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It had been a few weeks since Altier was brought to the run-down shack that his black-scaled companion likely called home, and he could now comfortably say he was accustomed to the…household’s routine. The kobold typically left at the crack of dawn, returned a little after noon, and occasionally left again to forage until nightfall. When the weather was bad or there wasn’t a particular need for something, they half-heartedly chased their rabbit around for a bit, which usually ended with a bout of quiet petting while everyone got ready for the night. It was always amusing to see the energetic side of what he had come to know as a relatively lazy loaf of an animal. As for the routine of the ferrorabbit in question… Well…it was at least more interesting than expected.
Hoppit would begin his own series of activities as soon as his caretaker left—the first of which being a check of every nook and cranny in the shed. He sniffed at anything that caught his interest, varying from morning to morning, but he gave every object or corner its due attention. Once he was satisfied with that, he would eat some of the ragged plants that made up most of his diet, take a drink from his bowl, then jump onto the tro— table and plop himself down, his ears pivoting towards the door. It was hard to say if the lounging spot had been established before Altier’s arrival, but it was somewhat amusing to pretend that the little rabbit was standing guard over his core—if it wasn’t for one particular part of the morning ritual, that is.
Indeed, the ferrorabbit had a habit of licking the obsidian orb that sat in the middle of the room, which thankfully didn’t seem to perturb the system enough to give Altier a headache. He was confused when it first happened, but it was commonplace enough now that he barely acknowledged it. A part of him liked that he was getting attention as a core, even if it was delivered via a strange grooming method. The closest he got to being acknowledged as something other than ‘the dungeon’ was through an unfortunate misunderstanding that he could never properly rectify. He supposed that was hardly worth thinking about now, though; too much time had passed for there to be anyone left to correct. The little oddity of his mornings would have to suffice.
There wasn’t much to comment on as far as the rest of the day’s happenings. Hoppit would end his loafing by shaking his head and ears in a way that filled the silence with soft clacks, give the core a customary tongue bath, then jump off the table to nose his way out of the shed through a hole that was hidden by the storage cart against the wall. Where the rabbit went was anyone’s guess, but he always returned before anyone noticed he was gone, and often did so while covered in small cuts and scratches. Any blood from the lacerations was quickly licked off before it could be seen by the kobold, and in the event that the scaly caretaker happened to return earlier than expected, Hoppit would scurry over to the bundles of blankets to finish the cleanup in secret.
Today looked to be following the usual pattern. The kobold left bright and early with various gardening tools and a wooden pail, and Hoppit had since set off into the great unknown for one reason or another. Hopefully, he returned less injured than usual. It was frustrating to admit that Altier had begun to grow rather fond of the fluffy creature, and seeing the thing come back hurt was bothersome. Was it off looking for food? There wasn’t a whole lot given to it, so that was a possibility, and it could be getting into fights over whatever it found. That still didn’t explain why the animal was so thin, and Altier didn’t have enough to go off of to think of a potential solution. He wanted to help it in some way, like by summoning a creature to act as an escort, or maybe just by manifesting something edible like he once could. No, he could only stare at the ‘Synchronizing…’ that occupied his menu, wishing he had more information to work with.
He never thought he would miss the bombardment of notifications and their lingering presence that filled the edge of his mental vision; at least with that he could surmise enough to hazard some kind of action. Even knowing why the menu was acting the way it did would be a start. Yet, try as he might, there wasn’t a history for him to reference anymore, and he had nothing to work with. He was confident the last message had asked him to ‘accept’ something, then took his befuddled ponderance as an answer, but he was no closer to an explanation for what it wanted, nor why it prompted him in the first place. He just didn’t have another experience to compare against, since nothing like that had ever happened before. Not that he was ever in much of a position to allow it.
The entire purpose of having Altier inhabit a core was for him to become a dungeon of Decay, which entailed all the skeletons, poisons, acids, and whatever else came to mind when one pictured the concept. ‘Living’ creatures were something he only had the chance to experiment with near the beginning of his new existence, though he never dabbled past the first few insects before transitioning to the mindless undead. Having a thinking, feeling, breathing entity touch his core was a rite reserved only for the adventurers and soldiers that bested his trials, and that was usually a painful experience. Now, he had spent what he could only guess was hours being held by a kobold, followed by having a rabbit bump against him, and neither felt like what he came to expect. Instead, both had led to a completely novel reaction from the system. The strange circumstances put him at a bit of a loss as to what it all meant for him.
Sure, he could dismiss the deluge of errors from his companion’s involvement by pointing to the numerous ‘corrupted’ messages before it, and Hoppit was a part of mostly unexplored territory, but the lack of clarity nagged at the back of his mind constantly. Being exposed to activity after potential decades or centuries of unchanging solitude made him despise the informational dead end. If he couldn’t make sense of the rabbit’s circumstances, then he didn’t have much hope of deciphering the reason for why his system was misbehaving so terribly. He also didn't know much about the one who owned the decrepit holdings he was housed inside.
He still wasn’t sure what drove the kobold to take him from the cave. His suspicion of becoming traded goods fell flat after the first week or so, and he hadn’t noticed any cult-like behaviour, which was promising. Granted, a lack of nefarious behaviour didn’t mean there was a lack of nefarious intent, but he didn’t get the impression his companion held that either. The kobold itself didn’t seem quite settled on an opinion of his core, though it was up for debate if the hesitation was due to knowing what he was or not. They seemed to mull something over before bed each night, yet never reached a satisfactory conclusion, staring at the obsidian orb through weary grey eyes until they eventually forced themselves into sleep.
Whatever the underlying reasoning for his abduction was, he had observed enough to know that the kobold didn’t deserve to live in destitution. As beaten as the shed might be, they cared for it as best they could, and did so without a single groan or grimace of complaint. The floors were cleaned with a tattered rag and fresh water, dust was removed regularly, and any stray mess that Hoppit made was dealt with promptly. They even took the time to wipe off his core, which was possibly where the ferrorabbit got the idea to start licking him. The only time Altier had seen discontent from the kobold was when they didn’t find much during their foraging, and thus couldn’t give any treats to the excited and bouncy herbivore.
He wasn’t aware that a creature’s face could make such a painfully broken expression, and he was quick to decide that he never wanted to see it again.
Vexingly, his metaphorical hands were tied; a dungeon could only influence their Domain, and given the state of his system, not even that option was available to him. All he could do was glare at the rotting wooden beams that held up the roof and remember when such an issue didn’t exist. It would have taken a mere flicker of thought and a paltry sum of mana to mend the struts when he was a proper dungeon. He could even outright reinforce the structure by weaving in other materials, leaving the appearance as it was while making everything stronger than iron. Well, he once could. Working with other affinities was something that came to him after absorbing the coloured motes left behind by adventurers, and the accursed stone that stole his mana had taken that ability as well.
An attempt was made anyway, his will ordering the deteriorated wood to absorb any trace metals from the ground, but it was no use. He couldn’t feel the iron or stones beneath the shed like he would have been able to before, all but confirming his suspicion that his connection to the Earth element had slipped away. Nature was much the same; the only way he knew when Hoppit had returned most days was from the subtle noise and the essence of injury. The other attributes—Air, Flame, Luma, Shadow, and so on—were ones he never experimented with to any real extent, so it was less noticeable when he lost his grasp on them. Perhaps they faded early. Either way, all he had left was a waning cognizance of his own alignment, and that wasn’t of much use to him. If he had any appreciable mana income, then perhaps he could do something, but he wasn’t even sure what the upkeep of his current Domain might be. It was entirely possible that he was running on a deficit, which would offer a reason for why his system had been so—
[Do#$@n Ex@#d$%^&d! CRe@#r H-H-H-HoPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP—]
[Errrrrrr—]
[Sy$%^hroni%^$zing…]
[Creeee-tu— Hoppit ha@$ esttttb-hed terrrrrrr-ity f^#% t$e dun@&$n!]
- - - - -
“Well then,” he mumbled to himself, taking in the strange scene behind the shed. For one, he could actually view a small distance beyond the structure now, and two, there was a rather proud-looking Hoppit sitting on his haunches before a pair of significantly less prideful examples of the species. They looked quite a bit bigger than the lazy loaf Altier had come to know, yet they were more cut up and dejected than his furry friend. That answered where the injuries had been coming from, he supposed. Hoppit was probably running off to bash heads with whatever animal population existed here beforehand, and they had only just reached a consensus on who was in charge. Impressive.
One of Hoppit’s ears turned back towards the shed, his head following suit as he gave a lagomorph’s approximation of a ‘Look what I did!’ smile. Altier blanked out mentally, but didn’t have time to question anything before the new leader of the local rabbits imperiously pointed a paw towards the surrounding forest, which was equally surreal to witness. Most surprising of all, the…subordinates? The other ferrorabbits did as commanded, keeping their forms small as they took off into the foliage. Soft clacks came from Hoppit’s pleased shake of his head, then he too left the area with only a slightly lopsided bounce to his stride.
The man-turned-core could only gape at what he saw. Were animals always so…expressive? Had Hoppit heard him? What in the world was happening? Why had Hoppit’s personal conquest led to Altier’s Domain expanding?
He lamented not having fingers, nor temples to rub with them. His system was a garbled mess of errors and inconsistent messages, his residence was falling apart at the seams, his companion was someone who abducted him from the dungeon, yet never did anything past that, and his first real experience with an animal was turning out to be more confusing than he thought possible.
All of this was after an unknown amount of time spent commanding legions of undead to strengthen the very people who he would later learn had lied to and manipulated him, making him into a nightmarish entity just to bolster the power of their forces. He almost missed the days spent gazing out of a mossy window. At least then he knew what to expect.
Nothing made sense anymore.
= = = = =
The soft sound of roots ripping free from soil suddenly stopped, only to be followed by a dull thud of Ceele’s palm slapping against the ground to catch her fall before she landed on her rear. She righted herself with her tail and tossed the stubborn weed into a pile with the others. No matter how many mornings she did this, they always seemed to replace themselves faster than she could remove the pesky things. A sigh slipped from her muzzle as she set about grabbing the next one embedded in the vegetable garden.
Aches and spreading stiffness flared up, but went ignored as she neared the end of her duties, though she was well aware that they would come back with force once she tried to settle down for the day. The impending soreness was an inevitable byproduct of spending so much time working. Still, she knew that if it wasn’t for the kindly old couple that allowed her to call their shed home, she would still be sleeping beneath the stars while making sure nothing tried to get at her Hoppit. Even if it was just a part of the deal, they were owed this much in return, and she would see it done properly.
The sun bore down on her back as she did her usual tasks, which was a departure from the slightly overcast weather as of late. It looked somewhat promising when she checked in the wee hours of the morning, yet as her gardening duties dragged on, so too did the intensity of such a clear sky. A disappointed glance at the empty wooden bucket on the edge of the field was quickly corrected. She hadn’t thought to refill it at the river after watering the crops, and her parched throat was making its protests known, while also reminding her that there wasn’t much water left at home either. One more thing to take care of when she was done.
A gruff cough brought her attention towards the old kobold resting his back against a tree some distance away, safely shaded from the unforgiving rays beaming down. Her displeasure at having yet more to do was hastily wiped away. She was undecided on what to think of the detached audience, but looking so sour while upholding her side of the agreement wouldn’t reflect well on her. Hopefully, he hadn’t seen it. Not that she could tell if he did; he always had the same expression when he watched her work. The elder kobold’s arms were crossed, a finger tapping absently against his bicep, while his tail sat motionless on the grass, the muddy red colour of his scales standing out amongst the greens and browns. ‘Makis,’ was his name, assuming her memory served.
Makis had taken to observing her every so often, usually propping himself against this or that at a distance, the unwavering scowl being as unnerving as it was belying of his age. Somewhat loose skin sagged a bit around his jowls and neck, yet the rest of his face was still taut from how much time he spent examining red-hot metal, and his arms were marred with countless burns and cuts from his profession. He held an oppressive aura, though the crinkles around his eyes and muzzle suggested he smiled as frequently as he glowered, even if Ceele was yet to see the former. There was only the same judgmental expression aimed at her when he was around. She could only hope that he didn’t take offence to some unintended slight, but she didn’t know him well enough to say what might be considered one.
They hadn’t spoken since she took up residence on the outskirts of his land. His wife was the one to introduce them, but it was quickly established that he had no intention of being a chatty individual. He led Ceele to the shed hidden amongst the trees on the edge of the property, then dismissed her with only a grunt coming from the elderly kobold. She supposed that it was for the best. Her experience in socializing was centred around convincing others to employ her, and there hadn’t been much of an opportunity to expand her horizons while living a life on the road. If that had been the end of their interactions, she would have swiftly written the terseness off, but he appeared every few days, taking up residence beneath the shade as he watched her work, never speaking a single word. At least he didn’t openly protest her presence, yet she figured that would be easier to manage. He wouldn’t be such an enigma then.
There wasn’t a whole lot she knew about him besides his penchant for ‘supervision,’ and anything beyond that was what his wife had volunteered during the rare opportunity they had to chat. She was told that Makis worked the smithy out front, and although he had retired from doing so in an official capacity, she could still regularly hear his hammer as she tended to the garden, so she figured he kept himself busy most days. It made her wonder what was so interesting about a vagrant like herself, but when there was so little else to do, she could see how anything could be made worth the attention. It was just him and his wife living in the once bustling home, after all; the couple’s children had long since grown up and made families of their own.
She noticed his gaze shift elsewhere as she tugged yet another stubborn intruder from the soil, his arms falling from across his chest and the perpetually worn displeasure melting to that of curiosity. He wandered off shortly after, and she had to make an effort not to fall onto her tail as the pressure on her shoulders unexpectedly evaporated. Did something happen?
Ceele shook her head free of the distracting thought. It wasn’t her business if he grew bored with watching her work. As long as no one voiced any complaints, she could only assume that she was doing a satisfactory job. Maybe he finally decided that he didn’t need to be so watchful because she was doing well! That could be it, right?
A glance at the somewhat sloppily maintained garden erased the false confidence from her face, but she was just as quick to focus on finishing up, unwilling to allow darker musings to fester. Thankfully, there didn’t seem to be anything else that needed her intervention. The weeds were all uprooted, the soil was appropriately dampened, and her check for pesky insects or wildlife turned up nothing to worry about. She was free for the rest of the day!
…Or she would be free—as soon as she finished the last of her tasks, anyway.
The black-scaled kobold got up from her crouch unsteadily, shivering and wincing from the pins and needles in her legs. She would have to remember to stretch more often; it was far too easy to forgo that kind of thing just to make the overall work go slightly faster. Her hand reached out to grab the pile of weeds and put them into the bucket as she ran through what needed to be done before she could properly relax. Hoppit’s food needed to be washed, she needed to bathe, and they were running low on water anyway, so she would have to visit the river. Just the thought of dragging herself into the forest again made her muscles protest, but she wouldn’t have the energy to do it later. She forced the smile that had started to fall and took the first of many steps.
- - - - -
The river wasn’t too far away, only taking a few minutes of traipsing through the dense woodlands until she reached her destination. It was an idyllic little spot. The trees thinned out to allow a grassy bank along the water, and there was an appreciably gentle slope from shallows to depths, making for a convenient place to take care of various needs. She had discovered this place during her travels, and it was where a kind older woman found her.
Ceele was washing off at the time, with Hoppit safely taking shelter from the outside underneath the bundled blankets while he waited. The trickle of the stream brushing against rocks covered the sound of footsteps, so she was rather surprised when an aged voice called out to ask if she was okay. Her first reaction was to distance herself and apologize—the why didn’t matter, but she had learned that most people were more lenient of her presence if she seemed apologetic for it, and she usually was. The elderly kobold just laughed at her scrambling, tacking on an assurance that there was no need for modesty. The woman was blind, apparently, which explained how Ceele’s blackened colours hadn’t deterred her.
Strangely enough, there was a comforting sense of ease around the one who introduced herself as Hira. It was a sort of presence that Ceele could only vaguely remember, and it drew her close enough to speak as she finished bathing. The conversation wasn’t anything profound, of course—they hardly delved deeper than surface-level small talk—but Hira lost her smile as she listened to the younger kobold. By the end of it, the old woman posed a series of questions with a dark inflection to her voice, and Ceele struggled to find an answer.
‘Are you tired of looking for something that only slips away? Are you tired of running? Do you really want to be scared and alone?’
If the silence bothered Hira, then it didn’t show. She had simply held out a hand and offered Ceele a way of life that didn’t involve wondering where she would be spending the night, nor entailed cowering in the brush while fearsome predators roamed freely. It would be a simple existence of few fortunes, but it was safe, and it was honest. All she had to do was say yes.
Ceele denied it at first, partially because she knew most people despised Hobbit's species, and partially because she couldn’t shake the offer being too good to be true. Hira was quick to propose a compromise; Ceele could take residence in the gardening shed that had fallen from use, and to satiate the nagging sense of an unfair deal, she would be put in charge of maintaining the garden itself. All Hira wanted was to ‘see’ her favourite space bloom again, since she couldn’t take care of it anymore. The black-scaled kobold stared longingly at where Hoppit was, his little body shivering from the prolonged cold and fear that he would be hurt if he left the blankets hiding him. It was with a heavy guilt that she accepted Hira’s offer, keeping quiet about her true reason for doing so.
That was in the past, however, though she thought about it every time she stopped by and saw the smooth rocks where she and Hira first met. Eventually, she might gather the courage to admit that she was housing a ‘pest’ and beg for forgiveness. Until then, she would just work her hardest to prove it wasn’t a mistake to give her a home. That her endless efforts weren’t meaningless. That Hoppit deserved to be more than a ‘pest.’
That Ceele was more than something she had no control over being.
She cleared her head a bit and started on the reason she came all this way. Her dress was rather easy to wash in the meandering water, and the trees provided a suitable place for it to dry in the sunlight and light breeze. The weeds were fine with a thorough rinse near in the shallows, but taking care of her own hygiene required her to wade farther in, though it only came up to her chest in the middle of the rill. Still, she could scrub off the soil and grime, which was all she really needed. Perhaps some simple soaps would help rid her of the pervasive black that stained her skin and scales, but that was beyond her meagre means for the time being, as well as being mere wishful thinking.
She worked past the dreary mindset that settled in when she allowed it, focusing on how serene the river was. The soft birdsong from the trees helped make for a peaceful experience, and she could feel the somewhat chilled liquid basically pour into the aches and pains throughout her body, washing away the stiffness from spending so long under the unerring sun. It was nice to escape reality and let thoughts drift while held buoyant by calmer waters.
Yet the bliss was short-lived. Even if winter was gone, spring was still far from warming the waters enough for her to laze about for too long. She dragged herself from the soft current and fetched her dress from the low-lying branch she left it to dry on. It was still a touch damp, but it wasn’t anything a bit of time in front of the fireplace wouldn’t fix.
Ceele was only a short distance away from home when she heard a gravelly male voice, but it was the flicker of sight between the trees that made her drop what was in her arms and lunge into a sprint.
Makis stood just outside the gardening shed, a ferrorabbit held at arm’s length by rusty crimson hands placed on the scruff and haunch, the rabbit’s little ears flattened as fear filled its tiny face. Her eyes widened further when she noticed the small stains of blood in his light brown fur. They found out about him. Ephemeral claws of blackness clutched at her soul, ripping the very fabric she was made of as an unseen beast smiled, eager to take yet one more thing from her. Her Hoppit. Her baby. Her everything.
“Hoppit!” she shrieked, her words all but tearing out of her throat in desperation. Frozen blood coursed through her veins, yet poured into exhausted limbs. She broke through the treeline with no regard for the branches slashing against her flesh, panic making each sting fade before it could be processed. The grizzled glare of the older kobold snapped towards her, his usual scowl picking up an actual air of intensity that she never thought could be absent, the promise of violence lurking in his eyes. She skidded to a stop a few paces away, the lump in her throat threatening to clog her airway. “S-stop hurting him!”
“Didn’t,” he barked back, his tone even yet firm. “Cuts ain’t me. I’d’a done worse if’a had ta mind ta.”
The blatant declaration snapped her from blind panic, although his apparent anger didn’t do her fear any favours. “B-but… Then how…”
“‘Hoppit.’ Named it, did’cha?” he grunted, ignoring her confusion and bobbing the rabbit to get her attention again. His gaze shifted back to the animal, the flames of ire cooling slightly. “I was wonderin’ why yer plots ain’t dead yet. Suppose this critter’s why.”
One of her hands hesitantly reached out until she pulled it back, while the other clutched at her chest to stop her heart from hammering against her ribs. She couldn’t act rashly. Not while her baby was in his arms. “I—”
“Soft thing, ain’t it,” the elder kobold commented curiously, cutting her off.
“Y-yes?” she returned reluctantly, struggling to stop herself from lashing out to reclaim the ferrorabbit in his grasp.
“Like fine silk.” Makis tipped and tilted the animal, inspecting this and that with a deep-seated frown, all while Hoppit silently looked to her for help. The pit in her stomach grew. She needed to get him back, but how?
Ceele swallowed the dense dread as she tried to formulate some sort of plan, stumbling over her words and forced smile. “I-it’s nice! Isn’t it nice?”
His eyes snapped back to burrow into her own with hatred. “Wasn’t a compliment, girly.”
“B-but you—”
He released Hoppit’s lower half to jab a claw at the various spikes around his body, plying them with minimal force. “Look. See this? These’r suppose ta break bone. ‘Specially when he’s stiff like this. Ain’t no way I should be able ta bend ‘em. He’s barely more than a walkin’ carcass—all skin ‘n stick. He’s gonna get picked up by a wandering pecker if he keeps pissin’ about out ‘ere. It’s a wonder he’s still kickin’. What’cha feeding ‘em?” His gaze dropped from her face to the rest of her, disgust curling his muzzle into a snarl. “N’ver mind. I can guess.”
She felt the dampness build at the edges of her vision, unprepared to not only worry for Hoppit's immediate health, but also to face such harsh criticism while she was so vulnerable. “I… I try to make sure he has…”
Makis crouched to release the ferrorabbit onto the ground, Ceele dropping to her knees the moment he did. The terrified lagomorph wasted no time, bolting towards his adoptive mother and leaping into her arms, shaking uncontrollably. The rust-coloured ‘bold stared as she started soothingly stroking the animal’s back.
“Yer given’ em the weeds, aren’t ya?” he stated rather than asked. She gave a teary nod when her voice wouldn’t respond for her. The old kobold drew a breath, letting it go in an exasperated sigh as he stood back up, his expression becoming more impatient than antagonistic. “What else?”
“I— Um…”
“What. Else?”
“W-whatever I c-can find!” she sputtered out. Hoppit tried to hide against her neck, prompting her to tighten her hold. She couldn’t stop herself from shrinking, the guilt and confusion pulling her head down. “R-roots, vegetables, fruits… I give them as often as I can.”
His glare continued unimpeded, his cadence cold. “That it?”
There were a million things Ceele wanted to say. A part of her wanted to beg him not to kick them out of the first safe place she had in longer than she could remember, but she couldn’t find the words. She wanted to deny the judgmental tone that stabbed into her insecurity surrounding how good of a job she was doing with Hoppit, but the deadened void in her chest swallowed her pride whole. She knew he was right to critique her. That she was failing in the only thing that mattered anymore. That the feeling of loss would return.
“I try,” she whispered through the beginnings of a sob. “I try to find more, but he needs someone around, and I have to work the garden, so there’s only so much time I can spend looking. He won’t even eat all of what I bring back…” Tears dripped off her cheeks as she aimed a desolate smile at her furry friend. “He wants to make sure I have some too.”
“Yer killin’ em,” Makis pointed out plainly, crossing his arms. “He’ll be dead ‘fore the summer at this rate.”
“I know!” she shouted, forcing back the memories of insidious murmurs that lurked in the back of her mind, eager to creep into her ears again. The hate-filled stares that followed her, the rumours that arrived in towns before she had the chance to make an impression, and the guilt that loomed over her like an executioner's axe… “I know I am… I just… I don’t know what he needs. I don’t know how to make him happy…but I try. I’m trying…”
“…Yer an idiot, girly.”
She looked up to see the elder kobold walking away without another word. Her eyes fell to Hoppit, the ferrorabbit pressing himself against her as much as he could. He was small, thin, soft, and growing weaker by the day, but he never let it keep him down for long. No, he always showed his best for her, giving her joy that wasn’t provided anywhere else. She saw the thin cuts and dried blood, though she didn’t know where they came from, nor how he got out of the shed in the first place. But that was okay. Hoppit was okay, and she had Hoppit, so everything was okay, right?
…But how much longer would everything stay okay? How much longer until her efforts weren’t enough, and she was left desperately reaching for fading memories of what once was? How much longer until she killed her baby too?
How much longer until she was alone again?
Soft footsteps drew near, pulling her from the spiralling thoughts that threatened to gnaw at her soul. Damp, blurry eyes fell on Makis returning with a small wooden crate, the older kobold stopping a few steps away. He dropped the box, a deep, rattling thud produced as it impacted the ground, making Hoppit flinch in her arms. Ceele blinked as she kept him calm, then blinked again, looking up at the man for answers.
“The name, girly,” he spat in irritation. “Ferrorabbit. Ther’ Earth aligned creatures; they need metals. They don’t care where they get it, but they need lots of it. Iron, copper, tin, lead—raw crystal, if they can find it. You name it, they’ll take a chunk out of it. It's why they bother farmers so much; the best soil’s usually top’a gem deposits, ‘n the little bastards have no issue burrowing deep to get it. Dries up the element’s energy ‘n makes the crops weak.”
Ceele’s mouth opened and closed, each unsuccessful attempt to speak making her feel smaller and smaller. More and more lost. Why was he telling her this? How did he know? What was in the—
He kicked the crate with the side of his foot. “Scraps. Don’t’cha look at me like that. I’m a smith, girly. I might be old and retired, but I still work a forge. Now, this ain’t anything pure—it’s just slag and hunks—but I’m sure the critter won’t mind. Your little gardenin’ project pays off, ‘n I’ll see which of my contacts can get in some better ore.”
She ripped her eyes away from the box and met the perpetual scowl of the old kobold, seeing a warmth behind the hostility that she had never noticed before. “…Why?”
He scoffed in amusement, which looked somewhat menacing on such a hardened expression. “Yer a touch stupid, girly, but the missus adores ya, ‘n yer a good worker.” A shadow of a smile formed on his face. “Hira spent more evenings asking ‘bout how the plots are doin’ than I got time in the day. She’d bite my head off if I noticed a critter like that sufferin’ and didn’t lend a hand. ‘Specially when it’s obvious you ain’t tryin’ ta hurt the thing.”
“B-but the garden… Isn’t he a problem?”
Makis rolled his eyes, turning with a dismissive wave of his hand. “If he was, he’da killed it by now. I’d say he’s been keepin’ the others clear ‘n got scratched up for the trouble. That’s more reason to feed ‘em right in my eyes; pay the poor bastard his dues.” He paused after a few steps, shooting her one last incredulous glance. “‘N the rabbit’s right. You’re not much better off than he is. Eat. Before the missus takes my head, preferably. I ain’t need ta hear her worryin’ over you more than I already do.”
And with that, he walked off back to the house, leaving Ceele to sit stunned on the ground with Hoppit quietly nuzzling into her.
“Hoppit…?”
The ferrorabbit perked an ear and gently licked her collar. Fresh tears ran rivulets down her face, yet they didn’t weigh her down. They felt freeing. She adjusted her hold on the rabbit and held him out, taking in the small cuts and numerous other injuries she had never noticed before. He stared back at her with worried eyes.
“You’ve been busy, huh?” she cooed quietly, doing her best to keep her voice from cracking. He shrunk in her hands. “I told you to stay home, baby. What if something happened to you? I wouldn’t know where you went, and…”
Her protests died out as she saw what was unmistakably guilt on his little face. She brought him back to her chest and cleared her throat.
“It’s alright, Hoppit. If… If you want to help momma, then we can work together, okay? Just…please don’t go off getting hurt… I don’t know what I’d do without you…” The rabbit didn’t reply, and she was pretty sure she had never heard him make any sounds that weren’t his happy little ear clacks, but she chose to interpret the nuzzling as an agreement. “Such a smart boy…”
She took a breath and wiped off the excess moisture from her cheeks, setting Hoppit down on the ground. “Let’s bring Mr. Makis’ gift in, and then I need to go get more water so we can clean you up, okay?”
He bounced his way to the door of their home, waiting patiently for her to lug the surprisingly heavy crate into the shed. He was even still behaving himself by the time she returned from picking up the things she dropped in her haste. There wasn’t a single protest from the ferrorabbit as she washed over his wounds with warm water, nor when she asked him to wait as she cut up a small salad for him using an extra portion of her rationed vegetables. Finally, once everything else was gone, she tentatively sifted through the box until she found a chunk of something that didn’t look so sharp, then offered it to Hoppit skeptically.
As startling as it was to see him bite through metal without issue, she couldn’t help but tear up again at how pleased he looked with the bizarre addition to his diet. He munched through the first piece, then stared at the box while pawing at the air, asking for more. She obliged through wet laughs, feeling lighter than she had since he first gazed at her from his burrow, alone and afraid, just like she was.
Her little baby was happy, and that made it okay.
Next
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A/N: Thank you to my Patrons, new and returning! No Thanks, Emmanuel, and Megathor join the others who get to read 1 chap ahead!

