#chp3

[lemonkkvoov]

krerdly shippers are winning with chapter 4 im ngl

oh yeah uh and kriselle shippers too

and krusie shippers...

but genuinely mainly krerdly shippers due to the thing in the weird route and te fact OU CAN GO WIT BERDLY TO THE FESTIVAL

[orospu-kalamar]

Chapter 3 - Page 30

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[CHP 1] [CHP 2] [CHP 3]

[kllxshw]

[mollysfuturemishaps]

Molly's Future Mishaps Chapter 3: Watch

Molly and Jo had angered the tardigrade who had created the end of time museum. In their efforts to escape, the two end up stuck in the mechanisms of time itself, and realize that they need each other more than they first thought.

[thoughtsfromthegrandline]

1. This is very sweet of Zoro to eat the dirty rice ball

2. Bold of Luffy to judge Zoro for eating food off the floor when he would literally eat anything

[greekbros]

"greek-Bros: The Return of an Old Enemy"

Chapter 3: The Hunt Begins

As the wolf attacks continue throughout Greece, Olypmus's greatest huntress is hot on the trail of the beasts. Artemis, goddess of the hunt, the moon and Apollo's twin sister, had been following a trail of destruction from the 'wolves' since her first sighting in Delos, where she witnessed a pack of these 'wolves' dragging a man into a cave alive. This behavior was not something wolves do on a normal bases. She understood these things were strong, sizable animals that have been seen mostly at night. These were definitely something worth hunting down. Her search had recently taken her to forest near Mount Parnassus on the other side of Delphi, where she has found fresh tracks.

Hours had passed and all she could find was what looked to be the foot prints of something. It looked like elongated wolf prints with human like features, a small curve of the middle food, a mild arch and the depth of the print heavily betrayes the size and weight of these creatures. "....this....this can't right?" She muttered. She walked along the trail to measure the gait, to her surprise, the prints were longer than the gait of an average wolf and closely matched a human's stride. Artemis could also notice that the tracks didn't just have the trailings of quadripetal animals, but some of the track having only landed bipedal steps. This perplexed her, there hasn't been any beast she has encountered like this, a bipedal wolf? "What are these things? Is...this someone's idea of a sick joke?" She again muttered, "these can't be natural....even so....who would go out of their way to do this to an animal?". She continued on, trekking through brush and dense forest, to find more information on these....anomalies.

Artemis felt a deep sense of dread inside of her, the more information she gathered, only worsened the feeling; the fur she found had human hair entangled with it, she counted five claws instead of four for every marked tree and she traces of tattered clothes from people who've already disappeared. Nothing about this made any sense.

She could feel a chill down her spine, could have been someone or something watching her? Grabbing her bow and unquivering an arrow, ready to lock on to whatever was triggering her senses. She readied herself, preparing for what could possibly her end, aiming at what she felt was-"~hello" Hermes appeared next her ear startling her nearly to death, making her let go of her arrow that shot out somewhere off into the distance, with a yelp following closely after.

Artemis understandably, currently wanted to strangle Hermes, thus proceeded to do so. "YOU LITTLE BASTARD I COULD HAVE KILLED YOU OR WORSE THAT ARROW WOULD HAVE RICOCHET TO SOMEWHERE ELSE DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT COULD THAT MEAN!" she angrily screamed at him while grabbing him by the collar, shaking him violently.

As he was being shooken like a rag doll, "iM sOrRy I dIdNt KnOw!" Hermes tried to apologise.

As Artemis continued to teach Hermes a valuable lesson in "Archery Range Safety", it dawned on her that she heard something make a noise. She stopped for a few seconds and looked towards where she heard the sound.

"um.... Artemis?.....ugh what's wrong?" He asked. Hermes could see the focused stare Artemis was giving.

".... Hermes....did you hear something when I shot that arrow?" Artemis asked, she slowly let him go and side stepped to the direction of the where see saw the arrow go.

Hermes kneeled there, looking at Artemis do her thing, tilting his head in curiosity, he stands up quickly to follow hoping to see a glimpse of what could she be looking at. "Ugh..." He quietly exclaimed.

"SHUSH." She replied, as she walked to a bush between two trees, her expression was that of horrified discovery. "...by the...gods." were the only words she could muster to say.

Hermes scrambles to get a closer look, he lays eyes on what Artemis was looking at, just as horrified as his sister, he couldn't believe his eyes. "...it's...ugh..it's a wolf in people's clothing?" He loudly thought. He couldn't help but stare at the sight.

The two were looking at what appeared to be an amalgamation of a man and wolf, with clawed hands and feet, wearing what looked like tattered clothes from your average man, a short tuff for a tail and with Artemis's arrow through it's mouth as if it was shot mid scream. The creature was dead, purely out of dumb unfortunate luck it seemed to have been in the arrow's direction.

Inspite of Hermes's coping mechanism of joking about the situation, she knew this must have been what Zeus was worried about...."is...this Lycaon?......you know, that story he would tell us before bed. I knew it was a real story...but....this...is.. something else" she asked. Her mind was running with questions, she was aware Zeus had only done this to one person, could he have embellished his story?

