Yunna loves Ly's plush toy!
@youtooz
@Ms_Ice_Cream
#Rayman #LyTheFairy #Ubisoft #Youtooz #MsIceCream #raymanlegens #raymanlegendsretold #raymanretold #rayman #raymanoc #artdigital #rayman2 #raymanxoc #rayman3 #raymanymphs #ubisoft
todays bird
DEAR READER
ojovivo
art blog(derogatory)

Kiana Khansmith
Not today Justin
he wasn't even looking at me and he found me
Keni

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Aqua Utopia|海の底で記憶を紡ぐ
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blake kathryn
Sade Olutola
let's talk about Bridgerton tea, my ask is open
we're not kids anymore.

izzy's playlists!

Janaina Medeiros

Origami Around
taylor price

tannertan36

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@nwysperiablog
Yunna loves Ly's plush toy!
@youtooz
@Ms_Ice_Cream
#Rayman #LyTheFairy #Ubisoft #Youtooz #MsIceCream #raymanlegens #raymanlegendsretold #raymanretold #rayman #raymanoc #artdigital #rayman2 #raymanxoc #rayman3 #raymanymphs #ubisoft
baby boy babyyy
So I made an AU! of my main OC as an idol singer, inspired by Demon K-Pop Hunters, Over the Moon, K/da, Belle movie but mainly by a Sonic AU that has been a huge comfort to me during some very difficult times in my personal life. Basically, Gaia/Earth collided with the planet of the Glade of Dreams centuries ago, and since then humans and dreams have coexisted. In this AU, Yunna gives up her princess crown for a peaceful middle-class life, and with the help of Rayman and friends, she climbs the ladder in the idol world! It's a calm AU and your typical sweet shojo. I made it more as a quiet corner away from the dark political melodrama of my main Rayman AU [although in that canon, Yunna also sings, but the context is different xd], something sweet amidst all the turbulence I have planned for the main AU. I hope you like it n.n
#rayman30fanart #rayman #raymanoc #artdigital #rayman2 #raymanxoc #rayman3 #raymanymphs #ubisoft #fairy #fairys #princess #finalfantasy #kingdomgeart #goofy #idol
I made Fifi's cute dragon, I hope you like it! I'll see who the next cute OC in the fandom will be. @nocnafifi
the full on mood. _
—The pleasant aroma of freshly roasted coffee brewed with hot water filled the house made of wood, mud, and straw. Even on a hard day’s work, the peace in that home was palpable. An old scorpion who had once been an enemy of nations was now nothing more than a retired commander who spent his days advising King Blue Sky and caring for his blood relatives, the youngest a tiny piece of obsidian with a sensitive gaze tinged with blue, as if he were four fragments of sapphire. He called himself Kenai'ta; he was about 7 or 8 years old and had come straight from school to fall asleep in his little bed. He was very intelligent—that was a fact—and Pigo, who rarely saw a scorpion use its brain beyond its muscles, was proud of him.
The older one, about 10 years old, seemed excited, his little eyes shining, full of curiosity, hoping his uncle would ask him why. Pigo, who had just made coffee and milk with cinnamon for the boy, raised an eyebrow—
The little scorpion would have come home from school with his little brother; first he’d go to his room to drop off his things, and just before leaving, he’d tuck his brother in, only to finally put a little blanket over him.
The little bean would just look at his uncle with wide eyes and a small smile, trying to figure out what he meant—probably finding it all a bit boring in his little mind when it came to long talks. But when it came to Darel, he knew there would at least be something interesting involved, though not this time. Still, noticing the shift in the conversation, the little boy would grow pensive as he stared at the cup.
“I’m a big boy now, so I should start drinking coffee… but I want a cup of sweet milk, please!”
How could he say no to a nice little cup of milk with sweet cinnamon? The coffee could still wait, though given the situation he was hearing about, the little boy would play with his little hands, trying to ask with a mix of curiosity and trepidation, since he didn’t know what his uncle’s reaction would be.
“Uncle Pigo, I wanted to ask you, have you ever done something nice for a girl?”
That question threw the old man off balance. For years, the idea of a romantic situation with a lady had been a painful past he really didn’t want to touch on, but now he was one of the guardians of two children, who were growing up, and inevitably that question would come—he just hadn’t imagined it would be so soon. And to make matters worse, all the other adults who helped raise Stinger were busy. He settled in and looked at the boy, who was staring at him with a mix of embarrassment and hope.
“All right, little scorpion,” he said, stirring his coffee. “For our clan, the black sand scorpions—better known as desert scorpions—we have countless ways to woo the ladies. It could be through surfing, winning friendly battles as a sport, with a powerful stinger, or even huge fangs. But there is one that is the most sacred and important of all; the one that isn’t just for courting, but the one you’ll use with the person you love with all your soul and heart.
“With that person for whom you’d be willing to do anything, that female worth killing for,” he said passionately, without realizing he might be crossing the line by placing such expectations on the boy, but he couldn’t help himself; every time he spoke of his culture, it felt like poetry passed down from tongue to tongue and from generation to generation; it was impossible not to love the little good his people had left him and to share it with his young and inexperienced nephew.
“The one that is only fulfilled with the woman who will be the mother of your children,” he said seriously. “Pay very, very, very close attention, because this is by no means a game, and once it happens, there’s no turning back… understood?”
Much of that explanation came from him watching his uncle intently as he laid out all the things he could do to try to get that girl’s attention. Surfing? It sounded like something that involved water. Fight with someone else? Maybe not; he was still terrified of kids bigger than him—even a dragonfly landing on him could beat him. That discouraged him a little, though when he heard that there was something much more important and valuable—even sacred to his people—he paid closer attention to the older scorpion’s explanation. He had even grabbed a spoon to stir his cinnamon-sweetened milk, but he was so engrossed that instead of stirring the spoon in his cup, he waved it in the air while nodding his little head, watching his uncle get excited with every word he spoke.
“I understand, Uncle Pigo. Whatever comes my way, I’ll face it like a big boy!”
“...Dancing,” he said simply, then took a sip of his coffee. “Dancing is one of the most important romantic connections between one couple and another in our species.”
For Scorpios, dancing is like another kind of battle, so to speak; a way to connect with the other person in a synchronized way, like sunflowers with the sun and the sea reflecting the sky.
“I know that ever since you were very young, I’ve told you that being a scorpion means being tough… but when it comes to your partner, Stinger, you have to let your guard down, because they’re not your enemy, they’re not your squad mate… they’re the love of your life, and when that moment comes… when that exact moment comes and you’re absolutely sure, don’t hesitate.”
“Woooow...”
His little eyes quickly sparkled as he heard how lovely and beautiful that moment had been for that old scorpion. Now he could begin to understand a little of that beautiful feeling of being able to dance with the one you longed to be with so much. That comforted him greatly, and it showed on his little face as he looked at his uncle with determination.
“That was a really nice story. Thank you so much, Uncle Pigo!”
With that, Pigo would scratch her little head while Stinger took advantage of the elderly scorpion’s caresses to rub herself against his pincer, purring with delight.
The old man smiled kindly upon hearing his satisfied little voice.
“Is there… perhaps a little scorpion out there I should know about?” He arched an eyebrow with a teasing smile. His eyes widened at his uncle’s suggestion, and he stopped purring immediately, only to look slightly embarrassed.
Before he could continue his scolding, one of his biggest headaches appeared on the scene. It wasn’t just any desert scorpion; it was worse. A scorpion from the Emperor clan, which had long since joined the community. Jir couldn’t stand him… and it wasn’t because he was a scorpion. If only that were the case.
“Sorry, Master. This simple dummy won’t be a problem for me,” Stinger replied, trying not to lose his focus or forget what he’d learned.
It was either that or take another hit from the totem. However, a small sound—and above all, a smell—distracted him. The aroma of food made him turn his head and leave the battlefield, but not before landing one last blow on the dummy.
An emperor scorpion appeared in front of the door. Its skin, cold as ice, was marked by blue streaks running across its body, and its eyes were a peculiar lavender color. Its natural spikes and spines were integrated into its armor, and its characteristic long, segmented tail curved behind it, topped by its most powerful weapon: a stinger that looked like a sword ready to strike down anyone who dared to harm its family.
“Excuse me, I hope I’m not interrupting your training so abruptly,” Ark said with a calm and slightly elegant demeanor.
He was carrying a basket of snacks for the little one; because, besides Pigo, there was someone else who cared about the pup.
“Baba Ark! Baba Ark!” Stinger exclaimed.
Excitement shone in the little one’s eyes. As soon as he was close enough, he used his tiny little paws to climb up the large dark cloak the young emperor was carrying.
“Oh! Hello, little one! I’m so glad to see you.
“Oh, that’s right… by the way, Jir,” he added. “Purzura sent this for you.”
With that, he kindly handed another basket to the old frog, filled with desserts and food prepared with great care.
“Am I going to get something, too?” asked Stinger.
Jir frowned more than usual. How he detested Arkaiser Valkaryan, aka Ark to his friends. But, as mentioned earlier, his problem wasn’t that he was an emperor scorpion… or even a scorpion at all.
It was his friendship with his daughter, Purpurina—aka Purzura. Deep down, Jir knew that closeness had a suspicious undertone… and he didn’t like it one bit. Jir didn’t like any man around his daughter, unless they were part of the Kulipari team, since she saw them as brothers. Ark was a special case. A particularly unpleasant special case. Even so, he decided to ignore those thoughts and relax a little.
“Tell him thanks. His gifts always brighten my afternoons,” he said, surprisingly calm. “You can take a break this time, Stinger.”
He handed three glazed rolls to the young scorpion.
The boy began eating the sandwiches Ark had brought him, while Ark took some juice from the basket and poured it into a small glass for him.
“Thank you so much, Baba Ark.”
“It’s the least I can do. Tell me, how’s training going? It doesn’t feel too hard, does it?”
“Um… nope! Not right now,” he replied, playing with his little pincers before taking a sip of the juice.
“Baba Ark? Can I ask you a question?”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“You… what have you done to impress a girl?”
The question took the major by surprise, but he also found it sweet and unexpected.
“Better yet, what haven’t I done?” he smiled. “Why? Do you want to impress a girl at school?”
“No! No, that’s not it… I just wanted to know…”
Seeing his reaction, Ark dropped his teasing tone and adopted a more serious one.
“All right, listen carefully, little one.
Dancing is the most sacred way for the black sand scorpions to demonstrate their strength and devotion. You already know that, don’t you?”
Stinger nodded as he ate, though he seemed a little lost in the explanation.
“Good, but for an emperor, there is something just as sacred… something that is offered only once in a lifetime.”
“And that is a flower.”
“A flower?”
“A flower, but not just any flower.”
“One that represents your beloved.” One that, when you see it, reflects what she means to you. That flower isn’t a simple gift: it’s your soul, your effort, and your devotion brought to life.
Ark’s voice grew softer.
“Yurlunggur, when he looked upon his wife, believed that nothing in the world could match her beauty. No treasure, no jewel, no star could equal her.”
“Then he dreamed with all his love and power… and thus created flowers as a gift for her.”
He looked down at Stinger.
