Credit to u/SpacePaladin15 for the NOP Universe.
Hey, I hope everyone's doing well!
Today we return to the namesake of this fic, an actual lesson about animals. This one focuses on Koalas! One of Australia's most recognisable critters. I hope you enjoy.
It's hardly worth mentioning, seeing as I'm an infrequent poster at the best of times, but I'll not have another chapter out for a few weeks due to limited free time and devoting most of my writing time to an upcoming ficnapping. Be sure to look out for that!
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Memory transcription subject: Rysel, Venlil Environmental Researcher
Date [Standardised human time]: 8th September 2136
“Koalas!”
Bernard’s energised voice boomed through the air as the classroom's monitor flickered into life, images of this paws lecture topic popping up one after the other until the entire screen was filled with a collage of furry quadrupeds.
Squee! I’ll never get tired of this, it’s all so cool!
As usual the sight of something new stirred immediate discussion, hushed murmurs swelling into vibrant discourse in little more than a heartbeat. Most of the class swiftly huddled together into small herds to bounce ideas around while the rest opted to stick to the solace of their own thoughts as they took in the display.
I’d be quite happy in either situation, though seeing as Sandi had already sunk into deep concentration and Kailo had peeled off to talk with Ennerif and Solenk, it seemed the decision had been made for me on this occasion. Wasting no more time on idle inspection of the people around me, I focused my full attention forward, eager to form first impressions before the lesson began in earnest.
Now then, time to make some educated guesses. What traits does this animal have? I wonder if I’ll get any right this paw?
Professional assumptions went paw-in-paw with the lectures, examining and coming up with hypotheses about the specimens was only natural. Recently however, I’d started to make a little game of it to make things even more interesting than usual. A veritable bonfire of ideas had been set ablaze within me, fueled by my newfound knowledge of Earthen wildlife. Every flash and spark of the flame was a fresh theory I could try to apply to the lectures. It was an invigorating exercise that further stoked my unceasing wonderment.
So far I’d only done this once during the previous class and, to my disappointment, I’d not done too well.
I was right when I guessed that chickens were omnivores, but wrong in my assumption that they could fly. And that red thing on their head, the um… what was it called? The comb! Yes, the comb. I thought that was to attract mates, but it regulates body heat instead. It’s fascinating. Oh! Stars damn it I’m rambling!
I bapped my tail against my leg, the soft thud being just enough to snap me back from my runaway thoughts before I went completely wall-eyed. I was becoming more and more accustomed to getting lost in my own head while remaining conscious of the fact; it was happening so frequently now that it was pretty much impossible not to. Now I was able to pull myself back to the world around me without having to rely on someone else shaking me out of it. Most of the time anyway.
Sandi still keeps an eye on me, and Kailo even decided to help out once without being too snide about it. Anyway where was I? Oh yeah, Koalas.
Glancing at the furred animals, two things immediately stood out. Firstly, their eyes were in a more central position on their face. And second, all the images showed them being on or close to trees. There were other noteworthy observations of course, such as the Koala’s prominent nose and rounded features, but they fell to the wayside as I honed in on these points first.
Hmmm… ok. I already know to discount the idea that they’re predators just from eye position, so let’s get that thought out of here. Maybe omnivorous? Herbivore? Agh no, I can’t just guess that for the sake of guessing, that’s the same problem! Hrm, it’s tough making these assumptions now that everything I thought I knew has been turned on its head.
Nevermind, I’ll focus on the other thing. All the trees make me think they’re arboreal, that seems to be a reasonable assumption. I wonder what else they-
Clearing his throat, Bernard broke my concentration, his call for attention silencing the murmuring conversation and redirecting everyone's focus to the lecturer's podium.
His gaze panned across the room as he waited for everyone to settle, a beaming smile lighting up his face, “As ever I’m delighted to see you all get so into the subject matter from the get go. I’m looking forward to hearing what you were discussing should you wish to share. For now though, how about we get started, hm?”
A chorus of merry bleats rang out from across the audience, ears and tails flicking happily in agreement. Bernard's grin grew in tandem with the class's fervour, clasping his hands together enthusiastically as he launched into the lesson, “Excellent! Then let’s get started.”
The pictures on screen dissolved away until only one remained, enlarging to cover the entire monitor with the fluffy grey face of a Koala peacefully reclining in the crook of a tree.
“Ah, there we are,” Bernard’s baritone timbre drifted through the room as he looked up at the image, his own tone reflecting the relaxed attitude of the animal on screen, “He looks so comfortable doesn’t he? Perfectly at peace with the world, not too surprising considering they sleep almost 20 hours a day. A full paw!”
A wave of beeps and gasps rippled through the herd, punctuated by a single yawn-dressed comment from Rova, “A full paw? Hwuuu… jealous.”
Her drowsy remark elicited several whistling giggles from the herd, Bernard's own jovial chortle joining them as he turned to face her, “Late evening Rova?”
I twisted a little in my seat, panning an eye in Rova’s direction just in time to see her bleary eyes bulge open and her ears shoot up, now intensely aware of the fact she hadn’t been as quiet as she thought she had.
Sitting up abruptly, she hastily tapped down errant tufts of wool that’d flared in surprise as she composed herself, though her nervousness at becoming the centre of the class's attention was still plain for all to hear, “Uh- I um… achem, a little bit yes, um- …sorry. Lokki dragged me out to a movie viewing in the rec centre. It went on pretty late.”
A melodramatic bray from the other side of the room drew everyone's ears away from Rova to the now aghast Lokki, paw splayed across his chest in faux indignation, “Dragged you? Well excuse me for trying to broaden your horizons with human movies. That’ll be the list time I- …Ahaaaa…”
Lokki’s theatrics were cut short by a heavy yawn of his own, a swell of whistling laughter rolling through the herd as vibrant bloom lit up his snout, a sight that elicited a particularly amused bleat from Rova.
Turning away from the duo I looked back at Bernard, pleased to see that he was chuckling along with us. Behaviour like Lokki’s would never have been tolerated in my school and university days but, in stark contrast, Bernard revelled in it, the liveliness of his students fueling his own bombastic style of teaching. It was a pleasant change of pace having a teacher who let us all be ourselves in class; provided we weren’t too disruptive to the lesson plan.
Speaking of which.
His laughter still rumbling through the air, Bernard clapped his hands to pull everyone's focus back to him, “Ok, ok, let’s get back to it then shall we? Rova. Lokki. Hopefully the two of you can stay awake long enough until you can grab yourselves a coffee.”
As the class settled down and the last few giggling beeps petered out, Benard pointed a hand to the screen, “So, the Koala. Let’s start simple shall we? They are herbivorous marsupials native to the eastern and southern coasts of Australia. Easily recognised the world over, they are a well known and beloved symbol of their homeland, along with other animals such as the Kangaroo and the Emu. The former of which you might remember from one of our earlier lectures.”
Indeed I did remember, along with how angry Bernard had gotten after some speh-head had derided the Yotul after he explained how he held specific disdain for such attitudes.
Uuuggghh… I never want to see him angry again. So chilling.
I shook my ears in an effort to dismiss the unpleasant memory, panning my eyes back to the monitor to try and distract myself by inspecting the Koala’s physical appearance once more. Thankfully, by some Star's blessed intervention, Bernard had the exact same idea.
“Koala’s are rather squat in stature, ranging around sixty to eighty-five centimetres in length and weighing little more than fifteen to sixteen kilograms at their full size. As you can see, the fur of this fellow before you is a lovely silvery grey, but their fur can also sport a chocolaty brown hue as well. Arguably the most distinctive part of their appearance is their head, being rather large for their body size and having rounded ears, a large nose, and a pair of small eyes. These are often brown but variations do occur.”
It didn’t slip past my notice that Bernard didn’t bother to point out that the Koala’s eyes were forward facing. I didn’t think he’d simply forgotten, so perhaps he just felt it wasn’t necessary given that he’d already stated it was herbivorous. Either way, no one stuck up a paw or tail to question him.
“Now this will hardly be surprising considering how long they sleep, but Koala’s are largely sedentary and it’s rather easy to see why when you have a look into the contents of their diet.”
With the press of a button the Koala on screen was replaced by images of vibrant green vegetation. Soaring trees and flowering shrubbery weaved together across landscape framed pictures pulled admiring trills from the herd, the diversity of the plant life being shown standing as a reminder that it wasn’t only animal life that flourished on Earth.
After giving everyone the chance to take in the picturesque scenes, Bernard casually hammered that point home, “This is eucalyptus or, more accurately, a choice selection of more than 700 plants belonging to the eucalyptus genus, though the Koala itself favours 30 of them in particular.”
700!? Stars…
Realising that my ears had drooped in my momentary awe, I twisted them back to tune into the lesson, only for them to splay out in shock at the next words to come out of Bernard's mouth.
“The leaves of these plants are the primary food source of the Koala and there are a couple things worth mentioning when talking about these plants. For starters they do not have much nutritional or caloric value, leading to the Koala’s low-energy lifestyle. Additionally, they contain toxic compounds.”
A shiver instantly ran through the herd, ears flicking rapidly in confusion and alarm followed by a few quizzical whispers. It didn’t take long for someone to decide to give a proper voice to the murmuring.
“Excuse me Doctor. Did we hear that right? Their diet is made up of toxic flora?” Vlek’s grumbling incredulity cut through the herd's mutterings with ease. Until Kailo’s recent change of heart, the fifty something rotation old blonde Venlil had been a close second in terms of scepticism. Mercifully his rebuttals had always been relevant questions as opposed to ranting diatribes, so he at least remained on topic if nothing else.
Bernard nodded in confirmation, smiling back at Vlek while absentmindedly twirling the end of his moustache, “You heard me right, they do indeed consume plants that are toxic. Just not to them.”
Any worry or uncertainty still clinging to the herd was swept away by the provision of the glaringly obvious answer, leaving me chuckling inwardly at the oversight.
Ah of course! The plant might be poisonous but they’ll have evolved to deal with that. Stars… I’m so used to expecting the unexpected with Earth that I didn’t even consider the simplest solution.
“I see, thank you Doctor,” Vlek replied, a tinge of interest still audible in his tone, “I assume they’ve developed some adaptation to become immune to the harmful effects?”
The question immediately evoked a smirk from our teacher, but he hurriedly suppressed it while bobbing his head, “They have indeed. There are several factors that aid in their digestion of eucalyptus leaves without succumbing to the plant's baleful properties. The first is a part of the intestinal tract called the cecum. It contains a microbiome that allows the Koala to digest the eucalyptus. Coupled with this is an enzyme in the Koala’s liver that helps them break down the toxins. They are also capable of sniffing out the plants with the least amount of toxins, ensuring that they ingest as little as possible.”
Pausing for a breath Bernard looked back at the screen before turning to face us, another grin curling at the edges of his mouth as he continued with his explanation, “This is mostly for adult Koala’s, because while their young also possess these same adaptations, they don’t just go straight to munching through foliage right after being born. No, they need a little help making that jump and getting a stomach full of all that good gut bacteria. It’s nothing bad, but those of a sensitive stomach may wish to prepare themselves for this next part.”
Bernard’s assurances did little to assuage the concern that his warning had foisted upon us. Having been exposed to so much of the weirdness Earth had to offer everyone always ended up on edge whenever Bernard gave advice like this, even if he did say it in jest.
What strange nonsense thing do Koala pups do then? Judging by the way he’s acting it probably isn’t something as simple as drinking milk from the mother. Hmmm…
“So,” Bernard began, snapping us from our pensive stupor, “Young Koala’s, known as joeys, have a gestation period of thirty-five days on average, which is approximately forty-two paws. Once born they travel from the birth canal to a pouch in their mother so that they can continue to develop and grow. In the pouch the joey finds and latches onto one of two teats and these provide the newborn with a steady stream of nourishing milk. It spends the next six to seven months growing in the pouch, its eyes, ears, and fur all developing as time goes on.”
Okay, interesting. But this is exactly how I thought it’d go. What’s different?
The unexpected normalcy of the Koala’s birth and growth cycle had calmed everyone's nerves, only to be replaced with an air of suspicion as we waited with rapt attention for Bernard to drop the other claw and upend our expectations like he always did.
Not wanting to keep us in further suspense he forged ahead, the tempo of his voice picking up as the smile started to crease his face once more, “Now to make the switch from milk to eucalyptus, the mother also feeds the joey a substance called pap. It comes from the cecum I mentioned earlier, and contains all the gut bacteria required to help the young Koala in making the switch to eucalyptus.”
He stopped and looked around, searching us for a reaction to what I felt was a rather bland statement of fact. What was it he was saying without actually saying? Koala pups drink milk to mature and then include this pap substance so that they can start eating plants. I don’t see what-
The cecum is part of the intestine.
I blinked.
I blinked again, the intrusive interruption scouring my brain clean of any other thought bar the one it’d just implanted itself in the forefront of my mind.
Oh stars. They-
“They eat their own poop!?”
The shocked bleat shattered the peace of the room to reveal that most if not all of us had come to the same tail curling conclusion. As the hall filled with unrestrained vocalisations of disgust, an ‘Ugh’ over here and a ‘Blegh’ over there, Bernard’s own bellowing laughter joined the throng of voices.
“Ha! Everytime! Each and every time. Clearly it doesn’t matter if my students are Human or Venlil. Whenever someone learns about the Koala’s dietary development the reaction is the same!”
Pleased with himself beyond reason, Bernard chuckled away while the rest of us grappled with this ghastly reality. While there were plenty of animals that feasted on things that ranged from simply unappealing all the way to the stomach churningly grotesque, I’d never heard of an animal that actively consumed the excrement of its own species. Benefits aside, the prospect of having to do that to survive to adulthood sent a shiver of revulsion down my spine.
Ewww… Stars, I hope I forget this feeling by 2nd meal. They’re serving sturen and magamroot stew later. I was really looking forward to it.
With the herds mood beginning to temper Bernard tapped the podiums controls, removing the verdant collage of eucalyptus to display several similar yet distinct environments, still chortling merrily to himself in the process, “Ok then, with that little foray into their diet complete, why don’t we look at their habitat in more detail? As you might imagine given their diet and arboreal nature, Koala’s live in forested regions, and can be found in tropical and temperate zones. About a century ago they were classed as a vulnerable species, however efforts were made to turn this around and increase their numbers. Sadly the largest factor in their decline was human activity, as the fertile lands that gave rise to their bountiful forests were coveted farm land for our settlements.”
It was strange to hear Bernard so matter of factly admit to humanity's negative impacts on other species. He’d alluded to such things in the past but always with an air of caution, carefully pawing the line between honestly answering a question while not painting humanity as uncaring and destructive. AKA, the ‘predators’ we’d all initially expected them to be.
Perhaps his comfort in making such admissions was a reflection of the class's comfort with him, for no one so much as batted an ear. Even Kailo, who I would’ve expected to jump at the chance to use this as a prime example of predatory danger, only flicked an ear in stern yet silent concern.
A cough from Bernard drew my attention back, a new picture on screen that showed a forest from a bird's-eye view. Drawn across the image were around a dozen ringed areas, some bordering one another while others overlapped to some degree. It took me a moment, but I soon recognised that what I was looking at was a map, the rings representing what I assumed to be territories. And it didn’t take much effort to guess who each one belonged to.
“From habitats we move onto behaviours, so let’s start with territories. Koala’s are solitary animals. Yes, despite being herbivores. Considering they’re only awake for roughly four hours of the day I can hardly blame them. Lots to do and not a lot of time to do it. Jokes aside, once they mature they are quite independent, carving out a little slice of land for themselves, as displayed in this example, called a Home Range. That is not to say they go it alone and leave everything else behind however. Rather, as shown in the map behind me, they live in their own space while still being part of a larger social group.”
With another press of his pad the picture was updated to show one of two symbols in each segment, along with a key to the side of the map displayed in helpful Venlang. A quick glance told me that the symbols were representing whether the territory belonged to a male or female of the species.
“As you can see there is quite a bit of overlap between different Koala’s territories. It is in these areas that most of the socialising takes place between neighbours. The trees in these locations represent the few areas where intrusion across territories is acceptable for the sake of social interaction. Outside of that the Koala’s stick to their own territories for the most part, with the exceptions of Koala’s who are passing through, attempting to become part of the social group themselves, or dominant males who sometimes go off into another Koala’s range. But how do they know where one range begins and another range ends you might ask? Well, this brings us onto the next part of the lecture. How do Koala’s communicate?”
Wiping away the map from the monitor, Bernard loaded up a video of a Koala sitting in a tree and pressed play. Head held high, the Koala’s body shook as it belted out a reverberating call into the wilderness that could only be described as a garbled combination of a car engine failing to turn over mixed with the hiccups of someone with a particularly sore throat.
That’s how they sound? Oof that must be rough on the lungs.
I clearly wasn’t the only one to share such a thought, because I clocked Sandi tracing a paw along her neck as the noise went on, ears fluttering in discomfort at the noise.
Bernard himself cleared his own throat as the video came to an end, minimising it and replacing it with another image of a tree with a Koala rubbing up against the bark, “I think they’ve got me beat on who’s got the deeper voice!”
His joke garnered several amused beeps, a rare reaction that caused a beaming smile to shine across his face at lighting speed, “Oh you’re too kind. I’ll be here all week. Now where were we? Oh yes! Communication. As you’ve just heard, Koala’s are capable of loud low pitched bellows that can carry over vast distances. These express everything from ‘Hello I’m over here’ to ‘This is my turf, stay away’. Bellowing is more common in the males than the females, opting for shouting matches as opposed to outright fights when it comes to asserting dominance. Other vocal expressions include grunts, wails, and snarls if they’re acting particularly angsty. Mother and joey pairs also communicate through gentle clicking, squeaking, and murmuring sounds. And there’s one more thing worth mentioning. Something they have in common with Humans and Venlil when it comes to emoting.”
Really? They do something we do?
Curious, I pressed myself against the desk, straining as close as I could to once more scrutinise the Koala’s features. Not a lot stood out to me at first, the grey marsupial not sharing many similarities with a Venlil that I could identify.
Ok think. We show emotion with our ears, tails, and our wool on occasion. They don’t have tails so it’s obviously not that. Wool standing on end is more a reaction than a conscious expression. So it must be the ears then.
To my quiet satisfaction, my hunch was soon validated by Bernard, “As well as their vocalisations, Koala’s are very emotive through their facial features. Just like humans, they use their mouths and lips to show how they feel, but these tend more towards the aggressive side of the scale than what you might see on a human. Regarding yourselves however, Koala’s utilise their ears in tandem with their mouth movements when showing strong emotion.”
I was delighted to hear that my assumption was correct, a little happy flick twisting out through my tail and bapping against my chair with a muted thump against the plastic.
Hehe yes! Got one right!
“Now then, we are getting close to lunchtime so I’ll finish this segment off with something I think you’ll find particularly interesting. Diplomacy.”
Perplexed mutterings followed in the wake of the bizarre inclusion to the lecture, my own thoughts being dominated by bewilderment as I tried and failed to make sense of how the two could possibly be related.
Why would Koala’s, or any animal for that matter, be linked to diplomacy? Hmmm...
I could understand dispatching exterminators to deal with a predator issue as a show of goodwill, that at least includes animals, but Humans aren’t like that so I think I can safely scratch that off the list.
Maybe the humans who live in that region benefited from Koala’s in some way. Could they have gotten something from them? But what?
Hopefully not what the pups get from their mothers.
Agh no! Begone awful intrusive thoughts. Blegh! I don’t need that in my head.
As I wrestled with the short-lived revulsion inflicted upon me by my Star's damned subconscious, Bernard placed a new image on screen, one that was decidedly different from all that had preceded it.
On screen were more than a couple dozen pictures of humans. Some were pictured alone while others congregated in large groups while cameras surrounded them from all angles. Across all the images, I noted two common themes. First of all, a solid majority of the humans were wearing formal wear similar to what I’d seen worn by UN representatives on TV. If the gaggle of journalists in the background of the photos didn’t already confirm my suspicions, then it was this similarity which made me conclude they were all people of some importance. Likely politicians judging from context clues.
Secondly, each of the individuals was interacting with a Koala in some form. Some cradled one against their chests while others were feeding it eucalyptus leaves or pellets of some kind. One of the assumed politicians had become an impromptu bed for a snoozing bundle of fur, a gleeful smile spread across their face as they lovingly gazed down at the sleeping Koala in their lap.
As I continued to stare at the assorted photos something clicked into place, a sudden spark flickering into life. A burgeoning light of comprehension that flared and swelled with every wide-eyed breath I took. Some things still escaped me, things I hoped would soon be explained, but in staring at all of the humans happy smiling faces, I was struck with an instant of pure understanding.
If someone, say a Nevok for instance, offered to gift me a creature that was common to them but which might exotic and breathtaking to a Venlil, how could my feelings not be swayed? How could I walk away from that encounter and not have grown closer to them as a result?
“Koala diplomacy,” Bernard waved his hand up at the monitor, a slight reverence in his tone, “My favourite kind of soft power diplomacy. Where political leaders take photo ops with Koala’s and, on occasion, the Australian government loans Koala’s to other nations for a time to bolster positive relations. It certainly helps that Koala’s are a beloved animal worldwide, drawing large crowds and revenue for countries fortunate enough to host the adorable critters.”
The truly alien concept predictably sparked instant discussion in the herd, two polar opposite schools of thought swiftly cementing themselves as the most popular opinions. Simultaneously, I heard one voice trill excitedly while another scoffed at what they clearly saw as a ridiculous and offensive notion.
“Squee! That’d be so cool! I’d love to get the chance to see a Liri from Coila. Remember the Rainbow Boa? Think of that shimmering effect and colour but put it on a bird! Ah! I’ve only heard their song on video. It’d be a treat to hear it in person!”
Ooo! I’ve read about them! I’d love to get up close to one.
“Loaning. As if animals are property to be hoarded and traded? Pugh! Another predatory trait the humans don’t want to acknowledge for what it is.”
Ugh, typical. Jump right to the worst possible option.
However, despite my dismissal of their disparaging fumings, an uncomfortable thought pressed upon my mind. While it was plain to see how much humans cared for the Koala, it didn’t change the fact that humans did keep animals as property just as the scornful herd member had said.
This begged a rather important, disquieting question. Aside from keeping some animals as cattle, a stomach tightening minefield I had no desire to step a claw onto right now, how else did humans keep other creatures. And how did they treat them?
Before I was fully conscious of doing it my paw was in the air, the question primed on my tongue.
Noticing my elevated paw Bernard pointed at me, smiling warmly, “Yes Rysel? What’s on your mind?”
Sorry Bernard. I hope this one’s not too awkward for you to answer.
Flicking my ear in appreciation, and waiting for everyone to settle enough so that I could be heard, I voiced my concerns as neutrally as possible, “Thank you Doctor. I uh, just had a thought. We know that humans keep certain animals for… particular reasons, and we know why. From how you’ve spoken about Koala’s I think it's fair to say that the same cannot be said for them. However, this makes me wonder, what other reasons do humans have for keeping animals and how do you treat them?”
A flash of surprise blinked across Bernard's eyes but vanished so quickly that it felt like I’d imagined it. Had he not expected such a question? Maybe he was just shocked that it’d been me who’d ended up asking it?
Stars, am I so predictable that no one expects me to ask difficult questions?
Unfortunately, a quick glance at my deskmates seemed to prove that to be the case, as both Sandi and Kailo were looking at me with differing degrees of astonishment flapping in their ears.
Well speh.
“A very good point Rysel, certainly one that’s worth raising. Yet another example of you all anticipating what I have to say before I can bring it up myself.” Bernard tapped the podium, switching off the monitor before returning his focus to me, “We won’t be needing that. I’ve nothing prepared that I can show you and we’re heading to lunch in a few minutes anyway. Still, that’s plenty of time to give you a bit of an answer.”
A bit? What does he mean just a bit?
Made even more curious by Bernard's preempted admission that he wasn’t going to fully answer my query, I dialled both my ears on him, fixing him with an inquisitive stare as he started to explain with a tone that was noticeably more nonchalant than any of his previous explanations.
“So, animals in captivity for reasons other than what you already know. Honestly I would love to delve into other reasons regarding why we keep animals. However, I have a lesson plan in the works that I hope to share with you all in the not too distant future. Some of it touches upon this very topic and I’d quite like to bundle it all together. That said, I can tell you how animals in captivity are treated. In short, the answer is very well. There are a mountain of laws both on private and public interests that govern the standards and ethical treatment of animals, and breaches of these laws are quite severe even for relatively minor infractions.”
While I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t disappointed by the vague answer to what was really the bulk of my question, I was at least satisfied by Bernard’s assurances that animals in captivity, such as the Koala, were well looked after. Considering the barely subdued grumbling coming from some corners of the audience it was clear that several of the herd didn’t believe Bernard outright, but I trusted him to be honest. Additionally, the mention of an upcoming lecture focused on humans keeping animals caused quite the buzz.
I felt a mix of excitement and trepidation at exploring the topic further. He’d pretty much confirmed we wouldn’t be talking about cattle farms, for which I was relieved, but that still left a huge amount of uncertainty in what was to come.
Humans keeping animals as cattle was a forgone conclusion. As horrifying as that reality was, it was one I could understand from a detached and strictly clinical point of view. Being predators they ate meat and therefore they kept cattle. But the concept of keeping animals for any other reason baffled me.
What could be the purpose? The diplomacy thing makes sense now that I have context, but what other reasons could they have.
The class's discussions were interrupted by the recognisable ring of the break bell, the shift in attention eliciting a change in conversation from confused hypotheses to peppy conversation on how everyone was planning to spend their break and what they had in mind for 2nd meal.
“Well I can see everyone’s excited for lunch, and who am I to disappoint,” chuckling Bernard waved us all up from our seats, pocketing his pad from the podium and heading to open the classroom door for us, “Enjoy your break, get a good rest along with a hearty meal, and I’ll see you all back here at the usual time.”
As everyone else filed out I stayed behind, waving at Sandi and Kailo as they left, and pawing over to Bernard once he and I were the only ones left in the room.
Ears folded down and with an apologetic tinge in my voice I greeted him as I sidled up to him, “Hey Bernard, I uh… sorry if that last question was unexpected.”
Chortling in reply, Bernard waved a hand through the air in a sign I’d come to understand meant ‘not a problem’.
“No need to apologise Rysel. It was a good question and most certainly not a problem.”
Heh, called it.
I sighed, allowing tension I didn’t realise I’d been holding to relax itself from my shoulders, “Phew, that’s a relief. I’m glad. I’m curious to hear what this new lesson is you’ve got in store for us by the way.”
Bernard wagged a finger at me, throwing up his eyebrows in mock amazement, “Oh are you now? Well I’m afraid you’ll have to remain curious for the time being. It’s going to be quite the surprise if all goes to plan. But…”
He trailed off, glancing at me before looking to the door like he was making sure no one else was around.
Wait, is he going to tell me? Oh please yes let me know now!
Stopping myself from jumping on the spot in excited anticipation, and trying my damndest to stop my tail from wagging in equal measure, I stared up at Bernard as he stewed in his thoughts before turning back to face me.
“I can’t tell you the specifics, but I’m working with Alejandro and Tolim to get something together. A trip that’s not a trip as it were. And when it happens, I’m going to need a few of the more accepting members of the class to lend me a hand. I’m hoping you and a couple others will be able to help with that?”
A trip that’s not a trip? What does that mean? Agh who cares about that right now! Bernard’s relying on me to help out!
Still trying not to keep myself from bouncing around with pup like glee I swished my tail and nodded my head in joint agreement, happy to help with whatever Bernard had in store for us, “Of course! Anything you need I’ll be there to lend a paw. You can count on me!”
A broad warm smile lit up Bernard's face, a hand patting me on the shoulder in appreciation, “Thank you Rysel. I knew I could rely on you but it still warms my heart to hear it. And, as thanks for this and for the many times you’ve shown your support, the surprise includes a little something special I think you’d appreciate the most.”
If my earlier enthusiasm had been at a nine, then the implication of a supposed gift sent it rocketing all the way to a hundred in a heartbeat.
“Wait… WHAT!? What do you mean? What are you doing?”
As impossible as it seemed, Bernard's grin grew even wider as I almost lost myself in wool shaking exhilaration, “Call it my own form of Koala diplomacy. But I’m afraid that’s all I can say for now. Wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise even for you!”
“Oh you ass!” Whistling jovially I bapped my tail against Bernard’s leg in fake indignation, evoking a barking bellowing laugh from the man himself.
Still laughing, the two of us departed the class and made for the canteen, my rumbling stomach leading me on while my mind spun with fantastical thoughts as to what Bernard had prepared for us.
And what specifically he had in store for me.

