Hey love Reading Clementine centric fics especially with a focus on her developing a ruthlessness to survive while keeping her humanity. However I've developed an itch I can't seem to find an fic to scratch.
I'm looking for a decently long fic 50k or more but I will settle for less since I'm that desperate!
Where Clem from season 3 or 4 or in between runs into Lee. (I'm sure you can see why I would like this.)
If it doesn't exist then here's some inspiration. Imagine a Lee who spared clementine the pain of shooting him and wakes up a few days after she leaves realising he had succeeded in stopping the bite by losing his arm. He escapes the handcuffs and leaves savannah and over the next 2 years focuses on finding clementine while surviving.
He eventually hears a gunshot in the woods and sneaks over to see what was happening finding christa who had successfully shot one of the 3 men surrounding her. He goes in to help and as he kills the second the third is able to stab christa in the stomach. Overcome by rage Lee smashes his head into a tree "joel style" as he holds a dying christa she points in a random direction and with her final breath hears "clementine" reluctantly he puts her down and rushes forward his mind locked onto the one shred of hope he has to live through the end of the world.
However as he reaches an open area cleaved through by a raging torrent. He spots a man his face being used as a chew toy for a walker while others chase after... CLEMENTINE. He runs cleaving through walkers chasing after his little girl and he goes to yell her name, to draw attention away from her or just to make this feel more real He doesn't know. But as he does he watches as she slips a walker hidden from her view pushing her into the frothing current. And after 2 years of searching Lee finally broke watching the closest person he will ever have to a daughter fall to her death.
Lee drifted for the next 6 years. A dead man walking in a world of the walking dead. Hunt, kill, move on and repeat. The rotting hacked a part and the living swiftly shot. He wondered why he still lived most days, she was only a girl he knew for a few months sure he knew of her for longer but he only spent time with her for such a short blip in the span of his life. But when he though back to her in the barn innocently wondering what the smell was, to her drawings with duck or her smile when he gave her the last apple they had at the motel. It fed the dwindling flame of his person for another day, as it had the day before and the day before that.
He was in another forest now, the trees were different and it was warmer too, but it still dragged him back to his sole nightmare for the last few years. Her falling, and being swallowed whole.
He was a little too lost in his memories so when he felt a snag at his feet he thought nothing of it, that was until he was raised off the grown by a jerk so sudden he dropped hatchet he had taken from the corspe of a near frozen solid walker up north a few years ago.
He looked downwards or rather his new upwards towards his stretched out leg his ankle being slowly crashed by his weight as bore sole load of his person. His right left felt useless and the awkward angle was helping his aging hips. He tried to reach towards his weapon, noticed thinner than when he first found it after years of dulling and sharpening. But his fingers only brushed at the hilt and any extending he attempted only worked the agony of his ankle being constricted within the now clearly noticible homemade rope.
He was about to make another attempt knowing he was a dead man without a tool to dispatch of the dead but he heard it, a voice not to far in the woods.
"Your kidding right? There's no way you can do that, he'll how do you even find out how to do that?" A boy, a young adult at best. It was the kind of voice he would hear making a poorly timed joke in one of his university lectures. He could see through the foliage their figures atleast two though it might be three if the way something seemed to hover by their legs seemed to indicate.
"Well I taken once from my group by this crazy person who thought I was his duaghter or something. He took me to the other side of the city and the man who had been looking after me chased him down, he had killed so many walkers on his way to me that they started ignoring him. He figured out what happened and covered me in guts so we could escape together." A young women's voice, clearly around the same age which was weird, for the past few years now the only survivers he had met were his age maybe a bit younger but they were adults when he'll froze over and the dead migrated up top.
The kids and the teenages just died off as the years went by, as if the world was saying the apocalypse wasn't meant for children, for Clem.
They were drawing closer, Lee didn't know how to even react in this situation. He knew he had to try and talk them into helping him down and sparing him but there was a real possibility this trap was made for people rather than walkers, it was too elaborate for something as simple as refilling the dead. But he wasn't in any sort of position of strength his weapon was just out of reach and he didn't have an form of leverage to do anything but dangle while ensuring his leg didn't awkwardly dangle at an odd angle.
"That guy must have been a badass, I've killed my fair share of walkers don't get me wrong but NEVER enough to be mistaken for one and the fact he did that just to save you means he must have cared about you a lot."
It was only then when the story caught up to him, the boys words previously more akin to a white noise similar to the sounds of nature while he contemplated his options but as his mind registering how familiar it was. But as she turned around a larger trunk of tree and he saw that blue and white cap his world was shattered and made anew.
"Yeah... he was the best. Honestly I never would have made it if it wasn't for... LEE!"
(This was all off the cuff but please tell me what you think cuase I might just give up and wrote one myself xD)

OPINION Seiler: Please don't lie to our reporters Albany County Executive Dan McCoy told the Times Union a false account; even in these fallen times, it wasn't a wise move By Casey Seiler May 18, 2024 Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, who earlier this month told a Times Union reporter a story that was contradicted by State Police video. If an elected official will lie to a reporter, are they more or less likely to lie to a member of the general public?
Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, who earlier this month told a Times Union reporter a story that was contradicted by State Police video. If an elected official will lie to a reporter, are they more or less likely to lie to a member of the general public?
I am fond of quoting Mike Gormley, a veteran state Capitol reporter who has worked for the Times Union, The Associated Press and Newsday: “It’s not illegal to lie to a reporter.”
Because he covers state government and politics, Mike has had frequent occasions to deploy that line. When I worked at the Capitol, he would chase those words with a little body language or eyebrow action that would make it clear that while fibbing to the media wasn’t against the law, he thought it wasn’t exactly smart — and it certainly wasn’t commendable.
Recent weeks have brought a few episodes of local officials dissembling with Times Union journalists. The most egregious involves Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, who two weeks ago told Brendan Lyons that his answer was a “flat-out no” in response to the question of whether his taxpayer-salaried counsel, Jeff Jamison, had provided his taxpayer-salaried deputy, Mike McLaughlin, with legal advice on the evening of May 1, when McLaughlin was pulled over by a state trooper who allegedly saw him driving erratically in Colonie.
In an interview a few days later, McCoy told Lyons that Jamison had merely given his co-worker a ride home from the State Police barracks, and only interacted with McLaughlin after he had been processed. Brendan asked the county executive the same question twice — which should have been a bit of a warning sign to McCoy.
As Brendan reported for a subsequent story posted and printed on Friday, the trooper’s body-cam video — obtained in response to a Freedom of Information Law request — contradicts several elements of McCoy’s story: Faced with the option of taking a blood-alcohol test or automatically getting his license suspended for up to a year, McLaughlin calls the county executive and says he needs a number for an attorney; McCoy can be heard suggesting Jamison; McLaughlin calls Jamison, describes his predicament and asks if he should consent to the test, and then tells the trooper that he has been told to answer no.
To be very clear: A private citizen arrested for DWI without causing a crash or otherwise injuring somebody is probably not something the Times Union is going to write about (unless the driver was doing something as perilous as barreling down the Northway in the wrong direction, which was not the case here). A deputy county executive charged with DWI is more of a borderline case in terms of newsworthiness because of his public role. But a deputy county executive who ropes in his boss and his boss' top counsel for legal assistance from the State Police barracks is definitely a story.
And a top county official attempting to deceive the media about the extent of his and his staff’s involvement in the incident? Well, you can take a look at Friday’s front page for my answer on that one.
While some might disagree, it's pretty axiomatic that a public official who would lie to a reporter — a misdeed that comes with significant potential reputational downside — is likely to lie to individual members of the public as easily as falling out of the proverbial boat. Lying to a reporter, after all, is effectively the same as lying to thousands of people at once.
Over the course of my three decades plus in journalism, I have been lied to by all kinds of public officials, from legal eagles who spin elaborate webs of precedent and obfuscation to conceal their untruths to village officials who act as if documents in the public record are as insubstantial as morning mist over a golf course. (After one particularly fraught conference call with members of the latter group a few years ago, I turned to reporter Rob Gavin and said, “I’ve been lied to before, but never that lazily.”)
I’ve never worked in public relations, but I know enough about that field to offer this counsel: Confronted with the choices of talking to the media on a matter of public concern or stonewalling, you should talk to the media. If during an interview a topic arises on which you feel you have no options other than offering a "no comment" or lying, definitely go with the "no comment." But if you’ve gotten that far along this decision tree and have lied to a reporter and been caught at it, apologize and explain why you prevaricated — and do it quickly.
Called for comment on Thursday, McCoy’s spokesperson said he would answer no further questions on the matter.

OPINION Seiler: Please don't lie to our reporters Albany County Executive Dan McCoy told the Times Union a false account; even in these fallen times, it wasn't a wise move By Casey Seiler May 18, 2024 Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, who earlier this month told a Times Union reporter a story that was contradicted by State Police video. If an elected official will lie to a reporter, are they more or less likely to lie to a member of the general public?
Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, who earlier this month told a Times Union reporter a story that was contradicted by State Police video. If an elected official will lie to a reporter, are they more or less likely to lie to a member of the general public?
I am fond of quoting Mike Gormley, a veteran state Capitol reporter who has worked for the Times Union, The Associated Press and Newsday: “It’s not illegal to lie to a reporter.”
Because he covers state government and politics, Mike has had frequent occasions to deploy that line. When I worked at the Capitol, he would chase those words with a little body language or eyebrow action that would make it clear that while fibbing to the media wasn’t against the law, he thought it wasn’t exactly smart — and it certainly wasn’t commendable.
Recent weeks have brought a few episodes of local officials dissembling with Times Union journalists. The most egregious involves Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, who two weeks ago told Brendan Lyons that his answer was a “flat-out no” in response to the question of whether his taxpayer-salaried counsel, Jeff Jamison, had provided his taxpayer-salaried deputy, Mike McLaughlin, with legal advice on the evening of May 1, when McLaughlin was pulled over by a state trooper who allegedly saw him driving erratically in Colonie.
In an interview a few days later, McCoy told Lyons that Jamison had merely given his co-worker a ride home from the State Police barracks, and only interacted with McLaughlin after he had been processed. Brendan asked the county executive the same question twice — which should have been a bit of a warning sign to McCoy.
As Brendan reported for a subsequent story posted and printed on Friday, the trooper’s body-cam video — obtained in response to a Freedom of Information Law request — contradicts several elements of McCoy’s story: Faced with the option of taking a blood-alcohol test or automatically getting his license suspended for up to a year, McLaughlin calls the county executive and says he needs a number for an attorney; McCoy can be heard suggesting Jamison; McLaughlin calls Jamison, describes his predicament and asks if he should consent to the test, and then tells the trooper that he has been told to answer no.
To be very clear: A private citizen arrested for DWI without causing a crash or otherwise injuring somebody is probably not something the Times Union is going to write about (unless the driver was doing something as perilous as barreling down the Northway in the wrong direction, which was not the case here). A deputy county executive charged with DWI is more of a borderline case in terms of newsworthiness because of his public role. But a deputy county executive who ropes in his boss and his boss' top counsel for legal assistance from the State Police barracks is definitely a story.
And a top county official attempting to deceive the media about the extent of his and his staff’s involvement in the incident? Well, you can take a look at Friday’s front page for my answer on that one.
While some might disagree, it's pretty axiomatic that a public official who would lie to a reporter — a misdeed that comes with significant potential reputational downside — is likely to lie to individual members of the public as easily as falling out of the proverbial boat. Lying to a reporter, after all, is effectively the same as lying to thousands of people at once.
Over the course of my three decades plus in journalism, I have been lied to by all kinds of public officials, from legal eagles who spin elaborate webs of precedent and obfuscation to conceal their untruths to village officials who act as if documents in the public record are as insubstantial as morning mist over a golf course. (After one particularly fraught conference call with members of the latter group a few years ago, I turned to reporter Rob Gavin and said, “I’ve been lied to before, but never that lazily.”)
I’ve never worked in public relations, but I know enough about that field to offer this counsel: Confronted with the choices of talking to the media on a matter of public concern or stonewalling, you should talk to the media. If during an interview a topic arises on which you feel you have no options other than offering a "no comment" or lying, definitely go with the "no comment." But if you’ve gotten that far along this decision tree and have lied to a reporter and been caught at it, apologize and explain why you prevaricated — and do it quickly.
Called for comment on Thursday, McCoy’s spokesperson said he would answer no further questions on the matter.

The Shimmer, I.
Quietly as a mouse, Ian crept through the hallway of his shared flat. He could see the faint bluish glow reaching out from under the crack under his flat mate's door. "One step to the right, two forward, far left," Ian thought to himself. This was the pathway through the creaky hallway so he would not alert his flat mates to his nightly escapes.
"It’s not that they would care," he deliberated to himself, "but knowing me, I'm definitely not sneaking a girl in here," and Ian didn’t want to have to explain that his nightly trips had nothing to do with booze, girls, or anything his flat mates would really understand.
No. Ian was on his way for the umpteenth time, to the campus apiary.
He had gotten quite good at sneaking through campus without being spotted. A near run-in with campus security on his first trip, and Ian quickly found out that black was the optimal color to wear when sneaking about, and his knees had now grown accustomed to the frequent crouching he would be taxed with, in order to earn his nightly prize.
The apiary was no short trip from his flat. It was situated far from the main campus on the outskirts of the property lines to the east of the lake and in the heart of a small clearing; a gateway to the 120 acres of forest that stood ominous and ancient behind it.
Finally outside, Ian closed the front door without making a sound, slowly allowing the doorknob to reset into the locked position. The warm, late summer air greeted him, tinged with the early crispness of fall. "Perhaps a sweater next time," he said to himself, making a mental note, and off he went along his well trotted path to the guardians of the forest.
The apiary tool shed housed the bee suits and Ian expertly slipped into his, his caution heightened, aware that he now stood out against the dark night, as an eerie white shadow against a canopy of darkness. He took careful steps to ensure he would not disturb any of the other winged residents on his way to the old trees at the edge of the forest, where he first witnessed it - the otherworldly shimmer of the great honeybees.
Noone knew this but Ian, because typically honeybees follow a normal circadian rhythm just like their mammalian counterparts - awake by day and asleep by night. But this hive was different. Ian had sensed it the moment his eyes locked upon it the day the beekeeper introduced his new obsession to him. These bees did not sleep by night. They were just as alive in the pale and quiet moonlight, as they were during the heat and busyness of the day. As he approached, he felt the bees could sense his presence, and to Ian, something extraordinary. As he slowly approached the great hive, he was greeted with a slow, deliberate shimmer, one that seemed to say, "Greetings, friend."
Ian slowly crouched and bowed his head, keeping his eyes locked onto the great hive, which seemed to respond to his gesture. As he gazed upon it, his heartbeat increased, he could feel the blood rushing through his ear as he tried to remain perfectly still, determined to not break his almost motionless position. Then, a new shimmer rippled out from the center of the hive, one that pulsed rapidly outward, as if the hive were becoming more alert. Ian knew that his was the sign he needed - permission. Ian kept himself low and ever so slowly, moved toward the almost inaudible pulse of the buzzing, until he was directly beneath the behemoth branch itself that the great hive loomed from.
Underneath the ancient arms stretched out toward the horizons, Ian places his back against the wide trunk of the great oak tree and slowly closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, allowing the low pulsing to enter his senses, lulling him into a state of calm he had never known before.
"Hello, Ian," said an insect-like voice inside his head.
Stay Tuned - The Shimmer, III.

Quietly as a mouse, Ian crept through the hallway of his shared flat. He could see the faint bluish glow reaching out from under the crack under his flat mate's door. "One step to the right, two forward, far left," Ian thought to himself. This was the pathway through the creaky hallway so he would not alert his flat mates to his nightly escapes.
"It’s not that they would care," he deliberated to himself, "but knowing me, I'm definitely not sneaking a girl in here," and Ian didn’t want to have to explain that his nightly trips had nothing to do with booze, girls, or anything his flat mates would really understand.
No. Ian was on his way for the umpteenth time, to the campus apiary.
He had gotten quite good at sneaking through campus without being spotted. A near run-in with campus security on his first trip, and Ian quickly found out that black was the optimal color to wear when sneaking about, and his knees had now grown accustomed to the frequent crouching he would be taxed with, in order to earn his nightly prize.
The apiary was no short trip from his flat. It was situated far from the main campus on the outskirts of the property lines to the east of the lake and in the heart of a small clearing; a gateway to the 120 acres of forest that stood ominous and ancient behind it.
Finally outside, Ian closed the front door without making a sound, slowly allowing the doorknob to reset into the locked position. The warm, late summer air greeted him, tinged with the early crispness of fall. "Perhaps a sweater next time," he said to himself, making a mental note, and off he went along his well trotted path to the guardians of the forest.
The apiary tool shed housed the bee suits and Ian expertly slipped into his, his caution heightened, aware that he now stood out against the dark night, as an eerie white shadow against a canopy of darkness. He took careful steps to ensure he would not disturb any of the other winged residents on his way to the old trees at the edge of the forest, where he first witnessed it - the otherworldly shimmer of the great honeybees.
Noone knew this but Ian, because typically honeybees follow a normal circadian rhythm just like their mammalian counterparts - awake by day and asleep by night. But this hive was different. Ian had sensed it the moment his eyes locked upon it the day the beekeeper introduced his new obsession to him. These bees did not sleep by night. They were just as alive in the pale and quiet moonlight, as they were during the heat and busyness of the day. As he approached, he felt the bees could sense his presence, and to Ian, something extraordinary. As he slowly approached the great hive, he was greeting with a slow, deliberate shimmer, one that seemed to say, "Greetings, friend."
Ian slowly crouched and bowed his head, keeping his eyes locked onto the great hive, which seemed to respond to his gesture. As he gazed upon it, his heartbeat increased, he could feel the blood rushing through his ear as he tried to remain perfectly still, determined to not break his almost motionless position. Then, a new shimmer rippled out from the center of the hive, one that pulsed rapidly outward, as if the hive were becoming more alert. Ian knew that his was the sign he needed - permission. Ian kept himself low and ever so slowly, moved toward the almost inaudible pulse of the buzzing, until he was directly beneath the behemoth branch itself that the great hive loomed from.
Underneath the ancient arms stretched out toward the horizons, Ian places his back against the wide trunk of the great oak tree and slowly closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, allowing the low pulsing to enter his senses, lulling him into a state of calm he had never known before.
"Hello, Ian," said an insect-like voice inside his head.
Stay Tuned - The Shimmer, III.