“When the time comes, don’t try to impress with force or noise. Find the flower that is meant for her. Because when a woman receives that flower, she doesn’t receive an object… she receives your devotion, your soul, your whole being.”
Stinger looked at him in amazement. His claws trembled with excitement.
“Hey, Baba Ark…” he whispered. “Do you think you could come to Akiane’s aviary a little later…?”
“T-the birds asked if you could play some music, but… that you should wait for me to arrive. Y-yes!”
Ark understood immediately and pretended not to notice his intentions.
“All right, little one. It’ll be my honor to help you impress those ladies,” he winked.
Stinger’s little tail wagged excitedly, but a chirp interrupted them.
“You must be quite the expert on ladies, aren’t you, Valkaryan?” Jir said sarcastically. “How many female scorpions have you left with broken hearts?”
Ark froze.
“Ahem… I highly doubt it, sir. If that were the case, it would be a disaster.”
“Today I learned from my Uncle Pigo that we scorpions are monogamous owo,” Stinger interjected, trying to defend him.
Ark lifted him up carefully.
“You’re learning fast, little bean.”
“I hope so, Mr. Valkaryan… I hope so,” Jir replied coldly.
“And you’d better hope that girl you’re pining for is worth it…”
Though he was harsh, the last thing Jir wanted was to see his star student’s heart broken.
-...-
In a wooded area filled with trees that King Blue Sky had planned to plant over the years, all kinds of species thrived. His goal had been to recreate the forests and jungles around Nova Australis, seeking to emulate the diversity of flora that Anfibiland once possessed.
Three little scorpions and three tadpoles were out on an excursion, following their leader: little Stinger.
“Little brother, when you said we’d go on an expedition to find something, I agreed without hesitation. I thought, ‘Oh, this will be fun,’ but… what exactly are we looking for?” asked Kenai’ta.
He was a double-stinger scorpion, two years younger than Stinger. He was dressed in blue and had sweet sky-blue eyes.
“Fight a dingo? Carnivorous plants? A fierce battle with Narubi?” asked Thuma, the reddish tadpole. “I can’t wait to put my venom to the test—it’s as strong as a rock!”
“Thuma, there are no dingoes in the woods,” Tharta interjected.
“I just hope they don’t eat us…” whispered Tippi, the pink tadpole, hiding behind Stinger in obvious fear.
“Well, I brought you all here because I need your help with just one thing,” said Stinger.
Noticing the younger ones’ concern, he paused to reassure them.
“No dingo is going to attack us. In fact, I don’t think there are any in this area… and let’s hope there aren’t any carnivorous plants.”
“No one’s going to eat us today, and they’d better not run into us because they’re in for a world of trouble!” said Kailani. The little albino emperor scorpion was scurrying and hopping around the area, making sure there were no dangers. Even so, she trusted Stinger completely; he was always the first to ask them not to wander off unless it was necessary.
“That’s the spirit! But… we didn’t come here to fight!” exclaimed Stinger. “I brought you along to help me find a flower. The most beautiful one I can find!”
“A flower? What do you want a flower for?” asked Kenai’ta as she walked beside him. “Arkaiser has plenty in his garden.”
“I went a while ago and didn’t like any of them,” Stinger replied. “It’s not that they weren’t pretty, it’s just that… they weren’t what I was looking for.”
“So? What’s the flower for?” Kai pressed.
“Um… it’s for a school assignment!”
“Hmm…” Kai narrowed his eyes. “All right!”
Kenai’ta watched her older brother closely. She knew he was lying, but she couldn’t quite figure out why.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, it slowly transformed into a jungle. The variety of flora was immense; without a doubt, Darel and the gardeners had done an exceptional job. At times, it was impossible to tell Anfibiland apart from Nova Australis. Years of love for botany were reflected in every corner.
On a raised part of the grounds stood a bush covered in beautiful salmon-colored hibiscus flowers, their yellow filaments contrasting with their intense tropical hue. The scent and beauty were impossible to ignore.
Stinger’s eyes filled with determination.
“I’m going to climb up. Kai, give me a lift.”
“What if you fall?” she asked, worried.
“Then you and the triplets catch me.”
“Um… okay. You can do it!”
Kai helped him partway up. It wasn’t far, but it was enough for Stinger to continue on his own. The higher he climbed, the closer he got to the flower, though he wouldn’t take just any one: he wanted the one at the very top.
For a moment it looked like he was going to fall, but he grabbed hold quickly, whether out of reflex or fear. He kept climbing until, finally, he reached the top. He stretched out his right little claw, stuck out his tongue in desperation, and, after so much effort, managed to grab the flower.
“Well done, Sting!” exclaimed Tippi.
“Excellent!” added Thuma.
“That’s it, that’s it!” celebrated Tharta.
“I’m coming down now!” Stinger called out. “Stay right there!”
“Do you want me to help you?” asked Kai.
“No! Don’t climb up!”
Going down proved harder than going up. When he looked down, the height paralyzed him. His greatest fear wasn’t that he would fall, but that his friends would try to help him and something would happen to them. Extremely slowly, he began to descend.
As he slipped, he grabbed hold again in panic. Kai and Kenai’ta looked for leaves to cushion a possible fall.
“I don’t know if I’m going to make it!” Stinger shouted.
“You’re almost there! You can do it!” Kai encouraged him.
Seeing the cliff below him, he realized he had to jump.
“I’m going to jump!”
“Calm down! You’re going to fall—”
He couldn’t finish the sentence. Stinger leaped and landed on the ground, almost face-first, but without serious injury.
“Face-first? What kind of scorpion are you?!” Kai protested.
“A black sand…” he replied, wincing but victorious, holding up the intact flower.
“Good thing your shell is hard,” said Kenai’ta, patting it. “And surprisingly, not hollow at all. What’s next, Sting?”
“Thanks, Keni… I appreciate your support,” he replied as he sat up.
Kai helped him to his feet.
“Well… Keni, Kai, thanks for the help. Now I need to deliver this flower. Can you take the triplets for me?”
“But who are you going to give it to?” Kai asked.
“Gossip! If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise!”
“I’m not a gossip, just well-informed!”
“Let’s go, kids,” Kenai’ta ordered the tadpoles, grabbing Kai’s tail. “Good luck with your secret girlfriend!”
“Hey!” protested Stinger.
Before leaving, Kenai’ta turned back.
“I have some iridescent stones for you,” she said. “A necessary sacrifice.”
—Deep in the jungle stood a massive tree. It was so large that it towered over all other trees. At its center lay paths of hammocks and mahogany railings. In its branches, other fruit-bearing plants had been planted in holes filled with fresh soil, creating a natural, sprawling orchard. From its beautiful green canopy of leaves hung nests and colored glass that adorned the place like tiles on certain parts of the tree.
But the most impressive thing there was not its meticulous decoration, but its inhabitants: thousands upon thousands of bird species living together, even predators of one another, as if they were sisters. They were more than neighbors; they were family, especially after everything they had been through. From among the feathers of a macaw, a sweet, singing voice could be heard as it searched for something in that nest. The bird wasn’t worried or tense at all, because the one down there was none other than a Kulipari tadpole of about 8 years old. As he emerged from that cozy nest, he carried art supplies, two small bags, and two notebooks while continuing to sing—
“All right, sweetie… what shall we paint today?” said the pretty little girl with creamy skin, turquoise spots like gemstones, and arms and legs dotted with freckles that looked like entire galaxies. Her enormous eyelashes, reddish-brown lips, and beautiful blue eyes with purple pupils gave her the natural beauty of a poison dart frog, not to mention the iridescent sheen of her pretty skin. “Hmm… I know!” she said to herself, beginning to draw what looked like several colorful birds in flight, with meticulous precision.
The little arachnid had prepared everything so she could go find the amphibian she wanted to give that flower to, but before that she had gone home to make her a drawing using Kai’s colors and a makeshift little envelope to give it to her, not without first getting some cans she would use later. With everything ready, he would begin to climb up to that beautiful aviary, taking great care not to disturb the birds, for he respected them more than anything else in his life. Once at the top, he would peek his head out to look for Akiane. Still nervous and with his tail trembling, he would approach little by little, clearly hiding the cans and all the beautiful details that had taken him so much time and care to make and gather. Once he was close to her, he would try to speak to her in his little trembling voice—
“U-um... H-hi, A-a-Akiane!” he greeted her nervously, like a skunk.
—The sweet little girl stopped mid-drawing to look up at the sound of the boy’s voice, her eyes widening with excitement, accompanied by that genuinely warm smile—
“Oh—hi, Stinger!” she said with the tenderness she reserved for everyone she loved— “What brings you here? Do you want to play? Do you want to take a nap on the birds?“ she said, tilting her face tenderly while squinting slightly at his welcoming smile. ”I have some shawls that Mama Wirra knitted recently for you to keep warm!"
He’d feel a little nervous hearing all his partner’s questions, so out of habit he’d step back a bit so she wouldn’t see all the details he’d brought for her, though something about her made him smile nervously when he saw her, because that little spark of happiness she radiated on her own was more than enough to put him in a good mood.
“I-I’d like to sleep later with the birds while I show them off the shawls Mama Wirra made.” —He pictured himself curled up among the birds, but his thoughts quickly refocused as he remembered why he’d come—
“But not now—I came because I wanted to do this!”
Summoning what little courage he had to avoid dying of embarrassment in that moment, he would hand her a drawing of the two of them happy and laughing; though he wasn’t the best at drawing, he’d put all his effort into making it as pretty as possible. Just to slip them on a little surreptitiously, taking advantage of the fact that she’d be distracted by the drawing, just to improvise quickly and thus complete his final step. Once he was high enough, he would duck his head and stretch out his little claws to hand her the flower that had nearly cost him a broken arm. He wouldn’t say a word; his four little eyes would stay closed, hoping she wouldn’t reject it.
The sweet little girl was surprised to see the drawing, and when she looked at it closely, she couldn’t help but laugh and hugged it with great love, as if it were one of her dolls.
“It's... so beautiful, Stinger. I'll hang it among the ones I have on the tree!” she said as she stood up, grabbed some animal stickers, and placed Stinger's artwork high up, not before giving him a little kiss. “You've improved so much. Don't forget, Stinger—you don't have to be a genius to be an artist.” —She stopped short to look at the flower the boy was giving her.
Her little eyes widened enormously, revealing her own amphibian-like pupils; she blinked softly as she began to blush as red as a cherry. “F-for me…?” she asked hesitantly, as if she couldn’t believe that the sweet boy was really giving her a flower. He nodded suddenly, indicating that her assumption was correct, for he couldn’t look her in the eye because of the embarrassment he felt, nor could he speak, as the words wouldn’t come out of his mouth no matter how hard he tried to form them.
“That was it. If she doesn’t like this, then I don’t know what else she might like... She must think I’m weird,” he thought to himself as his face seemed to turn red.
“Um... These are just little gifts,” the boy said, “to... ask you to dance.”
Once again, his nervousness was evident in the way he fiddled with his hands and kept his eyes downcast.
When the little girl heard that, she blushed as red as a hibiscus flower and hopped up and down with excitement at his proposal. “Really!? Yes, yes, yes!”