As if in response to his words, the rain began to pour down in torrents. I scanned the area frantically, searching for shelter from the deluge. My eyes landed on a nearby gazebo, its roof providing a semblance of protection from the elements. I pointed it out to Lily and Mark, and without hesitation, we hurried over and huddled together beneath its flimsy shelter.
As we stood there, trying to formulate a plan, I couldn't help but notice the water cascading down from the mountaintop, converging into streams that flowed ominously toward the town below.
"It's going to flood," I stated, my voice trembling with uncertainty. I racked my brain, desperately trying to devise a course of action in the face of impending disaster.
Lily shot me a look of concern, her brows furrowed with worry, while Mark's head whipped around in my direction, his expression a mix of shock and disbelief.
"What? How do you know?" Mark demanded, his voice cracking with anxiety.
"Look," I replied, pointing towards the only road leading in and out of the town situated atop the mountain.
As Lily and Mark turned to follow my gaze, their eyes widened in horror. The road had transformed into a raging torrent, resembling more of a waterfall than a thoroughfare.
"Fuck," Mark muttered under his breath, his voice heavy with dread.
"We have to find somewhere elevated, away from the ground," I insisted, scanning our surroundings for potential refuge.
"There!" Lily exclaimed suddenly, pointing towards the Library, which was not far in the distance. Perched on the side of the mountain, it was accessible only via a flight of stairs. Its elevated position promised some degree of safety from the rising waters, and its sturdy roof offered protection from the relentless downpour.
"Okay, let's go!" I declared, breaking into a sprint towards the Library. The building was within reach after just a few minutes of brisk running. As I reached the steps, water cascaded down from above, creating a makeshift waterfall that made the climb treacherous but manageable. Determinedly, I ascended the stairs, each step bringing me closer to safety.
As I reached the top of the stairs and glanced back down, my heart sank at the sight of Lily and Mark still struggling to reach safety. "Let's go! Hurry!" I shouted over the din of the storm, my voice barely audible amidst the howling winds and pounding rain.
Lily dashed towards me with determination, but Mark remained rooted in the spot, paralyzed by fear.
"Mark, come on! Let's go!" I urged, my voice tinged with urgency. But just then, a deafening roar echoed through the valley, freezing us all in our tracks. It was the same roar we'd heard earlier. Still, now it was closer and had a chilling amalgamation of animalistic cries and human-like roars, resonating with an eerie intensity.
Breaking free from the spell of terror, I shouted again, "Come on, Mark! You're almost here!"
As Lily struggled against the rising tide of the cascading water coming down the stairs, I reached out to her, my hand extended in a desperate attempt to pull her to safety. She stumbled, but I managed to grasp her arm and haul her up the rest of the steps.
Glancing down, I saw Mark finally lurch into motion, his movements labored as he fought against the now ankle-deep water. With every step, he seemed to expend what little energy he had left.
"Mark, you can do it! Just a little further!" Lily's voice echoed through the storm, urging him on.
But as Mark neared the stairs, the water flowing down the steps surged with newfound force, threatening to sweep him away. With a burst of adrenaline, he pushed himself forward, his fingers grazing mine for a fleeting moment before the current overwhelmed him.
Helplessly, Lily and I watched as Mark was carried downstream, his screams of terror echoing through the valley. And then, as if summoned by the chaos, a monstrous figure appeared out of the shadows in the street.
Standing tall and menacing amid the storm, it was like something out of a nightmare. A grotesque fusion of man and beast, its black fur matted and patchy, its human-like face contorted into a snarling, canine visage.
As the creature locked eyes with Mark, it lunged forward with terrifying speed, its massive form crashing down upon him in a flurry of claws and fangs. Mark's screams pierced the night air, a haunting symphony of agony and despair that sent shivers down my spine.
Unable to bear the horror unfolding before us, Lily turned away, her face twisted in anguish as she fought back tears. As the creature dragged Mark into the darkness, I felt a cold chill run down my spine, a chilling reminder of the darkness within the heart of the Raven's Nest.
As I watched in horror, the creature tore into Mark's body with savage ferocity, reducing him to nothing more than a bloody mass of flesh. Its eyes met mine for a fleeting moment, sending a chill down my spine as it snatched up what remained of Mark and vanished into the darkness.
With trembling hands, Lily pulled me into the Library and hastily barricaded the door with a bookcase. My mind reeled with shock and disbelief, unable to process the gruesome scene that had just unfolded before my eyes.
"Rory, Rory, snap out of it!" Lily's voice pierced through the fog of my mind, her words a distant echo as I struggled to regain my composure. Her soothing touch and gentle words slowly brought me back to reality, the weight of what had just transpired crashing down upon me like a tidal wave.
I found myself hyperventilating, gasping for air as panic threatened to overwhelm me. Lily held me close, her arms a lifeline amid the chaos, calming my racing heart and guiding me back from the brink of despair.
It wasn't the first time I had experienced such a paralyzing reaction to trauma. The memories of our parents' passing flooded back, the pain and grief still raw after all these years. And now, faced with the brutal reality of Mark's demise, I felt myself slipping into that familiar state of shock once again.
Lily's tears mingled with mine as we huddled on the cold library floor, seeking solace in each other's embrace. The distant sounds of the monster devouring its prey served as a grim reminder of the danger that lurked just beyond our makeshift barricade.
In that moment of despair, all we could do was hold onto each other, finding strength in our shared grief and determination to survive. But deep down, I knew that the nightmare was far from over and that the horrors of the Raven's Nest had only begun.
Lily drifted off into sleep relatively quickly. She needed the rest; despite being twenty-seven, she was still young, and the day's events had taken their toll on her. I couldn't help but reminisce about our childhood memories when I used to affectionately refer to her as "Lil Sister." Those memories brought a sense of comfort amidst the chaos, and as I dwelled on them, I felt myself being pulled into the embrace of sleep.
Before long, I, too, succumbed to exhaustion, the weight of the day finally catching up with me. As I drifted off into slumber, memories of simpler times danced through my mind, mingling with the events of the present in a surreal dreamscape. And as the tendrils of sleep enveloped me, I found solace in the fleeting moments of tranquility amidst the chaos of the Raven's Nest.
I bolted awake at the sound of crashing, instantly alert and searching for Lily in the darkness. My eyes hadn't yet adjusted, so I fumbled in my bag for a flashlight, my heart pounding with anxiety. As the beam of light pierced the darkness, I swept it around the room, desperately seeking any sign of my sister. Then, another crash echoed from the direction of the basement stairs, labeled ominously in the dim light.
Normally, I'd have hesitated to descend into such a foreboding place, but with Lily missing, I had no choice. Slowly, cautiously, I made my way down the stairs, the beam of light casting eerie shadows on the damp walls.
The sound of running water grew louder with each step, and when I rounded the corner, I was met with the sight of the flooded basement. Something stirred in the murky depths, a figure moving in the dim light at the room's far end. My heart raced as I approached, the water sloshing around my ankles with each step. And then, in the faint glow of the flashlight, I saw her: Lily, struggling against an unseen force, her movements frantic and desperate.
I waded through the waist-deep water, my movements sluggish against the pressure, trying to reach Lily as she struggled against something unseen. The rustling and grunting ceased as I pushed forward, the urgency building with each step.
"Lily, what's going on?" I called out, my voice strained with concern.
"Rory?" Lily's voice came from the other end of the room, surprisingly calm.
Finally reaching her, I found Lily hidden behind a stack of boxes, her attention fixed on a metal ammunition box she'd uncovered.
"What the hell are you doing?" I whispered urgently.
"Maybe there's something in here we can use against... whatever the fuck that thing is," Lily replied, her voice tinged with desperation as she attempted to pry the box open, to no avail.
"Bring it upstairs, and maybe we can find something to open it," I suggested in a hushed tone, my nerves on edge as I scanned our surroundings for any sign of danger.
Lily's frustration seemed to dissipate into resignation as she met my gaze. Together, we began to wade back through the flooded basement, our senses heightened by the impending danger. Suddenly, the tranquility of our surroundings shattered as the front door upstairs, our only means of escape out of the building, sounded like it was violently torn from its hinges, the sound echoing through the basement like a harbinger of doom.
The heavy, ominous footsteps of the creature reverberated through the air, accompanied by the unsettling growl of its breath. It was clear that our presence had been detected, and the beast was now descending into the basement, drawing closer with each passing moment. Panic seized me as I realized the gravity of our situation - we were trapped, with nowhere to run and the relentless pursuit of the unknown closing in on us.
"Shh..." I hushed urgently, motioning for Lily to hide behind the boxes with me as the ominous sound of the creature's approach grew nearer. Despite the impending danger, Lily remained fixated on the ammunition box, her determination evident in her efforts to unlock it quietly.
"Stop," I whispered with growing frustration, attempting to draw her attention away from the futile task. However, it seemed as though she was wholly absorbed in her mission, impervious to my attempts to redirect her focus. Desperation gnawed at me as I realized the precariousness of our situation, with the creature closing in and Lily oblivious to the imminent threat, likely due to the shock of the day's events.
The monster's presence in the basement sent a chill down my spine as I peered cautiously from behind the boxes, taking in its imposing figure. Despite the water being waist deep for me, the creature waded through effortlessly, its massive form towering over us. Its keen senses were evident as it sniffed the air, detecting our presence with unsettling accuracy.
As Lily's persistent efforts finally paid off and the box squeaked open, her triumphant expression quickly shifted to one of realization and dread as the monster roared in response. The deafening sound reverberated through the basement, causing me to instinctively cover my ears in a futile attempt to block it out. Amidst the roar, I could discern an underlying tone that chilled me to the core—a human-like cry buried within the beast's primal roar, as if someone were pleading for mercy.
With adrenaline coursing through my veins, I lunged to the side, pulling Lily with me as we narrowly avoided the charging monster. For a moment, I thought we had escaped unharmed, but my relief turned to horror when Lily's scream pierced the air. Glancing down, my heart sank as I witnessed the gruesome sight—her leg had been violently torn from her body, leaving a trail of blood that tainted the water around us, a vivid crimson. The agony etched on her face mirrored the shock and helplessness I felt at that moment.
The sight before me was a nightmare made real. My mind recoiled at the grotesque spectacle unfolding as the monster tore into Lily's severed leg with savage abandon. Blood sprayed in every direction, mingling with the water to create a chilling tableau of horror. Each crunch and tear of flesh echoed in the cramped basement, a grotesque symphony of violence.
For a moment, I was frozen in shock, unable to comprehend the sheer brutality of what I was witnessing. It felt like time had slowed to a crawl, trapping me in this macabre scene of primal savagery. The monster's inhuman appetite seemed insatiable as it devoured Lily's flesh from her forcefully amputated leg, indifferent to her screams of agony as she lay not even fifteen feet away from it, screaming in pain.
As I watched in horrified fascination, a sickening realization dawned on me: we were not dealing with a mere beast but a predator driven by an insatiable hunger for flesh. And if I didn't act fast, Lily wouldn't be the only victim of its ravenous appetite.
With grim determination, I focused on the task at hand. Ignoring the nauseating sight of Lily's mangled leg, I reached for her, gripping her arm tightly. She cried out in pain as I hoisted her out of the water, her screams echoing in the basement.
"Come on, Lily, we need to go," I urged, my voice tinged with urgency. Ignoring the searing pain in her eyes, she nodded weakly, her face contorted in agony.
Together, we staggered towards the stairs, every step a Herculean effort against the overwhelming tide of fear and despair. The monster continued its grisly feast behind us, the sounds of its feasting driving us forward with a renewed sense of urgency.
I stumbled over an unseen obstacle beneath the water's surface, sending Lily and me plunging into the cold, dark depths. The shock of the fall stole my breath, and for a moment, disorientation clouded my senses as we struggled to regain our footing.
Frantically, I reached out in the darkness, my hands grasping for Lily's form as water rushed into my nose and mouth. With a surge of panic, I managed to find her, clutching onto her tightly as we resurfaced, coughing and sputtering.
As we gasped for air, I felt the weight of Lily's body in my arms, and with every ounce of strength I could muster, I began to drag her toward the stairs as she floated.
Struggling to hoist her up, I noticed the severity of Lily's injury more clearly. Her left leg was missing from the knee down, torn off in a gruesome manner. Each time I dragged her up a step, her bloody stump thudded against the hard surface, eliciting agonizing screams from her. Finally, we reached the corner of the stairs, where I adjusted her position to navigate the new angle.
As we turned the corner and I struggled to hoist Lily onto the first step of this new and longer set of stairs, the thunderous approach of the monster echoed through the basement, intensifying with each passing moment. Though I couldn't see it, the sound of its sprinting footsteps through the water and heavy breathing grew louder, signaling its imminent arrival. Fueled by adrenaline, I tugged harder on Lily's collar, the urgency of escape overriding any concerns about her injury. All that mattered now was getting her to safety before the creature reached us.
As we ascended, almost halfway now, I caught sight of the creature turning the corner. Its rapid pace caused it to collide with the wall, the force denting the cement as it rebounded. The sight filled me with a surge of terror, propelling me to pull Lily with renewed urgency. For a moment, she felt weightless in my grasp as I almost dragged her completely up the stairs, driven by sheer determination. Yet, as my grip faltered, I felt her slipping from my hold.
The moisture from the rain and flooding had made my hands slippery. Everything seemed to unfold in agonizing slow motion as Lily tumbled down the stairs, her descent helpless and inevitable. In the blink of an eye, the monster pounced upon her, its ferocious hunger driving it to begin devouring her without hesitation. Frozen at the top of the stairs, I watched in horror, my gaze alternating between the gruesome spectacle unfolding below and my wet, pruned hands, feeling utterly powerless to intervene.
The monster's gaze briefly flickered toward me as if acknowledging my presence for the first time since it began its grisly meal. Another thunderous roar erupted from its throat, prompting me to instinctively cover my ears. Again, I could have sworn I heard a desperate man screaming when the thing roared.
With a surge of adrenaline, I dashed up the final step and slammed the door shut behind me, shutting out the horrifying scene below.
As I fled through the unlit and dark town, I encountered areas still very submerged by the flooding, forcing me to swim through the murky waters in a desperate bid for escape. As I sprinted through the town, the absence of rainfall struck me. How long had it been since the downpour ceased? How long had I been asleep? Time seemed distorted, the day's events blending into a surreal blur. I pressed on, my only focus now: finding a way out of this nightmare.
After what felt like an eternity of navigating through the flooded streets, with every step weighed down by the relentless rainwater, I finally reached the end of the main paved road, where it transitioned into the dirt path leading to the mine—the sole exit out of town. The dark, murky, muddy path stretched ahead, promising a treacherous journey. The thick sludge threatened to swallow any misstep, making each footfall precarious.
As I stood there, catching my breath and surveying the daunting path ahead, the distant echo of the monster's roar pierced the eerie silence. It was a chilling reminder that danger lurked nearby, urging me to push forward despite the obstacles ahead.
By the time I reached Lily's jeep, I had lost both my shoes to the road and was caked in the thick, clinging mud. I swung open the jeep door, my heart racing with the anticipation of escape, only to be met with the realization that I didn't have the key. Frustration boiled over, and I cursed loudly, slamming the door shut in a fit of anger.
Then, a flicker of memory illuminated my mind: Lily's old jeep, a '95 Jeep Wrangler. We had discovered soon after she bought it that, true to its shoddy nature, it could be started with nothing more than a screwdriver in the ignition.
In a frantic search, my eyes darted around the muddy surroundings, desperate for any sign of a tool or implement that could help me start Lily's jeep. The sound of the monster's roar reverberated in the air, closer now, sending shivers down my spine. Every second felt like an eternity as I scoured the area, my heart pounding with fear and adrenaline.
Peering down the muddy road, I spotted the lumbering figure of the monster struggling to ascend. Its massive form sank into the mud with each step, hindering its progress as its feet and hands became mired in the thick, sticky terrain. Relief washed over me as I realized this bought me precious moments, a brief respite in my frantic escape.
I decide to look inside the car as I frantically rummage through the cluttered middle console of the car, my heart pounding against my ribcage. Every second felt like an eternity as I searched desperately for anything that could start the engine. Amidst the chaos of scattered items—a map, an old CD case, a jumble of charging cables—I felt my fingers close around something solid.
Pulling it out, I found a weathered Swiss Army knife, its metal casing worn and scratched from years of use. I unfolded the blade with trembling hands and positioned it carefully within the ignition. The familiar weight of the blade grounded me amid panic as I turned it, hoping against hope that it would work.
The engine sputtered to life after a few tense moments, its roar filling the confined space of the jeep. Relief flooded through me, mingled with uncertainty about what lay ahead. As I glanced up, I caught sight of the approaching monster, its massive form looming closer with each passing second.
With a quick intake of breath, I slammed the car into reverse, the tires spinning in the thick mud before gaining traction. The jeep lurched backward, leaving deep tracks in its wake as I raced away from The Raven's Nest.
The memories of that fateful day haunted me for years, a constant reminder of the horrors that lurked within The Raven's Nest. I tried to seek justice and warn others of the danger lurking in that cursed town, but each attempt fell on deaf ears.
As the years passed, I became increasingly disillusioned with my futile attempts to bring the truth to light. It wasn't that no one believed me; I knew too much. The secrets of The Raven's Nest ran deep, intertwined with the very fabric of the town's existence.
Authorities dismissed my claims as the ramblings of a troubled mind, unwilling or unable to acknowledge the darkness that permeated every corner of that forsaken place. And so, I resigned myself to the fact that some truths were better left buried, that the secrets of The Raven's Nest were meant to remain hidden.
In the quiet moments of solitude, I ponder the events of that harrowing day, eight years distant yet still vivid in my memory. I often wonder about those cameras we had installed, silent sentinels bearing witness to the horrors of The Raven's Nest. Do they still perch in their hidden alcoves, their lenses trained on the dormant secrets within those cursed streets?
The temptation to return, to retrieve that footage and unveil the truth to the world, is a constant tug at the edges of my consciousness. If only I could lay my hands on that evidence, undeniable proof of the malevolent forces that lurk in the shadows. But with each passing thought, a shiver courses down my spine, a reminder of the dread that still clings to the very mention of that forsaken place.
And so, the footage remains abandoned, lost to time and neglect, much like the town itself, swallowed by the unforgiving embrace of the valley. Perhaps some mysteries are best left buried, their secrets guarded by the silent guardians of the past.
I find myself consumed by a profound sense of guilt, particularly regarding Mark's tragic fate. I remember vividly the day we met at the museum, his genuine curiosity and eagerness to explore the town's history. Little did he know the peril that awaited us all. I can't help but feel responsible for leading him into that nightmare. It was a gruesome scene, etched into my memory with agonizing clarity. I watched in horror as the creature pounced on him, its razor-sharp claws tearing through flesh and bone with merciless efficiency. The sound of his screams still echoes in my ears, a chilling symphony of agony that pierces through the silence of my nightmares. At that moment, I was powerless to save him, gripped by a paralyzing terror that rendered me immobile. His death is a burden I carry with me always, a heavy weight that serves as a constant reminder of the price we paid for venturing into the heart of darkness.
I often find myself wondering about our parents' untimely departure, leaving behind a chasm filled with unanswered questions and aching longing. In the quiet of the night, I ponder how they would have reacted to my tale—of Lily's tragic end, of the nightmares we encountered in that desolate town. Would they have believed my words? Would they have comprehended the depth of my sorrow, the burden of guilt for failing to shield their cherished daughter?
In my heart, I carry the weight of my dear sister Lily's untimely demise. Her laughter, warmth, and unwavering spirit are now lost to the darkness that enveloped that cursed town. Each day, I long to see her smile once more, to hear her voice echoing in the halls of our shared memories. Yet, I know she is gone, forever lost to the merciless jaws of that insatiable beast. The memory of her screams, the sight of her torn body, they etch themselves into my soul, a painful reminder of the fragility of life and the cruelty of fate.
Lily's injury and her agonizing screams echo incessantly in the corridors of my mind, haunting me like a relentless specter. The memory of that moment is etched into my consciousness with vivid, excruciating detail—the sight of her torn leg, the gushing crimson of her blood staining the murky waters, and the raw, visceral sound of her screams reverberating through the air. Each time I close my eyes, I am transported back to that harrowing scene, unable to escape the overwhelming sense of helplessness that washed over me. Her pain, her fear, her desperation—all of it lingers like a scar on my soul, a constant reminder of the horrors we endured in that forsaken place.