My wife, Mia, and I were driving cross-country. It was our first attempt at the “Great American Roadtrip.”
Mia and I rented a small RV; more of a camper than a full blown RV. We packed up a couple suitcases with plenty of room for any souvenirs and we hit the dusty trail.
We started our journey on the “Mother Road”-- Route 66-- driving south from Chicago until we connected to i-70 and shot straight west through Missouri.
The goal was to see those parts of the country we had never seen before, stopping anywhere that seemed interesting. From the plains of Kansas up through the badlands of Wyoming and South Dakota.
In Missouri we saw the world’s largest cap gun. In Kansas we visited the Evel Knievel Museum and the World’s Largest Belt Buckle.
We love all those kitschy, tourist trap places.
Eventually, we made it to Colorado and after a few hours more of driving through amber waves of grain, we saw them... the Rocky Mountains.
We made an exit and headed north through the winding mountain highways.
The Rockies were gorgeous. Snow capped in the middle of summer, some of the peaks pierced through the white fluffy clouds.
We saw a sign that read “Traffic Tunnel - 3 Miles.”
A little further and sure enough, there it was, a large tunnel bored directly through the mountain in front of us.
A large sign read, “Pike Tunnel - Longest Traffic Tunnel in the Nation! - Please turn your headlights on now.”
“How long is it?” asked Mia.
“That’s what she said,” I quipped.
But she was right, there was no information beyond the detail that this was the longest tunnel in the nation.
“Can’t be more than a mile or two,” I said as I watched the little white car ahead of us slip into the darkness. A moment later we joined it.
The tunnel was lit by fluorescents that gave everything a greenish yellow tinge. On the left hand side was a raised walkway behind a railing for maintenance access.
Initially I was struck by the incredible amount of work that went into the construction of this man- made marvel.
“We’re under a million tons of rocky mountain right now,” I said.
“How many years before this caves in?” Mia responded.
I shot her a look--
“Let’s save the cave-in talk until we’re out on the other side.”
“I’m just saying, nature will take this back eventually,” she continued.
I scanned the empty road ahead of us.
“Where did the other car go?” I asked.
We were now alone in the tunnel, no cars ahead of us nor behind us.
“Huh... they must have sped off ahead. Maybe they’re scared of a cave-in?”
My Spotify playlist had stopped playing. Mia looked at the phone.
“No cell service.”
She turned on the radio and spun the dial only to find static.
“You’re not going to be able to pick up a station in here,” I said.
She turned the volume down.
“Just wanted to check... If only we had some CDs. This tunnel really keeps going.”
“I would have thought we’d be through it by now,” I replied.
I looked at the RV’s odometer, 45,600 miles. I picked up speed. I wanted to try and catch up to the little white car.
Up until this point, the tunnel was a straight shot, but now the tunnel started to curve to the right. It may have been my imagination but it also felt as though we were descending…
Mia felt it too and she started to get antsy.
“Where did that other car go? How long is this tunnel?”
There was an urgency in her voice.
I was getting nervous, claustrophobia was not usually a problem for me but when I looked down at the odometer and I saw that it had gone up by 3 miles, my mind began to wander to unsettling places.
We were descending in altitude. I could feel it. I could see a slope in the lights on the ceiling and the railing of the maintenance walkway. I could feel a pressure in my head, and I was getting cold.
“Could you grab me a coke from the back, Mia?”
I couldn’t have Mia getting anxious, that would only start a chain reaction and make me freak out which would then make her freak out.
She unbuckled and ducked into the back of the RV to where we had a cooler stocked with drinks and food.
Just as she stepped into the back, I saw something.
There standing on the side of the road was a MAN wearing a reflective safety vest and a hard hat. He was WAVING to me as I passed him by.
Something about him looked... strange…
I watched him in the side-view mirror as we passed and he was still watching the RV, still waving at the back of our vehicle as he faded into the distance.
Mia reappeared from the back of the RV, Coke in hand. She popped it and handed it to me.
“You look worried.”
“I’m fine,” I smiled and took a sip of the Coke.
“Eric, slow down!”
I slammed on the breaks as I saw what made Mia scream. In the road in front of us was a roadblock.
Two reflective traffic sawhorses blocked both lanes of the tunnel. Beyond the roadblock, the lights of the tunnel were dark. There was nothing but a void of blackness.
Standing in front of the roadblock was another man wearing a reflective vest and a hard hat, only this time his hard hat had a light on top which obscured his face.
We came to a jolting stop.
I turned to Mia
“Are you okay?” I asked.
“I’m fine,” she replied. “It’s a cave-in isn’t it?”
“God, I hope not.”
I rolled down the window, leaned out and yelled to the man in the hard hat.
“Hey! What’s going on?!”
The man was about 5 yards away. He took two steps towards us and then raised a hand to his mouth and yelled.
“Just doing some maintenance!”
“How long is it going to take?!” I yelled back.
The man made a hand gesture as if he didn’t hear me.
“How long is it going to take?!” I called again.
He made the same gesture. I unbuckled my seat belt and grabbed the door release.
“What are you doing?” Mia asked.
“I gotta know what’s going on.”
“Eric, just stay here, it might not be safe.”
“I’ll be just a second,” I said.
I pushed the door open and stepped down from the RV.
“Stay in your vehicle!” the man yelled.
He took a couple steps towards me with his hand out telling me to stop.
“What’s the hold up?!” I shouted.
The man was a bit closer now but I still couldn’t see his face through the shining light on his helmet.
“Please stay in your vehicle!” he shouted.
There was something off about him.
Then I heard it–
“EEEAAAUUUUUUGHHHHHHHH!!!”
A scream, or something, rolled from deep in the tunnel. The worker turned and looked into the darkness. Then he ran past the barricades and soon all we could see of him was the light on his helmet.
The light disappeared a moment later.
“What the hell was that?! Is someone hurt?” Mia asked.
“I have no idea,” I said.
“Should we do something?” Mia asked.
I just sat there and watched the pitch black tunnel in front of me. I had no idea what to tell her. I checked the sideview mirrors. There was still nobody behind us.
“Where are the other cars?” I asked.
“They must have gotten through before the roadblock... Or maybe they caused the roadblock?” Mia replied.
“I saw another worker a little ways back. We could try to go back and talk to him.”
“We’d be going straight into any oncoming cars.”
“There’s a maintenance walkway. We didn’t pass him that long ago. We can probably catch him on foot.”
“Maybe we should just wait for the guy to come back.”
She reached over and grabbed my arm. I squeezed her hand.
She was right.
I looked out at the tunnel ahead of us. I turned on the RV’s high beams but all I could see beyond the roadblock was more tunnel and more road.
I checked my phone. Unsurprisingly, there was no service still.
We waited, but the man never came back.
“It’s been twenty minutes,” Mia said, “How come there hasn’t been another car behind us?
I was having the same thought. I rolled down my window and stuck my head out. I looked back at the road behind us. It went back about 200 yards before curving out of sight.
There was no sign of that first worker I saw on the maintenance walk way. I looked at the roadblock ahead of us and clicked on the RV’s high beams. There was nothing beyond the roadblock but more tunnel. It didn’t look like it was under construction, just very dark.
“I think we should keep going,” I said.
“What about the roadblock?”
“We’ll move those sawhorses out of the way and just drive past,” I said as I opened my door.
Mia looked at me, then she cast her eyes to the dark tunnel ahead of us. I knew she was processing the same limited options that I was.
Driving backwards would be a huge risk in the instance of another car finally coming along.
Getting out and walking would take God knows how long, we could have driven 10 miles at this point.
Forward was our best option.
“Let’s do it,” Mia said.
We jumped out and quickly pulled the two sawhorses out of the right lane. I pulled the RV up past the barriers, then we jumped out again and put the sawhorses back where they were. We didn't need another car to come barreling through.
We were finally moving again, slowly. It was pitch black save for the high beams of the RV.
We crept forward at around 15 miles per hour. As the tunnel turned and twisted, my eyes started to play tricks on me. I kept seeing shapes at the furthest point of the tunnel.
I kept seeing something standing just at the end of the next bend but as we roll forward, there was nothing there.
“Where are the workers?” Mia asked.
“I don’t know.”
I was done rationalizing. This was all wrong. Traffic tunnels are never this long.
My mind started to wander to all the road trip urban legends I’d read about; The Killer in the Backseat, The Disappearing Gas Station, The Pale Man In The Corn Field.
Did we stumble into some strange outlier location? An in-between point on the endless roads that cross this country?
Then I saw it–
“Look! A person! Thank god!” Mia shouted.
As we rounded a curve in the tunnel, a group of maintenance workers entered our view.
The three of them stood on the left side of the road behind two more sawhorses topped with flashing lights.
Two of them faced towards us, the third was facing the other two.
The one with his back to us wore a light on his hard hat. Was this the same guy we saw earlier? How did he get this far away?
I approached slowly and rolled down the window.
“Hey! You left us waiting back there!” I yelled.
There was no response.
In fact, all three men were completely silent, and it was hard to tell in the flashing light of the sawhorses, but they looked to be standing COMPLETELY STILL.
“Hello?!” I yelled again.
I pushed open my door and stepped out onto the pavement.
“Eric wait--”
I held up a finger to Mia.
“Just a second.”
I slowly stepped towards the 3 men.
“Hello?”
No response… What the fuck?
The bright lights of the sawhorses obscured their faces.
I kept moving closer.
“Hey, what’s going on--”
Then I saw it.
Their faces... They were plastic.
In front of me stood three mannequins.
I backed away toward the RV, then I turned and walked hurriedly to the vehicle.
I was seriously freaked out but I didn’t want to alarm Mia. I climbed into the driver’s seat and slammed the door shut.
“They’re mannequins.” I said.
“What?”
“They’re mannequins.”
”Why?... What?...”
“I don’t know…”
I looked back over at the three figures and my blood ran cold…
The Hard Hat Mannequin had somehow TURNED AROUND to face us. All three figures appeared to be watching us now.
Then we heard it--
A loud resonant banging on the side, and then the roof of the RV.
“What the hell was that?” Mia whispered.
We listened, holding our breath. Then--
A shuffling sound--
Something was moving ON or IN the RV.
“Stay here.” I said.
I got up.
“Eric, wait!”
I moved to the back of the RV.
It was dark. I went for a drawer in the kitchenette space and pulled out a flashlight.
I moved to the rear of the RV, the bedroom. My flashlight illuminated an empty room.
“Whoever is back here, I have a gun…”
A shitty bluff. But I didn’t see anything.
I shone the light out of the windows of each side of the RV. Nothing.
Then I heard it–
A shuffling sound, from right above me.
I looked up and screamed–
“Fuck!”
On the roof of the RV, staring through the skylight was a woman with vacuous black eyes and a dead smile.
Her stringy black hair dangled down towards me casting thing black shadows across her horrible pale face.
“Mia, drive! Fast!” I screamed.
Mia JUMPED over to the driver’s seat, shifted into gear and STOMPED on the gas. The RV was clunky but it could move when it needed to.
We lurched forward and I fell back.
I trained my flashlight up onto the skylight again and the woman was gone.
I scrambled to my feet and looked out of the side windows.
Did Mia shake her off? There was no sign of the woman. I moved to the passenger seat, breathing heavily and sweating.
“What happened?” She asked, keeping the RV at a steady 50 mph.
“There was a woman on the roof,” I said flatly.
I realize now that I was in a kind of shock.
“A woman?”
“Her eyes were black.”
Mia just looked at me, then back at the tunnel ahead of us.
“There’s something wrong with this tunnel.” I whispered.
Mia pointed at the road ahead, “Look.”
I looked out at the tunnel. There were more mannequins. A LOT more mannequins. They were positioned on both sides of the road.
They were all facing us and even though I never saw them move, when I looked in the side-view mirror, they were somehow STILL facing us, turning to watch us as we drove past. Watching without eyes.
“Just keep driving.” I said.
As we drove on, the mannequins crowded the sides of the road more and more. There were thousands of them. Eventually they were so close that some of their outstretched arms hit the side of the RV.
They were closing in on us. Squeezing our path forward. One stood in the middle of the road.
“I don’t think i can get around it.”
“Run it over. Don’t stop.”
The RV smashed into the mannequin. Its head shot forward and bounced against the windshield and the vehicle shuddered as it rolled over the body.
Soon there were two in the road. Then three.
I could see where this was going. Pretty soon there would be too many for the RV to ram through, but goddammit we were going to get through as many as we could.
“Speed up, Mia.”
CRASH!
The sound was surreal, smashing into mannequin after mannequin at nearly 60 miles per hour.
Hands, legs, heads and torsos flew.
The windshield cracked, the RV shuddered and screamed and eventually slowed down, despite the screaming engine.
I’m certain the axle was jammed up with lifeless, plastic body parts. Eventually we came to a stop.
“She won’t move,” Mia said.
She pressed on the gas but it was no use, the RV just rocked a little bit.
“Try reverse.”
She shifted and pressed on the gas, we got some decent movement before running into another jam.
“Fuck.”
“Should we get out and look?” Mia asked.
“I’ll go,” I said as I grabbed the flashlight and popped the passenger door. Mia unbuckled her seatbelt.
“We’ll go together.”
We stumbled out of the RV on the passenger side. It was like stepping into Hell.
Countless, lifeless faces stared out at us from the darkness. The only light came from the headlights of the RV and my flashlight.
We clumsily made our way along the side of the RV. The ground was littered with mannequin pieces.
I thought to myself, if we could get a couple yards cleared out behind the rear tires, we might be able to back out and get enough momentum to reverse all the way back out of here.
Instead, when we got to the back of the RV, my stomach flipped and my heart sank.
I was expecting to see a trail of flattened mannequins, instead the RV was now surrounded by thousands of perfectly intact mannequins standing at attention. As if their ranks had some how been replenished after our vehicular assault.
“This is impossible.”
She started to cry. I held her close.
“We’ll keep moving.” I said.
“It will never end. The tunnel makes no sense. It only curves one direction.”
I looked at her.
“What do you mean?”
“This whole time the tunnel has only been curving to the right. it would sometimes straighten out or go left for a few yards but before too long we were curving to the right again. We’ve either been driving in circles or spiraling downwards.”
“So we’ll go back the way we came and hope we’re not going in circles.” I said.
We had been driving for hours at this point. Walking back out the way we came would take days. But now that I thought about it, Mia was right, we’d only been curving to the right.
This tunnel seemed to be very gradually taking us downwards into the earth.
Going forward would not get us any closer to escape.
“We’ll need food from the RV,” Mia said.
I nodded and we stumbled our way back to the front of the RV, the mannequins’ lifeless faces watching us the whole time.
I stepped up to the passenger door and nearly fell back when I looked through the window.
“What the fuck?” I breathed.
What I saw were two mannequins sitting in the driver’s and passenger’s seat.
How they got in there? I have no idea, but what really made my blood run cold was that they were dressed EXACTLY like MIA and I.
They wore identical sets of clothes. The one in the passenger seat had my same New Order T-shirt and black jeans. The one in the driver’s seat had Mia’s green striped sweater and denim shorts.
Their plastic faces stared out through the shattered windshield at the endless crowd of mannequins staring back at them.
Mia stepped up and saw the uncanny display.
“What the fuck?” Mia echoed.
I pulled myself up into the RV and slowly stepped around my mannequin doppelgänger. I avoided looking into its face but I swear i could feel it watching me as I stumbled around it.
Mia followed and we made our way into the back of our dark RV. Luckily we had just stocked our cooler full of deli meat and water not long after crossing the Colorado state line.
I handed Mia the flashlight and pulled open the cooler. I filled a backpack full of food and water.
I turned and saw them–
My mannequin double had somehow moved. It was standing in the aisle watching us.
Mia’s doppelgänger was still seated in the driver’s seat but had turned to peer back at us with its eyeless gaze.
Mia saw the look in my eyes and turned. She screamed when she saw them and backed into me. I put my arm around her and we stood there a moment, letting our skyrocketing heart rates return to Earth.
“Let’s get out of here,” I said.
I slid the backpack onto my shoulders.
Mia joined me at the door. I looked into her eyes. “Are you ready?” She nodded. I kissed her.
“I love you,” I said.
“I love you,” she said.
The look on her face killed me. She was terrified. I’m sure the look on my face was similar.
I opened the door and we stepped out…
We again stumbled to the back of the RV. Once we were clear of the RV and all the crushed mannequin body parts, it became easier to find footing, though weaving through an endless crowd of lifeless people was a slow process.
It was pitch black. Without the flashlight we wouldn’t be able to see a foot in front of us.
As I walked, the beam of light created the illusion of movement in the crowd. At least I hoped it was an illusion.
The limbs of the mannequins seemed to stretch and turn, but the only sound was that of Mia and I shuffling our way through the crowded tunnel.
Things went on like this for what felt like hours. Mia and I were sweating and aching. I was about to suggest we stop and rest, but then I saw it and I froze…
Out in the crowd, beyond rows of blank faces I saw a pale face, black hair and a dead smile.
I saw two vacuous eyes staring right at me.
“Mia, do you see her?” I whispered.
“See who?”
I slowly raised my arm and pointed.
It was the woman, or whatever it was, that stared back at me through the skylight on the roof of the RV.
“Oh my god!” Mia squeaked.
I could see now that the Pale Faced Woman was tall. A few inches taller than the mannequins.
As I pointed, she stared back at me with that terrible grin.
“What do we do?” Mia whispered.
I raised the flashlight and pointed it right at the Pale Faced Woman. I thought maybe this would scare her off.
I was wrong.
The light only made her appear more unsettling as she stared back, unflinchingly.
“What do you want?!” I yelled.
She only stared back at me. She was as still as the mannequins.
“We have to keep going.” I whispered.
Mia didn’t respond. Her body was tense as she held onto me.
“We’ve come this far, we can’t turn back again,” I continued.
I pulled Mia’s hand and we continued on our way through the mannequins, keeping the distance between us and her as wide as possible.
As we moved past, she kept watching us. Though her movements were imperceptible to us, her eyes never left us. Like one of those portraits whose eyes appear to watch you no matter where you stand.
Finally, we got far enough that she was out of sight. But the thought of her being somewhere behind us only unsettled me further and I quickened our pace.
As the hours wore on, there was no sign of the Pale Faced Woman and the crowd of mannequins began to thin out. They still populated the tunnel from one end to the other, but there was more space between them, allowing Mia and I to walk more freely.
The mannequins on the maintenance walkway on the side of the tunnel seemed to thin out as well and I decided it would give us a better vantage if we were walking up there.
I helped Mia climb up the railing that bordered the walkway, then I climbed up behind her. The walkway was elevated 3 or 4 feet above the roadway. We could easily see over the heads of the mannequins in both directions.
There was, of course, no end to the tunnel in sight.
We kept walking.
The mannequins continued to thin out, but they were different now.
There were mannequins dressed as maintenance workers again, but also mannequins dressed as families and businessmen. There was even a group of mannequin nuns standing in a single file line, heads bowed in prayer.
Needless to say, we passed none of this on the way in to the tunnel. I was feeling very hopeless that we were going to be able to find our way out.
I was far beyond speculating how this was at all possible. It’s NOT possible. And even if it were, there is no good reason for someone to do this to us.
The only explanation was the supernatural. Then I saw Her. Rather, I saw THEM.
Arranged in the middle of the tunnel was a circle of mannequins with long black hair and tattered cloth.
They looked exactly like the Pale Faced Woman, minus any facial features. I kept a close watch on them as we passed to make sure they didn’t start following us.
“A door!” Mia shouted.
Mia pointed a few paces ahead of her. There was a door leading into the wall of the tunnel.
We ran towards it. Mia grabbed the handle, turned it and pulled. It was heavy and Mia had to brace her foot on the wall to get it moving.
The metal door groaned as if it hadn’t been opened in years.
Finally, it was open enough to see past.
It was a hallway. It went out about 5 yards then turned right at a 90 degree angle.
The strangest part was the design of the hallway.
It wasn’t cement or pavement like the tunnel.
The walls were wood paneled and the floor was covered in a thick carpet, like a house from the 1970s.
“I say we see where this takes us.” Mia said.
There was no reason to disagree, but I wasn’t going to get us trapped in there.
I opened up my backpack and took out a water bottle. I opened it and handed it to Mia. She drank half, then I drank the other half.
I slowly closed the door, shoving the empty water bottle in the crack to keep it from closing all the way.
I turned to Mia-- “Okay, let’s go.”
We slowly made our way down the quiet hallway. We got down to where the hallway cornered to the right and that’s when we heard it–
KA-CHUNK!!!--
I whipped around. The door had closed behind us. I ran back to it and tried to push it open, but it was no use. There was no way it closed on its own.
Someone had to have removed the water bottle. Our path had been chosen for us.
There was no turning back.
We continued down the hallway. We turned right. The hallway continued, then turned right again. That should have led us right back to the tunnel. But it didn’t. This part of the hallway went on far longer than was possible without running into the tunnel. Then it turned right again.
It went on like this. Sometimes a section of the hallway was 20 feet long, sometimes it was 20 yards long, sometimes it was 3 feet long. But it always turned to the right.
At first it was a relief to be somewhere other than the cold, dark tunnel. But the hallway very quickly became claustrophobic and before too long, I heard someone walking behind us.
We had stopped to take a break and I heard a third pair of footsteps on the carpet coming from behind us. I backtracked to the last corner.
I was terrified as I slowly peeked around the corner, tense and waiting to see the vacuous eyes and inky black hair of the Pale Faced Woman... but there was nothing there. I wasn’t about to backtrack any further.
“There was no one there.” I whispered.
Mia slumped against the wall and slid down to the carpet.
“I think I need to rest.” She said.
I put my backpack down on the ground for Mia to use as a pillow. She laid her head down and was passed out in seconds.
I had no idea how long we had been walking at this point. I stood leaning against the wall. My body was telling me to rest but I couldn’t risk falling asleep. I had to keep watch. I knew SHE was following us.
I took in the details of the hallway for the first time. The carpet was a dull brown and the walls a cheap wood paneling. The hanging lighting fixtures were shaded by stained glass, something you might see in an old diner.
Who built this place? Did someone pick out the carpet and the lighting fixtures? Did a team of workers blast these tunnels into the Earth? Or has this place always existed? Was this Purgatory?
I began to feel dizzy. I was panicking. My heart felt like it was trying to escape my chest. I slumped to the floor and tried to slow my breathing.
I closed my eyes... –
I SHOT up in a panic. I had fallen asleep while I was meant to be keeping watch.
I snapped to my feet and looked around.
Mia was still asleep on my backpack.
Then I noticed that the hallway had changed. A few paces away there was now a plain wooden door in the wall.
I slowly approached it. I put my ear to the door and I could hear what sounded like TV static and the low murmur of voices.
I discreetly grabbed the door handle and turned it slowly. I felt the latch bolt clear and I carefully cracked the door just enough to peek inside.
It was dark, so it took a second for me to register what I was seeing. I saw a small board room. A long table in the center was surrounded by seated men in suits.
At the end of the table stood another man next to an old CRT TV that was playing static. This was the only source of light in the room and all the men around the table were turned towards the tv.
Suddenly the screen flickered from static to a solid dark background. And some warped new age style muzak began playing.
Then the words appeared on the screen that terrified me like nothing else before. In plain text the words read–
“YOU WILL LOSE HER.”
I froze as I knew these words were meant for me I watched with terror as the men seated around the table slowly turned toward me in unison.
They were mannequins.
The TV screen then clicked off and they continued staring at me as I could barely make out their forms through the near pitch darkness.
I quickly pulled the door shut. And whipped around to look at Mia, I had a horrible feeling of dread that when I turned around she would be gone, like the message on the TV promised–
“Eric? What are you doing?” Mia was leaning up and staring at me.
Thank God. There was Mia, right where I left her.
I pointed at the door and said, “This door appeared and I--”
“What door?” she interrupted.
I turned and sure enough, the door was now gone.
I explained what happened to her, but I left out the message that appeared on the screen.
-- YOU WILL LOSE HER –
Those words still burned in my brain. I tried to force them out.
We drank water, ate granola and then got moving again.
Hallways. Endless hallways.
After a couple hours of walking we started to hear music. There were small speakers in the corners of the ceiling.
I recognized it as the same new-age muzak that played on the TV in the board room. The melody drilled into our minds. Combined with the dull aesthetics of the quiet hallways and the endless right turns, the music had a hypnotizing effect.
The lengths of the halls became more uniform. That is to say, the straight section of hallway was about 7 paces, then a right turn, then 7 paces and a right turn.
“I think we’re walking in circles... or a square,” Mia said.
I looked at her and took out a bottle of water. I peeled off the plastic label and dropped it on the floor.
Then we kept walking.
7 paces, right turn. 7 paces, right turn. 7 paces, right turn. And there it was... Mia was right.
The label from my water bottle lay in the middle of the hallway. Somehow we had been led into a loop. I lost it.
“FUUUCK!”
I kicked the wall repeatedly and screamed. Mia just leaned her back against the wall.
This was our dynamic. If one of us lost it, the other became zen and thought of a solution. More often than not, I was the one to lose it.
I finally stopped freaking out
“There has to be a way out. A door,” Mia said.
“We would have seen it,” I replied.
“A hidden door,” she said.
She turned around and ran her hands along the cracks of the wood paneling.
“Most likely on the outer wall,” she said.
She beat her fist on the wall, listening for a change in the sound. I exhaled heavily, sweating and tired, and I started searching the wall as well.
We checked the whole first wall, nothing. We checked the second wall, nothing. The third, nothing.
The final wall... Nothing. I gave up and slumped on the floor. Mia immediately went over to the other side of the hall and started checking the inner wall.
“What are you doing? I thought you said it would be on the outer wall?” I asked.
Then we heard it.
Mia beat the wall and instead of the dead thud, we heard a resonate BOOM –
A door…
I shot up and started tapping the wall with Mia until we found where the door ended. It was the width of about 4 wooden panels. I lined myself up in the center, lowered my shoulder and pushed–
IT MOVED! It barely moved but it was enough to confirm this actually was a door! I re-centered and tried again, lowering my center of gravity, I pushed as hard as I could. The door pushed inward about 3 inches, then Mia joined in. We slowly moved the door, 5 inches, then 10, then 15, then 20.
Then Mia slipped inside.
I had a moment of panic as she disappeared into the darkness and those haunting words came back into my mind, “YOU WILL LOSE HER.”
I darted past the doorway, falling through the threshold and hitting the concrete floor.
I looked up and there was Mia, thank God. I promised myself I’d never let her out of my sight again.
“The exit...” Mia said.
She looked and sounded as if she were a thousand miles away. I got to my feet and followed her gaze. What I saw nearly brought me to tears.
We were back in the tunnel, but there was light. About a mile down was the mouth of the tunnel, and daylight pouring in. Beautiful daylight. I grabbed Mia tight and kissed her.
“Thank God...” she cried.
We started moving. Nothing was going to slow us down this time. We sped up into a RUN down the maintenance walkway towards that beautiful sunlight.
As we approached, something else came into view. Parked in the middle of the roadway was a large vehicle…
It couldn’t be…
It was!
Our RV sat in the road waiting for us. We ran all the way to it, pulled open the passenger side door and climbed in. There were no mannequins to be seen.
I fell into the driver’s seat and Mia handed me the keys. I turned over the engine, the most beautiful sound I’d ever heard. I shifted into gear and floored it towards the sunlight.
As we got closer, I could see the green of trees and the blue of the sky. We were maybe one hundred yards away.
I turned to Mia, tears in my eyes…
And what I saw turned my blood to ice.
Just beyond Mia’s window, that horrifying pale face grinned at me.
The Pale Faced Woman was somehow floating outside of the RV.
Before I could say anything, her hand smashed through the window and gripped Mia by the throat, then in one horrible motion the thing PULLED MIA SCREAMING THROUGH THE WINDOW AND…
Disappeared…
I SLAMMED on the breaks just as the RV passed through the exit of the tunnel and sunlight flooded the cab of the RV. I threw it in park and shot out of the door screaming.
“Mia!? Mia??!!”
I screamed over and over. I rounded the front of the RV and looked back at the tunnel –
-- and what I saw shattered my mind…
The tunnel was gone.
There was only open road.
I had lost her.