—Deep within the twilight and shadows, there was something that remained still yet watched every movement of those children as they shared a moment as unique as it was tender; for when you could see two little ones emerging and stepping into the realm of love, well, only Arkaiser could answer that, as he watched over them; seeing them so happy gave him a unique and beautiful feeling. Everything he’d told Stinger was working perfectly; that’s when he saw that his advice was at least serving some purpose. Oh, not for long—for the moment had arrived, something as sacred as a dance, but—what is a dance without music?!?! “It can’t be,” he told himself, so as quickly as he could, using his shadow powers, he would cast a spell to create a music box that would activate its mechanism without them hearing it. Little by little, a soft melody began to play even before the little tadpole said yes. Clearly, the tune made her realize that Stinger had planned all of this; the little scorpion was so cautious.
She stood up nervously and waited for him to ask her to dance. With some caution and nervousness, she took his hand, afraid of squeezing it too hard and hurting him. In this way, she tried to move slowly on the makeshift stilts she had fashioned to make herself taller than her partner. She gave him a smile and, with a better sense of what a waltz was, began to dance with him serenely. Her movements were faster and slightly unpredictable, but never abrupt, for to her he was as fragile as a koala cub. Every now and then she would lift him up because he was so light, and she would laugh excitedly at it; it was just another game among many for her, but she slowly began to realize what was happening when the four eyes in the shadows made themselves known. After feeling the gaze fixed on him, she would disappear again more discreetly, leaving the two little ones alone.
And so, the little black sand scorpion wiggled his tail nervously yet happily, knowing that one of his dreams was coming true. Being able to dance with her was, without a doubt, magical, and even so, he wondered if any of what was happening to him in that moment was real. As soon as the dance ended, Akiane hugged Stinger tightly and eventually cupped his little face with both hands.
“This is one of the nicest gifts I’ve ever received… thank you, Stinger,” the little tadpole said sweetly.
Stinger accepted the hug with surprise but also with great affection, clinging to her before purring softly. “No, Akiane, thank you for accepting it.”
—With that, he would burrow into her and rub against her little by little, as he never wanted to let go. She widened her eyes and laughed at the outpouring of affection. The moment was interrupted when she heard her name in the distance; it was Mom Acala—
“Kids, time to eat!” she called from beneath the big tree.
“Oh! My frog mom is talking to me,” she said, smiling at Stinger. “See you at lunch. Thanks for everything, Stinger,” she said, cupping his cheeks and planting a little kiss on his lips before quickly climbing down from the aviary. He could barely react to the girl’s kiss, as she suddenly left—her mother’s call would separate them after that beautiful moment. He already felt that she had won him over completely with that kiss, and not just the kiss, but the fact that she had thanked him for the drawing and accepted the flower; he was more than satisfied. And so he sank to the ground, processing everything that had just happened, only to curl up into a ball and shift from side to side while covering his face because he was so flushed, making little silly sounds of excitement—
—...—
So everything went as planned? —Pigo asked Arkaiser as he drank coffee and poured some for the young emperor scorpion— wow... I knew that pup was hiding something from me.
Of course it did, you would have loved to see the outcome.
—He would graciously accept the cup of coffee offered by the former commander, for who would refuse a cup of coffee with someone who once posed a threat? But today, without a doubt, he considered him one of the bravest and fiercest scorpions on the battlefield—the one whom his old way of thinking had prevented him from seeing clearly until this very day—
“Thank you very much. Although—don't blame him for it; we both know how hard it is for him to share his experiences. We just have to give him time, though I must admit that can worry me, too.”
—she said, taking a silent sip of her drink—
"No, I don't blame him... he must be embarrassed by the idea of showing his feelings, since “he’s not very Scorpio”—he said sarcastically, dismissing all the negative connotations left by the culture of the ancient Scorpio Lord—thank you for helping him, Arkaiser; at least he knows he has a great example to follow—he remarked just as the little Scorpio came running toward them to sit by his side; his rosy cheeks and overwhelming excitement were still evident—
—He would be stunned by the old man’s words; something about him would stir his conscience and all his memories. All she could do was smile warmly, though somewhat wearily—
“Thank you, I’m just doing what I can with what I have,” she said after giving him a smile, only to see the scorpion cub quickly approach with an almost triumphant look on his face after what had happened—
“And look who’s coming this way. So tell me, Stinger…”
“Really?” she’d look at him with a silly smile while wagging her tail.
“How did it go?” Ark asked.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the puppy pretended not to know anything, giggling.
“Okay, fine,” Ark replied with a laugh.
The emotion and warmth in his heart were so overwhelming that he wasn’t afraid to tell the truth in that moment, but he wasn’t going to allow himself the luxury of lying after what had happened either. Pigo could only smile at the boy, for that thrill of victory only showed that his little one was growing up, and that made him feel a bit wistful, but above all proud, knowing that, whoever the girl he chose might be, she would take care of Stinger’s little heart; after all, Pigo had raised him well to choose someone worth it. Stinger just wagged his little tail with excitement, unable to stop thinking about how wonderful it was to have danced with that little tadpole who was flooding his tiny puppy body with so much dopamine.
The end
For: @skylet-dreen and @nwysperiablog
—...—
—El agradable olor a café recién tostado y pasado a agua caliente impregnaba la casa de madera, barro y paja. Incluso en un duro día de labores, la paz en ese hogar era redundante. Un viejo escorpión que en su pasado alguna vez fue enemigo de naciones, ahora no era más que un comandante retirado que dedicaba sus días a apoyar al rey Cielo Azul en el consejo y cuidar a sus sobrinos sanguíneos, el menor un pequeño pedacito de obsidiana de mirada sensible con tonalidades azules, como si se tratara de cuatro fragmentos de zafiro. Se hacía llamar Kenai'ta, tenía aproximadamente 7 u 8 años y había venido de la escuela directo a dormirse en su camita; era muy inteligente, era un hecho, y a Pigo, que rara vez veía a un escorpión usar el cerebro más allá de los músculos, lo enorgullecía.
El mayor, de aproximadamente 10 años, parecía entusiasmado, con sus ojitos iluminados, llenos de curiosidad, con la esperanza de que su tío le preguntara la razón. Pigo, que había preparado recién café y crema de leche con canela para el niño, arqueó una ceja—
El pequeño escorpióncito habría llegado de la escuela junto con su hermanito; primero iría a su cuarto a dejar sus cosas y justo antes de salir, arroparía a su hermano, solo para al final ponerle una cobijita.
—Descansa, Keni —le susurró Stinger a su hermanito.
Saldría del cuarto e iría lo más rápido posible a donde estaba su tío, pues el olor tan dulce a café con crema y leche era algo que sin duda no podía ignorar, y en sus pequeños chirridos de felicidad eran evidentes. Fue así que buscaría una sillita para poder sentarse, no sin antes traer unos libros para poder estar a la altura de la mesa y poder tomarse su café y hablar con su familiar.
—¿Se puede saber por qué pareces un pequeño cachorro de quokka feliz? —preguntó el anciano sentándose frente a él en el comedor.
—Hola, tío Pigo. Me alegra de verte! —saludó el cachorro de escorpión, moviendo la cola como un dingo.
—Es que me fue bien en la escuela, ¿y a ti cómo te fue?
—Las mismas charlas de siempre respecto a tratados de paz y conexiones políticas, ya sabes cómo es Darel; tiene grandes planes para Nova Australis, pero no es algo que realmente un niño como tú debería presionarse la cabeza —dijo poniéndole una taza enfrente al niño—. ¿Café o leche endulzada con canela? —ofreció amablemente.
—Pero a lo que me refiero con tu emoción es que hueles a que tienes algo que decir o quizás que preguntar, ¿o mis instintos de viejo ya están fallando? —dijo arqueando una ceja, claramente curioso por lo que tuviese que decir el pequeño niño.
El pequeño frijolito solo vería a su tío con los ojitos dilatados y una pequeña sonrisa tratando de entender a lo que se refería, seguramente algo aburrido en su pequeña mente cuando se trataba de charlas largas. Pero cuando se trataba de Darel, sabía que mínimo algo interesante habría de por medio, pero no en esta ocasión. Aunque al ver el cambio en la conversación, el pequeño se pondría pensativo viendo la taza.
—Ya soy un niño grande, así que debería empezar a tomar café ... pero quiero tomar una taza de leche dulce, por favor!—
¿Cómo podría decirle que no a una buena tacita de leche con canela dulce? El café aún podía esperar, aunque dada la situación que estaba escuchando, el pequeño jugaría con sus tenacitas tratando de preguntar con algo de curiosidad y pena, pues no sabía cuál sería su reacción.
—Tío Pigo, le quería preguntar, ¿alguna vez hizo algún detalle lindo para una niña? —
Dicha pregunta sacó de lugar al anciano. Desde hace años, la idea de una situación romántica con una dama era un pasado doloroso del cual realmente no le gustaría tocar, pero ahora era uno de los responsables de dos niños, los cuales estaban creciendo e inevitablemente esa pregunta llegaría, solo que no imaginó que tan pronto, y para su desafortunada situación, todos los demás adultos que apoyaban la crianza de Stinger estaban ocupados. Este se acomodó y vio al niño que lo miraba con vergüenza y esperanza.
—Muy bien, escorpioncito —le indicó removiendo su café—. Para nuestro clan, los escorpiones de arena negra, o más conocidos como escorpiones del desierto, tenemos innumerables formas de cortejar a las damas. Puede ser surfeando, puede ser ganando batallas amistosas como deporte, con un aguijón fuerte o incluso unos enormes colmillos. Pero hay una que es la más sagrada e importante de todas; esa que no es solo para cortejar, sino que es aquella que usarás con aquella persona que ames con toda tu alma y corazón.
—Con esa persona que estarías dispuesto a todo, esa hembra por la que vale la pena matar —dijo apasionadamente sin notar que quizás se estaba pasando de la raya al meterle dichas expectativas al pequeño, pero no podía evitarlo; cada que hablaba de su cultura le resultaba una poesía pasada de lengua en lengua y de generación en generación, inevitable no amar lo poco bueno que le habían dejado los suyos y compartirlo con su joven e inexperto sobrino.
—Esa que solo se realiza únicamente con quien será la madre de tus hijos —dijo seriamente—. Pon mucha, mucha, pero mucha atención, porque esto no es para nada un juego y una vez que pase no hay vuelta atrás... ¿entendido?
Gran parte de esa explicación fue él viendo con ojos abiertos a su tío mientras le explicaba cada una de las cosas que podía hacer para intentar llamar la atención de esa niña. ¿Surfear? Sonaba a algo que implicaba agua. ¿Pelearse con otro? Tal vez no; aún le aterraban los niños que eran más grandes que él, inclusive una libélula posada en él podría ganarle. Eso lo desanimaba un poquito, aunque al escuchar que había algo mucho más importante y valioso, inclusive sagrado para los suyos, fue que prestaría más atención a la explicación del escorpión más viejo. Inclusive había agarrado una cuchara para mover su leche endulzada con canela, pero era tanta atención que en vez de mover la cuchara en su taza la movería al aire mientras asentía con su cabecita viendo cómo su tío se emocionaba con cada palabra que mencionaba.
—Entiendo, tío Pigo. Lo que venga lo voy a afrontar como un niño grande!—
—...Bailar —soltó a secas para luego tomar un sorbo de su café—. Bailar es una de las conexiones románticas más importantes de una pareja a otra en nuestra especie.