My name is Rory Fars, and my little sister, Lily Fars, is the last family I had left.
A heavy sense of dread settled over me like a suffocating blanket as I sat in the worn leather seat of Lily's old jeep. The car, a relic of our happier days, seemed to groan under our shared sorrow. Beside me, Lily, my best friend, and confidante, absentmindedly twirled a strand of her long, dark hair, which swayed gently in rhythm with the haunting melodies from the oldies station on the radio. This car had seen us through countless joyful journeys when our family was whole. Almost three years had passed since that fateful Christmas trip in Texas when our parents were tragically killed in a horrific multi-car pileup. The memory of their loss was a constant ache, a wound that never fully healed.
My dad was from Amarillo, Texas, so my parents often took trips down there, visiting the places that held so many memories for him. During one of these trips, just before Christmas, a sudden blizzard struck while they were on the freeway. The snow fell in blinding sheets, making the world outside a disorienting white blur. As they tried to slowly pull to the side, their vision obscured by the relentless storm, they never saw the car barreling toward them at least forty miles an hour. The impact was devastating, an abrupt and brutal end to their journey and, in many ways, to our lives as we had known them.
My parents were always sticklers for safety, insisting on seatbelts every time we got in the car. So, of course, they had theirs on during that fateful trip. The initial impact wasn't what killed them, the coroner explained to me. Not even the first hit from behind, which was going at least fifty miles an hour, was fatal. I had to practically shake the information out of him—they were so resistant to tell me anything at first. By the time the third car hit, with an unknown speed, their survival was already in jeopardy. The coroner said that by the fifth car, they were likely dead. But it didn't end there. Another twenty-three vehicles slammed into the back of the pile, each collision further crushing their bodies, reducing them to a horrific, unrecognizable state. Each jarring impact pushed my parents deeper into a gruesome amalgamation of twisted metal and shattered lives.
I don't know why I felt compelled to demand those details at the time, but I deeply regret it now. I wish I had never asked. Almost every night, unless I drink myself into oblivion, I am haunted by nightmares of what they endured. I dream of driving up to save them, only to be caught in the same deadly barrage of cars, ending in a twisted metal tomb for all of us.
Lily is never in those dreams. Even in my most horrific imaginings, I can't envision her being hurt. Lily is my little sister, younger by eight years and three months. Whenever I mention our age difference, I see the judgment in people's eyes, but what can I say? Our parents never stopped loving each other. They had Lily late in life; she became our shared joy, our living reminder of the love that had bound our family together.
Lily wasn't my twin in the literal sense, but ever since she was born, it felt like we shared the inexplicable connection that twins often describe. As she grew up, our bond only deepened—we acted, sounded, and even looked remarkably alike. She became my rock, especially after our parents' tragic deaths. We leaned on each other, cried into each other's shoulders, and somehow found the strength to move forward. We eventually moved in together, finding solace in a two-bedroom apartment that became our sanctuary.
Lily seemed to handle our parents' deaths better than I did, or maybe she was just better at distracting herself with technology. Even before their passing, Lily was addicted to any kind of digital screen she could manipulate. Her ability to navigate the digital world was unmatched; she was the most intelligent person I had ever met. Her intelligence was a beacon of light in the darkness that had enveloped us, a testament to her resilience and brilliance.
After my parents' death, I embarked on a quest to find my spirituality by delving into paranormal investigations. I hoped these pursuits would bring me closer to my parents in the afterlife, spiritual realm, or whatever you want to call it. Instead, it created a chasm between me and any sense of spiritual existence. Each investigation seemed to push me further from the answers I sought, leaving me feeling more isolated and disconnected than ever.
I had hoped that by exploring these paranormal claims, I would discover a way to reach out to my parents and feel their presence again. Yet, as the years have passed, this endeavor has only deepened my loneliness and sense of loss. Despite knowing how detrimental it is to my mental health, I can't bring myself to stop. The hope that the subsequent investigation will be the one that proves the existence of an afterlife and that I'll find a way to contact my parents keeps me going. It's a desperate, unrelenting pursuit for a connection that remains heartbreakingly out of reach.
I should have accepted their death and moved on like any sane person would. Instead, I let my grief fester and dragged my sister and a stranger, Mark, through my obsessive quest for answers. My relentless pursuit of the paranormal didn't just alienate me; it consumed us all, leading to their untimely deaths. My name is Rory Fars, and I am here to confess my side of the story about the missing case of Lily Fars and Mark Lawrence.
This is the truth about how my desperate search for a connection with the afterlife led to a nightmare from which none of us could escape.
To start off, no, Lily was not a student of Mark's who fell in love with him and then got jealous of me hitting on him, leading her to kill him and herself. I know that sounds ridiculous, but given some wild theories circulating online, I need to address this one specifically since it seems to be the most popular.
First and foremost, Mark Lawrence was not, nor has he ever been, a professor at a university. Lily and I met Mark at the Local Museum in Redlin, a town nestled deep in the Appalachian Mountains. He was the curator of an exhibit showcasing the history of Raven's Nest, a forgotten mining town that neither Lily nor I had ever heard of. This is where our story begins, in a place steeped in history and mystery, far removed from the convoluted theories that now cloud the truth.
We were constantly searching for new ideas for our podcast about paranormal claims. Each of our twenty-five episodes so far had concluded with a rational explanation, so when Mark told us about the curse of Harper, I was immediately intrigued.
Mark was an older man, likely in his mid-sixties, with a full head of silver hair and a beard that stubbornly clung to its youthful color, only lightly dusted with grey. He had a presence that commanded attention, and his stories about the curse were delivered with an intensity that drew me in.
On the other hand, Lily was always more interested in the technical aspects of the paranormal. She had her own theories and was determined to debunk every claim we investigated. She wasn't easily swayed by Mark's tales about the curse of Harper, but she was willing to listen and give him a chance to prove himself. Her skeptical mind constantly checked my enthusiasm, and together, we hoped to uncover the truth behind yet another paranormal mystery.
"Hello ladies, care to hear about the mysterious town of Raven's Nest?" Mark asked with theatrical enthusiasm.
Lily and I exchanged a knowing glance, trying to stifle our amusement. Despite our attempts to remain composed, a smirk played at the corners of our lips.
"We're all ears," I replied, my tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.
He sighed, almost as if he was disappointed that we said yes. Taking a deep breath, he seemed to steel himself for the task ahead. "Well, you see," he began, his voice tinged with uncertainty, "in the early twentieth century, a man named Harper Franstein exploited many men and children in the coal mines. By the mid-1920s, he had established his own settlement in a secluded valley, which he dubbed 'The Raven's Nest.' It was never officially recognized as a town, but that's the only name we have to go off of."
I could see the beads of sweat forming on Mark's brow as he struggled to recall every detail. Despite his initial enthusiasm, he now appeared flustered, his confidence waning. Eventually, he resorted to consulting his damp and crumpled notes, a sign of his growing unease.
"Um, anyway, yeah, um," he stuttered, audibly gulping as his nerves got the better of him. Lily couldn't contain her laughter, emitting a snicker that earned us a glare from Mark.
"Hey, just relax," I interjected, trying to diffuse the tension. "We're not here to judge or intimidate you." With a gentle touch on his forearm and a chuckle, I attempted to reassure him, hoping to ease his obvious discomfort.
He paused, sharing a chuckle with me, while Lily struggled to suppress her laughter and eventually excused herself, leaving just Mark and me. Evidently, he felt more at ease with fewer listeners, so he pressed on with his narrative.
"Anyway," he resumed, "Harper held complete control over the town and the mine, and he made sure everyone was acutely aware of that fact. When the disappearances began, he tried to sweep them under the rug, attributing them to anything but his own negligence in mining practices."
"What do you mean by 'negligence in mining practices'?" I interjected, eager to delve deeper into his intriguing tale.
He looked up, clearly pleased by my question. "Yes, exactly," he affirmed. "Harper adhered to a mining technique outlined by Dwight Brunst in the mid to late nineteenth century. This method mandated only one entry and exit point into the mine."
"Wait, so they were forbidden from creating additional exits?" I pressed for clarification.
"Not explicitly," he explained. "The practice advocated for just one entry and exit as it was believed to minimize the risk of cave-ins, at least in theory. However, there were instances where miners, feeling uneasy about this restriction, took matters into their own hands and carved out what they called 'Emergency Exits' for themselves. After about half of the town started going missing, Harper couldn't take criticism about how he responded, but most people say he was losing money quickly and didn't want to live in a world where he was poor. He walked into the mine, never to be seen again, much like the cave's past victims. Visitors report seeing and hearing Harper, trying to get them to leave."
As I stood there, listening to Mark's enthralling narrative, I found myself captivated by the mysterious allure of Raven's Nest. Unable to contain my curiosity, I decided to pose a question.
"So, what does the town look like now?" I inquired, eager to learn more about the present state of this enigmatic place.
Mark's demeanor shifted slightly as he rifled through his notes, a subtle indication that he didn't have a straightforward answer to my query.
"You've never been there?" I asked, my tone softening with genuine curiosity.
He flinched as though my question had struck a nerve. "Shhhhhh... shut up," he demanded, his voice tinged with unease.
Suppressing a chuckle, I leaned in closer and whispered, "Okay, hear me out. My sister Lily and I are investigating paranormal phenomena. Your story about Raven's Nest sounds like the perfect addition to our podcast. What do you say we compensate you for your guidance? Let's say, three hundred bucks?"
He straightened up, contemplating my proposition for a few moments. Without uttering a word, he extended his hand, and I met it halfway with my own, sealing our agreement with a firm handshake.
Our journey to Raven's Nest was no easy feat. Situated a good twenty miles from town and nestled deep within a dense valley. After all of the tight turns, narrow dirt roads, and steep inclines, it took us a grueling two and a half hours to go twenty-something miles, but we finally reached the outskirts of the infamous settlement. As we stood at the edge of the "Nest," anticipation mingled with trepidation, setting the stage for the eerie exploration that lay ahead.
I glanced at my phone; the time read 11:56 pm, signaling the late hour. Sensing the exhaustion weighing heavily, I suggested we catch a few hours of rest in Lily's jeep. Mark, though visibly unsettled, remained silent from the back seat, his arms folded tightly across his chest as he slumped against the window like a sulking child.
Drifting asleep in the passenger seat, I soon found myself ensnared in a nightmare. In my dream, Mark was being dragged away into the darkness, his desperate attempts to claw his way back to safety only resulting in broken fingertips. Despite his struggles, he was powerless against the unseen force pulling him inexorably into the abyss. Suddenly, I was alone, engulfed in utter darkness, my heart pounding with fear as I ran blindly from an unseen terror that seemed to pursue me relentlessly, its malevolent presence palpable but unseen.
I jolted awake, gasping for breath, my heart racing as the remnants of dread lingered in the pit of my stomach. It was morning, and I was struggling to adjust my vision. Lily's frantic but comforting voice broke through the haze of my terror, grounding me in reality. With her comforting embrace, I gradually calmed my racing thoughts, drawing deep, steadying breaths.
As we sat there, enveloped in each other's embrace, Mark approached the driver's side window with an unexpected question, "Alright, what's for breakfast?" His nonchalant tone and casual demeanor were a stark contrast to the harrowing nightmare that had just consumed my thoughts, momentarily dispelling the lingering specter of fear that had haunted my dreams.
Lily and I both look up at him and back at each other as we burst out into laughter.
Amidst our shared laughter, Lily and I exchanged amused glances before turning our attention back to Mark.
"Ha...ha, yeah. No, but seriously, what's for breakfast? Eggs, bacon, toast, at least?" Mark pressed, hoping for a more substantial response.
His earnest inquiry fueled our laughter further, our giggles echoing through the quiet night air. Eventually, we regained our composure and stepped out of the jeep, stretching our limbs after the cramped confines of the vehicle.
Mark awkwardly moves to the side, still waiting for an honest answer. Lily tossed him a granola bar, eliciting a bemused chuckle from him. With a shared understanding, we set off on foot, embarking on the hike into the town.
The path ahead was clear: a single dirt road that wound its way from the abandoned coal mine into the heart of the small settlement. The road, now overgrown and muddy from years of disuse, bore the marks of neglect and isolation. Wary of the treacherous conditions, Lily opted to forgo the risk of getting stuck, steering clear of the decrepit road that likely hadn't seen a traveler in at least half a century.
We parked Lily's jeep at the entrance to both the mine and the town of Raven's Nest, opting to proceed on foot from there. Standing at the mountain's peak, gazing down at the desolate town below, I couldn't help but ponder the history beneath the dilapidated structures. I imagined how this valley must have once been a pristine landscape cherished by the indigenous people who roamed its lush terrain.
"Jesus, this place is more like a shit nest," Mark muttered in disgust, his disdain evident in his tone.
Lily shot me a knowing glance, silently communicating her skepticism toward Mark's assessment of the town.
Deciding to put Mark's knowledge to the test, I casually inquired, "So, what year was this area founded?"
Mark's reaction was almost defensive as if my question had caught him off guard. He hesitated momentarily before fumbling for his note cards in his pocket, a telltale sign that he wasn't as knowledgeable as he let on.
Before he could respond, I interjected with another question, "Mark, how long have you worked at the museum?"
As Mark froze, his gaze locking onto mine like a deer caught in headlights, I watched him closely, waiting for any sign of hesitation or discomfort. My narrowed eyes bore into his, silently urging him to be honest.
Finally, breaking the tense silence, Mark confessed, "Look, this is only my first week. I... I haven't had the greatest time lately, and I really need the extra money. I'm sorry I lied, but I'll help however I can."
I met his gaze unwaveringly, sensing the sincerity in his words. Clearly, he was a man in need of redemption, grappling with his own personal struggles.
"Alright, alright, don't cry too much," I teased lightly, trying to ease the tension. Gesturing towards Lily, who was busy preparing her wireless motion cameras in her backpack, I continued, "Lily and I already figured that was the case. Honestly, we're surprised you agreed to come along."
Mark remained frozen, but the tension seemed to melt away from his expression, replaced by a tentative smile. It was a moment of shared understanding, a silent acknowledgment that he was still welcomed into our expedition despite his initial deception.
"Alright, I have the cams and portable batteries to make sure the cameras and anything we have with power can last," Lily said, her voice brimming with determination.
We began our descent into the town, our hiking boots struggling against the thick, clinging mud produced by the constant light rain and years of disuse. Each step was a battle, the mud threatening to swallow our boots with every move.
After an eternity of trudging through the muck, we finally reached the town's only paved road—the main road. It had taken us only about fifteen minutes to hike down, but navigating the muddy slope had sapped our energy. We paused for a break, taking a few minutes to clean off our boots and catch our breath.
As we rested, I noticed Lily rummaging through her bag with a focused intensity. Curious, I asked, "What are you looking for?"
"I brought five motion-detecting cameras that I want to set up strategically throughout the town," she replied, pulling out one of the cameras. She walked over to the nearest building, a structure that served as a post office, police station, and fire station. She positioned the camera outside the building so it was pointed at the only road leading in and out of the town.
"We need to cover all potential points of interest," she explained, securing the camera in place. "This one will monitor any activity on the main road. We should place the other cameras around key locations like the mine entrance, the town square, and some more intact buildings."
I nodded, appreciating her thoroughness. "Good idea. We need to make sure we capture anything unusual."
Mark, having finally caught his breath, joined us. "Alright, let's get these cameras set up and see what we can find," he said, a hint of excitement in his voice.
"Look," Lily said, turning her tablet screen toward us. She waved her hand in front of the camera she had just placed. The tablet displayed five squares on the interface, each meant to show a feed from one of the cameras. Since Lily had only set up one camera so far, only the bottom right square showed any footage pointed at the road leading out of town. She stopped waving her hand, and the feed went to a blue screen.
"What happened? Did we lose connection?" Mark asked frantically, his eyes wide with concern.
Lily cackled, struggling to contain her amusement. Composing herself, she waved her hand in front of the camera again, and the bottom right square showed her hand waving once more. "It's motion-activated. It's the best way to save on battery life," she explained.
Mark seemed to relax, though he was still catching his breath after the brief panic.
I glanced at my watch, noting the time. "It's 8:30. We're behind schedule. If you want to place the rest of your cameras, we better move now," I said, walking down the street.
Lily immediately got up and followed me, with Mark struggling to keep pace behind us. We reached the market building, and Lily positioned her second camera on the side of the road, pointing up at the market.
It's not much longer before we make it to the Town Hall. I suggest Lily place a camera nearby. She nods and heads into a building across from the Town Hall labeled, "Slaughterhouse: LOCAL ANIMALS ONLY."
As Lily explores the building to find an adequate spot for the camera, I wait for Mark to catch up. While I wait, I can't help but imagine this town in its prime, picturing the streets filled with families who loved each other.
My thoughts are abruptly cut off by a sound echoing in the distance—a roar unlike any I've ever heard. It was a mix of a human screaming in pain, the roar of a lion, and, near the end, the howl of a wolf. The chilling sound sent shivers down my spine.
I jump to my feet and immediately call out, "Lily, you okay?"
There's no response from Lily, but I'm interrupted by Mark finally catching up, panting heavily.
"Holy... shit... did you... hear that?" Mark said frantically between breaths.
"Yeah, we have to find Lily," I say, bolting into the slaughterhouse. I glance back to see Mark bracing himself on the steps of the Town Hall, struggling to keep up.
As I enter the building, the stench of rotting flesh hits me like a wave, causing me to gag. The smell is too fresh to be decades old.
"Lily? Lily, where are you?" I yell, using my shirt to shield my nose from the overwhelming odor.
"Rory, I'm in here!" I hear Lily yell from a room two doors down. I pass the first door, peeking in to ensure I hadn't misheard, but I wish I hadn't looked.
Inside the first room, I catch a glimpse of what appears to be a pile of animal carcasses, their decayed bodies arranged in a grotesque display. The sight is horrifying, the flesh still disturbingly fresh. The bile rises in my throat, but I force myself to focus on finding Lily.
I rush to the room where her voice came from, pushing the door open. Lily is there, setting up the camera, seemingly oblivious to the horror in the adjacent room. Relief floods through me as I see she's safe.
"Lily, did you hear that roar?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Yeah, I heard it," she replies, her eyes wide with concern. "I was just finishing up here. Let's get back to Mark and figure out what that was." She had placed the camera in a window, pointing directly at the Town Hall.
We hurry back outside, where Mark still catches his breath as we meet between the buildings. "We need to stay together from now on," I say firmly, looking at both of them. "Whatever that noise was, it's not something we want to face alone."
"Let's check out the Town Hall!" Mark says excitedly as he slowly clambers through a broken window.
"Did he not just hear what I said?" I mutter under my breath, shaking my head in disbelief.
Lily gives me a shrug, her eyes reflecting a mix of amusement and exasperation. "Guess we're heading into the Town Hall then," she says, adjusting her backpack and walking towards the broken window.
I sigh and follow suit, hoisting myself up and carefully maneuvering through the jagged glass. Inside, the air is musty, filled with the scent of old paper and decaying wood. Dust motes float lazily in the beams of sunlight streaming through the cracked windows.
The main hall is vast and eerily silent, with rows of empty chairs facing a stage draped in tattered curtains. The walls are lined with faded portraits and yellowed maps of the town, remnants of a time when this place was alive and bustling.
Mark is already at the front, examining a large, decrepit desk. "Look at this," he says, his voice echoing in the empty space. "It's like stepping back in time."
I walk over, glancing at the old papers scattered across the desk. Most are mundane—meeting minutes, maintenance logs—but one catches my eye. It's a letter dated June 1925, addressed to Harper Franstein.
"Harper, the disappearances are becoming more frequent. The townsfolk are getting restless, and I fear they may take matters into their own hands if we don't act soon. We need to find out what's causing this before it's too late."
I read the letter aloud, and the room fell silent. "Sounds like things were getting pretty tense," Lily remarks, her voice subdued.
As I'm distracted by the time capsule in front of us, Mark sneaks off.
I'm not sure how long it was before she noticed, but I saw Lily looking around before saying, "Where the hell did Mark go?" breaking me out of my trance.
I look around, turning my head in all directions, and shrug at Lily. I hear shuffling in the second room down the hall, so I slowly walk toward it.
"Mark?" I call out.
Just then, a loud crash reverberates through the building, making it sound like the whole place was about to come down.
We run in and see Mark struggling to keep himself from falling into a giant hole that must've broken under his weight. Trying not to laugh, I glance at Lily. We help him up as he dramatically falls onto his back, wheezing as he catches his breath.
Lily and I can't contain our laughter anymore as we bust out laughing hard. Startled by our sudden outburst, Mark jumps in fear. He looks around, confused for a few seconds, before realizing that we are laughing at him.
"Jesus, thanks, I guess," he says, clearly thankful but annoyed by our reaction.
After we contained ourselves, we headed back outside, exiting through the window Mark entered through. He struggles to climb out, but after Lily gives him a hand, he is safely out of the Town Hall.
"Alright, Ror, where should we put the next camera?" Lily asks me.
I stop to think momentarily, trying to picture the town's layout. "I think the only place left is the neighborhood," I respond confidently. I always talk like that with Lily. Over the years, I've realized she is the only person I can have that much confidence around. With anyone else, I'm worried about saying something stupid or wrong or how they'll view me, but with my sister, everything is easy.
As I look at the replica map of the town in its heyday from the museum, I determine that the neighborhood is to the East. "Okay, looks like we head East past the Library. Let's go." I say, walking away.
It only takes about eight minutes to get to the long strip of road that housed the town's workers. According to the map, there were fifteen houses along this strip of road.
The houses stand eerily silent, their wooden frames weathered and decayed by time. We walk down the road, our footsteps crunching on the gravel and echoing in the stillness. The air feels heavier here like the past is watching us, waiting to reveal its secrets.
"Let's put the last cameras on that house at the end of the road," I suggest, pointing to a house that looks slightly less dilapidated than the others, "another one at the last house on the other side, and the last we can save for a spot you choose."
Lily nods and heads toward the first house, pulling another camera from her backpack. She sets it up on the porch, positioning it to capture the entire street, and does the same in the opposite house. As I stand with Mark breathing hard, still unable to catch his breath since we first got here, I can't shake the feeling that we're being watched. I glance around nervously but see nothing out of the ordinary.
"All set," Lily says, breaking my reverie, "Still no ideas for the last cam?" Lily asks me.
"Like I said, wherever you think it would be best. I feel like we have enough good spots and angles, so go wild with that one," I told her.
She smirked and kept walking next to me. Mark was still struggling behind, but after the town hall mishap, he was trying his best to keep up. I looked at my watch, and it read '12:30 pm'.
"Holy shit, it's already 12:30," I said in amazement, but no one else seemed fazed. It felt like we'd only been here thirty minutes, not almost four hours.
We walked back down the street. Lily and I had been discussing on the walk that she should put the last camera at the town's only stoplight in front of the Library.
As we made our way to it, I could have sworn I was seeing something moving fast past my vision in the corner of my eye. Every time I turned to look, it was gone. I chalked it up to being my imagination until Lily and Mark both experienced the same thing.
"What the fuck was that?" Mark asked as he ducked, bracing for something terrible to happen. Lily and I looked back at him and then at each other as we shrugged. It was after that that I started seeing things, too.
I confided in Lily about the unsettling visions and sounds, and she admitted she had experienced the same phenomena but had kept quiet, fearing Mark would dismiss her as paranoid.
"Well, it's probably just a cat or something," I said, attempting to downplay the situation, but neither seemed convinced.
We continued our trek, and I noticed that the more we walked, the more frequently I caught fleeting glimpses of movement in my peripheral vision. It was beginning to grate on my nerves.
Finally, we reached the light in front of the Library. As Lily mounted the camera, I felt a sense of satisfaction. We were making good progress, and it seemed like a suitable moment to start exploring the town more freely. We decided to split up and cover different sections of the town.
"Wait, we have to go alone? Why can't we stay together like you said?" Mark asked frantically, but Lily and I ignored him as we headed in separate directions. He continued to protest, but we paid him no mind. Eventually, I was either far enough away to not hear him anymore, or he had given up. Either way, I was happy to enjoy the eerie silence of the town.
As I wandered, the stillness of Raven's Nest enveloped me. With its decrepit buildings and overgrown streets, the town exuded an unsettling charm. It was as if I had stepped into a forgotten world, a place frozen in time with secrets waiting to be unearthed. The ambiance reminded me of an amusement park's haunted town section—artificially eerie yet irresistibly intriguing. Despite the creepiness, the mysterious vibe of the town kept me engaged and eager to explore its hidden corners.
I glanced at my watch again, only to find the time glaring back at me: 3:19 pm. It couldn't be right. There was no way it had been that long since I last checked. Panic seized me, and I called out for Lily, my voice tinged with urgency. She appeared beside me in a matter of minutes, her expression mirroring my concern.
"What's up, Ror? You okay?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
"How long would you say it's been since you put the last camera down?" I inquired, my heart pounding in my chest.
Lily's brow furrowed as she struggled to come up with an answer. "Uh, I don't know, thirty minutes?" she hazarded a guess.
I held up my watch, displaying the time: 3:20 pm. Lily fell silent, her eyes widening in disbelief. She was never great with time, but missing almost three hours of our memory was unprecedented.
"There's no way. Your watch must be—" Lily began, her voice trailing off as she checked her own watch, only to freeze in shock when she found it displayed the same time as mine.
"Lil, something is going on," I stated, my voice tight and apprehensive. I glanced up at the sky, my stomach churning as I noticed the clouds darkening and rolling in from all sides of the valley.
The sky closed rapidly, ominous clouds obscuring the sun as thunder rumbled ominously against the mountains.
"Mark? Mark, where are—" I began to call out, but before I could finish, Mark emerged from behind a wall, appearing as if he'd been too frightened to venture far on his own.
"We have to get inside!" Mark exclaimed urgently, his voice tinged with fear.

