#why can we watch paw patrol instead

[rogueddie]

Steve had been watching the kids play D&D with Robin. They were curled up on a beanbag together, almost painfully wrapped up together. It was so normal that no one batted an eye. And the two of them sitting in the corner to watch the kids play had also become routine enough that it was more unusual to find their corner empty.

Nothing about the afternoon, the day, or even the week, was in anyway odd or unusual. Steve had been feeling better, if anything. It showed too. Even Mike had pulled Dustin aside to ask what had him to much happier. But it was just the fact that everything was starting to look up- Max had taken a noticeable turn for the better, the cracks infection of Hawkins was increasingly slowing down and the amount of monsters had slowed down to the point that Steve didn’t even need to join the patrols.

All in all, Steve considered it a good month. What could possibly go wrong?

The room had started spinning so violently and so suddenly that he couldn’t hold in his confused, distressed noise. All heads in the room turned, just in time to see Steves eyes roll back, slumping back.

“Steve?!” Robin says, shaking him. She struggles to get up with most of him still wrapped around her, with how limp he’s suddenly gone. “Steve!”

Dustin is there in seconds, knees thudding to the floor next to them. “Steve! Oh, shit. Steve!”

“Has he just fainted?” Will asks, stepping forward with the others, hovering nearby. “Should we call an ambulance?”

“Check his pulse,” Mike suggests.

They’re all quiet, tense, watching Robins fingers shift on Steves neck.

“I can’t find it!” She sobs.

Dustin, who’d been checking his pulse via his wrist at the same time, yells, “no, I got it! It’s- shit, it’s faint.”

“Call for an ambulance,” Will tells Mike, already heading for the door. “I’m gonna get El!”

Dustin and Robin struggle, but eventually lift him enough for her to stand up. She insists he check for Steves pulse again, beginning to pace, pulling at her hair.

“Maybe it’s something to do with his head,” she continues to ramble. “I mean, he’s been hit a lot, that must have done some damage, right? And, like, I didn’t notice any lights flickering, but maybe he did and-”

“Robin!”

“Yes?”

“Not helping.”

“RIght. Sorry.” She’s quiet for a moment, continuing to pace, glancing towards the door. Mike can be heard talking on the phone. “But it’s gotta be something normal and easy to explain, right? It’s not like… it’s not like Vecna could have done this… right?”

But Dustin turns to her, slowly, frowning. “Maybe. It would explain why things might have suddenly gotten better. Vecna could still be weak, so a direct attack would take all his energy.”

They both turn, looking at Steve. But there’s nothing obviously wrong with him. He just looks… asleep.

“-in here!” Will is saying, rushing into the room, El hot on his heels.

El gently pushes Dustin aside, kneeling down beside Steve. She grabs his hand, quickly closing her eyes.

She stays there for a long time. Long enough that Mike comes back, warning them that the ambulance should be there any minute. Robin starts to pace again, whilst Will bites his nails. Dustin stays crouched beside El, staring at Steve like he’s tempted to try and jump inside his head alongside El.

“He is… not here.” She eventually says, opening her eyes.

“What does that mean?” Robin asks.

“He is not here,” El repeats. She looks as confused as everyone else. “His mind. It’s… not here.”

“You mean like… Max?” Will says.

“No…” El looks back to Steve. “Her mind is… empty. Hiding. He is gone.”

In the Upside Down, Steve wakes up.

His body doesn’t… feel right. He tries to stand up but, as soon as he tries, his legs wobble and he falls onto all fours… but…

Steve hesitates, looking down nervously. And, if the size of the world hadn’t given it away, the fluffy little paws he’s met with do. He tries to move his hands up, tries to tell himself that he’s just seeing things- but the paws move instead. The wrong feelings match up with the furry little body he’s in.

Panic bubbles up, so overwhelming that he gags. The noise he makes, though, only makes him panic more.

It takes him a long moment to realize that it’s him that’s yowling. It’s him making those sounds. It’s him… meowing.

“Woah, hey,” a soft voice coos. “How’d you get in here?”

Steve jumps around, hissing- but immediately stops. Because that’s…

“Eddie?” Steve tries to say. The meow he makes instead sounds curious.

Eddie smiles, awing at him. He crouches down, slowly extending a hand towards him. “Hi there, little guy. You got a mouth on you, huh? Heard you all the way from the trailer park. You must be pretty spooked. Did you fall in here?”

Steve stares at him, amused and annoyed. He huffs, sitting down, before pointedly tapping one of his paws on the floor. He still remembers the simple morse that Eddie had used to flash their SOS to Dustin… he’s pretty sure.

He barely gets two short taps done, before Eddie Is lifting him up. His hand curls under Steves belly, pulling him up to his chest. Steve yowls, annoyed- but Eddie shushes him. He glances behind him, which is when Steve realizes that he’s scared.

Then he hears the subtle sounds of movement. Something… stalking towards them.

Steve realizes, then, just how vulnerable he is like this. He’s tiny. He’s a fucking cat. If Eddie drops him, leaves him behind for whatever reason, he has no chance of survival.

“Woah, hey, hey,” Eddie whispers, startled, as Steve tries to worm his way inside Eddies jacket. He tugs it open though, curling an around around himself so Steve has some support. “That’s a good idea, you stay there, ok? Stay quiet, shh shh.”

Eddie is still, not moving or even breathing, for a long moment.

Eventually, he heaves a great sigh, gently prying Steve out from inside his jacket. He's careful to support him whilst holding him up for inspection, one hand around his chest and under his front... legs? But he has his other hand flat underneath him to sit on.

"You're so fluffy," Eddie mumbles, turning Steve around. "And clean. Where did you even come from?"

Steve grumbles, trying his hardest to glare.

It just makes Eddie laugh. "You're a fiesty little thing, aren't you?"

He pulls Steve closer, propping him up against his chest, starting to walk... deeper into the forest.

Steve tries to make his confusion clear, though he's not sure it works.

"It's ok, I have a little base set up at Harringtons place," Eddie explains, absentmindedly petting Steves head. "Not many vines there, so it's pretty safe."

Steve tries to wriggle around at the mention of his name, bringing a paw up to pat at Eddies chest, urgently.

"Hey, sh, it's ok," Eddie coos, stroking him from head to butt- Steve hates how much it does sooth him. "You're ok. I'll find you something to eat, ok? You're gonna be fine." Eddie glances down at him, humming. "I should name you, shouldn't I?"

Steve feels his ears droop. He's sure that Eddie will insist on giving him some D&D name, or some other nerd-

"Stevie," Eddie says, grinning at how quickly Steve perks up. "You're just like him, you know? Pretty, fluffy, soft... but also, a little bitchy."

Pretty?

"I shouldn't bore you with stories of old high school crushes though, should I, kitty?"

Steve meows, jumping up. He's too curious now.

Eddie laughs. "Alright, alright... but it's a long story! Don't say I didn't warn you. It starts in 83, he was a year below me..."

#stranger things #steve harrington #eddie munson #steddie #steddie fic #ficlet #unfinished

[bitchinbarzal]

(this is kinda horrible, but the thought is still sad)

gigi and uncle adam are besties, have been since she was three days old.

and ofc as we mentioned, he might use her to pick up girls every once in a while, but that’s besides the point.

once gigi gets a little older, maybe 3,4(?), adam gets with this one girl. and she’s nice, gigi thinks.

at least she was the first time she met her.

two versions past this point:

1. then suddenly, uncle adam doesn’t come over that often. he’s passing on their weekly uncle adam and gigi dates, and he doesn’t watch her favorite cartoon anymore. and finally it rattles little gigi so much, that one night she crawls into luca and moms bed with her favorite stuffed animal clutched in her hands “dada, why uncle ad no love me no more?” with the saddest little pout on her face and luca loses it. is on the phone with adam the morning “dude, i don’t know what changed lately, but all i know is you better get your ass over to my house to watch paw patrol, or else i can’t stop your niece from believing you don’t love her.”

2. the next time gigi comes over to hang with uncle adam, her and the new gf get left alone for a little while, while adam runs to the grocery store. and instead of playing tea party with her (like gigi asked) the new gf jsut ignores her. and then she takes a call. “no, i don’t know where he went. he left me here with a fucking toddler. god kids are so difficult.” and gigi doesn’t really understand, but she knows that wasn’t nice. and so she asks her again “wanna play tea with me” and the new gf loses it. angles the phone away from her mouth and tells gigi to go away, that her uncle adam doesn’t love her as much as he loves her (new gf) and she really needed a new babysitter, because her (gigi) “uncle adam” is “getting real tired of having to hang out with her.”this scares gigi, and she goes to the corner to play tea by herself and cries. when uncle adam gets back, she’s excited for a little while, until she remembers what new gf told her, then she calms down. when mom comes to pick her up, she goes sprinting for the door. mom and adam both think this is a little weird, because usually she’ll fight tooth and nail to stay, unless promised ice cream, but they ignore it. until gigi starts rejecting uncle adam. “ready for another play date g? we’re going to the zoo!” gigi screams “NO!” and runs to hide. and of course this is now getting pretty strange, but adam starts to ignore it, and lean more in to hanging out with his gf. and now a few weeks go by. and gigi misses uncle adam. really bad. like wakes up at 2 am and crawls into luca and moms bed, bad. “momma, i miss uncle ad” “baby you’ve been mean to him, that’s why he hasn’t come around.” “he was a meanie first!” “how was uncle ad mean?” “he doesn’t love me as much as he loves her, and, and he doesn’t want to be with me no more.” now luca intervenes. “honey when did uncle adam tell you this?” “NO- no uncle ad. new gf. she, she said that uncle ad didn’t love me as much as her, and he doesn’t wanna go on our play dates anymore.” luca is up bright and early to go kick adam in the ass and make him apologize (but also has to go early to make sure momma bear wasn’t going to actually beat new gf’s ass for saying that). adam breaks up with her within the hour, but it’s going to take a lot longer than that to get his and gigi’s relationship back to where it was.

nonnie… who hurt you?? (Also I’ve named the girlfriend ruby in this)

So imagine the girlfriend has said all that to Gigi and she’s just sad. She’s so upset and when you come to get her, she sprints into your arms.

This is really unusual because Gigi spends maybe one weekend a month in Columbus with Adam because of his schedule and she’s usually crying and screaming to stay but this time she’s already on-route to the car without her bag or stuffed animal.

Adam comes out to the car to say bye but Gigi is just asking you if she can call her uncle Rut on the way home.

When it’s Adam’s next weekend to have her, Gigi declines the invite and says she’d rather stay with mom and dad. Which hurts Adam a lot he hasn’t missed a Gigi weekend since she was six months old.

Then Adam’s in Detroit playing the red wings and he stops by to watch a game on their day off, Gigi doesn’t want to sit next to him.

Both you and Luca are confused and somewhat concerned, it brings up conversations of has something happened, should you be asking Adam.

Then one night at bedtime Gigi calls on Luca to read her story and when Luca goes to grab his book, daddy loves me she gives him goodnight moon.

“Baby this is Adam’s book”

Gigi is so annoyed she loves this book “No, it’s daddy’s book now”

“Ok, G what’s wrong? Why are you so mad at uncle Adam?”

You’re standing in the hallway listening “He doesn’t love me anymore!”

“Did he say that?” You ask, coming in.

She shakes her head, eyes filling with tears “No! Ruby did, she told me he loves her now not me anymore and he doesn’t like playing with me”

You both let her sleep in your bed for the night, consoling your babygirl’s sobs throughout the night. Her cries making you cry.

“I’ll kill them Luca, I swear to fucking god” is all you said all night. You were beyond angry at both of them, Ruby for doing it and Adam for allowing it to happen.

Luca leaves the bed early morning to call his brother and explain the situation, much to adam’s surprise and anger. He breaks up with Ruby over the phone as he’s half way to Ann Arbor.

When he gets there, he finds your car to be the only one in the driveway and he’s a little frightened.

When he comes in, calling out for someone he sees your angry face staring at him as you’re soothingly gigi to sleep for her nap.

“You’ve got some nerve fantilli”

“I didn’t know!” He excuses, walking in to the nursery.

“She was heartbroken Adam, she was up all night crying and I… Adam you broke her heart, her first heartbreak and it’s her uncle who broke it”

That kicks Adam right in the gut.

He sees that she’s not asleep yet and he points to her “Can I?”

Typically, you would say no but she was heavy and your arms were sore so you passed her off and left to make lunch.

There, Adam stood holding her just like she was a baby once again and he mumbled the words to Goodnight moon to her. When she finally fell asleep he kissed her head and whispered “I’m so sorry Princess”

#Gigi + uncle Adam #Gigi’s world

[self-indulgent-paw-patrol]

This is no hate towards Skye, but am i the only one who thinks that Marshall should have been the main character in the Mighty Movie instead of her?

Well, I mean, as far as I've seen for a while in the Paw Patrol tags, there are more people who think that too.

I can see why- Marshall is a fan favorite. It was a bit obvious the first movie ever would center on Chase, he's like the Patrol's Second In Command, so LOGIC would say that second movie would be about Marshall, as he's the fans' favorite pup (as far as I've seen from several polls for several years before I was in the fandom, friendly reminder I saw one episode for the very first time just now in January 2024, so yeah, I'm kinda the "oldest newborn" ever in this fandom).

While I can't be sure just why they went for Skye for the second movie FOR REAL, my guess is that it's mainly for two reasons, under the cut because the post got long XD

One would be to please the girls, we know there are a lot of girls watching Paw Patrol (and why not, women too, just like me), and we don't have as many female pups in the show. It's like, Skye in the main team, Everest in the B Team, and then Liberty who took even longer to be added into the story. I'm not counting Sweetie because she's not a member of the Paw Patrol at all, as far as I'm concerned too.

The other reason would be to give this cute message that "Your size does not define who you are or what you can be". "No job is too big, NO PUP IS TOO SMALL" and all that.

Besides the ultimate goal of making more merchandise to make parents wallets cry, the goal of most kids movies is to give some simple but important message, and that's what they went for with this second movie, centering it on Skye for that. She's just perfect for that particular message, as Ryder said, he started with that catchphrase because of her.

And there it is: This kind of plot just would NOT fit with Marshall. He's not a small pup- heck I think he's got the longer legs among them tbh. And honestly? The only moment he was even HAVING A MOMENT was in the beginning at the junkyard fire. Those water bombing donuts were badass, not gonna lie XD But that was it. This movie was SO NOT going to be about him.

Skye was the chosen one for they wanted to tackle a plot about the catchphrase "No job is too big, no pup is too small."

If the second movie would have been a Marshall movie, it would LITERALLY be a very different movie, with a plot that would fit HIM. I know I'm dreaming high here but, considering both movies worked around with some backstory from their respective center characters (Chase and his trauma from when he was abandoned as a literal baby in the big city, then Skye with her trauma about being the runt of the litter and just never getting chosen for adoption), I would say we might expect the same kind of thing on the next movie - whoever's the pup who's going to get the spotlight this time, we'll get to learn a bit about their past too and it'll play a role in the plot for whatever the next message they'll want to send out for the kids.

#Thanks for the ask!! #winterflwers #Paw Patrol #Paw Patrol The Movie #Paw Patrol The Mighty Movie #Paw Patrol Movie #Marshall #Skye #Chase #Paw Patrol Marshall #Paw Patrol Skye #Paw Patrol Chase

[mask-of-prime]

VG: No Laughing Matter

Patrols ended rather early for the past few days. No unrest, no having to fight anyone. It was pathetic. Suspicious, come to think of it.