Para los escorpiones, bailar es como otro tipo de batalla, por así decirlo; una manera de conectar con la otra persona de una forma sincronizada, como los girasoles con el sol y el mar reflejando el cielo.
—Sé que desde que eres muy joven te he dicho que ser escorpión es ser alguien duro... pero cuando se trata de tu pareja, Stinger, hay que bajar la guardia, porque no es tu enemigo, no es tu compañero de pelotón... es el amor de tu vida, y cuando ese momento llegue... cuando ese preciso momento llegue y estés totalmente seguro, no dudes.
—Woooow...—
Sus ojitos rápidamente brillaron al escuchar lo lindo y hermoso que fue ese momento para aquel escorpión anciano. Ahora podía lograr entender ligeramente aquel sentimiento tan hermoso que era poder bailar con aquella a quien tanto anhelabas estar. Eso lo reconfortó bastante y se notaría en su carita al ver a su tío de manera decidida.
—Fue una historia muy linda ¡Muchas gracias, tío Pigo!—
Con eso último, pigo rascaria su cabecita mientras que stinger aprovecharía las caricias del escorpión anciano para poder restregarse en su tenaza mientras ronroneaba por el afecto.
El anciano sonrió amablemente al oír su vocecita satisfecha.
—¿Acaso... hay alguna escorpioncita por ahí que me deba enterar? —arqueó su ceja con una sonrisa burlona. Abriría los ojos como platos al escuchar la suposición de su tío, a lo cual pararía de ronronear inmediatamente, solo para verlo ligeramente avergonzado.
—¡No, no! No es eso.
—Es que escuché a unos niños en la escuela hablar de eso y me dio curiosidad.
—Era por eso- s-si—respondió nervioso
—…—
Sobre el monte Uluru, en la zona donde la vegetación aún resistía al clima áspero, una anciana rana tuerta supervisaba en solitario al pequeño escorpión que golpeaba con determinación un tótem diseñado para devolver cada impacto.
Normalmente, el resto de sus alumnos entrenaban una vez al día durante toda la semana, pero con Stinger era diferente. Siempre se quedaba más tiempo, esforzándose por mejorar. Él no quería ser solo un kulipari… quería ser como a quien más admiraba: Darel, el Rey Cielo Azul.
—Te noto distraído. No estás concentrado, como si tu mente estuviera en otra cosa —dijo Jir, sobándose la barbilla.
Antes de poder continuar con el regaño, uno de sus mayores dolores de cabeza apareció en escena. No se trataba de un escorpión del desierto; era peor. Un escorpión del clan Emperador, que hacía mucho tiempo se había unido a la comunidad. Jir no lo soportaba… y no era porque fuese un escorpión. Ojalá fuera por eso.
—Perdón, maestro. Este simple muñeco no va a ser problema para mí —respondió Stinger, intentando no perder la concentración ni olvidar lo aprendido.
Era eso o recibir otro golpe del tótem. Sin embargo, un pequeño sonido —y sobre todo un olor— lo distrajo. El aroma de comida lo hizo girar la cabeza y abandonar el campo de batalla, no sin antes asestar un último golpe al muñeco.
Frente a la puerta apareció un escorpión emperador. Su piel, fría como el hielo, estaba marcada por trazos azules que recorrían su cuerpo y sus ojos, de un peculiar color lavanda. Sus picos y espinas naturales se integraban a su armadura, y su característica cola, larga y segmentada, se curvaba tras él, rematada por su arma más poderosa: un aguijón que parecía una espada lista para fulminar a cualquiera que osara dañar a su familia.
—Perdón, espero no estar interrumpiendo tan abruptamente el entrenamiento —dijo Ark con un temple tranquilo y ligeramente elegante.
Traía consigo una canasta con bocadillos para el pequeño; porque, además de Pigo, había alguien más que se preocupaba por el cachorro.
—¡Baba Ark! ¡Baba Ark! —exclamó Stinger.
La emoción brillaba en los ojos del pequeño. En cuanto estuvo lo suficientemente cerca, usó sus diminutas garritas para trepar por la gran capa oscura que cargaba el joven emperador.
—¡Oh! ¡Hola, pequeñín! Me da mucho gusto verte
—Oh, es cierto… a propósito, Jir —añadió—. Purzura te manda esto.
Dicho esto, le entregó amablemente otra canasta a la vieja rana, llena de postres y comida preparados con mucho cariño.
—¿Yo también voy a recibir algo? —preguntó Stinger.
Jir frunció el ceño más de lo habitual. Cómo detestaba a Arkaiser Valkaryan, alias Ark para los colegas. Pero, como se había mencionado antes, su problema no era que fuese un escorpión emperador… ni siquiera un escorpión.
Era su amistad con su hija, Purpurina —alias Purzura—. En el fondo, Jir sabía que aquella cercanía tenía un matiz sospechoso… y no le gustaba en absoluto. A Jir no le agradaba ningún hombre cerca de su hija, a menos que fueran del equipo kulipari, pues ella los veía como hermanos. Ark era un caso particular. Un desagradable caso particular. Aun así, decidió ignorar esos pensamientos y relajarse un poco.
—Dile que gracias. Siempre me alegran las tardes sus regalos —dijo, sorprendentemente tranquilo—. Puedes descansar esta vez, Stinger.
Le entregó tres panecillos glaseados al joven escorpión.
El pequeño comenzó a comer los emparedados que Ark le había traído, mientras este sacaba un poco de jugo de la canasta y se lo servía en un vasito.
—Muchas gracias, Baba Ark.
—Es lo mínimo que puedo hacer. Dime, ¿cómo te va con el entrenamiento? No lo sientes tan pesado, ¿verdad?
—Amm… ¡nop! Ahora no —respondió, jugando con sus tenacitas antes de tomar el jugo—.
—¿Baba Ark? ¿Puedo hacerle una pregunta?
—¿Mmm? ¿De qué se trata?
—Usted… ¿qué ha hecho para impresionar a una niña?
La pregunta tomó al mayor por sorpresa, pero también le resultó dulce e inesperada.
—Mejor dicho, ¿qué no he hecho? —sonrió—. ¿Por qué? ¿Quieres impresionar a una niña de la escuela?
—¡No! No, no es eso… solo quería saber...—
Al ver su reacción, Ark disimuló su tono burlón y adoptó uno más serio.
—Está bien, escucha muy bien, pequeñín.
—Bailar es lo más sagrado que los escorpiones de arena negra poseen para mostrar fuerza y devoción. Eso ya lo sabes, ¿no?—
Stinger asintió mientras comía, aunque parecía perderse un poco en la explicación.
—Bien, pero para un emperador hay algo igual de sagrado… algo que solo se ofrece una vez en la vida.
—Y eso es una flor.
—¿Una flor?
—Una flor, pero no cualquier flor.
—Una que represente a tu amada. Aquella que, al verla, refleje lo que ella significa para ti. Esa flor no es un simple obsequio: es tu alma, tu esfuerzo y tu devoción hechos vida.
La voz de Ark se volvió más suave.
—Yurlunggur, al contemplar a su esposa, creyó que nada en el mundo estaba a la altura de su belleza. Ningún tesoro, ninguna joya, ninguna estrella podía igualarla.
—Entonces soñó con todo su amor y poder… y así creó las flores como regalo para ella.
Bajó la mirada hacia Stinger.
—Cuando llegue el momento, no busques impresionar con fuerza ni con ruido. Busca la flor que sea para ella. Porque cuando una mujer recibe esa flor, no recibe un objeto… recibe tu devoción, tu alma, todo tu ser.
Stinger lo observó con asombro. Sus pinzas temblaban de emoción.
—Oye, Baba Ark… —susurró—. ¿Crees que puedas llegar más tarde al aviario de Akiane…?
—E-es que las aves pidieron si tú podías hacer algo de música, pero… que esperaras a que yo llegara. ¡S-sí!
Ark comprendió de inmediato y fingió ignorar sus intenciones.
—De acuerdo, chiquitín. Será un honor ayudarte a impresionar a esas damas —guiñó un ojo.
La colita de Stinger se movió con entusiasmo, pero un gorgojeo los interrumpió.
—Tú debes ser todo un experto en damas, ¿no, Valkaryan? —dijo Jir con sarcasmo—. ¿Cuántas escorpionas habrás dejado con el corazón roto?
Ark se quedó helado.
—Ejem… lo dudo mucho, señor. De ser el caso, sería algo desastroso.
—Hoy aprendí por parte de mi tío Pigo que los escorpiones somos monógamos owo —intervino Stinger, intentando defenderlo.
Ark lo levantó con cuidado.
—Estás aprendiendo muy rápido, frijolito
—Eso espero, señor Valkaryan… eso espero —respondió Jir con frialdad—.
—Y más te vale que esa chica por la que suspiras valga la pena…
Aunque fuera severo, lo último que Jir deseaba era ver el corazón de su alumno estrella roto.
—…—
En un área boscosa, repleta de árboles que con los años el Rey Cielo Azul había planeado plantar, crecían especies de todo tipo. Su objetivo había sido recrear los bosques y junglas alrededor de Nova Australis, buscando emular la diversidad de flora que alguna vez tuvo Anfibiland.
Tres escorpioncitos y tres renacuajos avanzaban en excursión, siguiendo a su líder: el pequeño Stinger.
—Hermanito, cuando dijiste que haríamos una expedición en busca de algo acepté sin dudarlo. Pensé: “Oh, será divertido”, pero… ¿exactamente qué buscamos? —preguntó Kenai’ta.
Era un escorpioncito de doble aguijón, dos años menor que Stinger. Vestía de azul y tenía unos tiernos ojos celestes.
—¿Pelearnos con un dingo? ¿Plantas carnívoras? ¿Una fiera batalla con Narubi? —preguntó Thuma, la renacuajo de tonos rojos—. ¡Me muero de ganas de poner en práctica mi veneno, tan fuerte como una piedra!
—Thuma, no hay dingos en los bosques —intervino Tharta—.
—Yo solo espero que no nos coman… —susurró Tippi, la renacuajo rosada, escondiéndose tras Stinger con evidente temor.
—Bueno, los traje hasta aquí porque necesito que me ayuden en una sola cosa —dijo Stinger.
Al notar la preocupación de los más pequeños, se detuvo para tranquilizarlos.
—No nos va a atacar ningún dingo. Es más, creo que ni siquiera hay en esta zona… y esperemos que no haya plantas carnívoras.
—Nadie nos va a comer hoy, y mejor que ellos no se topen con nosotros porque les va a ir muy mal!—dijo Kailani. La pequeña escorpión emperador albina merodeaba y saltaba por la zona, asegurándose de que no hubiera peligros. Aun así, confiaba plenamente en Stinger; él siempre era el primero en pedir que no se alejaran si no era necesario.
—¡Esa es toda la actitud! Pero… ¡no vinimos a pelear! —exclamó Stinger—. Los traje para que me acompañen a buscar una flor. ¡La más hermosa que encuentre!
—¿Una flor? ¿Para qué quieres una flor? —preguntó Kenai’ta mientras caminaba a su lado—. Arkaiser tiene muchísimas en su huerta.
