The emotional intensity in Chapter 48 is overwhelming!!
The parallels in the relationships between the various couples are a masterpiece. 💫
The development of the twins’ parents is fascinating. I kept reminding myself that Big Dipper is Sherbet’s son as well as Dipper’s dad. And… the nicknames Bill gives everyone: what a treat!
Momzilla is my favorite right now, because the mom “transformed” by the social machine is a timely and important theme (I say this as the mom of a little Mabel)! And I think Bill doesn’t miss the catastrophic effects of narrow-minded realities…
The characters’ psychological reactions are so realistic—how did you do it, @sapphosscribe? Little by little, it builds to an explosive climax!
The final twist in Ford’s dream was as unexpected as it was incredibly fitting after everything that happens!
And then… Shmebulock: I’d left him in “Lost Legends” and… so that’s who the warlock was!!
And let’s not forget that… a wampus is forever 🙃
Ahhhh!! @ghepa89 is back! I’m glad you loved the new chapter! It was such a joy to write!
Those parallels between the couples had to be made to advance the Billford, though we haven’t seen the last of Jake and Cassie yet. 😉 I always kept in mind that Jake grew up with Shermie and Deb for parents and I think his personality accurately reflects that. He had a great childhood (for the most part) meanwhile Cassie… did not.
Cassie definitely gets a bad rap for being the one who takes responsibility and keeps everyone alive. She’s always doing her best, though Bill isn’t exactly a fan of conventional wisdom.
Ford’s dream is only the beginning. The spark has caught and it’s about to turn into a blaze! 😉❤️🔥
Apparently, we’re wrapping up all characters problems and Schmebulock is one of them! He’s about to become important in a way you can’t imagine. Bringing him back for Act Three is going to be a fun time!
A Wampus is indeed forever. Nikola is here to stay 😉
Now, on to the most important matter YOUR AMAZING ART!! I’m absolutely OBSESSED with the way you draw the characters. Everyone is so expressive. Your designs for Jake and Cassie are wonderful! Not to mention how dashing and heroic Stan, Dipper, Bill, and Nikola look coming to rescue their family. All the applause for you!!
Thanks so much for these! I’ll be adding them into the chapter during hiatus!
Introducing my monster high oc, Wylie! She’s the daughter of the Wampus, my favorite cryptid/creature from Appalachian folklore. She is Scarokee (Cherokee), since the Wampus comes from Cherokee legend!
In recent years, I have learned more about Divination, the art of looking into hidden parts of the past, present, and future using one’s own inner eye guided by certain magical tools. Throughout my studies, I have come to realize that there are certain parallels that can be drawn between the suits of the minor arcana in Tarot and the houses at Ilvermorny. Each of the suits – Coins, Swords, Cups, and Wands – is often associated with a different area of life, much like the four individual “parts” of a magic user often associated with each Ilvermorny House. It is from this approach that this essay will attempt to further explore the nuances of the Ilvermorny Houses and their admittees.
Wampus — Coins
Wampus is known as the House of the Body, and the tarot suit of Coins is associated with the physical realm. The Coins deal primarily with finances, work, physical health, and anything that may belong to the realm of the five senses – what we can touch and hold. Thus, if this exploration holds any merit, we may see Wampuses grounded in the physical world, concerned primarily with what is happening in real time, what they can control or influence with their direct action.
The House of the Warrior may at first glance seem tied to the classical element of fire, but instead, think of the Tarot’s way of aligning Coins with elemental Earth. After all, a warrior is perhaps the most likely to be grounded in the physical realm as one who enacts changes in their world through their physical actions. In addition, much of the imagery in the Coins represents the agricultural cycle – planting, tending, and harvesting one’s crops. Similarly, Wampuses may view the world as a fertile landscape from which abundance may spring forth with the right tools and their own hard work. This suit also contains a warning not to get too caught up in what you can perceive with your bodily senses that you fail to remember that there are things beyond that which you can see.
With this interpretation, Wampus may lend itself to literal fighting and farming, but also to nature, activism, business, public safety, law, skilled crafts, athletics — fields where people understand the value of getting their hands dirty when necessary.
Horned Serpent — Swords
It is said that Horned Serpent is the House of Scholars and the Mind, and Swords are no different — this suit represents thoughts, ideals, and rationality. Its imagery represents a mind constantly at work, healthiest when it allows itself time for rest but prone to overactivity which may lead to restlessness and anxiety. So too may Horned Serpents find themselves capable of great feats of the mind, so long as they care for themselves by allowing themselves time for recovery and rejuvenation.
Swords also represent the element of Air. This may seem counterintuitive considering the Horned Serpent is a water-dwelling creature; however, may it be remembered that Air represents not only thought but (perhaps more importantly) communication, the air that passes out of our lungs to give us voice. What drew Isolt Sayre most to the Horned Serpent was its ability to communicate with her. So too we may find those sorted into Horned Serpent House to be interested in communication, the conveyance of one’s ideas and thoughts to others through verbal, written, or visual means.
As such, we will find Horned Serpents among top academics, including theorists, historians, and other scientists, not to mention those among the greatest of communicators, such as writers, orators, politicians, linguists, and actors.
