,’ Shane said, fighting to keep his voice steady” (108). Not him still trying desperately to stroke his own ego.

“ . . . hoarded so jealously over the years” (108). One thing I notice across several books in this series is that whenever they talk about the Greencloak-Nectar situation, they always say “hoarded jealously”. Like, variety in word choice is not a thing apparently.

“‘ . . . What sort of snake?’” (109). This section is so appealing because of the mystery aspect. 

“But what if it didn’t stay that way? What if it could somehow do more harm? The Bile was Shane’s mess. And he was looking to clean up his messes” (110). Right, but he effectively does nothing. The Bile does lose all its power??? That’s so weird. But okay, I guess.

“ . . . stopped to trade for a bag of roasted nuts . . . ” (110). Where did he get the money??? He just gave it all away?

“‘You sound just like a snake I used to know’” (111). Yumaris???

Where is Shane getting the money to hire Anya??? Like huh???

Also Anya is described in an incredibly similar fashion to Anka. Like. I can see how you might get the two mixed up.

“As Shane’s parents and sister grew sicker, he was left entirely to her whims” (113). The relationship between Shane and Yumaris is so interesting and kind of contradictory in some places. 

The whole conversation about tools is probably a reference to Venom, when Yumaris insists that Shane needs many tools . . .

“If this year of war had taught him anyway, it was how much he’d taken for granted as a prince” (115). This is directly contradictory to his statement in Vendetta about how he’s not pampered despite being a prince. Character development or something, I guess. 

“‘“Bushmaster” is a code. And it leads to that jungle temple’” (117). How does he know that??? Is it something Yumaris taught him???

Feel like the venom-poison-snake-frog thing is symbolism for Shane and Yumaris. Shane is a snake, who’ll hurt you by himself, but for Yumaris to hurt you, you have to interact with her first.

“‘The bright colors are a warning to predators: I am dangerous and I taste bad. Stay away.’ ‘Sort of like a Greencloak,’ Shane said under his breath” (119). LOL.

“‘We don’t have bears here.’ ‘Tell that to the bear!’” (120). I love them, Your Honor. 

[cut because block limit]

“Outside of Stetriol, they were supposed to pretend he was no more than their commander’s nephew” (121). Even the Conquerors that aren’t Stetriolan know that???

“‘I’m thinking we throw Soyland to the bear and she lets us go’” (123). I’m with Anya there, not gonna lie.

“‘The bear was a victim in all this. Poisoning her isn't right’” (124). Redemption arc Shane go brrrrr. 

“‘“Bushmaster” was what we called this operation. We- We named them all after snakes’” (124). Oh, so that’s how he knew.

Also, what was the operation specifically?

I get that they have a common enemy, but Anya doesn’t react with much ferocity toward Shane’s reveal. Like. They haven’t even known each other that long.

“But there was no point in turning down the man’s gratitude, and he accepted it with a curt nod” (127). Yes. Yes, there is??? Yes, there is.

“Shane wondered briefly how many young men and women of Stetriol had marched into battle across Erdas” (127). Oh, so they are from Stetriol. Interesting. 

“Each and every drop was a drop made by their hands” (129). Wow, the paranoia starts already.

“And then there was Yumaris, who made an unusual choice” (130). Okay, so if Yumaris hadn’t already been bonded to her worm before, then how did she know the future before taking Bile? It said she spoke of the future like the past, so was she just making that up???

“Alone among the kings and queens of Stetriol. Food for worms, all of them” (131). I guess you can never really escape your fate, even if you become great.

“‘Sir,’ said Lovvorn. ‘Sire!’ said Alix. ‘Idiot,’ said Anya” (136). Cackling.

“‘Did she tell you I have a weak spot for girl archers? Did she think I’d be more likely to trust you if you reminded me of someone I care about?’” (137). Ooooooooh. Kicking my feet at the subtle references to Abeke.

Shane blaming Yumaris for Drina’s death as if he isn’t the one that came up with the plan in the first place is so damn blame-shifty. (He came up with it right? Feel like that hasn’t been confirmed, only heavily implied.)

“‘Gerathon was going to kill one of you that day. By stepping in when I did, I ensured it wasn’t you’” (140). Why was Gerathon going to kill one of them??? I thought it was Drina, so the plan could go . . . well, according to plan. But it really seems like Shane and Yumaris had no idea Drina was going to be killed??? So what was the original plan exactly???

“‘I wish I could see for myself how you’ve grown’” (140). Awwww.

“‘The world above will need a protector who can walk the line between good and evil’” (141). Why do they need to be evil???

What happens to Anya after this? Does she just go back? Do they ever talk again? Does she know Shane eventually dies?

Venture

“‘I’m not here to cause trouble Maddox’” (148). Why are they immediately antagonistic??? I literally don’t remember shit about this. 

“ . . . Abhay wasn’t from Stetriol - and he didn’t have an obvious grudge” (149). Wait. Are the men mad because Shane lost the war? Or something different?

“‘I am Maddox’s king’” (149). He just said it didn’t bother him to not be called a king like a page ago.

“‘People said that, at the end, you fought alongside the Greencloaks’” (149). How do people even know that? It happened at the Evertree, and nobody else was there.

“‘For us, the war never ended’” (151). Huh.

“Shane dreamed he summoned a wolf . . . he knew he’d never be alone again” (151). This is kind of heartbreaking, in a way. Like he’s been alone his whole life and only because of war is he making friends. And never ones that he really keeps.

“Others called him a traitor” (153). For fighting with Greencloaks in the end?

“She had a special knack for pointing out Shane’s shortcomings, and pride ranked high on the list” (154). She’s not wrong. Even in The Burning Tide, when Shane is trying to redeem himself, he wants to impress Abeke more than anything else.

“But, oh, how he wanted to trash this guy” (154). Yeah, me too, honestly. He doesn’t appear to be the most open-minded.

“Shane could swear the figure was wearing a crown” (155). Why is he watching her during a fight, anyway??? Like, dude???

“Shane dreamed he summoned a panda. The animal wrapped him in its arms” (155). Awwww.

“‘The dirt is no place for pride, my king’” (156). If Shane wanted to help himself, shouldn't he have gotten up and not laid pathetically in the dirt?

“‘A natural bond. We grew up together’” (157). I wonder what Viktor thinks of Bile bonds in general. He grew up in Stetriol, so he’d probably be pretty torn.

Okay, so he thanks Shane for the Bile, but also wouldn’t he find it somewhat repulsive, seeing as he has a good bond with his own spirit animal?

“ . . . held no medicinal properties as far as Shane or Yumaris could discover” (159). I wish they’d shown more of Shane and Yumaris working together.

“Shane dreamed he summoned a falcon . . . He was untouchable” (160). Paralleling his ego?

“Here, at last, were the true warriors” (161). How were they picked? 

“‘See now, Karmo? I said you’d get the hang of this’” (162). Is Karmo being forced? Maybe because of his merging with his animal? But that’s a secret, right?

“He did, however, wear a tight bandage around his left forearm” (162). Oop, Shane got him.

[cut because block limit]

The woman with the nickname “Greenslayer” needs a backstory of her own.

Why did Yeffa not want Karmo to help Viktor??? There’s a reason, right?

“It was clear who they held responsible for the outcome of the war” (164). Yep, that’s it.

“Shane wasn’t wholly surprised when Karmo made a break for it later that night” (165). Why didn’t Karmo do that earlier, though?

“‘Shane as in Shane the Reptile King? Devourer Shane?’ ‘It’s just Shane these days’” (167). Shane’s humor’s at its finest when it’s unintended.

“‘King Shane is a no-good snake’” (168). The snake symbolism thread is just *chef’s kiss*

“Who would want to keep so many smelly, scaly reptiles on display?” (169). It’s ironic how Shane is the self-proclaimed Reptile King, yet hates reptiles in reality. Almost like he hates himself from the start.

“‘Zerif chose some real lowlifes. Devin was a bully. Ana was a thief. And Tahlia, the girl from Stetriol? She was downright vicious. We were all afraid of her’” (171). Kind of wonder where Ana’s from. Like, what’s her story? Maybe she was a thief because of circumstance, like Rollan.

“Faced with such devastation, Shane had decided that day that he would activate their secret asset in the next battle. Let the Greencloaks hurt one another for a change” (171). It’s almost funny how jealous he sounds. 

“‘My tribe has never had a Rain Dancer. That means we get less respect in Nilo than the insects and grubs’” (172). But Abeke’s tribe was the same before she was declared Rain Dancer, right? It doesn’t really seem like respect was Abeke’s tribe’s main problem.

“‘Finally getting called a hero, and it’s for all the wrong reasons’” (172). I think even if Karmo had succeeded in the Rumfuss mission, he’d probably have come around anyway in the end. Like he has now.

“‘The Reptile Queen?’ ‘That’s what she calls herself.’ Shane felt a weight in the pit of his stomach . . . It was the feeling he got whenever something bad was happening - and that it was his fault” (173). Oh, he figured it out immediately.

“Shane dreamed he summoned a leopard . . . And he knew he had been forgiven for all he’d done wrong” (174). Oh my God, I’m actually gonna start crying. This like. Perfectly encapsulates the tragedy of Abeke and Shane. Like Abeke forgives him but at the cost of his own life.

“‘The snake is you, if it wasn’t clear’” (176). God, this guy is stupid.

“Shane had once worn that crown . . . ” (178). How did she get her hands on Stetriol’s crown?

Okay, but how did Tahlia survive??? How did she get off the docks?

Shane didn’t know what the execution method was going to be, and didn’t have a plan for dealing with it. Which means that if they had just been planning on running him through with a sword or something, he’d have been screwed. Like, wow, that was straight-up stupid of him.

“One of the tattooed islanders lay unconscious at their feet, while the second one stood at the edge of the tree line, pleading with a huge emu . . . ” (182). Yeah, gettem. This means that the brothers are Piri and Timone. Which means they didn’t change and are still both corrupted as fuck. Nice to see that Timone has regressed with his spirit animal bond.

“She wouldn’t let go of her knives any more than she would let go of her hate” (184). It’s giving Conor and Cordelia in that final battle.

“‘The war is over!’ he cried” (186). Aww.

“‘But this time, we’ll be fighting on the right side’” (186). Shane’s redemption arc is so perfectly started in this book. I will never not be angry that he and Abeke never sat down after they met up again and had a genuine conversation about their feelings.

Final thoughts and rating (doing the negatives first this time):

Zerif and Yumaris’s bonds are weirdly inconsistent. Zerif’s bond is natural, seeing as he was bonded even before finding the Bile, so how come his jackal ran away? It can’t do that, can it? And Yumaris had a Bile bond, but had her powers even before she was bonded? So that’s sort of a plot hole. I also felt the last two stories were slightly more off-putting than the first two. They felt strange in terms of tone, which I get that they were supposed to be, but the resolutions to those sections felt so weirdly rushed. While I did enjoy getting to see what happened to Tahlia, she’s just such a weird villain. I can’t imagine her having enough finesse to put together an entire army, the way she screams at Shane and the way she doesn’t take his hand at the end. With Shane, you can see that he’s smart and careful and manipulative, but with Tahlia, I just have such a hard time believing she could stop acting like a child long enough to put together a two-hundred-person army. Anya was a strange character. I liked her while reading, but her ending was so out-of-place. 

Most of the negatives of the book are nit-picks, because there’s almost nothing wrong with this book, in my opinion. First of all, the parallels. They’re so good. I feel like Nick Eliopulos has such a different writing style, one that favors symbolism and parallels and other analyzation things over the story itself. It was really fun trying to find them all and made my reread almost as fun as the original. Also the Easter eggs??? Like the Piri and Timone thing, or the several hints about Abeke. It was fantastic. The story really rewards you for paying attention to the main series and this book. First two stories were at their best, with the backstory and the Shane-snake-crocodile symbolism. The complicated relationships in Shane’s life were also written so well, such as Drina and Yumaris. It’s clear that Shane both hated and loved both of them. It also shows why he cared for Abeke so much, seeing as that was one relationship that didn’t feel as complicated to him, at least in the beginning. Exploration of the Bile was done well, too. We can see that Timone, for example, is still bonded, because his bond was originally natural, but Piri’s killer whale apparently left him. Getting Karmo’s backstory was also a highlight. And it paves the way for Devin;s story in Tales of the Fallen Beasts. And Shane the unreliable narrator. Excellently done. His pride being his “fatal flaw”, so to speak? And that being a thread that carried the entire book? It was astonishingly well done. I could see it even when it wasn’t explicitly said. Shane as a character carries this book on his back. He is such an excellent protagonist (anti-hero?) to follow, and it makes me wish we’d gotten more page time of him in the main series, as well as more chapters from his perspective. He’s so smart, and the places where he’s figuring things out or using his wits just make him even better. This book is the one that made Shane my favorite character because he’s just written with so much depth and this book does a spectacular job of humanizing him. 

Rating: 10/10

#draeyem rereads spirit animals #the book of shane #spirit animals series #spirit animals books #sa spoiler #shane #zerif #yumaris #drina #achi #abeke #anya #alix #stead #karmo #jolt #viktor

[orcaab]

Loss-A Spirit Animals AU fanfic

Aight, so this is basically a rewrite of Last Words and a part of Loss from The Burning Tide. It's a 'what-if' AU where Abeke dies instead of Shane. A little disclaimer before we begin, this write includes: -Violence

-Descriptions of blood

-Usage of swords and stuff

-Harm to both humans and animals

-It's pretty long

So if you are uncomfortable with any of those themes, I have to ask you to not proceed further. For all of you staying, thank you! Without further ado, let's get into it!

Loss

The Place of Desolation was an abandoned base, an unused snare for centuries, and now, it was the location of one of the biggest battles in the history of Erdas. The chilly air was filled with yells, cries, screeches, hoots, growls, roars, and clashes of metal on metal. A gust of sweet ocean air entered and exited Shane’s nose with every breath. The breaths were getting more and more rapid. Drawing his saber, Shane ran down one of the halls to meet the incoming array of Greencloaks.

