#bbfanficjam

[shellalana]

Nog Too Long Ago

“You know, I should feel slighted that I wasn’t invited to one of your fancy shindigs... what do you UPR call it again?” “The BUF Festival!” “Ah, yes. Your Bright Universe Festival... Festival. Ahem, as I was saying, I should feel slighted, but they gave me the next best thing.” Rendain pretended to examine his nails as he regarded the solitary clone left aboard the Nova, his hands chained together behind his back. “Uhh... a hairpiece?” “What would I need with- no, not a hairpiece!” Slighted, Rendain adjusted the collar of his shirt, smoothed back (what little he had left of) his hair, and recomposed himself. There was no way he was going to let someone as low as a UPR clone get to him. “It’s you, dear boy.” “I’m your BUF Festival gift?!” Oscar Mike started to gag inside his helmet, wishing he could be rid of the damn thing. “Of a sorts,” Rendain continued, not wanting to lose the point he was trying to make. “They left an idiot like you to guard the ship, making it easy for me to get onboard. Your AI, this Nova you have, she would be invaluable to the Jennerit. Now if you’ll show me to where her core is located.” “Ha ha, you just played yourself, flat top. If I’m so stupid, why would I know where that is?” The clone blew raspberries in his direction... only to realize he was covering the inside of his helmet in his own spit. “... point,” the Commander conceded, but that wouldn’t be enough to dissuade him. Armoured fingers clawed at the back of the clone’s shirt, lifted him from off the ground to Rendain’s full height. “Then I should just kill you and be done with your prattling.” “No no no no, wait! At least... before you throw me out the airlock...” “Hmm, a good choice, I hadn’t thought of that one. I was just going to rip your head from your body.” “Or not that! At least give a man one last drink before you do... not that. For the holidays?” With a roll of scarlet eyes, Rendain lowered the UPR clone back to his feet, and meandered over to the nearby table where a large pitcher sat, along with several empty glasses. He poured one for each of them, held one out for the clone to take, and then suddenly remembered his bindings. “How... do you drink with that helmet on?” “I don’t. You got a straw?” “Enough!” Rendain threw back the drink and sneered at how sweet and thick it felt as it coated his throat. He was more used to wine, drinks that had been aged for centuries under just the right conditions. But it was a burst of laughter from the helmeted RDC trooper that quirked a brow. “What are you on about now?” “I’m pretty sure that eggnog’s gone bad by now!” “Bad... what do you m-... oh.” Ghalt had been bugging him to throw that eggnog out for week’s now, and he’d finally taken it out of the fridge to do just that when the ship had been boarded. Oh, the story he’d tell the others, how his forgetfulness finally paid off in defeating the feared Rendain. The twisting pain in Rendain’s gut had him doubled over, almost to his knees as the curdled nog worked its magic on his insides. A horrible gurgling followed, descending with the pain until- “Bathroom!” “Airlock’s looking like a great idea now, isn’t it?!” Oscar Mike called after him as he disappeared down the hallway in search of relief.

[oblivcscence]

The Water Hole.

They had to be quick, Damon knew this. He had made it a point to hang out with Kaia and his friends on the same day but having to mix the two in very closely was risky. Dangerously so. With armor stripped off to swimsuit material, Damon took a dive in, knowing Kaia might take some time due to her reluctance in the Xantrophn territory. “Come on, babe.” The prince would urge coming back up for air as he flipped his hair back out his face, wiping water from his eyes so they could gaze up at her. Standing there in her underwear and bra was a very squeamish Ischyros, rubbing her shoulders in discomfort. Even if they had known each other for several years now the little one couldn’t stand the idea of someone watching her semi-bare form. To Damon, it was quite alluring, beautiful brown curves with markings that swirled all the way down even to areas he couldn’t see. The thought drew lips back as he took notice of her feet shuffling. “Um, I don’t think this is such a good idea, I mean didn’t you say someone else is supposed to be here?” Her meek voice was barely heard over the waterfall, a chuckle came from Damon. “Don’t worry, they’re not coming until I give the okay.” Swimming his way to the shore, close to Kaia he held a hand out to her. “It’s not too cold.” Her gaze rose to his own, purple lips tugging into an uncertain smile as a small hand reaches out taking his. The princess was wary, always has been, even if they were alone without the threat of prying eyes.