Shabaha had a hunch that the silence would lead up to something, something that would erupt. She didn't understand why Vitani couldn't see it. In fact, she didn't understand why Vitani wouldn't regard her at all, lately.

Ever since patrols became vacant and slow, Vitani's been making use of her off-time by spending it with Tiifu. She even socialized with Sauti, the wild dog under her and Tiifu's temporary guardianship.

The lovey-dovey stuff and all the other changes to Vitani's personality made Shabaha sick. She made sure she finally let Vitani know that, one day.

The exchange of grievances exploded into a nasty fight. In speaking to Vitani's face over the constant distaste she'd held for a long time, Shabaha risked pushing her friendship with Vitani even further apart.

Shabaha didn't want to believe the irony. She didn't want to believe that she was being rude. Tiifu's corruption made Vitani think Shabaha was being rude. Tiifu made Vitani soft.

Though... she still felt bad. She didn't want to believe it, but it wasn't a lie.

Maybe she was needlessly sabotaging Vitani and Tiifu's relationship, like Vitani had told her.

Shabaha hated watching Vitani turn the other way, heading to the Ponya. It felt like Vitani would be turned away from her like that forever.

Maybe she deserved it... As Shabaha's eyes filled with water, she felt a cackle erupt, she clamped her mouth shut with a paw before heading the other way.

____

Vitani spent her evening with Tiifu feeling listless and inattentive. She couldn't identify the feeling to either be disbelief with Shabaha, or regret for driving her away.

Tiifu picked up on this, aware of the disagreement between the pair of friends.

“Did you ever think that maybe Shabaha wishes you could treat her like you treat me? You treat me really different from the Guard.”

“They can handle the rough talk. We grew up that way.”

"But for how long?" Tiifu's voice grew firm, "Vitani, if the Guard doesn't have support, who knows if everyone will stay together."

"What is this, therapy?"

Vitani's ears swung back. Oof.

"Wow..." Tiifu sneered, utterly impressed.

“What I meant wa --"

Tiifu stepped closer, "You know, it's the constant jumping to conclusions that's really divided up your Guard. Now you're doing it to me. Is this what makes a fair leader?"

"How would you know what a --"

"First you make assumptions about Tazama, now Shabaha. You don't think maybe your Guard needs to be heard out, first?"

Vitani continued to sputter until it came to a halt. The only form of leadership she knew was 'swing first and ask questions later', to be unforgiving and presumptuous. She had lasting problems from that exact leadership from her mother.

Maybe with the next generation, things had to change...  ____

It was dawn, a while before patrol would start.

Vitani could hardly sleep. Awakening early, she spent her time formulizing how she would go about addressing her fight with Shabaha. She dreaded -- yet very much expected -- things to get physical. They were both scrappy by nature, and sparred often.

Blinded by deep thought, Vitani didn't notice another lioness standing her way. She bumped into her.

It was Shabaha, uncharacteristically awake just as early as Vitani. Normally, the Bravest would sleep in and have to be forcefully woken up every morning.

Looks like this would have to be handled now. No better time.

Vitani's eyes met with Shabaha's. They were quite red from restlessness, and... an emotion she never showed. Today was going to be shocking.

"Shabaha. I --"

Her eyes then made their way down Shabaha's body. She noticed new scratches along the Bravest's forelegs and head. The Fiercest closed her eyes briefly. She knew too well what happened.

Resisting the urge to find a reason to be mad at Shabaha, she instead paced herself. She had to start slow and gently, practicing the suggestion Tiifu had made.

"I just want to know, are you jealous of what Tiifu and I have?"

“No. No, I’m not jealous.” Shabaha sighed, “I was never jealous. I’m happy for you guys, actually. It’s just…”

Suddenly, Shabaha began to chuckle. Vitani was disturbed.

“Everyone's always changing in front of me!” she cackled, “Like? That's how I know they're gonna leave. Happens every time!“

The Bravest’s voice cracked from laughter to choking up as she realized the weight of what she said.

Vitani shook her head, incredulous.

“What do you mean everyone leaves -- W-Why are you laughing?”

Shabaha snickered, “‘Cause it’s not a big deal, okay? I’m fine!”

“You just drop some of the most off-putting stuff and you brush it off as a joke. I’m finally starting to get sick of it. You gotta take this ser --”

“WELL, MAYBE I DON’T WANT TO THINK ABOUT IT!”

Vitani was disturbed, to say the least. She had to wonder how many times Shabaha's characteristic laughter meant she was truly in turmoil. She had to attempt support if she wanted to resolve this.

"Why don't you want to think about it?" the leader inquired, "You can tell me, now. You don't have to be afraid to let anyone know. We don't have room for dishonesty in the Guard's friendship. It'll break us apart if we keep lying to each other."

Shabaha sighed in agitation, "I just... didn't wanna bring anyone down or make 'em feel bad for me. I just... push it to the back of my brain whenever it comes back up."

"What are you pushing back? If I know the Bravest lion in the pride, I know she'd want to conquer the most frightening challenges, like she always has."

Shabaha sighed in deep thought. She couldn't keep building this big lie anymore. The mask had to come off. For bravery.

"Okay... The reason I've been such a jerk about you and Tiifu is, that... I'm scared you'll leave me. We've been best friends for years, I don't want you to change forever and forget me. I've always been afraid of everybody leaving me. I never wanted anyone to know I was afraid, though, or else I'd be rejected. Been this way my whole life..."

...

In the dry, barren hills far from the Outlands lived a lioness and her cub.

This lioness was rather unusual, for she spent most of her life alone. She was ousted by family and by other prides for her selfishness and mental instability. Not truly caring about her life, she'd gotten into lot of trouble that had gotten her to where she was, such as antagonistic behavior, promiscuity, and abuse of intoxicating substances.

One day, she ended up bearing a cub. She gave it a chance to change her life. She gave it milk, she kept it close by, and she groomed it time to time, yet she still found herself unstable as she pushed her child away at times, and even yelled at her to 'be quiet'. Her child didn't realize this was abnormal, as the lioness was the only other creature in her life, beside a few dangerous critters the cub would pick from the ground.

Speaking of danger, the cub always found herself in a predicament without her mother noticing. Her mother would be turned away or absent, preoccupied with herself either way. It's this normalization of danger and not having anyone to stop her, save her, and tell her 'no', that led the cub to grow up to be who she was now.

The lioness, while distant and spacey most of the time, eventually grew ever agitated and annoyed with this cub. The runt would talk her head off and try to climb on her, and no matter what stunt she pulled, she turned out fine.

The little roach just wouldn't die...

...

"Then, one dry, hot day in the badlands, I earned my name..."

...

The lioness basked under the scorching sun. She didn't have a plan. Was she to find shelter? Water? Die? Who cared? She didn't care. "Hey, Mom! I held another scorpion yesterday! It only stung me a little bit, though. Oh! Also --" Like she has done many times, the older lioness abruptly got up before the cub could climb atop of her and play. The young cub, thinking her mother to be playing, continued to follow her. "Hey, Mom! Guess what I did today, though! I picked the legs off of another spider. Different one from last time, it was kinda --" The cub felt herself being shoved back by her mother's hind foot. She looked up. The older lioness seemed to be staring off elsewhere. Maybe Mom was looking which way to go... The cub continued to blabber on. In a desperate attempt to escape the noise and attention, the lioness trekked through the calm, algae-filled river. The cub was still beside her, but at least the water was cool and refreshing. A pair of membranes blinked away at the bright green algae, revealing a disturbed pair of eyes belonging to a Western crocodile. A low growl became a bellow as the beast emerged from the river. "You looking for some trouble, ladies?" he said, "You'd better have a good reason to wake us from our slumber!" The two lionesses frantically clambered out of the river and onto a nearby rock. The mother lioness knew that awakened crocodiles meant no more sleep, and only food to get through the dry season. The lioness looked down at the cub. She grinned big. This was the happiest Mom looked, the cub thought. She must've found the way out! Suddenly, the cub was lifted by her ankle, dangling over the river full of chomping teeth. For once, the cub felt genuinely terrified.

...

"My mom called me this word meaning 'target'. Because, before I knew it, I became one for the crocs..."

...

As the newly-named Shabaha slipped through the jaws of the hungry float, she lost sight of her mother in the middle of the calamity. The cub eventually escaped, just pulling herself unto dry land. Her fur was stained green as she was completely soaked. Shaken. Realizing she'd escaped, though, pride filled Shabaha as she called to her mother to report she faced a new challenge. However, as she looked around, her mother was nowhere to be found. Her smile fell. Pretty soon, her heart pounded out of her chest as panic set in. Hours passed as she continued to search the area for her mother. Waves of patience and panic filled her throughout that time. She let it sink in: Mom was gone, and she wasn't coming back.

The cub suddenly began to sob sharply as she grabbed her head. She doubled over into a meltdown from an influx of emotions she couldn't identify, pounding and scratching at her head. She loudly bawled into the air and the sky, all alone. She couldn't understand why she was angry with herself, but it felt like her fault. She shouldn't have been scared of the crocodiles. Her cowardice is why Mom was gone. Shabaha never frowned again. From this day, forward, she was all smiles, no matter what drove her mad. Laughter erupted from the cub as she rocked herself out of much-deprived comfort. A laugh that would get her into much trouble in the inhospitable Outlands over the years. ...

More uncontrollable, maddened cackling in present day ensued, until it slowed to sobs.

"I spent a day -- maybe two, just wandering alone through the badlands, hoping maybe, just maybe my mom could just pop out from out of nowhere, changing her mind." Shabaha sniffed, "But, then Kasi and Imara and Tazama found me, one day, all off to find a prosperous land they were all planning to seek refuge in because their homes were in ruins."

"...and you all came to the Outlands." Vitani finished, remembering the day she met her future Lion Guard.

"Yeah, we were off on our projectory to the Pridelands, heh. Then your mom told us the Pridelands were a no-go till your bro would take over."

Vitani gave a short, courteous smile that soon fell. Zira's big, convoluted lie was a lot to think about, she deliberately pushed it aside to let Shabaha finish.

"But, yeah... your mom saw so much in me. An instant replacement for that empty part of me my mom left. Your mom became a role model for me as soon as she let us in and gave us a place in the pride..."

... The group of preteens who would eventually become known today as Vitani's Lion Guard introduced themselves as soon as Zira cared to know what their names were. She was pleased to have such young, teachable recruits. After assigning roles to the others, a certain plucky young lioness was next. "And what's your name?" the striped lioness inquired, staring the cub down. "Sh-Shabaha!" the cub awkwardly, yet enthusiastically beamed. Zira suddenly grinned, "Let's challenge the meaning of that name, shall we?" Over the years, Shabaha would be employed in tasks no other animal in the Outlands could face. She was the one they called when it came to relentlessly chasing down even the most difficult of targets, aiming accurately for the killing blow. She was the bravest animal in the Outlands, and the one of the most feared because of it. ...

Shabaha's face fell from pride to sorrow.

"But, then, Zira didn't last long either, and when that happened, everything changed again. Everyone's relationships changed, we were meeting so many new animals, a bunch of Outsiders left to find themselves after that unification ceremony, and... I almost left too."

"I remember that."

"Yup. I almost never became your Bravest. Though... I'm not sure if you still do have one. Not now, now that I told you all of this."

"Shabaha," Vitani's voice became firm, "there's nothing braver than facing something you've been pushing away your whole life. I've never been more certain of choosing you as my Bravest until just now."

"You... You don't think it takes away from -- Like, it doesn't change anything about me?"

"Being honest with yourself is an improvement, if anything." Vitani smiled warmly, "I think we both learned that, actually."

"Feels good, and scary, I think. It was a good thing to do, but I'm still afraid it'll change how everyone treats me."

"It might." Vitani confirmed bluntly, "But, we're all changing. For the better, actually."

Shabaha noticed this, too. Not only could she see changes within herself by reliving the very days that made her who she was, but she saw Vitani change, too. It wasn't easy, but she could see it was better to grow than to keep rehashing the past.

Tiifu ended up being right, in a way. Vitani did need to spread this attitude to her Guard. ____

Later that evening, Vitani decided to borrow the pride's time for an important announcement:

"...We are no longer under my mother's leadership. Things will be different from me. Changes being that I will listen to your needs, instead of pushing you harder. I love my mother dearly, but keeping everyone together is what matters. It's been a goal from the very establishment of our Lion Guard that I wanted to make things better with the Pridelanders, I want us to grow from our mother's departure from the Circle of Life."

The Guard smiled, especially Imara, Kasi, and Tazama, who had always felt Zira's old ways were wrong. They were proud to see Vitani grow.

"My leadership before made for a dysfunctional environment between my Guard, and I wrecked our reputation with the herds. I will practice patience for the needs of others," Vitani glanced towards Shabaha, "and the option to be discreet in consideration of other animals' privacy. I want the Guard to follow my example under my leadership, and grow from the past."

Shabaha didn't show it much, but she felt warm and fuzzy inside. She never knew how nice it felt to be heard and respected until now.

Meanwhile, Simba and Kovu smiled at Vitani's promise to grow better than the generation before, having taken the philosophy to heart long ago.

"I'm just really making sure you can trust us." Vitani's voice shook, truly anxious.

"We do, honey." Nala confirmed, "You've been working really hard."

"As we've told you before, you're not alone in your mistakes." Simba added, "When I became king, I had trouble with the herds' trust, myself."

Vitani smiled shyly, relieved the older adults weren't displeased with her, as she normally expected.

The lions ended the announcement with a supportive, rallying roar.

Vitani's decree could not come at a more dire time. The current Lion Guard needed compassion now more than ever to prove to the herds that they were not what Ngurumo twisted them to be.

There was no longer a need to fight fire with fire -- at least... not too much fire, knowing Vitani's unique powers. ____

((Author's Notes: I'll be honest, outside of a brief fear of my family members not making it back from traveling somewhere and imagining them dying alone far away from home stemming from events where a lot of pets I had/knew died around that time, I've never really dealt with abandonment issues beyond that. Rejection-Sensitive Dysphoria, an emotional dysregulation condition that often accompanies ADHD, however, has many overlaps with abandonment issues as they are both socially and emotionally-oriented, and checking many boxes for RSD was actually the ultimate way I realized I likely have ADHD. Basically I kinda plugged my adverse RSD experiences permanently affecting my life into Shabaha's abandonment/rejection issues as best as I could. So... if anything seems innaccurate about the way I wrote about abandonment issues in a character because I used what might possibly be too different of an issue, I apologize.

I headcanon Shabaha to have the hyperactive form of ADHD (whereas I likely have the inattentive form). She acts on impulse with little to no foresight, such as saying hurtful things without thinking about how they would affect someone, spontaneous vocalizations (funny noises or inappropriate laughter), a tendency to fidget, subjecting herself to outrageous stunts, people-pleasing tendencies (in her case: hiding her sadness with humor), and emotional dysregulation when it comes to rejection and/or abandonment. Her hyperactive ADHD is exacerbated by childhood neglect from her mentally-unstable mother. The particular child neglect Shabaha faced as a cub was complete emotional and physical disconnect from her mother, so Shabaha grew up without anyone telling her "no" when it came to danger, normalizing otherwise adverse experiences for her, and a dark way that she earned her spot as the Bravest. Her neglect continued in the Outlands in a way, giving her no healthy place to maturely express emotion.