Sliding the last few meters on the thin ice covering the cold ground, Shane’s saber caught one of the Greencloaks under the ribs, sending him toppling back into a rather skinny-looking deer. With a few quick strides, he joined Stead and Howl in the mass of people and animals. “Are these all the Greencloaks from the ships?” Shane yelled over the growing roar of battle, “Or just a part of them?” He hoped that the Greencloaks on the island were the only ones who would fight, their numbers were impressive to say the least, outnumbering the Redcloaks almost five to one, if you didn’t count the spirit animals. “We don’t know,” Stead yelled back, before ducking as a one-headed axe swung at his head. Quickly cutting the wielder on the shoulder, he turned to kick at the dog which was probably the man’s spirit animal. “We haven’t seen any others on the ships, but there may be more hiding, waiting.” The words escaped the young man’s mouth in a series of gasps, his ram pupils darted from side to side as he scanned the surroundings, before bringing up his stained longsword to point at three large animals in the near distance. A ram, a boar, a leopard… and something long and curved on the head of the ram, something that was curling around the horns of the oversized animal. A snake. A cobra. Gerathon. The Great Serpent. Great Shane thought, focusing on the nearing animals, Four of the infected Great Beasts as well. His hopes for the outcome of this battle seemed more and more like a far-fetched fantasy. If only they could manage to activate the snare, maybe it could hold back, or even stop the infected. It didn’t seem like an entirely reliable idea, but if Niri could still hear Takoda and the others underground, maybe she could find out something valuable.

Without any other response to Stead, Shane put his smooth wooden mask on and turned to find Howl trying to hold off the Greencloaks in a circle around him and Stead. He quickly ran to the man’s side, to help fend the Greencloaks off. They would have bigger things to worry about than the Greencloaks, and they needed all the room they could get, even with these powers, it was difficult to hold Great Beasts off. Shane’s saber came in contact with an axe at the same moment as Howl attempted to block it with his sword. Shane couldn’t stop his mind from replaying the battle at The Temple of Dinesh, the battle where he and Conor blocked a sword from Shane’s own soldier, to protect Abeke. The very Abeke who was now on this island, under his protection. Quickly shaking his head, he pushed the man with his shoulder, sending him off balance. There is no time to dwell on the past. Turning around Shane sheathed his saber, and prepared to meet the galloping Great Beasts. The serpent, he noted to himself immediately. He needed to get Gerathon off Arax, her reach was too big while on the ram. Uraza and Rumfuss split away from Arax to join the mass of Greencloaks, leaving him to charge forward. Shane waited for the ram to be a few steps away from him, before dodging to the side, Gerathon extending and lunging for the air where Shane was just a moment ago. With a slight push to Arax’s hindquarters, Shane imbalanced the ram, causing him to stumble, Gerathon uncoiled from his horns and fell on the ground. Arax tried to regain his footing, nearly trampling the serpent in the process, which got him a loud hiss. Arax charged at Shane again, this time, Shane grabbed the ram’s horns, digging them into the ground, Arax’s back bent unnaturally before the ram relaxed in an attempt to break free. Shane let go of the ram’s horns and scanned the ground to find Gerathon, but the snake wasn’t anywhere in his field of vision. Gasping for breath, Shane noticed Uraza attempting to catch Jolt, who was moving faster than any man should be able to. He also saw Worthy yelling something inaudible at Stead, who was jumping over Rumfuss, giving the boar cuts from a short dagger, while his longsword was sheathed on his back. Moving closer to them, Shane could make out what Worthy was screeching desperately at Stead.

“Don’t!” The younger boy was yelling “Stop! Don’t hurt him! Good lord, just listen to me!” Worthy’s tone was changing with every screech, from angry, and worried, to annoyed, and frustrated. Shane remembered that Rumfuss was Dawson’s spirit animal, Worthy’s younger brother. Pushing a pair of very confused-looking Greencloaks aside, Shane came closer to Worthy and Stead and tried to yell over the commotion. “Stead, keep Rumfuss occupied for now, it won’t be long.” Before he could look back, he felt all the air exit his lungs at once as something slammed into his side with an immense force. His head hit the ground hard, had it not been for the mask, then his eyes, nose, and mouth would have been full of dirt. Looking up, he saw two hooves coming up, and he immediately rolled, the hooves came down hard, sure to have shattered Shane’s ribs if he hadn’t moved away in time. Standing up, he saw Arax lining up to charge at him again. Shane readied himself and as the ram neared, he pushed one of the horns to the side, making Arax change course and run straight into Rumfuss. The two animals collided, the dirt flew in every direction, and the air filled with grunts and squeals of surprise. Shane heard a sigh of relief followed by a chuckle, which he assumed came from Worthy and Stead. A loud bird-like screech carried on the battlefield, Shane snapped his head in the direction of the sound, and he saw Jolt clinging to one of the small windows up on the fortress, his now torn cloak billowing in the icy wind of the island as Uraza stalked away below him. Shane saw Howl and Worthy running to his aid, but as he began to do the same, he was stopped by a cobra, the large snake stood up and opened her hood. The Great Serpent was formidable, even in this form. He remembered how large and terrifying she was as a Great Beast. Even now, she was just as deadly, she was faster and more agile. Backing up, he tried to avoid Gerathon entirely by going around her. The snake let out a monstrous hiss and slithered with terrifying speed towards Shane. Shane tried to pull out his saber to cut at the snake, but within mere moments the serpent lunged and bit his arm. With a gasp of shock, Shane grabbed the large cobra behind her hood, pulled her off, and threw her on the ground a few meters away from himself. Breathing heavily and quickly, he undid the clasps that held a piece of leather to his lower arm. Memories flashed through his mind, of Drina and her spider, Iskos, as Gerathon forced the monstrous arachnid to kill his sister. As he pulled the leather off, he saw his arm, his scaled arm, Gerathon bit him right where he had golden-green crocodile scales, the venomous fangs of the serpent didn’t pierce the skin. Shane sighed a sigh of relief and put the piece of leather back on. 

As he looked up, he saw Gerathon’s tail slinking away between a fighting Greencloak and a Redcloak. Shane looked back towards Jolt and saw Howl helping him down, while Worthy was grappling with a small woman who had some kind of elongated, hissing otter on her shoulder. Running to a large boulder, Shane jumped onto it, taking a few seconds to find his balance, he looked over the mass of fighters, and noticed a group of Greencloaks being forced to another part of the island by a stream of lava, Dinesh was being forced away with them. Looking to his right, he noticed Stead jumping in large arches around Arax and Rumfuss who were trying to charge at the man. But he didn’t see Uraza. His heart began to thump harder and harder in his chest, his thoughts were a mess. She could have gone to? Could she? Where is she? This isn’t Zourtzi. She can’t. Shane was so caught up in his worries, that he didn’t hear Stead approach or call his name. “King!” Stead was saying, Shane wasn’t sure how many times he said it. “Arax and Rumfuss ran away, for one reason or another.” Stead waited for a few moments, probably for Shane to give a reply, which Shane didn’t. Stead’s eyes narrowed in a worried way behind his white ram mask. “What is it?” He asked hesitantly.  “Uraza,” Shane replied, already looking for any openings in the wall of the fortress where Jolt was handing earlier. The short answer seemed to be enough for Stead because he nodded and let out a short grunt before stepping back.

“Try to follow her, I will try to hold the Greencloaks back for as long as possible, if we succeed or fail, I will find you and report it.” The man nodded quickly before turning, drawing his sword, and beginning to yell commands. Shane was grateful that the young man didn’t enquire any further on the subject. Jumping down from the boulder, he ran as fast as he could, faster than he ever ran in his life, towards the closest tunnel in the fortress wall. He tried to locate any growls or roars that could have come from the leopard. He couldn’t hear anything besides the sounds of battle outside the walls of the fortress, and he began to hesitate, what would he even do if he did find her? Fight her? Kill her, even? He wasn’t sure how far Abeke’s forgiveness would go if he killed her beloved spirit animal. Or how far the nations would look for his good intentions when they find out he killed one of The Great Beasts. Was he able to kill a Great Beast? He shook his head, he couldn’t think like this, he would die if he had to in order to save Abeke. Passing several openings, he slowed down where six passages met, looking around wildly, he ran up to one and went a few meters in before going out, and checking the other passages. It felt hopeless, how could he ever find a creature that was the exact image of stealth? Or her partner? As he went into the fourth passage he thought he heard Abeke’s voice. Without any hesitation he sprinted down the dark hall, Shane realized that it could lead to one of the balconies, overlooking the center of the structure. He slowed down ever so slightly as he heard Abeke’s pleading voice. 

“I don’t know what Zerif’s done to you, but I know you, Uraza.” The girl seemed to be sobbing while saying it. Shane rounded a corner and nearly tripped on Tasha who was lying on the stone floor, clutching one of her arms, blood oozing in between her pale fingers. As he looked up, he saw what he feared the most. Zerif standing on one side of the room, at the balcony, and Abeke in a corner on the other, being backed in by Uraza. The leopard seemed so distant, her violet eyes lacking the intelligence that he had seen countless times before. “Deep down, I know that you don’t want to hurt-” Abeke’s pleading was cut off as Uraza leaped for her, paws outstretched, sharp claws glinting, ready to kill. This time, Shane didn’t think about what he was going to do, he only knew that he needed to get Uraza away from Abeke, and he jumped. He collided with Uraza in the air, the impact was so strong it slammed him and Uraza into the wall. His mask came flying off. He tried to hold onto the back of The Great Beast, but it was so difficult, her fur was so soft and short, and it was impossible to hold onto it. The leopard rolled on the ground, trying to get the nuisance off her. In one of these rolls, Shane lost his grip and slid slightly on her, but it was enough for Uraza to grab his arm and sink her teeth into it. He yelled out in pain, letting go of Uraza with his other hand, dropping on the floor. The leopard shook him, Shane thought his arm was gonna get torn off, but after a few seconds Uraza let go, Shane tried to scramble away, to try and regain his footing again, only to feel a wrenching pain in the side of his ribcage. Going off balance again he hit the ground with his head, and his vision flowed before him, he tried to yell, but the leopard’s grip was too tight, pushing at his ribs, threatening to break them. And all at once, she let go and turned without giving Shane a second glance. 

He knew his wounds weren’t fatal, and he knew Uraza knew it too, why was she letting him go so easily? He took in a few shaky breaths, and then stopped as the realization dawned on him. The world seemed to go silent for the next few moments. He wasn’t the target, and he was never the target, Abeke was, she was the target in Zourtzi, and she is the target now, Uraza missed her before, and she isn’t going to make the same mistake twice. “No-” Abeke begged the leopard before stumbling back as Uraza lunged at her. Uraza grabbed Abeke right under the ribs, on the side of her stomach, and shook violently. Shane’s vision blurred with tears, this time he didn’t hesitate. He ignored the pain in his arm, and the pain in his ribs. Unsheathing his saber, he grabbed it with both hands, bringing it high over his head, and put it right through Uraza’s back leg. The metal blade came out stained in bright red blood on the other side of the leopard’s leg. Uraza roared in pain and agony as she dropped Abeke on the cold ground. Just as the leopard whirled around, Shane pulled his saber free of her leg, another loud roar escaped her as she limped away from him, leaving a trail of red blood on the ground. The leopard seemed to notice him for the first time then, and to notice Abeke, Uraza’s ears flattened and her eyes widened as she let out low moans directed at her partner, before she could make any other move, she disappeared in a flash of bright light, into her passive state.  The only signs of Uraza’s presence were a pool of blood, the red-stained saber, and Abeke’s still body. Shane dropped his saber, and went to Abeke’s side, dropping on his knees beside her body. He took her head in his hands and looked into her warm, brown eyes. All the sound from the world seemed to come back to him at once, the metal clashes from the Redcloaks and Greencloaks from the sides of the chamber, their yells, and Abeke’s heavy breathing. He tried to focus on her face, to make himself look at her, but he couldn’t suppress the tears, they flooded his eyes, threatening his vision.

“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry for everything.” Sobs tore from his throat in between the words. He wanted to say so much, to say how much he regretted the war, how much he wanted to make up, how much she truly meant to him, but the words didn’t come to him. He was supposed to die! He was The Devourer! She was one of The Four Heroes of Erdas, she didn’t deserve this. “I know… and I… forgive you.” Abeke was still willing to put her faith in others, even now. Her words came in short gasps, and they only made him sob harder. To Shane’s surprise, Abeke pulled him in for a hug, she felt warmer than the air around them, and Shane felt safe, for once. As Abeke pulled back, she tried to say something, but the words never took shape, she frowned and seemed to focus all of her energy on delivering a single message to him.

“Could you… promise… to protect them?” The words seemed to take a great toll on her. Abeke looked straight into Shane’s eyes, not many people did now, his eyes were inhuman, they were those of a crocodile. Without any hesitation, he nodded, he didn’t know who they were, maybe the other Four Heroes? The Greencloaks? The Great Beasts? Their summoners? It didn’t matter, he vowed to protect all of them, no matter the cost. 

With a final smile, Abeke’s eyes dulled, closed, and never opened again. Shane screamed at the top of his lungs, he couldn’t bear this, he was cursed and everyone who ever trusted him were cursed too, first his kingdom, his sister, his soldiers, and now Abeke. Were the Redcloaks next? His screams and yells became quieter and quieter, before he was quietly sobbing over Abeke’s lifeless body. He wanted to hit the ground, the walls, he wanted to let the world know how much it truly hurt, but whenever he opened his eyes, he just wanted to throw up, to see his friend so still, was sickening. He knew that there were Recloaks who were relying on him, and some who were watching him right now, but he didn’t care about his image, not now, he lost one of the most important people to him, how could he ever save the rest of them? Folding her green cloak under Abeke’s head, Shane brought his hands away from her, they came back red. His inhuman, clawed, and scaled hands weren’t tan with specs of gold and green, but red, blood-red. This was what he was, a killer, The Devourer, he led everyone around him to death. He heard a few grunts from one of the walls as Rollan broke free of his captors and came to sit next to him, the younger boy looked distraught at the sight of Abeke’s body. He didn’t talk, and Shane was grateful, he only laid a reassuring hand on Shane’s shoulder. 