At a more gentler mood, he leads her into the lake. Thick black claws easing their way into cool water as Kaia follows hesitantly. “It’s pretty cold, D-Damon,” The smaller female comments, looking down to the water that ripped against her ankles, though he didn’t pay any attention and only responded with a grunt of recognition. “It’ll get warmer.” He encouraged, practically dragging her along as Kaia began to pull away. “I don’t think so, you and I are different.” There was another chuckle and a playful roll of golden eyes as he looked back to see her. It was an amusing sight. With a scrunched nose and her eyebrows raise in concern he took notice of the goosebumps along her legs and arms. “Oh, don’t be a crybaby, darling it’ll only last a few minutes until you get used to it like all warm-bloods do.” Unsatisfied she huffed, white hair swaying in protest. “Can we pl--,” Kaia began. Damon didn’t let her get another word in, he soon bent down, picking her up. A squeak was his answer as he tossed her with ease straight into the water. Her loud yelp was cut off as the water swallowed the small Ischyros in its blue maw. He couldn’t suppress the series of laughs that shook his shoulders and burst through Azul-tinted lips as the amusement settled along his emotion. A few seconds passed and still, there was no sight of her resurfacing for breath. Almost instantly his expression morphed into concern as the realization settled in, where was she? “Kaia?” Was it possible that she came up already without him noticing? That couldn’t be. A sound similar to a deep crackle came from his throat, a noise that would easily get the attention of almost anything, aside from fellow Xantrophns.

Still nothing. He didn’t waste another second, diving in the direction he had tossed her with keen eyes Damon used day vision to see if he could spot her heartbeat or the heat she would emit. Nothing. Going back up for air it seemed Kaia had disappeared entirely. “Kaia!” He called out, turning around in search of her along the shoreline but it was vacant. His head raised taking in a few sniffs of air to see if she was close... All Damon could pick up was the most recent scents of the forest or fainted ones of his friends. “RAWR!” Suddenly the impact of a small body grabbing onto his back and pulling down brought him from the frightened place he had been. “That’s what you get for throwing me into the water, you big meanie.” Kaia accuses, a light hit directed to the back of his head. A breath of relief passed him before he went along with her playfulness, hiding the negative emotion he had prior. “You were taking too long, silly.” He purred, hands wrapping behind him as they pulled her up on his shoulder so she could get a better grip. A giggle rumbled Kaia’s chest, fingers coming to run through his wet hair. “Shush, I’m not used to cold water.” “Yeah I noticed, I can hear your chattering teeth all the way down here.” He shot back teasingly, feeling the digits rub against his horns lightly. Slowly the plates on his tail would snap up, rattling as they moved to pose up in arousal. “I’m not THAT cold,” Kaia protests crossing her arms on top of his head as she pouts.