Shabaha's actually my favorite Lion Guard member to write about, and is the one I had the most headcanons for. I apologize if I gave anyone a bad impression of her in earlier literature, her constant scoffing and belittling Vitani led up to this. This is not an excuse for her behavior, but rather an explanation. She is not a villain at all, but was definitely a recurring conflict until now.

Relevance and themes to Pride Month: While not explicitly explored here, I headcanon Shabaha as Aromantic/Pansexual (funnily the opposite of Kasi's Panromantic/Asexuality). She has no interest in intimacy but will try different experiences with different people. Because Shabaha's not a very critical thinker and struggles with empathy, she unfairly and irrationally projects her Aromantic experiences onto Vitani. As for her Pansexuality... well... my stories are PG-13 the oldest so her sexual experiences are not gonna be exhibited onscreen lol. Also, while a homosexual couple's relationship is being challenged in this story, it's not out of homophobia, but out of Shabaha's jealously, unstable relationships, and fear of change.

But anyways, while it may no longer be June, it's still Pride Month in my heart lol. Interestingly, July is Disability Pride Month, celebrating those living with disabilities and advocating for a more accommodating societal infrastructure. I presume it also covers neurodivergence and learning disabilities, if so, Shabaha's ADHD being explored here is fitting.))

#The Lion King #The Lion Guard #Vitani's Guard #TLK #TLG #Shabaha #Vitani #Tiifu #My Art

[kevcanwait]

Stray Kids Family

This is for @felixsbrat who loved the idea of one of my posts. I have yet to think of a full blown prompt so here’s silly little inserts.

HAHA Just kidding, while writing the first drabble I ended up creating a full story so 🤪 hehe, goofy times.

—-

Kai was left in charge of the little ones. Why? He doesn’t even know.

The five and three year old look up at him while he stands with his hands on his waist. “I’m gonna be honest…I don’t know what to do…” He decides to tell them. “Uh, what…uh, what do you guys want to do?”

“Um, can we cuwer?” Yongbok asked him and he scratches his head. “Uh, yeah, where- Do you know where it is?” “I do!” Channie says cheerfully and slides off the couch. Channie walks to Yongbok’s room, the younger also sliding off the couch and grabbing her uncles hand to pull him to the room.

Yongbok’s room was fitting for the young girl, who pulled Kai over to her blue play table where Channie was already placing coloring supplies and coloring books.

Yongbok let go of Kai’s hand, picking her favorite book and opening it, pulling Kai down to the table then sitting in his lap. The toddler pulling his arms to hug her then raising one arm to color in the book, holding on to one of his fingers, thinking it would keep him in place.

He looked up to see Channie coloring a paw patrol (First thing that came to mind 😅) coloring book, heavily focused on coloring in the lines while Yongbok scribbled the best she could since she wasn’t holding the book still.

Kai went to move a hand to hold the book still but the toddler huffed a whine, making her uncle sit still instead.

After Channie colored two and Yongbok one, Channie stood up and grabbed one of his hands. Yongbok fussed and tried to pull Kai away from Channie. “Hey, don’t fuss. What’s up, buddy?” “I’m hungry, Kai-samchon.” “Okay.” Yongbok whines and clings to Kai who just wraps his arm around her and stand up. “There you go, Bokkie. You can stay here.” She whines and hugs his neck tighter.

Walking into his sisters kitchen, he looks around while trying to figure out where everything is before Channie’s pulling his hand again, walking over to the counter next to the sink and pointing to the upper cabinet.

Kai opened it to see Channie’s snacks, the boy reaching up for Kai to pick him up and then leaning to the counter. “Do you usually stand on the counter?” He asked with a smile as Channie pulled out two soft sandwich cookies after Kai placed him on the counter, opening them both and placing his on the wrapper next to his feet before tapping Yongbok’s shoulder.

She only moved her head to look at Channie who smiled softly. Kai smiled at Channie who stood on the counter in the kitchen feeding his cousin bits of a cookie before he even touched his own.

When Yongbok finished her cookie, she nuzzled back into Kai’s neck while Channie moved to sit on the counter to finally eat his. “How’d you know to give her small bites?” Kai asked, bouncing lightly when he saw the young girl start to fall asleep. “I watch Lina-sungmo feed her when they watch me. Bokie doesn’t like big bites.” He muttered as he bit the cookie, some of the icing middle getting on his cheek and Kai moved one arm under Yongbok to reach over to wipe the icing off of him.

“I’m gonna go lay her down. You good up here for a moment?” The boy nods with a smile while Kai goes back to the bedroom to put the girl in bed and tuck her in with her chicken plushie.

Closing the door, he hears Channie land on the tile flooring in the kitchen then hears the fridge open.

Sneaking into the kitchen, he silently bends down to the boys height and then scoops him up with a playful growl as he pretends to eat him. “What are you doing?” He says with a smile still holding the boy in his arms still. “Juice.” He says, pointing at a premade bottle that Kai grabbed and gave to him.

He shut the fridge and moved an arm behind Channie’s legs and scooping him up, the boy giggling as Kai walking to the living room.

“What do you want to watch?” “I don’t care.” Kai smiles and turns the tv on, seeing a child’s channel was left on previously.

Chan crossed his legs in Kai’s lap, his left hand at his side holding Kai’s hand while his other hand held his juice to his mouth.

A few commercials and episodes go by when Channie moved to sit sideways in Kai’s lap and curl up, cup forgotten to the right of them as he fell asleep on his uncles chest.

Kai smiled and carefully carried the boy to Yongbok’s room where his bed was set up on the opposite side, tucking the boy in and giving him his wolf plushie before checking on Yongbok then leaving.

Quietly shutting the door, he sighs.

Walking into the living room, he picks up some toys that he now noticed that must’ve been from before his sister and brother-in-law left with Yongbok’s parents.

He takes Channie’s bottle to the kitchen and rinses it out, putting it on the drying rack. Exhaling a deep breath after a moment to think he moves to the fridge to see what his sister has.

Eventually he surprisingly finds Tteokbeokki, probably because his sister knows he likes it a lot, and then he saw in the cabinet some noodles.

He was putting hot water in the noodles when he heard soft padding and sniffles. Turning around he see little Yongbok, hugging her stuffie closely and rubbing her eyes, tears rolling down her face.

Kai gasps and is quick to go over to her and pick her up. “Bokkie, what’s wrong, jagi?” Kai says soft as he rubs her back. “Baddie.” “Baddie? Bad dream?” she whimpers and nuzzled her face further into Kai’s shoulder. “What happened?” “Eomma and Appa fight…they leave Bokkie.” She cried and hugged her plushie closer.

Kai sighs at his sister’s brother-in-law and sister-in-law. He knew they fought but he didn’t know it was happening so much that Yongbok wound have bad dreams about it.

“Have you had this type of dream before?” She slowly nods and Kai closes his eyes for a moment before exhaling slowly and opening them again. “It’s okay, Bokkie, alright?” He says, rubbing her back.

He turns back into the kitchen, moving her to his hip and going back to making ramen. “Are you hungry? I made me and Channie food but I don’t know what you want.” “Sam-ich” Kai grins and sits her on the counter. “What kind?” “Peanut.” “PB and J?” she nods, holding her hand to her mouth to bite her shirt sleeve and hugs the plushie tightly.

As he’s making the sandwich, Yongbok sits calmly on the counter, young eyes flitting everywhere as she watches Kai move about.

He picks her up to place her on the floor and tells her to go wake up her cousin as he takes all the food to the living room with another juice for Channie and a juice for Yongbok.

She waddles back in, struggling but succeeding at wiggling onto the couch and next to Kai. Channie trudges in with his wolf plush as he sits in Kai’s lap. “Hi Channie. How was you nap?” “s’good.” the boy mumbles as he yawns and rubs his eyes.

“Here’s your juice, I can feed you when you wake up more.” He slowly takes the juice and takes a sip as Kai looks over to Yongbok who placed her chicken stuffy next to her and placed a piece of her cut up sandwich in front of it. The older male smiling at the fact that she was feeding her plush.

While she was distracted by the tv or mumbling something to Channie, he reached behind her and picked up the sandwich, taking a bite and placing it back, giving in to her imagination cause she’s so adorable.

She gasps and shows the sandwich to Kai who plays along, she places it back and glares at her plush for a little bit before turning back to the tv. This time Kai picked it up and ate the whole thing, smiling when she turns back and gasps that the piece was gone, Kai hiding the fact the sandwich was still in his mouth with a bite of his own noodles.

Eventually, they finished eating and Kai put on a movie instead of random shows on tv. The sound of the door unlocking and it creaking open had him looking over. The kids were too focused on the tv, sipping on their juices and cuddled into Kai comfortably under a blanket.

“Hey guys.” Yongbok looked up and smiled with her sippy cup still in her mouth. “Eomma!!” She cried and ran over to the older woman, crying into her shoulder.

“Yongbok, are you okay?” Lina said as Channie got up and ran over to his own mother who picked him up and kissed his cheek.

Kai knew Yongbok was crying cause she was happy her mom was actually there.

“Um…Lina, Seungmin, can I talk to you for a moment?” Kai asked when he made his way over. The two look at each other before Lina hands Yongbok to Jisung and the three go to the kitchen as the others go to the living room.

“What’s wrong?” Kai sighs, not really liking the idea of confrontation but he wants to protect his niece. “Um, I know it’s none of my business but I want to protect Yongbok.” “Did something happen?” Seungmin asked and Kai sighed.

“After Yongbok fell asleep and took a nap, while I was making them food, she came to me crying because of a baddie.” Lina sighs and looks at her feet. “I asked her what it was about and…um, well, she had a bad dream that you two fought and…left her behind.” Lina looks up at that, shock on her face.

She thought it was a bad dream about a monster or something else like she’s gone to them for before. This was completely different as she looks over at Seungmin who had a look of guilt. “I know you guys are having…difficulties but…” He bit his lip as he watches the couple. “Could you fix it just a bit…just so you don’t hurt your daughter anymore? She told me that she’s had them before.” Lina looked back to the male with glossy eyes and nods. Walking past him while wiping unshed tears and into the living room.

“Come on, Yongbok.” The little girl ran over to her mother and hugged her tightly when she was picked up. Kai was wondering where they were going to go since the whole family lives in one house when he sees Lina take the toddler to Hyuna’s room.

“What happened?” Hyuna asked as she walked up. “She woke up from her nap crying. Had a nightmare that the two of them fought and left her behind. She’s also had them before apparently.” Kai finally let his emotions out with a single tear.

Kai loves too much. He’s a ball of awkward shyness wrapped with protectiveness, caring, and sensitivity, protecting a soft heart.

Hyuna reaches up and wipes the tear away before pulling her brother in for a hug, Kai wrapping his arms around her as her own arms wrap around his shoulders. “She’ll be okay, Kai. Alright? They’ll be okay.” He squeezes his arms around her waist before pulling back. “Thanks Hyuna.” “Of course. Now, where’s Bin?”

Kai cocked his head. “What do you mean?” The woman looks at him in shock. “Has Bin been here the whole time?!” He asked and looked over to his brother-in-law before going to Bin’s room and knocking on the door, pushing it open when he hears a noise of acknowledgement.

“Have you been here the whole time?!?” Kai asked, his voice almost desperate and confused. “Uh…yeah?” He asked confused. “I told you that you were looking after ALL the kids, Kai!!” Hyuna yelled and he turned towards her. “I thought he went out!! I didn’t hear a single thing from him!!” He yelled back to his sister.

“Did you go to Yongbok’s room?” “Yeah.” “YOU WALKED PAST HIS ROOM!!” “HES QUIET!!” “Can you shut my door?” The male asks and Kai turns back to him. “Why didn’t you make yourself present? I had no idea you were here.” He shrugs and just points to his tv. “I hadn’t really had a reason to leave my room yet.” He says casually and kai sighs.

“Wait a minute, YOU FORGOT ABOUT MY OTHER SON??!” Hyuna yelled and Kai turned back to her afraid. “I didn’t mean to, I swear!! I honestly thought he left or whatever!!” He defended as she walked over to him, shutting her eldest sons door before dragging Kai to the living room. “Ow! Ow! Hyuna, I’m sorry.” Channie laughs and claps his hands in Jisung’s lap. “This isn’t funny, kid!!” The boy just keeps smiling.

Hyuna was about to chew out her brother when Lina came back out with slightly red eyes and no Yongbok. “She, uh…fell asleep. I’m sorry Kai.” Kai smiles slightly, looking at his sister, afraid as he slowly stood up and walked over to Lina to give her a hug.

“Why are you tense?” She asked. “I forgot Changbin was here.” He says with a sheepish smile.

—-ALTERNATE ENDING—-

“Thanks Hyuna.” “Of course.”

Lina came back out with slightly red eyes and Seungmin who’s expression is unreadable. “Where’s Yongbok?” “Um, sh-she fell asleep after, uh, crying again. I’m sorry, Kai.” She says and Kai walks over to her, giving her a hug and rubbing her back. “It’s okay. As long as it will get better.” “It will. Thank you for telling us.” “You’re welcome.”

They pull away when a teen comes out of his room, headphones on his head as he bobs along to the song playing and scrolling on his phone. “Bin?!” Kai asked confused and he took his headset off. “Yeah?” “Have you been here the whole time?!”

Hyuna turns so fast it shocked Kai before he realized what he said and took his hands away from comforting Lina to raise them in defense. “You forgot about Bin?!” “I thought he left with friends or something!!” “I told you ALL OF THE KIDS!! NOT JUST THE TODDLERS!!”

After a while, Kai’s ear was red and burning from being grabbed and pulled, he never did like getting scolded by his sister…so he forgot a kid, not a big deal right? hehe, oops…

Also, Channie laughed the whole time, sitting in Jisung lap as he watched his Mom scold her brother.

—- —- —-

AHH i actually really like how this turned out 😭 its perfect and I love it so much 🥹 I hope y’all like it too, ugh it’s so good and i don’t say that about my writing often.

The ending was on the spot since I had actually forgotten about Changbin 😅 and IN is missing too because i didn’t know how to add him in 😓 I’ll think of something and maybe add it in later, don’t know yet.

Ugh, it’s so good 🥰

#bleh #random #my brain is weird #real life #straykids #stray kids #Stray kids family #self insert 9th stray kids member #self insert #bang chan #han jisung #hyunjin #wooo 🥳 #lee felix #lee know #lee minho #seo changbin #kim seungmin #yang jeongin #even though i didn’t add him 🥹

[starsurface]

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Little Kung Lao w/ CG Bi-Han (Fic) Pt 1

"I'll be back soon!" Raiden chuckled, ruffling Kung Lao's head. "You won't even notice me gone!"

"Lier," Kung Lao huffed, crossing his arms. "You're gonna be gone for so long!!"

"Just a few hours," Raiden kissed his forehead. "But you can call me whenever you want. And Bi-Han's and you are gonna have so much fun!"

Kung Lao eyed Bi-Han, who raised an eyebrow in response. Bi-Han had never watched Kung Lao before. Raiden had tried others, of course. Johnny wasn't in the country right now. Kuai Liang was on a date. And Tomas himself was small right now. He and Kenshi were supposed go see the movies tonight. Kung Lao had slipped a little bit ago.