Howdy! My english bad sorry for that but are you know what mod are crashing game? When I create new world game crashes.
---- Minecraft Crash Report ----
// You're mean.
Time: 2024-05-19 04:57:47
Description: Exception in server tick loop
java.lang.BootstrapMethodError: java.lang.RuntimeException: Mixin transformation of com.simibubi.create.content.trains.entity.Train failed

`at com.simibubi.create.content.trains.GlobalRailwayManager.loadTrackData(GlobalRailwayManager.java:94)` `at com.simibubi.create.content.trains.GlobalRailwayManager.levelLoaded(GlobalRailwayManager.java:83)` `at com.simibubi.create.foundation.events.CommonEvents.onLoadWorld(CommonEvents.java:171)` `at net.fabricmc.fabric.api.event.lifecycle.v1.ServerWorldEvents.lambda$static$0(ServerWorldEvents.java:34)` `at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.redirect$coo000$fabric-lifecycle-events-v1$onLoadWorld(MinecraftServer.java:4870)` `at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.method_3786(MinecraftServer.java:360)` `at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.method_3735(MinecraftServer.java:324)` `at net.minecraft.class_1132.method_3823(class_1132.java:69)` `at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.method_29741(MinecraftServer.java:646)` `at net.minecraft.server.MinecraftServer.method_29739(MinecraftServer.java:265)` `at java.base/java.lang.Thread.run(Thread.java:833)` 

Caused by: java.lang.RuntimeException: Mixin transformation of com.simibubi.create.content.trains.entity.Train failed

`at net.fabricmc.loader.impl.launch.knot.KnotClassDelegate.getPostMixinClassByteArray(KnotClassDelegate.java:427)` `at net.fabricmc.loader.impl.launch.knot.KnotClassDelegate.tryLoadClass(KnotClassDelegate.java:323)` `at net.fabricmc.loader.impl.launch.knot.KnotClassDelegate.loadClass(KnotClassDelegate.java:218)` `at net.fabricmc.loader.impl.launch.knot.KnotClassLoader.loadClass(KnotClassLoader.java:119)` `at java.base/java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClass(ClassLoader.java:525)` `... 11 more` 

Caused by: org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.throwables.MixinTransformerError: An unexpected critical error was encountered

`at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinProcessor.applyMixins(MixinProcessor.java:392)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinTransformer.transformClass(MixinTransformer.java:234)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinTransformer.transformClassBytes(MixinTransformer.java:202)` `at net.fabricmc.loader.impl.launch.knot.KnotClassDelegate.getPostMixinClassByteArray(KnotClassDelegate.java:422)` `... 15 more` 

Caused by: org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.throwables.MixinApplyError: Mixin [create_interactive.mixins.json:MixinTrain from mod create_interactive] from phase [DEFAULT] in config [create_interactive.mixins.json] FAILED during APPLY

`at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinProcessor.handleMixinError(MixinProcessor.java:638)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinProcessor.handleMixinApplyError(MixinProcessor.java:589)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinProcessor.applyMixins(MixinProcessor.java:379)` `... 18 more` 

Caused by: org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.throwables.InvalidMixinException: u/Overwrite method findCollidingTrain in create_interactive.mixins.json:MixinTrain from mod create_interactive was not located in the target class com.simibubi.create.content.trains.entity.Train. Using refmap create_interactive-fabric-refmap.json

`at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinPreProcessorStandard.attachSpecialMethod(MixinPreProcessorStandard.java:436)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinPreProcessorStandard.attachOverwriteMethod(MixinPreProcessorStandard.java:416)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinPreProcessorStandard.attachMethods(MixinPreProcessorStandard.java:346)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinPreProcessorStandard.attach(MixinPreProcessorStandard.java:299)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinPreProcessorStandard.createContextFor(MixinPreProcessorStandard.java:277)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinInfo.createContextFor(MixinInfo.java:1289)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinApplicatorStandard.apply(MixinApplicatorStandard.java:294)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.TargetClassContext.apply(TargetClassContext.java:422)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.TargetClassContext.applyMixins(TargetClassContext.java:403)` `at org.spongepowered.asm.mixin.transformer.MixinProcessor.applyMixins(MixinProcessor.java:363)` `... 18 more` 

A detailed walkthrough of the error, its code path and all known details is as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-- System Details --
Details:

`Minecraft Version: 1.20.1` `Minecraft Version ID: 1.20.1` `Operating System: Windows 11 (amd64) version 10.0` `Java Version: 17.0.8, Microsoft` `Java VM Version: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (mixed mode), Microsoft` `Memory: 2679414400 bytes (2555 MiB) / 4932501504 bytes (4704 MiB) up to 34359738368 bytes (32768 MiB)` `CPUs: 16` `Processor Vendor: GenuineIntel` `Processor Name: 11th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-11700K @ 3.60GHz` `Identifier: Intel64 Family 6 Model 167 Stepping 1` `Microarchitecture: Rocket Lake` `Frequency (GHz): 3.60` `Number of physical packages: 1` `Number of physical CPUs: 8` `Number of logical CPUs: 16` `Graphics card #0 name: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080` `Graphics card #0 vendor: NVIDIA (0x10de)` `Graphics card #0 VRAM (MB): 4095.00` `Graphics card #0 deviceId: 0x2216` `Graphics card #0 versionInfo: DriverVersion=31.0.15.5212` `Memory slot #0 capacity (MB): 16384.00` `Memory slot #0 clockSpeed (GHz): 3.20` `Memory slot #0 type: DDR4` `Memory slot #1 capacity (MB): 16384.00` `Memory slot #1 clockSpeed (GHz): 3.20` `Memory slot #1 type: DDR4` `Virtual memory max (MB): 38777.41` `Virtual memory used (MB): 14516.93` `Swap memory total (MB): 6144.00` `Swap memory used (MB): 0.00` `JVM Flags: 9 total; -XX:HeapDumpPath=MojangTricksIntelDriversForPerformance_javaw.exe_minecraft.exe.heapdump -Xss1M -Xmx32G -XX:+UnlockExperimentalVMOptions -XX:+UseG1GC -XX:G1NewSizePercent=20 -XX:G1ReservePercent=20 -XX:MaxGCPauseMillis=50 -XX:G1HeapRegionSize=32M` `Fabric Mods:` `ad_astra: Ad Astra 1.15.18` `javazoom_jlayer: jlayer 1.0.1` `alloy_forgery: Alloy Forgery 2.1.2+1.20` `antique-atlas: Antique Atlas 2.7.2+1.20` `folk_sisby_kaleido-config: kaleido-config 0.1.1+1.1.0-beta.3` `surveyor: Surveyor Map Framework 0.4.3+1.20` `appleskin: AppleSkin 2.5.1+mc1.20` `archers: Archers (RPG Series) 1.2.1+1.20.1` `com_github_zsoltmolnarrr_tinyconfig: TinyConfig 2.3.2` `ranged_weapon_api: RangedWeaponAPI 1.1.0+1.20.1` `structure_pool_api: Structure Pool API 1.0+1.20.1` `architectury: Architectury 9.2.14` `artifacts: Artifacts 9.5.5` `cardinal-components-base: Cardinal Components API (base) 5.2.2` `cardinal-components-entity: Cardinal Components API (entities) 5.2.2` `expandability: ExpandAbility 9.0.4` `step-height-entity-attribute: Step Height Entity Attribute 1.2.0` `azurelibarmor: AzureLib Armor 2.0.3` `balm-fabric: Balm 7.2.2` `bclib: BCLib 3.0.14` `wunderlib: WunderLib 1.1.5` `bettercombat: Better Combat 1.8.5+1.20.1` `betterdeserttemples: YUNG's Better Desert Temples 1.20-Fabric-3.0.3` `org_reflections_reflections: reflections 0.10.2` `betterdungeons: YUNG's Better Dungeons 1.20-Fabric-4.0.4` `betterend: Better End 4.0.11` `betterendisland: YUNG's Better End Island 1.20-Fabric-2.0.6` `betterfortresses: YUNG's Better Nether Fortresses 1.20-Fabric-2.0.6` `betterjungletemples: YUNG's Better Jungle Temples 1.20-Fabric-2.0.5` `bettermineshafts: YUNG's Better Mineshafts 1.20-Fabric-4.0.4` `betternether: Better Nether 9.0.10` `betteroceanmonuments: YUNG's Better Ocean Monuments 1.20-Fabric-3.0.4` `betterwitchhuts: YUNG's Better Witch Huts 1.20-Fabric-3.0.3` `bookshelf: Bookshelf 20.1.10` `bosses_of_mass_destruction: Bosses of Mass Destruction (Beta) 1.7.5-1.20.1` `maelstrom_library: Maelstrom Library 1.6.1-1.20` `multipart_entities: MultipartEntities 1.5-1.20` `botarium: Botarium 2.3.3` `team_reborn_energy: Energy 3.0.0` `cardinal-components: Cardinal Components API 5.2.2` `cardinal-components-block: Cardinal Components API (blocks) 5.2.2` `cardinal-components-chunk: Cardinal Components API (chunks) 5.2.2` `cardinal-components-item: Cardinal Components API (items) 5.2.2` `cardinal-components-level: Cardinal Components API (world saves) 5.2.2` `cardinal-components-scoreboard: Cardinal Components API (scoreboard) 5.2.2` `cardinal-components-world: Cardinal Components API (worlds) 5.2.2` `carryon: Carry On` [`2.1.2.7`](http://2.1.2.7) `charmofundying: Charm of Undying 6.5.0+1.20.1` `spectrelib: SpectreLib 0.13.15+1.20.1` `cicada: CICADA 0.7.1+1.20.1` `cloth-config: Cloth Config v11 11.1.118` `cloth-basic-math: cloth-basic-math 0.6.1` `crawl: Crawl 0.12.0` `mm: Manningham Mills 2.3` `create: Create 0.5.1-f-build.1417+mc1.20.1` `com_electronwill_night-config_core: core 3.6.6` `com_electronwill_night-config_toml: toml 3.6.6` `com_google_code_findbugs_jsr305: jsr305 3.0.2` `flywheel: Flywheel 0.6.10-2` `forgeconfigapiport: Forge Config API Port 8.0.0` `milk: Milk Lib 1.2.60` 

dripstone_fluid_lib: Dripstone Fluid Lib 3.0.2

 `porting_lib_brewing: Porting Lib Brewing 2.3.2+1.20.1` `porting_lib_models: Porting Lib Models 2.3.2+1.20.1` 

porting_lib_model_loader: Porting Lib Model Loader 2.3.2+1.20.1

 `porting_lib_obj_loader: Porting Lib Obj Loader 2.3.2+1.20.1` `porting_lib_tags: Porting Lib Tags 3.0` `reach-entity-attributes: Reach Entity Attributes 2.4.0` `registrate-fabric: Registrate for Fabric 1.3.62-MC1.20.1` 

porting_lib_data: Porting Lib Data 2.1.1090+1.20
porting_lib_model_generators: Porting Lib Model Generators 2.1.1090+1.20
porting_lib_model_materials: Porting Lib Model Materials 2.1.1090+1.20

 `create_interactive: Create: Interactive 1.0.2-beta.2` `create_jetpack: Create Jetpack 4.2.0` `flightlib: Flight Lib 2.1.0` `createbigcannons: Create Big Cannons 0.5.4-nightly-8b9cea6` `ritchiesprojectilelib: Ritchie's Projectile Library 1.0.0-369e88d+1.20.1-fabric` 

porting_lib_utility: Porting Lib Utility 2.1.1127+1.20
porting_lib_gametest: Porting Lib GameTest 2.1.1127+1.20

 `creativecore: CreativeCore 2.11.28` `net_minecraftforge_eventbus: eventbus 6.0.3` `creeperoverhaul: Creeper Overhaul 3.0.2` `distanthorizons: Distant Horizons 2.0.4-a-dev` `do_a_barrel_roll: Do a Barrel Roll 3.5.6+1.20.1` `fabric-permissions-api-v0: fabric-permissions-api 0.2-SNAPSHOT` `mixinsquared: MixinSquared 0.1.1` `dsurround: Dynamic Surroundings 0.3.3` `org_openjdk_nashorn_nashorn-core: nashorn-core 15.4` `eatinganimationid: Eating Animation 1.20+1.9.61` `elytraslot: Elytra Slot 6.3.0+1.20.1` `endermanoverhaul: Enderman Overhaul 1.0.4` `endrem: End Remastered 5.2.4` `fabric-api: Fabric API 0.92.0+1.20.1` `fabric-api-base: Fabric API Base 0.4.31+1802ada577` `fabric-api-lookup-api-v1: Fabric API Lookup API (v1) 1.6.36+1802ada577` `fabric-biome-api-v1: Fabric Biome API (v1) 13.0.13+1802ada577` `fabric-block-api-v1: Fabric Block API (v1) 1.0.11+1802ada577` `fabric-block-view-api-v2: Fabric BlockView API (v2) 1.0.1+1802ada577` `fabric-blockrenderlayer-v1: Fabric BlockRenderLayer Registration (v1) 1.1.41+1802ada577` `fabric-client-tags-api-v1: Fabric Client Tags 1.1.2+1802ada577` `fabric-command-api-v1: Fabric Command API (v1) 1.2.34+f71b366f77` `fabric-command-api-v2: Fabric Command API (v2) 2.2.13+1802ada577` `fabric-commands-v0: Fabric Commands (v0) 0.2.51+df3654b377` `fabric-containers-v0: Fabric Containers (v0) 0.1.64+df3654b377` `fabric-content-registries-v0: Fabric Content Registries (v0) 4.0.11+1802ada577` `fabric-convention-tags-v1: Fabric Convention Tags 1.5.5+1802ada577` `fabric-crash-report-info-v1: Fabric Crash Report Info (v1) 0.2.19+1802ada577` `fabric-data-attachment-api-v1: Fabric Data Attachment API (v1) 1.0.0+de0fd6d177` `fabric-data-generation-api-v1: Fabric Data Generation API (v1) 12.3.4+1802ada577` `fabric-dimensions-v1: Fabric Dimensions API (v1) 2.1.54+1802ada577` `fabric-entity-events-v1: Fabric Entity Events (v1) 1.6.0+1c78457f77` `fabric-events-interaction-v0: Fabric Events Interaction (v0) 0.6.2+1802ada577` `fabric-events-lifecycle-v0: Fabric Events Lifecycle (v0) 0.2.63+df3654b377` `fabric-game-rule-api-v1: Fabric Game Rule API (v1) 1.0.40+1802ada577` `fabric-item-api-v1: Fabric Item API (v1) 2.1.28+1802ada577` `fabric-item-group-api-v1: Fabric Item Group API (v1) 4.0.12+1802ada577` `fabric-key-binding-api-v1: Fabric Key Binding API (v1) 1.0.37+1802ada577` `fabric-keybindings-v0: Fabric Key Bindings (v0) 0.2.35+df3654b377` `fabric-lifecycle-events-v1: Fabric Lifecycle Events (v1) 2.2.22+1802ada577` `fabric-loot-api-v2: Fabric Loot API (v2) 1.2.1+1802ada577` `fabric-loot-tables-v1: Fabric Loot Tables (v1) 1.1.45+9e7660c677` `fabric-message-api-v1: Fabric Message API (v1) 5.1.9+1802ada577` `fabric-mining-level-api-v1: Fabric Mining Level API (v1) 2.1.50+1802ada577` `fabric-model-loading-api-v1: Fabric Model Loading API (v1) 1.0.3+1802ada577` `fabric-models-v0: Fabric Models (v0) 0.4.2+9386d8a777` `fabric-networking-api-v1: Fabric Networking API (v1) 1.3.11+1802ada577` `fabric-networking-v0: Fabric Networking (v0) 0.3.51+df3654b377` `fabric-object-builder-api-v1: Fabric Object Builder API (v1) 11.1.3+1802ada577` `fabric-particles-v1: Fabric Particles (v1) 1.1.2+1802ada577` `fabric-recipe-api-v1: Fabric Recipe API (v1) 1.0.21+1802ada577` `fabric-registry-sync-v0: Fabric Registry Sync (v0) 2.3.3+1802ada577` `fabric-renderer-api-v1: Fabric Renderer API (v1) 3.2.1+1802ada577` `fabric-renderer-indigo: Fabric Renderer - Indigo 1.5.1+1802ada577` `fabric-renderer-registries-v1: Fabric Renderer Registries (v1) 3.2.46+df3654b377` `fabric-rendering-data-attachment-v1: Fabric Rendering Data Attachment (v1) 0.3.37+92a0d36777` `fabric-rendering-fluids-v1: Fabric Rendering Fluids (v1) 3.0.28+1802ada577` `fabric-rendering-v0: Fabric Rendering (v0) 1.1.49+df3654b377` `fabric-rendering-v1: Fabric Rendering (v1) 3.0.8+1802ada577` `fabric-resource-conditions-api-v1: Fabric Resource Conditions API (v1) 2.3.8+1802ada577` `fabric-resource-loader-v0: Fabric Resource Loader (v0) 0.11.10+1802ada577` `fabric-screen-api-v1: Fabric Screen API (v1) 2.0.8+1802ada577` `fabric-screen-handler-api-v1: Fabric Screen Handler API (v1) 1.3.30+1802ada577` `fabric-sound-api-v1: Fabric Sound API (v1) 1.0.13+1802ada577` `fabric-transfer-api-v1: Fabric Transfer API (v1) 3.3.4+1802ada577` `fabric-transitive-access-wideners-v1: Fabric Transitive Access Wideners (v1) 4.3.1+1802ada577` `fabric-language-kotlin: Fabric Language Kotlin 1.10.20+kotlin.1.9.24` `org_jetbrains_kotlin_kotlin-reflect: kotlin-reflect 1.9.24` `org_jetbrains_kotlin_kotlin-stdlib: kotlin-stdlib 1.9.24` `org_jetbrains_kotlin_kotlin-stdlib-jdk7: kotlin-stdlib-jdk7 1.9.24` `org_jetbrains_kotlin_kotlin-stdlib-jdk8: kotlin-stdlib-jdk8 1.9.24` `org_jetbrains_kotlinx_atomicfu-jvm: atomicfu-jvm 0.24.0` `org_jetbrains_kotlinx_kotlinx-coroutines-core-jvm: kotlinx-coroutines-core-jvm 1.8.0` `org_jetbrains_kotlinx_kotlinx-coroutines-jdk8: kotlinx-coroutines-jdk8 1.8.0` `org_jetbrains_kotlinx_kotlinx-datetime-jvm: kotlinx-datetime-jvm 0.5.0` `org_jetbrains_kotlinx_kotlinx-serialization-cbor-jvm: kotlinx-serialization-cbor-jvm 1.6.3` `org_jetbrains_kotlinx_kotlinx-serialization-core-jvm: kotlinx-serialization-core-jvm 1.6.3` `org_jetbrains_kotlinx_kotlinx-serialization-json-jvm: kotlinx-serialization-json-jvm 1.6.3` `fabricloader: Fabric Loader 0.15.11` `mixinextras: MixinExtras 0.3.5` `fallingtrees: Falling Trees 0.12` `farmersdelight: Farmer's Delight 1.20.1-2.1.1+refabricated` `porting_lib_accessors: Porting Lib Accessors 2.3.4+1.20.1` `porting_lib_base: Porting Lib Base 2.3.4+1.20.1` 

porting_lib_entity: Porting Lib Entity 2.3.4+1.20.1
porting_lib_fluids: Porting Lib Fluids 2.3.4+1.20.1
porting_lib_mixin_extensions: Porting Lib Mixin Extensions 2.3.4+1.20.1
porting_lib_transfer: Porting Lib Transfer 2.3.4+1.20.1

 `porting_lib_client_events: Porting Lib Client Events 2.3.4+1.20.1` `porting_lib_config: Porting Lib Config 2.3.4+1.20.1` `porting_lib_extensions: Porting Lib Extensions 2.3.4+1.20.1` 

porting_lib_attributes: Porting Lib Attributes 2.3.4+1.20.1
porting_lib_common: Porting Lib Common 2.3.4+1.20.1