Damon snorts, golden eyes looking up at her watching the cute expression rest on her face. “Okay, okay. You’re actually really warm.” He fell into her schemes, allowing himself to lower into the water before he felt the small princess slip from his shoulders. “Thank you.” Kaia squeaks, swimming around to face him, her lips now pulled into a smile. “I’m glad you invited me here, it’s really nice to see the beauty in your territory. It’s a good chance to see something other than mine.” Amazement fills her eyes as they look around the forested area of the Xantrophn land. Taking in the greens, purples and slightly oranges from dead leaves. It was pretty, sure but he felt there was no need to be in awe of nature when he could look at something far more beautiful than that. She was his priority at the moment. “Don’t you think?” Damon nodded slowly, tail curling out to wrap around her waist to pull the Ischyros close. “I couldn’t agree more,” a purr rumbled his throat, leaning down to rest his head against Kaia’s, who was beginning to blush profoundly at their close contact. Purple irises widened as she placed her hands on his stomach. “Damon… What if--” “Shh, let's just enjoy the moment.” Moving closer he placed a gentle kiss to her lips, pulling her up against him. The prince would move further into the lake, taking precaution knowing her small height could never match his own. If the water was to his hip, then it was at her chest. Getting to the point where the lake rippled against his own torso, he held her firmly, knowing it was likely well over her head if he placed her down. “You’re right, it’s pretty cold.” He mused, pulling away from her lips, however, they were still close enough to graze against one another. His comment rewarded Damon with a giggle, following was a smile that spread across her lips. “See I told you.” She mumbles, fingers playing along his shoulder as her gaze lowers to see how close they were, chest pressed against his chest. A hum rumbled through the prince, catching her ears lifting as if she was straining to hear something. Almost instantly, purple eyes lifted up to stare alarmingly into Damon’s own. “We have to go, someone’s coming.” He was about to comment on how she was only trying to get a reaction from him though knew it wasn’t her personality to joke around like that. His own alarm rose in golden eyes which widened and ears lifted. “That’s okay, we’ll just have to be quiet.” He chuckled knowing it wouldn’t be too long before someone was tempted to get in as well. It had to be his friends, there was no other person who knew about this aside from the royal family or whoever came across its discrete location. “Don’t worry, we still have some time.” He whispers, starting to head back to the shore. He could feel her head nod against his chest, small fingers clutching onto his shoulders for security. “I’m scared, Damon.” She admits, looking up to him the said emotion filling his nose as it covered them. “Don’t be, it’s only a little hiccup. I’ll make sure we aren’t caught.” Once on the shore, he places her down, moving to gather her attire before carefully placing it in her extended arms.

“WHA-HO!” The sudden cry of a very excited Asher comes from above as he comes crashing down into the lake below, the vine he had grabbed onto swinging back and forth from the trees. As if on signal the two of them that were watching the falling Xantrophn snapped their heads back to one another, the look of uncertainty glowing in both of their eyes. “We have to get you out of here before they smell your scent, or worse.” Damon urged as the sound of the loud splash signaled Asher’s hit. “Here, climb on my back.” Lowering to his haunches, his tail flicked to motion for her to get on. Though to Kaia, it wasn’t the best idea as she shook her head. “I don’t think that’s good for your back.” “I don’t care what’s good for my health or not, grab on.” As he felt her secure hands grip his shoulders and legs wrap around his back tightly, he lowered to four legs. “Watch the horns,” Damon warned quickly starting to run off in a different direction. If Asher or one of his friends caught wind of him and Kaia’s scent together, then there was going to be suspicion. Something that he didn’t need.

[bladekeeper]

▲Only Pack the Essentials▲

“Gah,” the long-haired swordsman would scoff, an outcry overheard by his mate in the next room.

“What is the matter?” Rathteu pokes his head out from the kitchen, brow scrunched in curiosity. The straps of his kitchen apron dangle from the doorway.

“Ugh, ‘data storage almost full’. This is 19959! You would think they would accommodate these devices so people like me wouldn’t...” Rathrey trails off,  tapping at his HOLO’s screen fruitlessly before huffing and tossing it to the side of the couch.

Teu raises a brow. This isn’t the first time Rey has bickered about his cellular device, ‘broken this’ and ‘maddening that’.

“...You could use mine?” Teu offers, and the couch-bound one thins his lips, peeking over the cushions to look at his mate. That was a bargain.

“...You’re onto something,” Rey says, fingerguns twirling in thought in his direction before laying himself out on the sofa fully. “I will be quick, I swear it.”

Teu snorts. Bullshit.

“Sure you will be,” he smirks, ducking back into the kitchen for a few seconds before leaning back out of the doorway, his own HOLO between his fingers. “I’ve no expected calls today. Do go wild.”

Aaand, toss.

The arced throw makes the HOLO land firmly on Rey’s stomach, a quiet oof signalling his surprise and taking hold of it with large hands.

“Bless you,” he mumbles, right away swiping and typing away to do whatever Rathrey usually does with his own HOLO.