He swore he could watch himself. But after the vase incident, Raiden didn't want to chance it.

Kuai Liang had actually suggested Bi-Han to help watch him. Bi-Han didn't often watch regressors, but he had apparently helped watch his brother thousands of times. There was also the fact he helped raise them. Kuai Liang warned Raiden that Bi-Han might get a bit too . . . strict at times. But he was a pretty decent caregiver!

Bi-Han liked watching littles. Even if he'd never admit it, he happily accepted the request to watch over Kung Lao. He also wouldn't admit it, but it had been some time since watching someone little. He wasn't nervous . . . But he was a bit nervous. Kuai Liang had Harumi now, and Tomas, for some reason, had been regressing by himself again.

It had also been some time since he had babysat an actual child. Unless he counted Hanzo, who was annoying . . . And promising in his skills. But Bi-Han wouldn't admit that either.

Kung Lao didn't seem convinced by Raiden's words.

"No we're not," he pouted, kicking the ground.

"We're not?" Bi-Han asked. Kung Lao looked squeamish.

"Well . . . we could," Kung Lao admitted before hugging Raiden, hiding in his shoulder. "But you're gonna be gone for so long! . . . What if I miss you?"

"You can call me, silly," Raiden reminded him. "Is something wrong, Kung Lao? You seemed to excited to have a playdate earlier."

Kung Lao puffed out his cheeks. He was excited to have Bi-Han watch over him, but that didn't mean he wasn't nervous. Bi-Han looked so intimidating, and his scowl wasn't helping.

"No, nothings wrong," Kung Lao shook his head.

"Just feeling a bit shy?" Raiden asked, rubbing Kung Lao's back. "It's alright, Lao. I'll be back soon! And you can call me whenever you want, okay?"

"Fine," Kung Lao grumbled. "You have my 'mermission to leave."

"I have your permission to leave?" Raiden asked, which Kung Lao proudly nodded to. "Well I'm glad. I'll be back in a few hours, why don't you go get some toys for you and Bi-Han to play with?"

"I show him all my toys!" Kung Lao gasped, rushing out of the room.

"Your sure you'll be okay with me watching him?" Bi-Han asked, uncrossing his arms.

"If anything happens you can always call me, I'll keep my phone on sound," Raiden said, grabbing his bag. "And if you need help with dialing me, Kung Lao knows how to call me."

"I know how to dial someone," Bi-Han grumbled. It wasn't a complete lie . . . Earthrealm technology was confusing at times. He's rather just text instead. "Does he have a bedtime or any type of schedule?"

"Uuuuh, I'll text you the rule list! We still need to make an actual physical list," Raiden said, quickly texting Bi-Han. "I'd recommend making him something easy for dinner, like Mac and Cheese! There are some Paw Patrols shaped ones in the cabinet. Your sure you're okay with watching him?"

"I've watched an energetic puppy who accidentally tore off his favorite stuffed bear's ear," Bi-Han said. "I'm sure an energetic toddler won't be much different."

"Was the stuffy okay?" Raiden asked, looking concern. A torn stuffie was never a fun situation. He had experience from both sides.

"Make it out of surgery just fine," Bi-Han nodded. He was proud in his sewing skills.

"Was that a . . . joke?" Raiden asked. Bi-Han shot him an icy glare. "No! No, it was funny! I just wasn't expecting you to say surgery. Maybe to Kung Lao, since he's small right now, but . . . I'm sorry."

"It's whatever," Bi-Han uncrossed his arms.

His tone didn't make it seem fine. But Raiden understood that Bi-Han wasn't upset with him or anything. He would have insulted him if he was. Or glared at him and stayed silent.

"Papa?" Kung Lao frowned as he stared past Bi-Han, towards the hallway.

"He went bye-bye. It you and me now, kid," Bi-Han said, sitting on the couch. Like a normal person, not like his brothers. Sitting on the rest or sprawling out across it was unprofessional, un Lin Kuei like. "He'll be back in a few hours."

"How many?" Kung Lao asked.

"About four-"

"Four!" Kung Lao cut him off with a gasped whine. "That's too long!"

"Do you want to call him?" Bi-Han asked.

Kung Lao looked conflicted. He didn't want Bi-Han to feel unwelcome. But he also really wanted Papa back. But Papa hadn't even left yet! He had probably just gotten into the car! And what if Bi-Han got upset by how clingy he was being? He shouldn't be this clingy. He was so excited about this playdate too!!

And Bi-Han's facial expression and tensed body didn't help. He looked upset. Was he upset? No, that was just Bi-Han's normal face. He was just being silly, overthinking like this. What would Papa tell him right now?

". . . . Can we?" Kung Lao finally whispered.

Bi-Han sighed and pulled out his phone. Kung Lao tensed at his sigh, but Bi-han patted the seat next to him. Kung Lao shuffled over, helping him call his Papa.

Bi-Han had already decided this was going to be a long night.

<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

Pt2 - Pt3 - Pt4

#age regression #agere #sfw age regression #mortal kombat agere #sfw agere #mk agere #mk1 #mortal kombat 1 #mortal kombat #bi han mk #mk bi han #bi han #mk1 bihan #cg bi han #caregiver bi han #mk kung lao #kung lao mk #kung lao #mk1 kung lao #little kung lao #regressor kung lao #mk1 bi han #raiden #mk1 raiden #cg raiden #caregiver raiden

[kajaono]

Killing off Ilsa was both damaging for Grace and Ilsa

I already saw two accusation flying around saying that 1. we are pitting Grace and Ilsa against each other and 2. that we are reducing Grace to a love interest.

So let me give some context. When I was sitting in MI7 i was hoping the whole time we would see Grace and Ilsa working together. Or we would see Ilsa working with the female killer, to cause chaos. In short, for the movie to pass the Bechdel test. It didn't happened. Which already left me disappointed. So many women and none of them has a single interaction with eachother. What a shame

But why do I care so much? Its an action movie after all. Why do I excpect female characters to be treated correctly in the MI movies? In short, when the MI movies started they were like a second Bond. Especially the women were Bond girls. Easy replacable. Don't get me started on the femme fatale trope of MI1 or the damsel in distress in MI2. And the Bond movies struggle so much to get away from this hurtful potrayal of female characters. The MI movie didn't. Quickly they developed cool, kick ass female agents who were equal to Ethan and NOT his love interests. BUT (and that is thing everything boils down to eventually) they were still replacable. Not the men, they weren't, because they are men. But the female actresses all got replaced with every new movie being released. UNTIL Ilsa. And that makes her so special. We finally finally had a woman who got her time to devlop a character, a back story, because she stayed longer then one movie. And from the beginning onwards she was a troubled character (and not in the tragic damsel in distress way Nyah was.) She was complex because she had time to be complex. This isn't about ilsa. This could also have been Jane Carter or Nyah or Zhen, because they all deserved it. But it took us five movies and 16 years to finally get a female character who was allowed to stay around.

Then Grace appeared. When I saw her, my hope was that she would be yet another cool kick ass female character who would stay around for longer (so far, i was true) and work together with Ilsa. Female soldiarity. As equals. Finally making the team more female, moving it away from the whole tierd trope "three men and one women" (which is so outdated and still gets used in shows like Paw Patrol. It is like we haven't moved a single bit in female representation. there can only be one woman)

And this is the problem. I am sure there are Ilsa stans who pit Ilsa against Grace, no question on that. But the bigger problem is that the movie did it first. MI6 had this wonderful scene where Ilsa says about Julia: "I like her".

I hoped for something like that between Ilsa and Grace but what did we got: "Only one can survive" So it was always one against another. There can only be one woman. But why? Why MCQ? Why can't there be two?

Because now Ilsa is dead. And she isn't THE woman anymore. She isn't the woman anymore who was not replaced by yet another female character. No, now she is just one of many. Claire, Nyah, Zhen, Jane, Lindsey, Ilsa, Grace.

Ilsa is now just a name on a list. And the horrible thing is: Grace as well. By killing off Ilsa you showed that BOTH Ilsa and Grace are replacable. And thats horrible.

Hayley (Grace) was/is supposed to be the next Ethan Hunt. But now her role of a hero will be always founded on a dead woman. Which btw is the reason that many casual fans already said: They love Grace but the moment Ilsa died, they started hating Grace/ or: The moment ilsa died they decided they wouldn't watch another MI movie EVEN THOUGH they love Grace and thinks its a pity for her

And thats what I think too, you could have had TWO amazing female heros. But instead MCQ killed one of them to bring up the other. This is NOT the female representation i want in my movies

Also if Hayley will take over the MI movies she needs good starting conditions. Look how much people hated that a woman of color took over the 007 title for one minute. Imagine what will happen when studios say: Ethan Hunt is done, here is Grace" People (Men) will be furious anyway. Already making them furious now by pitting her against Ilsa and building her legancy on Ilsa is the worst start her character could have and i wonder why MCQ didn't considered that. I mean MI TV show stans are still angry at the first MI movie and refuse to watch the movie movies completly for what happened in MI1.

2. So is saying "Grace is just a stand in for Ilsa" sexist? No. But the movie treats her like one and thats sexists. Grace is amazing! She is funny, she is lovable, she is deeply human and a really clever thief. But instead of using those talents to let the movie shine, MCQ decided that Ethan would turn to her minutes after Ilsa died, touch her, nearly kiss her etc. Which is like...? Same things he did with Ilsa one hour ago in the desert. Does that reduces Ilsa and Grace to a love intrerest? No, both are so much more. But it is established that Ethan has a thing for brown haired women. His wife was one, his girlfriend was one, Ilsa was one and then Grace walks on the screen, with the same fashion scene as Ilsa etc. But without the established backstory. Still kinda helpless und clueless. Yeah she can fight and save herself and is kickass. But the whole thing is that Grace is "Before joining an agent organisation" and Ilsa is "after leaving an agent organisation" was... really telling imo. Take that the way you like

That Ethan seemed to have an instant attraction to both Grace and Ilsa was only a part of the mirroring, part of a bigger picture, it doesn't reduce Ilsa or Grace to a love interest

Edit: I noticed this part sounds confusing. To summarize it. Ilsa is: established backstory + fighting skills + saves herself + love interested. Grace is: no established backstory + thief skills + kinda saves herself + love interest. Because she doesn't has a troubled past like Ilsa the focus was shifting so much stronger to the love interest part of her, that even though that she is so much more then that, eventually she just felt like another: Amazing super agent who can kick ass, but who is eventually only there to kiss the male main character to boost his ego and to help him learn a lesson and become more humble" What we already had so so many times. And is so boring. Ilsa was more then that because of her backstory. But then go a stand in with Grace. And so we end up at the „both are replaceable“ part again

Funny that MCQ hated the idea of Ilsa being a love interest so much that he rather had her dying then her kissing Ethan. While it was him who wrote multiple kissing scenes in the first place and it was him who immeditaly wrote "and ethan gets all touchy touchy on Grace" So MCQ, whats the truth?

TL:DR: Killing of Ilsa hurted both Grace and Ilsa and was a step backwards in female representation in action movies because Ilsa and Grace should have fought along side each other. The legacy of one woman shouldn't be build on the death of another

#mission impossible #mi7 #ilsa faust #grace #mission impossible dead reckoning

[blimbo-buddy]

Housefire AU: Kittypet Art

unlike clan cats, kittypets tend to have a lot more free time on their paws and a way they tend to spend that time is by interacting with the community, one of the many ways they do this is theatre. there's a open area at the town square where cats will gather, all just to watch the many shows the brilliant minds of the community have thought up with. here's a two of the more popular reoccuring shows and what part of the season they're usually centered around. a broken hive (autumn): this one centers around the tale of bumble, a young cat running away from her abusive mate to find love in the mysterious group of wildcats. there are many inaccuracies to this tale and characters may be misnamed, graywing is commonly only known as an unnamed and is shoved to side of these tales, sometimes only being there to drag away a kicking and screaming bumble in one scene. most clan cats are described to be monstrous in this play, especially any future leaders that are featured (usually they will played as puppets carved out of wood and various twoleg trash) in the end turtle is the only one crying at her grave and is seen 'running away' from the clans after (instead of searching for her lost kits). her fate is left ambiguous to the audience the tale of mike (spring): this story is much more kit-friendly, which is why it's commonly played when the young ones are the most out and about. to keep it short, mike is a young orphaned kit raised by two old mollys. it is obvious from birth that mike was no ordinary kit, being able to take down an entire patrol of wild cat goons at a few months old. the plot centers around mike having to do 12 tasks after angering a spirit due to not treating it as a proper house guest. each task is based around morals such as: humility, respect of one's elders, kindness etc. when mike does all of these tasks, the spirit is impressed and promises to give mike a boon, in which the young kit asks for a new toy. causing the spirit to laugh and giving mike a small mouse doll that will never wear out or become broken from claws or biting.

hoooly fuck frog this is amazing this is incredible. the two plays are so cool and whimsical especially The Tale of Mike

I'm imagining how tragic A Broken Hive is and god save me help me somebody out there. Also I think it's interesting the fact that the play itself implies that Bumble's abusive mate might be Tom, which could also bring up implications of the irritating parts of Chelford, believing that just because two cats live together means they are mates. Gotta love that GreyWing has no important role lmao fuck GreyWing. Just the clan cats being played as puppets is such a cool visual.. imagine TallShadow being a physical puppet but the cats use a light against the wall to cast over the puppet's shadow to make her, well, a tall shadow

The Tale of Mike is such a whimsical little one from the summary, I can see how it's more kit friendly considering it's lighthearted and packed with morals, shout out to the two old mollys we love old people around here. I like how Mike doesn't want anything grand or amazing, he just wants a little small doll mouse that won't wear out which puts emphasis on how sometimes it's the little things in life that will give us the most happiness

eating these plays up frog I'm fucking lovin' this. Wonder if there's any "graphic" plays that isn't suitable for kits because of how bloody and violent it gets

#blimbo rambles #ask #wc #warrior cats theater kids chelford edition

[fandoms-uniteds-blog]

My Top 10 Favorite Cartoons!

Number 10 Octonauts

What attracted me to this show when I was ten was the lessons on animals since most shows for little kids are about shapes, numbers, letter, and other boring stuff. But not the Octonauts! They talk about two of my favorite things: science and animals. And sea creatures no less. When was the last time you’ve seen a show meant for young children that educated them on the ocean and everything in it? Maybe that one show on PBS with the Cat in the Hat? But I like Octonauts better. Just look at those designs. Absolutely adorable!

It’s simple, it’s cute, and it’s surprisingly interesting sometimes.

I used to be super embarrassed for watching a show meant for toddlers since I’m in my twenties, but then I found out that their are grown adults that enjoy wholesome shows too, like Paw Patrol and PJ Masks! It was a nice relief to know that I wasn’t the only one.

Number 9 Wander over Yonder

This has got to be the sweetest show to every be put on Television. Most main characters have to be strong and cool and have an internal struggle to be impressing, but Wander doesn’t. He’s the cinnamon roll of all cinnamon rolls!

All he does is travel the universe with his bestie Sylvia (in a bubble!) and goes sightseeing. And if he happens to help people along the way, even better!

What gets me about this show is that Wonder’s optimistic and naivety doesn’t always lead to everything being hunky dory. Sometimes being nice gets him in trouble or makes even the simplest tasks harder than necessary. Heck, if Sylvia wasn’t there to have his back, his kindness would be a lot easier to take advantage of.

