Hey, I’m Meta (they/it)! This account is basically for saving references/tutorials for myself. I try to write image IDs for everything I can, but sometimes I forget to (or just accidentally hit post instead of save to drafts) or it’s unfeasible. Things that have IDs will be tagged #image id/#video id, things without tags will be tagged with #no id.
If you have feedback on my IDs please let me know!! They’re for you guys so I want to know what you think!
Main/art account: @puddleorganism
Reblog account: @puddlereblogs
Minecraft speculative biology: @mc-speculation
CW: I reblog bugs (including spiders), snakes/reptiles, rats/rodents and general creepy crawlies all the time! If you don’t like those this really isn’t a good blog for you lol
acorn weevils, shockingly, want acorns to feed on and lay eggs in, and so are more often seen in late summer and early autumn, when mature acorns are everywhere. so what was this Curculio venosus doing out so early on a practically fruitless oak? i don't know, and judging by its expression i don't think it does either
Who is this Torrin fella you've been drawing lately? I'd love to know more about him!
hi yes ive literally been working my ass off to finish his refs JUST FOR THIS ASK KJHKJASDG <3 <3
ANYWHO this will be LONG. I also hope tumblr wont nuke me for posting this lol
Torrin is a guy i made about a month ago, mostly because i wanted a new character in an rpg server im in (hetherev, check it out its fun <3). I also REALLY love vampires and dark themes and dark backstories and men with sad puppydog eyes, so there he was on the canvas :3 This is now his outdated ref lol \/
He's from a new world im making all because of him, where elves and humans live among eachother and its kind of set around the time when pirates where a big thing. Pirates of the carribean times basically, but with more fantasy and weird stuff. He's a half elf (technically 3/4th elf bc his mother is a half elf and his father a full one lol-) who originates from the coast of one of the countries in the more warmer regions of this world. He looks pretty typical for most people there, dark eyes dark hair. (New ref freshly made <3)
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For his backstory ill tldr it a bit but basically
was raised in an orphanage since before he was one year old
it wasnt a nice upbringing since his country was at war/stuck between wars, it was a mess
age 10-12 he got adopted by a kind couple but they died tragically when the city got attacked by naval ships (its for the plot i promise Torrin-)
after that he lived on the streets (which he honestly already kind of did when he was at the orphanage)
when he was 16 he joined a trading ship and started sailing the seas, which he quickly fell head over heels in love with
at 23 a new guy joined the crew (Glen, owned by @babblingblueberry /blu3berry) and they end up getting entangled in ways Tumblr wont approve iykwim
at 25 Glen (23) goes home to support his family during the war and Torrin sails the seas for another half year or so before the ship gets caught in a sea battle (crossfire) and most of the crew strand on a remote archipelago
Torrin helps around at a local temple to get food and shelter in return, but some local extremists kidnap him and (in short) force a curse upon him from a cursed mummified skull
from that day onward Torrin carries this blood-hungry thing with him
The curse itself demands blood- it took his arm as a start until Torrin broke loose, but it has gone far enough to meld itself to the lizard/monkey/primal part of his brain, which gives him this predatory urge to feed on blood roughly every two weeks. He can't fight it when it happens bc as the hunger starts to get stronger the drive in the back of his head for blood gets louder, and as his mind starts to loose grip he starts to loose his will to right as well.
Torrin isnt a violent person but the curse turned him into one and he hates himself more than he hates the people that waged war on his country. He's a monster- a blood thirsty murderer. He tries to stay away from civilization as much as possible, only getting close when he needs to feed. OH RIGHT he also grows gnarly teeth when hes in his berserk hunger mode and his eyes glow red-ish, and his arm can do all sorts of weird stuff :3 Generally, when its fed and Torrin is resting, the arm takes the form of.. well, a real arm (as show in the refs) but it can also do funky stuff like this
The cursed arm feels heavy and cool to the touch and it makes a sound as if its like marble r smth. Yet it can shift and deform at a whim as if its merely made of smoke. Torrin can control this completely, yet he chooses not to because it reminds him of this side of himself that he despises. The fullbody shown above (third pic) is about as far as the arm can reach, probably could touch the ground while standing.
Also yes the curse spreads across his face chest and back like black veins <3
…which means it’s time for an annual reminder not to kidnap baby birds. Fact: most species of birds have almost no sense of smell. Someone probably told you that if you touch a baby bird, the mother will smell you on it and reject her baby. THAT IS NOT THE CASE. If you’ve found a baby bird and you touched it, all is not lost, you can still return it to mom and dad!
Pictured: a young Mourning Dove, after being rescued from the tender mercies of my dog, circa spring 2005. It’s a fledgling! Note how it has most of its feathers, but still looks a bit awkward and scruffy, and, being unable to properly fly, can be caught by an elderly husky or a child.
Help, I found a baby bird on the ground, what do I do???
Hatchlings/Nestlings: IF it is naked or covered in fluffy down and/or pinfeathers and cannot flutter successfully, it’s a hatchling or nestling, and has fallen from its nest prematurely. Look for the nest- if you find it and can reach it, return baby and then leave and let the parents return. If you can’t find the nest, or if you find it in pieces on the ground, use a small box/yogurt container lined with dried grass and attach as close as possible to where you found the bird or where you think the nest was. If it’s cold, warm it in your hands for a few minutes before putting it back. RETURN BABY!!!!
Fledglings: If you spot a young bird covered with feathers (may have a few patches of fluff) on the ground, it’s a fledgling (bird tween) who is currently working on flying 101 homework, which is normal and fine. Hanging out on the ground is part of the learning to fly process! If it looks like it’s in immediate danger (i.e. of being run over, stepped on, or eaten by a cat or dog), the best thing you can do for it is to gently scoop it up and place it in the low branches of a nearby tree or shrub, and then LEAVE. The parents are likely nearby watching, and will return once the coast is clear. If it flutter-hops away from you and you can’t catch it, then don’t worry! It just successfully avoided a predator (you), and therefore can probably continue to do so. LEAVE BABY ALONE!!!
DO NOT: Try to feed it, bring it into your house or car, or take it to your local domestic animal vet or shelter.
IF it IS actually for-real injured (bleeding, broken limb, attacked by cat, struck window), you can catch it, put it in a dark cardboard box (with NO food or water, young birds can aspirate easily) and contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitation professional, but keep in mind that they get a LOT of fledgling birds, and those birds have a pretty high mortality rate. They may tell you that there is nothing you or they can do but allow nature to take its course, and that’s hard, but important to hear and respect.