I'm writing this on a throwaway account since these people know my main and actively engage with it. This is also gonna be a pretty long post since I'd like to provide context on how I even ended up where I am today so strap on in. Also apologies if any of this doesn't make sense, I'm pretty upset and stressed out and I've not slept in what feels like weeks. I have a lot of anxiety about all of this.
I started my first year in uni last year in September and met a couple of people I thought were nice enough on the first day. I'll call them 'G' and 'M'. I thought they were nice at first and we got closer as the weeks went by. G and M are also engaged so we talked about weddings quite often. They're are also cosplayers which becomes key in this. We got a lot closer around a time they were going to a con. Their previous friend had dropped out last minute but since they had already paid for everything they invited me. I also wanted to get into cosplaying at the time so I saw this as a perfect opportunity. I would spend nights at their dorms getting know them and we instantly got a long.
At the time, I was very nieve to all the red flags they were presenting as they were unusually willing to let me know EVERY detail of their life, including their sex life and what not. I found it werid but chalked it up to them being very comfortable around me which I found to be a compliment at the time but looking back, I now knew what was up.
(A little but of important info here but I had just feld a country 5 months prior to escape the abuse I was experiencing at home and went to live with my mum. G and M knew this and knew about my dad in depth)
Con comes around and they introduced me to a group of friends who were instantly very reserved around me. I chalked it up to nerves and thought that maybe they're just nervous which is understandable. This was until everytime I would speak they would give me dirty looks, talk over me and even dismiss me. M had also picked up a habit of making a lot of things about himself and anything I found interesting, he would make it clear that he didn't want to know, even telling me that he just doesn't want to hear it. When I went to meet a YouTube who attended the con, he seemed annoyed when I was excited and told me to stop being so excited since this was his 3rd time meeting them.
By time I got back home, their dismissing and also just really shitty attitude throughout left a sour taste in my mouth. However, I just chalked it up to nerves at the time.
A month goes by and they intoeduce me to another cosplayer who I quickly became friends with. When I told G about this, they told me to stop talking to them since I'll brea their heart as they "fall in love easily". I really didn't get that sentiment but still continued talking. Nothing romantic was ever talked about.
Then I started feel more attached to these people. They were practically in my life 24/7, I wa sin their dorms over nights almost everyday and began picking up the same eating habits as them as well. It's also worth noting that these people are "disabled" which is still up to debate.
They would frequently interrupted anything I enjoyed and conveniently pass out EVERYTIME I talked about something I liked or wanted to do. I also suffer with VERY acute psychosis which has been well treated for many years. They would constantly tell me that any doubts I had were just to do with my paranoia and that I should just ignore it. That or they would tell me that I was being manipulative and seeking attention.
This was all very sus but up until the incident I chalked it up to learned behaviour as I know one of them suffers with PTSD like I do.
At some point around this time, I had developed a severe kidney infection which almost turned into sepsis and I had to get the ambulance out to me. I'm no stranger to ambulances as I also have them out frequently due to severe panic attacks which almost cause a seizure and a heart attack I'm some cases.
Strangely after this, despite telling me that they've never had an ambulance out to them, for anything small like an ache they would call 111 which they didn't know before I had told them. 111 in the UK is the none emergency line that can send out am ambulance if you need it. However in a lot of the cases M had, they were perfectly fine but would cry and sob on the phone and say they felt like dying. Of course they send out an ambulance to check on them but it would always be fine.
Worried as I was all the time, I neglected my studies to take care of them and I'd spend a lot on them since I felt the compulsive need to take care of them. They would also guilt trio me with the fact that they were both previously homeless in their childhoods so I needed to get them something in return. I ended up spending over 300 pounds a month on them.
I caught M out one though since the uni I go to, require the ambulances to inform the reception first for permission and to unlock all the doors for them. Before going up to M, I had to go to reception to ask if they would let me in. When I informed they why, they were confused and said that there were no ambulances that parked up at all, not even firefighters which sometimes arrive for medical aid occasionally.
Moving forward a lil I had started to grown attached to them more to the point where I thought I liked them. They expressed to me previously that they're poly and so am I. M had even stated to me that when they first met me they found me attractive and wanted to potentially have relationship.
One day I decided to just confess over text making it extremely clear to them that they had to think about it first so that we did not rush into things and make things worse. If they wanted to be friends then i would be ok with that and I made myself very clear 3 or 4 times within the text.
Instantly, because i was in the room next to them, they came in and told me that they loved me. They hugged me and cuddled me for a while until we went into M room. I was in G room at the time. Suddenly, they both got completely naked in front of me. I had told them that I'm ok with boxers and a shirt since they were more like shorts but getting naked? I was shocked but just went along with it. I was in a shirt and boxers until they told me that i should join them and take my top and bra off (we're all under the trans umbrella). They both persisted and feeling pressured I took my shirt and bra off and joined them in bed. Then G opens up a folder on their phone of their nudes together which I was in shock for. I knew they had it but tbh, I didn't really want to see it. They then expressed how our previous shopping trip to a sex store (we're adults and we go in there cause why not) was a test to see if I would take the hint they liked me. I'm autistic but even I could tell that that was a lie. There were never any discussions of that nature that took place that day.
They then went on about their sex life in full detail. I'm not particularly fond of the idea of personally having sex within the first few months of dating since I'm very frigid about that sort of thing. I'm not stranger to sled pleasure but anything like that is entirely different and I wanted my boundaries to be known then and there. There were a few touches here and there after that, all of which would explicitly done with consent as I have had encounters with SA previously. They knew this.
After that day, they all of a sudden stopped talking me completely. We were on uni break so it wasn't like I could talk to them in class about it either. I felt alone and like I had done something wrong. This sent me onto a pretty bad depressive episode which triggered a small psychotic episode to occur. During which they would constantly tell me when they did feel like talking to me that i was just like my dad (abuser) and that I was being annoying and paranoid about everything. I have since talked to me my mum about this since my memory is a little hazy from that time and she said that the only thing that could've given the episode away was my sudden belief in a god and afterlife. I'm an atheist and grew up that way. But G and M were mostly referring to the fact that on numerous occasions I had called them out on body shaming me, using me as fatspo to fuel their own anorexia and belittling language they would against me constantly. This was even present in class alot since some students who I'm now friends with even stated that they acted as if they ere higher than everyone. Anytime you didn't give them attention, they'd start going on about suicide or passing out only to wake up seconds later.
They also claim to have DID and that one of their alters had encephalitis. This wasn't just a symptom holder either. They would claim they all had it and even told paramedics who were caring for another patient who had broke their leg on campus at the time that they had it. Although after this, they came back pissed to the paramedics caught on pretty quickly that this was a lie.
Months of this built up a full mental breakdown and I had one of the most server panic attacks of my life. I had to be admitted onto A&E where u saw the mental health team to discuss as safety plan since I was have frequent bouts of this. I've always felt with hallucinations since I was 8 but never like I had on that day and to this day, the only thing I can fully remember is the feeling and vision I had. I would not wish it on my worst enemy.
G and M response to this? They went to my friend who was packing my bag at the time and told them that if they didn't pack it the right way I would hate them. They actually cold apparently and not once did they ask how I was. When I got home, I only saw one text saying "hey, Ik your in A&E but you can tell me in your own time what happend."
They were very much disinterested me and I began to be fed up with them. I had an upcoming concert with them not long after so I figured I'd keep the peace until them and they distance myself from them since I was clearly suffering from it all. Around this time, I had randomly been kicked out of the discord we had together with the people we met at con. I asked around they just gave one word responses. I had attempted to be friends with them before but annoyed by their sudden disinterest in me again, I just moved on.
Fast forward and I'm logging in on minecraft to a shared server we had. I used this server as a coping mechanism since it was literally the only thing that got me out of bed and moving to a degree some days. However everything I ahd built was gone. All my pent uo frustration just let itself out and I started crying down the phone over a voice message to G. I was a bit pissed but overly. Key thing note however is that I was having a go at them and in no way screaming at them which they later claimed I did. I even showed my mum and therapist and they were both in agreement that I was not shouting nor did I even raise my voice. It sounded more like I was upset than anything else.
G then said that they lost trust me because of this and that they wanted some distance for a while. I apologies profusely, even getting my mum to help me since I was I no way fit to text. However, a dumb mistake we made was sending the same apology over to the both of them, the only difference being their name. G then stated that because of the name, that they felt like I wasn't actually apologising and didn't wanna hear it. I tried to clear things up but the they told me that I had no excuse to act this way towards them since they were "such a good friend to me". After this, i went on call with a friend of mine who is my ex. However we ended on pretty good terms and are still close to this day. They even look after my cat for me.
I'm gonna call him J. J can be the over protective type so in response to my distress texted G ti find out more about why they were so cold about everything and in his mind, over reacted to something so insignificant like minecraft. This is where they made the claimed that I had screamed at them and I sent them into a PTSD attack. What J did notice though was that the story they gave was almost word for word of a panic attack in had explained to J about, almost like they copied it and changed a few things. They the proceeded to tell me that I was abusing them in that moment and that i was exactly like their dad (who's a pedo btw). Hurt by this and the fact that I had told J to NOT text G at all, I ended thinsg of stating my true feelings about everything and said that I never wanted to see them again. It felt good to get it off my chest and honestly freeing. The weeks after that were spent healing in therapy with my mum who both agreed that their actions in the past were more akin to.emotional bullying. Om still coming to terms with this I had trusted them with every fibre of my being. It felt like my heart was being ripped apart whoever, I stated talking to new people in my class around that time. Each of them said that they had notice the same behaviours towards me themselves and were honestly concerned for my safety since they would frequently talk shit about me behind my back. They then put on their snapchat story the next day that they were greatful for the friend they had and got rid of dead weight in their life. They also chalk up their sudden change to be apart of their BPD which if you have seen the eyes of someone who's manic, you'd know that it has a distinct look. The photos they took of themselves really disturbed me as you can clearly tell they're not right in the head at all. The eyes were dark and blown fully. Their eyes just looks black and soulless. I showed another friend who has BPD to confirm if it was what I was thinking and they agreed. It was unnerving and I honestly felt uncomfortable. I couldn't sleep well that night. They looked like they belonged in those headshots of convicts who had just been arrested and still are clearly under the influence. After this I also sent out a text containing context to everything to the group chat since I knew they were gonna manipulate things. I have seen them in person do it and it's honestly disturbing to see. Each one responded telling me that I was a liar and that I should feel ashamed of myself. One even told me they weren't gonna hear me out since they didn't know me well which I think is just a werid line of logic to have tbh. One even accused me of faking my disability which I quick proved to be false which silenced them. I've since blocked every single one of them since I don't wnat anything to do with them at all. I don't want them to know about my life and twist things again to hurt me. Forgive me if I'm over doing it but honestly, it was like I was talking to group of psychopaths who didn't care for anyone but themselves. Their past actions certainly proved that much.
Fast forward a week and I'm out shopping with friends all of a sudden, at even location we were at G was there. These were bookshops that were not well known the area and hidden very well so there would be no way G would know about them, especially since they don't like reading. G still followed one of my friends on snapchat and we found out by testing that every post we'd make, with or without the location attached, G would be right there moments later. Creeper out we ended the day for our own safety and went home.
Ever since all that, I have been taking to a friend of mine who G and M claimed abused them although with the evidence I have seen, it was the complete opposite. G was a regular drug user and would constantly use drugs as an excuse for their actions. My friend also suffered heavily with mental health problems and physical ailments that they need physio therapy for. G and M would constantly tell them they were faking and that they should stop acting like they were in pain. This is similar to an incident where they stated that I was not physically disabled cause they couldn't see it. Which is stupid honestly. By law, I am classed as disabled as to this day I struggle diary with ankle and knee problems due to a late development. I frequently use my braces but I don't use a cane since I'm too self conscious despite it being recommended to me by my doctors.
It hurt to see that they were treated this way and we bonded over shared experiences. There were also other people they had done this too.
Finally getting to the main issue, recently a con just took place which I had to cancel last minute since a family member died and I had to fly back over to my previous country to attend the funeral. The friend that G and M introduced to me started getting closer to them which I honestly didn't pay much mind to since I'm now just done with that shit. However, it wast until now that I feel uncomfortable. All of a sudden, this friend, ill call them O, had removed me from their private account for "safety reasons" and said they had done this to othe people. It didn't take long before I saw with my own eyes that it was just me. G and M have a nasty habit of spreading false rumours and if you know the cosplay community well, that shit spreads liek wildfire. It doesn't have that they have a sizable following compared to mine and know alot more people than I do. I honestly think they're tryna turn people against me and I don't know what to do at this point. I want them to leave me alone and keep my name out of things. I have had so many great days ever since we stopped being friends and my health has also improved dramatically. I'm not having as many panic attacks or severe ones either and I've not had a depressive episode like the ones before ever since.
I don't want to be dragged down like this and I wanted to defend myself however I know for a fact they have more influence then me so many people will side with them just like the group chat did. I don't know what to do anymore and I really don't want things to kick off again either. If I sense any drama starting at all I will just block people cause I'm just not having it. It's all child's play and they honestly need to fucking grow up and grow some balls or something. I just don't know what to do anymore. Thoughts?