i will be honest and say that when i went into the show, i did know a lot of the grander twists and turns the plot took, as well as a lot of the character tragedies and fucked up things bojack did. it still left an emotional impact on me, and i adore the show from the start to the end regardless - but i didnt shed a real tear until i watched the xmas special after finishing the whole show.
i think what got to me about it is seeing the difference between the pure, sweet and cheesy sitcom world of horsin around and knowing what specifically bojack and sarah lynn devolve into later on. the tv bond where The Horse From Horsin Around is actually warm and loving and attentive with sabrina and comforts her over her pain and grief vs irl, where bojack drives sarah lynn into an even deeper hole of depression and apathy towards her own wellbeing, not caring about anything but his own hedonism as he goes on to enable, have sex with and do drugs with his own tv daughter. everything about their relationship makes the world of horsin around feel more like it could never exist as anything other than escapism; an idealistic alternate dimension where the pain of daily life is painted in shiny vibrant hues and dulled down with sardonic one liners and teeth rotting fluffy lessons
but i do think, in a way, the cheesiness of horsin around maybe couldve helped or inspired bojack, similar to how diane mentioned it helped her once as an emotionally abused young girl without a kind family. a sweet and soft reality where everyone is happy and learns a lesson at the end of 20-some minutes is obviously unattainable, and he would still have a childhood full of trauma and anguish behind him that he would need to stop running from - but for someone who says he gets his ideas of affection from what he saw on tv, i wonder how much better bojack’s life couldve been if he was more consistent and open with love and affection like his character was.
it may not even be much of an improvement, but atleast then he might have less of a “ruining peoples life out of his own narcissism streak” then he currently does. maybe then sarah lynn and the other people who dare to keep him close would find more of a support system in him, and be able to see a bit more of that kind dad horse, even if the perfection and hope of a sitcom character could never truly exist in a real, messy person. he doesnt have to be optimistic and shiny and perfect like a mr peanutbutter type or how he acts in brand new couch, but he mightve realized sooner than later that showing some extra kindness might make the pain of his life fade even just the tiniest bit
But um anyways thats all i have to say. (The Horse From Horsin Around Voice) i’ve heard of long verbose and sappy monologues about beloved and critically acclaimed adult animated cartoons about talking horses with depression addiction and truly illict sexual histories before, but this is ridiculous!

