#bsal

[icesapphireserpent]

UPDATE!!

Black Sleep and Lamb

Chapter 2 fixes are up. Meaning I added details and fixed grammar with the help of my beta. (WC went from 2,414-> 3,509)

Chapter 3 and 4 are next.

Sorry about the wait I’ve had a bunch of health issues and had to wrap up the semester.

I’m gonna do another pass (or few) over chapter 5 while I’m waiting for critic. (It’s my longest chapter already pray for me)

[nope-secret]

Considering how often I urge people to please please please desinfect their shoes to save amphibians from Bsal, I forget to do it very frequently. So I just decided to give myself a little weekly reminder...

Just to explain: for the past 10 years a fungi named bsal has been spreading in central europe. It attacks and eats itself into the skin of amphibians. Many of them can deal with it, but some newts, like the fire-salamander, have a near 100% mortality rate once infected! The only way they can survive is if they are found and brought to a zoo/university etc that can take them in and treat them. Sick amnimals look like this:

Can you see the places where it is being eaten alive?

The main problem is that the fungi is tiny and cannot be seen, but survives for months even without a host. That means that humans unknowingly spread this fungi around just by walking! Most amphibians more or less stay in their own area and wouldn't have been able to spread the disease much, but humans have brought it from place to place. Some forests actually have disinfect-stations for cars by now, but it is mostly spread through walking, which can be stopped by disinfecting your shoes (best with 70% alcohol).

After Corona, many of us have disinfectants not only in their home but also their cars, purse, etc. So please, take the time to participate and to spread awareness <3

[art-by-secret]

Recently entered this drawing in a competition specifically about (animal) biodiversity. I thought it would be boring to “only” draw the animals so I added biologist actively working to save them (both the firesalamander and the great crested newt are in severe danger due to a spreading fungi that basically gore through them like flesh eating bacteria)

Also Ignore the face in the top left

[icesapphireserpent]

Soooo I’ve been editing. I got through chapter 3 just adding a few things like normal. I meant for chapter 3 to be disorienting because Davy is disoriented, but this is so disoriented.

If you Read Black Sheep and Lamb: Should I restructure Chp. 3?

Yes! It is too confusing.

No! I still understand what’s happening it’s fine.

No, being confused is the appeal of chapter 3.

See Votes Button

Voting ended onJan 9

[icesapphireserpent]

Okay sooo…. I’ve been bad. I have been ‘re-editing’ Black Sheep and Lamb.

What does that mean? Chapter 1 went from 1,739 to 3,488 words.

When I first wrote these chapters they were rushed and didn’t have everything they should have. I DOUBLED my first chapter after some very nice feedback from a wonderful beta I was able to plump up and grammar edit like crazy. But I also know I’ve promised chapter 5 and not delivered. So… let’s see what y’all want.

What should I do?

Focus on chapter 5

Re-edit the four chapters first

Nosy button (for OP and others)

Voting ended onDec 11, 2025

[icesapphireserpent]

I finished chapter 5! It’s about 7,910 words.

I’m not gonna post it until I can get someone to look over it for me but it is done and I’ll start looking over chapter 2 while I wait for editing notes for chapter 5.

I’m still counting it as finishing before the New Year.

[icesapphireserpent]

Chapter 5 update:

Word count: 7,460

Words written today: over 1,500

I cried.

All that’s left is the comfort ending.

Then I can polish it up with my editor and get it to y’all. That’s not happening until after the holidays though I’m not bothering people rn.

[icesapphireserpent]

Chapter 5 a.k.a the worst 12 hours for Stan ever.

The joys of parenthood :)

(It’s like that Brandon Rogers scene where the mom is screaming for her lost kid)