GET OFF THE SUBREDDIT (at least do this)
It's been 6~8 or so months, from delusional thoughts, nonstop ruminations, totally disconnected, screaming fits, bedbound and so much more to now laying on the floor listening to my favorite band disregarding scary thoughts and enjoying my day.
(Sorry for the bad spelling, English IS my first language, and I just suck)
(TW?: philosophies pertaining to free will)
Here's a reselling
Month 1~2: Week 1~2: It had already been a stress filled week, full of panic attacks, I had been worried about going blind and a bunch of other irrational things and then one day as I was brushing my teeth I was questioning if we really had free will over our actions at all. It may have been a mix of all the stress accumulating throughout the week, but that day, I had the biggest panic attack ever convinced that I might not have free will. I ran to my parents' room and started panicking over my free will and all that, and then it happened I dissociated(depersonalization). I didn't feel in control of my actions which was just the perfect cherry on top of my fear of not having free will it's almost funny how that made the perfect shit storm to fuck me up it
I tried to sleep it off thinking I'd be fine tomorrow, I woke up feeling disconnected I was terrified, I tried to ignore it and go onto my computer and talk to my friends but as I played a game with them I just didn't feel like I was playing and it freaked me the hell out, I was also experiencing headaches at the time which made me think that I may have had a cancerous tumor in my brain or something. This anxiety about my head would not leave my mind it was plaguing me, I slept in my room for a few more days ruminations about cancer and that persistent fear of not having free will plagued me, everyday ever single fucking day when I woke up I would have a new symptom. I was so afraid of being even a room away from my parents that I started sleeping on the couch in the living room, and I just sat there all day.
Week 3~4: One day my mom forced me to go out thinking that it would help as now she started to notice that i've gotten worse and not better over the days, she forced me to go to some big market place full of mirrors and people. Some of you who have DP/DR that mirrors are just something you should avoid until your more stable, there was mirrors of ever corner I turned each time I saw myself I was terrified and seeing the reflections of everything was making me anxious and uneasy, I was rushing to leave this marketplace once we did we made a stop in a supermarket and my mom was trying her hardest to get me to help she started getting frustrated and threatened me with something I didn't want(won't get into specifics). As I pushed the cart forward, the world caved around me. I stopped hearing sounds, and I couldn't move. It was straight out a movie/tv show. I froze up. I ran out of the store, and then it got worse. When I looked outside, it didn't look real I was hit with a big wave of dissociation but this time it was mainly (derealization) the world was wrong, everything was wrong I broke down in the car and I was brought home and I layed in the couch and stayed bed bound for the rest of the day. My mom finally took me to the hospital to check out what was wrong with me, and they found absolutely nothing wrong with me. They recommended me to a psychologist and sent me on my way. After this point I counted every day until the psychologist appointment like my life depended on it, I just wanted to be fixed and normal again, once the day arrived they recommended I got on zoloft, and to cut it short, it did not work I had a manic episode where I was to happy and erratic and stopped taking it under doctor permission and that's the last time I took meds
At this point, it's around December or so (memories are iffy around everything pertaining to DP/DR, but it's near the end of November, maybe? I had also celebrated Thanksgiving and found out the conditions name as well as the reddit)
Month 2~3: Every day I was spending time on my phone I was laying down in the living room, my screen time had jumped up from 4 hours a day to 16-18, sometimes the phone wouldn't cut it because the thoughts got to me and I would stare blankly at walls being unable to understand what was wrong with them, my only times of peace was when I was asleep, if I did anything and I mean ANYTHING something as simple as moving my hair out of my face would set me off for hours leaving me in a rumination rabbit hole that I cannot even begin to describe, going to the bathroom was unimaginably scary and difficult because the simple act of even walking was terrifying. Sometimes, I would get up to reconnect my phone charger or get a snack, and then I would freeze up. I would be locked in place standing up, staring at the floor, thinking of a million terrible thoughts. When I explained the condition to my parents, they just couldn't understand what was going on. I hadn't been to my room since the market incident, one peculiarity bad day I woke up in the middle of the night, with a mix of grogginess and the DP/DR my actions felt so disconnected that I started flailing my arms around like an insane person and ran to my parents room and walked with them to try to calm down, but it just didn't work. Something in my head clicked and I had fully convinced myself "oh I really don't have free will" I mindlessly walked away from my parents and sat down on the couch and looked around and it still haunts me today, I started screaming my lungs out. Once I had stopped screaming, i looked at my parents with disbelief thinking I had finally gone crazy I kept repeating to them, "I started screaming" over and over again, and they decided to take me to the ER
I was in the ER for only a day, but that was one of the worst days of my entire life. The first thing that happened was I got checked in and had all my clothes removed and put in hospital clothing that I could breathe through. I was anxious being in the hospital my mom could only be with me for a few hours and worse my bed was too small for me and it was in the middle of the hallway where I could hear everything, of course I had a big wave of DP/DR hit me and this really kind nurse came over and consoled me and held my hands to keep me sane I was explaining to her what was going on with me, I don't remember what I said word for word but I do remember some parts, I said
"I know I look crazy but I'm still here. Everything feels fake. I don't even feel like i'm talking to you, but I'm still here,"
They injected me with a drug to calm my nerves and lower my anxiety, which did, in fact, lower my anxiety, but I was left with just a feeling of dread and nothing more. When I got home after the ER visit, I once again returned to the couch and returned to the same routine of using my phone and sleeping
Month 4~5: Everyday now was filled with the same constant thought every waking moment "this is wrong'' every second this thought would pop up in my head and it's the only thing I thought, at this point I was moving around more and had developed this twitch for some odd reason, I would twitch both my shoulders up every few seconds I truly felt insane and looked it too, one day I stopped feeling emotions it was just 😶 I was left with this sense of terror and fear without the terror and fear? It's strange, and I hated every moment of it. This continued on for a while. I slowly started to realize that nothing was helping and no one could help me besides myself, I started slowly exposing myself to the outdoors little by little, first I would stand in front of the front door and then sit down, then I would step outside the house onto the steps and look around for a few seconds without my phone, I started leaving my phone and walking around for 30 seconds not a lot but felt like a lot, then one day i was telling my mom about my progression and telling her that if I don't take a hold of my fears then I'll never get better, after that I stood in front of my room door for at least 30 minutes just psyching myself up to at least enter my room and stay in it for a few moments. That was the best decision I ever made, I sat down on my bed and had a good cry for a few minutes.
Slowly I started going outside more, I started putting on music and dancing to it in the dark just to prove that I was doing it, these little steps were paying off, now was my DP/DR gone, No it was ever present and was with me 24/7 but these things I was doing was lessening the symptoms at least, one day I had finally FINALLY slept in my room again it took me a few more days to finally get comfortable to actually stay in there for a majority of the day. I started getting on my computer little by little, too, and speaking to my friends briefly.
Final months: I was in my room all day, I was finally going to therapy, I was going out for runs, I was talking to my friends of course the DP/DR was still present but it had lessened to the point where I could live a little. Now, I'm back to being me and started to get productive once again and trying to start coding again.
I think I'll have to give it a few more months this for the lingering effects to wear off, considering im being evicted it's understandable why it's it's not fully gone, I'm still a lil stressed but overall it's barely present in my day, when It does sprout its ugly head it's usually just slight derealization and what do I do? I accept the feeling and move on with my day. God, I hated people who said that to me, and I think that truly only works when you start recovering.
I glossed over some events (there's a lot) and some symptoms. I'll make a list of symptoms here. I'll leave you with this. Try to make a list of fears, face them one by one very slowly, or find other ways to cope. Every little step counts. Get sunlight for the love of God, and do everything on your own accord. Don't only go out when you need to. Just go outside sometimes or do something sometimes without the input of an outside party, oh AND GET OFF THE SUBREDDIT
I'm comfortable in my own home and feel better. Good luck you got this
Here's some symptoms and fears for those who are curious: Time felt distorted My body parts would sometimes feel too big or small People would feel like robots I would feel like a robot Depersonalization and derealization Time would sometimes feel slow I felt like I would be falling in and out of consciousness (feeling not actually) Twitching Rumination Existential thoughts nonstop Fear that I would hurt myself Fear that I would lose control Fear that nothing was real Everything felt like a video game Feeling that I could at any moment like vanish Lose of emotions Numbness Repeated phrases in my head Out of body
And so much fucking more, when I list out all these things at look at them I wonder how I fucking did it sometimes

This movie stars Vikrant Massey, Sunil Grover, and Mouni Royin the lead. It is a crime comedy drama that follows the story of crime reporter Lenny, played by Vikrant Massey, who becomes entangled in a web of greed and misfortune when the streets of Pune were covered in mystery after a single night of darkness and chaos , as Lenny races against time to save his life and take revenge.
The strongest points of the movie are its cast and interesting characters. Like Thik aur thak, a reference to the Tik Tok app, this duo was genuinely funny in some scenes, and this character's intro was very funny, and I would love to see them again in case there's a second part of this movie. On the other hand, Vikrant Massey's character as a scared-to-life and confused journalist was fantastic, whereas Sunil Grover's character as a homeless Nashedi was funny too. I really liked the engaging screenplay style, which, by the way, is not new but very rarely used, which in a way is very apt for this type of crime comedy, and interestingly, all these were greatly enhanced by the impactful background score by John Stewart Eduri. I liked the BGM to such an extent that I could not imagine this movie without it. fantastic work
What could've been better? The story's fine, but the development has its flaws. It looks like there will be a second part. I wish they could concentrate more on the story and script. For instance, there is a scene where a bunch of kids are playing football, and one of the lead actors goes to them and punctures the ball, points at a chubby young boy, and says, Why don't you play with him? He looks like a football." I mean, what the fuck was that? And frankly, that scene does not help the character or the movie in any way; if that is considered a comedy, they could've done it better. The dialogue was cliched as hell and poorly written.
Worth watching?
It's a fun movie to watch on a weekend, where you don't have to put our brains to work. Through the movie, there are some genuine laughs and interesting parts, which makes it a one time worth watching.
For more TV series , OTT movie reviews and this week's top recommendation, please subscribe to my channel, Next Episode.
This week's recommendation is the Netflix movie Damsel, starring Millie Bobby Brown, which follows A lovely damsel agrees to marry a handsome prince, only to discover that the royal family has recruited her as a sacrifice to pay off an ancient debt. As Elodie steps into her new life in the palace, she uncovers dark secrets and must find a way to escape before it's too late. This is a predictable yet highly engaging movie, and I hope you will enjoy it. You can also watch my review of Damsel here.
For now, have a great weekend and keep bingeing. I'll see you in the next video with another review. Ah peace.

I’m not if this has been talked to death, but a small critique I have about the show coming from a casual fan who saw the pilot years ago and liked it, but kinda forgot about it until the show aired and just had this on my mind for a while after hearing about all the extra lore bits I’ve seen floating around about AMAs from vivzie and stuff; I’m not sure if I’m the only one who feels this way, but a small critique I have with the show is (granted it could all just revolve around the pacing and Juggling like 8 different stories in 8 episodes) but I feel the MAIN story should’ve been the Development of the main cast; developing the characters for the new comers who were didn’t stick around since the pilot who don’t know about all the extra lore, like me (the streams/AMAs, ect) and spent more time world building just the show feels like they already expect people to know all the small tidbits from the extra lore (and I understand that they’re probably the core Audience) but the show was also gonna attract newcomers who don’t know anything. I have faith that more of the characters will be fleshed out in S2 but I think S1 should’ve been exploring the main cast a little bit in S1 as the main storyline with the extermination been the background plot. But I do have faith that characters will be explored and more fleshed out in S2.

Location: Michigan, Downtown Cheboygan Time: 12:00PM 11:22AM-11:47PM When: I was at a bonfire yesterday at my moms friend's house and it started to get dark as I was walking around by the road. So, I start to use my flashlight on my phone and shine down the road then boom, right on the side, a huge black mass just appears. Its got these two giant yellow eyes and it's just staring me down. So I run back to the fire and sit down next to my mom & dad, looking over my shoulder. I then decide after a couple minutes of sitting to get back up and walk farther down the road then turn on my light. As soon as I did it was very close to me, so I got a very good look at its face and back. It's got this crest on its chin, kind of like a bearded dragons beard, and Fluffy black fur, with a white bottom lip. When it turned and ran, I can't help but notice that this thing has huge butt cheeks. Like, they are GIANT, and it also has a small black tail. After this it moved across the road and kept peeking out of the woods just staring at us. I didn't tell anyone else but I got so shocked and paranoid that my mom had me go in the house.
END OF DAY 1
So in the morning I decided to go on a walk at 9:00AM in the morning, and I brought my knife and phone just to be safe. So I go to the local river and just watched the stream and stand on the bridge. And then like 2 hours later when no one was around the creature snuck up behind me and clawed my shirt right off which sent it into the river and made me fall over which then made me scrape my arm and knee really badly and my knife fall in while my phone was on the edge. After this the thing pinned me down and snarled at my face. But as soon as it heard someone biking it jumped away into someone's private property and disappeared. Some things i found out was: It has no nose, its a guy, the back feet have an extra toe as apposed to the front which have four, the tail has white fur beneath it, the mouth of this thing can stretch very wide, it's front teeth jet outwards like a set of spider mandibles, and it's tall and giant as hell.
END OF MORNING OF DAY 2
So later in the day we went to the persons house again and had another bonfire. From 10:00-12:10PM we were all hearing loud cracking and snapping from the woods so I started to take pictures. This time, I caught its eye and tail in two pictures and I showed my dad the pictures too.
END OF DAY 2
The only person who saw the full creature? Me.
The only person I told and showed the photos of this creature? My Dad.
Everyone heard it though.

Aspects of Shadow, Death and Destruction
{inspired by Crawling Shades, Twisting Abyss, and even more so, that one Great Elder whose shadow minions just straight-up deleted people from reality}
The Kagami family are a subordinate clan of the Akura who fell from prominence two centuries ago. They host a strange Bloodline that made their birth rather difficult. They are born with a Remnant as a conjoined twin. This Remnant is later incorporated into their living twin's shadow with the aid of Soulsmithing.
The Shadow Remnant is kept weaker than their bonded, until their fledgling will is fully overpowered by their living twin, after which they serve their sibling as bodyguard, scout, companion, or whatever role they desire. The Shadow is already spiritually conjoined and dependent on their sibling-host, this just ensures that it is also disadvantaged in terms of willpower by crippling it at its formative stage, as it develops its own intelligence.
At the height of Truegold, the Shadow is turned into a spiritual space via more Soulsmithing - this isn't strictly necessary but it is extremely useful, it makes the Shadow even better at dealing with madra techniques, giving it more time to annihilate them by capturing them within itself.
The Shadow didn't just envelop and destroy techniques, its most fearsome use is to swallow up living targets, using the Death and Destruction aura generated by the act to Cycle, and grow stronger.
The Path requires a lot of Soulsmithing knowledge, but in return it provides a powerful Sacred Arts companion, less like a bonded Sacred Beast, more akin to a Blood Shadow or Living Lightning.
Mirrored Night madra appears a textureless black in colour, so dark that it doesn't even seem real. Cycling it causes emotionlessness, like nothing truly matters, and can lead to depression.
Kagami clan Remnants are still connected to their Shadow (assuming the Shadow survived whatever killed the artist in the first place), though the relationship between them usually flips, with the Remnant in-charge. This is culturally accepted by thethe Kagami as reciprocation for faithful service, but also used by the more conservative faction as an example of why it's better to completely subdue and dominate one's Shadow rather than treating them as partners, a demonstration as to why one's Shadow might turn treacherous and lead you to death so it can use your Remnant as its servant instead.
The Remnant itself looks like a corporealized shadow. They are known to, on occasion, bestow their bonded Shadow as a Goldsign - but more often they just grant black tendrils erupting from one's feet like stalks of long grass as a more mundane Goldsign, these tendrils can be used in combat to bind, whip, grasp, catch, etc.
Techniques
Lowgold
EnforceStriker
Kiss of Persephone: could be considered a cross between a spiritual and weapon enforcement technique, used to empower their Shadow's strikes. Allowing it to intercept attacks on the artist's behalf, or to directly strike at their mutual opponent. Direct hit causes withering damage upon the target, causing their entire body to rot. Outright kills any even slightly weaker Sacred Artist with a single glancing hit (unless they were a powerful Life artist perhaps, or focused on body cultivation - enriching the Vital Aura of their body), their body crumbling into dust. It causes a similar effect on madra constructs and non-living structures, causing them to seemingly age at an advanced rate, destabilize and crumble. At the height of Truegold, they stop leaving behind any remains at all. Once the Shadow engulfs them, they cease to exist.
Highgold
EnforceForger
Embrace of the Dead: hybrid of spiritual and full-body enforcement with Forger elements, the technique is imbued onto their Shadow, which rises up and settles about their shoulders like a shadowy cloak. Imbues a destructive might onto their attacks, like every physical hit was a direct contact Striker technique. The Shadow also acts like armour, increasing their durability - and at Underlord, the technique outright transforms in visual appearance (and correspondingly, in performance) from an indistinct hazy cloak to a shadow armour.
Truegold
ForgeRuler
Grasp of the Unhallowed: all the shadows in the surrounding area pool together on the floor, turning the floor black as the abyss, and from that abyss emaciated hands with vicious claws rise and attack the target(s). These attacks are automated by the technique and don't require any further direction from the artist. The claws appear and attack too fast for even a Truegold to properly seize control of spiritually, so they need to wait till Underlord to properly control and direct (or perhaps even modify) the technique.
Underlord
Striker
Dead Star Falls: the artist creates an unstable orb of whirling streams of deadly madra. It usually requires the help of their Shadow, for additional spiritual control, to create a compressed sphere of properly unstable energies instead of creating a more stable construct or having it go off in your face instead of your opponent's. The orb explodes into a wave of darkness that destroys anything living caught within it.
Overlord
ForgeRuler
Seeds of Zagreus: the Shadow passes through other shadows and infects them, turning them into weaker versions of itself. It is not a method to increase its strength, but rather to divide it. You typically don't use it while facing an opponent of similar power, instead it's an army killer. The technique imbues spiritual power and will into shadows and raises them up to attack multiple targets at once, your victims experience their own shadows rise up to devour them. It can also be used as area denial or for sneak attacks, so it does have some versatility. Mirrored Night madra develops a small degree of affinity for Living Techniques due to their Bloodline, which is what makes this technique possible.
Archlord
Forger
Chains of the Netherworld: had a rather lengthy original name: "No Longer Let Life Divide, What Death Can Join Together". A weaker version of this technique can be executed at Overlord, taking the form of spectral chains rather than the invisible Archlord version, its effects are only temporary, dissolving within a few days. There's also an Underlord version, which just serves as a foundation for the rest of the technique to build upon later on, that looks like twin tendrils of shadow looped together in a helical pattern rather than proper chain links, this can only act as a particularly lethal capture method. The true Netherworld Chains erupt from the Shadow, nearly as invisible as the bonds of Soul Oaths, and proceeds to wrap around its target, until they're completely cocooned in writhing chains. When the technique runs its course, a new Shadow joins the artist.