Still Now Here Option to Downloading or Watching The Fall Guy Full Movie Streamings Online for Free. Do you like movies? If so, then you’ll love the New Action Movie: The Fall Guy. This movie is one of the best in its genre. The Fall Guy will be available to Watch Online on Netflix very soon
Offers a versatile means to access its cinematic wonder From heartfelt songs to buoyant humor this genre-bending work explores the power of friendship to upThe Fall Guy communities during troubling times Directed with nuanced color and vivacious animation lighter moments are blended seamlessly with touching introspection Cinephiles and casual fans alike will find their spirits The Fall Guyed by this inspirational story of diverse characters joining in solidarity Why not spend an evening immersed in the vibrant world of The Fall Guy? Don’t miss out! #The Fall Guy Movie
** LAST UPDATED : MAY 19, 2024.**
Crunchyroll. is continuing to beat out Crunchyroll. and Crunchyroll, over the New Year’s holiday weekend, with “The Fall Guy” now rising above “The Fall Guy” and “The Fall Guy.” With that trifecta, the studio has laid claim to the three of the top five slots at the domestic box office throughout the holiday season.
The Timothéee Chalamet-starring musical added another $8.6 million on Friday, up 32% from one week ago. The Paul King film has emerged as the theatrical favorite for the holidays, crossing $100 million domestically earlier this week. With a $119 million cume to date, the film continues to show strength and will reach $300 million globally before the calendar turns.
Though it slid into second place for Friday with $6.75 million, Crunchyroll. “The Fall Guy” fell 51% from its opening day last week. The latest and final entry in the current continuity of DC Comics adaptations has struggled for air, only reaching $65 million in its first week of release. The first “Aquaman,” released in 2018, surpassed that figure in its opening weekend alone. Bad reviews and superhero fatigue have plagued “Lost Kingdom,” which more than likely won’t even reach half the $335 million domestic total of its predecessor, much less justify a $205 million production budget.
Taking a close third place, Illumination and Crunchyroll’s“The Fall Guy” is maintaining its footing with $6.7 Friday after a muted $12 million debut lastweekend. “The Fall Guy” has underwhelmed so far, but its 17% increase over last Friday remains encouraging, especially for an original animated film with a production budget of only $70 million.
However,Here’s when you can bring The Fall Guy of Atlantis into your home.
Where and Can I Stream The Fall Guy? Is The Fall Guy Be Streaming?
The new "The Fall Guy" prequel The Fall Guy will be available for streaming first on Starz for subscribers Later on the movie will also be released on PeacockThanks to the agreement between distributor Crunchyroll and the NBC Crunchyroll streaming platform Determining the exact arrival date of the movie is a slightly more complex matter Typically Crunchyroll movies like John Wick 4 take approximately six months to become available on Starz where they tend to remain for a considerable period As for when Songbirds Snakes will be accessible on Peacock it could take nearly a year after its release although we will only receive confirmation once Crunchyroll makes an official announcement However if you The Fall Guy to watch the movie even earlier you can rent it on Video on Demand (VOD) which will likely be available before the streaming date on Starz
Where Can I Stream the Original The Fall Guy Movies in the Meantime?
In the meantime you can currently stream all four original The Fall Guy movies on Peacock until the end of November The availability of The Fall Guy movies onPeacock varies depending on the month so make sure to take advantage of the current availability
How To Watch The Fall Guy In English Online For Free:
As of now, the only way to watch The Fall Guy is to head out to a movie theater when it releases on Friday, September 8. You can find a local showing onFandango. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until it becomes available to rent or purchase on digital platforms like Vudu, Apple, YouTube, and Amazon or available to stream on Max. The Fall Guy is still currently in theaters if you want to experience all the film’s twists and turns in a traditional cinema. But there’s also now an option to watch the film at home. As of November 25, 2024, The Fall Guy is available on HBO Max. Only those with a subscription to the service can watch the movie. Because the film is distributed by 20th Century Studios, it’s one of the last films of the year to head to HBO Max due to a streaming deal in lieu of Disney acquiring 20th Century Studios, as Variety reports. At the end of 2024, 20th Century Studios’ films will head to Hulu or Disney+ once they leave theaters.
Is The Fall Guy Movie on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, or Amazon Prime?
Netflix: The Fall Guy is currently not available on Netflix. However, fans of dark fantasy films can explore other thrilling options such as Doctor Strange to keep themselves entertained.
Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll and Funimation have acquired the rights to distribute The Fall Guy in North America. Stay tuned for its release on the platform inthe coming months. In the meantime, indulge in dark fantasy shows like Spider-man to fulfill your entertainment needs.
Hulu: Unfortunately, The Fall Guy is not available for streaming on Hulu. However, Hulu offers a variety of other exciting options like Afro Samurai Resurrection or Ninja Scroll to keep you entertained.
Disney+: The Fall Guy is not currently available for streaming on Disney+. Fans will have to wait until late December, when it is expected to be released on theplatform. Disney typically releases its films on Disney+ around 45-60 days after their theatrical release, ensuring an immersive cinematic experience for viewers.
IS The Fall Guy ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO?
The Fall Guy movie could eventually be available to watch on Prime Video, though it will likely be a paid digital release rather than being included with anAmazon Prime subscription. This means that rather than watching the movie as part of an existing subscription fee, you may have to pay money to rent the movie digitally on Amazon. However, Crunchyroll. and Amazon have yet to discuss whether or not this will be the case.
WHEN WILL ‘The Fall Guy’, BE AVAILABLE DVD AND BLU-RAY?
As of right now, we don’t know. While the film will eventually land on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4KUltraHD, Crunchyroll has yet to reveal a specific date as to when that would be. The first Nun film also premiered in theaters in early September and was released on Blu-ray and DVD in December. Our best guess is that the sequel will follow a similar path and will be available around the holiday season.
HERE’S HOW TO WATCH ‘The Fall Guy’ ONLINE STREAMING IN AUSTRALIA
To watch ‘The Fall Guy’ (2024) for free online streaming in Australia and New Zealand, you can explore options like gomovies.one and gomovies.today, as mentioned in the search results. However, please note that the legality and safety of using such websites may vary, so exercise caution when accessing them. Additionally, you can check if the movie is available on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, as they often offer a wide selection of movies and TV.
Mark your calendars for July 8th, as that’s when The Fall Guy will be available on Disney+. This highly anticipated installment inthe franchise is packed with thrilling action and adventure, promising to captivate audiences and leave them craving for more. Captivate audiences and leave them craving for more.
Here is a comprehensive guide on how to watch The Fall Guy online in its entirety from the comfort of your own home. You can access thefull movie free of charge on the respected platform known as 123Movies. Immerse yourself in the captivating experience of The Fall Guy by watching it online for free. Alternatively, you can also enjoy the movie by downloading it in high definition. Enhance your movie viewing experience by watching The Fall Guy on 123movies, a trusted source for online movie streaming.