And I love that because it’s true that sometime being nice doesn’t feel as accomplishing as is should and can even backfire on us. But even though Wander’s experienced betrayal and hardships in his life, he still has enough hope in his heart to keep helping people.

Number 8 LEGO Ninjago

I remember when this show came out all those years ago. Back when TV’s were these big, chunky machines and you had to prop them up on tables instead of mounting them on walls.

This show is full of so much creativity and lore. From the elemental powers, to Ninjago City’s history, to the characters, and even the ideas that were dropped, it’s no wonder why the show’s still going. It’s great watching Kai, Jay, Cole, and Zane make friends, battle enemies, learn life lessons, discover secrets about themselves, and go on the craziest adventures.

I ended up being too busy because of middle school after season 3 ended and missed out of the rest of it up until Sea Bound was announced. Thanks to the birthday specials LEGO did for Ninjago’s anniversary, I learned that the show was still running and on Netflix. So me and my sister binge watched the series from the start and we fell right back in love with it.

Number 7 Transformers Animated

Out of all the Transformers series, this one is my personal favorite. Yes the other shows are pretty good too, but this one is different from all the other shows, comics, games, and movies. And I like different!

Optimus Prime has been depicted as a lot of things. A war hero that keeps his men’s spirits up with good humor and cheesy quips (G1). A powerful warrior who has become jaded after a millennia of war (Bay). A stoic leader and friend who won’t give up hope for a better future (Prime). But TFA Optimus isn’t any of that. If anything, he’s a little bit of everything but still his own thing.

And Optimus’s not the only one who’s different. Prowl is a nature loving ninja, Ratchet is a grouchy war veteran who cares about his team, Bulkhead is full of knowledge and creativity, and Bumblebee is the kid of the group with a lot to learn. The Decepticons are just as entertaining too with their own unique abilities and personalities.

All in all, there isn’t any other version of Transformers like this one and I wish more long time franchises would try something new from time to time.

Number 6 LEGO Monkie Kid

Based on one of the four classic Chinese literatures, Monkie Kid is a wonderful adaptation of a four hundred year old book that’s had a crap ton of movies, shows, and even an upcoming video game inspired by it.

I’m very picky about shows and movies based on history, mythology, or folklore. I like it when it’s accurate, but understand when things have to be changed around. It’s why I’m not the biggest Disney’s Hercules fan since they got the mythology completely and utterly wrong.

But Monkie Kid is freaking amazing. The amination is so colorful and lively and exhilarating! MK, the Monkey King, and all of their friends are so much fun to watch and I love all of them. The story is wild and mystical, which is fitting since Chinese folklore makes little to no sense but is still entertaining as heck. Don’t believe me? Read the original Journey to the West novels and just try to make logical sense out of it. Like why the dragon stays a horse for 95% of the book when he can be a huge fire breathing dragon!

I used to bug my little sister to watch this show with me all the time. And her being the little sh*t that she is always said “no” just because she has this weird habit of turning me down. But I was finally able to tie her down and force her to watch the first season! And guess what? She liked it! All this talk about NoT bEiNg InTeReStEd and now she’s getting ready to go cosplay as MK for a convention!

Number 5 Gargoyles

This has got to be Disney’s coolest show of all time. Disney usually sticks with cutey family friendly stuff like Duck Tales and Goof Troop, but they decided to take a risk and try to gain an older audience with Gargoyles. And they succeeded!

The show’s based on some of Shakespeare's books and has a good mix of fantasy and sci-fi. Especially when it takes places in 90′s New York. It also teaches a lot of mature life lessons like the importance of taking responsibility for your actions, the dangers of being stubborn and in denial, prejudice, gun safety, death, and so much more.

The characters are all lovable tropes of the 90′s, including the smart one (Lexington), the big eater (Broadway), the guy who wants to look cool but is actually a dork (Brooklyn), the dog (Bronx), the wise mentor (Hutson), the badass leader (goliath), and the girl of the group (Elisa). But their personalities and arcs are expanded on after the first few episodes. And the people they met also get a chance to shine in their own way and I appreciate that.

I’d recommend this to anyone who’s into Shakespeare or anyone who needs something to push their interest towards those kinds of stories.

Number 4 Arcane

I’m not a gamer, so I have little to no information on League of Legends. I don’t know the characters, the landscapes, the items, the history, or the lore of this world. But you don’t need to be a LoL fan to watch Arcane.

The animation? Gorgeous. The music? Amazing. The action? Thrilling! The characters? Complex. The voice acting? Impressive. And the story in general? Captivating.

I like how this show demonstrates how everyone’s actions have consequences and that there’s more to people than meets the eyes. Humans (and whatever other creatures exist in this world) are complex being and the choices we make don’t just affect our own life, but the lives of others too. Seeing the domino effect of everyone’s actions is as entertaining as it is nerve wracking since no one knows what the end results will be until it’s too late.

Another thing I love about this show is that it’s a Netflix original so it’s translated in Spanish. I was able to watch Arcane with my parents and they loved it. It was so much fun watching their reactions to the action, the conflict, and the sisters’ relationship because the two of them are very vocal and expressive. When the season one finale ended with that jaw dropper of a cliffhanger, they were both waiting for me to put on the next episode. They were devastated when I told them that that was it and had to wait for season two.

Number 3 Final Space

Like most animated series nowadays, Final Space is a mix of goofy, angsty, and lore heavy. But then, as the series progresses, the angst is doubled, if not tripled, and the side characters are given a chance to be fleshed out.

Everyone in the show has a story to tell. Gary, Mooncake, Avocato, Little Cato, Quinn, HUE, and everyone else have a past that ends with them being brought together to help each other reach their goals. Each with their own strength, weaknesses, and arcs to go through that make us love or hate them.

The first season is easily a fun space adventure with a few mysterious for us to look forward to and heart felt moments that have us sobbing. Then season two ups the stakes with the universe needing saving and more trauma for the characters to endure. And then there’s season three, which hits us in the feels in every episode and leaves us with an ending like no other.

If you're going to watch this show, then I’d advise you to prepare yourself emotionally.

Number 2 Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

If you haven’t guessed one of my guilty pleasures from my favorite Transformers shows, I like it when the usual formula is shaken up a bit.

The TMNT franchise has had dozens of shows, movies, comics, and video games dedicated to these guys. All of them about four mutant turtles in their teens being raised as ninjas by their rat father and using their skills to fight all kinds of evil lurking in New York City.

But Rise turns the sci-fi into fantasy and use that to give us something brand new. Not just rebooted, but reimagined! Each turtle is a different species, they have their own unique powers, they have different personalities from their previous incarnations, and the adventures they go on feel a lot more fun and sometimes grander than before.

And it’s not just the TMNT part that I love. The animation is jaw dropping. The voice acting is very fitting. The humor leaves me laughing every time. The action scenes are so fast and creative. The characters are likable and memorable. And the brotherly relationship of Leo, Raph, Donnie, and Mikey are put front and center for us to gush over.

I know some people have a thing about changes, but if you give this show a chance, I swear you’ll love it.

Number 1 Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart

I have never related to a fictional character before, much less three, yet here they are in the form of a grumpy cat with big dreams, a cybernetic badger with a big imagination, and a chaotic bat with a big heart.

And if you’ve watched even one episode of the show and know what I mean when I say that I relate to them, then yes, you should be very concern for my mental health.

This show is truly a treasure. It has everything I love in a cartoon and more. It has fluff, angst, mystery, comedy, friendship, bromance, humor, hurt/comfort, sci-fi, fantasy, anthro animals, and the classic found family trope all rolled into one! What else is there to say other than this show is nothing less than amazing. The characters are charming, the world is interesting, the adventures are entertaining, the visual humor is hilarious, and the main trio have their own tragic backstories that make them easy to sympathize with.

Funny story: me and my little sister were watching it together and she started laughing her butt off when Badgerclops was complaining to Mao Mao and Adorabat about having too many chores. I was glad she was enjoying herself until it got to the part where Badgerclops was says something along the lines of “It’s always Badgerclops, fix the arocycle. Badgerclops, go get groceries. It’s overwhelming dude!” Then my b*tch of a sister turns to me with a sh*t eating grin and goes “Rose, do the dishes. Rose, clean the bathroom,” and laughed in my face!

It’s not my fault I live with a bunch of gluttons who can’t put their dirty dishes in the kitchen or wipe the bathroom sink after they splash water everywhere!

...

Wait a minute, why do a lot of of my favorite shows end in tragedy?! And I don’t mean the final episode or whatever, I mean the program as a whole! Final Space was canceled after giving us a depressing season three finale, Gargoyles had a terrible season three because Disney switched their writers with people who knew nothing about the show and had to wing it, Transformers Animated was cancelled when a season four was planned, ROTTMNT was “put on hold” for years until the movie came out with hopes of bringing it back, Wander over Yonder was going to have a season three with an ever bigger baddy but was shot down, and Mao Mao was promised a season two until a certain company that will burn in hell took that away from us!

Hopefully Ninjago, Arcane, Octonauts, and Monkie Kid aren’t hit with the same bad luck.

Just how many more amazing shows were screwed over and why are they always the ones I love?!

#mao mao: heroes of pure heart #mmhoph #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #rotmnt #tmnt #final space #arcane #gargoyles #disney's gargoyles #monkie kid #lego monkie kid #lmk #transformers #transformers animated #tfa #south park #lego ninjago #ninjago #octonauts #top 10 #cartoons #animation

[pawpatroller]

Pups Stops Sticky Fingers

LittleJ-Vampire wanted a Chase story, but I wasn't sure what to write, so I got an idea after watching an old Sherlock Homes movie. If Rubble can have Apollo the Super Pup. Why not a detective pup for Chase? I hope he likes it.

It is a quiet day in Adventure Bay, and the pups decide to play at the park. They stopped by Chase’s pup house and knocked on his room. Chase opens the door wearing a deerstalker hat and a cape. Zuma sees him and starts to laugh. “You look silly dude. We are going to the park. Do you want to come with us?”

Chase shakes his head. “No thanks. A new episode of Sherlock Bones is coming on and I want to see it.”

Zuma laughs. “That’s a little puppy’s show”

Chase shakes his head. “No it isn’t. Sherlock Bones is the world’s greatest detective pup.”

Zuma shrugs. “Whatever dude. We are going to the park.”

Chase watches the pups leave to go to the park. He walks in and flops down on his head. “Zuma doesn’t know what he is talking about. Sherlock Bones is the great detective there is.” He yawns as the show starts. Chase wakes up as the pup tags goes off. “Ryder needs us.” He doesn’t notice he has a British accent like Sherlock Bone does. After Marshall’s wipeout and comedic one line. They head up in the elevator to the command center. All the pups come out in police gear. Chase’s gear is slightly different. Instead of his normal hat. He had a UK police hat. “Paw Patrol ready for action Ryder sir.”

Ryder nods. “Thanks for hurrying pups. “Someone has robbed the Adventure Bay Bank and left behind a strange goop. So I am designating this an Ultimate Rescue Mission Police style. Chase since you are our resident police pup. You will lead this mission.” Chase runs for the slide and goes down. He lands in his police truck and then goes down. The rest of the pieces of his Ultimate Rescue truck is added to his truck and then the Lookout lifts up. Chase drives out. He waits on the rest of the pups come down the slide and lands in their places. Chase drives to Adventure Bay with Ryder behind him on his ATV. He pulls up to the bank. “Rocky use your scanner to see if you can pick up any clues to who did it.”

Rocky jumps down. “Arff Scanner.” He looks around. “I see small piles of goop from the front door to the sidewalk and then nothing.”

Chase and the rest of the pups go inside. Marshall wasn’t looking where he was going and stepped in one of the piles of goop and face plants. “Whoa that is one sticky, ooey, gooey, gluey goop.”

Zuma laugh. “Bet you can’t say that fast three times.” Marshall tries and gets very tongue tied. Marshall and the pups laugh. “Told you so.”

Chase sniffs the goop and sneezes. “There is something very familiar about all of this, but I can’t remember what it is.” He looks at the pups. “Keep looking around and see if you can find any clues.” He turns to Ryder. “I need to go back to the Lookout. I think I know who can help out.” Chase jumps on Ryder’s ATV and they head to the Lookout.

When they get to the Lookout. Ryder looks at Chase. “Who are you going to call?”

Chase looks at Ryder. “The greatest detective pup there is. Sherlock Bones. If anyone knew who is behind this. He would be the one to help figure it out.” He heads upstairs and makes a video call to 221 B Barker Street.

Sherlock Bones appears on the screen. “Hello Chase. What can I do for my number one fan?”

Chase looks at the screen, “Hi Mr. Bones sir. I’ve got a problem and I need some help.”

Sherlock smiles. “You can call me Sherlock. What seems to be the problem?”

Chase nods. “Well there is a bank here that got robbed recently and whoever did it. Left behind piles of a glue like goop on the floor and counters. It seems familiar to me, but I can’t figure out why.”

Sherlock nods and blows into his pipe causing bubbles to come out. “It sounds like the notorious cat burglar Sticky Fingers is behind this. Give me a moment to look though my case files and I call you back in a few minutes.” Sherlock ends the call and goes to look through his case files with his assistant Dr. Watson. Chase paces a bit waiting on Sherlock to call him back.

Chase’s pup tag beeps. “Do you have any idea who is behind this?”

Chase answers back. “Yes I think so. Sherlock Bones thinks it could be a notorious cat burglar Sticky Fingers. He is looking through his case files to make sure.”

Zuma answers back. “If it is a cat. Shouldn’t it be Sticky Paws? Because cats don’t have fingers?”

Chase shrugs. “I guess. I’ll be back there in a little bit.” He ends the call as the screen beeps. Chase answers the call. “What did you find out?”

Sherlock puts a picture up on the screen. “Did the piles look like these?”

Chase nods. “Yes they did. Same color and shape.”

Sherlock nods. “I figured as much. It is Sticky Fingers alright. She is a very crafty burglar and will be hard to catch, but I know you can do it. If you need any more help. I’m a call away and good luck.” He ends the call.

Chase goes back to where the pups were and filled them in on what they were up against. He sniffs near the area there the goop stopped. “She went that way.” Pointing towards the museum. They head towards the museum. They get there just as Sticky Fingers was leaving with some painting” Stop in the name of the law. You are under arrest for bank robbery and painting thefts.”

Sticky Fingers turns to face Chase. “You will never catch me gumshoe.”

Marshall looks around. “Who has gum on the shoe?”

Sticky Fingers rolls her eyes. “It is an expression you idiot. It means detective. I’ve got to go back to Wolf Hampton. If I stay here much longer. I’m going to lose my cunning wits.”

Chase looks at Sticky Fingers. “Don’t talk about Marshall like that. He is my best friend. As for going back to Wolf Hampton. You will be going back in a kennel to Barkland Yard.”

Sticky Fingers’ concentration was interrupted by something small running past her. She turns her head and sees a toy mouse going by. Then another. She turns back to Chase. “That is low even for a dog.”

Chase smiles. “What’s wrong. Doesn’t kitty like mice? How about this. “Yarn ball launcher.” He launches some yard balls and Sticky Fingers tries to resist the yard balls, but her cat instincts wins out an she goes chasing the yarn balls right into the cage Rocky had built.