#hope yall liked it #i was pretty confused how to stuff this boi into here cause Tumblr kept saying errors #Maybe gonna write more fics #not sure #well see #writing #fanfic #spirit animals books #spirit animals series #spirit animals au #abeke #shane #stead #worthy #redcloaks #greencloaks

[gonzo-rella]

The Benevolent Girlfriend | Kim Pine (ft. Wallace Wells)

MASTERLIST | AO3 | KO-FI

Relationship(s): Kim Pine x sick!gn!reader (romantic), Wallace Wells x sick!gn!reader (implied romantic)

Summary: Your roommate Wallace is repulsed by your cold, so he gets your girlfriend Kim to come over and take care of you.

Warnings: You're gross and sick, sorry. (Let me know if I need to add any)

Word count: 0.8k

(A/N: I finally rewatched Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, because I wanted to watch it before I watch the anime (haven't seen it yet, but once I have I'll make a post and add it to my fandom list), and damn I'm in love with Kim. I've been enjoying writing these sick fics whilst I recover from the common cold, so I figured I'd try writing something about Kim, and I was motivated to write something that wasn't just headcanons, which I've already done with the Yellowjackets ladies, Abed and Annie from Community and Charlie, Todd and Neil from Dead Poets Society. This is my first Scott Pilgrim fic, so hopefully it's alright! I tried to capture the spirit and tone of the movie and characters. I'd like to write more for both Kim and Wallace specifically. Maybe I'm delirious from being sick but I'd love to write a fic where the reader is the S/O of both Kim and Wallace to indulge myself because I'm in love with them both.)

A mattress on the floor in a very cold country surely couldn’t have been the best place to recover from a cold- an idiot could tell you that. Wallace had very kindly made you soup and brought you countless glasses of water, but he had hauled his chair as far away from you and the bed as he could manage in the small apartment because, to quote him, you were ‘repulsive and contagious, no offence’. He had been very gracious in letting you pick out what daytime TV crap you wanted to watch.

It reached the late afternoon when there was a knock at the door, and, with a huff, Wallace got up to get it, leaving you to stare absently at the TV through the mist of your mild headache and clogged ears. Your neck was beginning to ache from craning it to look up at the screen.

“Kimberly. You’re here. What took you so long?”

“Nice to see you too, Wallace. Are they awake?”

Wallace cast a glance in your direction and tilted his head; he then looked back at Kim.

“Well, the lights are on, but it doesn’t look like anybody’s home.”

He punctuated the sentence with a shrug.

“Kim?” you said finally, voice hoarse and nasal from your sore throat and blocked nose respectively. 

Kim peered at you over Wallace's shoulder then barged past him. She stood at the foot of your ‘bed’.

“What are you doing here?” you mumbled. “You didn’t have to come.”

“Wallace texted me that you’re sick.”

Wallace left the door ajar, prompting you to wrap your blanket tighter around you. He reached over to grab his coat and slid his arms into it, then stood beside Kim.

“I’m going out with Other Scott, and I thought it’d be cruel to leave you alone, so I told your very benevolent girlfriend-” Kim rolled her eyes as Wallace indicated to her with a nod. “That you were sick and that she might wanna come over and take care of you in your equally benevolent roommate’s stead.”

“Okay. Thanks, Wa-”

You were interrupted by a sneeze. It was so sudden that you made the split-second decision to cover it with your hands. When you peeled it away, droplets of snot coated your palms.

You groaned.

Wallace scrunched up his nose.

“That’s disgusting,” Kim commented monotonously. 

“I’m sorry,” you muttered. “I’ve been told.”

“And, with that,” Wallace said, stepping over to the door and swinging it open. “I’ll leave you kids to it. Good luck, Kim. And, I hope you feel better soon, dear.”

“Thanks, Wallace,” you mumbled.

“Fuck off, Wallace,” Kim said dryly, in unison with you.

He waved at you both then closed the door. There was a moment of silence in which you and Kim just stared at one another. Your snot-covered hands were still held out in front of you.

“So, you’re sick, huh?”

“Yep.”

“Are you going to clean that up?”

You stared at her blankly, before realising what she meant.

“Oh, yeah. Sorry.”

You went to reach for your box of tissues before you realised that they were on the kitchen counter after Wallace had used a few to shield his hands from direct contact with your glass of water. Kim’s gaze followed yours, but her attention returned to you when she noticed that you were readying yourself to get up.

“One sec. I’ll get them for you.”

You relaxed as Kim made the very short journey to the kitchen counter and knelt down to put the box next to you. She yanked a few tissues from the box before placing them in your hands, careful not to touch your snot.

“Thanks, Kim.”

“No problem.”

She stayed kneeling down beside you, watching as you cleared up your hands. There was a look of contemplation on her face.

“You need anything else?”

You glanced up at her and smiled.

“No, thanks.”

“Alright.”

She climbed over you and took a seat beside you- shoulder-to-shoulder- on the mattress. You looked at her incredulously.

“Are you sure you wanna get so close? Wallace hasn’t come near me all day.”

She folded her arms.

“I don’t care.”

“But, I’m disgusting.”

Kim smirked so faintly that anyone who didn’t know her wouldn’t have registered that it was there.

“I wouldn’t be your ‘benevolent girlfriend’ if that bothered me.”

You chuckled and rested your head on her shoulder, and Kim rested her head on yours.

“Holy shit, you’re hot,” she stated.

“Thanks.”

“I meant you have an alarming fever.”

“Oh. Right.”

There was a pause, and Kim huffed.

“Fine. You’re the other kind of hot, too.”

“Thanks, Kim, that’s very-”

You broke into a series of coughs and doubled over. You covered your mouth with the inside of your elbow. Kim rubbed your back soothingly. Once again, the faintest of smiles tugged at her lips.

“Sorry,” you groaned. “That wasn't very hot.”

“Maybe not,” she said. She rested her hand on your shoulder and pulled you closer, once again resting her head on yours. “But, I love you anyway.”

#scott pilgrim #scott pilgram vs the world #kim pine #wallace wells #kim pine x reader #wallace wells x reader #x reader #x gn!reader #x gn reader #x gender neutral!reader #x gender neutral reader #ficlet

[phoenix-king-ozai]

Honestly if Zhao actually killed Zuko I don't think it'd go well even if it worked because I don't think Ozai would appreciate this regardless of which version we're talking about.

Like come on, if Ozai wanted Zuko dead, he'd have fried him during the Agni Ki and I most certainly don't think he'd appreciate Zhao deciding his kid's fate in his stead.

Also if Ozai found out Zhao did it, he's getting turned into a burnt crisp because ignoring how bad it's look to allow Zuko's death to slide, Live Action Ozai seemed impressed Zuko even found Aang and didn't give up on him despite him being disappointed so him being killed would just result in a fiery death.

Iroh stated himself that Fire Lord Ozai would be displeased…probably furious over Zuko’s assassination by pirates when talking to Zhao in the animation. Iroh knows Ozai better than anyone else alive than maybe his wife Ursa and daughter Azula!

Iroh in the Live Action claimed that Ozai committed the assassination of Zuko when he talked to Zhao. However, it is extremely likely that Iroh was creating a false narrative to delude and misdirect Zhao from being aware that Zhao was the true culprit of the treasonous crime on his nephew. Iroh even suspects that Azula was helping Zhao get his promotion. Iroh was even willing to talk to Ozai regarding sending his Royal Procession Imperial Guards after Zuko. Iroh also should know that Ozai still cares deeply about his son and probably wouldn't assassinate him without just cause or reason. Even strategically Ozai would be extremely furious by having a member of his personal military assassinate his own son for his own political rise and gain. How dare a commoner and soldier kill his own flesh and blood firstborn son; Crown Prince of the Fire Nation even during exile. Blood of Agni, The Almighty Sun Spirit! The Fire Sages as well as the rest of the Fire Nation nobility would see that as an unforgivable slight against the Royal Family and Ozai would be seen as weak and foolish not to respond. Just like Tywin Lannister when his son Tyrion was kidnapped at the Vale in Game of Thrones. Tywin immediately sought out violent retribution against House Tully of the Riverlands because Catelyn Stark and Lysa Arryn were the daughters of Foster Tully of Riverun and Lord Paramount of the Riverlands. Zuko’s death by the plot of Admiral Zhao would be answered with Fire and Blood!

#atla #iroh #ozai #zuko #zhao #avatar the last airbender #fire nation royal family #fire family #avatar #father and son relationship #father and son #dad & son

[randomwriteronline]

Hello! This is my main blog! (I'm legend-as-old-as-time.)

So, I've got a favorite. But the other two AUs also fascinate me. I'd love to know what the story is for your G3 of Bionicle? What's the atmosphere like?

BLASTS MY THOUGHTS DIRECTLY INTO YOUR BRAIN TO EXPLAIN THEM FASTER AND POSSIBLY BETTER THAN THROUGH WORDS

as mentioned i have a post in drafts thats meant to be like. a vague skeleton of thoughts and ideas and shit that ive talked about to and with @cantankerouscanuck, mainly introducing the various character groups n the environment slightly, but it does NOT touch on the story much (more the backstory and again only vaguely) so GREAT QUESTION LET ME TELL YOU

thinking of like uhhhh diving this in like. cartoon seasons but old school ones yknow, so LONG ones bc oh boy ADVENTURES

Season 1 starts with that Classic Bionicle Beginning of the toa mata crashlanding on the archipelago of Okoto each on a different island not knowing what the Fuck to do and being welcomed in the villages. like in g2 theyre first tasked with finding some golden relics but instead of being accompanied by the protectors/village elders they go with the local Weird Kids (the chronicler's company) who were the first people they actually met; getting the things lets them reach the island of the mask makers and meet Ekimu (and takua!!!! his apprentice!!!!!!!) and theyre like "so what do we do with these btw" and ekimu looks at the pieces and goes. FUCK

TURNS OUT THOSE RELICS WERE SUPPOSED TO BE GOLDEN MASKS BUT SOME MF JUST BROKE THEM INTO PIECES and wouldnt you fucking believe it it was the Children Of Makuta, the spirit of death and animals and darkness, who live each on one of the islands except spiriah the baby of the family who roams around bothering literally everybody and ofc dont want the toa to reawaken the Great Spirit whom their parent put to sleep, AND SO BEGINS THE FETCH QUEST OF THE OTHER FIVE PIECES OF EACH MASK WHILE FIGHTING OFF THESE FREAKS OF NATURE WHO ARE TRYING TO EAT THEM AND BUILDING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THEMSELVES & EKIMU & TAKUA N HIS POSSE & THE VILLAGERS AND SLOWLY BECOMING A PROPER TEAM N FAMILY which is why they need to be many episodes. i will fucking recreate almost verbatim the tale of the mask kopaka-pohatu story because its already perfect and you will Fucking See It if i have to Kill For It

closes off with a cliffhanger after getting all the masks: during an ambush by Mutran Gali gets dragged off into the sea between the islands to get crushed by the water pressure but whats this??, the pressure suddenly lifts enough to let her breathe as she loses consciousness while strange silhouettes drive off the child of Makuta and catch her in his stead, sinking deeper...

S2 starts off by quickly catching up to the rest of the toa who are SHITTING THEIR FUCKING SELVES ABOUT THEIR WATER-BREATHING SISTER APPARENTLY DROWNING BEFORE THEM

tahu and pohatu decide to look for her in a ball of tempered glass while kopaka, onua and lewa hurry back to ekimu to tell him what happened. back to gali, she awakens to a bunch of... toa???? who know her and her brothers???? personally, apparently????? three of them are like super mad at them for leaving them during their time of need??????? what the FUCK are you people talking about. who are u. how are you breathing under water. why is tHERE A WHOLE FUCKING CITY UNDER THE WATER-

ENTER: THE TOA MAHRI. as it slowly turns out inbetween rounds of beating the shit out of sapient polyamorous seafood that keeps trying to nibble the villagers and the air bubble domes for their crops, they were TRAINED by the mata a few hundreds years ago and were fighting off the cataclysm that broke the continent of okoto into islands and sunk the city of Iniri into the sea together with them before they just Fucking Left, Apparently - which ofc they didnt do for no reason but they essentially got shoved back into the stars against their will. this rightfully rattles the shit out of the mata because What Do You Mean We Have Been Here Before. What Do You Mean You Had Records Of Us Being Here Even Earlier Than That. How Many Times Have We Done This. How Many Times Have We Discovered Kinship And Affection And Had That Stripped Away From Us. I Think I'm Going To Throw Up

while theyre handling THAT they also fill in the mahri on whats been going on and the mahri go oh shit, the great spirit is in a coma and the children of makuta are against you??? bro those guys are super powerful theyve got Crabs, you cant fight em alone. but also if we try to leave the sea the water pressure Will Fucking Destroy Us, so they figure out a way to get out of there and back up and jaller is super anxious bc his mom might be there but like... based on what they said... she might be evil... he doesnt wanna fight her... shes the only family he still has...