Still Now Here Option to Downloading or Watching The Fall Guy Full Movie Streamings Online for Free. Do you like movies? If so, then you’ll love the New Action Movie: The Fall Guy. This movie is one of the best in its genre. The Fall Guy will be available to Watch Online on Netflix very soon
Offers a versatile means to access its cinematic wonder From heartfelt songs to buoyant humor this genre-bending work explores the power of friendship to upThe Fall Guy communities during troubling times Directed with nuanced color and vivacious animation lighter moments are blended seamlessly with touching introspection Cinephiles and casual fans alike will find their spirits The Fall Guyed by this inspirational story of diverse characters joining in solidarity Why not spend an evening immersed in the vibrant world of The Fall Guy? Don’t miss out! #The Fall Guy Movie
** LAST UPDATED : MAY 19, 2024.**
Crunchyroll. is continuing to beat out Crunchyroll. and Crunchyroll, over the New Year’s holiday weekend, with “The Fall Guy” now rising above “The Fall Guy” and “The Fall Guy.” With that trifecta, the studio has laid claim to the three of the top five slots at the domestic box office throughout the holiday season.
The Timothéee Chalamet-starring musical added another $8.6 million on Friday, up 32% from one week ago. The Paul King film has emerged as the theatrical favorite for the holidays, crossing $100 million domestically earlier this week. With a $119 million cume to date, the film continues to show strength and will reach $300 million globally before the calendar turns.
Though it slid into second place for Friday with $6.75 million, Crunchyroll. “The Fall Guy” fell 51% from its opening day last week. The latest and final entry in the current continuity of DC Comics adaptations has struggled for air, only reaching $65 million in its first week of release. The first “Aquaman,” released in 2018, surpassed that figure in its opening weekend alone. Bad reviews and superhero fatigue have plagued “Lost Kingdom,” which more than likely won’t even reach half the $335 million domestic total of its predecessor, much less justify a $205 million production budget.
Taking a close third place, Illumination and Crunchyroll’s“The Fall Guy” is maintaining its footing with $6.7 Friday after a muted $12 million debut lastweekend. “The Fall Guy” has underwhelmed so far, but its 17% increase over last Friday remains encouraging, especially for an original animated film with a production budget of only $70 million.
However,Here’s when you can bring The Fall Guy of Atlantis into your home.
Where and Can I Stream The Fall Guy? Is The Fall Guy Be Streaming?
The new "The Fall Guy" prequel The Fall Guy will be available for streaming first on Starz for subscribers Later on the movie will also be released on PeacockThanks to the agreement between distributor Crunchyroll and the NBC Crunchyroll streaming platform Determining the exact arrival date of the movie is a slightly more complex matter Typically Crunchyroll movies like John Wick 4 take approximately six months to become available on Starz where they tend to remain for a considerable period As for when Songbirds Snakes will be accessible on Peacock it could take nearly a year after its release although we will only receive confirmation once Crunchyroll makes an official announcement However if you The Fall Guy to watch the movie even earlier you can rent it on Video on Demand (VOD) which will likely be available before the streaming date on Starz
Where Can I Stream the Original The Fall Guy Movies in the Meantime?
In the meantime you can currently stream all four original The Fall Guy movies on Peacock until the end of November The availability of The Fall Guy movies onPeacock varies depending on the month so make sure to take advantage of the current availability
How To Watch The Fall Guy In English Online For Free:
As of now, the only way to watch The Fall Guy is to head out to a movie theater when it releases on Friday, September 8. You can find a local showing onFandango. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until it becomes available to rent or purchase on digital platforms like Vudu, Apple, YouTube, and Amazon or available to stream on Max. The Fall Guy is still currently in theaters if you want to experience all the film’s twists and turns in a traditional cinema. But there’s also now an option to watch the film at home. As of November 25, 2024, The Fall Guy is available on HBO Max. Only those with a subscription to the service can watch the movie. Because the film is distributed by 20th Century Studios, it’s one of the last films of the year to head to HBO Max due to a streaming deal in lieu of Disney acquiring 20th Century Studios, as Variety reports. At the end of 2024, 20th Century Studios’ films will head to Hulu or Disney+ once they leave theaters.
Is The Fall Guy Movie on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, or Amazon Prime?
Netflix: The Fall Guy is currently not available on Netflix. However, fans of dark fantasy films can explore other thrilling options such as Doctor Strange to keep themselves entertained.
Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll and Funimation have acquired the rights to distribute The Fall Guy in North America. Stay tuned for its release on the platform inthe coming months. In the meantime, indulge in dark fantasy shows like Spider-man to fulfill your entertainment needs.
Hulu: Unfortunately, The Fall Guy is not available for streaming on Hulu. However, Hulu offers a variety of other exciting options like Afro Samurai Resurrection or Ninja Scroll to keep you entertained.
Disney+: The Fall Guy is not currently available for streaming on Disney+. Fans will have to wait until late December, when it is expected to be released on theplatform. Disney typically releases its films on Disney+ around 45-60 days after their theatrical release, ensuring an immersive cinematic experience for viewers.
IS The Fall Guy ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO?
The Fall Guy movie could eventually be available to watch on Prime Video, though it will likely be a paid digital release rather than being included with anAmazon Prime subscription. This means that rather than watching the movie as part of an existing subscription fee, you may have to pay money to rent the movie digitally on Amazon. However, Crunchyroll. and Amazon have yet to discuss whether or not this will be the case.
WHEN WILL ‘The Fall Guy’, BE AVAILABLE DVD AND BLU-RAY?
As of right now, we don’t know. While the film will eventually land on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4KUltraHD, Crunchyroll has yet to reveal a specific date as to when that would be. The first Nun film also premiered in theaters in early September and was released on Blu-ray and DVD in December. Our best guess is that the sequel will follow a similar path and will be available around the holiday season.
HERE’S HOW TO WATCH ‘The Fall Guy’ ONLINE STREAMING IN AUSTRALIA
To watch ‘The Fall Guy’ (2024) for free online streaming in Australia and New Zealand, you can explore options like gomovies.one and gomovies.today, as mentioned in the search results. However, please note that the legality and safety of using such websites may vary, so exercise caution when accessing them. Additionally, you can check if the movie is available on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, as they often offer a wide selection of movies and TV.
Mark your calendars for July 8th, as that’s when The Fall Guy will be available on Disney+. This highly anticipated installment inthe franchise is packed with thrilling action and adventure, promising to captivate audiences and leave them craving for more. Captivate audiences and leave them craving for more.
Here is a comprehensive guide on how to watch The Fall Guy online in its entirety from the comfort of your own home. You can access thefull movie free of charge on the respected platform known as 123Movies. Immerse yourself in the captivating experience of The Fall Guy by watching it online for free. Alternatively, you can also enjoy the movie by downloading it in high definition. Enhance your movie viewing experience by watching The Fall Guy on 123movies, a trusted source for online movie streaming.