Sticky Fingers snaps out of her cat behavior when she hears the cage door shut and lock. “Curses on you and your friends. You have not seen the last of me. I will be back.”

Chase smiles. “And we will be here to stop you.”

As Sticky Fingers is carried away by two of Barkland Yard officers Sherlock Bones appears. “Good job on capturing Sticky Fingers. For going above and beyond in the capture of the notorious Sticky Fingers. I bestow the highest honor on you. The Wolf Fang medal and the title of Junior Detective First Class. The pups cheer for Chase. The voices get louder and then change. Chase feels something poking him and then Ryder’s voice. “Chase, it is dinner time.”

Chase looks around and sees he is on his bed in the Lookout. “It was all a dream.” He stands up and stretches. Something clangs against his pup tag. It was the Wolf Fang medal from his dream. “Maybe it wasn’t a dream after all.”

[antclan-blogs]

MOON 25

Slightstar has finally recovered fully. Mossgleam was seen taking food from a twoleg. Badgerdust was grabbed and dropped by an eagle, but miraculously survived.

This moon’s story under the cut!

“I don’t know what’s gotten into you, Mossgleam. I thought you were a dedicated warrior!” Slightstar was lecturing the feline as the morning patrol trotted along the borders.

“I AM a dedicated warrior! Why can’t a cat make a little mistake every now and again?” Mossgleam protested, looking at their paws sullenly. Ever cat knew that when Slightstar was angry at you, you felt like foxdung.

“This isn’t just a little mistake. This is a serious matter! Taking food from a twoleg is strictly forbidden, and you know this. It goes against everything we stand for as warriors.” Slightstar mewed angrily. “What if the twoleg had trapped you, or followed you back to camp?”

Mossgleam sighed. “It’s harmless! I was hungry, is all. And the twoleg was very friendly. It felt rude declining their offer.”

“If you were hungry, you should have returned to camp and eaten some fresh-kill. You’ve been acting out ever since the ceremonies last moon. The attention can’t always be on you.” Slightstar scolded the warrior.

Mossgleam didn’t reply, instead picking up pace and cantering down the path towards one of the Antclan scent markers. Slightstar gave a deep, tired sigh and fell into step beside Badgerdust.

“I don’t know what I’m going to do with them, Badgerdust.” The leader admitted. “How do you punish a cat for doing what you used to do every day?”

“There’s a difference between the two of you, Slightstar. You were a kittypet, you knew no other way. Mossgleam has always fended for themself. They should know better.”

“I know. I’m only trying to protect them. Twolegs can be dangerous.” Slightstar looked at her paws. “I’m going to talk to them. We need to sort this out.” She decided, and bounded ahead to speak to the warrior.

Badgerdust padded on alone, watching the sun as it slowly made its arc through the sky. The patrol was heading to the farthest reaches of their territory today, through the reddish slopes of rocky mountain where the temperature warmed.

Just as he closed his eyes and took in the nice weather, a threatening bird call came from above and a large shadow swooped over Badgerdust. Yowling in alarm, the warrior looked up to see a mighty eagle with its claws poised to attack.

“Badgerdust!” Slightstar yowled, but there wasn’t much she could do. The large white warrior took two large swipes at the eagle, standing on his hind legs, but the bird was vicious: Grabbing him by the scruff of his neck, the powerful beast dragged Badgerdust into the air and dropped him on his back.

Hearing a sickening crack and Badgerdust’s wail of pain as the eagle flew away, Slightstar and Mossgleam darted over to him.

“Badgerdust? Can you hear me?” Mossgleam was saying, but Badgerdust was in too much pain to answer.

Everything went black.

Hours later, Badgerdust awoke in the medicine den surrounded by worried-looking cats. His sons, Glademoss and Stoatstripe, peered at him anxiously, as Slightstar paced at the back of the den.

“I’m alright.” He groaned as Hushstep noticed that he had returned to consciousness.

“No you’re not.” Berryspot told the warrior, passing a few sticks to Hushstep as the two medicine cats worked. “You could’ve broken your back. Luckily it was just a fracture.”

Badgerdust let out a low wail. How would he serve his clan if he was stuck in a medicine den for moons?

Stoatstripe gave his father a friendly head-lick. “It’s ok, Badgerdust. You’ll be back to normal in no time, I bet.”

Glademoss nodded. “Yeah, definitely. You’re the strongest cat I know.”

Badgerdust could only hope that his kits were right.

poor badger, i’m caught up rn so idk if he dies or not :sweats:

#clangen #warrior cats #antclan #clan generator #warriors

[self-indulgent-paw-patrol]

Hold up one second, if you're really PAW Patrol requests atm, then are there any actual rules or conditions that we should be aware of? Do they have to involve only the pups or can it involve other characters? And are at least crossovers with other fandoms also allowed?

Good questions! Maybe just have common sense or something like that XD Like, I actually make a living out of selling commissions, so these free requests I'm legit doing them for fun bc I loved this show so much!! And I miss drawing things for fun instead of only commissions! I still need to take some time of my day to keep working though, that's why I'm making them simple.

So that means, Idk, don't ask for a lot of characters together at once? The more characters, the more time it takes for the fanart to get finished and I really just want an excuse to draw them quickly in between working. It can be any character in the show, not only the pups, the only issue is that I'm STILL CURRENTLY WATCHING THE SHOW and I'm still at the end of the 4th season XD

Which means, I've seen so far the main crew, Everest and Tracker. As for gears/equipments (if people want to ask for something specific like Spy Chase, for example), I've seen the regular ones, Air gears, Pup-fu (omg I forgot to mention Pup-fu in the other post lol), Mission PAW, jungle...? And Sea Patrol. Also I still haven't watched the movies so there's that too, I can't draw anything specific about them just yet.

AS FOR CROSSOVERS...... I love this idea. It just depends on if I know about the other media too XD We can talk things out through DMs if you'd like!

#Thanks for the ask!! #It's really important stuff #I mentioned a bit about it in the post where I opened for free requests but it doesn't hurt to explain things better!!

[residents-of-the-darkforest]

One of Us is a Killer (part 2)

Continuation of: https://www.tumblr.com/residents-of-the-darkforest/738940160410058752/one-of-us-is-a-killer?source=share

=======

Going solely on what kin say in Lifegen every six moons, we build a story, and, more importantly, a resident

Please feel free to comment your interpretations of what is happening or your thoughts on the characters!

Who are your suspects so far?

Main character: Burnetshriek -- Lonesome

Mother: Wetfish (deceased) -- Wise

Mom: Beaverspeckle -- Adventurous

Sister: Midgefreckle -- Calm

Brother: Yewstripe -- Strict

Brother: Privetdusk (deceased) -- Ambitious

Mate: Heathertree -- Loving

Daughter: Batkit -- Noisy -> Sneaky

Son: Yarrowkit -- Attention-seeker

Son: Rubblekit -- Troublesome

Son: Jaggedkit -- Honest -> Righteous

Side note: [....] in speech indicates that Burnetshriek has said something.

Bonus side note: orange highlights previously indicated that something was not directed at Burnetshriek or didn't have to do with her. Now, it's for text that is a repeated conversation.

MOON 60 (kits are 5):

Mom: *Cough* *Wheeze* [Breathing is short and staggered]

.

Midgefreckle: *Sigh*..."Hi, Burnetshriek. [....] Hm? I just got back from a hunting patrol....I utterly embarrassed myself. I had a mouse literally walk into my paws and I still failed to grab it. [....] Hm. Yes, that's true. I'm not going to always succeed, the best thing I can do is get back up and get back to it. You're right, Burnetshriek. You're always right. Thank you."

.

Yewstripe: [Having an outburst with Leafpaw]. "Seriously? Thorns in my nest, again? I swear to StarClan, you must be the most irritating, empty-headed apprentice--Oh, Burnetshriek, it's you. What is it? Do you need anything? [....] I'll be right there, just let me finish this first. [Burnetshriek holds back a laugh at the apprentice's shock at the sudden switch-up].

.

Heathertree: "Whenever you're feeling overwhelmed, find me. We can sit under the stars and watch Silverpelt. [....] I always find it helps. It's calming, knowing all of our ancestors watching over us."

.

Bat: "Jawswipe just told me the funniest joke ever! It went like -- heehee -- how did the *snrk* - how did the - AHAHAHA!!!!"

.

Yarrow: "Burnetshriek...I'm so...sleepy *yawns* It's still early.....I said I was gonna play with Breezekit at sunhigh, but that's so far away, and if I go to sleep now, I won't be able to play with him...Oh Burnetshriek, what will I do?" [Burnet promises to wake them]. "You will? Oh Burnetshriek, thank you, thank you, thank you! This is why we're the bestest of friends! [Yarrow dramatically falls into the nest, and later trips over his paws when running to his friend].

.

Rubble: "Burnetshriek!!!!" [Rubble sprints across camp and tackles Burnet with a squeal, clambering all over her fur].

.

Jagged: [Burnet likes making a game of counting all of Jagged's toes while he sleeps. Burnet thinks that he is a perfect, darling kit].

Bonus: Wetfish wants to talk to a medicine cat. Maybe her mate?

.

.

MOON 66:

Burnet's apprentice is Storkpaw.

Mom: "I met some kittypets on patrol today. StarClan, I gave them a scare! One look at my 'mean' face and they went mewling back home to their Twolegs like little kits running into the nursery! Bahahahahaha!"

Bonus: apprentice is Sappaw.

.

Midgefreckle: "Hey, Burnetshriek. How are you? [....] I'm absolutely okay, I'm not up to much here, just catwatching, as usual. [....] Huh? You think I should get to know the other cats, instead of watching? Oh, I'm just fine here! I don't talk to the others, it's just how it is....! [....] You'd think I'd get on with Birdstar? You think? [....]...Hm. I suppose I'll have to go and talk to them, at some point. You've never guided me wrong."

Bonus: apprentice is Chivepaw.

.

Yewstripe: "What's that? You want to know how I'm...feeling? [...] Hmph. You should know by now that I don't do the whole 'feeings' thing. But, if you want to know so badly, I guess I'm feeling...Worried. And tired. But also on edge. And hungry. But, I'm sort of full, too...hm...See, this is why I don't talk about my feelings. I'm not good at it."

Bonus: previously mentored Maplefern.

.

Heathertree: "Oh, hey, Burnetshriek, can I talk to you about something? [...] I saw a rogue out on patrol today. I managed to chase him off the territory, but then I got carried away, and...well, I kept following him. I don't know what I was trying to do. He just kept making me so angry! Calling me weak...calling me a failure...saying I was a disappointment to my Clan. Eventually, I realized what I was doing, and I let him go. But I couldn't stop thinking about those things he said...Sorry. What am I doing? I'm being such a downer today...Thanks for being here for me, Burnetshriek." [Heather presses their head into Burnet's shoulder and sighs into their fur].

.

Bat: [Accidently slips while walking across camp. Without missing a beat, Bat catches herself, spins on her paws, and continues walking with a flick of her tail. How does she manage to make falling look cool?]

Bonus: mentor is Hillstep.

.

Yarrow: Previously killed by a fox at 7 moons old.

.

Rubble: [Jagged and Rubble laugh together, talking about stories Burnetshriek used to tell them in the nursery. Burnet considers telling them stories they missed, but decides not to ruin the moment].

Bonus: mentor is Heathertree.

.

Jagged: "Oh, uhm, hello... [...] Oh, you wish to talk to me? [...] Err...sure, can do, I suppose....The wind is lovely, it always waves through our coats when were wandering through the territory. Maybe that's StarClan's way of telling us we're doing a good job."

Bonus: Mentor is Birdstar.

.

.

MOON 72:

Mom: "Hey, Burnetshriek, dare me to jump off the warriors' den! [...] No? Why in StarClan's name not?! [...] Because I could hurt myself...? But that's what's fun about it!"

.

Midgefreckle: "Hey, Burnetshriek, can I have your opinion on something? [...] I was having an argument with Chivespeckle a couple of days ago. I was giving them some advice on something, and they told me I talk like I'm better than everyone. Do you think...? [...] No? That's good. That's absolutely not my intention. I want to help, but not be more important than any other cat. [...] Thank you, Burnetshriek. I know that no matter what, you'll always tell me what I need to hear."

.

Yewstripe: [Running around the clearing, disheveled as they try to complete many tasks at once]. Burnetshriek, what's up? Do you need something too? I'd be happy to do it for you! [....] Working too hard? I'm not working too hard, don't worry! In fact, helping around camp is how I relax. Yup, definitely relaxing. Definitely."

Permanent Condition: weak leg

.

Heathertree: "Mm, Oh, watch out, Burnetshriek! Don't come any closer!" [Looking at a bee]. "It must have stung something...I think it's dying. Poor little thing." [Burnet asks why he doesn't just squish it. Heather recoils]. "It's a living thing, just like you or me! What crime has this bee committed? The crime of being small? No, it deserves a death with dignity, just like the rest of us..." [The bee falls very still]. "Oh...I think it just went...Ah, I'm sorry little bug...I hope, wherever you are, you find plenty of flowers, and even more mercy." [Gently scoops it up and lays it on moss].

.

Battumble: [Burnet compliments her on a shiny object she's playing with]. "Hm? Oh, why thank you. Isn't it pretty? I nabbed it off these Twolegs who were passing through the territory. I knew it would make just the perfect addition to my nest." [Burnet asks if isn't that stealing?]. "Tch, relax. Just think of it as a 'finders keepers' type of thing. Besides, those Twolegs weren't using it for anything important anyways."

.

Rubblenettle: "Hey, Burnetshriek! Get a load of this one! What happens when a tree falls into the mud? [...] It leafs an impression! Hahaha!....Hey, where are you going?"

.

Jaggeddusk: "Hello, Burnetshriek. What do you think of the weather? [...] If you want my opinion, I think it's been enjoyable. It's pleasantly warm, but not so hot that it makes today's jobs an unpleasant business. Not to mention, I haven't noticed a hint of rain, so if you're going out, you shouldn't get wet. Well...unless you fall into a pond. But other than that, StarClan has been good to us today."

.

Coniferkit (son, 2 moons): "Burnetshriek! Burnetshriek! I had the mosr funnest day ever today! First, I played feather-catch. It's this really cool game where I throw a feather into the air and then try to catch it. Then, I runned around in circles! I went a-round and a-round and a-round, but then I got sick and had to stop. And then....[Conifer continues on]

Continued on next part!

As for now, who are your suspicions on, and why do you suspect them?

And who is your favourite?

#lifegen #long post #one of us is a killer

[thepaststillhurts]

@roarofancients:

A glance over at Kion, "Fraid not, at least that part. But, seems Scar is willing to help show what happened with him, and what he had been hearing..." On cue Kion walked up to them, "Not all stars are always visible. We always see the ones of light, but the reverse exist as well. Stars of Shadow, Dark Stars... Scar was a star out there, dark one though not of his choice. Anyways, he wishes to narrate or speak when the scenes shown of his time as roughly a teen leading up to the confrontation with yourself Dad, fight for the throne." Closing his eyes to focus, thus allowing Scar to speak through him - while Sora uses his key power again, the scene changes to the Outlands. Young Taka-Askari, patrolling alone with a Mark of the Guard. Meeting the strange lion, scarred eye. They spoke to him about wisdom, power, and that the most powerful should be king.

"Despite my facial expression then, I had intended to alert my king brother. What changed that though, well... See for yourself" Scar's voice came.