Hermes looked at her with confusion, "um...well...if it was...he'd be...I don't know...dead...don't you think?" He again joked. "I mean he's dead but it's a little overkill don't you think?", Hermes was on a roll.

Artemis glared at Hermes, unamused, "yeah...but....dad said sometimes....when gods curse people, sometimes they can out live other mortals to get more out of the curse....but....this...thing is...." she gets a closer look at examines the body, "this... whatever it is...is actually around 20 years old" she estimated.

"Wait what?" He questioned.

"...and he probably lived as a fisherman, I mean he's got some rough looking paws but I know rope burns when I see them" she continued.

"sto-stop stop stop....you can tell all THAT?" He questioned even further, not believing Artemis could guess all that.

Artemis turns to him and shows the corpse's pawish hand, showing deep scars on it's palms. "Ugh yeah duh. I can 'read' you know. Reading isn't just book smarts you know." She scoffed. "ANYWAY. We need to tell dad about this." She took the arrow from the mouth of the beast man, carefully not to cut her skin on it's teeth. "It has some nasty teeth....is that....venom?" She looked at the bloody drool, it had a mild blueish color to it. Looking at her arrow she just freed from the corpse, she felt that she need to wrap it in something to prevent anyone touching whatever toxic saliva it had.

Hermes, busy watching Artemis, didn't notice the movement of the previously deceased man-beast's foot twitching. "So, who's going to bring the dead weight to dad? Cus well...I don't want to... touch...-" he slowly became distracted at the increasing movement of the body. "HEY Artemis I think you missed a vitals spot." He shakingly warned her. The body started to growl, twitching to stimulate more movement and twist it's previously stiffened neck, eyeing the two gods ferociously.

Artemis finishing off wrapping the arrow now looks up at the reanimating creature. Steps back, puts the arrow away and gets out a new one in a matter of seconds. She shoots an arrow at it, but the creature catches it in its claws and crushes it. It coughs up a little blood and stands up to roar at the two.

"KILL IT KILL IT KILL IT! " Hermes shouted, he was so terrified at the sight he actually was in shock and didn't move, for the first time in his life, he actually felt a little bit helpless.

As fast Artemis could reload her bow, the creature dodged and avaded every arrow she shot out. Having had fun with the two, the beast fleds on all fours into the thick forest howling triumphantly, escaping two of Olympus's fastest gods. "HERMES WHAT THE HELL! Why didn't do anything!" She yelled at him only to find his shaking, "Hermes are you ok?" She asked.

Hermes, still shaking, nods his head 'yes' and does a solute. Clearly, he isn't ok, but he survived and assumingly that is all that matters. "yeah. I'm fine." He lied knowing damn well that a wolf person coming back from the dead when it should have died from what clearly a "in-mouth headshot".

Artemis decides to help Hermes and embrace him in hopes of making him feel better, or in her own consolation, to get him to stop shaking before he faints. "It's ok buddy, it wasn't that bad." Pats his back, "but I'm going to kick your ass later for not helping." She tenderly assured. "We need to find dad.... he'll know what to do.... at least I hope he know about THIS." she hissed.

End of Chapter 3

[mangatome]

[topcatnikki]

In The Depths of Nyéraldë

The following day finds Yuuri, having had a terrible night's sleep, heading to Yuuko’s home in the grey light of dawn. It’s as early as he could possibly have left his family’s cottage without detection or questioning and he hopes that Yuuko will forgive his early intrusion. The village is quiet, most homes still locked tight against the autumnal chill with only the barest hints of their inhabitants; heavy smoke of breakfast fires from chimneys, and the sound of voices grousing at the hour. 

Yuuri is used to it, used to the early mornings and the chill that bites bone-deep under his leathers and around his bare neck, his hair swept back from his face in it’s usual tie, keeping it from his hunters eyes. He laments his lack of a cloak, as usual, but cloaks are for those in the village, not for the ones traipsing through the undergrowth and prone to snagging clothing on unruly branches. Yuuri sticks to fitted leggings, leather and woollen undershirt that keep him warm but mobile in the wild expanses on Lindale forest.

Yuuko’s cottage, built from the same stark white stone as the rest of the village, is set apart by its walls, which are resplendent in daubed images and figures. Some of the shapes are purposeful and powerful, laid there by Yuuko and her mother in years past for protection and good fortune, the other more recent additions are the childish imaginings of Yuuko’s triplets, who’s clumsy fingers have added to the artistry over time. Yuuri smiles at the memory of the girls cornering him and asking him to assist their efforts the summer past, jockeying for position around him and calling for his attention. There are a few new additions since then, Yuuri notices as he reaches out to knock softly on the painted surface of the door, his hand looking pale against the bright red of it’s surface. “It’s Yuuri.” He adds, voice loud enough to carry, but not disturb the cottages surrounding Yuuko’s home.