Not long afterwards, the two were squirming on their couch-- much too small for two tall Jennerit like them-- attempting a comfortable spooning whilst their movie rolls on their HOLOvision. After grumpy remarks and a bit of push and shove, they finalized their position, the two content with how they lay against eachother. Somewhere within the labyrinth of Rath limbs and blanket, a small tweeting was heard with a follow-up vibration.

Teu perks up.

“--Email. Hand it to me,” he mumbles, Rey awkwardly reaching between the two of them to acquire his lifemate’s HOLO. A lazed forearm hangs over his face as he swipes and taps to check the message--

...Wait.

“What?”

Rey’s neck cranes quickly to regard Teu’s odd reaction, expecting the worst. Instead of answering his own question, though, he just holds the HOLO’s lit screen in front of Rey’s face, the both of them glaring at it intensely through the darkness of the room.

Teu read the bright prompt on-screen, in which was blocking his view to his inbox:

“ ‘Check on your little kitties! They miss you. Open the Neko Catsune app’.” Rey could feel the fire burning through the back of his head with Teu’s intense glare at him. “What is this, Carus--??”

“Ssh--t- just--” Rey scrambles to tap the screen and get the message to go away. “Nothing! See! Back to normal.” --Not entirely a lie, Rathteu could see his email inbox now.

“...Rey.”

The syllable crawls up Rey’s neck and he grits his teeth. Nevertheless, Teu rolls his eyes and scrolls through his... sudden, spontaneous 30+ new emails within the past 10 minutes.

To Rey’s distress, he reads the subject lines aloud.

“ ‘Validate your email for... for Cat Clan Wars’. ‘Check out this new offer on a premium edition of Kitty Catty Casino Jam’. ‘You have 120+ new friend requests on KittyScape’....”

Two holes were burning through Rey’s head with how flaming Teu’s glare was now. Rey’s head slowly ducks down, trying not to show his guilt.

“What is this? Dear--?” Teu growls lowly, backing out of his inbox to scroll through... the 6 new pages of apps full of cat games. His jaw lies ajar, almost shocked.

“Why are you downloading all this crap onto my phone?!”

The cheeky, guilty laughter Rey belted out next? That was cut short by a firm knee to his crotch, courtesy of their current position.

[thralls-for-alls]

Sugar Roses

Tramping through the oppressive humidity and heat of the jungle, Mortus could not help the whine that escaped him as uncomfortable rivers of sweat dripped down his back. His soaked hoodie hung limp around his waist and caught on every low, clawed branch he passed. Miserable, frustrated and lost, he mumbled curses under his ragged breath as he crunched a branch under hoof.

Thousands of flying, biting insects swarmed the Brute, struggling to pierce his thick skin for any sustenance to no avail. Mortus could barely see the bigger ones as they flew past in a scrambled blur, and other than a few waves of his hand to shoo them out of his face, he did not mind them much.

Pushing a low-to-him hanging branch aside, Mortus spotted a clearing where a river spread across a wide expanse of rocks into a shallow stream with tiny shrubs dotting across. “Finally…” he sighed in relief as he staggered towards the shimmering waters. In the deepest part he could find, the freezing water only covered his thick, but bare, hooves. Every smooth, rounded stone seemed to slice into skin from the glacial temperature of the water, but in comparison to the heat in the air, Mortus could only smile from the unpleasantly pleasant sensation.

As he lowered himself to lay down in the sparse heaven he had found on this hellish jungle planet, his eye caught sight of a familiar treat one of his former associates from Arum’s crew nestled among the leaves of the shrubs around him. Swinging his legs under him to sit in the cold stream instead, he leaned over to pluck one of the bushes from the ground to bring it close to his face to inspect. The sickeningly enticing sweet perfume of the maybe white flowers brought a wide, gold speckled grin to the young Brute’s face. “I didn’ know sugar roses were an elf thin’,” he chimed to himself in his good fortune as he started plucking more bushes. “Awh, maybe this place isn’t so bad.”