I'm a Chinese girl looking for a virtual relationship with a Chinese East Asian guy, ideally from Southeast Asia. I prefer someone from Malaysia, Singapore, or Hong Kong, as our time zones align, making it easier for us to chat and connect. I'm avoiding connections from the West because of time zone differences, which can limit our chat and activity time together.
Let's get this clear from the start: I'm NOT interested in anything NSFW. No sexting, video sex, or similar activities. I value meaningful connections and genuine conversations.
What am I searching for? Well, I'm seeking someone open to a virtual relationship, someone who's clingy, an emotional fluffer (yes, you read that right!).
I'd like to know a guy who is ready to share his life with me - and I mean all aspects of it. Your job, your dreams, your plans, your fears, successes and failures. Chores, passions, problems, vulnerabilities, fantasies, experiences, expectations. All that forms you and influences you. I'd like to know you so well as if I was the mirror you're looking into being completely naked and honest. And I'd like to return all of that on my part. I'd like to be your friend, confessor, lover, advisor, someone you can laugh silly or discuss deeply. Feel free, secure and happy in your presence. Feel being cared about. You know this feeling when at some point you start checking your phone more and more often to see the notification? The thrill that goes with it? A message every morning and every evening, maybe consisting of just 1 word, but written just and especially for you. Knowing that somewhere out there there is someone who really thinks about you throughout the day and longs for a little reunion every day. Maybe it's silly. Maybe it's not realistic. But why should we dream low?
I'm serious about all of this. This is, ideally, a long-term (indefinite term?) relation. But big things usually start small - I want to talk to you and slowly know you. Build mutual trust and bond. Spend time together and enjoy it. If it clicks, we won't even notice we want more and more. Before we vibe check in person, I'd like to be a LDR thing.
Currently, I'm focused on job hunting for my first full-time position and at the same time running my family business, so my schedule is quite packed. Having someone I can talk to, vent to, and share life advice with would be incredibly valuable to me right now. I appreciate daily calls in the long run, but if you prefer texting over calls, there's no need to send me a DM.
Physically, I'm 5'3 with dark brown eyes and a smile that lights up the room. While I'm on the thiccer side, I'm actively working on my fitness. I have a figure that's huggable, and I'm hoping to find someone who is interested in breaking my singlehood XD
So, what can you expect from me? Well, apart from our daily connections and meaningful conversations, I'm all about experiencing life's adventures. Whether it's trying out new cuisines, or going on spontaneous hikes, count me in! Additionally, I'm quite skilled at Tom & Jerry Chase mobile and would love to game together.
Now, here's the fun part—I'm a massive Badminton fangirl! I'm always keeping up with the latest news and matches, so expect some lively discussions on that front. And let's not forget my guilty pleasures: boys love content and horror! I can spend hours watching live streams of horror games, getting spooked and loving every minute of it. Plus, I've got a thing for numbers—I find joy in tackling math problems and exploring the beauty of mathematics.
When it's time to unwind, you'll often catch me vibing to R&B/Soul tunes. There's just something about those smooth melodies that speaks to my soul and helps me relax after a long day.
What I'm looking for from you is simple: good communication and a willingness to compromise. I believe these are the foundations of any successful relationship. It would also be great if you were older and taller than me, and if you're single, never married with no kids, that's even better.
If you think we might hit it off, feel free to send me a DM. Let me know your ASL (age, sex, location) and a brief intro about yourself! Who knows? Maybe we'll grab coffee or boba together someday. Looking forward to hearing from you!

Ok. So, I’ve been a Top Chef fan since S2. Didn’t find out about S1 until S2, so I had to watch that season after the fact years ago.
I decided to start a rewatch of S1 last night to bring me back to the roots of it, and give me a reality check of my thoughts for this season.
I’ve added spoilers because not everyone has watched S1, and if you haven’t, I do recommend. I’m streaming it on Peacock.
I have a few thoughts:

1. The host was horrible. She knows it and actively says it wasn’t the right fit and she doesn’t even know why they hired her from what I’ve read today. Padma and Kristen were/are the right hosts for Top Chef, no doubt in my mind. Side comment: Stop complaining about Kristen! 🤗 I’ve been happy with her and I think she’s the perfect choice. I was stoked when she was chosen -#Team Kristen.
   
2. I forgot how many TC contestants were villains. So I guess I need to just bite my tongue with Laura.
   
3. I miss Tom so much in the kitchen. I love his LCK but I want to see him more in TC kitchen during the elimination challenges. Him tasting, talking, questioning…come back Tom!
   
4. Bring back challenges like “make monk fish taste good” to kids. I miss these types of challenges. Also, the taste test for S1 was awesome! This season’s I felt was easy. Out of 20 ingredients for S1, the winning chef only guessed 4.
   
5. I’m glad the judges during the QFs don’t give real time feedback anymore that allows the later contestants to adjust how they present their food.
   
6. Make the contestants work a!line in a michelin restaurant. The first episode where the chefs’ QF is to be observed by Chef Keller at Fleur de Lys (sadly closed a DECADE + ago, god I’m getting old) was awesome.
   
7. Looking at the plates served in S1 were mindblowingly bad ! I can’t believe it. Most looked like home cooked meals.
   
8. Speaking of home-cooked meals, the microwave junior league of women challenge was great.
   
9. Gail. The one and only. That is all.
   
10. Prizes: I forgot about the “brand new kitchen” plus the $100k. Glad they got rid of that. Just takes away more cash from them for taxes.
    

Ok, I’m starting Episode 7 and I didn’t want to comment on the last episodes because I know who wins.
Side shoutout: I miss the drum and bass musical clips.

At the end of the third episode of Night Springs, Shawn gets transported to a reality where there are only words, in this reality, his future self gives him a seed which he uses to grow a tree which he then hangs himself from to be reborn, once he wakes up after being hung he finds a fruit from the tree and that fruit has a seed which he then gives to his past self to plant the tree, creating a loop (or spiral?) When playing I couldn’t help but notice some parallels between Shawn and Alan’s rebirth. Alan gets a call from his future self in The Dark Place instructing him to place the clicker and the bullet of light in the shoebox by Alice’s statue, ensuring that Saga Anderson would find them when she got trapped there, then Alan sacrifices (gets shot with the bullet of light as Scratch) himself in order to destroy the dark presence and transcend the dark place. Both scenarios play out very similarly in the sense that both of them receive help from their future selves to get where they need to go, both sacrifice themselves to transcend (Alan gets shot, Shawn gets hung) both are being guided by women they called upon (Alan with Saga and Alice and Shawn with Jesse) and both are being hunted by dark figures (Alan by The Dark Presence/Scratch and Shawn by Warlin Door) and both are described as the chosen ones in regards to being the only versions of themselves who managed to break free (Alans variants, Tom Zane and Mr Scratch both failed to escape the dark place, and Shawns variants were all killed by Warlin Door)

Hi my name is Mariah I'm 23 years old I'm looking for someone to role play with me I prefer that we play in first person, I have several scenarios that you can pick from I have two requirements. 1. I prefer that we play in first person, 2. Just be patient with me because I don’t type that fast but I am starting to write a lot more detail during my role-play, so just be patient with me please .3. I accept experienced role-play players.only Please write a lot of detail during the role-play if you can. If you are interested in role-playing with me, just message me I roleplay comfort to dark roleplay I prefer role-playing in Reddit chat because it's easier for me but if you cannot role-play on,Reddit I do Role-play on Twitter,. I hope to chat with you soon, here's a list of the scenarios that you can pick from Let me know what scenario you would like to do with me please do not ghost me a lot of people do that because they don’t like the way I role-play ….please pick a scenario from the list please be 18+. Here the scenarios that we can do
1st scenario
Here’s the scenario You come home from work and your partner tells you that her parents are having a family gathering at their house and she wants to go. She tells you that she was diagnosed with a fainting disorder so you could be aware of it
2nd scenario
Here’s the scenario You come home from work you don’t see your partner in the living room with all the family and you go upstairs to look for them
3rd scenario
Here’s the scenario You come home from work you don’t see me in the living room and you start looking around for me you find me in the corner in our bedroom having a panic attack
4th scenario
Here’s the scenario You are at the store you receive a text message from your partner that they are having another bad mingran and they ask you to bring medication from the store
5th scenario
Here’s the scenario You come home from work and you don’t find me anywhere in the house and you start looking everywhere and you find me in the kitchen having mental breakdown because I am stressed out about everything that’s happening in my life
6th scenario
Here’s the scenario You got home from work and you don’t see your partner in the living room you check everywhere for them you finally find them in the bathroom in the bedroom next to toilet
7th scenario
Here’s the scenario You are at home relaxing from your busy day at work you receive a phone call from your partner and she is crying hysterically on the phone and she tells you that her dad and her got into another argument but it ended bad and she asks you to go get her from her house and take her back to your place.
8th scenario
Here’s the scenario You get home from work and you don’t see your partner in the living room you checked everywhere for them and you finally find them in the bedroom having a autism episode because people are bullying them at work
9th scenario
Here’s the scenario You are at work and you are working as a paramedic and you are driving on the street with your coworker and you stop at a gas station and when you are in the gas station call comes in on the radio and says your home address and you come back to the ambulance and your coworker said they just said they just said your address on the radio and you start panicking because I am home alone and you know I have a couple medical conditions that they are aware of you call me but you don’t get an answer from me rush with your coworker and you go inside the house and you don’t find me anywhere but then your coworker find me in the basement unconscious
10th scenario
Here’s the scenario You are at work and your partner called you from work.they tell you that they are going to go hang out with their friends from college at the club. you told them to be careful and you tell them to have a good time you get home from work and it’s late and you notice that your partner is not home yet and you called their phone no answer and then you get a call from Your partners phone and you answer it and you recognize it not your partner, voice the person told you that your partner was drug at the club and that your partner is on the way to the hospital
11th Scenario
Here’s the scenario You are at work and your partner calls you and tell you they are going to go swimming at a party with friends from college and you get home from work and it’s very late and you tried calling your partner and they don’t answer and get a call from the hospital, saying that your partner has been admitted to the hospital for being drugged and abuse and assaulted
12th Scenario
Here’s the scenario you are on your lunch break at work and you get a phone call from your partners parents and they tell you that your partner is having a Tourette episode and this one is bad and they cannot handle it and they need you to come help them with your partner you know that your partner has a really hard time coming out of these episodes and they pass out after having an episode.
13th Scenario Here’s the scenario you are in a long distance, relationship with your partner and you decide to fly them out to see you and meet your royalty family after your partner meets your family your family that they don’t like your partner and they do everything especially the mother get rid of your partner and you are a prince of England trying to find his queen
14th Scenario Here’s the scenario you are at work and your partner call you and tell you that they are gonna go to the store to get some stuff for the house and when you get home you are parked in the driveway and you get off the car and you go inside and you see them on the floor in the living room unconscious with all their clothes off and you see them beaten up and you see them with the rope around their neck
15th Scenario Here’s the scenario you come home from work early because you have to do a lot of stuff around the house and you call your partner to let them know that you’re coming home early from work you get home and you see your partner in the living room with the lights off and everything and you know that they are having a hard time with being abused, verbally emotionally and mentally and you see them crying hysterically in the living room
16thScenario
Here’s the scenario you are at working at the EMT station and you are doing paperwork and you receive a call from the dispatcher that there was a shooting at the high school they say the name of the school and you start freaking out because your partner works at the school and you get in the car and you start driving over to the school and you see your police officers helping everybody out and you go inside and you find me in the classroom unresponsive with the student on top of me and you can tell that they are unresponsive as well
17th Scenario
Here’s the scenario you come home from work and you let your partner know that you’re home from work and you tell your partner that we are going to go to your parents house because we were invited to a family gathering and we go to your parents house and all your family and greet us and when you are not in the area, they all treat me bad except for your mom
18th scenario
Here’s the scenario You are at work You are doing report because you are a detective you receive a case that someone has been kidnapped and when you get the information on the computer and you realize it’s your partner and you start calling them and they don’t answer their phone
19th scenario
Heres the scenario You are on deployment for two years and you get home from being away for two years and you don’t tell your partner that you’re coming home and you go to the living room and you find them unconscious on the floor
20th scenario
Here’s the scenario you are working a late shift at the fire station and you are working on paperwork with all your coworkers and the captain comes in and says we got a call for a fire at the apartment complex on Hollywood Boulevard 1604 on the third Floor and we need everybody to go help put out the fire, do your coworkers get into the firetruck and get to the scene and realize that the fire is coming from your apartment and you remember that your partner is in the building
21st scenario
Here’s the scenario You are at your parents house after a late shift at the hospital and you stop by to see how your parents are doing and you receive a call the hospital and they tell you that they need you right away and you get back to the hospital and they tell you we have three casualties coming in and when the patients are brought into the hospital, you go up to one of the patient and you see it’s your partner
22nd scenario
Here’s the scenario you are at your parents house helping them clean the house and you are doing spring cleaning with them and you check your phone and you see that you had missed calls and a lot of messages from your partners mother and you call back and your partners mother says I’m worried about my daughter because I think she’s having one of her suicidal episodes and she looked herself in the room and I can’t get a hold of her father because he’s at work so can you come help me please.
23rd scenario
Here’s the scenario you are out home and you receive a call from your partner and they tell you that they are running away from home and they tell you they are running to your house when they get to your house. They are bleeding from their face and you can tell that they been beaten up and they are freaking out and screaming because they are scared
24th scenario
Here’s the scenario you come home from work and you let your partner know that you are home, but you don’t get a response from them and you are looking for them and you find them in the bathroom and they are having flashback episodes because when they were younger, they had experience some sexual assault and verbal abuse and they can’t trust anyone
25th scenario
Here’s the scenario you are working a late shift as a security guard at the bank and you finally get off of work and you clock out and you get in the car and you are driving back home and you get home and your partners parents are on the porch and they ask immediately have you seen our daughter we think she’s been kidnapped and you are freaking out

Hi everyone, it’s my first time posting here. I held back from saying anything but for some reason I was pushed to post this today. I am a male DF, and currently in separation from my twin. This might be a longer one, so whomever takes their valuable time to read this; I appreciate you and I hope you get the best in your life (this goes for anyone who might troll too).
So my journey started back in June of 2022. I met my TF at the gym. Same ethnic background, same age, and weirdly enough; when I showed my mom a picture of her, she said that we looked related. My friend literally was in shock when he realized that we have the same eyes. There was one problem though…..she was married. We kept it as friends for a bit but the more we communicated, the more we realized and agreed that this relationship between us wasn’t normal. On my end, I saw repeating numbers, animals following me around (specifically 2 crows), and even one time where she hugged me and I swear to God that I heard her say “I love you too” in my head. A few weeks later, she said the real thing in person. Things evolved quick…like super quick. And I found out the truth about her marriage. She’s from a different country, and the marriage wasn’t founded upon love. It wasn’t arranged, she just made a stupid mistake that she regretted. But, it was the reason she came to America. It was really toxic. Like every sort of abuse you can imagine except for physical. She wanted to leave, but she needed money and was afraid of how her parents would react back home. She needed a job, and she was trying to become to cop (ironically in the same city where my parents own a business and actually know everyone pretty much in the precinct). Our entire time together literally encompassed her initial academy test, all the way until the first week of her actual academy (10 months give or take). When I asked her if there’s a chance of us being together her response was “My biggest fear is that I keep you waiting because I don’t know WHEN I’m going to leave him”. This was very early on before she even had the job. I told her that I’d wait until I was 80 if I had to, and I meant it. A few months later, she told me that she saw a future with me.
We were so happy when we were together. We got closer and closer each week. There were times where I swear to God I would feel depressed out of nowhere and when I talked to her, she was too. We would find every excuse to hold a hand, give a hug, or even a kiss on the palms or forehead. We both got SUPER close to an intimate kiss many times, but we both had strong morals. Ironically enough, the very last I saw her, she finally caved and gave me a quick kiss on the lips. She was so embarrassed that she cracked, it was so cute lol.
We would communicate mainly through IG. Which is where in April of last year, she told me that her husband saw our messages. And to not text or call her anymore. No I’m sorry, no I love you, no good bye. I knew it wasn’t her who wrote that because she never used the word “husband”. It made her skin crawl when thinking of him like that. I know it was him who told her to write that or even wrote it himself.
Everything went dark. It literally was like that Homelander meme where all he hears is a ringing sound. I wanted to cry, but couldn’t. I called my mom. Oddly and calmly she said “This is the beginning of the end for her marriage. Trust me”. Which was odd because she always told me to move on and don’t talk to a married woman.
This happened 2 weeks before I turned 33. The age where everyone says is the Age of Enlightenment….yeah. Yup. Oh yeah. And here is where the unexplainable stuff started to happen. So she didn’t block me, or unfollow me for weeks. Until my mom called one day and said the police captain told her that she was in the academy and doing a great job so far. This was the first news I got about her since the separation. My mom talked to them about her during the interview process so they remembered. Literally as soon as I got off the phone, I checked IG……and she unfollowed me during that call.
I’ll try to be less granular here; but over the next year, I literally changed on a spiritual level. And others noticed. I became a mode of support for others. My empathy was unlike anything I’ve ever felt. And I started helping others in their spiritual journey. I have a friend who I train at the gym who started going through girl problems and I used my experiences here as a template to guide him. I’m different now….very different. In a great way. But I also feel like I’m legitimately going through a manic episode. Let me explain, here’s some more “weird” stuff that the ego cannot comprehend:
-Since last June, I’ve had vivid dreams about her. I would write down the dates of when they happened….nearly every single one of them took place during the 5 day windows of new/full moons
-Last June I got an INCREDIBLE pull in my heart. I started crying out of nowhere and my gut told me to go to the gym that second. I checked her IG and she had just deleted hundreds of followers (I was in the DNOTS and was checking every hour at that time). I think it was him deleted all her male friends, just a gut feeling.
-I’m seeing repeating numbers every single day. They would cycle as to what was the “hot” number at the time (the one that kept showing up the most). This includes 144 and her birthday especially since the Total eclipse in April (also, we separated the day after the last total eclipse in April 2023)
-I ask the universe/God for a sign to move on or stay, and within hours I get a weird sign that tells me to push forward. This happens like once a month
-Every bit of news I’ve gotten has come from the police officers. Back in April, my mom asked for a sign from God about this whole thingand they came in to tell us the first news in months just a few days after. Now she’s convinced this is all real and she’s coming back
-Speaking of, the news was that she moved to a different department in the force. One that was away from the field duties. Why is that weird? 2 days before we found out, I had an anxiety attack thinking about what if we get together and something bad happens to her. That fear was resolved with the move.
-There was a point where I would see multiple sets of butterflies every single day as I would drive around….in the winter here on the West Coast. I think I’ve seen maybe 2 since then. I guess symbolizing transformation
-Finally, right when I first met her I didn’t even get a feeling that she was my twin; I went to my close friend who reads and he said that I will be with a girl who is literally just like me, we will have a very quick and intense build-up, and I will know within a month that I want to marry her. The very next day I saw her for the first time in a week, and realized she was talking about her life almost exactly like she was telling me about mine. And 2 weeks later, I knew I wanted to marry her (this was before I found out the truth about her marriage, so it was a weird thing for me to think of)
If you’ve made it this far, thank you. Idk what I expect from writing this post. My intuition isn’t letting me give up on this and I’m pretty much in a “well, I’ll make myself better for her and I and help others along the way until she returns” mindset. I don’t care for other girls anymore, and that’s…calming. If you want to give advice, use my post for motivation on your own journey, provide some words of encouragement, or just tell me I’m crazy; I appreciate you, regardless. Shit, maybe one of you are supposed to give me a sign today, who knows.
One last thing; being a TF isn’t easy. It sucks. This is fucking hell. But….nothing worth it ever comes easy. Follow your gut, never give up, and most of all; never lose hope.
Thank you

I know this episode is talked about a lot for how poorly it was done/handled, but I just rewatched it and while I feel it was okay (Chord, Heather, Jane, and Lauren CARRIED this episode) do you think it would have been better if there was an actual threat?
Now I’m not saying someone dies or gets shot, but I feel like the direction they took was a terrible decision. We know that Glee can produce some really good serious moments (I'll never get over Shue finding out about Terry's fake pregnancy), so I'm very interested on why something like this was so downplayed. The episode in itself felt like the writers really just wrote the episode and were like "Okay and insert school shooting here" while randomly pointing at a spot in the script.
I noticed that during this time we are also in the middle of Ryder’s catfish “storyline” (if you can even call it that). Considering his state of mind after finding out he's being catfished (Ryder yelling at Marley and Jake thinking it was one of them), and this might sound morbid/dark, but what if they played into that and potentially have Ryder maybe be on the brink of uninstalling himself?
I know that might be completely dramatic, but I mean it’s Glee. (Flashback to Quinn giving birth during Bohemian Rhapsody) I feel that it wasn't out of the realm of possibility, and could have been set up perfectly if they really wanted to do a school shooting episode that had a (for lack of a better word) bettetopical message.
I'm in the process of writing out how I feel they could have used the Ryder catfish situation for this, so if y'all would like to read it when it's done I'll gladly share!
Side note: I noticed people saying they hated the tone of the happy/goofy mood during the first half of the episode, but this could have been the one thing I feel they did right had they not made it known that this was a school shooting episode. The reason I say this is because people are going about their day to day lives up until that moment, and then suddenly everything changes.