 `porting_lib_lazy_registration: Porting Lib Lazy Register 2.3.4+1.20.1` 

porting_lib_core: Porting Lib Core 2.3.4+1.20.1

 `porting_lib_loot: Porting Lib Loot 2.3.4+1.20.1` `porting_lib_networking: Porting Lib Networking 2.3.4+1.20.1` `porting_lib_recipe_book_categories: Porting Lib Recipe Book Categories 2.3.4+1.20.1` `porting_lib_registries: Porting Lib Registries 2.3.4+1.20.1` `porting_lib_tool_actions: Porting Lib Tool Actions 2.3.4+1.20.1` `figura: Figura 0.1.4+1.20.1` `com_github_figuramc_luaj_luaj-core: luaj-core 3.0.8-figura` `com_github_figuramc_luaj_luaj-jse: luaj-jse 3.0.8-figura` `com_neovisionaries_nv-websocket-client: nv-websocket-client 2.14` `firstperson: FirstPerson 2.3.4` `framework: Framework 0.6.27` `org_javassist_javassist: javassist 3.29.2-GA` `friendlyfire: FriendlyFire 18.0.6` `geckolib: GeckoLib 4 4.4.4` `com_eliotlash_mclib_mclib: mclib 20` `goblintraders: Goblin Traders 1.9.3` `graveyard: The Graveyard 3.0` `guardvillagers: GuardVillagers 2.0.9-1.20.1` `midnightlib: MidnightLib 1.4.1` `healthindicatortxf: Health Indicator TXF 1.20.1-1.2.3-fabric` `configlibtxf: ConfigLib TXF 4.2.1-fabric` `horizontal_glass_panes: Horizontal Glass Panes 2.0.0` `indium: Indium 1.0.30+mc1.20.4` `inventoryprofilesnext: Inventory Profiles Next 1.10.10` `iris: Iris 1.7.0+mc1.20.1` `io_github_douira_glsl-transformer: glsl-transformer 2.0.0-pre13` `org_anarres_jcpp: jcpp 1.4.14` `org_antlr_antlr4-runtime: antlr4-runtime 4.11.1` `irisflw: Iris Flywheel Compat 0.2.5` `ironchest: Iron Chests 2.0.2` `libgui: LibGui 8.1.1+1.20.1` 

jankson: Jankson 6.0.0+j1.2.3
blue_endless_jankson: jankson 1.2.3
libninepatch: LibNinePatch 1.2.0

 `itemphysic: ItemPhysic 1.7.1` `jade: Jade 11.9.2+fabric` `java: OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM 17` `jei: Just Enough Items` [`15.3.0.4`](http://15.3.0.4) `jeresources: Just Enough Resources` [`1.4.0.247`](http://1.4.0.247) `jewelry: Jewelry (RPG Series) 1.3.0+1.20.1` `kiwi: Kiwi Library 11.6.2` `lambdynlights: LambDynamicLights 2.3.2+1.20.1` `pride: Pride Lib 1.2.0+1.19.4` `spruceui: SpruceUI 5.0.0+1.20` `libipn: libIPN 4.0.2` `lithium: Lithium 0.11.2` `minecraft: Minecraft 1.20.1` `mobsunscreen: Mob Sunscreen 3.1.0` `modmenu: Mod Menu 7.2.2` `mythicmounts: Mythic Mounts 1.20.1-7.4` `naturalist: Naturalist 4.0.3` `nethersdelight: Nether's Delight 1.0.0` `disable_custom_worlds_advice: Disable Custom Worlds Advice 4.1` `notenoughanimations: NotEnoughAnimations 1.7.3` `notreepunching: No Tree Punching 7.1.0` `nyfsspiders: Nyf's Spiders 2.1.1` `opf: Modern Online Picture Frames 1` `owo: oωo 0.11.1+1.20` `paladins: Paladins & Priests (RPG Series) 1.2.0+1.20.1` `pandalib: PandaLib 0.2.1` `passablefoliage: Passable Foliage 1.20.1-fabric-8.2.1` `patchouli: Patchouli 1.20.1-84-FABRIC` `fiber: fiber 0.23.0-2` `player-animator: Player Animator 1.0.2-rc1+1.20` `polymorph: Polymorph 0.49.3+1.20.1` `presencefootsteps: Presence Footsteps 1.9.4+1.20.1` `kirin: Kirin UI 1.15.6+1.20.1` `puffish_skills: Pufferfish's Skills 0.12.1` `reeses-sodium-options: Reese's Sodium Options 1.7.2+mc1.20.1-build.101` `repurposed_structures: Repurposed Structures 7.1.15+1.20.1-fabric` `resourcefulconfig: Resourcefulconfig 2.1.2` `resourcefullib: Resourceful Lib 2.1.24` `com_teamresourceful_bytecodecs: bytecodecs 1.0.2` `com_teamresourceful_yabn: yabn 1.0.3` `runes: Runes 0.9.11+1.20.1` `simplyswords: Simply Swords 1.55.0-1.20.1` `sit: Sit 1.20-24` `sliceanddice: Create Slice & Dice 3.2.1` `snowrealmagic: Snow! Real Magic! 10.4.3` `sodium: Sodium 0.5.8+mc1.20.1` `sodium-extra: Sodium Extra 0.5.4+mc1.20.1-build.115` `caffeineconfig: CaffeineConfig 1.3.0+1.17` `crowdin-translate: CrowdinTranslate 1.4+1.19.3` `spell_engine: Spell Engine 0.14.3+1.20.1` `spell_power: Spell Power Attribute 0.10.2+1.20.1` `travelersbackpack: Traveler's Backpack fabric-1.20.1-9.1.12` `travelerstitles: Traveler's Titles 1.20-Fabric-4.0.2` `trinkets: Trinkets 3.7.2` `valkyrienskies: Valkyrien Skies 2 2.3.0-beta.5` `visuality: Visuality 0.7.1+1.20` `vs_eureka: VS Eureka Mod 1.5.1-beta.3` `watching: From The Fog 1.9.2` `water-erosion: Water Erosion 1.1.6` `waterdripsound: Drip Sounds 1.19-0.3.2` `waystones: Waystones 14.1.3` `wizards: Wizards (RPG Series) 1.2.0+1.20.1` `yet_another_config_lib_v3: YetAnotherConfigLib 3.4.2+1.20.1-fabric` `com_twelvemonkeys_common_common-image: common-image 3.10.0` `com_twelvemonkeys_common_common-io: common-io 3.10.0` `com_twelvemonkeys_common_common-lang: common-lang 3.10.0` `com_twelvemonkeys_imageio_imageio-core: imageio-core 3.10.0` `com_twelvemonkeys_imageio_imageio-metadata: imageio-metadata 3.10.0` `com_twelvemonkeys_imageio_imageio-webp: imageio-webp 3.10.0` `org_quiltmc_parsers_gson: gson 0.2.1` `org_quiltmc_parsers_json: json 0.2.1` `yungsapi: YUNG's API 1.20-Fabric-4.0.5` `yungsbridges: YUNG's Bridges 1.20-Fabric-4.0.3` `yungsextras: YUNG's Extras 1.20-Fabric-4.0.3` `Loaded Shaderpack: (off)` `Flywheel Backend: GL33 Instanced Arrays` `Server Running: true` `Player Count: 0 / 8; []` `Data Packs: vanilla, fabric` `Enabled Feature Flags: minecraft:vanilla` `World Generation: Experimental` `Type: Integrated Server (map_client.txt)` `Is Modded: Definitely; Client brand changed to 'fabric'; Server brand changed to 'fabric'` `Launched Version: fabric-loader-0.15.11-1.20.1` 

The leftover pile of gingko balls from our giant female gingko tree. Last fall we picked up all but this little pile and this spring we have sprouts!
Seriously they grow like weeds. I pull out gingko sprouts all summer from the flower boxes under our tree.
And yes, we do call them vomit balls in the fall. We get a layer a couple inches thick around the base of the tree.