S3 AND WE GO BACK TO SEE WHAT KOPAKA ONUA AND LEWA ARE DOING, and theyre off searching the more ruined parts of the city of the mask makers on takua's suggestion - these are the parts of the city that werent very lucky during the cataclysm and are now sacred ground prowled by Krika, daughter of Makuta

at last they find a strange underground chamber with six breathing statues, which, of course, freaky; they manage to thaw one and out tumbles a toa (?) who immediately recognizes onua and starts talking to him excitedly (??) saying that its so good to see him in person for the first time (???) and asking him about the continent (????) and being genuinely distraught that they dont know who he is. same reactions from the other five toa that also get thawed out. ok something is Clearly Amiss pls explain

its time for LOMN...... 2!!!!!! where we learn from vakama abt how Lhikan, who previously filled in ekimu's position, finds out theres Some Shit going down with the great spirit and makuta and tries to call the mata, who however get stuck due to the aformentioned Some Shit. as such she picks out six lads in the city of the mask makers and bestows masks upon them to make them become toa, but on their way to handle the current problem they get werebeast'd and Krika goes oh? free kids? free kids for me? and Lhikan goes NO but its too late. they already have joint custody of the metru. and might be blossoming a lesbian romance but unfortunately due to lhikan being lhikan i have to kill her to protect vakama, leaving krika with him AND his little brother jaller who will inherit lhikan's mask. the metru figure out the way to get the mata in this case is to attempt to contact them themselves, which they manage to do by entering a trance that however slowly turns them into statues: in this trance they are able to speak and train the mata, who also promise to free them once the whole situation is handled

CONSIDERING THE CATACLYSM HAPPENED AND THEY GOT SHOT BACK IN THE SKY AND GOT AMNESIA YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THAT PROMISE KIND OF WENT TO SHIT

anyways thats A Lot as you can imagine and the time to process it is Not Much bc the other three mata and the mahri are here and (after a round of MASSIVE HUGS for the metru and mahri reuniting and also the metru and Krika) theyve got a plan to beat the shit out of makuta

problem: the children of makuta have realized this is happening and decided to break out The Crabs to beat the shit out of THEM

mahri, metru and krika (and the chronicler's company much to everybody else's heart attacks) hold them off while the mata manage to fight against makuta after being briefly overwhelmed, uniting their powers to uh. Kill Him. which! IS NOT ACTUALLY GOOD. YOU KNOW. BALANCE AND ALL THAT. makuta is saved in the end by The Great Fucking Spirit who wakes up just in time to stop the mata before they murder his brother

the mata awaken before the Great Spirit and after a moment of "where are we? who are you? why didn't you let us kill makuta?" and getting their answers, they realize OH FUCK ARE YOU GOING TO PUT US IN THE STARS AGAIN? AND GIVE US AMNESIA? FUCK YOU YOURE NOT TAKING OUR FRIENDS AND SIBLINGS FROM US

Great Spirit, lovingly: ok :)

and tahu wakes up to ekimu working at the forge and none of his siblings around and he Shits His Pants, but ekimu quickly reassures him that everythings good and its been like, maybe a day or two since they managed to reawaken the Great Spirit. his siblings woke up before him and are probably down at the beach, and Makuta got driven off, all of his children following suit to take care of him, krika included. the mahri and the metru are catching up on the mata's tales from the chronicler's company. things are fine. they wont be like this forever, ekimu tells tahu, but they dont have to live in fear every second of their lives. rest a while. go see your siblings.

and it ends with the mata having a very sweet nap pile on the beach because they FUCKING deserve it after TWO whole generations ending with them not getting to just fucking sleep after EVERYTHING THEY GO THROUGH EVERY TIME

as you can see i have. Enormous Holes in this and theres things i havent explained and stuff (like how i unfortunately had to sacrifice hewkii x macku due to a Very Big age difference but they are still a power pair, just in this case its like older cousin acting as a mentor to the worlds most bloodthirsty weird little girl) but yes. have this. for now. please keep asking questions i love you

#bionicle #random talks #toa mata #toa mahri #toa metru #idk what to tag this as just TAKE IT

[newtabfics]

Returned: Rauru x Fem!Reader NSFT Series. Part 1

Summary: Rauru is somehow revived in modern Hyrule and his instincts have gone insane as he realizes he's lost his mate.

Triggers for mild dubcon elements as well as just nsft stuff.

He had gripped his wife’s hand. If he had a heart still, he knew it’d be hammering. His mate before him always left him feeling content. Burying her felt like burying his own heart. He pulled her close as he felt the pull of the afterlife, knowing he was content being with her again before cold sucked him down.

With a shout, he lurched upward, blinking up at the thundering sky. His body trembled as he looked around, hoping to see her. When he found nothing but trees surrounding him, he let out an animalistic cry of anguish that sent the birds from their trees.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆　　 ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

“Please do be careful,” Zelda sighed as Y/N mounted her horse.

“Z, you have to relax. I know what I’m doing. Besides, it’s probably an Octorok. Master Link taught me enough to know what I’m doing when it comes to those suckers,” she said proudly.

Link snorted behind Zelda, looking away sheepishly at her look before she sighed and nodded. “Alright. Just don’t get over your head.”

“I won’t. I’ll retreat and report to any security members if it comes to it,” She promised before looking to Link. “Master, you should consider telling your woman to stop fretting,” She joked, earning a blush from both of them as she goaded her horse into a gallop. She laughed and waved back at them as Hateno Village disappeared behind her.

The journey through Hyrule to the Great Plateau wasn’t necessarily an arduous one. In fact, she counted herself lucky to not run into any storms in the three-day ride.

Her mission was to investigate the strange animal supposedly seen at the once-honored Temple of Time. Though it’d fallen into ruin after the Calamity, it was regarded as sacred ground. Not many people even dared to near the Great Plateau, mostly out of superstition. 

The Outskirt Stable reported a strange creature seen in the shadows of the Great Plateau. Zelda immediately wanted to investigate but everyone insisted she not as only a few short months had passed since her return. She only relented when Y/N offered to go in her stead.

She’d trained under Link, like many other alleged knights of Hyrule. Though the term fit, it hadn’t felt the same. Y/N trained under him as one of the many people who admired him.

As she trotted up to the Outskirt Stable, she was greeted by the many stable hands, smiling at the sound of the Stable Trotters–er, Stable Heroes, as they liked to go by now, playing a lovely show on the nearby stage.

“What brings you out here?” A man asked her as she entered the stable to register herself at the inn.

“Investigation. I’m sure you might’ve heard something about the weird animal out here,” She confessed, looking to him. Thanks to Link’s training, it didn’t take long for her to realize this guy was all talk. Most of his gear hardly looked used.

“Oh yeah. I’ve been avoiding the Plateua walls actually,” He confessed. “Apparently people have been avoiding it, thinking it’s a cursed spirit. With the Demon King’s defeat, people are saying something bigger might be coming.”

“Somehow I doubt that,” She chuckled, shrugging. “I mean, if what you say is coming does, then why did they hide? I mean, given they’re theoretically bigger than the Demon King, wouldn’t they have come about regardless of the Upheaval because they’re so much stronger.”

He smirked, nodding. “You got a good point. Good head on your shoulders.”

“It can do so much more,” She added, winking playfully.

She happily accepted following him out to a small camp away from the inn. There, he’d buried himself in her, her nails digging into his back as she met his thrusts.

Y/N grunted and moaned, biting her lip as he gripped her hips. His moans reverberated in her ears as he somehow managed to miss every sweet spot inside her, ensuring she hadn’t been fully satiated.

Maybe she could blame his lack of an actual length which she’d promised. Perhaps a few centimeters didn’t matter to anyone else that cared about him, but she didn’t so there was that. Thankfully, she did manage to get off enough to help her sleep that night.

Y/N sighed happily as her horse trotted up to the wall. She dismounted, patting her side as she pulled out an apple and dropped it for the horse. With a kick in her step, she began to scale up the hill into the plateau.

Looming overhead, she could see the sky islands. They never left after the Demon King’s defeat, which felt almost like a taunt to adventurers like her. She wondered if she could ever see Hyrule from above the clouds.

The sun began to set as she neared the Forest of Spirits, she stretched and scanned her surroundings. She blinked at the distant sound of bell chimes and looked up to the sky islands. She smiled as she made camp, thinking only of her investigation as she eyed the trees.

｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆　　 ｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆

The embers died out as she lay in her tent, unaware of the being lurking closer to her. Drawn in by her scent, he moved closer to her.

His mate. His mate was nearby. He found her. He’d found his mate.

His inner beast was practically screaming with excitement as he crawled into the tent. He couldn’t stop as he crawled over her, kissing her exposed neck and rutting against her desperately. He snarled as he caught the scent of someone else on her. Someone had tried to make a claim on her and clearly failed.

She stirred at the contact before ripping away from him and kicking him away.

“Mate,” He rasped, grabbing at her leg. She kicked against him, forcing him back and out of the tent as she crawled out. As she made to escape the tent, he was on her again, burying his face into her neck and taking in her scent.

Y/N shuddered as his hands grabbed at her hips and shoved him away before running. The trees blurred past her as the chase began, trying to understand what he was. He was clearly intelligent, given he could speak Hylian, but it came garbled, almost foreign.

As she hid deep in the Forest of Spirits, her mind wandered to the way he’d rutted against her. She felt him through the clothing. She could barely make out his features, but he sure as hell wasn’t Hylian nor Zora.

When his hands found her, he pinned her to the nearby tree, eyes glazed from desperation as he loomed over her. It was then she finally took his clothing in and realized this man was Zonai.

Part Two

#rauru x fem!reader #rauru totk fic #rauru totk smut #part 1 #returned series #part 1 of 5

[saintsilmarillion]

Our Antlers Tangled Interlude 4

Rules & Revelry for @feast-of-horns

The residents of Utumno want to host their own Feast of Horns ... the famine of ... hair?

Follow the full fic on AO3

Rating E

Chapt Warnings: spiders, kidnapping

Utumno echoes with unease. Melkor stands from his obsidian throne and reaches his senses beyond his hall, down into the vast and peerless tunnels. None labour at extending the ever growing maze of caverns. Neither do they slumber. The strangeness persists.

He moves through the empty chamber and into one of the passageways that lead deeper into the bowels of the fortress.

All is dim, brilliant with subtle colour, pleasant to his Void-touched eyes. It is as it should be. Still, his spirit prickles with foreboding.

A wraith of wolfish nature runs suddenly past his legs, fear palpable in the air around them.

Melkor is unused to fear that does not originate with him. He flings out a commanding thought to Gothmog, but his Lieutenant does not answer his summons. All his subjects are cloaked in darkness, their minds shuttered. The threat is not apparent.

Something has occurred without his notice. He has been distracted, withdrawn in his thoughts of late. He has allowed his domain to govern itself. It is not a fit state for a king to linger in. This melancholy must be cast off.

Melkor walks through a hall of shallow water, hardly noticing the chill of it as he seeks out any servant of his. Drops fall from the stalactites, sending a slow song ringing through the chamber. He can sense living creatures all around, but they have hidden the detail of their positions and their anxiety.

There is a faint shuffling in the depths of the cavern ceiling, animal in nature. He turns his penetrating gaze on it and makes out a familiar shape. At his call, she descends upon him.

Ungoliant lands lightly on his shoulder, crawling down his arm for a better vantage point.

‘What stirs Utumno?’ He asks her.

‘We are playing our own Feast of Horns.’ She croons, beady eyes reflecting his own face back at him.

It is not all the answer he expected. Melkor wonders how exactly that appeals to his subjects, since every day in Utumno is given to excess and base desires. Unlike Almaren’s productive drive.

Ungoliant chuckles at his raised brows.

‘It is similar to what I understand the Ainur devised.’ Ungoliant explains, though she is no umaia and has never run the Feast of Horns.

As she clarifies the game, Melkor sees the connection. Everyone has a collar and horn, no binary divide in Utumno, if they collar someone, that being must grant what they ask. Here the similarities end.

The horns of this game are not mere decoration but weapons of defence. If the target of a collar manages to wound the chaser they gain the ask instead. But a horn cannot be used to instigate a fight, the first approach has to be with a collar.

An additional condition is that there is only one collar and thrall to a creature until the boon is granted.

‘That rule was imposed after Thuringwethil made her thralls collar others for her and everyone simply ended up under her control.’ Ungoliant complains, sounding very fond of the vampire and not all that concerned by her minor dictatorship.

Melkor, notes his chief adversary.

He finds it ironic that his Feast of Horns seems to have more rules than the original. Manwë is so fond of rules and order. But here Melkor’s beasts of chaos have outdone him.

‘Whoever I catch, I eat.’ Ungoliant claims proudly.

A visceral shudder passes through the spirits around them.

Melkor thinks of how great her appetite is known to be. The imposition of rules begins to make more sense to him.

‘Well, my Lord, would you care to join our Hunt?’

Melkor considers. The thought of blood-letting does cheer him. It may be exactly what he needs to reinvigorate himself and find momentum. It would also be pleasant to Hunt without the threat of other valar to ruin the fun.

He senses his hidden creatures eyeing him from their sheltered havens. Water drips steadily, whispers just audible beneath it.

‘I wonder if any will attempt to challenge and trap their king.’ He speaks loudly, his voice echoing through the cavernous space.

Several voices jeer and taunt him. The mood leans more towards excitement. Shadows split apart chaotically and phantoms careen in and out of the chamber.

Ungoliant lets out a shrill peel of laughter and sends it echoing after them.

‘It seems there are more than enough fools among our number.’ She sprints down Melkor’s leg and hops up onto a large boulder. Shadows shift away from her many-eyed stare.

‘I have no patience for fools.’ Melkor replies. But there is one he knows will be able to match him and provide ample entertainment. ‘But I will join the Hunt, as shall our guest.’

‘Careful none seek to steal your pretty little prize from you.’ She chitters, gnashing her mandibles at him.

‘I should like to see them try.’ Melkor warns.

Ungoliant lets out a dark chuckle and scurries away after a fleeing wraith.

‘Do not devour my forces entirely, Ungoliant.’ He calls.

‘I make no promises, my Lord.’

He watches the shadows seethe to life in her wake, lesser creatures emerging. They eye him nervously, those with the form to do so bobbing quick bows and curtsies.

Melkor strides past them. He crosses the shallow water, wades through sludge and then snow as the temperature drops with his descent into Utumno. At last he walks over a river of ice towards two imposing doors of white stone.