For phase one, see this. https://www.reddit.com/hasbro/comments/1d98069/how_i_would_execute_a_hasbro_cinematic_universe/
For phase two, see this. https://www.reddit.com/hasbro/comments/1d9gpqb/how_i_would_execute_a_hasbro_cinematic_universe/
For phase three, see this. https://www.reddit.com/hasbro/comments/1dalfmw/how_i_would_execute_a_hasbro_cinematic_universe/
Where we last left off: Unicron was finally defeated, the Enforcers grew in numbers, Cadence and Shining Armor have started a family, and The Fallen and Galvatron are scheming to revive Unicron, and this is where Phase 4 begins. Additionally, a multiverse is introduced. There are no new franchises this Phase, just sequels, but there will be hints to the next Phase. anyway, let's begin.
Enforcers: Age of the Fallen
Phase 4 starts with an Enforcers story, in fact, I prefer this to be a sort of Rise Of Unicron Part III, seeing this takes place a couple weeks after the events of Rise of Unicron Part II. In this story, The Enforcers are cleaning up the mass of debris from when Unicron exploded, while Cadence and Shining busy raising their children. However, the plans of Megatronus Prime (aka The Fallen) and the newly-elected leader of the Decepticons, Galvatron, are falling into place as they plan to use Equistria's' sun as a means to create Dark Energon to revitalize Unicron, use Equistria as his new body, and help him continue his devouring of the galaxy and finally destroy Primus. When a battle between the Enforcers and the Decepticons leads to the death of one of the Enforcers, they must now find an ancient Cybertronian to help them revive there friend and stop The Fallen once and for all.
Notable events include

• The Fallen is revealed to be the original herald of Unicron.
• Optimus Prime is killed by Galvatron, to which Megatron assumes command of the Autobots. But he's resurrected later.
• The Matrix of Leadership was placed back onto Cybertron after the events of Enforcers: Rise of Unicron Part II.
• We learn that an Decepticon-turned-Autobot named Jetfire has the knowledge to bring Optimus back to life.
• Shining Armor is killed by Galvatron, but was somehow sent into the All-Spark and meets the twelve of the original Thirteen Primes. He is also resurrected later
• Optimus finds out it is his destiny to find the Cyber-Planet Keys and the Omega Lock and to reawaken Primus.

END CREDITS SEQUENCE: We find ourselves in the laboratory of Johnathan Armstrong, where we see him working on a device that can be used to traverse the multiverse, unbeknownst to him, a robotic insect is sending data to an unknown source.
Magic: The Dragon's Curse
We find our wizard friends returning to the land of Amundus following the events of Enforcers: Age of The Fallen to find there home now under the rule of a resurrected Arcan and a long forgotten warlord named Karnous, who has plagued the land with a curse that turns anyone into human/dragon hybrids. So it's now up to our four young wizards to cure the land and stop Arcan and Karnous, while also learning of all of their parents' pasts and discover a secret that may connect them together.
Notable events include

• The wizards of Amundus are actually all related to each other by royalty and that they are destined to rule Amundus.
• Karnous is revealed to be the evil personality of the first king of Amundus, Gorgran.

END CREDITS SEQUENCE: We find ourselves in the laboratory of Johnathan Armstrong, where we see him working on a device that can be used to traverse the multiverse, unbeknownst to him, a robotic insect is sending data to an unknown source.
Stretch Armstrong 3
After the events of Enforcers: Age of The Fallen, John is now working on finding out if there exist any alternate realities much like his own. Unbeknownst to him, a being calling itself "Techcore" has copied John's designs for a fully functional muti-dimentional portal and bring forth an alternate version of himself named Richard Armstrong who uses his stretching powers for committing crimes. Now John must stop Richard for besmirching his "Stretch Armstrong" persona's name and stop Techcore from continue use of the portal and save the world once more.
Notable events include

• Techcore is actually a former Decepticon who became one of Unicron's slaves and is forced to build the dimensional portal.
• John is almost arrested, until John reveals that Richard is from an alternate universe.
• Techcore is brought to the Autobots after his machine is destroyed.

END CREDITS SEQUENCE: We cut to the headquarters of Action Man, where we find Duke and Matt Trakker experimenting with the M.A.S.K. vehicles that have been add a 'hyper-accelerator' to see if the device can get the vehicles to reach longer distances at a quicker pace, unknown to them the true capabilities the device could do.
Action Man 3
When we last saw Duke and his Action Man team, not only did they just finish up helping stop Megatronus Prime and Galvatron, but earlier they were introduced to Matt Trakker and his M.A.S.K. team by Agent Jameson. This is where the story begins, with Duke and Matt building a device that can let the M.A.S.K. vehicles be able to go even faster so as to get to the danger quicker before it's too late. However, while developing it, Duke and Matt find out that the device can let them travel to alternate dimensions. This leads them to a world where C.O.B.R.A. has won and rules with an iron fist. Now, Duke, Matt, and the Action Man and M.A.S.K. teams must find a way to get home to their own universe, but must also free the other universe from Cobra Comander's reign.
The only notable event is

• After defeating the alternate universe version of Cobra Commander, Duke asks Matt if he wants to be an Enforcer, to which Matt declines, citing wanting to form his own team.

END CREDITS SEQUENCE: We cut to Cybertron where we find Red Alert and Perceptor working on a modified space bridge as they experiment with the idea of parallel worlds. They then activate the space bridge, they notice someone coming through. We find that this is Optimus Prime, however he looks very different, what with a different paint job, his optics being red, and his Autobot symbol being purple. Perecptor asks Optimus what's going on with the color change. The sequence ends with Optimus pointing his blaster at Perceptor saying, "This world will be perfect to conquer."
Transformers: Shattered Glass
Yes, you read the title correctly, this is an adaptation (sort of) of the Transformers G1 comics alternate universe, "Shattered Glass." In the Shattered Glass universe, it's sort of the same G1 universe, except the fact that anyone who was good in G1 is evil and vise versa for any of the G1 villains. Mostly, it tells the story of the heroic Decepticons, led by the mathmation Megatron, and the evil Autobots, led by the ruthless Optimus Prime. Anyway, the HCU version of this story is that the SG Autobots find a way in to the HCU and plan to take it over and steal all the galaxies resources. However, the SG Decepticons make contact with the HCU Autobots and they decide to team up to stop the SG Autobots, who have now ailed themselves with the HCU Decepticons, and send them back to the SG universe.
Notable events are

• SG Megatron reveals that the SG Decepticons developed a weapon capable of removing a Prime's power.
• In a sneak peek of the 5th and final phase, SG Optimus finds out about the Inhumanoids after SG Perceptor hacks into the Autobots' database.

END CREDITS SEQUENCE: Following their defeat, SG Optimus Prime is yelling at SG Rodimus Prime about their failure to stop their heroic alternate universe selves. However, SG Perceptor tells SG Optimus that he has found another planet in their own universe, one streaming with energy, both positive and negative. SG Optimus tells SG Perceptor to show him. SG Perceptor and SG Optimus look at a monitor, and we find out the planet SG Perceptor found was their realities version of the Reflections version of Equistria.
My Little Pony/Transformers: Shattered Reflections
Partially based on a IDW comic event, this story for the HCU is about Twilight and Optimus find out about that the Shattered Glass universe has a version of Equistria, but is similar to the Equistria from the Reflections arc in the IDW comics before the Mane Six arrived to it. Once there, they are greeted by Reflections Sombra, who remembers Celestia as if she had visited, leading to a tearful renuion. At the same time, SG Optimus Prime has ailed with Reflections Celestia and Luna, and they plan to find their universes Earth and plan to take it over, and reopen the space bridge to the HCU Earth. So now Twilight and Optimus must team up with Reflections Sombra and SG Megatron to stop SG Optimus and Reflections Celestia and Luna.
Notable events include

• SG Optimus reveals the existence of multiple universes to Reflections Celestia and Luna.
• Reflections Sombra is corrupted by a mix of Dark Magic and Dark Energon to the point Optimus is forced to encase him in solidified Energon.

END CREDITS SEQUENCE: We cut to Earth where we find Agent Jameson, who is in a disguise. talking to Captain, now Commander Patrick about the new adjustments to the U.S.S. Destiny. Patrick then tells Jameson he knows he is in disguise, which makes Jameson shocked, but remembers that Patrick was a master at telling deception. Jameson then asks Patrick what the Destiny is being converted for, to which Patrick says it will be apart of a revival of the Manhattan Project from the Cold War.
Battleship: Manhatten Project
When we last left Joshua Patrick and the crew of the U.S.S. Destiny, they had finished helping their fellow Enforcers stop The Fallen. Now, after a few missions, Joshua has rose to the rank of Commander and now leads a whole fleet of flying battleships called "The Arsenal." Josh then finds out that the United States Department of Defence and the CIA are planing to restart the Manhattan Project, to which Josh signs his fleet up for. However, during the tests, the fleet are whisked away to an alternate universe where the Axis Powers of World War II have won the war, but are in the mist of a super-Cold War. Now, with the help from an alternate version of Agent Jameson, must find a way back home and also to stop an immortal Adolf Hitler from getting the plans to create a flying battleship.
Notable events include

• The alternate version of Agent Jameson reveals that his universe's version of The Enforcers was easily defeated by the Nazis.
• Hitler's immortality is revealed to come from this universe's Celestia after she was captured by an exploratory group in space.
• About 25% of The Arsenal is destroyed during the final battle with the Nazis.

END CREDITS SEQUENCE: After losing his most of his fleet, save for the Destiny and about 10 other ships, Commander Patrick is standing on the deck of the Destiny thinking things can't get any worse. However, once the return to their Earth, they find what looks to be about 20 different Earths in the sky. Suddenly, Twilight Sparkle appears on the deck of the Destiny, where a confused Patrick asks what's going on. Twilight only replies, "Unicron's plan is working. His revenge is beginning."
Enforcers: Crisis War Part 1
Yes, you read Twilight's line correctly, Unicron is back and is still alive after the events of the Rise of Unicron two-parter and Enforcers: Age of The Fallen. It's revealed that before Unicron's head was ejected into deep space, he hatched a plan to rebuild his body and get revenge on the ones who destroyed him, The Enforcers and their loved ones. His plan was to eject bits of Dark Energon across the galaxy and implant them into the smartest people in the HCU to construct devices and machines that can open to alternate universes, so that Unicron can send multiple Earths to the HCU, devour them for power, use some of the natural metals and other resources to rebuild his body to be even bigger and more powerful then before, and destroy the Enforcers and finally destroy Primus. So not only do the Enforcers and all of their allies need to stop Unicron once more, but also must face a brand new and mysterious Decepticon by the name of Dreadnaught. Also, some of the Enforcers do get killed off for good in this THREE PART EVENT.
For part 1, When The Enforcers and their allies learn of Unicron being still alive, they must not only stop the multiverse from tearing itself apart, but they must also stop Unicron from gaining a new body while also being stopped by a new and mysterious Decepticon named Dreadnaught.
Notable events include

• Optimus relays a message that Unicron is still alive and is planing to destroy all of reality once he devours enough Earths and uses the energy to build himself a new body, and finally have the power to destroy Primus.
• Duke's Action Man team is killed during the first onslaught by Dreadnaught in the Crystal Empire.
• Cadence appears to have been killed as well when Dreadnaught's arm cannon appears to disintegrate her.
• Duke is reunited with the rest of the members of G.I. Joe and reforms the team.
• Starscream is killed after he tries to usurp leadership of the Decepicons.

END CREDITS SEQUENCE: We find Reflections Twilight Sparkle in a room where we see SG Optimus Prime, Cobra Commander from the universe that Duke and Matt went to, and Richard Armstrong greeting her and calling her over to them. After Reflections Twilight asks who brought her here, none of them don't know either, until it's revealed that it was Dreadnaught who invited them all to gather and form an "Anti-Enforcers team" which he dubs them "The Destroyers."
Enforcers: Crisis War Part 2
Now to part II where we find out that Dreadnaught has formed his own team called The Destroyers, who are kind of an Anti-Enforcers. Meanwhile, Optimus meets up with Jandar and is now in the process of aquireing the Omega Lock (mostly because after the events of Enforcers: Rise of The Fallen, Optimus decides now is the time for Primus to finally be reawaken and up until now, in the background has been hunting down the four Cyber-Planet Keys.) Now, the Enforcers must find away to stop The Destroyers, Unicron (who right now, his head has devowered about 5 of the Earths and his new body is about 47-68% completed.), and still find away to defeat Dreadnaught.
Notable events include

• Dreadnaught forms an "Anti" Enforcers-type team called "The Destroyers."
• Optimus meets with Jandar to go to the edge of the Milky Way galaxy to acquire the Omega Lock and the last Cyber-Planet Key in order to reawaken Primus.
• Jandar sacrifices his life force in order to give his energy to the Omega Lock so it can fully power the Cyber-Planet Keys.
• The Enforcers all go to Cybertron as they witness Optimus reawaken Primus and see that Cybertron was escentualy Primus' alt mode.
• Dreadnaught is revealed to be an upgraded Galvatron under the control of Unicron's anti-spark until his new body was completed.
• It's revealed that Cadence was actually kidnapped and brainwashed to become Unicron's new herald.

END CREDITS SEQUENCE: Dreadnaught finds out that Primus has been fully awakened, but we soon find out that Dreadnaught is actually Galvatron, but reformatted and under Unicron's possession until his new body is complete, as Unicron tells Galvatron that his new herald will be of much more use to him, revealing that Princess Cadence is Unicron's new herald.
Enforcers: Crisis Part 3
Well, the end of Phase 4, and ZOMG, Cadence is Unicron's new herald! How did that happen? Well, back in Part I, when Dreadnaught (aka Galvatron/Unicron) first appears, he attacks the Crystal Empire and Cadence and Shining Armor begin to protect their kingdom. However, it appeared that Cadence was annihilated when she was hit by Dreadnaught's (Galvatron's/Unicron's) Arm Cannon. However, the cannon actually teleported her the Nemesis, where Unicron injected her with Dark Energon, until she was under Unicron's control. However, what's going on with our friends. Well, now that Primus has been reawaken, The Enforcers now have a chance to stop Unicron once and for all and save the multiverse. However, they soon find out that Unicron's new body is 99% complete and Cadence has been brainwashed to become Unicron's new herald. Now, The Enforcers, with the help of Primus, must free Cadence and stop Unicron once and for all before his spark enters the new body.
Notable events include

• Cadence is restored to her normal self by Optimus by utalising an overcharged Matrix of Leadership given to him by Primus.
• Unicron's new body is finally completed and is about the size of Jupiter.
• While trying to distract Unicron from destroying Earth and giving Primus time to charge up his power, Joshua, the U.S.S. Destiny, Robert Banks and Joshua's fleet sacrifice themselves as Unicron crushes them all with his fists.
• With additional power from Optimus, the Mane Six, Sgt. Alexander, and Princesses Celestia and Luna, Primus is able to mortally injure Unicron and put him into a ten thousand year long sleep..

END CREDITS SEQUENCE: The Enforcers are celebrating on Cybertron, but then Perceptor calls Optimus and Sgt. Alexander to his lab. When they enter it, Perceptor tells them that 'his' prison has been destroyed, to which Optimus feels that the dark times are not to come to an end just yet, as we find out that on a far off planet, in the planets core, a rocky prison crumbles revealing a group of giants apart of a race of alien monsters called "The Inhumanoids", who will be the villains of the 5th and final phase
To be concluded...

A few days ago, I asked this community what would happen for the final fight against Salem and how would the series end. A lot of you had a variety of responses. Some say there is gonna be some Talk-no-Jutsu, some say Salem will just die by the hands of the gods just like that, and some said it will end with Team RWBY gaining Maiden powers.
This was just to gain an idea of how the final fight would go and how the show can possibly end. With that said, let me introduce everyone to my version of the answer. Now if you disagree with what I have to say, that's fine, you can even say why its a problem in the comments. Just make sure not to say anything that will convince me to block you out of sheer disgust, so try to keep it civil, this is only a theory, a RWBY Theory!
Yes, that was an obvious Game Theory reference, moving on
1. How it starts!
I'm not gonna go into nit picks on how exactly it will play out, because one, that will take a lot of energy out of me and two, I know some of you don't have great attention spans.
So the first episode will have Cinder finding the Crown of Choice and gives it to Salem, who sees that her plan will be foiled as she will still be alive after the destruction of Remnant brought down by the Gods. The reason why I chose Cinder to find it is because the vault containing the crown can only be opened by the Fall Maiden, that being Cinder Fall. How did she find it considering it was not under Beacon? Two ways this could play out.
One, the crown is at Beacon, just hidden well enough to not be detected by anyone. Cinder couldn't get any leads on the crown's location, so she decided to go back to Beacon, tear it down and rip it off the ground with her Maiden powers (this will be fun for power scalers to imagine, either being the entire thing or just going from one end to the other). That's how she finds the vault containing the crown.
Two, the crown was actually hidden somewhere else and Cinder found the lead. So she goes back to Vale, kills a bunch of people guarding it, and takes the crown from the vault. How did she find a lead, I'm not gonna get into that.
2. The Sword of Destruction
With three relics now in Salem's hands, the best thing the heroes could do is to find the Sword of Destruction. Now the sword itself hasn't shown up yet, so we don't know what it could do. To understand what it can possibly do, we need to see what the other relics can do.
\Why is this important? Since the Relics can summon the Gods, I thought it would be important to discuss their abilities before being used to summon higher beings.*
Crown of Choice - Capable of letting people see the future, letting them chose their path ahead of time.
Lamp of Knowledge - Contains a spirit that can answer any question in the present and past, thus giving the person the knowledge they need.
Staff of Creation - Contains a spirit that can create one thing at a time with exact details.
With those in mind, each one has something in common, that being obviously connected to what they are called. Choice, Knowledge, and Creation. For Destruction, here's what I think.
Sword of Destruction - Can destroy any surface or building it touches, for example, if it strikes a house, the house will be split into two, and if it were shoved into the ground, it will break the ground around it.
\The sword itself won't be used much in the present, but there will be illustrated flashbacks showing it's capabilities.*
So the sword is basically an amplified version of a... sword. Containing other feats like taking down an entire skyscraper or cutting down an entire forest. For how it's retrieved, it will be received by the Summer Maiden, which we don't know about. As they head to the Land of Darkness, Cinder to comes in to engage in battle against three other Maidens, including Team RWBY, JNR and SSSN. As we know, Cinder is one of the most hated characters in the show, either to love to hate or to simply just hate. Some think she could be redeemed while others say she can't. How about we do both!
So when she is fighting multiple people, someone (idk who), would grab the sword and plunge into Cinder's chest. This is where she receives a bit of Talk-no-Jutsu where she realizes what she has done before dying by the sword. Now after something like this, I could see the sword being stolen from the group's grasp, most likely now being in the possession of Tyrian. For the new Fall Maiden, I also don't know since it will be the same person who killed her.
\How did Cinder die exactly? Well, when the sword was removed from her body, she will turn into hot embers, giving both irony and flashbacks to how Pyrrha was killed.*
3. Fight for Humanity
Now we get to the action! The group follows Tyrian as they and all of Remnant close in on the Land of Darkness. For this whole army vs army thing, ripping a page out of Avenger's Endgame isn't gonna cut it. Since RWBY was owned by Warner (I'm saying it like that because Volume 10 will most likely be made after the rights are sold), might as well look at another Warner IP which does that but better, which is the Lord of the Rings.
We can have both armies prepare, dialogue between characters, flashbacks and references to previous moments in the show as Ruby gives off one last speech to Remnant before they charge in as Salem watches over, quoting the lyrics of her own theme "Form your armies, dream your dreams. Make your plans and plot your schemes. Send your fighters one and all. Then in battle watch them fall."
So while the whole Grimm VS Humanity thing happens as the Maidens and Team RWBY reach Salem before she can fully summon the Gods. So her goons are defeated, but Salem defeats them and summons them, knowing that her plan may not work, but hopefully she can convince the Gods otherwise, desperate to know if her vision was true or not.
4. Judgement Day
So the Gods come down and see Humanity victorious against the Grimm. Salem tries to convince the Gods that Humanity will leave this victory in the past and be divided once more, but Ruby steps in, along with her team, to convince them that Humanity will never go back to it's old ways. The two groups go back and forth, only for the Gods to tell them to shut up as they discuss somewhere private.
When alone, Ruby and Salem get into an argument, talking about how either precious or vile humanity is and how their lives are either a gift or a curse. It then escalates a fight between only Team RWBY and Salem, as it ends with Ruby using her Silver Eyes on Salem, reverting back to her almost normal self while surprisingly weakening her (Not like she could die by Ruby or that she can't defeat her). We all know that Salem can't be redeemed, nor can she revert her actions. So a proper way of her siding with Humanity is to have Oscar show up as he convinces her to join them, agreeing with her that he will be there till forever and the end, even if the Gods decide to exterminate the entire planet.
With tension now high, the Gods come back and they have decided that they will spare Remnant, and now seeing a changed Salem, they remove her curse and any remains of Grimm on her, along with Ozpin, who reverts back to his previous body while separating from Oscar's body. The Gods compliments and congratulates Team RWBY for their efforts, with them ending with Ruby by saying something like "you have done well uniting humanity", and then removes all the Grimm from the planet and reverses the damage done by them.
How it ends in the aftermath, well, everyone gets a happy ending. Well, not exactly, because unfortunately I will not have Pyrrha and Penny resurrected, and I know that sounds cruel, but we got to implement some of that realism RWBY is known for. Even if the world is finally at peace, there are those who won't actually get their happily ever after. Not everyone can come back from the dead.
I could see many things happening afterwards. Ruby and Jaune getting together, including other relationships like Yang X Blake and Ren X Nora. I could also see Salem and Ozpin spend their final days in Ever After, even meeting Neo, Somewhat and Juniper in the process.
And for the end of the story, just so we can end it like a proper fairy tale, we could have an older Ruby talk about the story to her children or child as she closes the book, ending with the words "The End" engraved into it.
\The final song will most likely be called "The End" or something.*
Summary
This is mostly a combination of what I would think would happen in Volume 10, with other's opinions as well in my last RWBY post. I wanted something that felt like something both logical, reasonable, realistic, and straightforward, as well as including everything that has been the main driving points for the story, like the Relics, Silver Eyes, the Maidens, and even some stuff I hadn't mentioned can be included too. I just wanted something that felt like a proper end to the series.
So hopefully a lot of you enjoyed my Film Theory / TedTalk!
Also Ruby is best girl and her and Jaune are the best ship. I don't mention this often because I'm not into shipping, but I'm willing to make an acceptation, "fight me"!