Still Now Here Option to Downloading or Watching The Fall Guy Full Movie Streamings Online for Free. Do you like movies? If so, then you’ll love the New Action Movie: The Fall Guy. This movie is one of the best in its genre. The Fall Guy will be available to Watch Online on Netflix very soon
Offers a versatile means to access its cinematic wonder From heartfelt songs to buoyant humor this genre-bending work explores the power of friendship to upThe Fall Guy communities during troubling times Directed with nuanced color and vivacious animation lighter moments are blended seamlessly with touching introspection Cinephiles and casual fans alike will find their spirits The Fall Guyed by this inspirational story of diverse characters joining in solidarity Why not spend an evening immersed in the vibrant world of The Fall Guy? Don’t miss out! #The Fall Guy Movie
** LAST UPDATED : MAY 19, 2024.**
Crunchyroll. is continuing to beat out Crunchyroll. and Crunchyroll, over the New Year’s holiday weekend, with “The Fall Guy” now rising above “The Fall Guy” and “The Fall Guy.” With that trifecta, the studio has laid claim to the three of the top five slots at the domestic box office throughout the holiday season.
The Timothéee Chalamet-starring musical added another $8.6 million on Friday, up 32% from one week ago. The Paul King film has emerged as the theatrical favorite for the holidays, crossing $100 million domestically earlier this week. With a $119 million cume to date, the film continues to show strength and will reach $300 million globally before the calendar turns.
Though it slid into second place for Friday with $6.75 million, Crunchyroll. “The Fall Guy” fell 51% from its opening day last week. The latest and final entry in the current continuity of DC Comics adaptations has struggled for air, only reaching $65 million in its first week of release. The first “Aquaman,” released in 2018, surpassed that figure in its opening weekend alone. Bad reviews and superhero fatigue have plagued “Lost Kingdom,” which more than likely won’t even reach half the $335 million domestic total of its predecessor, much less justify a $205 million production budget.
Taking a close third place, Illumination and Crunchyroll’s“The Fall Guy” is maintaining its footing with $6.7 Friday after a muted $12 million debut lastweekend. “The Fall Guy” has underwhelmed so far, but its 17% increase over last Friday remains encouraging, especially for an original animated film with a production budget of only $70 million.
However,Here’s when you can bring The Fall Guy of Atlantis into your home.
Where and Can I Stream The Fall Guy? Is The Fall Guy Be Streaming?
The new "The Fall Guy" prequel The Fall Guy will be available for streaming first on Starz for subscribers Later on the movie will also be released on PeacockThanks to the agreement between distributor Crunchyroll and the NBC Crunchyroll streaming platform Determining the exact arrival date of the movie is a slightly more complex matter Typically Crunchyroll movies like John Wick 4 take approximately six months to become available on Starz where they tend to remain for a considerable period As for when Songbirds Snakes will be accessible on Peacock it could take nearly a year after its release although we will only receive confirmation once Crunchyroll makes an official announcement However if you The Fall Guy to watch the movie even earlier you can rent it on Video on Demand (VOD) which will likely be available before the streaming date on Starz
Where Can I Stream the Original The Fall Guy Movies in the Meantime?
In the meantime you can currently stream all four original The Fall Guy movies on Peacock until the end of November The availability of The Fall Guy movies onPeacock varies depending on the month so make sure to take advantage of the current availability
How To Watch The Fall Guy In English Online For Free:
As of now, the only way to watch The Fall Guy is to head out to a movie theater when it releases on Friday, September 8. You can find a local showing onFandango. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until it becomes available to rent or purchase on digital platforms like Vudu, Apple, YouTube, and Amazon or available to stream on Max. The Fall Guy is still currently in theaters if you want to experience all the film’s twists and turns in a traditional cinema. But there’s also now an option to watch the film at home. As of November 25, 2024, The Fall Guy is available on HBO Max. Only those with a subscription to the service can watch the movie. Because the film is distributed by 20th Century Studios, it’s one of the last films of the year to head to HBO Max due to a streaming deal in lieu of Disney acquiring 20th Century Studios, as Variety reports. At the end of 2024, 20th Century Studios’ films will head to Hulu or Disney+ once they leave theaters.
Is The Fall Guy Movie on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, or Amazon Prime?
Netflix: The Fall Guy is currently not available on Netflix. However, fans of dark fantasy films can explore other thrilling options such as Doctor Strange to keep themselves entertained.
Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll and Funimation have acquired the rights to distribute The Fall Guy in North America. Stay tuned for its release on the platform inthe coming months. In the meantime, indulge in dark fantasy shows like Spider-man to fulfill your entertainment needs.
Hulu: Unfortunately, The Fall Guy is not available for streaming on Hulu. However, Hulu offers a variety of other exciting options like Afro Samurai Resurrection or Ninja Scroll to keep you entertained.
Disney+: The Fall Guy is not currently available for streaming on Disney+. Fans will have to wait until late December, when it is expected to be released on theplatform. Disney typically releases its films on Disney+ around 45-60 days after their theatrical release, ensuring an immersive cinematic experience for viewers.
IS The Fall Guy ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO?
The Fall Guy movie could eventually be available to watch on Prime Video, though it will likely be a paid digital release rather than being included with anAmazon Prime subscription. This means that rather than watching the movie as part of an existing subscription fee, you may have to pay money to rent the movie digitally on Amazon. However, Crunchyroll. and Amazon have yet to discuss whether or not this will be the case.
WHEN WILL ‘The Fall Guy’, BE AVAILABLE DVD AND BLU-RAY?
As of right now, we don’t know. While the film will eventually land on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4KUltraHD, Crunchyroll has yet to reveal a specific date as to when that would be. The first Nun film also premiered in theaters in early September and was released on Blu-ray and DVD in December. Our best guess is that the sequel will follow a similar path and will be available around the holiday season.
HERE’S HOW TO WATCH ‘The Fall Guy’ ONLINE STREAMING IN AUSTRALIA
To watch ‘The Fall Guy’ (2024) for free online streaming in Australia and New Zealand, you can explore options like gomovies.one and gomovies.today, as mentioned in the search results. However, please note that the legality and safety of using such websites may vary, so exercise caution when accessing them. Additionally, you can check if the movie is available on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, as they often offer a wide selection of movies and TV.
Mark your calendars for July 8th, as that’s when The Fall Guy will be available on Disney+. This highly anticipated installment inthe franchise is packed with thrilling action and adventure, promising to captivate audiences and leave them craving for more. Captivate audiences and leave them craving for more.
Here is a comprehensive guide on how to watch The Fall Guy online in its entirety from the comfort of your own home. You can access thefull movie free of charge on the respected platform known as 123Movies. Immerse yourself in the captivating experience of The Fall Guy by watching it online for free. Alternatively, you can also enjoy the movie by downloading it in high definition. Enhance your movie viewing experience by watching The Fall Guy on 123movies, a trusted source for online movie streaming.

Still Now Here Option to Downloading or Watching The Fall Guy Full Movie Streamings Online for Free. Do you like movies? If so, then you’ll love the New Action Movie: The Fall Guy. This movie is one of the best in its genre. The Fall Guy will be available to Watch Online on Netflix very soon
Offers a versatile means to access its cinematic wonder From heartfelt songs to buoyant humor this genre-bending work explores the power of friendship to upThe Fall Guy communities during troubling times Directed with nuanced color and vivacious animation lighter moments are blended seamlessly with touching introspection Cinephiles and casual fans alike will find their spirits The Fall Guyed by this inspirational story of diverse characters joining in solidarity Why not spend an evening immersed in the vibrant world of The Fall Guy? Don’t miss out! #The Fall Guy Movie
** LAST UPDATED : MAY 19, 2024.**
Crunchyroll. is continuing to beat out Crunchyroll. and Crunchyroll, over the New Year’s holiday weekend, with “The Fall Guy” now rising above “The Fall Guy” and “The Fall Guy.” With that trifecta, the studio has laid claim to the three of the top five slots at the domestic box office throughout the holiday season.
The Timothéee Chalamet-starring musical added another $8.6 million on Friday, up 32% from one week ago. The Paul King film has emerged as the theatrical favorite for the holidays, crossing $100 million domestically earlier this week. With a $119 million cume to date, the film continues to show strength and will reach $300 million globally before the calendar turns.
Though it slid into second place for Friday with $6.75 million, Crunchyroll. “The Fall Guy” fell 51% from its opening day last week. The latest and final entry in the current continuity of DC Comics adaptations has struggled for air, only reaching $65 million in its first week of release. The first “Aquaman,” released in 2018, surpassed that figure in its opening weekend alone. Bad reviews and superhero fatigue have plagued “Lost Kingdom,” which more than likely won’t even reach half the $335 million domestic total of its predecessor, much less justify a $205 million production budget.
Taking a close third place, Illumination and Crunchyroll’s“The Fall Guy” is maintaining its footing with $6.7 Friday after a muted $12 million debut lastweekend. “The Fall Guy” has underwhelmed so far, but its 17% increase over last Friday remains encouraging, especially for an original animated film with a production budget of only $70 million.
However,Here’s when you can bring The Fall Guy of Atlantis into your home.
Where and Can I Stream The Fall Guy? Is The Fall Guy Be Streaming?
The new "The Fall Guy" prequel The Fall Guy will be available for streaming first on Starz for subscribers Later on the movie will also be released on PeacockThanks to the agreement between distributor Crunchyroll and the NBC Crunchyroll streaming platform Determining the exact arrival date of the movie is a slightly more complex matter Typically Crunchyroll movies like John Wick 4 take approximately six months to become available on Starz where they tend to remain for a considerable period As for when Songbirds Snakes will be accessible on Peacock it could take nearly a year after its release although we will only receive confirmation once Crunchyroll makes an official announcement However if you The Fall Guy to watch the movie even earlier you can rent it on Video on Demand (VOD) which will likely be available before the streaming date on Starz
Where Can I Stream the Original The Fall Guy Movies in the Meantime?
In the meantime you can currently stream all four original The Fall Guy movies on Peacock until the end of November The availability of The Fall Guy movies onPeacock varies depending on the month so make sure to take advantage of the current availability
How To Watch The Fall Guy In English Online For Free:
As of now, the only way to watch The Fall Guy is to head out to a movie theater when it releases on Friday, September 8. You can find a local showing onFandango. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until it becomes available to rent or purchase on digital platforms like Vudu, Apple, YouTube, and Amazon or available to stream on Max. The Fall Guy is still currently in theaters if you want to experience all the film’s twists and turns in a traditional cinema. But there’s also now an option to watch the film at home. As of November 25, 2024, The Fall Guy is available on HBO Max. Only those with a subscription to the service can watch the movie. Because the film is distributed by 20th Century Studios, it’s one of the last films of the year to head to HBO Max due to a streaming deal in lieu of Disney acquiring 20th Century Studios, as Variety reports. At the end of 2024, 20th Century Studios’ films will head to Hulu or Disney+ once they leave theaters.
Is The Fall Guy Movie on Netflix, Crunchyroll, Hulu, or Amazon Prime?
Netflix: The Fall Guy is currently not available on Netflix. However, fans of dark fantasy films can explore other thrilling options such as Doctor Strange to keep themselves entertained.
Crunchyroll: Crunchyroll and Funimation have acquired the rights to distribute The Fall Guy in North America. Stay tuned for its release on the platform inthe coming months. In the meantime, indulge in dark fantasy shows like Spider-man to fulfill your entertainment needs.
Hulu: Unfortunately, The Fall Guy is not available for streaming on Hulu. However, Hulu offers a variety of other exciting options like Afro Samurai Resurrection or Ninja Scroll to keep you entertained.
Disney+: The Fall Guy is not currently available for streaming on Disney+. Fans will have to wait until late December, when it is expected to be released on theplatform. Disney typically releases its films on Disney+ around 45-60 days after their theatrical release, ensuring an immersive cinematic experience for viewers.
IS The Fall Guy ON AMAZON PRIME VIDEO?
The Fall Guy movie could eventually be available to watch on Prime Video, though it will likely be a paid digital release rather than being included with anAmazon Prime subscription. This means that rather than watching the movie as part of an existing subscription fee, you may have to pay money to rent the movie digitally on Amazon. However, Crunchyroll. and Amazon have yet to discuss whether or not this will be the case.
WHEN WILL ‘The Fall Guy’, BE AVAILABLE DVD AND BLU-RAY?
As of right now, we don’t know. While the film will eventually land on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4KUltraHD, Crunchyroll has yet to reveal a specific date as to when that would be. The first Nun film also premiered in theaters in early September and was released on Blu-ray and DVD in December. Our best guess is that the sequel will follow a similar path and will be available around the holiday season.
HERE’S HOW TO WATCH ‘The Fall Guy’ ONLINE STREAMING IN AUSTRALIA
To watch ‘The Fall Guy’ (2024) for free online streaming in Australia and New Zealand, you can explore options like gomovies.one and gomovies.today, as mentioned in the search results. However, please note that the legality and safety of using such websites may vary, so exercise caution when accessing them. Additionally, you can check if the movie is available on popular streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video, as they often offer a wide selection of movies and TV.
Mark your calendars for July 8th, as that’s when The Fall Guy will be available on Disney+. This highly anticipated installment inthe franchise is packed with thrilling action and adventure, promising to captivate audiences and leave them craving for more. Captivate audiences and leave them craving for more.
Here is a comprehensive guide on how to watch The Fall Guy online in its entirety from the comfort of your own home. You can access thefull movie free of charge on the respected platform known as 123Movies. Immerse yourself in the captivating experience of The Fall Guy by watching it online for free. Alternatively, you can also enjoy the movie by downloading it in high definition. Enhance your movie viewing experience by watching The Fall Guy on 123movies, a trusted source for online movie streaming.

Hey there!
I'm a 34-year-old American who's called the UK home for the past 5 years, and I'm on the lookout for some new friends. Currently living and working in London and despite traveling all over the world, realized London is my favorite city. Bonus points if you're up for meeting my two fluffy dogs – because, let's be honest, having dogs is a cheat code when it comes to making friends in the UK.
By day, I'm a product manager in the city, but my journey has taken me through some interesting twists, including time in the US Army and a stint at a luxury fashion company.
Outside of the 9 to 5 grind, you'll find me picking things up and putting them down at the gym bright and early in the morning. I've stuck to my 2023 New Year's resolution and have gone to the gym quite regularly; it's become a source of pride. If you're a fellow gym rat who competes with no one but the person you were yesterday, we're bound to hit it off.
I'm also into improv comedy – I take classes and perform whenever I can. Originally, it was my way of finding a practical application for acting without fully committing to a career in it. It's been super helpful, especially in dealing with feelings of anxiety as well. If you're an improv geek too, I'd love to hear your experiences.
Lockdown brought out the mixologist in me, thanks to binging Mad Men. I love experimenting with cocktails and if you have a favorite cocktail and don't mind providing the ingredients, I'd be happy to try and craft it for you! I actually signed up for a bartending course just to learn a new skill-- definitely stay tuned for that one.
And of course, I'm pretty basic too with your typical interests – sports (NCAA Football and NFL Football, with Army and the San Francisco 49ers as my teams), video games (League of Legends Wild Rift mainly, but really excited for EA Sports College Football 25 to come out), and TV shows (Succession, Better Call Saul/Breaking Bad, and Mad Men are my absolute favorites). I'm also trying to get in to reading for pleasure (currently reading The Three-Body Problem series by Cixin Liu), but man do I have to work at it.
If any of this resonates with you, I'd love to connect! Whether it's grabbing a drink, hitting the gym together, or just chatting about shared interests, I'm up for it. Drop me a chat request and let's make something happen! Can't think of an opener? What's a challenging experience you've faced and how did it shape your perspective?

Hey there!
I'm a 34-year-old American who's called the UK home for the past 5 years, and I'm on the lookout for some new friends. Currently living and working in London and despite traveling all over the world, realized London is my favorite city. Bonus points if you're up for meeting my two fluffy dogs – because, let's be honest, having dogs is a cheat code when it comes to making friends in the UK.
By day, I'm a product manager in the city, but my journey has taken me through some interesting twists, including time in the US Army and a stint at a luxury fashion company.
Outside of the 9 to 5 grind, you'll find me picking things up and putting them down at the gym bright and early in the morning. I've stuck to my 2023 New Year's resolution and have gone to the gym quite regularly; it's become a source of pride. If you're a fellow gym rat who competes with no one but the person you were yesterday, we're bound to hit it off.
I'm also into improv comedy – I take classes and perform whenever I can. Originally, it was my way of finding a practical application for acting without fully committing to a career in it. It's been super helpful, especially in dealing with feelings of anxiety as well. If you're an improv geek too, I'd love to hear your experiences.
Lockdown brought out the mixologist in me, thanks to binging Mad Men. I love experimenting with cocktails and if you have a favorite cocktail and don't mind providing the ingredients, I'd be happy to try and craft it for you! I actually signed up for a bartending course just to learn a new skill-- definitely stay tuned for that one.
And of course, I'm pretty basic too with your typical interests – sports (NCAA Football and NFL Football, with Army and the San Francisco 49ers as my teams), video games (League of Legends Wild Rift mainly, but really excited for EA Sports College Football 25 to come out), and TV shows (Succession, Better Call Saul/Breaking Bad, and Mad Men are my absolute favorites). I'm also trying to get in to reading for pleasure (currently reading The Three-Body Problem series by Cixin Liu), but man do I have to work at it.
If any of this resonates with you, I'd love to connect! Whether it's grabbing a drink, hitting the gym together, or just chatting about shared interests, I'm up for it. Drop me a chat request and let's make something happen! Can't think of an opener? What's a challenging experience you've faced and how did it shape your perspective?