Jubilant, Melkor throws them both open. His guest does not stir from the nest of heaped furs at the centre of the chamber.

‘Come, my precious,’ Melkor coaxes, ‘Let us play a game.’

At that, Mairon’s head snaps up, his entire body alight with rage.

#shhhhhh you don't see the persephone parallels so they can't hurt you shhhh #ugoliant #melkor #angbang #feast of horns #our antlers tangled #short #kinda #my writing #these interludes aren't really interludes anymore lol they're just plot now #silm fanfic

[son1c]

Hi! Hope you're doing okay. I love your Sol Sonic AU! Question:

1. How similar and different is Sol Sonic compared to Canon Sonic and Canon Blaze? Like, in habits, attitude, etc. Obviously he has his need for freedom, but how does he present himself to others? Does his royal upbringing have an impact on his conduct?

2. His fighting style. You made his outfit pants similar to the firefighters in the anime Fire Force. How does he fight, in a a way that differs from his Canon counterpart and Canon Blaze? Does he breakables a lot? Does he ever learned swordsmanship, because imagine Sonic wielding a sword made of fire.

3. Character conclusion. Sonic's need for freedom vs his duty to his kingdom. Does he pass the ruling to someone else at the end, or does he forsake his desire for freedom completely after his mission? Or does he find a compromise between the two?

4. You said that Sonic's sens of duty towards his kingdom is stronger than his desire to be free. What got him to finally act on that desire? What villain, or threat, motivated him enough to strike out without contacting anyone else for help to deal with the threat in his stead?

These are all I have for now. Take your time in answering them. Love your artstyle and your Sonic Prime AU of Shadows. Drink and eat regularly!

strap in. this response got REALLY long

1

sol sonic isn't a fusion between sonic and blaze's personalities! his personality is the same as it's always been, it's just now, he's been forced into a situation that's not suited for him. his royal status challenges his free spirit and makes it difficult for him to truly live the way he wants to. it's hard on him-- he represses a lot, and finds himself oftentimes feeling dissatisfied with his life.

as for how he presents himself to others… sonic, canonically, creates a mask for himself, a very specific image that he wants other people to see. it's the same with sol sonic. except now, there's an extra layer of "everyone is counting on me AND it's my job". so the pressure is up even more. he can't show his sadness or dissatisfaction, he can't let people know when he's frustrated, because he has to keep a level head and make the best decisions he can for everyone.

most people view him as incredibly intimidating, but that's just because he's got an iron grip on his emotions. he can't cry. not because of sega… but because he needs to be the person people can rely on to keep everything together, even when anyone else would be falling apart.

he doesn't have much fondness for other royals. he's friendly enough, and plenty cordial, but the only one he has any real connection with is the neighboring kingdom's princess, elise. they bond over being put in a position they didn't ask for. and he finds some comfort in knowing he's not alone in feeling the weight of a kingdom on his shoulders (although, he doesn't tell her that obviously).

as for his "royal upbringing"… i think he thinks it's silly. he's not one to "follow expectations" if he finds them boring and pedantic. he's very casual when it comes to the way he interacts with all that high society shit. but he knows-- it's just another part of the mask. and he should at least try to keep up appearances. so he'll entertain it. but he never takes it very seriously.

2

his fighting style isn't much like blaze's… that type of flashy wizard type shit. it's not really his style. i'd imagine he uses his fire powers in a much more melee type style. fire kicks/punches etc. i also think it'd be fun if he kind of like, incorporated break dancing into his fighting style? like his moves are very reminiscent of a street dancer-- cuz that's his REAL personality. the freedom he feels when he can let loose with his flames reflected perfectly in the style…

also, i'm gonna say hard yes on him using a fire sword. that's literally the coolest concept ever and i was already thinking about drawing something like that at some point so yeah. it goes hand in hand with his more hands on combat style too, since the "sword" is really just an extension of himself (as opposed to something that can be sent flying like a fireball).

3

"does he pass the ruling to someone else at the end"… sonic would never shirk responsibility to someone else just because he didn't want to do it. he doesn't want to-- but he will. "it's not about chivalry for me, i just gotta do what i've gotta do." he takes care of people, he protects them-- how could he simply stop doing that? just because it's difficult for him? absolutely not.

but he doesn't forsake his desire for freedom either. after his quest to save the world, he realizes he can kinda have a hannah montana moment. the best of both worlds. he can go out and interact with the world WITHOUT abandoning anyone. in fact, he can find new ways to help people through venturing out. he's still tethered to his duty, but he can stretch his legs. if only just a little bit.

4

so... the question has to do with the overall plot of this au. so i'll explain that now: basically, what if iblis is sealed in the sol dimension but like, not perfectly? there's cracks. fire comes through... and iblis minions rise up, tormenting civilians and endangering property and etc. so sonic takes it upon himself to manage that, even though he's not supposed to leave the castle. then one day, the sol emeralds mysteriously go missing, and silver appears. not a good sign. sonic takes the opportunity to get the hell out, reasoning that it won't take /too/ long to save the world.

canonically, blaze sealed iblis away and saved the future. but what if the god was able to escape death? what if it fled to an alternate timeline... where things are just a little bit different?

so, the person who stole the sol emeralds was actually mephiles. not au mephiles. THE mephiles. from canon. and he's got a horrible grudge against sonic... mephiles' plan is to lure sonic away from the castle so he can trick the prince into unsealing iblis. by a twist of fate, this time it's sonic, who, with the power of the sol emeralds, is the only person capable of such a feat.

#angstandhappiness #sol sonic #thanks for the questions wow <3 #text heavy

[blam-marie]

Married to the Evil Wizard King - 01

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Read all currently published chapters (a whole 40 of them so far!) here on Tapas

When Autumn was a little girl, she and her sisters used to climb into their mother’s bed at sunset and beg her for stories. The queen wasn’t a great storyteller, and she didn’t have the patience to learn many different tales. But there was one that she knew by heart, and it was the story of why their land was cursed.

Once upon a time, there was a great king who undertook a perilous journey across the mountains to find a new land for his people, who had been chased from their home by war. He discovered the vast prairies of Esternia, and split the land into four kingdoms, one for each of his sons. But his court wizard was an evil, twisted man, who also wanted a kingdom for his own.

There are many versions of this story, which ascribe many different sins, desires, or dark deeds to the wizard. But what they all agree on is that one night, in the height of summer, the Evil Wizard slit his king’s throat and used his blood in a dark ritual meant to bind the land of Esternia to his will.

The four sons brought their armies together to avenge their father, and managed to drive the wizard back to a dark forest at the foot of the mountains. There, it is said that he lured them into an ambush. The wizard killed each of the four sons, and their bones he ground into dust, and this dust he used to salt the limits of the forest. He claimed that long, dark stretch of land as his kingdom, and declared that no living being could cross into the woods without his curse befalling them.

Since that day, a thousand years ago, the Evil Wizard King has haunted the borders of Esternia, cutting their people off from the mountains and the lands beyond. For a thousand years, the four kingdoms have had to walk the tightrope between placating him and suffering his wrath. Sometimes, evil spirits pour out of his lands, slipping out from between the trees and slaughtering everything in their path. Other times, droughts befall the kingdoms for months — or even years. In his cruelty, the wizard banishes all clouds from the sky and holds back the rain, so that the sun burns their harvest down in the fields.

Every few decades, the monarchs of the four kingdoms decide to fight back; they raise their armies and march upon the forest, intent on ridding the land of the wizard king once and for all. They always fail. The knights and soldiers make their ways into the trees, and do not come back. The years immediately afterwards are always dark ones. The spirits come in greater numbers; the earth shakes under their feet.

Inevitably, this is then followed by another bout of placating. The remaining royal families bow and scrape; they send tribute to the forest in a bid for forgiveness. Vast riches in elaborately carved coffers, the finest fruits of their orchards, and richly embroidered textiles get piled up on chariots and brought to the very edge of the trees for a tense hand-off.

The king, himself, never appears. Twisted, dark creatures emerge from the forest in his stead. These strike fear in all who see them, for they seem to be neither men nor beasts, but something in between. They wear dark clay masks to cover their faces but their horns, claws and sometimes even hooves mark them for the unnatural things they are. No one knows how these servants of the king come to be, whether he creates them of whole cloth or grows them out of animals — or worse, whether they were once people and this is what his curse does to those who breach his forest. No one has ever dared ask. In any case, these servants seldom talk. They accept the tributes wordlessly then dissapear back into the woods, never to be seen again.

Eventually, the wrath of the king stops coming down on the prairies so heavily, and life goes on.

But there is one type of tributes that always get a reaction from the creatures, and seem to warrant the attention of the Dark King himself: brides.

Every few years, one of the kingdoms will try their hand at finding the Evil Wizard King a wife. They will put forward a princess — or a duchess, or any number of pretty well bred young maiden — and offer the Dark King some agreement regarding alliances or succession, in the vain hopes that he will act like a proper king, for once, and engage in a spot of diplomacy. The answer is always the same: the poor young thing is invited to his castle for ‘consideration’. If she is still — well, the word he uses is ‘eligible’, but everyone knows it means ‘alive’ — if she is still eligible in two months’ time, then the Wizard King will agree to a wedding.

No maiden has yet reached the two-month mark. None of these offers are ever sincere, in any case. The girls are merely another tribute to be given away as a necessary sacrifice to appease a capricious neighbour. The girls chosen are usually sick and already dying, or they volunteer for reasons no one dares to ask about. It has been a long time since a girl went unwilling to the forest, not that this makes the whole thing any less of a tragedy. Merely a more palatable one.

No one knows what, exactly, the Evil Wizard King does with the princesses and maidens and other assorted young girls that are sent up to his castle. Perhaps he does marry them. Or he uses them in dark magic rituals­. Or he eats them. But there is one thing that everyone knows for certain: things calm down when a wife is sent to him, so surely he must be doing something with them.

When Autumn was fifteen years old, her father went to war.

When she was twenty-five, her mother decided that she was pretty enough — and expendable enough — to be sent as an offering to the Dark King.

#married to the evil wizard king #writing #writing is hard #stories on tapas #read on tapas #enemies to lovers #I know a lot of my stories have that tag and I swear I didn't do it on purpose

[saberwitch]

Hearthfire Steading

this is a collective story that I'm building around (currently) eight of my Norn ladies. The core premise revolves around Halennia Hearthfire, an older woman who basically begins to unofficially adopt random Norn orphans (Norphans?) and welcoming them into her steading.

Most of them are adults. Many of them don't realize they've been adopted, or that the thing they've been missing from their lives is a mother figure. They just somehow found themselves at Halennia's table, like a lost traveler seeking shelter. And they found that no matter what else was going on in their lives, that table was always set and welcoming.

Sometimes they stay. They help out with the cooking and cleaning and keeping the fires. They become a community, whether they know it or not. Some come and go, disappearing for months or even years, but they always come back, and there's always someone there to welcome them home.

I have a number of headcanons that will feature in these stories which in my opinion are not lorebreaking, but also are not actual lore, so be warned.

The main one is that Norn, because of their connection to the Spirits of the Wild, and their ability to shape shift into animal forms, AND their possible descent from the Kodan, often exhibit animalistic traits of their own. These can be, but aren't limited to, the following: horns, antlers, fangs, eyeshine (tapetum lucidum), claws, pointed or animal ears, fur/scales, various eye colours and pupil configurations, and even sometimes tails.

Also, despite their enjoyment of moots, boasting/bragging/brawling, community hunts, and just overall party atmosphere, Norn are generally solitary and socially distant people. The cultural concept of personal glory and making of oneself a legend is a "lone wolf" exercise, and if not for moots and other such activities, the Norn would likely end up a decentralized mass of individual nomadic tribes. (The Norn love of ale and mead comes from the "necessity" of its use as a social lubricant.)

And finally, Norn are very open and accepting of all genders and sexualities, since Nature itself is fluid, and the art of creating one's own legend by its very nature (ha) requires a high level of personal expression. This makes the Sons of Svanir doubly aberrant, as not only are they misogynists, but their idea of "gender roles" is actually anathemic to Norn culture.

I'm going to put up a list of all the Hearthfire Steading characters later with a little bit about each in case anyone is interested.

#gw2 #guild wars 2 #gw2 norn #gw2 rambles #hearthfire steading

[dragonkingabc123]

People I want to get to know better

Thank you so much for the tag @pocket-lin. I'll relish any chance to share music.

LAST SONG: Anyone who knows me knows I love music. So Imma give my last 5 instead.

Back to You - Illenium, All Time Low (This song is so good. I missed Illenium in my city and I heard All Time Low opened for them which is crazy because the month prior I saw All Time Low)

Crying in the Shower (Reimagined) - Letdown. (Sad AF, but worth the listen personally prefer this version to the original)

HELLO LØNELINESS - Ekøh, Lø Spirit (another sad one, but also makes the happy chemicals in my brain 🤷‍♂️)

Euclid - Sleep Token (if you haven't heard this masterpiece, please treat yourself)

Tangerine - Glass Animals (this was my favorite from the Dreamland album)

[Honorable mentions because they came on while typing this: The Black and White - The Band Camino, Salt - Sueco, Somebody - Memphis May Fire, ALLADAT - PLVTINUM]

Favorite Color: I've got three. Black, Lime Green, and Cerulean. I like them alone but love all three of them together so much.

Last Film/Show: I've been re-watching Jujutsu Kaisen but, something new I've been watching as it releases is Solo Leveling.

Sweet/Savory/Spicy: I love sweets. I do like savory too though especially when I overdo the sweet. Capsaicin is NOT my friend.

Relationship Status: Single/Pringle

Last thing I googled:

Current Obsession: Hm, probably Diablo 4. I be farmin.

Last Book: I actually dont know the last one I read, which is sad to me. In its stead I will give one of my favorite podcasts. Sayer by Adam Bash. Its really interesting and kinda horrific if you're not desensitized.