You guys know what an alpine coaster is? They are like a small roller coaster you find in the mountains. They are also called summer toboggans or mountain coasters and I think there’s some long German compound word they are called in parts of Europe. They are like a roller coaster, but with much smaller one or two person sleds you just sit on instead of multi-person cars you ride in, and instead of being built with like a scaffolding or a framework the tracks are just on the ground, using the elevation of the mountain. Basically it’s a coaster track on the side of a mountain where you ride a sled down.
They are pretty fun. Or at least I used to think so. They are more “personal” than roller coasters and although you get nowhere near the speed on them that you do on a good traditional roller coaster and they can’t do corkscrews or loops or anything like that the openness and simplicity of the ride gives an impression of a much greater speed. You’re just sitting there with nothing but a little plastic sled and the track between you and the ground as it goes zooming by. It’s like the difference between how fast a go-cart feels compared to how fast a sports car feels. You know the sports car goes faster but the open, simpleness of a go-cart feels a different kind of fast. There’s plenty of POV Youtube videos if you want to get the basic idea of what they are.
I used to love alpine coasters. Used to.
My family used to go to Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge and up and down the Smokey Mountains for vacations when I was a kid and they are common in that area and I’d always rode them every chance I got.
But as with so many things after I grew up and went to college they just became part of my childhood that slipped away. They aren’t exactly common once you get away from the mountains.
Until one cool spring afternoon in 2004. I was in my final year at college and I was driving back to campus in Tennessee after a short visit to my folks in North Carolina. It was only like a 4 or 5 hour drive via the most efficient route and I had no need to be back at campus early so instead of taking the freeway all the way I got off and took part of my trip through the mountains. The scenery was nicer and I admit I liked pushing my Camaro just a little faster than I should through the twisty mountain roads.
Just after lunchtime happened upon one of those little by-the-highway tourist towns deep somewhere in the Smoky Mountains near the Carolina/Tennessee border. Nothing fancy, a gas station/truck stop, a diner, a couple of places selling tourist merch nestled deep in the mountains. I pulled into the gas station. My tank was getting low and I needed to stretch my legs, maybe grab something to eat. It was still early and I only had another couple of hours. I could kill an hour or so and still make it back to campus at a decent hour.
I pulled into the gas station and was filling my tank when I happened to glance across the road and… well I’ll be damned. There it was. “The Blue Ridge Alpine Coaster.” Nestled on the side of the mountain was a building, a mockup of a red barn, where a single railed track that led up into the mountains, where it soon got lost in the greenery. Wooden hand painted standees of cartoon character bears dressed in stereotypical “Hillbilly” getup stood around, some of them holding signs showing the ride hours and ticket costs and other info. I had to admit, as silly as it was, it made me smile.I finished pumping my gas and, well, nostalgia is a helluva thing. I decided then and there I could waste a little time riding an Alpine Coaster again after all these years before getting back on the road.
I parked my car in a corner of the truck stop's parking lot, put my phone in the center console, this being the days before smart phones when people didn’t keep their phones with them 24/7 and I didn’t want my old Nokia brick phone to fall out during the ride, locked my car and walked across the mountain highway to the Alpine Coaster building.
Getting closer, the place was less inviting. The half hearted attempt at a whimsical faux-Americana kitsch was far less effective when it brushed up against the actual decaying, run down wooden building. Hell calling it a building was generous. It was a wood frame holding up a long roof that covered the area where you got on the sleds. The wood boards creaked under my footsteps.
The only real enclosed structure was a shack that held, what I assumed, was a ticket booth. A door on the side had both a single occupancy bathroom with an out of order sign on it. An old Pepsi machine buzzed and glowed next to it.
Still the place looked alive. Ahead of me a bored looking attendant was helping a mother and her young son into one of the sleds while in a bored monotone repeating the safety brief. A few people were waiting in line at the ticket booth. Up in the mountains the playful shouts of people on the ride echoed down. Fond memories of my own childhood rides flooded my mind.10 minutes and 15 dollars later I was settling into the hard plastic seat of a bright red sled sat atop a simple aluminum rail.
I couldn’t help but grin as the sled slowly climbed the track up the mountains, making click-clack ratcheting sounds that hit my nostalgia centers hard. I felt good. The air was cool and crisp and smelled of pine.Higher and higher in the mountains we went. I don’t know if this is my mind trying to make sense of it after the fact but when I remember these moments, the last good moments, I sometimes think I remember a very slight, very subtle pit of fear in my stomach. I honestly don’t know if I felt it at the time or not or it’s just how my mind tries to make sense of it looking back at.
But either way mostly I was enjoying myself. I smiled. I was a kid again. I could hear riders in front of me let out that initial yell of terrified glee you get at the first drop of any good ride.
It peaked. I glanced around. I could see for miles, rolling hills and mountains. I the sled tipped over and zoomed down the mountain and I let out the same happy yell I heard from the other passengers.The ride zoomed down the mountain, catching speed. The mountain forest floor zoomed past, only a few feet under me. Trees zoomed past. I gave out a happy whoop as the ride banked hard around a curve and then looped back under itself.Another dip, another curve. I closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of the G-forces pulling me every which way.
There was no one exact single moment where things started to go “wrong.” The ride kept going. And going. At this point the first creeping thought entered my head.
The ride… was still going.
It just started to hit me… this ride was going on for a really long time. I had taken a dozen rides on various coasters of this type before that day and they topped out at about 5 minutes or so, and that was the long ones. Longer than a traditional roller coaster but not that long. This one had been going on for what felt like 10, maybe even 15 minutes.
I looked back over my shoulder and could only see trees, moving too fast to really get a bearing on where I was at in relation to anything.
I wasn't exactly really worried yet. Okay so I had found a particularly long alpine coaster. At the time I wasn’t 100% wasn't sure they didn’t exist or anything like that. I was a little… unnerved but nothing was happening that was impossible. Yet.
I was trying to talk myself back into just enjoying the ride and stop overthinking it, and halfway succeeded, when out of nowhere I suddenly banked hard, the track jutting out almost over a sheer cliffside. I gripped the sled more tightly as I was whipped around. The ride then dipped hard and picked up speed, barreling down the side of the mountain.
I was pushed back against the seat by the force of the drop. Jesus I didn’t remember them being this rough. I was feeling slightly nauseous. And where had this elevation drop come from I wondered? I was still in the foothills and I didn’t remember seeing anything but gentle rolling hills and light drops from looking at the ride’s route earlier. How the ride had managed such a long, steep drop in this area I didn’t know. . For the first time I hoped that the ride would be over soon. I had no idea then how much I would want that same hope to be true so much more as time went on.
With a whiplash motion I was whipped forward and then back as the ride leveled out on flat ground again, but by this point I was going fast, too fast. My neck hurt from the mild whiplash and I felt sour in my throat and for a moment the contents of my stomach threatened to come back up. For the first, but hardly the last time the ride felt unsafe. Alpine Coasters are tame affairs, much slower and gentler than full on roller coasters but this thing was throwing me around like no thrill ride I had ever been on.
I looked around. I mean I wasn’t that deep into the woods. I should have been able to see a glimpse of something; the highway, the gas station, the tourist shops, the Alpine Coaster office, something, anything. But nothing. Just trees.
I forced back some panic for the first time. I closed my eyes and counted to ten. The ride zoomed along. I counted to 60. I counted to 60 again. And again. Okay this was getting uncomfortably harder and harder to explain.
Suddenly I noticed that up ahead the track seemed to just end, for one brief, terrible moment I thought the track just ended but I was wrong. Almost without warning the track dipped in an almost vertical drop. I almost screamed as I plummeted for 20, maybe 30 seconds before flattening out again.
By this point the voice in my head that was telling me something was wrong was louder and I could no longer tell myself it was wrong. This ride could not have been this long. I tried to make sense of it, wondering if somehow I had gotten diverted onto some kind of maintenance track or, hell for one brief irrational moment even entertaining the idea that I had wound up on an actual train track somehow. But that was absurd. The rail below me was not a train track, it was still just the simple, aluminum rail of an alpine coaster and there had been no diversions or junctions in the track. I was still on the ride, as insane as that was starting to feel. Had the ride somehow looped? Again after having the thought I immediately dismissed it as crazy. There’s no way I could have missed the ride building where I got on. And what kind of ride loops over and over?
The sled zoomed through the forest, oddly never seeming to lose speed despite the relatively flat grade of the track. I cursed myself for leaving my phone in the car and not wearing a watch. I don’t know exactly how long I had been on the ride at that point but it felt like I had been on the ride for a half hour, maybe more. But time is a funny thing when you’re in a situation you’ve never been in. Could have been more, could have been less, at that point.
My pride finally failed me. I started to scream for help. I screamed out that the ride was broken, to stop it, that I needed help. I did that for about ten minutes or so I think. The ride kept going. Mostly flat, level track with occasional mild dips and turns. But the simple length of the ride grew more and more unnerving and unexplainable.
I thought about just bailing out. But the ride, impossibly, was still not slowing down and chunks of mountain rock and thick tree trunks were all around me. Bailing out without risking smashing into a rock or a tree seemed impossible.
The ride kept going.
Up ahead the forest was clearing out some, I could see the forest brightening, more sunlight making it through the canopy.
I wasn’t prepared for what I saw.
The trees stopped and I had just enough time to take in a flat, open area of rock maybe 40, 50 yards at most before another sheer cliff. The tracks twisted and turned and then shot straight down. But that wasn’t the worst of it. For a moment, a very short moment, I had a clear view for miles and the landscape was, to be blunt, totally impossible. Any possibility that I had just stumbled on some incredibly long ride was blasted out of my head. Barren, volcanic looking rock stretched for miles. Jagged, black rocky outcroppings as far as the eye could see. I was in the goddamn Smoky Mountains. They don’t look like that.
I had a few moments for the terror of that view to settle in before the cart plunged into another horrifying drop. I gripped the handles of the cheap plastic sled until my knuckles turned white. The drop felt completely vertical, like I was falling at terminal velocity. I screamed. My stomach dropped and turned. I imagined the sled coming away from the track and me just plummeting screaming to my death on the rocks below. But somehow the ride still functioned. I closed my eyes tightly and just waited for whatever was going to happen. Eventually after several what felt like a full minute of steep plunging the track again leveled out, and I opened my eyes to see myself moving at breakneck speed over that black, rocky landscape.
Now that I was moving on a more or less flat horizontal track again I took a few deep breaths. I looked over the edge of the track. Nothing but that black, jagged rock, almost looking like obsidian, zooming past. I had no idea how fast the sled was moving now. Fast. Faster than a gravity powered sled should be moving. And the track was higher off the ground now. Alpine slides usually stick pretty close to the ground, but I was 20 feet or so in the air, the track suspended in the air, a simple metal tube tower like a power pylon every few yards.
Without any immediate threat and the sled moving fast but steadily and level I was able to think about my situation again, for all the good that did me. Ahead of me the track just continued to the horizon, nothing but the same rocky landscape as far as I could see. I craned my neck to look back over my shoulder and looked back behind me and it looked the same. Even the mountains were but distant specs on the horizon behind me.
This was insane. There’s not a giant seemingly endless field of black jagged rock in the goddamn Smoky Mountains. There’s no cliff faces tall and steep enough for a multi-minute vertical drop. And alpine coasters were small affairs, not major engineering projects that span miles with pylons and vertical tracks. It made no sense.
Sadly it wasn’t going to start making any more sense anytime soon.
The ride kept going.
I was on this rocky landscape for several hours. I feel comfortable saying this because I could actually notice the sun getting lower in the sky. And the sled wasn’t slowing down despite the grade of the track being flat. I was getting cramped from sitting and stretched my legs and twisted my back as best I could. Didn’t do much help. My eyes were starting to get irritated from the constant wind in them. Worst of all it was starting to get chilly. I only had on a light jacket, a windbreaker, just something to keep the breeze off me, no real insulation. I was cold, my joints were stiff, I was hungry and thirsty. My eyes watered and my throat was so dry it was sore.
But none of that was as bad as just how little sense this all made. There’s nothing like this place anywhere near the Smoky Mountains. This was like some volcanic rock landscape. The more I thought about it the less sense it made.
The ride kept going.
My mind didn’t even try to process this. Whatever I was experiencing simply couldn’t be possible. I was crazy. I was dreaming. The CIA had kidnapped me and dosed me with some new version of LSD and I was in a straightjacket in a padded room at Area 51.
The sled kept zooming along as the sky turned to dusk. Soon the bridge disappeared from my view and I continued on along the endless, rocky, featureless landscape.
I sat back against the sled, mentally and physically numb. I was exhausted. I was thirsty. I was cramping up. I was hungry. I had to pee. I held it for as long as I could, then had no choice but just wet myself. I cried until I had no more tears left. Then I just sat there.
The ride kept going.
By the time the sun dipped below the horizon my throat felt like sandpaper. I dug around in my jacket pockets hoping to find a stick of gum or piece of candy. Nothing. I checked again, having nothing else to do. Under a crumpled store receipt in the inner pocket of my jacket was a single old, forgotten cough drop. I unwrapped it from the paper and popped it in my mouth. Saliva flooded back into my mouth and I was overwhelmed by the methanol and medicine taste. It was something at least, although I knew it would be a brief and temporary fix at best.
I felt my eyes get heavy. It was getting colder. That mountain cold. That deep cold the mountains have even into the early spring when the sun goes down. That kind that just pulls the heat right out of you. I shivered. A terrible, horrible certainty came to me. I would ride until I passed out from exhaustion or the hypothermia set in. My body would tumble off the sled to fall and skip across the rocky ground like a stone skipping across a lake, my bones breaking as I tumbled until my body finally came to a stop. If I was lucky I would be killed and not have to lie for days, broken and bruised, on the ground until death took me.
The ride kept going. The ride kept going. The fucking ride kept going.
“Fuck you” I said to the ride, my voice a horse whisper. I pulled my jacket closer around me, for all the good it did. The cold wind was slowly but surely pulling my body heat away. My shivering got worse, crossing the line from a simple normal shiver into those deep, almost violent full body ones.. I wasn’t anything you could call an experienced outdoorsman, but I knew enough to know that wasn’t a good sign.
It was getting dark. There was a full moon at least so I wasn’t totally in the dark.
About then I noticed something. The landscape, what little I could see in the fading light, was changing. It was smoothing out, becoming less rocky and craggy. Up ahead an odd, shimmering light was starting to appear on the ground.
I was over it before I even realized what it was. The tracks were going over a smooth surface.
Water. It was a lake. The odd lights I had seen were the moon, reflected in ripples on the lake.
Within minutes I was out of the view of the land. After the nearly endless rocky landscape and everything else I had seen, it scared me how little I was shocked. I didn’t like how mentally numb I was getting. I leaned over. There was enough moonlight to see the water, 15 or 20 feet below the track. The pylons holding up the track went into the water, the light wasn’t good enough to even make a guess at how far they went down or how deep the water was.I leaned back in the sled. My eyes were red and bloodshot from the constant wind. I closed them. This was a mistake.I jerked awake. I don’t know if I dozed off for a split second or an hour. My weight had shifted and I caught myself as my center of gravity was in danger of sending me off the sled and into the water.
I screamed in anger. A deep primal scream. I hurt so bad. My joints felt like they were full of glass. My limbs were full of pins and needles. I glanced over at the water. For the first time on the very edges of my brain a tiny voice started to speak up, telling me that I could be all over if I just jumped. I shut the voice up, but it scared me still.
I sat there as the ride went on. It felt like hours. Eventually the lake ended in a rocky shore line. The damned ride. There was no safe place to bail out. If the ride slowed down, it was high in the air, if it moved toward the ground it sped up. Sharp rocks, big trees, nothing you could safely bail out into.
I kept having to force myself awake. I kept dozing off. Once I felt myself falling asleep and drove a vicious uppercut into my own nose to stave it off.
I seriously started to think about how much longer I could hang on. The voice came back again. This time I didn’t shut it up. I wasn’t admitting it to myself yet, but I was starting to think about the best way to land that would end it quickly if I needed to.
Something was ahead. The track seemed to dip into the ground. I was too tired, too beaten to even get scared. I was just resigned to whatever happened at this point.
With little warning the track took my sled into a tunnel in the ground. Everything went completely pitch black. After several moments even the dim moonlight was gone.
This was the worst part. The creepy forest, the immense rocky landscape, the eerie lake… those were bad. But this was just nothing. Nothing to look at, nothing to hear, nothing for reference or sense of where I was going. The walls of the tunnel felt like they were inches from me in every direction. The air felt thick, like there wasn’t enough oxygen.
With every moment I was in that tunnel I lost a little more hope. After a long, long time I made a decision. When I got out of this tunnel, I would jump. I didn’t care anymore. Hopefully there would be a spot where I could be certain the fall would instantly kill me. I was done. The ride had beaten me. I sat there, waiting for a chance to end this on my terms. That was all I had left.
Eventually up ahead, a tiny speck of light appeared. I gathered my strength, ready to end it. I sat up, getting my legs under me so I could jump as soon as we were clear. The sled burst out of the tunnel. The dim light of the full moon was enough to be momentarily blinding after the pitch black of the tunnel.. I gave my eyes a moment to adjust.
I was back in a normal looking Appalachian forest. Rolling hills, green trees. The air smelled of pine again. I heard an owl hoot off somewhere.
Slowly I lowered myself back into a setting position, in shock. At first I refused to believe it but the ride was slowing down. I held still, making sure my mind wasn’t playing tricks on me, but no, the cheap plastic sled that had been my world for what felt like an eternity was slowing down.
Up ahead, a structure was visible, peeking out from among the trees in the dim lighting as the sled moved down the track.
It was the Alpine Slide building. The crappy fake red barn where I had boarded this cursed ride so long ago. I blinked and rubbed my eyes, sure it was either my mind or the cursed ride playing tricks with me. But the building stayed there.
It grew closer and closer. The track leveled completely out. The sled slowed down more. Before I had the time to really come to terms with it I arrived back at the building.
The sled slowed to a stop, gently pumping against another sled parked on the track. I sat there for a few moments, gasping in great big gulping fear breaths, trying to assure myself the ride didn’t have one last trick of its sleeve.
I looked around. The place was empty, deserted. The overhead lights were still on and the old Pepsi machine still glowed and buzzed, but the ticket booth was dark and empty, a metal gate pulled down over the ticket window.
Suddenly it hit me that I was free and I practically leapt out of the sled and onto the platform. I immediately collapsed. My legs were jelly and my head was spinning. I tried to stand up again and doubled over, dry heaving. Have you ever been out on a boat for a day and have that weird reverse motion sickness when you’re back on solid land? It was like that times a hundred. My inner ear was literally pounding, all the motion had really done a number on it.
I laid there for a few moments and eventually forced myself to stand up on my two wobbling legs. I looked around, a horrible certainty creeping into my mind that there would be no exit, no way off the platform but to my relief an exit turnstyle, one of those full height ones, was set into the fence that surrounded the ride property.
I went through it and found myself back on the main road. The truckstop was still there, still open but far less busy. My car sat in the same corner of the parking lot I had left it.
I allowed myself one look back, just one quick one. The metal skeleton of the Alpine Slide track sat there, dark and quiet but otherwise normal.
I stumbled-ran back to my car, dug the keys out of my pocket, and collapsed inside. When the door shut I let out a primal scream, the tons of fear and confusion and anger all fusing into a single, raw emotion. I screamed again and again.
After a few moments I felt like I was emotionally at least back to a place where I could act, although I wasn’t sure yet what to do next. Not really knowing what to do I cranked the car. The A/C had been on low when I shut off the car and it came roaring back to life and cold air blowing on me almost sent me back into a full on panic attack. I fumbled with the climate controls until the air stopped blowing directly on me, then calmed down enough to turn the heat on, helping to get the chill out of my bones. There was a half full bottle of water in the center console cup holder and I grabbed it and chugged it. Nothing ever tasted as good before or sense as that few ounces of water.
That was when I noticed the clock on the radio head unit. It was 4:17 in the morning. It had been about one, one thirty or so in the afternoon when I got on the accursed ride.
Over 15 hours. I had been on the goddamn ride for over 15 hours. Over half a day.
I just sat there. Warming up. Calming down. I was exhausted. I was dehydrated. I can’t even describe how my head felt. I probably had at least a minor case of hypothermia. I thought about going into the gas station and asking for help but what would I even say, and more than anything I just wanted to get away from this place. And I just wanted to get away. I wanted to be nowhere near that damn ride.
I put the Camaro in gear and pulled into the street and in panic I immediately slammed on the brakes. I was lucky there was no traffic on the road at that moment. The feeling of accelerating to just normal surface street speeds made me sick to my stomach. I gathered myself and very slowly accelerated the car I usually treated with a very heavy foot up to 30 miles an hour. Every time I tried to accelerate at a pace faster than “Old Lady Going to Church, Uphill” I would have a panic attack. I was okay once I was up to speed, but accelerating freaked me out after being on that ride.
I drove about 30 minutes, putting some arbitrary amount of distance between myself and the coaster. Eventually I made it back to where the twisty mountain road met back up with a major road that would eventually meet back up with the highway. After a few more minutes of driving I saw the onramp for the highway. There was one of those big truckstop travel plazas and pulled in, parking right up at the door. I smelled like pee and I can only imagine how I looked, but I didn’t care.
I kept a couple of emergency 20s in the back of my wallet and spent it on the biggest bottle of water the store had, an overpriced bottle of eye drops, and a huge travel mug of coffee. The clerk looked at me as if he was expecting me to either drop dead or rob him the entire time.
Back in my car I downed the coffee. I put a few eye drops in each of my eyes and sat there as the caffeine took effect until I felt like I could make it back to my apartment. The sun was just coming up when I finally pulled out of the truck stop and got on the freeway. I slowly, very slowly, accelerated up to highway speed, put the Camaro in cruise control, and let the miles start to drift away. I turned on the radio, I needed to hear human voices. Every time my mind went back to what had just happened I turned the radio up louder, eventually drowning it out with painful levels of rock music. I wasn’t ready to think about it yet. Yes looking back I know I was just in denial. I finally made it back to the crappy little apartment I had off campus, a little two story walk up studio. I let myself in and collapsed on the cheap couch. I was asleep before I even had the time to decide whether or not to do anything else. I woke up later that afternoon. I took a shower and ate a meal and didn’t think about the ride. I washed the pee stained filthy clothes I had been wearing and didn’t think about the ride. I went back to class and didn’t think about the ride. Every time I thought about the ride I forced it out of my head. I’m sure this wasn’t the most mentally healthy thing to do but what can you say?
I didn’t forget about it, don’t be silly. This isn’t the kind of thing you forget. One day while looking up something else in the university’s library my curiosity got the better of me and I looked up the Alpine Slide. No website but a few Google Map and Yelp mentions. None of them mentioned anything weird, certainly nothing even remotely like what I experienced. Near as I can tell it closed sometimes in the winter of 2012.
Life went on. I mean, that’s what it does. The next day was a little better. And the day after that a little better. And the day after that a little better still. I met a nice girl. Graduated. Got married. Got a nice house in the suburbs. Got a dog. Had a daughter. Spent a lot of time happy and not thinking about being trapped on an endless alpine coaster.And that was my life for many, many years after that.
Until a few weeks back when as a very different person I found myself driving a boring and safe mid sized family SUV through those same mountains. My wife Carol, 5 months pregnant, sat in the passenger seat, our 6 year old daughter Emily in a booster seat in the back, and Max our mixed breed mutt next to her. It had been a nice pleasant trip, driving back from visiting her folks.
I hadn’t thought about that fucking ride in so long I barely registered that I was in the same general area until it was too late. Suddenly I realized that little mountain tourist trap town was only a few minutes down the road. I swallowed hard and gripped the steering wheel hard. Carol was looking out the window at the scenery and Emily was deep into some kid’s Youtube video on an iPad. I forced myself to keep my breath steady as we rounded the corner.The town was still there, sorta. Time had not been kind to it. The gas station was still there, at some point it had been bought out by Shell. The tourist trap shops were still there. One of them was now a vape shop. The diner was closed, the building looking like it sat unused for a long time.
But of course that’s not what I cared about. A looked over at the site where the Alpine Coaster once stood. It was gone. The kitschy fake barn was gone. The site was just a bare concrete slab with a chainlink fence around it. Faded “no trespassing” and “for sale” signs hung off the fence. A pile of old, decaying lumber that might have once long ago been part of the structure covered part of the old lot. No sign of the track remained outside of some old concrete support posts dotting the side of the mountain.
I exhaled out a breath I hadn’t even realized I had been holding in. Soon the little town disappeared in my rear view mirror.
About a half hour later we stopped for gas. I pulled up to a gas pump across from a massive motorhome. Max stuck his head out the window and started barking at a little white dog, a toy breed of some kind, in the window of the motorhome. Carol and Emily immediately headed into the store to restock on snacks while I fueled up.
I stood there, a half smile on my lips as Max barked and wagged his tail in an attempt to attract the attention of the other dog while I filled up the tank, said dog doing an admirable job of ignoring him.
Right about the time I finished fueling up and cleaning the bugs off the windshield Carol returned from inside the store, Emily in tow, arms filled with two full sized bags of Salt and Vinegar Potato Chips and what looked to be a half dozen individually wrapped pickles.
I raised an eyebrow at the collection of food but knew better than to question a pregnant woman's snack choices.
“Should we take Max for a quick walk?” Carol asked. The travel plaza had a nice little gated dog walking area off to the side.
“Yeah probably not a bad idea, he’s been cooped up in the car for a few hours.” I said. Max, upon hearing his name and the word “walk” , forgot about the other dog and upgraded from wagging his tail to wagging his entire body while making whining sounds and staring right at me.
About this time I became half aware that the big motor home next to us was pulling away. I didn’t think much of it, outside of doing a quick automatic mental check to make sure Emily was well clear of the moving vehicle, but she was safely between me and our SUV, well out of the way.
But that was when Emily looked behind me and cheerfully yelled “Daddy look a roller coaster! Can I ride the coaster?”
It’s cliche as fuck I know but my blood went cold.
I turned around slowly, certain in my knowledge that terrible old decrepit Alpine Coaster would be there, having just popped into existence to trap me again.
That.. is not what I saw. Sure enough there was a coaster there, one I hadn’t noticed earlier because it had mostly been blocked by the motor home, but there it was. It was even an Alpine Coaster.
But it was not the same coaster I had encountered those years ago. That was immediately obvious. It was a small but modern and newish looking setup with neon lights and a bunch of people. There was an actual building where you bought tickets and a little snack stand.
“Daddy! Can we go on the coaster!” Emily asked again.
My mouth made motions but no words came out. I glanced over at Carol, hoping she’d say we didn’t have time but to my horror she smiled and said “You know what? That does sound like fun. Daddy will take you while I take Max for a walk.”
My mind raced, trying to think of a way to get out of it. But Emily was already dragging me across the parking lot to the entrance.
I patted my pocket, making sure my phone was in it. Every fiber of my being was screaming to run away. I slept walked through the line and the ticket booth while Emily bounced happily.
We got into a two seat plastic sled. This one was actually a lot nicer than the one my mind wouldn’t stop thinking about. It had two nice cushioned seats, big grab handles, even a nice rollbar.
The sled started up the track. I fought back the panic. I swerved my head around, keeping the building in my view. I was terrified of losing sight of it. We made it to the top and Emily did a happy squeal as we started down the side of the mountain.
My heart raced. Any second, any second my mind told me we’d lose sight of the building and then the ride would never end. The ride sped down the mountain. My mind tortured me with thoughts of not only going through it again, but seeing Emily go through it. The ride went around a big, banking turn. Emily kept shouting happily. How long before Carol reported us missing I wondered? Could I keep Emily calm? What if it lasted even longer this time? What if this time it never ended?
And then we were back at the start of the ride. The same attendant who had helped us into the sled was helping Emily out. I stepped out. The attendant gave me a brief look but said nothing. I guess I looked a little wild eyed.
I was fine. Emily was fine. It had been a perfectly normal, fun ride.
“That was fun Daddy! Thank you!” Emily said. I forced a smile back. “It was fun.” I responded, hoping like I sounded like I meant it.
I took Emily’s hand and we walked back to the car. Max saw us coming and barked happily. Carol looked up from the pint of Ben and Jerry’s she had somehow acquired and added to her snack collection while we were gone and smiled at us.
“Did you have fun?” she asked.
“It was so fun Mommy!” Emily said.
Carol smiled down at her, but then looked at me and frowned. “Are you okay?” Carol could read my face a lot better than the attendant could. “You’re pale.”
I smiled and this time the smile felt real. “Ya know what. Yeah, I think I am okay.”
Carol looked a little puzzled, but didn’t press it. We loaded Emily back in her booster seat, stopped Max from trying desperately to eat half a discarded gas station hot dog off the ground and got him back in the car. Carol and her small collection of snack food took her place in the passenger seat and I got in the driver's seat.I smiled. I cranked the car. I put it in gear. I pulled out of the gas station and back on the road, this time accelerating just a little faster than I had in years.

Why shouldn’t you trust trees? They seem shady, but you can trust me!
I am a college graduate and work full-time, so at times, my responses may be slow. I will always try to respond as quickly as possible. My job does require long hours but one of my current goals is to achieve a better work-life balance. I usually watch a movie/show/YouTube video every night and if we hit it off after chatting for a bit (Chats preferred over Messages), watching something together sounds really fun. I don't have many forms of social media, so to move the conversation away from Reddit my only other options are WhatsApp and Telegram, or we could just text like the good ole’ days. P.S. I don’t use Snapchat and will not download it.
My hobbies include:

• Sleeping, seriously, I greatly enjoy a good night's sleep. I hope my username checks out :) I try to average about 6-8 hours every night during the work week but I am not always successful. Fun fact, I can basically fall asleep on command.
• I enjoy mostly pop, country, and rock music. If I had to have one favorite band, it would probably be Linkin Park. I usually have music or a movie/show playing throughout the day so it is not too quiet. I enjoy having background noise.
• I enjoy watching tv shows and movies in my free time (I usually try to find something to watch every night to wind down)
  • As far as tv shows go, I usually enjoy drama or romance-related shows. I am currently on the hunt for a new tv show to watch, but unfortunately, nothing has really caught my attention.
  • As for movies, I enjoy horror and romance movies. My favorite is the Conjuring series.
• I enjoy baking and cooking new recipes. I don't have a favorite food or dish to cook but rather it depends on what I am craving at that exact moment. I’m not a picky eater and a firm believer in trying everything at least once.
• Lastly, I also read about a book a week, mostly romance books. Oftentimes, I will read for a bit before bed or when I have a few minutes of downtime.
• Most importantly, I don’t drink or use any drugs and would prefer a night in over a night out.

Now, this part splits into two, the infamous what I am looking for (DISCLAIMER: I believe that relationships start from a great friendship):
Friendship:
I am looking for someone older (preferably between 30-40) as I tend to be able to communicate more effectively with those who are older. I reside in the U.S. and would like to chat with others in the U.S. as well to not have to work around too many different time zones. I would like to have a conversation flowing throughout the day as opposed to one message a day. Also, wouldn't it be great to be able to send and receive funny TikToks throughout the day? (Extra Bonus Points for iPhone users. iMessage and FaceTime are both fantastic) Someone with similar core values as myself. I value honesty and would much rather have a brutally blunt answer than sugarcoat something. I don't believe in lying even if it is just what most consider "a little white lie". I am an extremely motivated and goal-oriented person and would hope that my friends are passionate about whatever it is that they want to pursue. With that being said, to put it bluntly, I am not looking for someone who plays video games and watches anime for hours on end.
Relationship (take everything above + some extra fluff):

• Deal Breakers:
  • Kids (so no single parents please)
  • Open Relationships/Polygamy
  • Tattoos or Piercings
  • Substance Addictions

If you are interested, please send me an introduction about yourself as opposed to “hey” or “hi”. I will not respond to a lacking introduction. A great conversation is a two-way street.
Note 1: Due to the number of creeps on here, please send a picture of yourself, fully clothed, I may add, so I can ensure you’re not an 80-year-old man looking for some adult time. I will also send one in return.
Note 2: Some unpopular Reddit opinions; I am not into video games or anime (old-school Nintendo games and board games can be fun though). Politically, I lean right. I do not believe a person’s political views should be a deal-breaker in friendship but then again, this is Reddit.