His bouquet of wild treats grew to a massive Thrall’s handful before he took a bite through the thorny shrub. The gross sour leaves and sharp branches overtook the joyful sweetness he expected, telling him that he needed to separate the flowers from the bushes before enjoying. With a hum, he looked around for a spot to set down his bounty. With his unoccupied hand, he untied his hoodie and laid it out over some dry-topped rocks before setting to work. Piling up the shrubs on the stones beside him, he picked one up by the dirty roots and started pinching off the light flowers with the edges of his nails and tossing them onto the soaking black fabric. Each one took a precise tweeze to not get crushed between his thick fingers, and even with his thoughtful concentration, he still ended up with a sticky film of crushed petals on his tips. But, his determination won out as his hood soon had a tiny pile of natural, sugary rewards on display.

The entirety of the result was barely a single bite’s worth for Mortus, but he still could not help the wide grin planted across his cracked face or the wiggling of his hooves as he dragged the whole hood closer to him. On each flower, hundreds of delicate white petals spiraled around the necar-laden center; the whole sweet scented plant covered in a fine sheen of sugar crystals. Mortus remembered that Arum would eat each petal, one-by-one, until the single flower had been picked clean before licking up the syrupy center. Thin, Aelfrin hands could only hold the whole flower in both palms; they prefered to rest it on a plate. The massive Thrall, on the other hand, licked some of the tasty residue off of one of his fingers and pressed it to the top of the pile to pick one of the smaller pieces up and brought it to his mouth.

The crunch of the crystals on his teeth, the overwhelming but beautiful burn of the too saccharine flavour, the gush of honeyed nectar across his palate. His stomach grumbled from the lack of real substance, but his heart and soul were set aflame from the dance along his tongue. And, there was so much more to come.

[docilekori]

Roasted and Toasted

Kaia scouted the tree line, eyes focused on a red and yellow flowers that grew high in the sky, a low grumble left her as she headed toward the tree that held it. Once reaching the base of the plant, she looked down shaking her head. Bunching her thigh muscles she reached for the closest branch to hold her weight, swinging back and forth to then release her grip and grab another. Stopping to only climb on top of the extended arms, and jump to the next. Her hands stung from the rough bark underneath her palms and the tops of her arms burned with the fire of exercise. Sweat being to form on her head as the blazing Solas sun beat down on her. Signing, she sat down with the branch she was currently on, swing her legs over to secure them safely.

Reaching to her back, Kaia unclamped the pouch of water from her belt, breathing with pleasure once she had taken a drink of the cold refreshing drink. Tilting the sack up, she poured some in her hand before splashing the water on her face and hair, humming with delight. Scrambling up from the little break, the princess continued her little adventure, before quickly reaching the glorious plant. With ease, Kaia released her small dagger from its containment and cut the root of the flower, collecting a bundle of them to bring back for Sheva. Making a mental note to recall this place if they ever needed more, since the plant in her hands produced rarely in the seasons. Upon hearing voices, Kaia tilted her head, interested at the loud yelling and who it could be. Shoving the knife and flowers in her small pack on her back, the Ischyros hurriedly made her way down the large tree.

Falling on her feet from the last branches down, a small grunt left her as Kaia tried to regain her wasted breath. Huffing heavily, she followed the noise of the growling and hollering, the deep voice sounding familiar to her ears. “If I wanted your kind of help, I would’ve stuck my head in a wasp’s nest, thank you very much,” the man had replied sarcastically, causing a small giggle to leave Kaia, now she knew who it was. As the more she got closer the more the Ischyros could hear the bickering between the four older men.