—Fui hace rato y ninguna me gustó —respondió Stinger—. No es que no fueran bonitas, es solo que… no eran lo que estaba buscando.
—¿Entonces? ¿Para qué la flor? —insistió Kai.
—Ammm… es para una tarea!
—mmm… —Kai entrecerró los ojos—. Está bien!
Kenai’ta observó a su hermano mayor con atención. Sabía que mentía, pero no lograba comprender del todo la razón.
A medida que se internaban en el bosque, este se transformaba lentamente en jungla. La variedad de flora era inmensa; sin duda, Darel y los jardineros habían hecho un trabajo excepcional. Por momentos, era imposible distinguir Anfibiland de Nova Australis. Años de amor por la botánica se reflejaban en cada rincón.
En una zona elevada del lugar, se alzaba un arbusto cubierto de hermosos hibiscos de tonalidad salmón, con filamentos amarillos que contrastaban con su intenso color tropical. El aroma y la belleza eran imposibles de ignorar.
Los ojos de Stinger se llenaron de determinación.
—Voy a subir. Kai, cárgame.
—¿Y si te caes? —preguntó ella, preocupada.
—Entonces tú y los trillizos me atrapan.
—Ammm… bueno. Tú puedes!—
Kai lo ayudó a avanzar una parte del trayecto. No era mucho, pero bastaba para que Stinger continuara solo. Cuanto más subía, más cerca estaba de la flor, aunque no tomaría cualquiera: quería la que estaba en la punta.
Por un momento pareció que iba a caer, pero se aferró con rapidez, ya fuera por reflejo o por miedo. Continuó escalando hasta que, al fin, alcanzó la cima. Estiró su tenacita derecha, sacó la lengua con desesperación y, tras tanto esfuerzo, logró tomar la flor.
—¡Bien hecho, Sting! —exclamó Tippi.
—¡Excelente! —añadió Thuma.
—¡Eso, eso! —celebró Tharta.
—¡Ya voy a bajar! —avisó Stinger—. ¡Quédense ahí!
—¿Quieres que te ayude? —preguntó Kai.
—¡No! ¡No suban!
Bajar resultó más difícil que subir. Al mirar hacia abajo, la altura lo paralizó. Su mayor temor no era caer él, sino que sus amigos intentaran ayudarlo y algo les sucediera. Con extrema lentitud, comenzó a descender.
Al resbalar, se aferró de nuevo con pánico. Kai y Kenai’ta buscaron hojas para amortiguar una posible caída.
—¡No sé si vaya a lograrlo! —gritó Stinger.
—¡Solo falta poco! ¡Tú puedes! —lo animó Kai.
Al ver el precipicio bajo él, comprendió que debía saltar.
—¡Voy a saltar!
—¡Tranquilo! ¡Vas a caer de—!
No pudo terminar la frase. Stinger se lanzó y cayó al suelo, casi de cara, pero sin mayores consecuencias.
—¿Cara? ¡¿Qué clase de escorpión eres tú?! —reclamó Kai.
—Un arena negra… —respondió adolorido pero victorioso, levantando la flor intacta.
—Menos mal tu coraza es dura —dijo Kenai’ta, dándole golpecitos—. Y sorprendentemente, nada hueca. ¿Qué procede, Sting?
—Gracias, Keni… se aprecia tu apoyo —respondió mientras se incorporaba.
Kai lo ayudó a ponerse de pie.
—Bueno… Keni, Kai, gracias por la ayuda. Ahora necesito entregar esta flor. ¿Pueden llevarse a los trillizos por mí?
—¿Pero a quién se la vas a dar? —preguntó Kai.
—Chismosa! Si te digo, no sería sorpresa!
—No soy chismosa, solo bien informada!
—Vámonos, niños —ordenó Kenai’ta a los renacuajos, tomando la cola de Kai—. ¡Buena suerte con tu novia secreta!
—¡Oye! —protestó Stinger.
Antes de irse, Kenai’ta regresó.
—Tengo unas piedras tornasoladas para ti —dijo—. Un sacrificio necesario.
—…—
—En la profundidad de la jungla, había un árbol inmenso. Tan grande como para sobrepasar otros árboles de otro tipo. En su centro yacían caminos de hamaca y barandalea de caoba. En sus ramas se habían realizado inserciones de otras plantas que dan frutos en sus agujeros de tierra fresca para que naturalmente yaciera una enorme huerta. Sobre su hermoso techo verde, de hojas colgaban nidos y vidrios de colores que adornaban el lugar como los azulejos sobre ciertas áreas del árbol.
Pero lo más impresionante de allí no era su cuidada decoración, sino sus habitantes; miles y miles de especies de aves que convivían entre sí, incluso depredadoras de otras, como hermanas mutuamente. Eran más que vecinas, eran familia, más después de todo lo que habían pasado. De entre las plumas de una guacamaya, se escuchaba una dulce vocecita cantora, que se encontraba buscando algunas cosas en ese nido. La ave no se preocupaba o se tensaba en lo absoluto, pues quien se encontraba ahí abajo era nada más y nada menos que un renacuajo de Kulipari de aproximadamente unos 8 años. Al salir de ese acogedor nido, traía consigo materiales de arte, 2 bolsitas y 2 cuadernos mientras seguía cantando—
—Muy bien, cabecita... ¿qué pintaremos hoy? —dijo la linda niña de piel acremada, manchas turquesas como la gema, brazos y piernas que reflejaban lunares como si se tratase de galaxias enteras. Sus enormes pestañas, labios de café rojito y sus bellos ojos azules con pupilas púrpura resultaban en su natural belleza de rana venenosa, sin mencionar el tornasolado de su bonita piel—. Mmm... ¡ya sé! —dijo para sí misma, empezando a dibujar a lo que parecían varias aves de colores volando, con una minuciosa precisión—.
El pequeño arácnido había preparado todo para poder ir a buscar a la anfibia que quería darle esa flor, pero antes de eso había ido a casa para hacerle un dibujo con los colores de Kai y un sobrecito improvisado para dárselo, no sin antes conseguir unas latas que usaría después. Ya con todo preparado, se empezaría a subir a aquel hermoso aviario con mucho cuidado de no alterar a las aves, pues las respetaba más que otra cosa en su vida. Ya estando en la cima, asomaría su cabeza para ver a Akiane. Aún con nervios y con la cola temblando, se acercaría poco a poco, claramente iba ocultando las latas y todos los detalles hermosos que con tanto esmero se tardó en hacer y conseguir. Ya estando cerca de ella, trataría de hablarle con su pequeña vocecita temblorosa—
¡A-amm... H-hola A-a-akiane! —saludó nervioso como zarigüeya.
—La dulce niña se detuvo a medio dibujo para levantar la mirada hacia la vocecita del niño, dilatando sus ojitos con mucha ilusión acompañada de esa sonrisa genuinamente cálida—
"Oh—hola Stinger!" —dijo con la ternura que le dedicaba a todos los que amaba— "¿Qué te trae por aquí? ¿Quieres jugar? ¿Quieres dormir un rato sobre las aves?" —dijo inclinando tiernamente su rostro mientras enchinaba ligeramente los ojos por su sonrisa de bienvenida— "Tengo algunos chales que tejió mamá Wirra recientemente para que te arropes!"
Le daría algo de nervios al escuchar todas las preguntas de su compañera, así que por inercia retrocedería un poco para que no viera todos los detalles que había traído para ella, aunque algo en él le hizo sonreír nerviosamente al verla, pues esa pequeña luz de felicidad que ella irradiaba por sí sola era más que suficiente para ponerlo de buenas.
"M-me gustaría dormir más tarde con las aves mientras les presumo los chales que hizo mamá Wirra." —Se haría una imagen mental de él estando acurrucado entre las aves, pero sus pensamientos se centraron rápidamente al recordar a lo que venía—
"Pero ahora no, vine porque quería hacer esto!"
Con el poco coraje que tenía para no morir de la vergüenza en ese momento, le entregaría un dibujo de ellos dos felices y riendo, que aunque no era el mejor dibujando, dio todo su esfuerzo para que saliera lo más lindo posible. Solo para ponerse las un poco a escondidas, aprovechando que ella estaría entretenida con el dibujo, solo para improvisar rápido y así completar su último paso. Ya con la altura, agacharía la cabeza y extendería sus pequeñas tenazas para entregarle la flor que casi le costaba un brazo roto. No diría nada; sus cuatro ojitos se quedarían cerrados esperando a que no lo rechazara.
La dulce niña se sorprendió al ver el dibujo y cuando lo vio con detenimiento, inevitablemente rió y lo abrazó con mucho amor como si fuera una muñeca suya.
"Es... muy hermoso Stinger, lo pondré entre los que tengo colgados en la madera del árbol!" —dijo para levantarse, tomar unas pegatinas de animalitos y poner la obra de arte de Stinger en alto, no sin antes darle un besito— "Has mejorado mucho, no lo olvides Stinger, no se necesita ser un genio para ser un artista." —Ella paró en seco para ver la flor que le estaba dando el niño. Dilató sus ojitos enormemente, donde sus propias pupilas de anfibio, pestañeó suavemente mientras se empezaba a poner rojita como una cereza— "¿P-para mí...?" —preguntó con duda, como si no creyera que el dulce niño en serio le estaba dando una flor. Movería su cabeza repentinamente, dando a entender que su afirmación era cierta, pues no podía mirarlo a los ojos por la vergüenza que sentía y tampoco podía hablar, pues las palabras no podían salir de su boca por más que se obligara a sí mismo a articular alguna palabra.
"Esto fue todo, si no le gusta entonces no sé qué más podría gustarle... Debe de pensar que es raro," pensó para sí mismo mientras su carita parecía ponerse roja.
"Amm... Son unos pequeños presentes," comentó el cachorro, "para... invitarte a bailar."
Nuevamente, haría notar los nervios por cómo jugaba con sus tenazas y su mirada baja.
La niña, al oír eso, se puso tan roja como una flor de hibisco y dio pequeños brincos de emoción al oír su propuesta— "¿En serio!? ¡Sí, sí, sí!"