We bought and planted this tree in Sept 2023. We live in South East Pennsylvania. It seemed to survive the winter and in spring grew it's leaves and had blossoms. About 2 weeks ago it just turned brown on us seemingly overnight. We've had a good chunk of rain but it did get really cold a few nights late April. Is it dead? Is there anything I can do to bring it back?

Hi everyone! I’ve amassed over 160 different DIY recipes that I’m happy to give away to you all.
Please comment your favorite villager (plus any questions you may have) and I will send you the dodo code. Island will be open for about an hour and a half and DIYs will be on the ground ready for you to pick up.
Here is my list (numbers in parentheses indicate multiples of that recipe)
Housewares

1. Angled Signpost
2. Bamboo Bench (2)
3. Bamboo Doll
4. Bamboo Noodle Slide
5. Bamboo Shelf (2)
6. Barrel (2)
7. Bonsai Shelf
8. Cardboard Bed
9. Cardboard Table
10. Cherry Blossom Pond Stone
11. Doghouse
12. Flat Garden Rock
13. Garden Bench (2)
14. Giant Teddy Bear (2)
15. Glowing Moss Stool
16. Golden Bathtub
17. Golden Toilet
18. Grass Standee
19. Hedge Standee
20. Iron Hanger Stand
21. Iron Shelf
22. Iron Worktable (2)
23. Ironwood DIY Workbench
24. Ironwood Dresser
25. Ironwood Low Table (3)
26. Log Bed (2)
27. Log Bench
28. Log Dining Table (4)
29. Log Garden Lounge (2)
30. Log Round Table
31. Log Stakes
32. Log Stool
33. Medium Cardboard Boxes (2)
34. Mossy Garden Rock
35. Mountain Standee
36. Mum Cushion
37. Natural Garden Chair
38. Natural Garden Table
39. Palm Tree Lamp
40. Pansy Table
41. Pear Bed (2)
42. Pear Wardrobe
43. Pile of Zen Cushions
44. Plain Wooden Shop Sign
45. Ruined Broken Pillar
46. Shell Arch
47. Shell Fountain
48. Small Cardboard Boxes (3)
49. Standard Umbrella Stand
50. Stone Table
51. Tall Lantern (2)
52. Tea Table (2)
53. Tiki Torch (3)
54. Tiny Library
55. Tree Standee
56. Tulip Surprise Box
57. Water Pump
58. Wooden Block Stool
59. Wooden Bookshelf
60. Wooden Chest
61. Wooden Field Sign
62. Wooden Full Length Mirror
63. Wooden Low Table
64. Wooden Stool

Miscellaneous

1. Bamboo Candleholder
2. Bamboo Lunch Box
3. Cherry Speakers (2)
4. Coconut Juice
5. Gold Bars
6. Golden Arowana Model
7. Golden Piggy Bank
8. Kettlebell
9. Lucky Gold Cat
10. Matryoshka
11. Modeling Clay
12. Peach Surprise Box
13. Pile of Cash
14. Pine Bonsai Tree
15. Pot
16. Stack of Books
17. Stacked Bottle Crates
18. Wooden Table Mirror

Wall Mounted

1. Bone Doorplate
2. Boomerang
3. Chic Windflower Wreath
4. Deer Decoration
5. Fancy Mum Wreath
6. Gold Rose Wreath
7. Iron Wall Rack
8. Orange Wall Mounted Clock
9. Paw Print Doorplate
10. Skateboard Wall Rack
11. Wooden Block Wall Clock (3)

WallpapeFloors/Rugs

1. Apple Wall
2. Bamboo Wall (3)
3. Cabin Wall
4. Cherry Blossom Rug
5. Classic Library Wall
6. Falling Snow Wall (2)
7. Iceberg Wall
8. Jungle Wall (2)
9. Light Bamboo Bath Mat
10. Light Bamboo Rug
11. Money Flooring
12. Orange Wall (2)
13. Rope Net Flooring
14. Rope Net Wall
15. Round Vine Rug
16. Rustic Stone Wall (3)
17. Sandy Beach Flooring
18. Shell Rug
19. Ski Slope Wall
20. Snowflake Wall (3)
21. Stacked Wood Wall
22. Starry Sands Flooring
23. Steel Flooring (2)

Equipment

1. Acorn Pochette
2. Armor Shoes
3. Basket Pack
4. Cherry Blossom Pochette
5. Leaf Mask
6. Orange Umbrella
7. Peach Dress
8. Peach Hat (2)

Tools

1. Pan Flute
2. Shamrock Wand
3. Shell Wand

All right here it is finally, thank you all for your patience and let's hope chapter 5 is a little more expedient. As usual I hope you enjoy and would love to get everyone's thoughts.
4: Memory transcription subject: Zeak, Harchen orphan, citizen of the Venlil Republic. Date: standardized human time July 13th 2136.
The sky was a roaring mass of fire and pungent black smoke that choked out the light of the sun. As I ran down the street, green blood flowed like a broad shallow river. It splashed up with every step I took, sticking to my scales, the smell of it made me feel sick. As the piercing wail of the emergency sirens seemed to grow louder and louder with every step I took making my ears ring and filling my head with a thunderous pain. My heart pounded, my lungs were on fire, and my legs felt like they were made of lead.
A herd of towering blurry figures appeared out of nowhere and ran past me, some almost knocking me down. In their panic they began to look more like crazed wild animals than people. I cried for help but they couldn't hear me. I waved my paws then grabbed one of them a male Venlil, tightening my grip with all the strength I had hoping this would get his attention. He threw me off like I was trash, less than trash. I turned around and continued pleading for anyone to help me, reaching out for others. But their frantic idiot eyes looked only straight ahead and not down, never down, as the herd passed me.
I turned back around and continued to run, blood splashing up soaking me all the way to my knees. I stumbled, my legs were so tired I could barely stand, and I fell down catching myself, plunging my paws into blood as deep as my wrists. I felt myself scream but I couldn't hear it over the ringing in my ears. A scrap of paper gently floated past me, a single word written on it that echoed in my mind “Weakling.” It passed and four more took its place, “Coward”, “Liar”, “Oath breaker”, “Murderer.” I screamed in rage and slapped the pieces of paper aside, blood splashing onto my snout, but the meanings of those words remained. Getting back up I stumbled forward, and fell down again. Then with an effort born out of sheer desperation I managed to stand again lurching forward. My legs were too tired to run but I had to keep going, I had to save them. Or at least her, please Protector if you're listening please let me save at least her.
It felt like I was searching for an endless time. Lurching forward, stumbling, falling down, getting back up, lurching forward once more. Eventually I saw it and my heart fell into the pit of my stomach. My family's car was turned over on its roof, the driver's side had been caved in. It was engulfed in fire and thick black smoke that rose up into the sky. I struggled forward and when I reached it I collapsed, my knees hitting the hot pavement. The smell of burning metal and something else I didn't know assaulted my senses making my stomach turn. Every muscle in my body begged me to run away. Calling out their names l looked inside, and a wave of nausea and horror flooded through me.
I turned away and vomited, then reached up with my blood soaked paws and covered my eyes. Those words thundered in my head making me think it was going to burst open, as hot tears welled up. “WEAKLING! COWARD! LIAR! OATH BREAKER! MURDERER! MURDERER! MURDERER! MURDERER! “I'm sorry I'm sorry, I should have stayed, I should have helped. Why did I run?” I wailed, still unable to hear myself. Someone rested a delicate paw on my shoulder, and the world went quiet. As the pain in my head melted away.
My eyes snapped open and I was greeted by the gentle ringing of my alarm. In a rush of adrenaline I leaped out of bed not even bothering to wipe the sleep out of my eyes. Running out of my bedroom and down the narrow hallway towards the living room. Convincing myself It had all just been a horrible, horrible nightmare and everything was alright. Mom and Dad would be fixing breakfast, Dad softly singing a Harchen folk song while making something savory and delicious as mom sang along in harmony, preparing something special for my baby sister Naila. Oh yes and Naila, she would probably be sitting on a cushion in the sunny part of the living room. Holding her crooked tail, a birth defect which my parents said could be fixed when she was older. And making excited chirping noises at my arrival, while sunlight shone against her emerald scales. I loved my baby sister, I knew other kids resented having a younger sibling. Dismissing their responsibilities and spending less time with their family and more with their friends. I never once felt that way, the moment Naila hatched I devoted every spare minute I had to her. Finding music that would help her fall asleep, watching over her when my mom needed a break. Excitedly telling her about the day's events and what I learned at school, especially what I learned in computer science which was my favorite class.
“Mom! Dad!” I yelled bursting into the living room. “I just had the worst…” My voice trailed off as I was greeted with nothing “dream.” My heart tightened painfully in my chest, as I frantically ran through the house throwing open every door, knowing that they had to be here somewhere. They were just playing a game on me that was all, a game I would tell them I didn't appreciate. After the final door had been opened and no one was there to yell “Surprise!” My body slumped and I felt heavy as reality set back in, and the memories of what happened hit me like a hammer. I made my way back down the hall to my room, tail dragging behind me as I crawled back into bed. Wrapping myself tightly in a blanket, trying to find some comfort.
It must have been hours I lay there feeling numb all over, wishing I could get up the energy to just cry. I think I might have fallen asleep at one point. If I did it was a dreamless sleep, thank the stars for that. Eventually I did get up, sitting cross-legged on my bed, resting my chin in my paws, staring holes into the wall. I took a deep breath and side numbly looked out the window, searching for anything to distract myself with.
It was overcast, and eerily quiet. The emergency sirens had stopped blaring yesterday mere hours after everyone had gotten to the bunkers. The bodies of the dead had already been collected and their blood cleaned from the pavement. So as to not attract any predators into the neighborhood. I saw my neighbor A'shul was home, his white vehicle was sporting some new dents. I wondered, when he got into his vehicle yesterday morning and drove to the nearest bunker; did he try to help anyone? Or was he thinking only of himself? I suppose it didn't matter really. Nothing mattered.
I turned my head away and looked around my small room taking in everything, every trinket, misplaced item, my old second-hand desk, a big green crackle finished monster. Better suited for a Venlil than a young Harchen, heck I needed a stool just to use it. I had gotten it for basically nothing about a year ago, when the local extermination office was getting rid of their old furniture. All it took was a small bribe and they put it in my bedroom when no one was home. My parents, but especially my mom we're not happy when they saw it the next day. They would tell me at least once a week that It was too big for me and they were going to get rid of that eyesore. “Wouldn't you like something a little more modern dear?” My mom would ask, practically pleading for me to say yes. I used to pray that my parents would just shut up and stop bugging me about that stupid desk. I thought it was great, it made me think of private detective Bal from the exterminators show. Bal was a no nonsense Harchen who was so often pivotal in tracking down the predator or predator diseased person. My desk was very similar to his and that's why I wanted it. But at that moment, I would have given anything to hear those words again.
On the desk there was an ornate wooden box, with a fruit tree in full bloom delicately carved into its lid. There were also scuff marks where it had been dropped, and a deep crack running down the center. It was known as a blessing box, Naila's blessing box to be specific. When she hatched nearly ten months ago the whole neighborhood had been invited to come and write a blessing on a scrap of paper and put it in the box. I had written one too, not a blessing but a promise, a promise I couldn't keep. The belief was that if kept near the infant, the combined power of all those blessings would keep the hatchling safe until their first birthday. Where on that day the box would be set on fire and burned to ash. Releasing those blessings back into the world so they may protect someone else. It was an old tradition and not commonly practiced anymore, but as my dad always said “It is important to keep the old traditions alive my son. Both in song and action.” I remember asking him why? And he looked at me like he had been waiting for that question for a long time. “Because” He said, his tail moving with authority. “Someday when you lose your way, and you don't know where to turn to. You will always have something to guide you back to your center.”
Looking away from the box not wanting to look or think about the damn thing, I shifted my gaze down to my bedside table. There was a little holographic projector showing pictures of me, Mom, Dad and Naila on holiday back on Fahl, the Harchen home world to see family. I was born and raised on Venlil prime, so I didn't really know any of my extended family. There was a picture of my mom and Naila sleeping at the beach. Naila’s crooked tail coiled around mom’s arm, their scales a deep emerald in the light of the sun. The picture changed to me and Dad putting the finishing touches on a sand skyscraper taller than him. I had to sit on his shoulders to place the last bucket full of sand on top. Both of our scales were as blue as the ocean. My tail flicked sadly thinking of that day. I reached over and turned the holo protector off.
My holopad lay next to me flashing, alerting me to an urgent message. I hadn't really looked at my holopad since yesterday morning. Picking it up I tapped the flashing icon. It was an official government statement signed by Governor Tarva herself, saying that the humans Noah and Sarah were peaceful explorers, and that they only wished to be our friends. ‘No, that's impossible, they’re predators. Predators don't want peace, they want to conquer, kill and eat us,’ stunned and confused I kept reading. The rest of the message stated that the two human scientists were completely unaware there was intelligent life of any kind on Venlil prime. ‘No! Lies! Predator lies!’ I yelled inside my head. Something hot began to form in my chest as I read the last bit. Governor Tarver had shown the two predators footage of the Arxur torturing Venlil pups. It said that the humans were capable of empathy and felt deeply saddened and angered by what they saw. They vowed to do everything in their power to get their united nations into the war against the Arxur.
I scrolled all the way down and what I saw stopped me cold. Standing in her office being flanked by General Kam, stood Governor Tarva. Beside them looming over the two Venlil one bigger than the other, both of them covered in some sort of protective suit. Their faces were obscured by dark visored helmets. It said that the larger of the two Noah was male, and the smaller one was Sarah female. Sarah had her hands clasped in front of her, while Noah kept his to his side. Neither were acting threatening, and neither Tarva or Kam looked to be harmed in any way.
Something in me snapped, that hot thing inside my chest erupted and I could feel my scales turn black. I very carefully set my holopad down beside me, then I uncrossed my legs and got out of bed. I stood there in the center of my room shaking slightly, feeling terribly calm as white hot rage flooded my body, spreading to my paws and all the way out to the tip of my long tail. It never had to happen, the panic, the stampede, the death, we could have stayed home and avoided those people. ‘No… no not people,’ a bitter thought came over me. ‘They're not people at all, people stop and help, like that Venlil girl Kayleik, she was a person maybe the only one. But the rest of them were just wild animals, masquerading as sentient beings. ‘Do you really think you're any better, coward?’ Some internal voice said.
A sudden impulse took control of me and I grabbed my desks stool and hurled it against the wall. It dented the wall and bounced off still in one piece. Enraged, I leaped forward grabbing it by the legs, then turned around and slammed it into my desk. The sheet metal dented and the green crackle finish paint flew off, but the stool made of good dense wood from the string fruit tree stayed whole. “DAMN THEM! DAMN THEM! DAMN THEM! DAMN THEM!” I screamed, slamming the stool down again and again, my tail whipping wildly, striking the bed and the floor. The tip of my tail began to hurt, which only fueled my anger. Finally I heard cracking and wood began to splinter off. They didn't have to die, we could have stayed home. The muscles in my shoulders burned and my heart pounded as hot tears began to well up. I brought it down one final time narrowly avoiding the blessing box, and the stool broke in two. I hurled the pieces away from me, one slamming into the corner the other crashing through the window.
I leaned against the desk catching my breath as tears flowed freely. ‘Well that definitely showed them didn't it. Hey I got a great idea! Let's go break some more stuff, that will definitely make you feel better. Idiot!’ That internal voice said all coldness and bitterness. As I cried, the burning in my chest cooled, and I was filled with the same numbness as before. After a while my stomach growled, reminding me I hadn't eaten since yesterday. I moved sluggishly out of my bedroom and went straight to the kitchen, quickly grabbed some fruit and left to go and watch the view screen or something. The moment I entered the living room, memories came flooding back. Mom and Dad laughing, Naila sleeping peacefully, the lingering aroma of breakfast, and the warmth of our home. But now it was all gone and I was alone. For the first time in my life, I had no one to go to.
It was right then I realized I couldn't stay here anymore. This place felt like a tomb, all cold and filled with the memories of the dead. Besides, if I stayed here someone would eventually send the authorities to come and get me. Ship me off to an orphanage, foster care or maybe to my extended family back on Fahl. I balked at the idea of being forced to live with people I didn't know or trust. Memories of yesterday's stampede invaded my mind and I shuddered. I couldn't trust any of them not anymore. No, there was one person I could think of that maybe I could trust. Turning around I went back to my room, found my backpack and grabbed my holopad, the blessing box, the holo projector and my blanket stuffing it into my pack. Then I went to the kitchen and filled my pack up the rest of the way with dried fruit and vegetable snacks. With my backpack looking like it was going to burst I shouldered it and made my way to the front door. When I rested my scaly paw on the door handle I stopped and looked back at the place that was once my home. “Goodbye” I said in a shaky voice, knowing this would be the last time I would never set foot in this house. With my head low I opened the door and stepped out, into the dim light of a new unfamiliar world.
Previous First

I am trying to befriend my son (8 years old), but it is harder than I thought.
I work long hours, and by the time I get home, I am too exhausted to play with him. Sometimes I have to work on weekends too, so I miss the whole day off school that he gets.
Another problem is that he doesn’t listen. I try to advise him directly and indirectly to correct his behavior, but it seems my words fall on deaf ears.
For example, my wife and I remind him to have table manners. Yet the other day, I picked him up from a play date and he was at the door devouring a cupcake, his hand and mouth full of food. That really embarrassed me in front of the other kid’s dad.
I talked to my son about it and how people would say, “Oh, this boy is like a baby; he is not clean; he has no manners,” etc.
Another day, I took him to a sport activity, and while waiting there, he and his closest friends started jumping and making silly noises. I told him to stop, but he seemed absent-minded. Only when I started fuming and warned him that he would lose some of his TV time did he calm down.
But he seemed not to care. He only pays attention when I get frustrated and start shouting at him. This creates another problem.
My wife gets upset with me, and I see my son looking at me, scared, doubting whether he understands what he was doing was wrong, or maybe he knows but doesn’t care.
I don’t know how to win his trust and friendship. I don’t want to be the dad who is annoying and kills the joy. I want to be a firm dad that my son will listen to without me repeating myself hundreds of times, and also the dad who is a friend to his son, can share his concerns with me, and seek advice when he gets older.
I would really appreciate any guidance on this matter.