Indeed, a strange black cobra lunged. The young leader at the time trying to dodge the snake, almost succeeded but the snake still hit target. "Not all what affected me, but that venom is the main thing. Had the scar before, it healed as if I never had it. Until this time." Scar again. "Couldn't think, and I rather... hate being used, tricked like that. So, I roared using the roar in a rage. Lost control of the power, and as you can see that volcano erupted back then too."

Back at Pride Rock now, young Scar reported to Mufasa. Yet Mufasa just tease little brother with the nickname Scar now, and using his paw to push down Scar's head - which he obviously hadn't appreciated, young Mufasa strutting off after that Scar had caught sight of sealed the fates. "And, how and when I really became Scar, was right then. I don't mind the teasing so much, as I had the paw push and the way he strutted then..."

Trying to take to his Lion Guard at the time, who refused to understand Scar's side of things and out of frustration lost control again of the roar, using it on his own Guard and losing the mark and roar thereafter. "Am surprised really, how they let Kion keep his despite some of the things he's done, even as a cub; which should have resulted in the loss of the mark and roar. Thing is, my roar then didn't kill the Guard so rather unfair of the lions of the past to take it away."

The scene now a bit further in time, Scar with a young lion looking much like Simba now except for the dark mane, and still much younger. Both hunting, gazelle or zebra. Out of nowhere, a wildebeest stampede. "While I avoided the majority of that, my son Takashi wasn't... so lucky. He still alive after the herd passed, but barely. As you can see, he died in my paws. This was still some time before you were born, Simba" Scar voice. Genuine upset at the scene. "And thus why I generally dislike wildebeest species" Sometime later when little newborn cub Simba born, and their presentation. And the confrontation between Scar and Mufasa after, "Never would've ate that bird. Just scare him at best. And besides, Zazu can be a bit of an annoyance. Regardless, reason I wasn't at the presentation... Brother forgot I had set my own anniversary settings, that day... was an anniversary of my own son's death, so you see..."

Later scene changes off to somewhere in the grassland plains, wildebeest grazing and a young calf curiously asks mother about the birds being allowed on their backs gaining the response that they're a community, and the birds help get the bugs off of them. The calf chasing after a bird that flies off, unaware of a certain male prowling.

watching from the grass and brooding about his earlier confrontation with his brother, Mufasa. Suddenly, Scar pounced, and Thema's son yelled for his mother. Just in time, Thema arrived and intercepted Scar's attack, knocking him away from her calf. She begged Scar to fight her instead of her son, and he confessed that he was not attacking them out of hunger, but because he had had a bad day and had chosen random "peasants" to have an even worse day.

Before Scar could attack again, Thema gave a call of alarm, and her herd charged toward Scar, jostling and kicking him until he lay, half-trampled, at the edge of a gorge. From his prone position, Scar lamented how he had been beaten by an inferior species and grudgingly acknowledged that even overwhelming numbers could beat power and royalty. As he found his feet, Scar realized that Thema had lingered behind and told her that even the "dumbest of beasts" knew to run from a predator. In answer, Thema proclaimed that she had stayed to see him fall and explained that it was not her herd's numbers that had beaten him, but her love for her community. She then charged at Scar and knocked him into a gorge.

"Might have noticed, that one was far higher up than the one I used on family... But, I hit my head quite hard then... never was the same after that, aware now that likely brain damage resulting in my aggression and such after then. But, now you get to see the nightmare I had..."

Crystalized dreamscape, yet glowing eyes watching unblinkingly from the sky. Scar awaking in the dream,

wandering the landscape, Scar spotted Mufasa on Pride Rock and called out to him. Approaching his brother, Mufasa demanded that Scar address him as the king, but Scar protested that he was supposed to be the king. Outraged, Mufasa attacked Scar and commanded him to bow before him and his son, Simba. Scar questioned where they were, and Mufasa started to walk away, explaining that they were in a "kingdom of woe," a place fit for a "faux king" such as Scar. Though Scar begged Mufasa to stay and asserted that he was destined to rule, Mufasa reminded his brother that it was Simba's destiny to rule and that Scar's destiny was his own.

Meanwhile, two vultures named Kabeer and Krass circled Scar's fallen form and debated whether he was dead or not. Together, they approached his body and found that he was still breathing but in critical condition. The two proceeded to mock him for having been killed by "livestock" and for having lost the throne of Pride Rock to a cub. Just then, Kabeer got an idea and told Krass that, were Scar to become the king, he would desolate the Pride Lands and leave behind enough carcasses for the vultures to feast on.

As a storm moved in overhead, Kabeer pointed out that they could feast on Scar's carcass if he died or take credit for saving him and help him become the king of Pride Rock if he lived. Kabeer worried, however, that they would need something to offer Scar, like muscle and numbers, in order to convince him. As one, Kabeer and Krass suggested recruiting the "bone eaters."

Just then, Rafiki approached and ordered the vultures to get away from Scar. Using his staff, he beat the two until they flew off in a panic. Once Kabeer and Krass had gone, Rafiki knelt beside Scar and commented that the prince's actions had once again brought "dark clouds" upon him.

Later, at Rafiki's tree, Scar awoke in dismay from his vision. As he reared up, roaring, Rafiki cracked a baobab fruit open on his head, and Scar scoffed that he would be justified in mauling Rafiki for having struck a prince. Rafiki simply retorted that, if Scar tried to attack him, he would use the prince's head to open another baobab fruit. Recognizing the baobab fruit as what had been used to anoint Simba, Scar demanded that Rafiki tell him that he was the rightful successor to the throne of Pride Rock and the wisest lion in all the land. Rafiki complimented Scar's cunning but cautioned that his jealousy and hatred "murked the waters" of his soul and that his dark choices overshadowed his potential.

Incited, Scar reminded Rafiki that he had been training his entire life to replace Mufasa, only to get tossed aside, and demanded to know if his legacy should be sacrificed for the sake of tradition. Instead of answering Scar's questions, Rafiki urged him to sit and drink a healing mixture. After settling down, Scar commented that it was not fair, and Rafiki agreed, adding that a cub should enjoy his youth rather than worry about ruling a kingdom. Scar implored Rafiki to help him take over Pride Rock, but Rafiki warned Scar that his jealousy and ego led him to do terrible things. Taking this as Rafiki siding with Mufasa, Scar departed the tree. As he walked away across the Pride Lands, Kabeer and Krass flew overhead and resolved to introduce him to the bone eaters.

"Yes. Rafiki and I were once friends, not unlike how you and him are these days." A side-smirk, voice still Scar's.

While grazing with his herd, Elder confessed to an associate that he sensed a foreboding change in the air. His associate asked if his feelings related to the birth of Simba, the prince heir of Pride Rock, but Elder clarified that he was more worried about the previous heir, Scar, having lost power. He added that Mufasa was the only one who could protect the Pride Lands from Scar's reckless behavior.

Just then, Elder's associate picked up the scent of some nearby lionesses and sounded the alarm. Though the herd fled, the lioness Sofi managed to score a catch, and the huntresses paid tribute to their fallen prey. As they began to eat, the lioness Tish asked the hunting party's leader, Adea, if Mufasa and Sarabi would be joining them, but Adea explained that they were with the main hunting party. Sofi commented that two hunts seemed wasteful and that such a move was not in character for Adea, and she sadly agreed.

At that moment, Scar approached and mocked the lionesses for having performed a ritual for their prey. Adea reminded Scar that they performed the ritual out of respect for their prey as well as tradition and the throne, but he countered that, according to tradition, they should eat last, with the cubs. Though he asserted that the lionesses would eat like queens under his rule, Adea silenced him and chided herself for not having joined the royal hunting party. Scar argued that he was royalty, to which Adea called him a "bitter, selfish scavenger." Enraged, Scar attacked her, and the other lionesses ordered him to stay away from her. After the fight, the three lionesses left Scar to their catch, and Sofi remarked on how fortunate it was that Simba had been born and that Scar would never rule the Pride Lands.

"Well, she did insult me. Why would I not respond to such insults in such a way," head shake a bit.

With the lionesses gone, Kabeer and Krass approached Scar, and Kabeer dismissed the lionesses as "ungrateful females." Scar retorted that the lionesses filled his belly and asked what purpose the vultures served. At this, Kabeer formally introduced himself and Krass, and told Scar that they could help him become king. Suspicious, Scar asked for elaboration, and the vultures implored him to use the "bone eaters" as his secret weapon. Recognizing that the vultures were referring to hyenas, Scar dismissed the idea, but the vultures insisted that they were friends with a hyena and that Scar could fill a vacuum in their clan's leadership.

Intrigued but distrustful, Scar asked the vultures how they would be advantaged by his alliance with the hyenas, and Kabeer claimed that they wanted to see the Pride Lands' rightful heir on the throne. This incited Scar, who demanded the vultures stop patronizing him, and Kabeer quickly backtracked, confessing that they were hoping for extra meat and a seat in the royal court. With this admission, Scar agreed to take their advice and meet the hyenas.

With Kabeer and Krass in the lead, the group traveled to the Elephant Graveyard. Upon realizing where they were, Scar reflected on how he had often come to the Elephant Graveyard as a cub so that he could be alone and commented that the Elephant Graveyard felt more like home than Pride Rock. Suddenly, Kabeer warned Krass and Scar that a large group of hyenas was close by and urged them to take shelter. Scar initially refused but relented when he realized that they could have the element of surprise. From their hiding place, Krass asked Kabeer what he could see, and he replied fearfully that he had spotted the queen of the hyenas.

"Now, sometime after this moment it will appear as if I had first just met the trio you know of Shenzi, Banzai and Ed, yet I knew them before then. While I remember, they may not have due to their age at the time. Pausing here for the moment this time, wish to ask some questions? Next parts will show what happens with the hyenas, me, Zazu, Mufasa, and cub Simba. Will even backtrack a little after to that rock you now all call Broken Rock, it's a clue in of itself."

@thepaststillhurts:

"What? Scar? Scar himself?" Simba asked in surprise. His eyes then fixed on the ground, pondering. Was it a good idea at all? He just asked for help from the Great Kings and a dark king was there to reply instead?

Simba was sure that Scar had his own, subjective point of view and everything he was going to say should be treated with reservation (maybe Scar could even have some influence on the keypower?). On the other hand, the king knew there was no options here and he needed to take every opportunity to find any kind of solution.

"Alright. Go ahead." He spoke with closed eyes first, but opened them when the scene started. He decided not to comment on things, just observe them and let Scar speak on his own.

#roarofancients #King of the Night Pride #Chapter: Past of a Family #Universe: Messed up/Individual | storyline: King of the Night Pride | timeline: post-SP

[paranoidpoltergeist]

Transformers: Cyberverse Review(1/2)

So I finally watched Cyberverse and figured I'd kill two birds with one stone and do my review while I was at it instead of having to rewatch it later. This ended up being so much longer than I expected and I tried to look back over it to the best of my ability but I wrote these directly after finishing each season so at some very odd hours of the day if anything is worded weirdly sorry about that. Please keep in mind this is my opinion and you might not agree:) 

Season 1: It’s a really good concept but the pacing is kind of weird and a lot of the background character's voice actors sounded like they would rather be anywhere else lmao. I know that they went with shorter episodes so they have to pace it differently than the more common 25-minute format but it ended up making things seem a little rushed. As a big fan of the seeker, characters like Novastorm just had me trying to figure out why Hasbro never uses new characters. At first, I thought she was a new character and then they FINALLY said her name 3 FOURTHS of the way into the SEASON and I couldn’t figure out if they were even talking about her, The original is highlighter yellow. However I can say I have a soft spot for a lot of these designs, Bumblebee was a fun mix of his original design and the newer one which I liked. Starscream’s design was kind of killer, although giving him a different design from the rest of the seekers was definitely a choice but one I didn’t mind. Them killing off Blurr physically hurt me but the way they did the world-building was one I actually liked. It was interesting and they mostly used it to move the plot forward so it didn’t feel boring or like nothing was happening.  All in all, really not bad. 6/10 Season 2: Episode one was the most confusing thing I’ve ever watched in my whole life. I was so busy trying to piece together what I missed from the gap between seasons 1 and 2 I missed 99% of what was going on. Then they just started rapid-fire introducing characters without actually introducing them and I just wanted to know if Bumblebee had his memories back. That and they introduced Starscream's little traitor shabang in one of the weirdest ways I’ve ever seen, we see him, he doesn’t get a voice line until he’s leaving Megatron for dead, and that immediately gets him demoted. I mean that all happened in the span of literally a minute. They introduce one of the most important parts of his character in a single minute. I understand it’s harder with smaller episodes but to me it made the pacing feel weird and I know it’s not just something that comes with shows styled this way because even Paw Patrol's pacing feels better. Have you ever gone to write a story but the idea came from an event right in the middle and so you had to scramble for something to stick at the beginning to you wouldn’t lose the idea? That’s exactly what this felt like. Which leads to the absolute whiplash of episode 2. I’d touch on this episode anyways but especially because of how the season started. This episode was so much better. Despite everything still happening quite quickly, it flowed a lot better. I have a feeling they originally started brainstorming the Decepticon section of this episode and then had to figure out a good way to lead into Megatron getting injured and then chose the route they did. Either way, this episode was a bit of a heavy hitter, Starscream's flashback at the beginning started a path to some sympathy and allowed for what was seemingly his death to hit harder. If you're not a fan of Starscream it probably wasn’t a super hard hit but you can still see it was a fairly brutal episode. They made the 10-minute timeframe work pretty well so bravo on this one. Despite Thundercracker not being the TC we all know and love I quite liked him. I’m not gonna lie I was apprehensive at first but I figured with each new series the characters tend to change a bit so they’re not all a carbon copy of one another and ended up really liking him. Starscream’s first upgrade was the goofiest thing I’ve ever seen, but the second was neat. I also liked the way they showed Megatron and Starscream’s relationship, I feel like in the end Stsracsream just wants people to respect him. He wants Megs specifically to see what he’s capable of, he wanted Megatron to acknowledge he finally got the win. So when Megatron proceeded to belittle him, having complete confidence his plan would fail simply because he’s Starscream, he got angry and a little careless, and just like that he fails. I mean the plan was kind of a bad one anyways and he’d probably have been fine if he had immediately thrown their sparks back in the Allspark but he's Starscream so he had to have his dramatic moment lol. On a lighter note this Shockwave is absolutely great he's not the super intimidating one we get from prime and not the total goofball from g1 he’s somewhere in the middle and it’s perfect. You can definitely tell which season I liked better but it was just so easy to go in-depth on this one because it had surprisingly a good story. They knew when to add fillers that still moved the plot along. They knew when we needed a laugh and when to hit us with the harder stuff. Loved Starscream going to Therapy only to immediately break out and Cheetor. He’s just great. They made him naive where it’s common to just make them straight-up stupid, I think that’s partially the reason I like TC so much (WHOSE DEAD?!) he was too honest not really stupid. Most surprisingly I even liked Arcee, she manages to be a strong female character without being too much or annoying. However, I DIDN’T like Jetfire, Maybe if he had a better character arc but he was just annoying with a singular redeeming moment lol. That and I'm sad he's not his usual giant self. Despite the rough start, I liked it. 7/10

#tv show review #tv show reaction #transformers #Transformers Cyberverse #starscream #megatron #shockwave #thundercracker #jetfire #bumblebee #blurr transformers #transformers arcee #i have a love hate relationship with this show #i liked it but ive never been so happy to finish something in my life #i liked the show #but i hated it #decepticons #autobots #welcome back to my ADHD fueled rambles

[thistledown-au-warriors]

fire and ice - chapter 15

< Chapter 14 || Index || Chapter 16 >

"Why did you choose to be a warrior?" Princess asked, green eyes glittering curiously.