“Gruten, you need to stay still, it’s only going to get worse the more you wiggle,” One of the older Xantrophn’s who had been excited with the three legged man, spoke in a calm voice. “Not you too, Oriantio!” The wood carved arm swing in the air above, shaking the ground with enough force to hear the thud. To Kaia’s surprise it hadn’t snapped from the impact, but then again Gruten wasn’t as powerful and strong as he was before his crumbling years. Coming into their line of sight, the Ischyros princess smiled warmly to them. All eyes were on Kaia, before the smallest of the four made his way over to her, granted he was still tall at a 6’5. Lifting her head, she gave a curt wave to him, “Greetings Ravakin! Is there something wrong with Gruten?” A pleased smile formed on his split lips, the nasty scar that ran across his cheeks squeezed his eye shut. “Ahhh princess,” he bow for a quick moment, “Gruten was playing dumb and handled the fire log for longer than he, himself, intended.” At the mention for the situation, Gruten growled viciously, coughing soon after failing seeming intimidating. “Fucking buggering hell, if it wasn’t for that damn rabbit I wouldn’t have been in this mess!” Raising a grey eyebrow, Kaia snorted lowly before speaking, “A rabbit was it? Gruten, I would have imagined you not to be so reckless.” To this, a bitter scoff passed through his mouth, “Hush your trap girly, don’t make me regret saving your life all those years ago.”

Shaking her head, the small female went over to her older friend placing a hand on the bottom of his hands to see the damage. To the hidden eyes it seem like nothing, but the smell and a closer look, it had been the beginning of a nasty burn. Tsking him, Kaia rolled her violet irises, releasing his dark large hand and grabbing the ointment from her bag. Crushing the leaves in her palms, the doctor rub the cream long his fingers down to his wrists. In response to the treatment, Gruten hiss low before spitting any acid that had grown in his mouth, out toward the side, not wanting to hit Kaia. “There you should be healed in the next couple of days, I have to run home, now. I will come and check on you tomorrow.” Lifting on her toes, a kiss was placed on Gruten’s cheek, “take care of yourself… and try not holding fire next time.” Waving goodbye to the rest of her friends, Kaia quickly ran to the tent with Sheva in it, explaining why it had taken her so long to get their and making an excuse as to why the ointment was used.

[shadowbxxer]

The End of the Beginning

“Well, well, well, look what we have here: our favorite little street fighter.” Adelaide bristled at the comment, folding her arms and glaring at the wall. She sat on the opposite side of a metal table bolted to the floor. The officer took a seat across from her, folding his hands politely on the table.

“It isn’t nice to keep a lady waiting,” she snapped, finally turning to look at him. The green in her eyes was venomous and calculating, boring a hole through the back of his skull.

“No, it isn’t. But, well...” He didn’t need to finish the sentence before her brow furrowed in anger. For such a young girl, she had a look that could kill, and he couldn’t help a silent appreciation for the table between them. “We know what you and your brother are up to, Adelaide.” It took only a second for her expression to shift again, the curl of her smile was shrewd and condescending. 

“Do you now? And yet you’ve done nothing? That seems like poor police work, you should be ashamed.” She found joy in watching frustration flush his cheeks and flare his nostrils. Sometimes it was too easy to push buttons, but she never tired of it. 

“And you should learn to keep your mouth shut. Now, we also know that you’ve been manipulating your brother into doing your dirty work. So, clear it up for me again, which one of us should be ashamed?”

“Did he tell you that?”

“You’ve been using him as a scapegoat your entire life, he doesn’t need to tell us anything. I get it, your family needs money, you figure you can con your kid brother into helping you ‘fundraise’ a little.” It was his turn to smile, stroking his short beard absentmindedly. “But that doesn’t excuse the twelve hospitalizations of people claiming you assaulted them. You’ve broken ribs, noses, ruptured a kidney, that couldn’t have been easy--”

In a flash Adelaide was on her feet, leaning forward with her hands on the table. “I was protecting myself and my brother, it’s hardly my fault they picked the wrong person to mess with. They are criminals, I was doing what I had to do for my family. Not that it matters, you’ve found an easy answer, even it it’s the wrong one. Do what you will, I’m not afraid of you.” She clenched her teeth, holding back the sting of bile in her throat at the thought of being locked away. There was no stopping it now, so she would have to figure something out later. Straightening up, she put her wrists together and held them out to the officer, impatiently tapping her toe on the tiled floor.

“Calm down, Adelaide, I’m here to help you.”

“If I wanted your kind of help I’d have stuck my head in a wasp’s nest, thank you,” she snapped. He held up a hand to quiet her.