Hi there, I planted this Coral Bark Japanese Maple two weeks ago. Zone 10A. It gets partial sun, around 5 hours a day. It's a bit windy, as shown in the video. Trunk flare exposed. I deeply watered it the first few days after planting and slowed after I noticed the leaves turning from neon green to the red, which you can see here. From what I've red, this is supposed to happen later, in the Fall, so it happening mid-Spring indicates the tree is sick. Is this tree salvageable? The redness started quicker from the top, some lower leaves are still a little green, but some of them are curling up. Everything I see online points to a variety of afflictions but I'm not sure how to pinpoint which ones are affecting it (oveunder watering, too much wind, too much sun, etc.). Coral Bark's are supposably able to handle full sun. Maybe it's simply shock from the transplant? I'm considering moving it to a shadier spot with less wind to save it. Or ride it out and see if it gets better once the roots are more established. Any thoughts are appreciated, thank you.
https://preview.redd.it/22qjbnxad91d1.jpg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8b4d788b46ea2d89e0a42344efdbcffce1241ae2
https://preview.redd.it/o3p7snxad91d1.jpg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=118cec817d4c66be9bbbae3ce10058f1d62e7cb4
https://preview.redd.it/3onbbmxad91d1.jpg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f2bd6fbc51a35a7f7fefdae815f7bf2999624c0e
https://preview.redd.it/ltis1oxad91d1.jpg?width=3072&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3435aed32da66cf696dac7dac9c03b90a9b98a4a
https://reddit.com/link/1cv8nd7/video/am7f3eyad91d1/player

Previous Part
Morning eventually came, banishing the eyes that seemed to peer at me through the night. It was strange how suddenly the feeling left me, making me think that someone really was watching me. The whole thing was really doing wonders for my paranoia. Despite the rough morning and sleepless night, I still found myself waiting outside Bianca’s house bright and early that morning. The air was cool but not chilly, one of those perfect days that’s cold enough you’ll never start sweating unless you really try, but warm enough that a T-shirt will get you through without too much trouble.
I only had to knock once before Bianca threw open the door.
“Where you just waiting there for me?”
I asked, cracking a smile and raising an eyebrow.
“You’ll never know” she added playfully, “Are we ready to go then?”
Bianca had made some preparations for the trip, she didn’t have a backpack ready to go but she definitely made an effort to dress the part… sort of. She was wearing an old grey combat jacket that I imagine she pulled out of Stein’s closet. The jacket was way to big for her but she made it work. Her combat boots matched the jacket, looking old and well worn. What didn’t match was the bright red yoga pants she was wearing, but I wasn’t about to complain. Besides, I had packed each of us a spare set of clothes just in case.
“Oh! So I had an idea, its a long walk, not crazy but I’d rather not just walk the whole way if we can help it. Frank and Stein used to have some bicycles when we first came here so I asked them about it and well.”
Bianca chirped, as she led me around the back of the house and pulled a tarp off two abysmal looking bicycles. The bikes were both red at one point but that was a long time ago. Now they were covered in a layer of rust and I could barely make out the branding that may have once read, “Shwinn”.
“Um… Bianca I think I might get tetanus if I sit on that thing.”
“Oh come on! Aren’t you tired of walking everywhere? Lets just give the bikes a shot, if they crumble to dust we can leave them.”
“And get me a tetanus shot.”
I added quickly
“Fine, and get you a tetanus shot.”
Bianca shot back, she feigned annoyance but she couldn’t hide the smile that crossed her face.
Laughing to ourselves, we got on the bikes and took off North, out of town and onto a dirt path leading to the woods. Bianca didn’t say much on the way out but I could tell she was having a good time. This may have been her first time out of the house for something other than supervising Frank and Stein. She tried to hide it by riding fast and staying out in front of me, but I could still catch her eyes literally glowing with happiness every now and then. I thought back to what Frank had said about her eyes glowing when she experiences strong emotion. I hoped that was the case and she wasn’t just trying really hard to influence me, which he had also said would make her eyes glow.
As we neared the end of the path, the forest’s edge came into view. we let the bikes roll to a stop then got off and let them fall over onto the dirt. I half expected them to explode into a puff of rusty brown dust the second they touched the ground but to my surprise, neither bike did. I could’ve swore I heard Bianca sniffle almost like she’d been crying. I opened my mouth to say something and then thought better of it, if she wanted to tell me what was going on she would. Well, that or she’d just manipulate me away from the question. Wait, was she doing that now? It’s hard to tell, maybe that’s how everyone around her feels. The more I thought about it the more I realized how difficult it must be for her just to have friends or form relationships with people at all. If she told them the truth they’d never know if what they were feeling around her at any given moment was real. All they’d have to go on would be her word, could they really trust that, could I? If she kept her secret she’d know that at any moment she could just change how they felt about her, manipulate them into anything she wanted. Could she resist that kind of power over them and still look someone in the eyes and say she was their friend. Not to mention how hard it would be to keep that secret over years of knowing someone.
“So Keith, were exactly are we headed? You do have some Idea where this mine you’re looking for is right?”
Bianca asked skeptically, snapping me out of my thoughts.
“Well about that…. I just know its out here in the forest somewhere. That’s pretty much all I have to go on from Frank, Stein, and that massive bartender in town.”
I told her sheepishly.
“Well that explains why you over-packed so much then. Seriously? How long do you think we we’re going to be out here, you’re packed like some kind of survivalist.”
She mocked, picking through the pack I’d made for her. After she finished rooting through the pack I made for her like some kind of giant squirrel and, chastised me yet again for not doing more research on the mine, we set off.
The forest felt imposing as we walked into the woods through a manicured patch of trees. Someone had gone to great lengths to braid a few trees over this little path before the forest turned back into its natural wild state. It gave off the feeling that civilization ended with this path and something else entirely began. As we got off the path our light faded quickly, chocked out by the limbs of massive pine trees. All this cover meant there was very little foliage on the ground which was covered in a blanket of needles. The though occurred to me that we were looking for a mine in a valley. That’s weird because what exactly would be in a valley that warranted the creation of a mine? Usually you’ll find them in mountains so what exactly was one doing out here.
“Bianca I just had a thought, Why would they build a mine out here? I mean what’s the point, is there even anything valuable out here to mine?”
“Yeah, come to think of it your right. What other reason would there be to have a mine out here?”
“Unless they were just mining from a cave but that still doesn’t answer the question of what they were…”
Bianca cut me off
“What was that first thing you said?”
“Um… mining from a cave?”
A lightbulb went off over her head as she exclaimed,
“That’s it! There’s caves under the town, I’ve heard Frank talk about them before! Maybe they didn’t have a real mine so they were just mining something out of the caves.”
“Not to burst your bubble Bianca, but that still doesn’t get us any closer to these caves or mines or whatever it is.”
I responded cautiously, trying not to sound to critical of her revelation.
“Well not exactly, Frank said they were in the East of the forest somewhere so all we have to do is head East till we run into them.”
Bianca said, full of confidence. Then something occurred to me, we had no real way of getting back to the bikes other than retracing our steps. Now that was easy enough now, if we went deeper into the woods we would get lost pretty quickly.
“One more thing Bianca, Maybe we should come up with a way to find our way out? I really don’t want to end up lost out here.”
I asked nervously, fidgeting with my hands.
“Way ahead of you on that one, I left my phone back by the bikes. Here give me yours and I’ll put my number in so you can track it and find our way back.”
She said, taking my phone, putting her number into it, and turning it to me to show she’d tracked her own phones location with it, giving us a path back to the bikes.
As we turned East and headed even deeper into the forest the terrain started to change. Instead of the pine needle coating we started to see rocks and the ground was more rugged. Here and there we’d even pass a boulder or two. I decided to break the silence of our search.
“So are you ever going to tell me how you met Frank and Stein?”
Bianca sighed before responding.
“I suppose you deserve to know if your sticking around. You probably guessed I wasn’t always living with them. Lets just say before that I was with someone who I though meant the world to me but I never meant the same to him. It was all a game to him and eventually I noticed that. Then, a little while afterwards I realized I wasn’t exactly powerless anymore and I did some things that I’m not exactly proud of to survive on my own.”
I could tell talking about this hurt her but I needed more.
“That’s not exactly telling me a whole lot Bianca.”
I pressed, maybe a little to hard.
“I found out I had powers and I used them ok! I got myself out of a situation where I was pulled so many way I didn’t know which direction was up! The second I found out I could do the same thing to people myself, I did! You’re the first person to actually seem to give a shit that wasn’t some crazy doctor that tolerates my existence or someone I just manipulated into caring! Maybe I even did that with you! I JUST DON’T KNOW ANYMORE!”
Bianca screamed at me, getting in my face with tears beginning to run down her own. Her eyes were glowing electric blue again and I knew I’d crossed a line.
“Hey I’m sorry I didn’t mean to hurt you. I… I didn’t know.”
“No.. you didn’t but I guess you should”
Bianca sniffled out, trying desperately to pull herself back together and keep up the act the everything was ok. Bianca went silent for a while as we kept walking along, crying to herself before she finally took a deep breath and said,
“You know, this is the first time someone’s asked me to come along and do something outside the house in years. I spend so much time cooped up in there just helping with experiments and looking after Rocco. It’s actually nice to get out and talk for once.”
Her voice still a lifts hoarse from screaming at me before.
“Look if you want to talk about it we’ve got nothing but time out here. I’d like to know a bit more about you anyways.”
I said taking her hand and trying to sound comforting.
“Yeah maybe I should get some of it off my chest. Here it goes I guess.”
Bianca said, taking a deep breath and tightening her grip on my hand. Her eyes still glowed faintly as she told me her story as we ventured deeper into the forest.
I’ll give you the shorter version of it here, mostly cause I’m not sure how she’d feel about me spoiling all her secrets.. She ran away from her family and her college education for a guy, his name was Brooke. Brooke was from money and had a job lined up by his family at a law firm so Bianca thought she was set for life with him. Bianca was madly in love with him at the time but as days grew into months and years, Brooke became a monster. He cheated on her and told her she wasn’t enough, that her shortcomings drove him to do it over and over again and somehow it was all her fault every time. He became abusive not long after the cheating started, flying into fits of hysteric apology afterwards only further convincing Bianca she was somehow at fault. After three years of this she eventually got up the courage to leave and never looked back. On the road she discovered her powers of manipulation, letting her play with people’s emotions and she only got better at it with time. Unfortunately her abilities got her into a very specific form of getting money out of people, prostitution. One day she tried to solicit Stein and he saw straight through her. Stein took her with him to the hotel he and Frank were staying at and they took her in on the spot. The trio traveled together ever since, Bianca becoming a kind of daughter to them.
I was in shock once she finished her story, it sounded like she’d really been through the ringer.“I don’t know what to say, that’s awful, all of it.”
“It was, I lived it. But I made it through, doesn’t matter how at the end of the day. I’ve got Frank and Stein and that’s enough, they let me into their home and I recovered in my own way, I’m still here so I’ll take what I can get right?”
Bianca stated with a cold loom of determination on her face. It was painfully obvious to me that despite the masquerade of being fine she was barley holding it together underneath. Like just talking about it with me was driving a finger into old wounds.
“At least you’ll never have to go through something like that again. With your abilities you never have to get pushed around like that.”
I said with completely no tact whatsoever. Bianca stopped suddenly as I said this and whirled around to face me. The fire I’d seen in her eyes earlier reigniting in seconds.
“Do you really think that’s all this is?! I’m no better than him, even you don’t know what you really think when you look at me! Admit ti!”
Bianca growled at me, hysterical once again.
“No, Bianca I…”
“Look I know your trying to help but just leave it, ok? I’m done talking about this”
She cut me off, pulling herself back together and signaling very clearly we were done with that particular conversation.
“Besides look over there, That hole in the rock see it? That might be what we’re looking for.”
Bianca said, gesturing to the stone wall that now jutted out of the ground beside us.
The rock wall she pointed out was chipped near the middle in a way that couldn’t have been natural. Straight lines don’t really exist in nature and this hole was cut squarely into this rock wall. As we got closer I could see that it wasn’t just an entrance either. The hole opened into the rock wall but then suddenly dropped, like whoever carved it had hit a point where the ground just fell out from under them. From where Bianca and I were looking into the hole we couldn’t quite see the bottom.
“Well we found what we were looking for, is this bringing back any memories from those dreams you had?”
Bianca asked, sounding a little short tempered still as I searched through my bag.
“What are you looking for in there?”
“Rope, I’ve got to see what’s in there and I’m hoping I brought enough to climb down there.”
I replied hurriedly, still tearing apart my bag to get to the rope I had packed underneath everything else.
“Rope? you’re not seriously going to climb down that pit are you? I can barely see down there.”
Bianca complained, sounding exasperated.
“Here, this should help you see down there.”
I said, tossing her one of the two head mounted flashlights I brought along.
“ME? I never said we were going down there!”
Bianca panicked momentarily.
“Look, you can stay up here and wait for me if you really don’t want to go down there. But I would appreciate having you to watch my back.”
I added trying to soften her up. Bianca opened her mouth like she was going to say something but stopped, instead dropping her own pack to the ground and searching through it.
“Look if I’m going down there I’m going to need something better than yoga pants on and…. You actually packed a change of clothes in here. Geez you really did think of everything.”
As Bianca took the jeans I packed and went off to find somewhere to change I finally found the rope. It was about 50 feet of strong climbing rope that I kept for an occasion just like this. Now that’s not to say I was a professional climber by any means but a 20 or 30 foot rappel I should be able to do. I was hoping that the descent wasn’t much further than that. I anchored the rope to a tree a little ways away from the hole in the rock face and tossed the rope down the hole. It hit the bottom with a satisfying thud just as Bianca got back from changing. The jeans I had packed were a little big on her but she’d manage. She looked like a mess in her ancient combat boot and jacket, all of which were too big for her. I tried to open my mouth to tell her she looked nice, I swear I really did but what came out was hyena-like laughter at her appearance.
“I…. Oh god I’m…. It’s just”
I struggled to get out, laughing all the while.
“Well I’m glad you like it at least, ok seriously come on, stop laughing.”
Bianca scolded as she began giggling herself. Soon enough we were both laughing, Bianca’s earlier storminess cleared up by the absurdity of the situation.
Here we were, a succubus and a guy with a strange mark out in the woods getting ready to rappel into a hole in the ground that apparently didn’t exist. All this was almost starting to feel… I’m not really sure how to put it, not normal but not so strange. Honestly I finally felt like I’d found some kind of purpose again out here. As weird as it all was I was starting to enjoy… this, this whole odd situation I’d found myself in. Bianca and I finally got ahold of the laughter and stood back up from our place on the ground.
“Do I really look that bad?”
She asked
“I’ve never heard you complain about your looks before. But no, with those jeans on you look like maybe, just maybe you prepared a little bit for coming out here.”
I teased, getting a little wry grin out of her.
“Come on, lets get going. Hopefully we can be in and out of there pretty quickly.”
I said, handing Bianca her pack and shouldering my own.
Rappelling in wasn’t actually all that hard, really dangerous without safety equipment sure, but neither of us had any trouble descending the maybe 20 foot drop. At the bottom I saw something that shocked me, this place wasn’t abandoned. I saw lighting set up, not on but very clearly set up recently. Bits of old mining equipment were scattered around the… cave? Mine? Im not really sure what to call it anymore. What concerned me more than anything was the light I saw at the far end of the cave (I’m settling on calling it a cave). The light came from a massive bonfire and I could just make out the shadows of several people sitting around it. I have no idea how we didn’t see the smoke on our way in. It wasn’t filling the cave but it also wasn’t coming out from anywhere I saw on the way here.
“Bianca get down!”
I whisper shouted at her, turning off my headlamp and falling flat to the ground myself. Bianca dropped to the ground as she heard me with unexpected grace. I didn’t know if those figures by the fire had seen us but I certainly wasn’t taking chances.
“Ok, I’m going to creep up and see if I can hear them talking or something. Can you just stay here and watch my back? I don’t want you getting any closer than you have to.”
I instructed Bianca who answered with a quick nod and reached into the inner pocket of her jacket. She withdrew a jeweled golden dagger from it.
“I sorry, what’s this now?”
I asked, confused and thrown off guard by the weapon. It was a really beautiful blade, the hilt was silver with several purple gems inlaid in it. The blade was golden save for the razor sharp edge which was some kind of strange blue material that was roughly the same color Blanca’s eyes glowed.
“I had a life before this you know.”
Bianca responded.
“Yeah we talked about it but you didn’t really tell me much about this part apparently. Doesn’t matter I guess just surprised you have Jeff Bezos’s butter knife in your jacket pocket.”
I whispered, pointing at the dagger in her hand.
“Well we can talk more about how I ended up with this later, not really the time now. Just be careful ok.”
I got up as she said this, realizing she was right. Now really wasn’t the time to be asking about strange daggers, I had more pressing issues.
I crouched down and started creeping towards the figures by the bonfire, careful to avoid the rusty machinery bits scattered across the ground. As I got closer I saw a passage I had missed in the dark. I dared to turn my headlamp on for just a second, trying to block out most of the light with my hand. What I saw through the dim light and shadows of my finger left me awestruck. Inside the passage a coliseum had been constructed, with seats carved into the stone. The structure itself was made up of the rusted metal pieces that littered the room, collected and smelted together to form the walls of the structure. What frightened me the most was the symbol clearly and meticulously drawn on the dirt floor, the same symbol that adorned my back, the symbol of the thunderbird. Moving on, more shaken than ever I crept closer still to the roaring bonfire. I could just about make out the words the figures were saying. When I got close enough to make out the word “tests” the fire suddenly went out with a gust of wind.The room temperature must have dropped 10 degrees immediately and I could swear I heard the sounds of heavy rain above us. But the sudden lack of light isn’t what rooted me in place, cowering on the cave floor. What did that was the two illuminated grey eyes that pierced through the darkness like lightning in a storm, eyes I would never forget, the eyes of the woman from Imalone.
This time I clearly heard the voices of the figures from around the bonfire as they all dropped to their knees.
“Shaoni! We weren’t expecting you till later, Stormcaller.”
The figures all said some variation of in unison. Their tone sounding almost as though they were begging for forgiveness. In a voice that hissed like rain on pavement the woman apparently named Shaoni spoke.
“I’ve come to oversee the start of the trials, is everything prepared?”
In one bone chilling moment her eyes locked on mine and she said the one thing I’d hoped she wouldn’t.
“You didn’t tell me we had guests.”
The moment the words left her lips I turned back to where Bianca was waiting, her now glowing eyes cutting through the darkness of the cave. Giving up any form of subtly, I bolted for the rope behind Bianca. I just wanted to be out of this cave, whatever I might learn from searching around was far outweighed by the fact that Shaoni was here. I’d seen the kind of destruction she’d left in her wake in Imalone and I had no desire to see it happen again here. I banged my ankle on several of the little bits of rusty metal on the floor as I ran, sending sparks of pain up my leg. I didn’t hear anything behind me at all which was almost more unnerving than the footsteps I expected to hear. I closed in on Bianca and saw she hadn’t moved at all, her eyes fixed on something behind me. I dared to take a quick glance back over my shoulder and saw Shaoni taking her first step away from the extinguished bonfire. Lightning crackled around her like one of those novelty plasma globes. In the flashes of light I could see her face. There was no smile or frown, no emotion at all. She simply stared straight ahead towards me and took slow calm steps, inching ever closer.
“Bianca we’ve got to go… NOW!”
I shouted, snapping her to attention. She nodded and turned on her heels, back toward the rope we’d thrown in earlier. Only, when we got to the rope and gave it a tug, it came falling back toward us.
“There’s no way. I…I anchored it to that tree, it should’ve held!”
I cried in disbelief. Bianca and I starred up at the now stormy sky through the hole we would’ve escaped from. Two men walked into view on either side of the hole, glowering down at us. I notice a marking on one of the men’s hands in a flash of lightning from the storm. I could only assume if I was able to make it out I would’ve seen a marking just like the one on my back. Just as soon as the men had appeared a shape flew in from the left with a low growl, taking both men along with it.
“Ok, new plan! There’s something else up there and I really don’t want to get involved with… whatever that was either. I didn’t see any footprints near the entrance so I’m assuming those guys we saw by the bonfire got in another way. We’re just going to have to find where that was and get out that way.”
I instructed Bianca, gesturing to the men in toe with Shaoni and trying not to sound as afraid as I was.
“Ok, I’m with you but lets get moving, I don’t want to any closer to her than I have to be.”
Bianca answered, putting her hand on my shoulder. I suddenly felt a wave of calm rush over me and for the second time I was grateful for Bianca’s ability to simply turn off my fear response.
Shaoni now stood about 50 feet from us with four men following behind her. In the light she gave off I could see the men were all dressed like normal people. I kind of figured they would be more of those canvas wrapped weirdos from Imalone but no. There stood four men in jeans and flannels standing there. Shaoni looked like she could’ve stepped right out of a painting of Pocahontas. She wore an animal hide dress with frills along the bottom and arms. Her head was adorned with a leather band containing several hawk feathers. In short she looked like she’d stepped out of a different time. But I had no time to look over the finer details of her clothing as Bianca and I rushed towards her. Once we got within striking distance I pulled Bianca to the left, towards the passage I had seen earlier. Shaoni never made a move towards us, she just simply looked at me, the ghost of a smile briefly crossing her lips. One of the men with her grabbed at Bianca though, pulling her out of my grasp momentarily. That was a mistake because she was on him immediately with the ornate dagger I’d seen before. As the man grabbed her Bianca lashed out with the dagger, sticking him in the gut with the blade. He screamed in anguish and let go of her but Bianca wasn’t done yet. She followed up by stabbing the man in the back of the neck as he bent over, grabbing at the hole in his abdomen. The other three men were so taken aback by the sudden ferocity she displayed that they didn’t come any closer. As time stood still for a second the men all looked toward Shaoni, awaiting instructions but hesitant to get any closer to Bianca. Using the brief moment of disbelief Bianca had caused, we ran down the side passage towards the coliseum.
“What was that?”
I asked, still shocked by how suddenly Bianca had acted.
“He tried to grab me, I don’t like when they try to grab me”
Bianca responded, distant and… scared? I got the sense she was still in shock at what she had done too. But I couldn’t worry about that right now, we still had to get out of here. Luckily the men didn’t seem to be following us. Wether Shaoni called them off or they stopped to care for their friend I didn’t know, and frankly I didn’t care.
Rushing through the rusty coliseum was haunting. I expected something to jump out of every shadow in the imposing structure. As we slowed to a jog in the middle of the coliseum, right where that eagle symbol was, we stopped to look around. We had come into this arena through an open arch but the only other exit I could see was a similar but barred archway. The coliseum was huge for something constructed in a cave, probably 400 feet across. I had no idea how this thing could’ve been made without anybody finding out.
“Bianca are you seeing anyway out of here? Bianca!”
I asked, then shouted as I turned to see her standing still as a statue in the middle of the Eagle symbol. She was staring at the dagger she had stabbed that man with. Blood still stained the blade and dripped from it intermittently.
“Bianca are you alright?”
I questioned as I walked over to her. She still had this look in her eyes, like she was miles away.
“Bianca? Come on talk to me. Look, you did what you had to do back there, sure it wasn’t exactly pretty but it had to be done.”
I tried to comfort her with my words but the truth is, my heart just wasn’t in it. I was a little scared of what I saw from her in those few moments. She just lashed out and attacked him, not that he didn’t deserve it but going back for more was too much. But what would’ve happened if she didn’t act? It’s not something I could really dwell on now and I’m not sure it really mattered. I just wasn’t feeling all that great about the fact we may have killed someone.
“I don’t like it when they grab me.”
Bianca finally repeated, still appearing catatonic. I leaned down to her level, putting my face right in-front of her’s and putting her head in between my hands.
“Bianca I know enough to know that whole situation may have dug up some memories for you but nows really not the time. We have to keep moving, we have to find a way out of here, and I can’t do that without you right now.”
Bianca tensed up as I spoke to her, but I could feel her relax as I finished. A single tear fell from her eye as she gave me a nod and followed behind me as I walked toward the barred off archway.
Before I made it to the archway there was a massive crash as something tore the rusty bars from their mountings and fell into the room.
“Tuck?!”
I exclaimed, recognizing his colossal figure on the floor immediately. His shirt and pants were torn to shreds though, Like he’d flexed too hard and burst out of his clothes. Bianca and I rushed over to check on him but apparently he was fine. Before we even started walking towards him he was already back up on his feet and lumbering towards us.
“Tuck what are you doing here? Actually never mind, are you ok?”
I asked, concern in my voice.
“It’s going to take more than this to stop me son. I figured you might go looking for that old mine I mentioned the other night so I came to find you. I feel real bad about ya run’in off the way ya did and I got to thinking. Maybe I could make it up to ya if I told ya about the mine. So I came out here and found some shady look’in fellas poking around and figured maybe ya needed help, looks like I was right.”
Tuck explained, dusting himself off and brushing away some of the tattered remains of his shirt. I didn’t buy his story for a second but I wasn’t going to argue with this bear of a man.
“So how did you get in anyway?”
“Used the old entrance from back when this place was still run’in, come on I’ll lead ya out.”
Tuck answered, already turning and walking back the way he came.
The walk out was long and none of us talked much so I just looked around. The further we walked down this little tunnel the more I noticed crushed equipment. The walls looked like they were made up of bits and pieces of crumbled rock that may have once been the ceiling of a much bigger tunnel here.
“There was a collapse, just like the report said only, whatever caused it wasn’t any fault of ours. It was that damn thunderbird waking up.”
Tuck piped up, answering one question and making me ask another.
“Wait you knew about her?!”
“All the miners did, some decided to follow her after she woke up and brought the walls down on us. Others wanted revenge for the brothers we lost, I’m one of the former. You see son, the reason I stayed around this town so long was because of that bird. I want a chance to return the favor.”
“But what about Robert? If you hate the thunderbird so much why’d you let him in? You had to see that tattoo on his hand.”
“I know he thinks that damned bird will “save” him or something but I don’t blame him. Everyone deals with things in their own way and it’s not my place to judge folk for it.”
Tuck lectured, as we made our way further down the passage. His words made sense to me but I didn’t understand how he could be so understanding. From what I understood the thunderbird had a part to play in the original mine’s collapse and the death of the workers there. Only for some of the survivors to revere this creature. If I were in Tuck’s shoes I don’t think I could forgive and forget.
Finally we saw light at the end of the tunnel. We emerged into the whispers of what I’m sure was a monster of a storm. But that’s not what drew my attention, what did were the boulders scattered around the hole we just came out of. It looked like they had been moved, and recently. The suspicious red stain just barley peaking out from the bottom of one of them only served to convince me further. Tuck’s story didn’t quite make sense and this entrance seemed like it should’ve been blocked up until very recently. I wasn’t about to question the guy who saved us though, so I let the issue rest.
Bianca’s idea of tracking her phone to find our way to the bikes worked like a charm. We followed the directions my phone spit at us and eventually found our way back to the bikes. Tuck’s old Ford Bronco sat behind our bikes leaving me to question if he followed us on our way here.
“Well do you kids want a ride back to town?”
Tuck asked, his voice bellowing across the forest. Seriously it was like the guy swallowed a loudspeaker at some point and just spoke through it now.
“No we’ll find our own way back.”
“Alrighty then, stay safe son.”
Tuck called back to me as he got into his truck and drove off. Bianca and I stood up our bikes and got ready to head back to town.
“Hey Keith?”
“Yeah what is it Bianca?”
“Next time you offer to bring me along somewhere can you warn me about the damn thunderbird that seems to just show up around you.”
I laughed at this, it was nice to see Bianca joking around again. After what happened in the caves she seemed like someone else, none of her usual cheeriness was there. Not that I knew if that was what she wanted me to see from her or how she actually presented herself but still. I trusted her enough at this point to assume she wasn’t using her abilities to mess with my head.
When we got back to Bianca’s house the sun was just beginning to set, washing the town in shades of purple, orange, and red. We walked the bikes around to their place behind the house and I walked Bianca back to the front door.
“Thanks for today Keith,I don’t… get out very much anymore and it was… nice… to do something other than sit around the house for once. You know, despite everything that happened it was actually fun.”
I was taken aback by her words at first. If it was me I’d immediately want nothing to do with this person who just put me in danger.
“You had fun? The thunderbird showed up again and we may have killed a guy and you had fun?”
I asked, raising and eyebrow suspiciously.
“Can we not talk about that right now? Anyways I don’t exactly have a high bar for what is and isn’t fun at this point. I’ll see you later Keith.”
Bianca said, cracking a smile and walking into her house.
I was about halfway back to my own house when I realized she never gave me my backpack back. Well, looks like I’d be seeing her again then because I need that stuff back. I wasn’t sure what to think about what I’d seen today. If the thunderbird was in those mines years ago why did she end up in Wisconsin? There was also a very real possibility some people in this town worshipped her so I’d have to keep an eye out for that. The really interesting thing to me was the Shaoni never seemed to want to hurt me in the cave today. She was terrifying as all hell sure, but I didn’t get the sense that she wanted to cause me any sort of harm. If she wanted to do that my gut told me she would’ve done it quickly and efficiently.
Thunder suddenly cracked outside, interrupting my train of thought. As I stood up to see what time it was a knock came from the front door. I froze, who exactly could it be? I doubt Bianca would come over, I don’t think she even knows where I live but maybe she came by to drop off the backpack she absconded with? The knock came again, more forcefully this time.
“I’m coming, I’m coming!”
I shouted, as I jogged to the door. My heart dropped as soon as I opened it, On the other side of the door stood Shaoni. She was dressed normally for once, wearing a long flowing white nightgown. Shaoni stepped into my house as she cooed in her usual misty voice.
“Good evening. Keith was it? We have much to discuss.”