Fire Heart looked up at her. That day, sunlight broke through the clouds at sunhigh, and Princess' housefolk were out, thus he and his sister lay on the grass in her garden.

"What do you mean?" Fire Heart asked.

She tipped her head to one side. "Well, you left your housefolk to become a warrior, no?" Princess asked.

"Well, yes." Fire Heart answered, rolling himself into laying down on his belly. "I always felt drawn to the forest. To me, the life ThunderClan offered was the true way to actually live ." He closed his eyes for a moment, brought back to the moment he met Blue Fur and Lion's Heart for the first time, dappled sunlight showing their magnificent builds and wise eyes. It felt like a lifetime ago. "I've been working towards being a warrior since I was accepted into the Clan." He finished, opening his eyes.

Princess narrowed her eyes slightly, a thoughtful look in her eyes. "So you didn't actually choose to be a warrior?" Noticing Fire Heart's immediate confusion, she went on. "There are other ways to be a Clan cat, didn't you say so? Like through healing and taking care of kits?"

"Well, the whole Clan takes care of queens, kits and elders, but being in the nursery is for queens. And it's not like I can be a queen, so…" Fire Heart began, scratching the dried grass.

"Oh, Fire Heart!" Princess huffed, exasperated. "You don't need to give birth to take care of kits. You got four paws and a muzzle, you could help out just fine if you wanted to."

The warrior blinked. He supposed that was true. While all the queens currently in the nursery had kits of their own, Hop Speckle used to stay there out of preference, to help out younger mollies, and it seemed like Frost Shine would remain in the nursery as well. He just assumed that was something former queens did.

His sister shook her head, smiling. "But anyway. You didn't get a say in if you wanted to be something else instead of a warrior?"

Fire Heart looked at his paws. He hadn't. He knew this. He had been avoiding thinking about it. "Well… ThunderClan already had a healer and a healer apprentice when I joined, and it still does. All the others have only one healer right now. So it's not like there was much to consider. And… the Clan needed more warriors." 

They sat in silence for a moment, before Princess spoke again. "It seems strange. Why doesn't every cat learn how to be a healer? If life in the wild is so risky…"

"Well, you do pick up on the basics after a while. But hunting and protecting the territory are the most vital." Fire Heart replied, looking at her again. "The Clan needs to be fed every day, especially queens and elders. And we have to patrol the borders to keep watch for foxes, badgers, rogues, and other Clans. Having a couple cats that only focus on healing works. And they also communicate with StarClan, something only a few cats can do." He didn't mention that he himself was one of these cats - there was no need to go into that now.

The molly tilted her head. "StarClan?"

"Our warrior ancestors. They live in the Starpath." He looked up and waved his tail in a long arc. "They send us messages through visions, signs and dreams."

Princess followed Fire Heart's gaze, wide eyed. She adjusted her pregnant belly into a more comfortable position before speaking again. "Well. That still doesn't say what you want though, does it?"

Fire Heart looked down at his paws. His mouth opened, then closed. His mind whirled with a barrage of thoughts he'd been avoiding, and he desperately reached to control them. ThunderClan needed warriors, that was the reason Blue Fur took him in. And he knew it was true - life in the forest was fickle. Sicknesses and cats like Broken Tail caused the deaths of young and old. News of the tension with ShadowClan and RiverClan spread through Camp like a wildfire. What did it matter what he wanted? Being a warrior was the best way to serve his Clan now. Blue Fur had told him so. Fire Heart wanted to serve his Clan. He wanted to prove himself. He wanted to make Blue Fur glad to have taken him in. He wanted to make Misty Step proud to have trained him. He wanted to walk the forest beside Gray Stripe.

"I have a duty to my Clan. Keeping the Clan safe and fed is what I want." Fire Heart meowed firmly.

Princess stayed silent for a moment. "You're truly loyal." She murmured, impressed.

He didn't reply. After all, he had been telling that mostly to himself.

  ***

  Prey hung from his jaws as Fire Heart padded down the ravine. The rocks felt even rougher than usual with the cold, especially with how early the sky darkened, forbidding them from retaining warmth. He knew that it hadn't been that long since he left Princess' garden, but the sun set with no regard for the Clan cats.

Fire Heart dropped a couple mice in the fresh-kill pile. He'd made sure to also get a shrew for Gray Stripe, who wasn't too fond of mice. His friend still hadn't recovered from his chill, and he hoped some fresh food would give him some energy.

However, when Fire Heart peeked his head into the warriors' den, Gray Stripe was nowhere to be seen. The gray tom's nest was cold. The only fresh scent in the den was Black Leopard's, who was dozing off in her own nest. Where could he have gone? Perhaps he went to see Violet Fang .

Outside, most cats were already in camp, likely brought back by the cold and lack of light. He could see Swift Bird and Dusty Earth leaving the elders' den with clumps of moss stuck to their fur. Mossy Patch and Brindle Face were carrying their three drowsy kits back to the nursery. Golden Flower, Tiger's Claw, White Flower and Willow Branch were chatting over their meals by the senior warriors' usual spot. Most of the warriors were chatting in small groups or sharing tongues. Fire Heart guessed that, if duties had already been done in the elders' den, they were probably fed already. Shrew still dangling from his jaws, he padded over to the nursery, in case the queens needed any fresh-kill.

At the entrance, he was a few heartbeats short of bumping into Frost Shine, who was followed by her four kits.

"Oh, hello Fire Heart." The white queen greeted politely. "Hop Speckle might like that shrew, Snow Flight and Mistle Drop haven't eaten yet."

"Mom! Let's go, let's go!" Blazing Cinder chirped, shouldering her way out of the den. 

"Patience! You're going to mess up your fur!" Frost Shine reprimanded, pulling her daughter closer with her foreleg and licking an unruly tuft of gray fur on her shoulders, despite the kit's protests. The other three kits padded out from behind their mother, amused, but their eyes shone with the same excitement as Blazing Cinder.

"We're being apprenticed today!" Thorn Claw announced, chest puffed out proudly.

Fire Heart blinked in surprise. "You're six moons old, already?" Looking at all of them like that, Fire Heart realized that the three kits were much bigger than they'd been when he and the others rescued them from ShadowClan. Thorn Claw and Bright Flame were the largest kits, almost the size of a fully grown cat, while Blazing Cinder was the smallest. Bright Flame was white, like her mother, but her fur was long and patched with ginger. Thorn Claw and Bracken Leaf were both golden-brown, though with different eye colors - blue and amber. Blazing Cinder was the only one to have a small mane of dark gray fur around her neck, reminiscent of her father, Lion's Heart.

"Time flies, doesn't it?" Frost Shine murmured. "They aren't quite six moons old yet, but it's close enough, they're already crowding the nursery. I'm sure you're tired of apprentice duties." 

"I'm going to do so many duties!" Blazing Cinder announced, kneading the ground with her paws.

Thorn Claw scoffed. "Sure, but I'm going to do them better ." 

"I'm sure just doing them is quite enough." Bright Flame meowed, exasperated, and Bracken Leaf nodded in agreement, eyes serious.

Amused, Fire Heart suppressed a purr. Their mentors would surely have their paws full. 

Soon enough, Blue Fur called for a Clan meeting. Frost Shine dipped her head to Fire Heart and made her way to the Highrock, excited kits in tow. The ginger tom quickly left his fresh-kill with Hop Speckle, and followed Mossy Patch out of the nursery to sit among the assembling cats. Many stood close to one another, sharing warmth as they sat on the frosty ground. Frost Shine was already sitting proudly below the Highrock. Two kits sat on either side of her. Fire Heart lifted his head to look around, but Gray Stripe was nowhere in sight. He noticed Violet Fang and Stone Pelt arriving at the clearing, and hurried to meet them as they sat down.

"Is Gray Stripe in the den?" Fire Heart whispered to Violet Fang, settling beside her.

The old molly narrowed her eyes. "No. Is he not resting in his nest?"

Fire Heart shook his head. The healer let out a low hiss of frustration, and Fire Heart felt anxiety bubble in his chest. His friend was out in this cold? Did he want to catch a sickness? But he could not say any more as the ThunderClan leader lifted her head to speak.

“Tonight, we gather together to name four new apprentices. Come forward, all of you.”

Thorn Claw dashed forward and skidded to a stop at the foot of the Highrock, Blazing Cinder at his heels with her fluffy tail held high and her blue eyes wide. Bracken Leaf, came forward more slowly, ears pricked and brow furrowed with seriousness as he walked to the foot of the Highrock, Bright Flame padding silently beside him.

“Mouse Fur.” meowed Blue Fur, “You have told me that you are ready to take on an apprentice. You will be mentor to Thorn Claw.”

Fire Heart watched as Mouse Fur stepped forward and went to stand beside the golden-brown tabby kit, who scampered up to meet her.

“Mouse Fur.” Blue Fur went on, “You have shown yourself a brave and intelligent warrior. See that you pass on your courage and wisdom to your new apprentice.”

While Blue Fur spoke, Mouse Fur looked just as proud as the new apprentice Thorn Claw. The two of them touched noses and withdrew to the edge of the clearing. Fire Heart could hear Thorn Claw meowing eagerly, as if he was already plying his mentor with questions. 

Pale Tail, who was sitting close by near Fleet Foot, leaned in to whisper at the tom's ear, loud enough for Fire Heart to hear. "Feeling left out? Both your siblings got apprentices before you."

Fleet Foot's ear twitched at the teasing. "I don't care. You two are more suited for this kind of thing than I am." He murmured in return, unbothered.

“Black Leopard.” Blue Fur announced. “It's about time you got a new apprentice. You will be mentor to Bright Flame.”

The tall black cat, who had been sitting near the edge of the gathering, stood up and padded over to Bright Flame. The kit waited for her with eyes shining. Black Leopard took her eyes off her for a moment to give Frost Shine a small, polite nod, which the queen returned. Fire Heart remembered how bitterly the two mollies had fought on the day ShadowClan stole the kits, thanks to Tiger's Claw spreading rumors about Raven Shadow, but it seemed like the two of them were able to make amends.

“Black Leopard.” meowed Blue Fur. “You are a warrior of great skill and experience. I know that you will pass on all you know to this young apprentice.”

“I certainly will.” Black Leopard purred. “Welcome, Bright Flame.” She bent to touch noses with her, and escorted her back to the assembled cats.

Only two of the four remained without mentors. So far, both a young and a senior warrior had been chosen. Soon, Bracken Leaf was called forward. Blazing Cinder scuffed the ground with her paws, clearly upset at being left for last. He couldn't help but smile - something about the small molly's clumsy enthusiasm reminded him of himself when he had first joined the Clan.

"Mossy Patch." Blue Fur called, a note of warmth in her voice as she called forth her daughter. "You're long overdue for your first apprentice. You shall be Bracken Leaf's mentor."

The gray-and-white warrior's ears went up in surprise. She shot a glance at her mate, who stood at the mouth of the nursery, and then quickly made her way to her new apprentice. The small tom looked up at her. Only his eyes, which shone like stars, gave away the fact that this young cat was as excited as his siblings.

Blue Fur continued. "Our newest elder Rose Fall was your mentor. I hope that her skills and wisdom will pass through you to your new apprentice.” 

Mossy Patch nodded at her mother, yellow eyes shining in determination, and she bent down to meet Bracken Leaf's politely raised nose with her own. The molly led him to the crowd, where she sat beside Misty Step, who murmured congratulations to her sister.

Blue Fur called the gray kit closer, who let out a loud excited eep! . A quietening hiss came from Frost Shine, and Blazing Cinder ducked her head apologetically. The ThunderClan leader's blue eyes scanned the crowd for a moment, until her gaze landed on a particular cat.

"Sand Storm." meowed Blue Fur. “You are ready for your first apprentice. You will train Blazing Cinder.”

The pale ginger molly stood up so fast her fur ruffled. Pride and disbelief colored her expression. Fire Heart could scarcely believe it either - Sand Storm was a brand new warrior. Some whispering among the assembled cats seemed to share similar thoughts. But then again, Sand Storm had always been the best in their generation. No matter how unpleasant she could be, the molly was undeniably talented.

"Sand Storm, you trained under White Flower at an accelerated pace thanks to Broken Tail's threat, and flourished into a warrior who would make our dear Red Tail proud." Grief coated Blue Fur's voice as she mentioned her lost deputy. Fire Heart noticed a slight strain to Sand Storm's expression as her father was mentioned. "I trust you will pass those skills to your apprentice, for ThunderClan's sake."

"I will, Blue Fur." Sand Storm announced firmly, as she reached for Blazing Cinder's nose. The small gray molly nearly jumped up to meet her mentor's muzzle, and Fire Heart had to stop himself from chuckling as the warrior stiffened at the impact.

The crowd soon dispersed and gathered around the newly named mentors and apprentices, congratulating them. Dusty Earth was, unsurprisingly, the first to congratulate Sand Storm. As Stone Pelt padded over to Mossy Patch, Violet Fang turned to Fire Heart. "You might want to know. I spoke to Bark Face at the half-moon gathering."

Fire Heart stood up, excited. He'd forgotten that healers met every half-moon at Highstones. "Truly? How is he? How's WindClan?"

Violet Fang smirked, whiskers twitching. "Scrawny. But probably less so than when you found them in that Twoleg ditch. He mentioned a very helpful young ThunderClan tom, and sent his thanks."

He looked down, ears warm. "I didn't help that much. Just found some herbs for him."

"Yes, and helping him apply poultices and everything, just as I taught you. I had to tell him you were made a warrior before he tried to ask to steal you away to become his apprentice! To think I sent my own apprentice to help him." 

Fire Heart chuckled, still embarrassed. He didn't think he had left that much of an impact at all, but he knew there was a cat that he did help out in WindClan. He looked up again. "Did he mention how Morning Bloom and her kit are doing?"

The flat-faced molly tipped her head to the side as she used a paw to scratch at her neck. "No such names. But WindClan is settling well, it seems. You can ask about that at next Gathering." She got up and turned towards the healer clearing, but then gave Fire Heart a firm look. "Tell Gray Stripe that if he doesn't get the rest he needs, I'll make him rest." She growled, and Fire Heart knew that the former ShadowClan cat wasn't kidding. 

After she stalked away, Fire Heart padded towards the fresh-kill pile and had a quick meal before heading to the warriors' den. Many cats were in there already, settling down to avoid the chill of nighttime. To his surprise, so was Gray Stripe, snoring softly in his nest. Fire Heart blinked. If he hadn't known any better, he'd have assumed the gray tom had been there the whole time. 

Carefully, Fire Heart wove around Gray Stripe to lay in his own nest, letting his back fur brush Gray Stripe's. His friend purred briefly in his sleep at the warmth. He wanted to wake Gray Stripe up to ask him where he'd been, but decided against it. It was good that he was resting now, he could easily wait until morning.

Fire Heart placed his chin on his paws and closed his eyes to sleep.

#thistledown au #thistledown fire and ice