Looking Forward to: There is an eclipse on April 8th that I'm so hype for!!!! Its been a big thing on my bucket list to see totality again after the last one I saw. The day after there is a Charlotte Sands concert I'm thinking I wanna go see if I can make it back from the totality line in time.

I dont really know who to tag because my interactions with people on here are usually a bit limited. Dont feel pressure to do this but....

@isick198, @laughconfetti, @scornedmedea, @themustachewizard (Katelyn, you are required)

#i may have gone overboard listing songs lmao

[nailsofvecna]

A ghost is bound to the Material Plane by some piece of unfinished business - and the completion of this business releases the ghost from their undeath. Some unfortunate souls, however, are not able to achieve the rest they desire, sometimes for thousands of years. When a ghost loses hope of ever being freed from its eternity of loneliness, it degenerates into one of these 'lingering dwellers'. Pale and morose shades, they are barely perceptible to the living, touching the world only to inspire sadness and self-destruction.

A lingering dweller has been haunting its lair for a vast span of time, which results in a strong bond between the spirit and any nearby furniture. If a lingering dweller should meet a creature it deems hostile, its first move is often to animate the objects around it, sending them to fight in its stead. It will not be possible to defeat the ghost until all of its thralls are out of the way.

#stat block sunday #d&d 5e #homebrew #monster

[phonkscribes]

I wanted to request a more platonic Dbd imagine for either the Oni or the Knight, which ever you prefer, but a younger killer reader, someone like Spirit who was wronged in life. And dying due the reader’s survivor basically being the reason they died in the first place. So they hunt the survivor the most when ever they see them. Just a reader that has a lot of hatred for one person amongst the survivors

Youth filled with scorn.

What a particular case. Another instance in which the Entity felt pity upon a crushed, dying soul. That is not without its price. The weapon was placed in your hands, but the real murderer was on the other side. She whispered into your ear, told you that you could get your revenge as many times as you'd want. You couldn't believe it, but a darker part of you would. As you set out into the trials, you would seek them out, pushing the others out of your way to make sure that the one who put you here was taken care of.

It didn't matter if they escaped in their stead, it didn't matter if the Entity punished you. With their body ascending into the Fog, your thirst was clenched. Nothing else mattered...

Right?

THE ONI // KAZAN YAMAOKA

Another child? He thought, disappointment flooding his mind as he took you in.

You were beaten, bruises blotching across certain parts of your body like an intricate pattern, scars adorning your skin like stars. It was bad enough that one of his descendants had been sent here in a similar state, but what was your story? Why were you here, what had brought you to such ruin that a demonic god sought to rescue you from your fate? The first time he saw you, there had been tears in your eyes, but you didn't cry. He could feel the anger ebbing off you like the blood he collected. Kazan was curious, he had to know more now. The only problem was that you didn't talk much, and you preferred to strike out on your own.

He supposed it was a young person thing, but he wouldn't be giving up on you. The Oni would take his time to figure you out, to investigate by his own means. He watched you return from a trial once, the bubbling of the Entity echoing into the thicket as She admonished you for failing to feed her properly. You growled, bared your teeth as you pointed at the air accusingly.

"I don't care about anyone else, but them. You said I could- I could kill them as many times as I'd like! You said that I could avenge myself as many times as I want and I am", you bristled, held your ground like a cornered animal.

Naturally, the Entity didn't like you taking that tone with Her. Naturally, you were punished.

Kazan scowled, and looked away as the claws hooked themselves deep into your side: the toll of losing a trial. You'd heal, because She fixed Her toys at least when She was done playing with them. After you'd been punished, he appeared-- rather, he revealed himself. Your body laid curled on the ground once the Entity was gone. You breathed heavily, trying not to grunt as he looked over you. You flinched when he offered a hand, which in turn, caused him to pause. A moment passed, where you considered slapping the Oni's hand, but that strength you had in the beginning had began to fade.

You could use someone right now, more than ever to help steady yourself. Your hand is smaller in his, but it's firm, strong as it hauls you to your feet. You look up at your fellow killer, lip tight as it trembles. Perhaps no words needed to be said or mentioned, no thanks having to be traded for him to know and for you to know. He understands you, at least a little better than he had before. Kazan brings you into a hug, gently pushing your head into his shoulder. It's entirely suffocating.

You feel as if there's a block in your throat, preventing you from being able to breathe as the wind catches in a painful lump. Your arms are slow and weak to wrap around his torso, slowly snaking as you cling to him. The blood on your body drips upwards, the droplets that fall off your preserved corpse fades before it even stains or touches him. The two of you are cold, which is the only other unpleasant thing about the exchange. It makes you miss your dad.

And your mom.

And your life, and your school, and the dreams you had for yourself.

Your future had been robbed, the years you could've lived happily having been stolen. Your anger boils again, rising in your chest as you snarled, a roar leaving you as you allowed yourself to cry freely. Kazan pets your hair, a strange twinge ripping through him. It was the same as when he found out about what happened to his descendant. After that, you'd began to seek him out as opposed to the other killers. You told him about the survivor that got you killed, and about how he you stop at nothing until they were dead and gone. As much as he could understand, he'd tell you about how it was important to get rid of the other survivors too.

Kazan became your mentor, served as a guiding force to try and keep you within the Entity's good graces, less you wished to end up in a worse state. While you started to perform better while under his wing, your hatred for your murderer never ceased or faded. The same could not be said about your own injuries. The damage that had been done had started to heal, something that the Oni pointed out while having you do a bit of training.

And quite proudly too.

#phonk scribes #your letter has been received #dbd imagines #dead by daylight imagines #dbd & reader #the oni dbd #kazan yamaoka #the oni #the oni & reader #kazan yamaoka & reader #& reader #comfort #[ hes grandpa ] #[ i thought about incorporating the knight as well into this request but i think kazan would appeal more here ] #[ i think hed also try and set you up with rin to be friends ] #[ youre both two dead teens! thats a lot in common eh? ] #[ thatd be cute ] #[ enjoy :) ]

[orcaab]

My dear, teeny-tiny Spirit Animals fandom.

#spirit animals books #spirit animals series #polls #my polls #redcloaks

[r0b0tbrainr0t]

Little DP x TFP fic I’ve been thinking about

Unicron wasn’t sure what he was expecting of his creations. He watched his eldest, the first thing on the wretched little world that had formed around him that was truely by his hand.

Plasmius, a human not dead but not alive he had seen the opportunity in the portal opening and took it to reforge this pathetic animal into his own warrior not unlike his brother had when creating his Primes. His first creation’s power grew slowly as he mastered each new skill as it was presented and Unicron slowly whispered instructions into his ear but as he watched him, Unicron could not help but see the flaws, how Plasmius never seemed to grow in his desires beyond wealth and an old grudge over some human femme he had wished to mate with. No matter the fire he placed within, the nova core where his soul had been, the fangs he gave him to rip out the throats of his enemies or the killer instinct he had watched hone it was always the same. To watch him stagnant disgusted Unicron. So much so he abandoned his creation to his own devices after a time of watching him become nothing of note in his eyes.

His second creation was younger than the first when Unicron chosen him. He had considered what had gone wrong with Plasmius and was intent to learn with his second creation, no longer glowing bright with a fire’s power, nor did he give his second creation a chance to adapt to new abilities. He had been too slow with Plasmius, Unicron had decided and it had led to the stagnation he so loathed to see in something he gave so much fire to. He letter the powers come in quickly one after another but did not show him the true vacuum of space, the absolute zero he had locked away in his core this was something he had to find on his own. And the phantom did not disappoint him in his mastery of his abilities, he fought fiercely and without hesitation for the town he had claimed as his own domain, of this Unicron was very proud. He had heard the whispers of the dead and restless spirits that so often visited his world speaking how his phantom was stronger than even their own king. He was Proud, until he realized that his Phantom had bested the king, and lead an army to siege the castle only to let the power slip through his fingers, that he had no interest in ruling over the dead or living. He only wished to protect he felt disgusted at the thought. And in that moment suddenly everything about his phantom was a reminder of of thing he hated, someone he hated Primus.

Everything his youngest did after besting Pariah Dark reminded him of Primus, and how he loathed his brother still.

And to make matters worse Plasmius and Phantom took it along themselves to be in constant conflict. Where phantom was cold as the vacuum of space, Plasmius burned with the heart of a supernova; where Plasmius was careful and cunning, Phantom was quick and brash; where phantom would do everything he could to protect those around him despite knowing they would not do the same, Plasmius at the very least was enough like him to be able to see the humans around him for what they truly were, tools to achieve his ends. He realized he had not craved away enough of the humanity with Phantom, so intent on making every change happen quickly that had left pieces of the soul behind, something that had ruined his phantom from the very beginning and only now looking at the barest shreds of a souls still left within it was steadfast and stead enough to withstand the coldness of space itself. unfortunate.

In the end his creations both disappointed him as he was forced to watch them battle one another not unlike himself and his brother. Equally and oppositely matched and doomed to go in forever unless something changed. The heat of supernova and empty coldness of space given bodies to battle again and again and again.

He had nothing better to do in his half sleep state as he lay beneath the earth unable to move and needing rifts between the worlds of the living and the dead to harness even a fraction of his power to make his creations. So he watched them. He watched them make every last mistake he and Primus did while they fought one another and he watched them do it so many times. Until the inevitable happened.

Plasmius created a being to help him like a bad parody of Megatronus in Unicron’s eyes the like femme was the splitting image of Phantom but she was nothing like him.

She was nothing like space, but she was every thing like the sea this world’s seas. She was cold like the depths at times, lightless and suffocating and crushing with hardly any life along the bottoms of the deepest trenches or she was boiling hot like the volcanic vents, Rock solid like a glacier, but also as free flowing as the current.

She was odd compared to everything else on this planet. She did not die and yet she was not alive. She was not of humanity nor of the spirits. A child of no world. He was done watching what had come from his hand, he had seen more than enough but this little creature that was always changing, and who’s power was anyone’s to guess.

He would keep an eye on her.

#transformers #maccadam #maccadams #transformers prime #tfp #unicron #dani fenton #dani masters #dani phantom #danny phantom #danny fenton #vlad masters #vlad plasmius #Unicron is why the portals didn’t kill Plasmius and Danny

[dark-night-star-light]

Spirit Animals: The Burning Tide (Reread pt. 12)

DISCLAIMER: WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR BOOKS ONE THROUGH SEVEN IN FIRST SERIES AND BOOKS ONE THROUGH EIGHT.

Masterpost

Chapter 1

“It had started seven moontides before” (1). The Wyrm fell for seven months???

“ . . . signing the question with her black gorilla hands” (1). Do gorillas sign to communicate?

How exactly did the Wyrm fall out of the stars anyway?

Kovo’s relationship to his mom is so sad . . .

 “The world was a vast continent that contained jungles and dunes and mountains and snowfields, all connected together” (3). Canon Pangea equivalent? Also, I love how one continent had every kind of habitat.

“There were thousands of animals, all different species . . . ” (3). So how come there are only fifteen Great Beasts, then?

Oh, so the rest fled when they saw the Wyrm coming.

I love how the Wyrm split the continents. That’s a neat little Easter egg (oh no, a pun).

If only Kovo and the other Great Beasts survived, how did life start again on Erdas?

Chapter 2

“ . . . Hazeel’s spirit animal, Poe. His only friend” (9). That’s so sad . . . 

Hazeel knows the Greencloaks aren’t themselves. He knows that the spirals are controlling them and that they are now slaves. Doesn’t that mean that when the Greencloaks overran Erdas, the people they killed and plundered should’ve also been able to figure that out? That means the last arc is kind of wonky . . .

“‘But I already have a guide’” (11). Uraza hates water??? And also how can she be a guide on a ship? She’s a leopard. 

 . . . Can she still feel Abeke even though their bond is severed?

Chapter 3

“‘I set Kirat to swabbing the latrine’” (14). Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular-

“‘I tried bringing her into passive state . . . ’ . . . ‘At least you have a spirit animal’” (16). Rollan cannot take the hint.

“The boy’s crocodile tears had once convinced her to lead him . . . ” (17). This is such a great, loaded line.

“‘He needs us for something . . . ’” (18). Yeah, doesn’t mean it’s a good thing. 

Chapter 4

“In reply, the lion bared his white teeth and growled. Kirat showed his own teeth, which were chattering in the cold” (20). That’s such a funny image to think about.

Why were the other kids that bonded to Great Beasts willing to leave home to go with the Redcloaks? Is it because they were told they could get their animals back?

“‘King . . . ?’ Abeke said. ‘That’s what you call Shane?’ Stead nodded. ‘He tells us not to, but . . . old habits die hard’” (24). Shane literally introduces himself as King in The Return, though?

“The Shane they knew probably would have forced people to call him king on punishment of death” (24). Not really, in my humble opinion. He tried to make sure that the people he conquered had adequate food and shelter, remember? And also he literally pretended he wasn’t the true Devourer for most of the war, so . . . 

“Karmo’s wide brown eyes were on Abeke, who glared right back at him” (25). This is ironic, because last time they met, Karmo was assuring Abeke that he was on the correct side of the war . . . wow.

This book seems to really hate Rollan in particular. He’s been the butt of the joke at least four times already.

“‘One day I awoke to find I couldn’t summon Grahv from his passive form . . . ” (29). But Shane was released from the Bile by Tellun, so how did this happen to him??? Plot hole???

Chapter 5

Even Shane finds Kirat annoying . . . we stan a king (oh horror, I just made a pun). 

“Yumaris guided the group, running her hands along the walls, sniffing the air, and getting into arguments with the stones” (35). Yumaris: Listen here, you jackass. The ocean is a soup, and I will not tolerate your slander towards the truth! The stone:

“‘He’s clearly got his own way of tracking the Great Beasts . . . ’” (36). Because the Wyrm whispers to him, right? But where does the Wyrm get that information? From the tree?