It's my third run and I never realized.

Back in 2016, I was working at a roadside diner west of St. Cloud, Minnesota. Neat little place, had a bit of a 60’s vibe to it, but without the hairdo. On the slow hours of the day, or whenever we just had locals around, I’d be humming along with the chefs playing radio out of the kitchen. It wasn’t an exciting time, but it was nice to have a workplace that felt like a second home.
A couple of weekends a month, we had an all-night crew to serve passing truckers. You usually never had to do more than one shift though, and we got to make own schedules. Our boss was pretty hands-off. It was during one of those shifts, at the first week of early summer, that my life took a turn for the worse – and I didn’t even realize it.

We were used to having the occasional odd customer during those hours of the day. When this guy walked in, I didn’t know what to think. He was about 6’2, bald, and pale as chalk. He wore this worn-out t-shirt that looked like it’d been on fire. With every step, he dragged his feet, and collapsed in one of our booths, seemingly exhausted.
I looked back at the chef, and he just shrugged. Guy wasn’t hurting anyone, but he didn’t look like he was all there. But a job’s a job, so I went up to him.
“You alright there?” I asked.
He looked up at me like I was speaking a foreign language, then sunk his head back down, gently shaking it.
“Nah,” he said. “I, uh… I don’t think I am.”
He had this voice on the knife’s edge between a hysterical laugh and a howling cry. He was trembling.
“You need me to call someone?”
“Call?”
“Yeah, call someone.”
“How?”

I didn’t understand the question. I figured he was coming down from some kind of binge, and I wasn’t about to take any chances. I asked the chef to get me a side of bacon to keep the guy calm while I called the police.
As I slid the plate over to him, he sunk his face into his hands, sobbing.
“T-thank you,” he cried. “I-I’m… please…”
I sat down across from him, instinctively reaching out to grab his hand. He let me. Even at a light touch, I could feel the scars on his palm and fingertips. Whatever’d happened to him, it must’ve been awful.
“I can’t go back,” he sniffled. “Don’t make me go back. I can’t. Please, I can’t.”
“You’re not going anywhere. It’s okay,” I smiled. “You’re safe here.”
“Can you help me?” he asked. “Can you keep him out?”
“I’m sure we can figure it out,” I nodded. “Just eat up. It’s okay.”

His fingers trembled as he tentatively bit off a piece of bacon. His teeth were black, and he flinched.
“I need time,” he said. “I need time to run.”
“Don’t worry,” I assured him. “We’ve called for help.”
“I just… I just need time.”
We just sat there for a while. He calmed his breathing but kept staring out the window. I could tell he was looking for something – or someone. All I could see was a road and a handful of moths. We sat there for some time, in silence, as he carefully nibbled on the slices of maple bacon.
As two police officers entered the diner, he got up from his seat. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bundle of scrunched-up trash. A couple of singles, a plastic card, dirt, and something resembling animal bones. He tried to straighten out the bills, pushing them into my hands along with the laminated card.
“Just… I need time. I’ll come back. Please.”
I didn’t understand. I just nodded and accepted it. Seconds later, the officers asked him to step outside and explain the situation. I got busy taking orders from a couple of passing truckers, watching glimpses of the scene through the window. A couple of minutes later, the strange man was taken away.

My shift ended at sunrise. I dragged myself to my car with a yawn, shuffling around my pockets for the keys. I hadn’t thought much about the items he’d handed me, but I took a closer look. I’d thrown away the animal bones and dirt, but there were a couple of dollar bills and that laminated card left. I checked the card first.
It looked like some kind of bookmark. On one side it was completely white, and on the other side there were dried blue flower petals arranged in a spiral. Kinda reminded me of a sunflower. And finally, there were the dollar bills.
I didn’t pay much attention to these at first. Just a couple of singles. But after a closer look, I noticed something unusual. There was a man on the bill that I didn’t recognize. It took me a couple of google searches to realize that this man was Walter Mondale – the man who’d lost to Ronald Reagan’s second run for president back in ’84. Why was this man on a one-dollar bill?

Before heading to bed, I put the items down on my nightstand. In a moment of silent wonder, I looked out the window. What had that man been looking for? What’d he been running from?
There was nothing out there.
Just a couple of moths.

Waking up the next morning, I had a full day off. I spent it cleaning my apartment, watching movies, having dinner with a couple of friends, and ending the night with a couple of drinks at the pub down on the corner. No binge or anything, just got a bit boozy. I was still gonna be in bed by midnight.
I took the scenic route home; a long walk. All the way down main street, past the lake. I took a shortcut through the park by the final stretch, speeding up a bit. That place was trouble.
As I hurried by the fountain, I spotted someone in the distance. A shrouded figure at the edge of the streetlights. I stopped to observe for a second, but as I did, the lights flickered. Coming back on, the figure was gone.
I chalked it up to imagination. I was a bit drunk, after all. Besides – it was small, like a child. What the hell would a kid be doing out at this hour?

A couple of days passed. I didn’t notice anything unusual, but I kept coming back to that distressing feeling of missing something important. Looking back at it now, I just feel dumb. He was there all along. Outside the supermarket. In the parking lot. Off the highway. Hell, he was outside my window at night sometimes, but just too short for me to spot.
I’m getting ahead of myself.
It wasn’t until one morning when I was driving to work that I got a clear view of him. I was crossing a four-way street, taking a sharp left turn, when I had to throw myself on the breaks. There was a kid in the middle of the street.
I hadn’t seen him that clearly before. He was probably around 6, maybe 7 years old. Wearing a plain black shirt and a pair of light blue canvas pants. Short black hair, dark eyes, and no shoes. That particular detail stuck with me. No shoes? Why?
I almost lost control, but I was lucky. There wasn’t much traffic, and I managed to stop further down the road. There were black lines in the pavement from my screeching tires swerving back and forth. Regaining my composure, I looked in the rear-view mirror.
The kid was gone.

But that was just the start.
I’d spot him every now and then. Looking out the window at work. At the gas station. A passing face in the crowd when shopping for groceries. Every now and then, something would pull on my attention, forcing me to whip my head around, looking for the source of that ill feeling crawling up my spine. Sometimes I saw him. And even worse – sometimes I didn’t.
I remember lying awake at night, hearing moths tap against my window. There was nothing else. Nothing outside. I patrolled my apartment six times, checking every window. I’d looked everywhere, and there was no reason for me to feel the way I did. I was growing paranoid.
And yet, in the morning, my front door was unlocked, and slightly open.

It all came to a head one afternoon when I was out on my smoke break. I’d barely slept for the past three nights, and you could kinda tell I was having a bad day. As I stood there, leaning against the side door of the diner, I see the kid again. This time just across the road, maybe 50 feet or so away. I’d had enough. This had to end.
I was furious. I stormed forward, calling him out with every slur and curse I could think of. I was psyching myself up. I was in the right, and I refused to be harassed anymore – kid or not. Didn’t matter. I crossed the road, barely dodging a speeding jeep, and met him face-to-face.
“What the hell do you want?!” I’d yell. “Why are you following me?!”
He was completely expressionless. He didn’t even flinch, no matter how much I pointed or screamed. I snapped my fingers in front of his eyes, and he didn’t even blink. He just stared at me, like a porcelain doll head on a swivel.

I wasn’t thinking about the bystanders though. A couple of middle-aged men stepped up, asking in no kind terms what the hell was wrong with me. I was held back and restrained. Someone called the police. Someone else called my manager – I’d forgotten to take off my apron, so they could see the diner logo. A couple of people filmed it. One of the videos got like 120k views in a day before it fell off the map. I still see it as a react gif sometimes.
It was a disaster. After a couple of officers came by to talk to me, he’d just disappeared into thin air. The officers took me down to the station – not to detain me, but to get me away from the heated crowd. That car ride downtown sobered me up to what the hell was going on. I was being stalked by this kid, but there wasn’t a living soul out there that would believe me.
Well, maybe one.
Maybe.

I was asked a couple of questions and released within about half an hour. They told me to go home and sleep this whole thing off. That wouldn’t be a problem. I didn’t have a job to go back to anyway, according to the (many) texts I’d gotten. I had all the goddamn time in the world.
I was just about to leave when something came to mind. The two officers who’d picked me up were still waiting by their car when I turned back to them.
“Sorry, you picked up the guy I called in about at the diner, right?” I asked.
“Sure did.”
“You got any idea what happened to him?”
The two looked at one another for a moment, shrugged, and turned to me.
“Didn’t have any ID and gave a fake name. I think they took him to psych.”
“Psych?”
“Well, he was saying some, uh… strange things. There were interviews with a, uh…”
The two quieted down and flashed me a smile.
“There’s not that much we can say.”

Coming home, I decided to get to the root of this. It didn’t take me that long to find the place where the guy’d been taken; there aren’t a lot of mental health facilities in this part of the country. Especially facilities that accept involuntary subjects.
But my eyes kept drifting back to the strange dollar bills he’d given me, resting neatly on my nightstand. They were so detailed. A bit old, sure, but that only made them seem more genuine. What the hell was he doing with a handful of clearly fake dollar bills? Like, what’s the purpose? There had to be a purpose.
That unnerved me.

I managed to arrange a meeting. It wasn’t easy, and I think a lot of it boiled down to the police having no idea what could make this guy talk. For some reason, he kept providing them with false information. Maybe a familiar face, for one reason or another, might make him talk.
Just a couple of days later, I was putting my items in a metal bowl on the second floor at a mental health institute in the next town over. I asked one of the nurses if I could keep one of my dollar bills. Apparently, that was okay.
I was shuffled through a couple of locked doors and escorted to an off-white side-room. No décor, no locks. The guy was already there.

He’d been dressed down into these neutral eggshell-white garbs. It was strange seeing him in a lit-up room like this. I didn’t know what to expect.
Getting a closer look at him, he was probably in his 50’s. It’d been hard to tell earlier. I couldn’t get over just how pale he was; it was almost a complete lack of pigment. It looked sickly. His thin arms didn’t help – he looked malnourished. And yet, he was smiling.
“Hello,” he said.
“Hello to you too,” I smiled. “You doing okay?”
“I’m… I’m pretty good,” he nodded. “Thank you.”
I sat down across from him and took out the dollar bill he’d given me.
“I wanted to ask you about this.”
“For the bacon,” he said, matter-of-factly.
“Excuse me?”
“Sorry, was that not enough?”
“No, it’s…”
I took a moment to compose myself. I had too many questions.