—En lo más profundo de la penumbra y las sombras había algo que se mantenía quieto y al mismo tiempo pendiente de cada movimiento de aquellos niños que pasaban un momento tan único como tierno, pues cuando podías ver a dos pequeños resurgiendo y entrando a lo que es el terreno del amor, bueno, eso solo se lo podían preguntar a Arkaiser, quien estaba pendiente de ellos, pues verlos así de felices le daba un sentimiento único y lindo. Todo lo que le mencionó a Stinger estaba funcionando a la perfección; ahí es cuando veía que sus consejos al menos servían de algo. Oh, no por mucho—pues el momento había llegado, algo tan sagrado como un baile, pero—¿qué es un baile sin música?!?! "No puede ser", se dijo a sí mismo, así que tan rápido como pudo, con sus poderes de sombra, utilizaría un hechizo para crear una caja musical la cual activaría su mecanismo sin que ellos escucharan. Poco a poco, una pequeña melodía empezaría a escucharse desde antes que la pequeña renacuajo le dijera que sí. Claramente la tonada la hizo entender que Stinger tenía todo eso planeado; precavido el escorpióncito. Esta se levantó nerviosamente y esperó la invitación a bailar. Con algo de cuidado y nerviosismo, tomaría su mano con miedo de no apretarla mucho y lastimarla. De esa manera trataría de moverse despacio con los zancos improvisados que se había hecho para ser más grande que su compañera. Esta le regaló una sonrisa y, con una mejor noción de lo que era un vals, empezó a bailar con él serenamente. Sus movimientos eran más rápidos y ligeramente impredecibles, pero jamás bruscos, pues para ella él era frágil como un cachorro de koala. De vez en cuando lo levantaba gracias a que era tan liviano y reía emocionada por ello; solo era un juego más de muchos para ella, pero lentamente empezó a darse cuenta de lo que pasaba cuando los cuatro ojos en la sombra se hicieron notar. Tras sentir la mirada fija en él, desaparecería nuevamente de manera más discreta, dejando a los dos pequeños en soledad. De esa manera, el pequeño escorpión de arena negra movería su cola de manera nerviosa pero feliz de que uno de sus sueños se estuviese cumpliendo. El poder bailar con ella, sin duda, era magia, e incluso así se preguntaba si algo de lo que le sucedía en ese instante era real. En cuanto el baile acabó, Akiane abrazó a Stinger con fuerza y eventualmente tomó su carita con ambas manitos.
—Este es de los regalos más lindos que me han dado... gracias, Stinger—comentó dulcemente la renacuajo.
—Stinger aceptaría el abrazo con asombro pero al mismo tiempo con mucho cariño mientras se aferraba a ella para posteriormente ponerse a ronronear de manera bajita— No, Akiane, gracias a ti por aceptarlo.
—De esa manera se hundiría en ella para restregarse de a poquito, pues no quería soltarse nunca más. Ella dilató los ojitos y rió por el ataque de cariño. El momento fue interrumpido cuando escuchó su nombre a lo lejos; era mamá Acala—
—¡Niños, a comer!—dijo desde abajo del gran árbol—
—¡Oh! Mi mamá rana me habla—dijo para sonreírle a Stinger—nos vemos en el almuerzo, gracias por todo, Stinger—dijo para tomarlo de las mejillas y robarle un besito en los labios para empezar a bajar del aviario rápidamente. Apenas y pudo reaccionar al sentir el beso de la niña, quien de manera repentina se iría, pues el llamado de su madre haría que ambos se separaran después de aquel hermoso momento. Él ya sentía que ella se había ganado todo con ese beso, y ni siquiera el beso, con el hecho de que le haya agradecido el dibujo y que le haya aceptado la flor, estaba más que satisfecho. Fue así que cayó sentado al suelo procesando todo lo que acababa de ocurrir, solo para hacerse bolita y moverse de un lado a otro mientras se tapaba la cara de lo ruborizado que estaba, mientras hacía pequeños sonidos tontos de la emoción—
—...—
Así que todo salió como lo planeado? —preguntó Pigo a Arkaiser mientras tomaba café y le servía al joven escorpión emperador— vaya... sabía que ese cachorro me ocultaba algo.
Por supuesto que sí, te hubiese gustado ver el desenlace.
—Aceptaría cordialmente la taza de café que le ofrecía el excomandante, pues ¿quién se iba a negar a tomar una taza de café con quien antes representaba una amenaza? Pero hoy, sin duda, consideraba que era uno de los escorpiones más valientes y fieros en el campo de batalla, aquel que su antiguo pensamiento no lo dejaba ver más allá hasta el día de hoy—
Muchas gracias. Aunque— no lo culpes por ello, ambos sabemos la pena que le da compartir sus vivencias, solo hay que darle tiempo, aunque debo admitir que eso también puede llegar a preocuparme.
—dijo para darle un sorbo silencioso a su bebida—
No, no lo culpo... le debe dar vergüenza la idea de mostrar sentimientos, pues "no es muy escorpión" —dijo con sarcasmo y negando toda la información negativa que dejó la cultura del antiguo lord escorpión— gracias por ayudarlo, Arkaiser, al menos sabe que tiene un gran ejemplo que seguir —comentó al tiempo que el escorpióncito venía corriendo hacia ellos para buscar sentarse a su lado; aún podía notarse sus mejillas rosadas y su enorme emoción—
—Quedaría estupefacto con las palabras del anciano, algo de él le removería la conciencia y todos sus recuerdos. Lo más que pudo fue sonreír de manera cálida y algo cansada—
Gracias, solo hago lo que puedo con lo que tengo—comentó tras dedicarle una sonrisa solo para ver cómo el cachorro de escorpión se acercaba rápidamente con un semblante casi de victoria tras lo sucedido—
Y mira quién viene por aquí, así que dime, Stinger...
—¿Sí?—lo miraría con una sonrisa boba mientras movía la cola—
—¿Cómo te fue? —preguntó Ark.
—No sé de lo que estás hablándome—fingió no saber nada el cachorro entre risitas.
—Ok, está bien—respondió Ark entre risas.
–La emoción y la calidez de su corazón eran tantas que no le daba miedo decir la verdad en ese momento, pero tampoco se iba a dar el lujo de mentir tras lo ocurrido. Pigo solo pudo sonreírle al niño, pues esa emoción de victoria solo demostraba que su chiquillo estaba creciendo y eso le daba melancolía, pero sobre todo orgullo al saber que, sea cual sea la niña que eligió, sabría que ella cuidaría del pequeño corazón de Stinger; después de todo, Pigo lo educó bien para elegir quién valiera la pena. Stinger solo movió su colita con emoción sin dejar de pensar lo maravilloso que era haber bailado con aquella renacuajo que le producía tanta dopamina en su pequeño cuerpo de cachorro.
Fin
por: @skylet-dreen and N_wysperia
—The pleasant aroma of freshly roasted coffee brewed with hot water filled the house made of wood, mud, and straw. Even on a hard day’s work, the peace in that home was palpable. An old scorpion who had once been an enemy of nations was now nothing more than a retired commander who spent his days advising King Blue Sky and caring for his blood relatives, the youngest a tiny piece of obsidian with a sensitive gaze tinged with blue, as if he were four fragments of sapphire. He called himself Kenai'ta; he was about 7 or 8 years old and had come straight from school to fall asleep in his little bed. He was very intelligent—that was a fact—and Pigo, who rarely saw a scorpion use its brain beyond its muscles, was proud of him.
The older one, about 10 years old, seemed excited, his little eyes shining, full of curiosity, hoping his uncle would ask him why. Pigo, who had just made coffee and milk with cinnamon for the boy, raised an eyebrow—
The little scorpion would have come home from school with his little brother; first he’d go to his room to drop off his things, and just before leaving, he’d tuck his brother in, only to finally put a little blanket over him.
The little bean would just look at his uncle with wide eyes and a small smile, trying to figure out what he meant—probably finding it all a bit boring in his little mind when it came to long talks. But when it came to Darel, he knew there would at least be something interesting involved, though not this time. Still, noticing the shift in the conversation, the little boy would grow pensive as he stared at the cup.
“I’m a big boy now, so I should start drinking coffee… but I want a cup of sweet milk, please!”
How could he say no to a nice little cup of milk with sweet cinnamon? The coffee could still wait, though given the situation he was hearing about, the little boy would play with his little hands, trying to ask with a mix of curiosity and trepidation, since he didn’t know what his uncle’s reaction would be.
“Uncle Pigo, I wanted to ask you, have you ever done something nice for a girl?”
That question threw the old man off balance. For years, the idea of a romantic situation with a lady had been a painful past he really didn’t want to touch on, but now he was one of the guardians of two children, who were growing up, and inevitably that question would come—he just hadn’t imagined it would be so soon. And to make matters worse, all the other adults who helped raise Stinger were busy. He settled in and looked at the boy, who was staring at him with a mix of embarrassment and hope.
“All right, little scorpion,” he said, stirring his coffee. “For our clan, the black sand scorpions—better known as desert scorpions—we have countless ways to woo the ladies. It could be through surfing, winning friendly battles as a sport, with a powerful stinger, or even huge fangs. But there is one that is the most sacred and important of all; the one that isn’t just for courting, but the one you’ll use with the person you love with all your soul and heart.
“With that person for whom you’d be willing to do anything, that female worth killing for,” he said passionately, without realizing he might be crossing the line by placing such expectations on the boy, but he couldn’t help himself; every time he spoke of his culture, it felt like poetry passed down from tongue to tongue and from generation to generation; it was impossible not to love the little good his people had left him and to share it with his young and inexperienced nephew.
“The one that is only fulfilled with the woman who will be the mother of your children,” he said seriously. “Pay very, very, very close attention, because this is by no means a game, and once it happens, there’s no turning back… understood?”
Much of that explanation came from him watching his uncle intently as he laid out all the things he could do to try to get that girl’s attention. Surfing? It sounded like something that involved water. Fight with someone else? Maybe not; he was still terrified of kids bigger than him—even a dragonfly landing on him could beat him. That discouraged him a little, though when he heard that there was something much more important and valuable—even sacred to his people—he paid closer attention to the older scorpion’s explanation. He had even grabbed a spoon to stir his cinnamon-sweetened milk, but he was so engrossed that instead of stirring the spoon in his cup, he waved it in the air while nodding his little head, watching his uncle get excited with every word he spoke.
“I understand, Uncle Pigo. Whatever comes my way, I’ll face it like a big boy!”
“...Dancing,” he said simply, then took a sip of his coffee. “Dancing is one of the most important romantic connections between one couple and another in our species.”
For Scorpios, dancing is like another kind of battle, so to speak; a way to connect with the other person in a synchronized way, like sunflowers with the sun and the sea reflecting the sky.
“I know that ever since you were very young, I’ve told you that being a scorpion means being tough… but when it comes to your partner, Stinger, you have to let your guard down, because they’re not your enemy, they’re not your squad mate… they’re the love of your life, and when that moment comes… when that exact moment comes and you’re absolutely sure, don’t hesitate.”
“Woooow...”
His little eyes quickly sparkled as he heard how lovely and beautiful that moment had been for that old scorpion. Now he could begin to understand a little of that beautiful feeling of being able to dance with the one you longed to be with so much. That comforted him greatly, and it showed on his little face as he looked at his uncle with determination.
“That was a really nice story. Thank you so much, Uncle Pigo!”
With that, Pigo would scratch her little head while Stinger took advantage of the elderly scorpion’s caresses to rub herself against his pincer, purring with delight.
The old man smiled kindly upon hearing his satisfied little voice.
“Is there… perhaps a little scorpion out there I should know about?” He arched an eyebrow with a teasing smile. His eyes widened at his uncle’s suggestion, and he stopped purring immediately, only to look slightly embarrassed.
Before he could continue his scolding, one of his biggest headaches appeared on the scene. It wasn’t just any desert scorpion; it was worse. A scorpion from the Emperor clan, which had long since joined the community. Jir couldn’t stand him… and it wasn’t because he was a scorpion. If only that were the case.
“Sorry, Master. This simple dummy won’t be a problem for me,” Stinger replied, trying not to lose his focus or forget what he’d learned.
It was either that or take another hit from the totem. However, a small sound—and above all, a smell—distracted him. The aroma of food made him turn his head and leave the battlefield, but not before landing one last blow on the dummy.