“Don’t thank me just yet. Lucky for you, punchy, someone’s taken an interest in you; an old pal of mine just happens to be a trainer for professional boxing. You’d have to change your last name to avoid any controversy and move, but it’ll keep you out of the system. This is your only chance, take it or leave it.” She looked confused, slowly lowering her arms and letting them flop at her sides. Even more slowly she lowered herself back into her seat.

“You mean I have to disown my family?”

“You won’t have to, they already did.”

[bluedeneb]

Punishment

There were choices to be made every day, some more difficult that others. Follow the herd or stay nearby and fish. Sow seed or wait for the plentiful rains to come. But there was never a choice when it came to elders: you do not speak ill of them, unless a serious crime has been committed. And even then, it is better to be hush about it. For a seven-year old Deneb, she was facing the consequences of those actions. “Please repeat to us what you’ve told the other children.” The eldest presiding over this meeting pressed paws to his knees, the peeking scales along his neck twitching and glittering in the sunlight in quiet anger. His own grandniece, no less. He expected better of her. “I said... I said that...” the cub began between the sniffles. Nothing was more terrifying for the young ones than being taken before their ambush and being questioned on their misdeeds in front of everyone. To have to repeat the words verbatim and decipher the seriousness of their words, to remove the joke and jest from them entirely... it was a living nightmare. A loud thump from the elder’s staff redirected her straying thoughts. They weren’t going to wait around all day for her to gather her courage. “... I said that Albiero was a mongrel who deserves to be drowned in a lake...” she squeaked, and winced at the reaction of those around her. Hushed gasps of astonishment and paws pressed to mouths told her just how horrible they found her words to be. She could already feel the tears welling up again. To let them fall would garner her no sympathy, however. “And is it true?” “What...?” The question was unexpected. “Do you really think he should be drowned in a lake?” “I...” “It’s a yes or no question.” The elder’s voice became more and more quiet, but the gravity of his tone remained. “No...?” “And why would you call him a mongrel? Is his fur so impure and filthy to make him less than one of our own?” “I don’t... it’s...” Her eyes found those of Albiero, the subject of her lies and insults, and they were filled with nothing but hurt. He knew why she thought those things. “He has no scales, and-” “Enough.” A raised paw silenced her, the elder’s eyes closing in disgust. “You have two choices. You can follow through with your words. Take Albiero out with you and drown him with your own hands. Or you can renounce your lies, apologize, and sit for the rest of the day before the Aztanti with a frog on your tongue.” “… I’d rather have the frog. Please.”

[shellalana]

Susan

“Ow! That wrench is cold!” Caldarius tried to wave away the poofy-haired blonde woman, but she easily dodged each of his swipes. Easy enough with those shoes she floated around on. To think that he would allow himself to be tinkered on by the likes of her. “Would you quit wiggling about and let me do my job?” With a purse of her mouth, she rapped the wrench hard against his knuckles before going back to work on one of his boosters. The thing had failed mid-battle, sending him spiraling off into one of the large trees Ekkunar was known for. The vines had had him tangled well enough, and it had taken a few arrows from Thorn’s bow to cut him down. It was the most ungraceful landing he’d ever experienced. “I understand that you’re embarrassed, wearing such an expensive flying suit of armour, and crashing to the ground like a pile of crushed tin cans-” “That is not what happened!” “-but sometimes you have to look at the brighter... side... of things!” Phoebe grunted with the strain of the tool, until she finally got loose the tiny fixture that was keeping everything held together. “And what could possibly be the upside of landing on my face?” Caldarius was doing his best to keep still, but her fiddling was proving that to be difficult. “You know, there are Jennerit tools that would make this so much easier.” He started to turn his head, to take a peek at what she was doing, and received a light knock to the cheek with her wrench. “Nonsense. I’m doing perfectly fine, thank you. The upside of all this is that you should really take better care of yourself. Weekly maintenance with yours truly should do it, if you don’t mind me saying. Aha!” “Aha? What aha?!” “Nothing, nothing. I’m just marveling at how well put-together you are. Your suit is, I mean.” “Well, stop admiring and fix. It.” “Someone’s a surly Susan today.” “I don’t even know what that means...”