“Come in, Yuuri!” It’s not Yuuko, but Takeshi’s voice he hears in reply. Yuuri let's himself in and braces for the inevitable impact that is his former rival and childhood friend’s embrace. He’s not disappointed, if the triplets had learned their manners from anyone it was their father, who was prone to jumping into Yuuri’s space to greet him. He’s brash, and touchy and has been since childhood, but their relationship has improved leaps and bounds from bullying, to ribbing, to genuine care as they’ve grown together. “Good morning Yuuri! What brings you to us so early today?”

“I was looking for Yuuko, actually. Is she here?” Yuuri can see no sign of the wise-woman-to-be in the small cottage, the triplets are still sound asleep in the bedroom, the door ajar more for their fathers comfort than theirs. Takeshi shakes his head, letting Yuuri out of his hold to see to the pot on the stove, stirring it’s contents and addressing Yuuri over his shoulder.

“She was called out in the early hours of the morning, before day break. A labour I think, I was asleep but she left with her bag and herbs.” Takeshi turns back to him, looking concerned. “Is it something I could help with? It’s not usual for you to visit so early…”

“Oh, no no. I don’t think so anyway.”

“Only a wise woman will do, huh? Tea?” Takeshi chuckles to himself and Yuuri accepts the offer, his fingers still numb from the biting cold. “I'm sure Yuuko wouldn't mind if you looked through some of her scrolls, Yuuri.”

“That would be helpful, thank you.” Yuuri accepts the small cup of Sencha with a nod and gets to his feet, heading to the small chest of scrolls Yuuko has brought from her Mother’s home for study. The chest is small and delicately made, painted in reds that offset the pale white of the wood and make it almost luminous. It had been a gift, he knew, for Yuuko’s coming of age and beginning of study to take her Mothers’ place in the future.

Yuuri had always looked up to Yuuko, in his own way. While he and Phichit had been teaching themselves the best ways to lure game and tie nets, Yuuko had been studying meticulously to inherit the mantle of village wise-woman. It was no easy task for her, he mused as he set aside his tea and carefully opened the chest, it was a labour of love that extended beyond herself and encompassed every person in the village, no matter their status. She was always learning, always gathering knowledge to herself in the hopes that she could fulfill the role with the same care and attention as her Mother, and her Grandmother before her. Yuuko worked to serve the village, just as Yuuri hunted to provide for his family and the village, and the prosperity of the village itself depended on the gifts that the forest allowed them.

The scrolls are a mish-mash of healing methods, village lore and remedies for maladies which peak Yuuri’s interest for a moment before he puts them aside. He needs to focus on the task at hand, and without Yuuko or her Mother to consult the scrolls are all he has. The histories are bare, with little to say on the subject of the forest itself and Yuuri sighs heavily as he stows them back in the chest carefully.

Takeshi frowns at him as he pulls himself away from the chest, grabbing his tea and flopping into his chair with another huff. There has to be something… Some reason that the forest is failing. Yuuri knows the forest like the back of his hand, knows every inch of his hunting ground, knows where all the best game can be found and the best places to gather berries and fruits. Why doesn’t he know this? He can try again, he can go see Ooshan and ask her maybe, but right now he’s coming up blank and it’s infuriating.

“Yuuri?” Takeshi’s frown hasn’t abated yet, he’s watching Yuuri worriedly. “What are you looking for?”

“I don’t even know…” Yuuri groans, cupping his cheeks and blowing out a frustrated breath. “The forest isn’t doing well, it’s been flowering less and less the last few seasons and I thought maybe Yuuko would know something, or there’d be something in the old scrolls…”

“Ah. Yeah, I know nothing about the forest, but I know Yuuko knows about it, she and Ooshan were discussing it -”

“They were? What did they say?” Yuuri perks up, but Takeshi just shrugs and tops up Yuuri’s tea.

“Nothing I could make heads or tails of. It’s not exactly my area of interest.” Takeshi gives him a depreciating smile. “But you could find Yuuko later today, I’m sure she’ll be back before long…”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Yuuri straightens, draining his mug and nodding to Takeshi. “I’ll come back tomorrow, probably.”

“Maybe not as early though, Yuuko is always exhausted after a birth.”

“Of course, I’m sorry about being so early today but I have a lot to do and -”

“Don’t worry about it, we know how much you have to do Yuuri.” Takeshi stands and walks with him to the door, clapping him on the shoulder. “The whole village knows how much you do for them, Yuuri. So don’t worry about the forest, I’m sure it’s just a bad season or two and it’ll be better in Spring.” Yuuri isn’t sure about that, but he knows Takeshi is trying to be a supportive friend so he smiles in return. “Is there anything else we could help with?”

Yuuri considers it and realises he’s missing something very important for his meeting with Vitya the elf.

“Actually there is…” Yuuri feels silly even asking, but it’s better to be safe than sorry and he’d rushed out of the cottage this morning without anything but his jerkin and knife. “You wouldn’t happen to have any plums would you?”

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