An emperor scorpion appeared in front of the door. Its skin, cold as ice, was marked by blue streaks running across its body, and its eyes were a peculiar lavender color. Its natural spikes and spines were integrated into its armor, and its characteristic long, segmented tail curved behind it, topped by its most powerful weapon: a stinger that looked like a sword ready to strike down anyone who dared to harm its family.
“Excuse me, I hope I’m not interrupting your training so abruptly,” Ark said with a calm and slightly elegant demeanor.
He was carrying a basket of snacks for the little one; because, besides Pigo, there was someone else who cared about the pup.
“Baba Ark! Baba Ark!” Stinger exclaimed.
Excitement shone in the little one’s eyes. As soon as he was close enough, he used his tiny little paws to climb up the large dark cloak the young emperor was carrying.
“Oh! Hello, little one! I’m so glad to see you.
“Oh, that’s right… by the way, Jir,” he added. “Purzura sent this for you.”
With that, he kindly handed another basket to the old frog, filled with desserts and food prepared with great care.
“Am I going to get something, too?” asked Stinger.
Jir frowned more than usual. How he detested Arkaiser Valkaryan, aka Ark to his friends. But, as mentioned earlier, his problem wasn’t that he was an emperor scorpion… or even a scorpion at all.
It was his friendship with his daughter, Purpurina—aka Purzura. Deep down, Jir knew that closeness had a suspicious undertone… and he didn’t like it one bit. Jir didn’t like any man around his daughter, unless they were part of the Kulipari team, since she saw them as brothers. Ark was a special case. A particularly unpleasant special case. Even so, he decided to ignore those thoughts and relax a little.
“Tell him thanks. His gifts always brighten my afternoons,” he said, surprisingly calm. “You can take a break this time, Stinger.”
He handed three glazed rolls to the young scorpion.
The boy began eating the sandwiches Ark had brought him, while Ark took some juice from the basket and poured it into a small glass for him.
“Thank you so much, Baba Ark.”
“It’s the least I can do. Tell me, how’s training going? It doesn’t feel too hard, does it?”
“Um… nope! Not right now,” he replied, playing with his little pincers before taking a sip of the juice.
“Baba Ark? Can I ask you a question?”
“Hmm? What is it?”
“You… what have you done to impress a girl?”
The question took the major by surprise, but he also found it sweet and unexpected.
“Better yet, what haven’t I done?” he smiled. “Why? Do you want to impress a girl at school?”
“No! No, that’s not it… I just wanted to know…”
Seeing his reaction, Ark dropped his teasing tone and adopted a more serious one.
“All right, listen carefully, little one.
Dancing is the most sacred way for the black sand scorpions to demonstrate their strength and devotion. You already know that, don’t you?”
Stinger nodded as he ate, though he seemed a little lost in the explanation.
“Good, but for an emperor, there is something just as sacred… something that is offered only once in a lifetime.”
“And that is a flower.”
“A flower?”
“A flower, but not just any flower.”
“One that represents your beloved.” One that, when you see it, reflects what she means to you. That flower isn’t a simple gift: it’s your soul, your effort, and your devotion brought to life.
Ark’s voice grew softer.
“Yurlunggur, when he looked upon his wife, believed that nothing in the world could match her beauty. No treasure, no jewel, no star could equal her.”
“Then he dreamed with all his love and power… and thus created flowers as a gift for her.”
He looked down at Stinger.
“When the time comes, don’t try to impress with force or noise. Find the flower that is meant for her. Because when a woman receives that flower, she doesn’t receive an object… she receives your devotion, your soul, your whole being.”
Stinger looked at him in amazement. His claws trembled with excitement.
“Hey, Baba Ark…” he whispered. “Do you think you could come to Akiane’s aviary a little later…?”
“T-the birds asked if you could play some music, but… that you should wait for me to arrive. Y-yes!”
Ark understood immediately and pretended not to notice his intentions.
“All right, little one. It’ll be my honor to help you impress those ladies,” he winked.
Stinger’s little tail wagged excitedly, but a chirp interrupted them.
“You must be quite the expert on ladies, aren’t you, Valkaryan?” Jir said sarcastically. “How many female scorpions have you left with broken hearts?”
Ark froze.
“Ahem… I highly doubt it, sir. If that were the case, it would be a disaster.”
“Today I learned from my Uncle Pigo that we scorpions are monogamous owo,” Stinger interjected, trying to defend him.
Ark lifted him up carefully.
“You’re learning fast, little bean.”
“I hope so, Mr. Valkaryan… I hope so,” Jir replied coldly.
“And you’d better hope that girl you’re pining for is worth it…”
Though he was harsh, the last thing Jir wanted was to see his star student’s heart broken.
-...-
In a wooded area filled with trees that King Blue Sky had planned to plant over the years, all kinds of species thrived. His goal had been to recreate the forests and jungles around Nova Australis, seeking to emulate the diversity of flora that Anfibiland once possessed.
Three little scorpions and three tadpoles were out on an excursion, following their leader: little Stinger.
“Little brother, when you said we’d go on an expedition to find something, I agreed without hesitation. I thought, ‘Oh, this will be fun,’ but… what exactly are we looking for?” asked Kenai’ta.
He was a double-stinger scorpion, two years younger than Stinger. He was dressed in blue and had sweet sky-blue eyes.
“Fight a dingo? Carnivorous plants? A fierce battle with Narubi?” asked Thuma, the reddish tadpole. “I can’t wait to put my venom to the test—it’s as strong as a rock!”
“Thuma, there are no dingoes in the woods,” Tharta interjected.
“I just hope they don’t eat us…” whispered Tippi, the pink tadpole, hiding behind Stinger in obvious fear.
“Well, I brought you all here because I need your help with just one thing,” said Stinger.
Noticing the younger ones’ concern, he paused to reassure them.
“No dingo is going to attack us. In fact, I don’t think there are any in this area… and let’s hope there aren’t any carnivorous plants.”
“No one’s going to eat us today, and they’d better not run into us because they’re in for a world of trouble!” said Kailani. The little albino emperor scorpion was scurrying and hopping around the area, making sure there were no dangers. Even so, she trusted Stinger completely; he was always the first to ask them not to wander off unless it was necessary.
“That’s the spirit! But… we didn’t come here to fight!” exclaimed Stinger. “I brought you along to help me find a flower. The most beautiful one I can find!”
“A flower? What do you want a flower for?” asked Kenai’ta as she walked beside him. “Arkaiser has plenty in his garden.”
“I went a while ago and didn’t like any of them,” Stinger replied. “It’s not that they weren’t pretty, it’s just that… they weren’t what I was looking for.”
“So? What’s the flower for?” Kai pressed.
“Um… it’s for a school assignment!”
“Hmm…” Kai narrowed his eyes. “All right!”
Kenai’ta watched her older brother closely. She knew he was lying, but she couldn’t quite figure out why.
As they ventured deeper into the forest, it slowly transformed into a jungle. The variety of flora was immense; without a doubt, Darel and the gardeners had done an exceptional job. At times, it was impossible to tell Anfibiland apart from Nova Australis. Years of love for botany were reflected in every corner.
On a raised part of the grounds stood a bush covered in beautiful salmon-colored hibiscus flowers, their yellow filaments contrasting with their intense tropical hue. The scent and beauty were impossible to ignore.
Stinger’s eyes filled with determination.
“I’m going to climb up. Kai, give me a lift.”
“What if you fall?” she asked, worried.
“Then you and the triplets catch me.”
“Um… okay. You can do it!”
Kai helped him partway up. It wasn’t far, but it was enough for Stinger to continue on his own. The higher he climbed, the closer he got to the flower, though he wouldn’t take just any one: he wanted the one at the very top.
For a moment it looked like he was going to fall, but he grabbed hold quickly, whether out of reflex or fear. He kept climbing until, finally, he reached the top. He stretched out his right little claw, stuck out his tongue in desperation, and, after so much effort, managed to grab the flower.
“Well done, Sting!” exclaimed Tippi.
“Excellent!” added Thuma.
“That’s it, that’s it!” celebrated Tharta.
“I’m coming down now!” Stinger called out. “Stay right there!”
“Do you want me to help you?” asked Kai.
“No! Don’t climb up!”
Going down proved harder than going up. When he looked down, the height paralyzed him. His greatest fear wasn’t that he would fall, but that his friends would try to help him and something would happen to them. Extremely slowly, he began to descend.
As he slipped, he grabbed hold again in panic. Kai and Kenai’ta looked for leaves to cushion a possible fall.
“I don’t know if I’m going to make it!” Stinger shouted.
“You’re almost there! You can do it!” Kai encouraged him.
Seeing the cliff below him, he realized he had to jump.
“I’m going to jump!”
“Calm down! You’re going to fall—”
He couldn’t finish the sentence. Stinger leaped and landed on the ground, almost face-first, but without serious injury.
“Face-first? What kind of scorpion are you?!” Kai protested.
“A black sand…” he replied, wincing but victorious, holding up the intact flower.
“Good thing your shell is hard,” said Kenai’ta, patting it. “And surprisingly, not hollow at all. What’s next, Sting?”
“Thanks, Keni… I appreciate your support,” he replied as he sat up.
Kai helped him to his feet.
“Well… Keni, Kai, thanks for the help. Now I need to deliver this flower. Can you take the triplets for me?”
“But who are you going to give it to?” Kai asked.
“Gossip! If I tell you, it won’t be a surprise!”
“I’m not a gossip, just well-informed!”
“Let’s go, kids,” Kenai’ta ordered the tadpoles, grabbing Kai’s tail. “Good luck with your secret girlfriend!”
“Hey!” protested Stinger.
Before leaving, Kenai’ta turned back.
“I have some iridescent stones for you,” she said. “A necessary sacrifice.”
—Deep in the jungle stood a massive tree. It was so large that it towered over all other trees. At its center lay paths of hammocks and mahogany railings. In its branches, other fruit-bearing plants had been planted in holes filled with fresh soil, creating a natural, sprawling orchard. From its beautiful green canopy of leaves hung nests and colored glass that adorned the place like tiles on certain parts of the tree.
But the most impressive thing there was not its meticulous decoration, but its inhabitants: thousands upon thousands of bird species living together, even predators of one another, as if they were sisters. They were more than neighbors; they were family, especially after everything they had been through. From among the feathers of a macaw, a sweet, singing voice could be heard as it searched for something in that nest. The bird wasn’t worried or tense at all, because the one down there was none other than a Kulipari tadpole of about 8 years old. As he emerged from that cozy nest, he carried art supplies, two small bags, and two notebooks while continuing to sing—
“All right, sweetie… what shall we paint today?” said the pretty little girl with creamy skin, turquoise spots like gemstones, and arms and legs dotted with freckles that looked like entire galaxies. Her enormous eyelashes, reddish-brown lips, and beautiful blue eyes with purple pupils gave her the natural beauty of a poison dart frog, not to mention the iridescent sheen of her pretty skin. “Hmm… I know!” she said to herself, beginning to draw what looked like several colorful birds in flight, with meticulous precision.