Pukwudgie — Cups
The suit of emotions and intuition seems quite fitting for the House of the Heart. Emotions are our inner reactions to what may be happening in the outer world; they are a bridge between the two realms. This is also represented in the Cups’ relation to intuition — humanity’s innate ability to understand the world around us to some level without the need for conscious thought. The Cups’ imagery is at times the most fantastical of the suits, and the subjects are sometimes depicted doing something seemingly illogical, taking a leap of faith in hopes for better things to come. Pukwudgie is also the House of Healers, which makes great sense when one considers that all wellbeing is deeply connected; when one’s emotional health is poor, their physical health will be adversely affected, and vice versa.
The Cups also represent relationships and interconnectedness of every kind through their connection to the element of Water (after all, Water is necessary for every form of life on earth, and touches sea, earth, and sky in its ever-turning cycle, bridging the gap between the three worlds). The imagery of the Cups represents how our innermost feelings and intuition may affect our bonds with those around us — romance, friendships, family, and other partnerships. This also expands beyond inter-human relationships to our bond with the Earth itself.
It should be no surprise, then, to see Pukwudgies in every area focused on relationships, intuition, and mending broken things — healthcare, psychology, counseling, environmentalism, spirituality, hospitality, and diplomacy.
Thunderbird — Wands
The suit of Wands is the suit of passion and creativity, perfect for the House of Adventurers and the Soul. One may notice that much of its imagery revolves around merchants and fighters, which could be seen as the purview of Wampus; however, one must also remember that Thunderbirds above all else are those who take risks and set off to new places in search of excitement and adventure. Thunderbirds often feel a strong need for novelty, movement, progress, and expansion.
Wands also represent the element of Fire — interesting, perhaps, for a house whose mascot spends so much of its time in the air; on the other hand, what is lightning if not fire flashing in a storm? The Soul is complex and individualistic, and it desires to be known and to make itself known; there is a flame inside that demands to be let out so that it may shine. Thunderbirds often cannot help but try to make their mark on the world, whether for good or ill. The imagery of Wands is a reminder that fire can bring warmth and safety as well as chaos and pain. Strike a match and guide it to where it should go, and you bring light and life to even the most desperate; lose control, and you and those you love will get burned.
So, Thunderbirds may find themselves leaning towards fields in which they can best make a difference, make their mark, or find the necessary dynamism: the arts, teaching, activism, philosophy, entrepreneurship, innovation, and exploration.
Final Thoughts
As the reader may have noticed, there is overlap and nuance in what I have just described, as humans cannot be divided into neat boxes. Any vocation will find a strong foothold in any house. For example, a politician should be a scholar of philosophy and history, but they should also desire to heal people through the policies they write and support. A dancer certainly has great passion and creativity, but they are also grounded in their own body and the physical world around them.
There is something to be said too, about the interconnectedness of the Houses, the Tarot, and the wholeness of a human. Just as every House has overlap with all the others, every suit of the Tarot will bleed into the other suits, and every person has a body, mind, heart, and soul. We may tend to gravitate towards one part of ourselves, but we should not do so at the expense of the others.
Above all, remember the motto of Ilvermorny School: “As a family, united we stand.” Each member of the family is unique, and together we are stronger than we could ever be apart. Grow into who you are, and find the people who will support and uplift you and have strengths where you may not, and work together to make the world a better place.
The Wampus Cat: A Shape-Shifting Sentinel of Southern Lore
In the shadowed hollows of Appalachian forests and the sacred stories of Cherokee tradition, the Wampus cat prowls—a creature of myth, punishment, and protection. Its form is elusive, its origins tangled in regional lore, but its presence remains a potent symbol of transformation and defiance.
A Dual Legacy: Cherokee and Appalachian Roots
The Wampus cat’s mythology splits along two distinct but intertwined paths. In Cherokee legend, one tale speaks of Running Deer, a brave woman who defied tribal norms to confront Ew’ah, the Spirit of Madness. Donning a mountain lion’s pelt, she became the Wampus cat—a guardian against evil, a symbol of courage and sacrifice. Another version casts the Wampus cat as a cautionary figure: a woman cursed for spying on a sacred ceremony, her punishment eternal transformation into a feline specter. In both renditions, the Wampus cat embodies the tension between curiosity and taboo, bravery and consequence.
Appalachian folklore paints a darker portrait. Here, the Wampus cat is a hybrid beast—half woman, half mountain lion—whose cries echo through the hills like a banshee’s wail. It is said to haunt the woods, its eerie sounds paralyzing hunters and wanderers alike. Some tales suggest it guards ancient secrets; others claim it is the restless spirit of a wronged woman, seeking vengeance or redemption.
Symbolism and Survival
Beyond its fearsome reputation, the Wampus cat serves as a cultural mirror. In Cherokee stories, it reflects the power of female agency and the sacredness of ritual. In Appalachian lore, it channels the region’s gothic sensibilities—where isolation, superstition, and nature’s wildness converge. The creature’s duality—protector and predator, cursed and courageous—makes it a compelling figure for folklorists and horror enthusiasts alike.
Modern Echoes
Today, the Wampus cat prowls not just in oral tradition but in school mascots, cryptid sightings, and Southern storytelling. It has become a folkloric relic that resists easy categorization—part monster, part martyr, part mythic guardian. Whether whispered around campfires or reimagined in pop culture, the Wampus cat endures as a symbol of the uncanny, the liminal, and the wild feminine.