“‘All I know is what these carvings tell us. They say that the Wyrm’s egg fell from the stars and landed in a place called Sadre, deep under the Earth . . . ’” (39). So the Hellans were told that by Kovo, right? It’s mentioned that some Hellans “exiled” themselves to the Place of Desolation (37). Was that when they created the trap? And why did they create it at the “bottom of the world” (37) instead of near the Evertree???

Chapter 6

Kind of a weird thing I’ve started to notice with this series . . . whenever the authors have a chance to pull an end-of-chapter cliffhanger, they do it so weirdly, because instead of a cliffhanger, then switching to the other plotline, they instead do a cliffhanger, then stay on the same plotline. It’s so strange. 

“ . . . Shane would never change” (42). Shane and change are so close to rhyming that it makes this sentence feel really nice when read.

“ . . . inching away from Shane, who was watching her intently” (43). I love how when Shane drops bombshells he only cares about Abeke’s reaction.

“‘ . . . Shane said, stepping toward [Rollan] . . . ‘Stop fighting,’ Abeke said. She pushed both boys apart” (43). Girl, you literally started them fighting.

Mulop-Niri relationship is severely underdeveloped, in my opinion.

“Even knowing that the leopard was under Zerif’s control, she still wished she could see her spirit animal once more” (46). Foreshadowing?

Abeke and Rollan suggesting Mulop talk to Briggan and Jhi instead of Kovo . . . aww.

Chapter 7

“Meilin dipped a moss sponge into a stone basin filled with stagnant water” (48). Is that what they’re drinking, too? Because that’s not good . . .

“Sacrifices to the Wyrm” (49). Why would the Wyrm sacrifice its own followers??? It needs them to conquer? And fight???

Jhi is barely in this arc at all . . . Not a fan of that.

Chapter 8

“Kovo was almost fanatical about the glowstones. He spent every day maintaining them, searching for new stones to replace those that had begun to dim” (51). Kovo the glowstone guard dog.

“‘You don’t know how important sunlight is until it’s gone’” (52). They could have Vitamin D deficiencies.

“Takoda had always argued that he thought Kovo’s reasons for trying to take control of the Evertree were more complicated than just world domination” (53). Yes, but at the end of The Evertree, it never suggests that. All Kovo talks about is the power he wants for himself and the other Great Beasts. He never even hints at deeper motives. 

“‘We can’t have you pining at the window for your lost crush’” (55). Why do I not remember Meilin referring to Xanthe as Takoda’s crush??? Why???

“‘With a catapult we could launch some kind of missile at the egg . . . ’” (57). That would crack it further, though, wouldn’t it.

Chapter 9

“Meilin nearly choked on her spit . . . If Shane was with them, it could only mean that they were in trouble” (59). The differences in the amount of knowledge each group has is one of the reasons I think the group should’ve spent some of the arc together.

“‘Rollan would like me to ask Jhi what it’s like being bonded to a snotty general’s daughter. Also, he wants to know if stubbornness is a skill you picked up from your fancy tutors’” (60). Love that the inside jokes become plot-relevant. That’s just. I adore that.

Chapter 10

“But before Rollan could say anything, Shane spoke up . . . Rollan gritted his teeth. ‘Why does he get to do all the talking?’” (62). Because the connection is weak and he’s asking the important questions??? Honestly love Shane for that.

“Rollan had trouble imagining a world without humans or spirit animals or Great Beasts. The thought of a world without Essix saddened him” (63). Oh, Essix was there, she just wasn’t a Great Beast.

“‘When the Wyrm landed, it caused great destruction - storms, floods, and earthquakes - that wiped out nearly every living thing for miles . . . ’” (63). At the end of the first arc, the weather was really weird because of something to do with the Evertree, right? So can the Evertree impact the weather or something?

“‘The Evertree is the source of the spirit animal bond. And the Wyrm is the source of that power . . . ’” (64). But isn’t the Wyrm taking from the tree, not giving?

“‘The corruption that fueled every spirit animal bond . . . ’” (65). So Kovo hates humans and spirit animals . . . because the Wyrm?

“‘I would gather the talismans and wrest control of the Evertree, by force if necessary . . . ’” (65). How will that help the Wyrm situation? The tree can’t contain it . . . 

“‘Zerif thinks he’s in control, but he’s being manipulated . . . ’” (66). Zerif can be controlled by a not-yet-hatched Wyrm? Also wow, that is pretty much exactly what happened during the Second Devourer War, with the Bile and Gerathon. 

Chapter 11

“A part of her feared what she would learn if she could hear Jhi’s true opinion of her” (69). Didn’t this get resolved in the first arc???

“She didn’t know how things went in southern Nilo, but in Zhong, people didn’t believe that plants had feelings” (70). But this is the Evertree, not an ordinary plant.

“‘So all we have to do is set it off. How do we do that?’ ‘Kovo won’t say . . . it was clear he wanted to keep that knowledge hidden’” (70). Why, though?

“‘I think he’s afraid of one of us becoming infected by the Wyrm’s parasites and betraying our plan’” (71). He doesn’t, but what if Kovo becomes infected? Then they would all be doomed.

“‘If the Wyrm learns of our plan ahead of time, it might try to destroy the tower before it can be activated’” (74). Not five pages ago, Kovo was refusing to tell them the plan, but then he immediately does???

“ . . . she could see the rotting purple spiral of the parasite . . . ” (76). Isn’t it black? Maybe a lighting thing?

Chapter 12

“He didn’t understand how he knew this. He only knew that anything that tried to stop him would fall at his hand” (77). So when victims fall to the Wyrm, they don’t remember anything about their old lives except things that pertain to the Wyrm? Does this mean Conor overheard Meilin and Takoda talking?

“Truly it was a feeling of peace. The calm that comes from one finally accepting his place in the world” (78). This reminds me of something a Conqueror says to either Abeke or Rollan in the first arc, something like, joining our side is the true right and you’ll feel at peace here.

“He had a vague unease echoing in the deepest parts of his mind. A mournful baying . . . ” (78). I know it’s impossible to fight off the Wyrm’s effects, but I wonder if people with a spirit animal take longer to succumb?

“Conor thought her name might be Meilin, and then he wondered how he knew that” (79). So they remember things from their old life, but feel no connection to it emotionally???

Chapter 13

“He knew her weaknesses . . . he could certainly exploit them” (80). Meilin knows his weaknesses, too, though.

“The red light opened, like an eye . . . ” (81). Red eyes on a villain? That’s so stereotypical.

I feel like in this fight, Meilin should’ve struggled with the idea of fighting the Many, because now that Conor is one of them, she has to hurt him, too. This might lead to an epiphany where she sees that, in this moment, Conor and the other Many are the same. If she isn’t willing to hurt Conor, despite the fact that he’s gone, why is she okay with harming these other people? But there isn’t anything resembling that that ever goes to Meilin’s mind. 

“ . . . Jhi appeared at her side, soaking wet and looking quite proud” (83). Proud Jhi reigns supreme.

“ . . . he was now directing the rest of the Many like a general - pointing straight at the bell tower” (84). They didn’t have a “general” before him, did they? Why do they now?

“But Meilin’s sense of triumph was over as soon as it had sparked when she looked to the bridge where Conor had been standing only a moment before - now a pile of burning rubble” (85). It’s honestly unclear to me whether this is because she thinks Conor died in the fire and is grieving, or whether she thinks Conor escaped and is alarmed.

“‘Conor,’ she whispered, for indeed it was” (86). This kind of “and so it was” type of line has been used so much in this book. It’s such a jarring difference from the last few books.

“It was coming from the direction of the water . . . ’Screamers’” (87). Did they have screamers on the ships? And why? Screamers don’t actually do anything, they’re just a warning mechanism . . . 

Chapter 14

“ . . . using her crystal spear to impale the Many who got in her way” (90). I know that crystal would probably normally be such a poor choice to make a weapon, but like, it just fits with the vibe of Sadre so well.

“There was something about the way Xanthe had said this that made him think maybe she felt the same way about him as he felt about her” (90). I like that this series makes only a half-hearted effort to pair characters into romantic relationships. It’s very funny to me.

“His fingers found what he realized too late was Xanthe’s hand” (90). I don’t remember these tiny Takoda-Xanthe moments at all. 

“The Many were defenseless against the glowing crystalline blades of the Sadreans. Every cut seemed to scald the very flesh of those infected by the parasites . . . ” (91). What are these blades made of??? Pure light itself???

“Conor, who had fought even more fiercely than the other Many, had finally been restrained by two burly Sadrean shieldwardens” (92). For some reason, I seem to remember them fighting all the way until the Wyrm was defeated. Also, did he fight harder because he took longer to succumb? And why did the Sadreans spare him in particular?

“The boy fell back to the ground - unconscious but otherwise unharmed . . . ‘ . . . Tell him if he touches my friend again, I’ll make sure he lives to regret it’” (94). But that helped??? And also, Abeke does the same thing at the end of the first arc to Meilin, so . . . 

Chapter 15

“Meilin started at the Wyrm, unable to look away . . . Takoda could see dark and slimy tendrils . . . Meilin heard a groaning sound . . . ” (96). This chapter had a clear lack of editing. It switched perspectives twice and the first line isn’t in all caps like the rest of the chapters.

They made the Wyrm such a stereotypical monster . . . I don’t know what to think about that.

“ . . . the Many grabbed hold of Sadrean soldiers and dragged them to the Wyrm as live offerings” (98). Would they offer themselves, too, or not? Probably . . . 

“ . . . she knew what had stopped Kovo and Xanthe . . . ‘The Wyrm,’ Meilin whispered. ‘It’s got Takoda’” (100). But wouldn’t hitting the bell stop the Wyrm and save Takoda anyway? Why didn’t Kovo just hit the bell?

Chapter 16

“When Xanthe had been lost in the burned-out remnants of the Arachne Fields, alone and defenseless, it had been Takoda who kept her alive” (101). Ironic, considering he blamed himself for that incident.

“It was as if she could see all of Erdas - the aboveground world she had only dreamed of - shining in his dark eyes” (102). They really amped up the Takoda-Xanthe romance in this one.

Wow, Kovo really showed the Wyrm who’s boss.

“Her voice was cold and without emotion, and Xanthe wondered just how much war this girl had seen in her lifetime” (104). But she’s right? The bell is the only way to stop the Wyrm and help Takoda . . . 

Chapter 17

“The floor in the center of the city was drawing back like the folds of a paper fan . . . ” (105). I don’t remember this plotline at all . . . 

“The snare had stopped” (107). Yeah, I remember nothing about this climax, wow.

“ . . . the Wyrm slithered forward and melted into the darkness” (107). What??? Into a bottomless hole???

“’Still. Thank you. Leaping out from the tower to save Takoda . . . I didn’t think you had it in you’” (109). Kovo-Meilin bonding(?) moment!

“’Do they know about the bell?’ . . . Kovo lowered his hand, shaking his head . . . ‘ . . . let’s hope they figure it out fast . . . ’” (109). That’s what they bank on??? Hope? doesn’t sound like Meilin at all . . . 

Chapter 18

SHANE CHAPTER, CAN YOU HEAR ME HOLLERING.

“It wasn’t a fist that had won him the Greencloaks’ talismans. Sacrifices had” (110). True . . . 

“He was gratified to see Abeke purse her lips in an attempt not to laugh at her friend” (111). That’s cute.

“‘You can hear Meilin?’ . . . ‘Is she talking about me? . . . ‘Or, um, Abeke? Any of us really? Forget I asked’” (111). What is this . . . while I don’t like it, I have to admit that’s pretty realistic for the age group.

“Shane knew it was a mistake to give someone like Rollan direct orders . . . ” (112). Why’s that?

“He slowed, fixing his eyes on her. ‘I promise.’ Abeke sighed, not meeting his gaze. ‘I’ve heard that before.’ Shane nodded, feeling the sting of her words” (112). I like Shane, but he deserved that.

“He wondered how many times he would have to save her life before she began to believe that he was truly changed. As many times as it takes, he silently promised himself” (113). This is so sad . . . 

“And somehow these two sets of ruins contained enough power to stop the Wyrm” (113). So they have an inkling of an idea how . . . interesting.

“Shane gave her a smile that he could only hope looked herolike” (115). Pfffffffft, this will never not be hilarious. He’s actually such a golden retriever. 

“ . . . javelins made of ice . . .” (115). Bro, what??? Those are gonna shatter . . . 

“Why did this kid have to question his every order?” (116). Rollan is, like, a few months younger than Shane . . . also Shane himself is a kid. Also, can you imagine being an adult Redcloak being bossed around by this thirteen-almost-fourteen-year-old child. Just. Wow. 

Chapter 19

“ . . . some of them sounding more animal than human when they spoke” (118). How would that even sound??? Probably a lot like a Great Beast . . . 

“‘I tried to tell them they had to stay, but . . . but he wouldn’t listen’” (119). So she cried??? I know they tried to make Tasha seem younger and less mature than Abeke and Rollan, but that seems too far. Why didn’t she just get them?

“‘They only care about our precious spirit animals’” (121). This is ironic, considering Rollan was exactly like this in the first book, but less spoiled.

“‘I don’t need a spirit animal anyway - all he did was lie around and take up space’” (121). Giving major first-book-Rollan energy.

“‘If Zerif wants Great Beasts, he can have mine. I’ll turn Cabaro over myself in exchange for my life’” (121). Zerif will just immediately infect him . . . also wow, this guy is spoiled and stupid.

Cordalles’s main argument is that Abeke and Rollan have spirit animals, but Abeke doesn’t and Kirat does . . . how come she’s still willing to side with Kirat after that???

Also, after Kirat carelessly says he’d turn Cabaro over to Zerif, why do the other kids still side with him??? That’s so dumb. They should feel betrayed.