Hey there!
I'm a 34-year-old American who's called the UK home for the past 5 years, and I'm on the lookout for some new friends. Currently living and working in London and despite traveling all over the world, realized London is my favorite city. Bonus points if you're up for meeting my two fluffy dogs – because, let's be honest, having dogs is a cheat code when it comes to making friends in the UK.
By day, I'm a product manager in the city, but my journey has taken me through some interesting twists, including time in the US Army and a stint at a luxury fashion company.
Outside of the 9 to 5 grind, you'll find me picking things up and putting them down at the gym bright and early in the morning. I've stuck to my 2023 New Year's resolution and have gone to the gym quite regularly; it's become a source of pride. If you're a fellow gym rat who competes with no one but the person you were yesterday, we're bound to hit it off.
I'm also into improv comedy – I take classes and perform whenever I can. Originally, it was my way of finding a practical application for acting without fully committing to a career in it. It's been super helpful, especially in dealing with feelings of anxiety as well. If you're an improv geek too, I'd love to hear your experiences.
Lockdown brought out the mixologist in me, thanks to binging Mad Men. I love experimenting with cocktails and if you have a favorite cocktail and don't mind providing the ingredients, I'd be happy to try and craft it for you! I actually signed up for a bartending course just to learn a new skill-- definitely stay tuned for that one.
And of course, I'm pretty basic too with your typical interests – sports (NCAA Football and NFL Football, with Army and the San Francisco 49ers as my teams), video games (League of Legends Wild Rift mainly, but really excited for EA Sports College Football 25 to come out), and TV shows (Succession, Better Call Saul/Breaking Bad, and Mad Men are my absolute favorites). I'm also trying to get in to reading for pleasure (currently reading The Three-Body Problem series by Cixin Liu), but man do I have to work at it.
If any of this resonates with you, I'd love to connect! Whether it's grabbing a drink, hitting the gym together, or just chatting about shared interests, I'm up for it. Drop me a chat request and let's make something happen! Can't think of an opener? What's a challenging experience you've faced and how did it shape your perspective?

Hey there!
I'm a 34-year-old American who's called the UK home for the past 5 years, and I'm on the lookout for some new friends. Currently living and working in London and despite traveling all over the world, realized London is my favorite city. Bonus points if you're up for meeting my two fluffy dogs – because, let's be honest, having dogs is a cheat code when it comes to making friends in the UK.
By day, I'm a product manager in the city, but my journey has taken me through some interesting twists, including time in the US Army and a stint at a luxury fashion company.
Outside of the 9 to 5 grind, you'll find me picking things up and putting them down at the gym bright and early in the morning. I've stuck to my 2023 New Year's resolution and have gone to the gym quite regularly; it's become a source of pride. If you're a fellow gym rat who competes with no one but the person you were yesterday, we're bound to hit it off.
I'm also into improv comedy – I take classes and perform whenever I can. Originally, it was my way of finding a practical application for acting without fully committing to a career in it. It's been super helpful, especially in dealing with feelings of anxiety as well. If you're an improv geek too, I'd love to hear your experiences.
Lockdown brought out the mixologist in me, thanks to binging Mad Men. I love experimenting with cocktails and if you have a favorite cocktail and don't mind providing the ingredients, I'd be happy to try and craft it for you! I actually signed up for a bartending course just to learn a new skill-- definitely stay tuned for that one.
And of course, I'm pretty basic too with your typical interests – sports (NCAA Football and NFL Football, with Army and the San Francisco 49ers as my teams), video games (League of Legends Wild Rift mainly, but really excited for EA Sports College Football 25 to come out), and TV shows (Succession, Better Call Saul/Breaking Bad, and Mad Men are my absolute favorites). I'm also trying to get in to reading for pleasure (currently reading The Three-Body Problem series by Cixin Liu), but man do I have to work at it.
If any of this resonates with you, I'd love to connect! Whether it's grabbing a drink, hitting the gym together, or just chatting about shared interests, I'm up for it. Drop me a chat request and let's make something happen! Can't think of an opener? What's a challenging experience you've faced and how did it shape your perspective?

Hey there!
I'm a 34-year-old American who's called the UK home for the past 5 years, and I'm on the lookout for some new friends. Currently living and working in London and despite traveling all over the world, realized London is my favorite city. Bonus points if you're up for meeting my two fluffy dogs – because, let's be honest, having dogs is a cheat code when it comes to making friends in the UK.
By day, I'm a product manager in the city, but my journey has taken me through some interesting twists, including time in the US Army and a stint at a luxury fashion company.
Outside of the 9 to 5 grind, you'll find me picking things up and putting them down at the gym bright and early in the morning. I've stuck to my 2023 New Year's resolution and have gone to the gym quite regularly; it's become a source of pride. If you're a fellow gym rat who competes with no one but the person you were yesterday, we're bound to hit it off.
I'm also into improv comedy – I take classes and perform whenever I can. Originally, it was my way of finding a practical application for acting without fully committing to a career in it. It's been super helpful, especially in dealing with feelings of anxiety as well. If you're an improv geek too, I'd love to hear your experiences.
Lockdown brought out the mixologist in me, thanks to binging Mad Men. I love experimenting with cocktails and if you have a favorite cocktail and don't mind providing the ingredients, I'd be happy to try and craft it for you! I actually signed up for a bartending course just to learn a new skill-- definitely stay tuned for that one.
And of course, I'm pretty basic too with your typical interests – sports (NCAA Football and NFL Football, with Army and the San Francisco 49ers as my teams), video games (League of Legends Wild Rift mainly, but really excited for EA Sports College Football 25 to come out), and TV shows (Succession, Better Call Saul/Breaking Bad, and Mad Men are my absolute favorites). I'm also trying to get in to reading for pleasure (currently reading The Three-Body Problem series by Cixin Liu), but man do I have to work at it.
If any of this resonates with you, I'd love to connect! Whether it's grabbing a drink, hitting the gym together, or just chatting about shared interests, I'm up for it. Drop me a chat request and let's make something happen! Can't think of an opener? What's a challenging experience you've faced and how did it shape your perspective?

Hey there!
I'm a 34-year-old American who's called the UK home for the past 5 years, and I'm on the lookout for some new friends. Currently living and working in London and despite traveling all over the world, realized London is my favorite city. Bonus points if you're up for meeting my two fluffy dogs – because, let's be honest, having dogs is a cheat code when it comes to making friends in the UK.
By day, I'm a product manager in the city, but my journey has taken me through some interesting twists, including time in the US Army and a stint at a luxury fashion company.
Outside of the 9 to 5 grind, you'll find me picking things up and putting them down at the gym bright and early in the morning. I've stuck to my 2023 New Year's resolution and have gone to the gym quite regularly; it's become a source of pride. If you're a fellow gym rat who competes with no one but the person you were yesterday, we're bound to hit it off.
I'm also into improv comedy – I take classes and perform whenever I can. Originally, it was my way of finding a practical application for acting without fully committing to a career in it. It's been super helpful, especially in dealing with feelings of anxiety as well. If you're an improv geek too, I'd love to hear your experiences.
Lockdown brought out the mixologist in me, thanks to binging Mad Men. I love experimenting with cocktails and if you have a favorite cocktail and don't mind providing the ingredients, I'd be happy to try and craft it for you! I actually signed up for a bartending course just to learn a new skill-- definitely stay tuned for that one.
And of course, I'm pretty basic too with your typical interests – sports (NCAA Football and NFL Football, with Army and the San Francisco 49ers as my teams), video games (League of Legends Wild Rift mainly, but really excited for EA Sports College Football 25 to come out), and TV shows (Succession, Better Call Saul/Breaking Bad, and Mad Men are my absolute favorites). I'm also trying to get in to reading for pleasure (currently reading The Three-Body Problem series by Cixin Liu), but man do I have to work at it.
If any of this resonates with you, I'd love to connect! Whether it's grabbing a drink, hitting the gym together, or just chatting about shared interests, I'm up for it. Drop me a chat request and let's make something happen! Can't think of an opener? What's a challenging experience you've faced and how did it shape your perspective?

Hey there!
I'm a 34-year-old American who's called the UK home for the past 5 years, and I'm on the lookout for some new friends. Currently living and working in London and despite traveling all over the world, realized London is my favorite city. Bonus points if you're up for meeting my two fluffy dogs – because, let's be honest, having dogs is a cheat code when it comes to making friends in the UK.
By day, I'm a product manager in the city, but my journey has taken me through some interesting twists, including time in the US Army and a stint at a luxury fashion company.
Outside of the 9 to 5 grind, you'll find me picking things up and putting them down at the gym bright and early in the morning. I've stuck to my 2023 New Year's resolution and have gone to the gym quite regularly; it's become a source of pride. If you're a fellow gym rat who competes with no one but the person you were yesterday, we're bound to hit it off.
I'm also into improv comedy – I take classes and perform whenever I can. Originally, it was my way of finding a practical application for acting without fully committing to a career in it. It's been super helpful, especially in dealing with feelings of anxiety as well. If you're an improv geek too, I'd love to hear your experiences.
Lockdown brought out the mixologist in me, thanks to binging Mad Men. I love experimenting with cocktails and if you have a favorite cocktail and don't mind providing the ingredients, I'd be happy to try and craft it for you! I actually signed up for a bartending course just to learn a new skill-- definitely stay tuned for that one.
And of course, I'm pretty basic too with your typical interests – sports (NCAA Football and NFL Football, with Army and the San Francisco 49ers as my teams), video games (League of Legends Wild Rift mainly, but really excited for EA Sports College Football 25 to come out), and TV shows (Succession, Better Call Saul/Breaking Bad, and Mad Men are my absolute favorites). I'm also trying to get in to reading for pleasure (currently reading The Three-Body Problem series by Cixin Liu), but man do I have to work at it.
If any of this resonates with you, I'd love to connect! Whether it's grabbing a drink, hitting the gym together, or just chatting about shared interests, I'm up for it. Drop me a chat request and let's make something happen! Can't think of an opener? What's a challenging experience you've faced and how did it shape your perspective?

Hey there!
I'm a 34-year-old American who's called the UK home for the past 5 years, and I'm on the lookout for some new friends. Currently living and working in London and despite traveling all over the world, realized London is my favorite city. Bonus points if you're up for meeting my two fluffy dogs – because, let's be honest, having dogs is a cheat code when it comes to making friends in the UK.
By day, I'm a product manager in the city, but my journey has taken me through some interesting twists, including time in the US Army and a stint at a luxury fashion company.
Outside of the 9 to 5 grind, you'll find me picking things up and putting them down at the gym bright and early in the morning. I've stuck to my 2023 New Year's resolution and have gone to the gym quite regularly; it's become a source of pride. If you're a fellow gym rat who competes with no one but the person you were yesterday, we're bound to hit it off.
I'm also into improv comedy – I take classes and perform whenever I can. Originally, it was my way of finding a practical application for acting without fully committing to a career in it. It's been super helpful, especially in dealing with feelings of anxiety as well. If you're an improv geek too, I'd love to hear your experiences.
Lockdown brought out the mixologist in me, thanks to binging Mad Men. I love experimenting with cocktails and if you have a favorite cocktail and don't mind providing the ingredients, I'd be happy to try and craft it for you! I actually signed up for a bartending course just to learn a new skill-- definitely stay tuned for that one.
And of course, I'm pretty basic too with your typical interests – sports (NCAA Football and NFL Football, with Army and the San Francisco 49ers as my teams), video games (League of Legends Wild Rift mainly, but really excited for EA Sports College Football 25 to come out), and TV shows (Succession, Better Call Saul/Breaking Bad, and Mad Men are my absolute favorites). I'm also trying to get in to reading for pleasure (currently reading The Three-Body Problem series by Cixin Liu), but man do I have to work at it.
If any of this resonates with you, I'd love to connect! Whether it's grabbing a drink, hitting the gym together, or just chatting about shared interests, I'm up for it. Drop me a chat request and let's make something happen! Can't think of an opener? What's a challenging experience you've faced and how did it shape your perspective?

Hello dearest spinners, I would love some advice!
I taught myself to spin from youtube videos a little over a year ago, so a lot of my technique is based in trial and error, and recently I've been having an error that I can't figure out.
I bought a beautiful Montadale fleece a few weeks ago that I've been processing and spinning on a drop spindle, but something is going wrong with the plying (or at least becoming obvious in the plying step). The strands just aren't coming together. This picture shows a strand from my most recent skein on the left, and the tail end of that skein on the right. The tail end is so much more cohesive, tightly wound and fluffy, whereas the main skein is thin, kinked, and gappy in places. It looks like it's under-plied, but before setting it didn't twist on itself at all, it seemed perfectly balanced.
I made a bunch of short test yarns with different levels of twist and different angles of ply, even one with deliberately uneven levels of twist, and they all came out fine. My best guess is that it's something about how the main skein is tied up and unable to move while it's setting, but I can't very well drape a skein all around the apartment to let it dry loose, not least because of what the cats would do to it.
Is it under-plied, over-twisted, under-twisted? Is there some way that I can dry it that would let it set properly? Seeking spinner wisdom!
https://preview.redd.it/42v70va2921d1.jpg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a5780d11524ec6e3af43210db3dc0996045be4b0

Now, we see something incredible. We have some scenes that aren’t cannon and never happened, but in this, all of the warriors/medicine/apprentices/leaders/deputies/kits have special powers tied to their personality and their name(think of it as a kind of wacky ‘if warrior names were taken seriously(clearly, this won’t have all the characters ever(mainly because I can’t think of what their powers would be(the powers will mainly be similar enough to put in categories(but I won’t)))))

Firestar stretched, the flames on his back climbing higher into the air. Sandstorm stirred beside him, still asleep. When the she-cat took a nap, the swirling winds of her being calmed into gentle gusts, barely moving the sand of her body. 

He peered out of his den, then stepped onto High Ledge. Graystripe was sharing tongues with Millie near the fresh-kill pile, which was looking a bit more like a single squirrel than a pile. Not wanting to wake up the best hunter in the clan, Firestar looked around the clearing for candidates for a hunting patrol. Brambleclaw, who would usually be organizing the patrols, had gotten a few things tangled in his brambles, so he was in the medicine den. Leafpool had said that it wouldn’t take long to untangle him, so he hadn’t told anyone else to take over deputy duties.
Just then, Lionblaze and Hollyleaf walked into camp, two mice and a large thrush between them. Dark feathers were caught in Lionblaze’s golden mane. Firestar rushed down to meet the littermates. “Hey, Firestar,” Lionblaze mumbled around the thrush.
“How’s the prey running?” asked the ThunderClan leader. Hollyleaf placed her mice on the fresh-kill pile. “Well, we saw a family of rabbits running around, but we were already on our way back to camp, so we decided against it.”
“Oh! I also saw a few deer near the WindClan border that I could catch,” Lionblaze purred, dropping his catch. Firestar nodded his head. One deer would feed all the elders, kits, and queens with some to spare. “Great. Hollyleaf, take Spiderleg and Berrynose to make traps for the rabbits.” Hollyleaf growled.
“Do I have to? Berrynose is a pain.” Firestar flicked his tail at his grandkit. “Yes, you do. Berrynose is the only one who can summon berries that the rabbits will eat.”
“He would be great to have around if his nose could summon berries that actually have medicinal powers.” Firestar turned, seeing Jayfeather pad towards the clump of cats. Small bits of moss were caught in his fur and feathers. “Unfortunately, StarClan can’t be so gracious.”
“What’s up with you, Jayfeather? You look like you’ve just rolled in a pile of moss,” Lionblaze commented. Jayfeather swished his tail. “Really? I haven’t noticed,” he growled sarcastically. Firestar cleared his throat, trying to get the three cats’ attention.
“If I could, I would like to get back on topic.” The younger cats bowed their heads, and he continued. “Hollyleaf, Berrynose, and Spiderleg-” “Oh, Spiderleg is great! That is, he would be great if would use his powers to make cobwebs instead of showing off! What a-”
Lionblaze nudged his brother, trying to get him to shut up. Firestar stared at the medicine cat. What is up with him today? The tom was almost always cranky, but this was a new level. And interrupting a clan leader! Getting the message, Jayfeather closed his mouth.
“Hollyleaf, Berrynose, and Spiderleg will go out before sun-high and set traps for rabbits and will check the traps at sun-high. Alright?” Hollyleaf nodded her head like a scolded kit, then went off to gather her patrol.
“Lionblaze, go and catch a deer or two. You can take someone with you if you want, but I do think you can handle it yourself.” Lionblaze grinned, and reared his head up. He shook out his mane as it grew out and turned a bright orange. His shoulders stretched out and his fur grew shorter and paler. His claws stretched out of his paws, and he let out an enormous roar. In a matter of moments, Lionblaze had turned into a fearsome lion.
“Quiet down or you’ll wake up all the clans!” Mousefur shouted from the elder’s den. “Yeah! Some of us went out of dawn patrol,” mumbled Cloudtail. “Sorry!” roared Lionblaze. Sighing, Firestar flicked his tail, motioning for Lionblaze to leave the clearing. The lion ran out into the forest, his large paws leaving imprints into the ground.
“Well, we’re almost out of juniper. I wouldn’t have to go find some if Berrynose-nevermind.” Jayfeather padded out after his brother, muttering about the cream-colored warrior and his nose.