He sighed, took the bill, and looked it over. Looking back at me, I could tell there was something painful stirring in his mind. His smile slowly faded.
“Sorry,” he said. “I try to forget sometimes. It’s easier than making sense of it.”
“Let’s start with something simple,” I nodded. “Like… your name. Where you’re from.”
“Those things are pretty far from simple.”
He was looking straight through me; his eyes sinking back to deeper, more uncomfortable thoughts.

His name was Samuel, and he was born around these parts in back in the 1970’s. He’d worked as a telecommunications specialist out of St. Cloud back in the 90's. He had a wife, three children, and a four-bedroom house.
“But it… that was all before, see?” he explained. “Then it all just…”
“Just what?” I asked. “What happened?”
He looked at me, opening and closing his mouth, looking for the right words to come out. Nothing happened. He shook his head, trying again.
“It started with the street preachers,” he said. “Hundreds of them, marching on every city. All saying the same doomsday shit as always. World was dying. All coming to an end.”
“I haven’t seen anything like that.”
“Then there were storms,” he continued without skipping a beat. “Some would last for weeks. Others longer. Entire cities would be flooded or torn apart. Earthquakes causing monster waves along the east coast, sending shockwaves all the way to mainland Europe. Then, Yellowstone.”
“Yellowstone?”
“Yeah,” he nodded. “Lights out.”

Samuel was painting this apocalyptic vision of a world undone. Catastrophe after catastrophe. Hooded people marching the streets, screaming for the mercy of a mad god. But there was more to it.
“Then things stopped making sense. It’s as if the rules changed,” he continued. “Roads would stop leading home. Trees would change color. People turned twisted and corrupted. Like… one of our neighbors couldn’t eat anything but gunpowder. There was a woman just down the street who tried to kill anyone wearing glasses. It was… pandemonium.”
I didn’t say anything. What he was saying didn’t make any sense, but he was trying his best to keep his rambling coherent.
“The plants died. Trees too. The only thing that could grow in that environment were these twisted blue things that popped up out of nowhere. But people… people are what got twisted the most.”
He told me of these towering 7-foot-tall humanoid creatures that roamed the forests. Black as night – not even reflecting light. Arms reaching all the way to their knees. Elongated, inhuman things that all used to be someone he knew.

“The doomsayers all said the same thing,” he continued. “That God was a scared little boy, and that he was dying. Everything that was happening was just an expression of that ceaseless, bottomless, existential grief.”
Samuel looked back and forth, finally burying his face in his hands.
“It all broke down. Roads stopped leading anywhere. No power. No water. Julie changed. Ollie changed. Tobie made himself a mask and wandered off into the woods. Ira just… disappeared. And for… years? Has it been years? It’s just been me.”
“But you’re here, now,” I said. “And what you’re describing, it… it didn’t happen.”
“It happened,” he insisted. “Just not… here. But here.”
He tapped his finger on the single dollar bill.
“Somewhere, somehow, I must’ve taken a wrong turn. I slipped through something broken, and now I’m here. And… and he’s coming to bring me back. He doesn’t want anyone to leave.”
“Who?”
“Just! Just…” he chuckled. “Just a sad little boy who’s been told he’s going to die.”
I didn’t know what to say. I just sat with him for a while, holding his hand.

Before I left, Samuel got up from his chair. He looked at me, forcing himself to smile.
“If I go back, I’ll try not to… to be like them. I’ll try. And… and I’ll be the one to say something.”
He let out a painful little laugh, shaking his head.
“Maybe just a… hello.”

I left that day with more questions than answers. I couldn’t picture the world he’d lived through. Then again, how could it be true? None of it had happened. But what was he gaining from lying about it?
That was the last time I saw Samuel. A few days later, he went missing, as if he’d disappeared into thin air. I didn’t know what to think of it. There was nothing on the cameras – no one entering or leaving the building. No quick escapes, no clever plans. He’d just walked into his room and disappeared. Nothing left but a couple of moths fluttering about.
And for a while, that was it. That was the end of the story. I got busy looking for a new job, and all the little items given to me by Samuel was put away into a little box in my glove compartment. Life soldiered on, and no matter how many questions I had, there was no one around to answer them. Even the strange kid that’d been following me was, seemingly, gone.

A couple of months later, I was driving home from a friend’s place. I stopped at a four-way street, waiting for a couple of trucks to pass, when there was a knock on the passenger side window. I almost choked on my own spit. Scared me half to death.
Looking out, I could see that kid again. I hadn’t seen him for some time, and I quickly bounced between curiosity and downright anger.
“What do you want?” I yelled out.
There was no response. Instead, the door just opened. It’d been locked. As he opened the door, he pointed to the glove box.
“You want his things?” I asked. “Is that it?”
He nodded. I wanted to lash out, but there was something telling me I shouldn’t. Instead, I reached over, opened the glove compartment, and pointed to the box.
“Just take it and leave me alone,” I said. “Get it over with.”

He reached in and grabbed the box. So much effort for a couple of mementos. I turned my head back to face the road. The kid backed out. But of course, I had to get the last word in.
“Not even a thank you, huh?”
That made him pause. He looked at me, tilting his head. As he opened his mouth to speak, a moth fluttered out. Then another. And another.
Then – darkness.

What happened next is hard to describe. My memory of it is fragmented. It’s like trying to watch a buffering video, where long stretches of it are just nothing – but you know something was supposed to happen in-between.
Blink. I was sitting in my car. There was a dark blue sky. No clouds, no stars. Figures in the distance. An open field with blue flowers bending to a howling wind. A powerful stench of ammonia stinging my nostrils. Something to my immediate left, ripping the car door straight off the hinges.
Blink. Running. Ruins of a town. It seemed familiar, but there was barely anything left. My leg was bleeding. I was being followed. No matter where I turned, or where I ran, I seemed to end up at the same intersection.
Blink. A three-story building, brimming with life. Glimpses of arm-long antennae through the broken windows. Clickety-clack of bursting wings tapping against crumbling concrete. A loud warning shriek as something rubs its legs together; a call for prey.
Blink. Hiding in a tipped-over trash container. The rain has stopped in mid-air. Raindrops held in indefinite suspension. I suck water drops out of the air to quench my thirst. My hands are shaking from the blood loss.

Countless little images. Some in order, some not. I have no idea how much time passed. In the moment, it must’ve been much longer than I can remember. Days. Weeks, even. There’s no way to tell.
Blink. Walking through a barren field. It feels like walking through a dead forest, but there are no trees. Only those willingly impaled and wailing.
Blink. An abandoned booth by a broken highway. A sign offers phone calls, in exchange for “real teeth”. There are six sizes of pliers hanging on a wall within. All are bloodied – even the small ones.
Blink. The church that had burned down the night before had reappeared. The people inside, too. They couldn’t leave. Tonight, they would burn again.

Somewhere in this nightmarish puzzle-pieced fragment of nothing, there was a constant drive in me to get away. To get out. I knew that if I’d gotten there, I could get back home again. I just had no idea how. Maybe finding the kid. Asking. Begging. Something.
The last fragment of memory from that space was being cornered in a cellar. They were banging on the door. I’d tipped over a wardrobe to keep them out, but they weren’t going to stop. They were never going to stop. I couldn’t let them kill me again – not like that.
One of the Changed ones were coming. I don’t know what that means, or how I know the name, but I knew of it. There was a mirror, and I could see the signs. It stepped out. Seven feet tall, black as night. Elongated arms and neck. Barely a body at all – just a void space vaguely shaped like the remnants of a person.
Except this one felt… familiar. It was the first one to speak.
“H E L L O.”

Blink. Running. A cold hand. If I squeezed too hard, my fingers went straight through it. I had to keep up. He was showing me something.
Blink. They were flooding over the school bus, tipping it by their sheer numbers. Eruptions from the sewer grates. They were famished.
Blink. An open field. Sunflowers facing me, no matter where I turn. It’s not far.
Blink. I look back, as I’m pushed over the edge. He looks just like the rest of them. They aren’t angered by his betrayal.
They feel nothing, as I fall.

In February of 2017, I was found by the side of the road. I’d been gone for months. My car was too. I came back with nothing but the clothes on my back and countless scars. I’ve been told that I didn’t make any sense at first; I was just rambling nonsense. Or maybe it just sounded like nonsense to these people.
Over time, I forgot more and more of these fragmented images. And the less I remember, the more I can move on. Still, I’ve written them down over time, and they paint an ugly, insane picture of what I’d been going through. Some of which I, myself, have a hard time believing. Then again, I know myself well enough to see that there’s no point in lying.

I haven’t seen Samuel, or that strange kid ever since. I think this is all over, for now. There’s nothing left for me to give.
But even now, years later, I still wake up to that feeling at night. That there’s something wrong, or that I’m forgetting something. That there’s something near that I’m looking straight through, or past.
And every now and then, I hear the flutter of a moth’s wing, tapping against my bedroom window.
And I think I know what it wants.
It wants me to go back.

Hopepaw and Doompaw just play and stuff totally 100% cannon and all that absolutely not based off of Lionpaw and Heatherpaw and the tunnels(because they were kind of love interests(?(and they are not in the tunnels the tunnels don’t make an appearance in this AU)) and they are brother and sister and they know that(?(question mark not because they aren’t siblings maybe it’s just that they might not know that yet(I now realize that I was kind of implying that they might be love interests but their not they are just friends(for now(oh the suspense that you might never really know(they don’t fall in love they just hate each other)))))))

Doompaw circled Hopepaw on the tree she was sitting in. “Hush, apprentice-” “Why can’t I be leader?” Hopepaw sniffed, and nearly fell off of her branch. “Because, young apprentice, you do not have any experience.” 

“Because you never give me a turn! C’mon, last time you promised.” Hopepaw flicked her tail, considering. “Fine. You can be leader. But only for a little bit! You’ve finally shown yourself as worthy of being a warrior, and I have a good name in mind.” She moved to leap gracefully out of the tree, but instead fell and landed on Doompaw.
“You’re squishing me!” Hopepaw laughed maniacally. “I true leader would never let such squishing happen! I hereby demote you-ow!” Doompaw bit her tail and rushed up the tree until he stood high above the other apprentice’s head.
“Ha! Hold your words, underling. I am Doomstar, your leader, and it is time for your warrior ceremony.” Hopepaw’s golden tail lashed. “But I didn’t even take my warrior assessment. That’s not how you’re supposed to play.” Doompaw swatted at a pinecone and it fell, narrowly missing Hopepaw’s head. “I AM DOOMSTAR! DO AS I COMMAND, UNDERLING!”
Doompaw stretched his neck down. “Besides, underling,” he whispered, as if he didn’t want Doomstar to hear him. “I already have the perfect warrior name picked out for you. I was inspired by my clanmates.” He straightened, then leaped down, a lot more graceful than Hopepaw had been.
“UNDERLING!” Hopepaw shushed him “Not so loud! Someone might hear.” Doompaw hissed in annoyance, but lowered his meow. “Underling, step forwards. Closer, yes.” Hopepaw had expected for him to rest his muzzle on her head, like she had seen before, but instead he lifted a paw and brought it heavily down to rest between her ears.
“Underlingpaw, from-” “Hopepaw.” the she-cat giggled. “Right, right. That was the other one with pinecones in her pelt.” Hopepaw hissed playfully, and swiped gently at his ear.
“Quiet, underling. Now, yes. Hopepaw, from this day forth, you shall be known as Hopefrost. You are cranky like a leafbare breeze and your head is very cold.” Hopepaw snickered.
“You said you were inspired by your Clanmates. Know anyone with a cold head?” Doompaw laughed. “No, and if he ever thought I said that to someone, he’d have my head. I just think that Hawkfrost is cool, and that if I ever was a leader, I would name someone after him.”

Hopepaw wrinkled her nose. “Wait, Hawkfrost…” She trailed off, trying to remember something. “Nevermind. Now it’s my turn to be leader!” She was clawing her way up the trunk when Doompaw grabbed onto her tail again and dragged her down. “NO! I, DOOMSTAR, WILL FOREVER BE IN CHARGE, UNDERLINGFROST! COWER IN FEAR BEFORE ME!” Doompaw swatted at Hopepaw’s ears, then scooted back out of her reach. “Then I will fight you for it!” she yowled, flinging herself at the dark apprentice. She hooked a paw under his and knocked him down, then swiped a soft paw at his eyes. “Haha! I have blinded you! I blind cat can’t be leader. I have won!” Doompaw sighed. “Fine. You can be leader. Although, I don’t see why-” Hopepaw cut off Doompaw with the starting words of his ‘warrior ceremony’. “Step forwards, Doompaw. Now, instead of my paw, I will put my nose on your head. Hey, stop laughing! It’s not funny, it’s serious. Anyway, from this moment forward, you will be known as Doomfang. Your loyalty, cunning, and dedication has proven that you will hold onto this clan, and rip apart its enemies.” “I kind of like Doomfang.” Doompaw commented. “Hey, that’s a really cool name! I hope that’s my real warrior name.” Hopepaw sniffed. “I don’t like Hopefrost. It sounds like all the hope in the world has frozen, and that’s not good. But Doomfang, that’s a name that grabs doom by the neck and snaps it.” That wasn’t what I meant. Doompaw thought but didn’t say. To him, it sounded like he was the doom, with sharp fangs that would bite through StarClan. And what’s wrong with frozen hope? Draining our enemies from hope is the best way to win a battle. Or, that’s what the Dark Forest cats say, anyway. I wonder…I wonder if Hopepaw knows about the Dark Forest.Hopepaw and Doompaw just play and stuff totally 100% cannon and all that absolutely not based off of Lionpaw and Heatherpaw and the tunnels(because they were kind of love interests(?(and they are not in the tunnels the tunnels don’t make an appearance in this AU)) and they are brother and sister and they know that(?(question mark not because they aren’t siblings maybe it’s just that they might not know that yet(I now realize that I was kind of implying that they might be love interests but their not they are just friends(for now(oh the suspense that you might never really know(they don’t fall in love they just hate each other))))))) Doompaw circled Hopepaw on the tree she was sitting in. “Hush, apprentice-” “Why can’t I be leader?” Hopepaw sniffed, and nearly fell off of her branch. “Because, young apprentice, you do not have any experience.” 

“Because you never give me a turn! C’mon, last time you promised.” Hopepaw flicked her tail, considering. “Fine. You can be leader. But only for a little bit! You’ve finally shown yourself as worthy of being a warrior, and I have a good name in mind.” She moved to leap gracefully out of the tree, but instead fell and landed on Doompaw.
“You’re squishing me!” Hopepaw laughed maniacally. “I true leader would never let such squishing happen! I hereby demote you-ow!” Doompaw bit her tail and rushed up the tree until he stood high above the other apprentice’s head.
“Ha! Hold your words, underling. I am Doomstar, your leader, and it is time for your warrior ceremony.” Hopepaw’s golden tail lashed. “But I didn’t even take my warrior assessment. That’s not how you’re supposed to play.” Doompaw swatted at a pinecone and it fell, narrowly missing Hopepaw’s head. “I AM DOOMSTAR! DO AS I COMMAND, UNDERLING!”
Doompaw stretched his neck down. “Besides, underling,” he whispered, as if he didn’t want Doomstar to hear him. “I already have the perfect warrior name picked out for you. I was inspired by my clanmates.” He straightened, then leaped down, a lot more graceful than Hopepaw had been.
“UNDERLING!” Hopepaw shushed him “Not so loud! Someone might hear.” Doompaw hissed in annoyance, but lowered his meow. “Underling, step forwards. Closer, yes.” Hopepaw had expected for him to rest his muzzle on her head, like she had seen before, but instead he lifted a paw and brought it heavily down to rest between her ears.
“Underlingpaw, from-” “Hopepaw.” the she-cat giggled. “Right, right. That was the other one with pinecones in her pelt.” Hopepaw hissed playfully, and swiped gently at his ear.
“Quiet, underling. Now, yes. Hopepaw, from this day forth, you shall be known as Hopefrost. You are cranky like a leafbare breeze and your head is very cold.” Hopepaw snickered.
“You said you were inspired by your Clanmates. Know anyone with a cold head?” Doompaw laughed. “No, and if he ever thought I said that to someone, he’d have my head. I just think that Hawkfrost is cool, and that if I ever was a leader, I would name someone after him.”

Hopepaw wrinkled her nose. “Wait, Hawkfrost…” She trailed off, trying to remember something. “Nevermind. Now it’s my turn to be leader!” She was clawing her way up the trunk when Doompaw grabbed onto her tail again and dragged her down. “NO! I, DOOMSTAR, WILL FOREVER BE IN CHARGE, UNDERLINGFROST! COWER IN FEAR BEFORE ME!” Doompaw swatted at Hopepaw’s ears, then scooted back out of her reach. “Then I will fight you for it!” she yowled, flinging herself at the dark apprentice. She hooked a paw under his and knocked him down, then swiped a soft paw at his eyes. “Haha! I have blinded you! I blind cat can’t be leader. I have won!” Doompaw sighed. “Fine. You can be leader. Although, I don’t see why-” Hopepaw cut off Doompaw with the starting words of his ‘warrior ceremony’. “Step forwards, Doompaw. Now, instead of my paw, I will put my nose on your head. Hey, stop laughing! It’s not funny, it’s serious. Anyway, from this moment forward, you will be known as Doomfang. Your loyalty, cunning, and dedication has proven that you will hold onto this clan, and rip apart its enemies.” “I kind of like Doomfang.” Doompaw commented. “Hey, that’s a really cool name! I hope that’s my real warrior name.” Hopepaw sniffed. “I don’t like Hopefrost. It sounds like all the hope in the world has frozen, and that’s not good. But Doomfang, that’s a name that grabs doom by the neck and snaps it.” 

This is the twelfth and final song on Vessel
SUGGESTED SCALE: 1-4: Not good. Regularly skip. 5: It’s decent, but I might have to be in the right mood to listen to it. 6: Slightly better than average. I won’t skip it, but I wouldn’t choose to put it on. 7: This is a good song. I enjoy it quite a bit. 8-9: Really enjoyable, special songs. I rank them pretty high overall. 10: Masterpiece, magnum opus, or similar terminology.
Twenty One Pilots:7.93/10

1. Implicit Demand for Proof - 7.37/10
2. Fall Away - 7.83/10
3. The Pantaloon - 7.56/10
4. Addict With A Pen - 9.20/10
5. Friend, Please - 8.33/10
6. March To The Sea - 6.66/10
7. Johnny Boy - 7.00/10
8. Oh, Ms Believer - 6.74/10
9. Air Catcher - 8.57/10
10. Trapdoor - 9.33/10
11. A Car, A Torch, A Death - 8.42/10
12. Taxi Cab - 9.57/10
13. Before You Start Your Day - 5.73/10
14. Isle of Flightless Birds - 8.83/10

Regional At Best:8.21/10

1. Guns For Hands
2. Holding on to You
3. Ode To Sleep
4. Slowtown - 7.75/10
5. Car Radio
6. Forest - 9.25/10
7. Glowing Eyes - 9.11/10
8. Kitchen Sink - 9.04/10
9. Anathema - 9.20/10
10. Lovely - 6.67/10
11. Ruby - 8.34/10
12. Trees
13. Be Concerned - 7.39/10
14. Clear - 7.63/10
15. Two - 7.80/10
16. House of Gold

Vessel:

1. Ode to Sleep - 9.57/10
2. Holding On To You - 9.54/10
3. Migraine - 9.07/10
4. House of Gold - 7.77/10
5. Car Radio - 9.36/10
6. Semi-Automatic - 8.12/10
7. Screen - 8.33/10
8. The Run and Go - 7.60/10
9. Fake You Out - 7.92/10
10. Guns For Hands - 9.20/10
11. Trees - 9.47/10
12. Truce -