“‘He was not raised to take orders, he was raised to lead . . . ” (123). This is so dumb. In an earlier book, didn’t someone tell Meilin that the best leaders know when to follow??? Wasn’t that a crucial part of her arc??? Why are we throwing that theme away for one incredibly spoiled kid??? I don’t like Kirat, and one of the main reasons is that he was a massive waste of potential.

“‘We owe you an apology’” (123). I hate this will all my heart and soul . . . no, they don’t. Kirat owes them one, and he never delivers.

“‘These others won’t listen to us - we’re wearing the same cloaks as the army that’s coming this way . . . ’” (124). What makes them think that Kirat will listen to them?

“‘ . . . watching your father build and protect the greatest fortress in all of Nilo by inspiring thousands of subjects . . . ’” (124). If by “inspire” they mean “abuse”, sure. 

I think it’s dumb that an amulet changed Kirat’s mind, even if it was his mom’s. Like . . . of all things??? Really???

This whole chapter . . . just . . . ugh.

“‘Better to live a coward than die a hero,’ said Dawson” (125). In the last book, the opposite is said by Atalanta and I thought it was said by Devin in a previous book . . . well, I was wrong.

“‘How can we possibly fear a thing like death, when we’ve nothing to live for?’” (126). I have to admit, the line hits hard. It hits less hard when you realize that everything Kirat says is a direct contradiction of his two-minutes-ago self. 

“This was a whole new Kirat” (127). Yeah, his development happens way too quickly . . . but whatever.

Chapter 20

“He . . . wondered what it would feel like to be so high above the world” (128). Convinced this is the moment the authors came up with the ending of the third arc. Foreshadowing???

“Rollan, Abeke, and Howl all looked at Kirat, who blushed” (130). Well, that’s new, at least.

“She always had more of a killer instinct than he did” (131). Does Abeke really??? Does she???

Chapter 21

“ . . . she had been afraid that Howl would insist that she belonged with [the other Great Beast summoners]” (133). She can just . . . disobey him. Shane is in charge, and Shane would no doubt back Abeke up.

“‘Who died and put you in charge?’ Talon said . . . ‘No,’ Shane said, stepping to Abeke’s side. ‘It’s a good plan’” (134). Talon appears to be jealous of Abeke already. Also, what’d I tell you? Shane will side with Abeke.

“Shane’s astonished smile at this meager paise sent a tremor of guilt through Abeke’s chest. He looked like she'd just kissed him on the cheek” (135). I’m telling you, Shane isn’t gonna cross Abeke. Also, wow, no need to feel guilty. He’s still the (former) Devourer.

“ . . . Abeke watched as the Expiator burst into splinters and sank into the cold water” (135). I genuinely cannot remember how they get out of this place.

“‘I’d hate to have you as an enemy,’ he said weakly. ‘Again’” (136). I love this line. It perfectly encapsulates Shane-Abeke relationship in this moment. 

“But whatever anger she felt toward Shane ws tempered by her memory of their time together among the Conquerors” (136). I have found an even better line. What interests me so much about this line is that it mentions that Abeke’s reason for trusting Shane was not that he had changed, but because of their time together when he was knowingly deceiving her. In other words, her positive past memories of him outweighed his present redemption arc, and I think that’s such an important piece. Deep down, Abeke truly enjoyed her time with Shane, so she wants to forgive him. And here, she slips and mentions it.

“The icy tower in the middle of the volcano was slowly rotating . . . ” (137). So it’s clearly the same trap. Did the Hellans just duplicate the traps wherever they could?

“ . . . Shane, who was staring at her, his expression unreadable. ‘I . . . can’t breathe,’ she said” (138). Ten out of ten answer right there. Also, all these Abeke-Shane moments went right over my head during my first time through.

“And somewhere in that horde was Zerif himself. She adjusted her grip on the end of her arrow” (140). I know Zerif dies to stop the Wyrm and that’s significant or whatever, but our girl Abeke has been trying to shoot him dead since Against the Tide and I, for one, believe she should’ve been the one to do it.

“ . . . fifty Greencloaks huddled on the eastern shelf . . . The entire shelf splashed into the ocean . . . they had reduced its numbers by a quarter” (141). There are only two hundred Greencloaks??? But there were six ships, each of which carried more than a hundred Greencloaks each, and Mulop only destroyed two ships, so there should be at least four hundred . . . 

Chapter 22

“‘How much stronger?’ Shane said, readying his bow” (147). Since when does Shane use a bow???

“He had cast aside his bow and drew his saber” (148). Oh, thank goodness.

“ . . . the sight of her former comrades fighting tooth and claw against Shane’s desperate forces stole her breath away” (149). Imagine if this line was like “the sight of her former comrades against her former enemies” . . . would’ve been better, in my opinion.

“‘Meilin will love it.’ . . . ‘Who said anything about Meilin?’” (149). I have simply passed away.

“Abeke remembered how the rotating tower had stopped abruptly. ‘It got jammed’” (150). Okay. So. This sentence implies that the snare under the Evertree’s roots and the snare in the Place of Desolation are connected somehow. But . . . why??? Like, the Wyrm can only be in one place at a time, so why is that useful???

“Kirat really did sound like his uncle . . . ‘He’s been like this since you left’” (152). Yeah. He did a complete one-eighty and it feels like it came out of nowhere.

Chapter 23

“‘Deep down, I know you don’t want to hurt-’” (153). I get that Abeke has emotional stakes in this, but I gotta say, that was pretty dumb. Understandable, but dumb.

Shane-Cabaro parallels: both saving Abeke from Uraza. Except one dies . . . 

“The arrow plunged straight through Uraza’s leg” (154). I mean . . . better late than never???

“She had been summoned into passive state by her new master” (154). From that distance??? The Wyrm is that powerful?

“He did not move again” (155). Despite being emotionally prepared for this, it’s still breaking me. Noooooooo . . . Shane . . . 

Part of what makes Shane’s death so meaningful is that Abeke’s own spirit animal kills him. Like. Uraza. Uraza does that. And the other part is Noooooooo, Shane.

Shane dies in Abeke’s arms . . . in front of a whole-ass group of people.

“ . . . but I could sense - deep down - that you had the instincts of a killer” (156). Didn’t Zerif say that Abeke was the most pathetic person ever (or something like that) in a previous book???

“‘A creature of raw and infinite power - power that will soon be mine’” (158). I think this is the heart of my problems with this arc. There’s no motive at all. It’s just “oh, there’s this ancient power that’s pure evil that fell from the sky and now wants to devour the world, and this guy with no motives is trying to control it”. Like, it’s so cartoonish??? Where’s the reason??? The backstory???

“‘The parasites . . . ’. . . ‘They’re part of the Wyrm’” (159). Did they just figure that out??? I thought that had been established? Wait, maybe that was just in the underground plotline.

“‘This is not what was supposed to happen!’ Zerif screamed, kicking out his legs. ‘I command you! Let go!’” (159). Love Zerif’s little temper tantrum. Also, wow, this man is so stupid. He really didn’t even think about where the parasites had come from before using them???

“‘I am fully borrrnnnn.’” (160). So to be fully born, the Wyrm had to . . . pour itself into Zerif??? 

Chapter 24

They just described Raisha’s hands as “scaly” . . . what.

“ . . . holding them both aloft over the gaping pit” (163). Genuinely can’t remember how Rollan and Essix escaped.

“Hanging from the ancient rafters was something dark and heavy and made of iron- A bell” (164). Okay, normally, I’d be so pissed off that the bell appeared conveniently when it was needed, but it had the appropriate amount of foreshadowing and we’re even told why: because the ice melted away to reveal it, so I’m okay with it.

“And quick as a flash, she raised her bow over her head and let fly” (165). Giving Katniss-Everdeen-kills-Coin energy.

Chapter 25

“ . . . struck the edge of the bell with a light ting!” (166). So, I apparently didn’t read very well the first time so I didn’t realize the bell was a huge bell, I had been picturing it as a small baby bell and the “light ting!” didn’t help my visualization.

“Redcloaks and Greencloaks alike scrambled to find stable ground around the perimeter” (167). This line mirrors another line: “The Sadreans and the Many screamed, running to safety around the edges of the town” (105). I don’t really have anything to say except the parallels make me happy.

I like the perspective shifts within the chapter. Very neat.

“This is what people must mean by an out-of-body experience, he thought” (168). Foreshadowing bond token plotline in third arc???

“For the first time in his life, he felt truly free” (169). Yeah, definitely foreshadowing him bonding further with Essix.

“She felt an overwhelming desire to care for every person suffering . . . ” (169). More bond token foreshadowing?

“The wriggling parasite no longer burrowing into his flesh. The Wyrm’s voice no longer hissing in his mind” (170). Does that mean Briggan-in-Conor’s-body will be affected by the parasite?

“ . . . she caught a slight flash of hazel” (171). Zerif has hazel eyes???

“What was a hero but someone who had chosen one time to do the right thing?” (172). I hate this line. It implies that you can do one right thing and still be considered good.

There are so many italicized words in this book.

“The Wyrm was truly gone” (174). Huh. It just fell in lava and died??? Interesting.

Chapter 26

This book has been from Abeke’s perspective since Chapter 21 (with the exceptions of the short passages from each of the other three’s perspectives for a few paragraphs in Chapter 25). And this last chapter is also from her perspective. It’s just. It feels. So strange. I don’t like it.

“Every blade of grass and flower and tree became a smaller version of the Evertree” (176). This needs to be explained in more detail.

“For the first time in centuries, the Sadreans and the people of Erdas met and communed with one another” (177). Wonder if any Sadreans besides Xanthe decided to stay topside.

“When Abeke finally saw Conor and Briggan waiting for them at the shore, she leaped clear off the edge of her ship onto the decks and sprinted toward him at a full run” (177). Based. Also, her leaping overboard is iconic and I can’t believe I missed that the first time.

“Rollan and Meilin were surprisingly awkward upon seeing each other again” (177). Maybe they didn’t meet again during the course of the entire arc so the writers could give us this gem.

“The eyes held her gaze for a moment, and then a sleek golden leopard poured out from between the leaves” (180). Poured out . . . like soup. (Sorry, my brain has shut down from the Uraza-Abeke moment.)

Final thoughts and rating:

The tiny Shane-Abeke moments live rent-free in my head, and while I’m sad about Shane’s death, from a writing standpoint, it had to happen. The only way for Shane to redeem himself was to give his life for Abeke, and it was done beautifully, not only giving his life, but giving his life for their bond, which he helped foster. It’s an amazing end to his arc and I will talk about it more during my Shane analysis. I absolutely adore Kovo jumping from the tower to save Takoda from the Wyrm without a single thought for his own safety. I also love that the inside jokes were plot-relevant, what a fantastic way to tie that in. I also like what I’m going to interpret as the slight foreshadowing of the bond token plotline when the spirit animals and humans switch bodies. During the next paragraph, I really, really go hard on this arc, but the emotional moments in this book were just. Some of the greatest ones in the entire series. The Shane-Abeke moments and Meilin-Kovo bonding and Xanthe returning and Shane’s death and when the group reunites and Uraza and Abeke “rebonding” . . . all of these tiny moments were just. So well done. So despite what I’m about to say in the next section, I would say this book was a positive experience overall for me. 

Starting with the elephant in the room, I have to talk about Shane a bit. While I love the reintroduction of his character, his entire existence is a plot hole. Tellun frees Shane from the Bile at the end of The Evertree, so how could he have merged with Grahv? There are two things that could’ve happened: Shane’s bond being severed completely or Shane’s bond being turned natural. Exploring the first option, Grahv should’ve been unable to go into passive state from the moment Tellun freed him. Now, delving into the other alternative means that Shane shouldn’t have merged with Grahv at all, because his bond would be a Nectar bond now. Between these two alternatives, it is impossible for the events of this series (with Shane) to occur. Ignoring that, this arc in general was a bit of a hot mess. We’re told the Wyrm sucks power out of the Evertree. Then, we’re randomly told it is the heart of the spirit animal bond and that it provided the Evertree with the fuel necessary for that. How is that possible? Is it taking or giving? It feels completely all over the place and threw me for more than a couple loops. I haven’t talked about this much in my other rereads, but I absolutely despised Conor in this arc, aside from the first book. He doesn’t do anything! He displays none of his changed personality, does nothing to further the plot, just gets sicker and sicker (which I’m not blaming him for, by the way). What was the point of having him in the story in the first place? Because fans would want him there? Instead, they should’ve made Takoda be the infected one. This opens up quite a few opportunities the writers could’ve taken advantage of. First of all, Kovo and Xanthe are the two people that are least opposed to leaving Conor behind because of the infection. They also happen to be the two people that are closest to Takoda. There could’ve been an arc of them getting over that to show Takoda they loved him, but it’s completely wasted on Conor. Think about that scene where Kovo jumps from the tower and single-handedly takes on the Wyrm in Takoda’s defense. Now imagine if that scene had taken place after Takoda had been infected by the Wyrm. Kovo has a love-hate relationship with Takoda, made worse by the fact that Takoda is infected, and it climaxes when he fights the Wyrm. It would’ve been so powerful. Conor’s presence in this arc is pointless and I hate it. The last five chapters are all from Abeke’s perspective, and the staggering of the climaxes just. Got to me. The point of having multiple perspectives is to use all of them, and this book severely lacked Conor, cementing my point about Conor’s uselessness. The Wyrm being a literal power-hungry monster that is just there to consume the world and enslave everyone with no motive or thought is just. So dumb. I hate it. It has no substance, no emotion, no point. Same thing with Zerif. Literally just wants power. Why? We don't know. My last gripe: Kirat. I hate him. His character development is so sudden and out of nowhere and he was so spoiled that it’s impossible to like him. His arc feels like such an afterthought. 

Rating: 8/10

#draeyem rereads spirit animals #the burning tide #spirit animals series #spirit animals books #sa spoiler #abeke #conor #meilin #rollan #shane #xanthe #takoda #kovo #zerif #the wyrm