The little arachnid had prepared everything so she could go find the amphibian she wanted to give that flower to, but before that she had gone home to make her a drawing using Kai’s colors and a makeshift little envelope to give it to her, not without first getting some cans she would use later. With everything ready, he would begin to climb up to that beautiful aviary, taking great care not to disturb the birds, for he respected them more than anything else in his life. Once at the top, he would peek his head out to look for Akiane. Still nervous and with his tail trembling, he would approach little by little, clearly hiding the cans and all the beautiful details that had taken him so much time and care to make and gather. Once he was close to her, he would try to speak to her in his little trembling voice—
“U-um... H-hi, A-a-Akiane!” he greeted her nervously, like a skunk.
—The sweet little girl stopped mid-drawing to look up at the sound of the boy’s voice, her eyes widening with excitement, accompanied by that genuinely warm smile—
“Oh—hi, Stinger!” she said with the tenderness she reserved for everyone she loved— “What brings you here? Do you want to play? Do you want to take a nap on the birds?“ she said, tilting her face tenderly while squinting slightly at his welcoming smile. ”I have some shawls that Mama Wirra knitted recently for you to keep warm!"
He’d feel a little nervous hearing all his partner’s questions, so out of habit he’d step back a bit so she wouldn’t see all the details he’d brought for her, though something about her made him smile nervously when he saw her, because that little spark of happiness she radiated on her own was more than enough to put him in a good mood.
“I-I’d like to sleep later with the birds while I show them off the shawls Mama Wirra made.” —He pictured himself curled up among the birds, but his thoughts quickly refocused as he remembered why he’d come—
“But not now—I came because I wanted to do this!”
Summoning what little courage he had to avoid dying of embarrassment in that moment, he would hand her a drawing of the two of them happy and laughing; though he wasn’t the best at drawing, he’d put all his effort into making it as pretty as possible. Just to slip them on a little surreptitiously, taking advantage of the fact that she’d be distracted by the drawing, just to improvise quickly and thus complete his final step. Once he was high enough, he would duck his head and stretch out his little claws to hand her the flower that had nearly cost him a broken arm. He wouldn’t say a word; his four little eyes would stay closed, hoping she wouldn’t reject it.
The sweet little girl was surprised to see the drawing, and when she looked at it closely, she couldn’t help but laugh and hugged it with great love, as if it were one of her dolls.
“It's... so beautiful, Stinger. I'll hang it among the ones I have on the tree!” she said as she stood up, grabbed some animal stickers, and placed Stinger's artwork high up, not before giving him a little kiss. “You've improved so much. Don't forget, Stinger—you don't have to be a genius to be an artist.” —She stopped short to look at the flower the boy was giving her.
Her little eyes widened enormously, revealing her own amphibian-like pupils; she blinked softly as she began to blush as red as a cherry. “F-for me…?” she asked hesitantly, as if she couldn’t believe that the sweet boy was really giving her a flower. He nodded suddenly, indicating that her assumption was correct, for he couldn’t look her in the eye because of the embarrassment he felt, nor could he speak, as the words wouldn’t come out of his mouth no matter how hard he tried to form them.
“That was it. If she doesn’t like this, then I don’t know what else she might like... She must think I’m weird,” he thought to himself as his face seemed to turn red.
“Um... These are just little gifts,” the boy said, “to... ask you to dance.”
Once again, his nervousness was evident in the way he fiddled with his hands and kept his eyes downcast.
When the little girl heard that, she blushed as red as a hibiscus flower and hopped up and down with excitement at his proposal. “Really!? Yes, yes, yes!”
—Deep within the twilight and shadows, there was something that remained still yet watched every movement of those children as they shared a moment as unique as it was tender; for when you could see two little ones emerging and stepping into the realm of love, well, only Arkaiser could answer that, as he watched over them; seeing them so happy gave him a unique and beautiful feeling. Everything he’d told Stinger was working perfectly; that’s when he saw that his advice was at least serving some purpose. Oh, not for long—for the moment had arrived, something as sacred as a dance, but—what is a dance without music?!?! “It can’t be,” he told himself, so as quickly as he could, using his shadow powers, he would cast a spell to create a music box that would activate its mechanism without them hearing it. Little by little, a soft melody began to play even before the little tadpole said yes. Clearly, the tune made her realize that Stinger had planned all of this; the little scorpion was so cautious.
She stood up nervously and waited for him to ask her to dance. With some caution and nervousness, she took his hand, afraid of squeezing it too hard and hurting him. In this way, she tried to move slowly on the makeshift stilts she had fashioned to make herself taller than her partner. She gave him a smile and, with a better sense of what a waltz was, began to dance with him serenely. Her movements were faster and slightly unpredictable, but never abrupt, for to her he was as fragile as a koala cub. Every now and then she would lift him up because he was so light, and she would laugh excitedly at it; it was just another game among many for her, but she slowly began to realize what was happening when the four eyes in the shadows made themselves known. After feeling the gaze fixed on him, she would disappear again more discreetly, leaving the two little ones alone.
And so, the little black sand scorpion wiggled his tail nervously yet happily, knowing that one of his dreams was coming true. Being able to dance with her was, without a doubt, magical, and even so, he wondered if any of what was happening to him in that moment was real. As soon as the dance ended, Akiane hugged Stinger tightly and eventually cupped his little face with both hands.
“This is one of the nicest gifts I’ve ever received… thank you, Stinger,” the little tadpole said sweetly.
Stinger accepted the hug with surprise but also with great affection, clinging to her before purring softly. “No, Akiane, thank you for accepting it.”
—With that, he would burrow into her and rub against her little by little, as he never wanted to let go. She widened her eyes and laughed at the outpouring of affection. The moment was interrupted when she heard her name in the distance; it was Mom Acala—
“Kids, time to eat!” she called from beneath the big tree.
“Oh! My frog mom is talking to me,” she said, smiling at Stinger. “See you at lunch. Thanks for everything, Stinger,” she said, cupping his cheeks and planting a little kiss on his lips before quickly climbing down from the aviary. He could barely react to the girl’s kiss, as she suddenly left—her mother’s call would separate them after that beautiful moment. He already felt that she had won him over completely with that kiss, and not just the kiss, but the fact that she had thanked him for the drawing and accepted the flower; he was more than satisfied. And so he sank to the ground, processing everything that had just happened, only to curl up into a ball and shift from side to side while covering his face because he was so flushed, making little silly sounds of excitement—
—...—
So everything went as planned? —Pigo asked Arkaiser as he drank coffee and poured some for the young emperor scorpion— wow... I knew that pup was hiding something from me.
Of course it did, you would have loved to see the outcome.
—He would graciously accept the cup of coffee offered by the former commander, for who would refuse a cup of coffee with someone who once posed a threat? But today, without a doubt, he considered him one of the bravest and fiercest scorpions on the battlefield—the one whom his old way of thinking had prevented him from seeing clearly until this very day—
“Thank you very much. Although—don't blame him for it; we both know how hard it is for him to share his experiences. We just have to give him time, though I must admit that can worry me, too.”
—she said, taking a silent sip of her drink—
"No, I don't blame him... he must be embarrassed by the idea of showing his feelings, since “he’s not very Scorpio”—he said sarcastically, dismissing all the negative connotations left by the culture of the ancient Scorpio Lord—thank you for helping him, Arkaiser; at least he knows he has a great example to follow—he remarked just as the little Scorpio came running toward them to sit by his side; his rosy cheeks and overwhelming excitement were still evident—
—He would be stunned by the old man’s words; something about him would stir his conscience and all his memories. All she could do was smile warmly, though somewhat wearily—
“Thank you, I’m just doing what I can with what I have,” she said after giving him a smile, only to see the scorpion cub quickly approach with an almost triumphant look on his face after what had happened—
“And look who’s coming this way. So tell me, Stinger…”
“Really?” she’d look at him with a silly smile while wagging her tail.
“How did it go?” Ark asked.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the puppy pretended not to know anything, giggling.
“Okay, fine,” Ark replied with a laugh.
The emotion and warmth in his heart were so overwhelming that he wasn’t afraid to tell the truth in that moment, but he wasn’t going to allow himself the luxury of lying after what had happened either. Pigo could only smile at the boy, for that thrill of victory only showed that his little one was growing up, and that made him feel a bit wistful, but above all proud, knowing that, whoever the girl he chose might be, she would take care of Stinger’s little heart; after all, Pigo had raised him well to choose someone worth it. Stinger just wagged his little tail with excitement, unable to stop thinking about how wonderful it was to have danced with that little tadpole who was flooding his tiny puppy body with so much dopamine.
The end
For: @skylet-dreen and @nwysperiablog
Here is my kulipari oc
His name is milo, and he is a rebellious half scorpion. Here are some of his expressions
“The Scorpion Killer.”
"Good boy, ratchy♡"
I've been browsing the community art and wow, that Spider Lombax by assassyart is so beautiful! And I remembered that the Ratchet & Clank OC (Lavender) is a thief—
if the beautiful Talwyn is Mary Jane, why can't she be Black Cat? 👀
Thank you so much for letting me draw it. 💖
(Spanish)
estado divagando en el arte de la comunidad y Dios que hermoso el Spider lombax de assassyart y recorde que oc de ratchet and clank (Lavander) es una ladrona- si La hermosa talwyn es mary jane, por que no ella ser black cat? 👀
muchas gracias por dejarme dibujarlo💖
I'm so happy to start my interaction with the Ratchet and Clank community with a splash art!
Little Fairy Yuna & Rayman
One of Yunna's abilities for specific missions is to shrink herself to the size of a butterfly, allowing her to enter places inaccessible to certain team members or even Rayman himself. One of the drawbacks of this spell is that she is very vulnerable and could be crushed like an insect.
[PD: @frogaster_cringe gracias por ayudarme con la pose de yunna colgada uwu]
RATCHET AND CLANK OC: LAVANDER HOPE
💫Ratchet's childhood best friend
💫She was kidnapped by a group of pirates looking for slaves
💫She was rescued by another pirate crew, led by the fearsome Captain Hope
💫Ratchet hasn't heard from her in 14-15 years
💫Good heart, bad temper
💫She's a Shitah'ury alien
💫A good hand-to-hand fighter due to her circumstances
💫A lover of science and mechanics, like studying the cosmos
💫She adopted a Lombax girl named Claire
💫Her best friend is an android
💫She was a thief due to the cruel circumstances she lived in, but she's reforming
✨️They were two lights, faint as the agonizing pain of a silent sob. But as they crossed paths like two solitary waves, a spark ignited within them, rekindling their need to shine as brightly as a shooting star.✨️
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✨️Eran 2 luces, tenues como el dolor agonizante de un sollozo silencioso. Pera al cruzarse como 2 olas solitarias, broto una chispa que les devolvio la necesidad de brillar con tanta intensidad como una estrella fugaz✨️
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Tkm @sam_universe02
Something simple; Rayman hugging Yunna as if she were literally a kitten ✨️
💕Happy Valentine's Day💕
she knows her elegance... 👀🪄
[my part of the collab individually hehe @raygirl14_ ]
#sexygirl #raymanoc #rayman #fairy #lingerie #lencería #cat #kitty #playboy #victoriasecret #N_wysperia
https://www.instagram.com/p/DN1c9Tg3E9n/?igsh=MTFtY3V6emN6d3BwcA==