WELCOME, TOONAMI FAITHFUL!

What's on tonight

Time	Show	Episode	Number
12:00 AM	My Adventures With Superman S2	Two Lanes Diverged	4 out of 10
12:30 AM	Zom100: Bucket List of the Dead	Sushi & Hot Springs of the Dead	8 out of 12
01:00 AM	One Piece	Dragon Claw Strikes! Lucy's Intimidating Attack!	670 out of ∞
01:30 AM	Naruto: Shippuden	Shikamaru’s Story, A Cloud Drifting in the Silent Dark, Part 2: Dark Clouds	490 out of 500
02:00 AM	DBZ Kai	The Power of the Kaio-Ken! Goku vs. Vegeta! (Re)	13 out of 167
02:30 AM	Ninja Kamui	Episode 2 (Re)	2 out of 13
03:00 AM	Demon Slayer S2	What Are You? (Re)	10 out of 18

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Age of Legends
Prologue(Death and birth of a dragon)

Rand was happy, there wasn’t much else he could say about how he felt right there at that specific moment. Lying there in bed wearing nothing but his small cloths and a silk shirt half buttoned. Beside him sleeping so peacefully was one of his beautiful wives, Elmindreada, though she hated that name and preferred Min. Thinking back on many long years of peace and growth, yes he was fated to break the world, and he had. Though the prophecies never mentioned the creation and growth he would also leave behind. The creation of the black tower and the worldwide acceptance of male Aes Sedai, his crown and epitome of success the cleansing of saiadin. That and the discovery of ancient knowledge to confirm anyone should be able to learn to touch at least a small part of the true source, at least most people could. Those two things alone would have vast and far-reaching consequences for the good. The covers beside him shifted as his wife turned over in her sleep showing him her short curly hair. Thoughts drifting again to convincing the Aeil and Tu’athan(the tinkers he thought fondly still) to make peace, them taking it a step further and settling in the two rivers. The tinkers, the wondering people and followers of the way of the leaf, coming to terms with the Aiel spear wielders and settling in one place, that one place being his boyhood homeland. Perrin was there, as well as all the Emond fielders, what’s more they set him up like some king and started calling the place Manetheren.
Mat even came back and settled down to retire with the remainder of his family after his wife the empress died. Rand frowned because that wasn’t a happy memory, her battle with some kind of internal growth that even the best healers couldn’t fix, it was slow and painful. She was tough and knew enough to put things in order so there wouldn’t be any war for succession, but after her death and with no children not adopted, Mat just had no pull to stay. He came back and Perrin gave him an estate where he spent the rest of his days carousing in taverns even if no one would play dice with him again. The rest of his days were not much however, less than two years after his wife Mattrim died of a heart attack. The same strange fox head medallion he wore around his neck that had saved him so many times from enemy power wielders, due to its powers of absorbing any of the one power used against the wearer, was strangely the main cause of his death as there had been an Aes Sedai capable of healing close by. Rand wondered what ever became of that medallion. Trying to shift his thoughts back to happier things he thought of Elayne another of his wives and queen of the region this new “kingdom” was growing. Or at least she was. Having not one but two kingdoms to run was taxing her, especially when one played that awful game of houses so much, as if it were breathing. She actually willingly gave that area to Perrin, that and more besides. “Having friends at your back, especially friends who know they owe you can only help.”, he remembered her saying when he asked her.
He laughed remembering how her cute golden-haired little face grew so stern while she rounded on him for not caring about his friends and shouldn’t they also get something for all the help they provided at the last battle. Of course, it also had nothing to do with being such close friends with Perrin’s wife Fail. Manetheren though, when asked Perrin just shrugged his huge shoulders saying one name is as good as any, and it was the one that everyone agreed on.
Min groaned softly beside him still wrapped in the silken bedding spread. His laugh seemed to have disturbed her, he quickly stifled it and glared at the lavish bedroom they slept in as if that were the fault for his mirth. Lying on top of the silken covers because he never quite got used to sleeping on feather mattresses. It really was a lavish bedroom, filled with rugs and wall coverings, paintings, not one but two large dressers with mirrors, a matching and equally large wardrobe, currently opened showing two other mirrors on the inside of the doors, smaller than the dresser mirrors, and a neat array of blouses and trousers with floral embroidery(Min’s things). Otherwise, there was also a washstand with another small mirror, a desk and one chair slightly askew and away from the desk. On the desk are several stacks of books, and an open notebook with a nearby quill and ink pot. There was a lone unlit lamp also on the desk gilded in gold, as well as several gold gilded wall lamps also unlit around the room.
Sighing softly as Min settled back to comfortable sleep, he stared back up at the bland whitewashed ceiling above him and thought about the schools he had patroned. So many new ideas and inventions were springing up and with traveling prevalent they all spread to the world almost as fast as the ideas can be thought up. This would hopefully lead to a golden age for the world, and his schools were even branching off on their own into new learning institutes. These alone seemed to keep the peace between all the nations. Rand couldn’t tell if he was trying to be modest or humble. Yes he patroned and started the first few schools, but it was not all him coming up with any of the ideas and inventions, many of which had become marvels in and of themselves. Transportation, communication, education These would be left behind and he would be known for that as well as the other.
Breaking the world to make it whole, and his victory with that world’s armies at the last battle. He fought the dark one while the armies of all the nations fought the shadowspawn and darkfriends and dreadlords. Despite everything against him, including it seemed sometimes even the creator, he not only won the battle, but he survived it, he survived it and had a nice long life. The world was at peace, headed to a golden age which he would get credit for, and so Rand was happy. His eyes closed and his thoughts grew that sort of muffled feeling they get just as they start turning into dreams.
PAIN! Rand knew pain, he was no stranger to hurts, especially from a half healed old wound in his side, but that was not the same thing right now. For some reason panic started rising up in him, this was something new, this was something worse. A sharp pain again, in his chest, his body wildly spasmed up kicking his sleeping wife awake.
“Ow you bloody tall buffoon, if you think you can kick me out of bed you have another thing …” Min trailed off as another spasm of pain racked through Rand. Her face contorting with fear as she watched him clutching his chest nearly double over with the pain spasm. He tried to tell her he would be alright, but all that came out was a groaning grunt. He tried lifting his hand to show her it would be alright, but he couldn’t get it to move. Suddenly a hand hit him in his face, it was his hand. He couldn’t feel his hand or his arm. Fear started creeping in as another spasm of pain caused him to let out another groan and clutch at his chest with this hand he couldn’t feel.
“Creator shine his light on me, of course you would choose to die when you’re with me.” Min started shouting hysterically. “For the love of light you bloody wool head, you hang on until I can get Aviendha to come heal you, she’s not far, just hold on damn you.”
Rand vaguely had an impression of Min running towards and out the door. Another spasm of pain, except somehow this was less. He knew it should hurt just as much, but it didn’t. He must have found the void so it wouldn’t hurt as much, that was it. Rand thought about his third and final wife Aviendha, how she would likely come in to find him as healthy as a bull and upset his stomachache disturbed her wise one’s practice. Stomachache? Wasn’t it his chest that was hurting him? Another very small spasm, yes its his chest, but he was also feeling decidedly nauseous too, and that was the greatest issue right? Sleep was all he needed, he would sleep, and everything would be fine in the morning, tomorrow he had to get up early to sheer the sheep.
The void completely surrounds and envelops Rand. As he fades away he hears a sinister voice in his head, “YOU WON THIS ROUND DRAGON REBORN BUT WE WILL COME FACE TO FACE AGAIN” The dark one, what, again? No, the dark one is dead, am I dead, wake up you light blinded fool. There was nothing but the void, not even the light of saiadin could be seen. Rand listened as hard as he could, he thought he heard something, something almost familiar. There it was again, soft but rhythmic, sounding not exactly far, but muffled as if listening through water. Thump Thump and it hit him, that’s the sound of a heartbeat, but who’s heartbeat his? Sleep, that’s what he needed, a really good nights sleep and he would feel better in the morning. Rand drifted off into a dreamless sleep listening to the heartbeat, Thump Thump.
Thus did the dragon reborn die after seeing the end of one age turned into the beginning of another. The people of the land wept at his passing, they swore they would remember him forever and always. Time however is not a kind mistress, when an age is gone it starts to fade from existence, times deeds even people change in the telling’s of the years and centuries. Eventually when the wheel goes round and gives birth to the age again all details have been forgotten, muffled, or contorted.

Mariann Jo’sheen Sedai was old. She had a proper last name once if she could just remember. It had been so long ago since she had last thought of it, a life in the white tower could do that, and Sedai was as good a last name as could be for formality. Just saying Mariann was old was an understatement though, being a woman with a stronger channeling ability, and having sworn on all 8 Life Oath Rods, a prerequisite to becoming Amyrlin of the tower, that she even has any grey hair showing means she must be well past 800 years old, and to show the amount of age she did it must be closer to past 900 years. She was still sharp in mind mostly, at least anything from the last 100 years or so she could recall as sharp as if it happened yesterday. Had it really been longer than a hundred years since she last though of her family name, having long lasted past the last of her lineage, her family long gone or married into others.
She thought even harder surly she had been at her last relative’s funeral, when was it, it was a great aunt she remembered, and the surname was …, she thought really hard. She was in the Amyrlin’s bedchamber reserved for the current leader of the white tower. That said like most of the past Amyrlins before her she kept the bedroom nice and simple. The single window held a cooling fan with right below it a heater coil. The other wall held a closed door which led into her bathroom, the next wall holding another door leading out of the bedchamber into the office of her role. The last wall held the only other furniture besides the plain brown four poster bed she was laying on. A white nightstand with built in mirror and matching white clothed chair. The bathroom was large and would hold her wardrobe of clothes along with the indoor plumbing necessities.
Mariann thought back to each of the eight oaths she took on the life rods, trying to remember which one she had last taken when she attended her aunt’s funeral. Small cylindrical devices no longer than her arm, when you take an oath on one your life actually increases by a standard lifetime or roughly 100 years depending on the person, those stronger in the one power given slightly more. Really giving any oath at all would do for the increasing your life, the only requirement being you channel Saiadar while making your oath and someone else that can also channel does so to activate it. However each specific Ajah required you to take a specific oath, and the eighth oath rod was solely for those like her who have taken the Amyrlin seat after having have pledged on the other seven, again a specific oath.
“I will say no word that is untrue”. Eight oath rods, and eight times this is spoken to ensure you do not offer a false oath, as if anyone would think of lying so many truth seekers everywhere.
“I will faithfully serve as Amyrlin to all of my children for the rest of my days”. The Amyrlin seat was a lifelong position and would not open again until her death. Serve all her children, it was said that the ancient honorific Amyrlin meant something like mother to all, it means that she was a servant to everyone in the world, matter it not she was the leader of the white tower. That first part about serving faithfully as Amyrlin could leave some wiggle room depending on how one viewed the title of Amyrlin, the last however left no wiggle room for anything.
“I will treat everyone with fairness and justice as is prescribed by the dai’shan aiel of the grey tower and the Aes Sedai code of ethics”. Those were binding stronger than time itself. The grey tower first because only the dai’shan aiel more than anyone can decide what is fair and right, they were and are the original truth seekers among so much more. You would also have as much power to reach the moon as you would to get the Aes Sedai code of ethics changed. First it would take a proposal from either of the leaders from the white or black tower. Either the Amyrlin of the white tower or the Pope of the black tower has to make a suggested change, which then needs to go through each Ajah/Faction and receive 90% approval, then it gets sent to the other tower to make its way up through the chains until it finally ends with the other towers leader. If it passes all of that it gets sent to the grey tower for approval again 90% before finally appearing before the first servant leader of the grey tower for final approval, and at any stage it can be stopped if it doesn’t pass.
That wasn’t it though, no she was not Amyrlin at her aunt’s funeral. Before then was the Blue ajah, which was closer. But still too recent, what level was she? The sleeping shift she wore was one of the new fads called a one piece. It was literally one garment that covered both legs and torso. It had several convenient buttons for keeping it on or taking it off. It was grey cotton all one solid color, and it was bunching up at the knees. Mariann distractedly Jerked it back into position. Her thoughts drifted too far back to when she had her very first foretelling which was that she would one day become Amyrlin seat. She was a young girl of only 16 years, and she knew without a doubt. It came in bursts though and it was not something she could control.
This vision came on stronger than any she had ever encountered before. So strong it jerked her body stiff as a board and slammed her down thankfully into the bed she was already laying on. An Evil shadow of a man, a giant taller than mountains, and blacker than the darkest shadows on a moonless night, peering down at the world smiling, that smile turning your blood to jelly and freezing you in place with its ill intent. A great serpentine beast came flying from the other side of the world, Long and scales glimmering like diamonds with talons made of pure gold but sharper than the sharpest knife, fire trailing from its partially open moth off its gleaming sharp teeth. It was equally large as the malevolent shadow man and flew on giant tornado causing wings straight at the other. They fought a great battle against each other, but in doing so caused so many deaths as swaths of their destruction ravaged the world. A flash of light and Mariann was staring at the grey tower as if just a few hundred yards away. She started walking towards it only to watch in horror and bewilderment as the tower before her cracked and collapsed as if a mirror or glass shattered. Another flash of light and she saw a baby boy, but he aged so fast right before her eyes until he died as an old man. She couldn’t remember much, but she knew deep down that he was in some way related to the other visions and this man, for it was definitely a man, was likely the cause of them.
Opening her eyes to stare at the brown four poster cloth above her and remembering every detail about her vision she distractedly spoke to herself . “Goshin is my sur name and I last heard it at Aunt Maragel Goshin’s funeral while I was at the green level”. She shook her head, that wasn’t important anymore if it ever really was. She quickly sat up in her woolen one piece swinging her feet over the side of the bed and hurried to her nightstand. Sitting in the chair she reached in one drawer to get paper and another to get an ink pointer. Channeling a single small strand of fire into a swinging glass bulb above her bed brought light into the room. She hastily started scribbling down every detail from her vision, she was grateful she always kept ink and paper nearby to do so.

Mr. Telamon was a nervous wreck while sitting in the hospital waiting room. He somehow knew, sensed something was wrong with his wife’s delivery. Dai’shan aiel were everywhere; as were nurses, patients or close kin waiting, Every once in a while a doctor’s assistant would come out and call a name ushering someone to see a doctor. Really bad cases would be taken in through a separate entrance known only to the healers. It didn’t matter, and he got confirmation as those doors opened up and not the assistant, but the doctor who had taken his wife looked around the room first at the dai’shan, then at him. A group of three of the white clad figures started moving towards him even before the doctor did. They felt his grief or rather the grief he was going to feel, even before he himself felt it. That and they knew it would take three of them to calm him down. Tears were streaming from his eyes before the doctor even started speaking.
“There was a complication during the pregnancy, your son is ok, your wife however did not make it, I’m so sorry. She did manage to tell us a name before she passed. Lews, Lews Therin after her father. Is that what you would like on the birth certificate?”
Baby Lews’s father numbly nodded, and the doctor walked away as uncontrollable sobs started emanating from the man. The three dai’shan aiel circled around him arm in arm and started singing a song of comfort and peace and mourning.
***
Rand Al’thor was asleep soundly when something woke him up, but he couldn’t tell what or where, or even anything for that matter. It was like the void, nothingness, but a sound, not a feeling, a heartbeat. The heartbeat was much faster than it was and suddenly something pushed him hard in the head. Go away he thought I’m trying to sleep. However the push came back stronger than before, this time managing to flip him upside down, upside down?, he could tell direction in this floating nothingness. Really awake now Rand tried to remember, remember?, remember what? Again the push and he was being squeezed to death and suddenly he remembered something about the dark one. A voice, a word, a sentence, the dark one wanted him dead. Was this the dark one trying to kill him, again push, again very tight squeeze, this time a light as if from a tunnel. It wasn’t the only light though, Rand went to the real void, and he saw it, Saiadin. He reached out with all his might to grab it and it came like a flood. He couldn’t control it, he had no strength, and his memory was foggy, he just expelled it to get out the other light and away from the pushing and death squeeze.
As Saiadin left him so did more and more memories, he tried to shout that he killed the dark one, sealed the bore so it could never be open. All that came out of his mouth was a scream. No blood and fire no I did this already, I won, I’m done. And with that last thought Rand Al’thor fell deep deep asleep into the furthest recesses of the brain. Lews took a deep breath and let out another scream wanting his mother or anyone to come pick him up and sooth his little soul.

The dragon is born!

Chapter 1
16 years later
The wheel of time turns, and Ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legend fades to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the fifth age by some and the first by others. An age yet to come, an age long past, a dark icy wind arose from about as far north as you can get. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings nor endings to the turning of the wheel of time. But it was a beginning.
A steam vent in an icy mountain let out a puff of sulfur like particles riding the wind. High and fast the dark tainted wind rode across the Nym fields, high enough to escape the notice of the Nym, ever vigilant in their desire to protect the world. Over the borderlands of mankind, given graciously by the Nym when mankind needs more space to grow. Still high in the sky the dark wind blew through wild wilderness where only the Nym, the Ogier, the dai’shan aiel, and the Aes Sedai were allowed to travel if at some risk. The wind started descending as it traveled into the warmer southern air. Up ahead in the distance was a magnificently large tower made of stone black like obsidian, but much stronger. Along the northern wall of this Black tower were several windows, most open hoping to catch some of the cool breeze which it did nicely.
It was into one of these windows the dark wind blew, a classroom, though filled only with boys. The tainted breeze flew around several students, all dressed in black school uniforms and sitting at wooden desks on little rickety stool like chairs with just the barest of backrest. The flow of air flew so close to the face of one student he gave a start, finally going up the next nearby student’s nose just as he took in a deep breath.
Lews gave such a start at the intrusion, and he stood up sneezing loudly, the rancid smell still strong in his nose. Taller than most of his peers he certainly stood over everyone’s head while they were all sitting down.
“What are you doing, you look like a dork, hurry and sit down before anyone notices.” His best friend [Ishamael]() tried to warn him. However, it was already too late for that, most of the class was now looking at him which made him self conscious even if the women all said he looked like a dream. Worse, the teacher at the front of the class in a very similar black colored uniform was looking at him expectedly.
“Yes Lews, do you think you know the answer?” To Lews’s horror he realized he had been spending most of the class in a daydream about being the most powerful weaver ever. It was important that distinction, woman channel men weave. Saiadar and Saiadin, two halves of the same whole, both apart of the one power the true source. Everyone could learn to use it, or at least almost everyone. The dai’shan don’t channel or weave for all the power of their songs, not one of them it’s a law to join among other things. Other people might be so weak in the power it should be they don’t have it at all, there are objects which can amplify or temporarily give someone use of the one power, those with so little power that resort to using these transcognative devices were often socially outcast. Transmogs they were called when someone was being nice.
That didn’t help him now, he was in history class, and definitely not studying Transmogs. Lews desperately wracked his brain trying to remember what they were discussing. The teacher’s slight smile was starting to droop to a slight frown. Nym’s that was what they were discussing, what about Nym’s? Desperately looking around for some hope, he finally remembered. It was a question about the first Nym, what was his name?
“Goak him jim knee?” Lews answered with a rightfully apologetic look on his face. Sighing the teacher said “close, Oakhimgimee. At least he was close!” The teacher got progressively louder while giving the rest of the class an evil eye. The laughter that had started quickly quieted. Just at that particular moment a loud bell decided to ring calling an end to that class period.
As the other students started standing up, talking, and starting to head for the door, the teacher weaved a small weave that produced a louder voice reminding the class they had the test coming up at the end of the week.
Lews slowly grabbed his bag and followed the steady stream of students leaving the class.