 . . . “Put it right here, Berrynose.” Hollyleaf tapped a black paw on the ground. Berrynose leaned forwards and nudged the spot with his nose. A small, purplish-blue berry appeared where he touched the ground. Spiderleg extended his claws, summoning a thread of spider web. Together, Spiderleg and Hollyleaf managed to fashion a trap out of the web. When a rabbit came up for the berry, it would get stuck there. “Alright,” Berrynose purred, flicking his tail in a self-satisfied manner. “Where next?” “That’s the last one,” Hollyleaf responded, trying and failing to not roll her eyes at the tom’s tone. Couldn’t he ever not be full of himself? “Well, I’m heading back. My leg’s aching, and I want Leafpool or Jayfeather to check it out.” Spiderleg turned to go back to camp. “Wait! I don’t want to go back to camp empty-pawed.” It was Berrynose’s turn to roll his eyes. “C’mon, Hollyleaf. You just came back from a hunting patrol, we just got finished setting traps for prey, and Lionblaze is hunting deer.” Hollyleaf’s black, fluffy tail lashed in annoyance. “Well, at least we could train?” She hadn’t practiced her battle moves in a while, and even though she was glad all was peaceful, she was getting a little restless. Spiderleg turned to face the she-cat, looking into her green eyes. “Okay,” Spiderleg relented. “Just be easy on my leg, okay?” Spiderleg shook out his front right leg so his clanmate could know which leg he was talking about. Hollyleaf nodded, backing up and flexing her claws. “Claws sheathed!” Berrynose called, backing up as well. “You two fight first.” Hollyleaf leaned down, preparing to spring at her opponent. But, before she could leap, something wrapped around her front paws, sticking them together. Spiderleg had meant to trip her using some spider web! If he gets to use his powers, so do I. Channeling her mind into her paws, she stomped the ground, breaking the spider web in the process. Her paw pads glowed green, and a bush of holly shot out right below Spiderleg. Yelping as the sharp leaves dug into his pelt, Spiderleg leapt up. “Easy with the holly! Don’t want to end up with a shredded pelt, caused by claws or otherwise!” Berrynose yowled at Hollyleaf. She huffed, but saw his point. If she couldn’t scratch with her claws, why scratch with some holly? But he didn’t have to act like she was only an apprentice. She knew the difference between a mock battle and a real one. Spiderleg extended his claws, and a string of spider web shot out of them. The spider web wrapped around a tree branch above the cats, and he yanked on it, pulling him up into the tree. In less than a heartbeat, Spiderleg was spirling back down to Hollyleaf, his tail wrapped around the web and his teeth bared in a playful snarl. Hollyleaf summoned up another holly bush, this time below herself. She made the leaves bend so they laid flat and she wouldn’t be scratched by them. Extending her back legs, Hollyleaf used the bush as a spring to push herself up to meet Spiderleg in the air. Spiderleg, who was higher in the air than Hollyleaf, flailed his sheathed paws in her face, pushing her down and away from him. Hollyleaf hit the ground face-first with a loud thump. Not giving her a chance to get back on her paws, Spiderleg slammed into her, lightly scratching her scruff with his teeth. “I win!” the black tom cheered, leaping off of his opponent. “I almost had you,” Hollyleaf replied, flicking him with her tail. “When?” Spiderleg taunted. Hollyleaf’s tail bushed. Berrynose quickly stepped between the two black cats before tempers rose and they started to fight for real. Hollyleaf scoffed at her annoying clanmate. He was always so mouse-brained. She could control herself. Oh, if only I could- Berrynose interrupted her irritated thoughts. “I bet I could take both of you on and win!” Hollyleaf bit back a sharp mew of laughter. “With your useless power? I-” She cut herself off abruptly. Although it was true that Berrynose could do next to nothing with his berry-summoning skills, she couldn’t let it slip out that she was even more powerful than all the clan combined, save her brothers. She was one of the three, with the power of the stars in her paws. It was true that Lionblaze and Jayfeather seemed to already have stronger powers than even the senior warriors, and that they have found their extra ones as well. But that didn’t mean that Hollyleaf wouldn’t get hers. Jayfeather had his mind-reading thing as a kit, so maybe he just developed his fastest. Lionblaze discovered his battle-related powers more recently, so Hollyleaf couldn’t be far behind, right? A sudden terror grabbed Hollyleaf. What if I’m an old elder when I get my powers? How would I help ThunderClan then? Or, worse, what if I never get my powers? What if I’m not good enough? Am I really in the prophecy? She shook her head violently, trying to make the insecure thoughts go away. Berrynose, not knowing her complete chain of thought, scowled. “My power is greater than you could ever imagine!” “Greater at collecting rabbits? We’re ThunderClan, not WindClan!” Spiderleg retorted. Berrynose opened his mouth like he was going to say something else, but held his tongue. “Why don’t I show you, then? It wouldn’t hurt to try, if my power is so useless. I’ll even give you two a few heartbeats to come up with a plan.” Spiderleg turned to Hollyleaf. “I…I guess it wouldn’t be a big waste of time. Right, Hollyleaf?” “Sure.” Berrynose, pleased with their responses, bossed them into a corner of the clearing to come up with a plan. They decided that they would slowly circle him, see what he would try to do, and then trap him with holly bushes and spider webs accordingly. The cream tom was waiting for them when they pulled their heads up. “You two start over there,” Berrynose explained as he flicked his tail to the other side of the slightly sloped clearing. Spiderleg and Hollyleaf took their places, their dark pelts brushing lightly together. “Ready?” Spiderleg called. Berrynose nodded. The two black-furred cats started to circle their clanmate slowly, their pelts bushed up and teeth bared. Berrynose lowered his head so his nose was resting gently on the ground. After about the third circle, Berrynose still hadn’t moved. Hollyleaf lifted her head to lock eyes with Spiderleg, a question in her gaze. Spiderleg shrugged in response. Hollyleaf sighed, then continued to widely circle her clanmate. Surely Berrynose didn’t actually have a plan and was just stalling. When Hollyleaf and Spiderleg were at the point in their slow circle around the cream tom when they were both in front of him, Berrynose’s eyes shot open. With a vicious yowl, his head shot up. A berry two fox-lengths tall leaped out of the ground. Berrynose shoved into it with his whole body, and the enormous berry started to roll towards the two ThunderClan warriors. Berrynose had positioned himself so Spiderleg and Hollyleaf were downhill from him. Hollyleaf tried to run forwards out of the way of the blue shape, but Spiderleg was there. Her head rammed into his fluffy chest, pushing the tom backwards. But, at the same time, Spiderleg had attempted to run the opposite direction as Hollyleaf, leading them to end up in a tangle of paws and tails right in the way of the berry. Panicked, Spiderleg managed to get the two cats rolling down until the ground evened out. Ha! His berry can’t roll around down here! Hollyleaf thought with a pang of victory. That feeling didn’t last. As the berry started to slow down, Berrynose leapt up on top of it. He made a motion like he was running backwards, and the berry started to move again, faster this time. “Up up up up up!” Hollyleaf screeched, trying to get Spiderleg to use his spider webs to pull them up into a tree, like the move he used against Hollyleaf. Spiderleg flailed a paw into the air. The first three webs he shot up into the tree missed. The fourth one just barely wrapped around one of the branches. Hollyleaf sunk her claws into Spiderleg’s pelt as he pulled them up into the tree. Except they never got into the tree. Just as the two cats were pulled up from the ground, the berry smashed into them, breaking on contact. Berrynose backflipped off the berry, saving his light colored pelt from getting stained by the blue substance. Hollyleaf and Spiderleg weren’t as lucky. The insides of the berry stuck horribly to Hollyleaf’s pelt, squishing between her claws and into her nose. She spat out a mouthful of the berry and shook out her ears. “Nooooooo! There’s gonna be berry in my ears for moons!” Spiderleg growled. Berrynose slowly stepped forwards, his paws easily navigating around the puddles of berry. “Do you doubt my power now?” he asked, narrowing his eyes. His stump of a tail swished slowly behind him. “Okay. Your power isn’t useless,” Hollyleaf admitted, flicking her paw to try to get rid of some of the odd-tasting fruit. It didn’t work. “But you were right, Spiderleg.” Spiderleg lifted his head, confused. Berrynose chuckled softly. “You are not WindClan. A WindClan warrior would have, at least, been able to run away.” Spiderleg hissed. Hollyleaf’s ears heated. HOW DARE YOU COMPARE ME TO WINDCLAN! I am a loyal ThunderClan warrior! I would never, ever, EVER have anything to do with WindClan. . . . Jayfeather nudged at the juniper berries in front of him. The feathers on his wings were fluffed up against the leaf-bare chill creeping in from the entrance of the medicine den. Leafpool was checking on Mousefur and Longtail. Mousefur was complaining that her throat always felt too dry. Paws tapped on the stone outside of the den. Jayfeather lifted his head, perking his ears to get a better sense of who was coming. Hollyleaf’s voice floated in from outside. “-gonna volunteer to train with him again.” A second voice-Spiderleg-made a murmuring noise of agreement. “Leafpool?” Hollyleaf said again, her muzzle stirring the lichen in the front of the den. 

“She’s tending to the elders. What’s the matter?” Jayfeather replied.

“Isn’t it obvious?” Spiderleg asked, an eye roll in his voice. Jayfeather scoffed. 

“Yeah, I can clearly see what’s wrong.”
“Oh, come on, Jayfeather. Spiderleg didn’t mean-"
"Of course. He just happened to forget that I’m blind. Did he also forget that he has kits?”

“BURN!” someone shouted from the warriors’ den. 

“Cloudtail! No!” What sounded like Brightheart scolding her mate was hushed by the wind picking up.
“Eh. I’ve heard worse,” Birchfall chimed in.
“True that,” Firestar said.

“FIRESTAR!” Brightheart screeched again. Huh. They think this is entertaining? I’ll give them something to really laugh about. Jayfeather rose and stuck his face in Spiderleg’s, lifting his head so his eyes were looking into the other tom’s. “You act like you’re soooo cool, with those extra long legs. Are you so tall that your head’s in the clouds so you can’t see your own kin?” 

“OOOOH!” Someone shouted. Jayfeather stepped around the shocked tom.
“Jay-” Hollyleaf tried to say something, but Jayfeather cut her off.

“And you, worship the Warrior Code. You know, you love it so much it seems like you’re more shipping yourself with it then anything else!” 

“OOOOOH!” Jayfeather leaped into the camp. He heard Thornclaw coming in from a border patrol.
“Thornclaw, how’s the NPC life going for you? Still got no bi-” Jayfeather was drowned out by a chorus of ‘OOOOOH!’ from Graystripe, Cloudtail, Firestar, Dustpelt, and Sandstorm. Brightheart tried to stop them.

“And Brightheart! How are you still alive? You aren’t relevant! You’re used as a plot device for Cloudtail twice, then nothing! Ever! Again!” 

“OOOH!”
“I-I think-”
“You-you-you think what, Daisy? That your son is a low budget rip-off of Cloudtail? I agree! And that has weird implications thinking of your character when you were first introduced!”
“OOOOOOH!”
“It’s true, though!” Cloudtail shouted.
“You can’t talk about Berrynose like that!” Poppyfrost yowled. Surprisingly, Berrynose had nothing to say in his defense. He was just sitting there, stunned. “If you want to be a bully, talk bad about me!” The she-cat stepped forwards, like she had talked Jayfeather down. You. Wish.
“Oh, yeah. I would, but there’s nothing to talk about. Other than your name. Poppyfrost is pretty. Pretty stupid! And that’s it! The only reason you exist is for a bit of drama and set-up for the main plotline that doesn’t have anything to do with you!”
“OOOH! OOOH! I better get some water to help with that BURN!” Cloudtail yelled.

“Alright, Jayfeather. That’s enough.” Brambleclaw walked out of the medicine cat den. 

“Oh, Brambleclaw. Thank you for gracing us with your presence. Where were you in the medicine den, huh? Your character is so bland that the author thought you were a cracker that clipped into this universe and forgot to give you dialogue! But seriously, a cracker would have been a more original, interesting main character than you.”

“OOOOOOOH!” “GET ROASTED, SON!” Firestar yelled at his deputy, sticking his paw in the bramble-covered tom’s face. “Jayfeather, stop! You can’t talk to your father like that!” Squirrelflight glided into the clearing. Jayfeather scowled at the orange she-cat. Now fueled by real things he wanted to say, he turned to Squirrelflight. “Oh yeah, Hypocriteflight? Really can’t do anything without it being the opposite thing you did last moon, eh? Weren’t you just screaming that you would break up with Brambleclaw yesterday?” “EXPOSED!” Sandstorm yelled. “Mom!” Squirrelflight turned to her mother, a look of betrayal on her face. Hah, I’m so good, I got family turning against each other! I’ve got a following! I’m so amazing at insulting cats that this is now in third person! Jayfeather thought, flicking his pale blue tail. “Jayfeather, stop this nonsense this instant! Don’t make me put you into time-out!” Squirrelflight turned back to her kit, hoping to save herself from more embarrassment. “You can’t talk to me like that. Unlike you, who got special treatment because you thought you deserved it just because Firestar’s your dad, I worked hard to get in a position of power and respect to help my clan. You’re just a whiney privileged kit! In fact, Firestar told me that whenever you didn’t get your way, instead of dealing with it like you followed the Warrior Code, he and Sandstorm would have to bend over backwards just to get you to listen to anyone!” “Firestar! Is that true?” Squirrelflight turned around. “Do you not think I’m a dependable warrior?” “It’s not his fault that he can’t bite his tongue.” Jayfeather shrugged, like Firestar just couldn’t be helped. “His mentor, Bluestar, was the stupidest cat in the forest. When queens got pregnant during leaf-bare, she thought they were pulling a Cloudtail!” “I don’t even know how many burns that was, but OOOOOOHH!” Cloudtail shouted. Brightheart had given up on getting her mate to stop encouraging the sharp-tongued medicine cat and retreated to the warriors’ den. “Well, there’s more where that came from, Cloudtail. You had to be kidnapped to actually get off your fat tail and hunt your own food! At least the cats that saw you get caught cared enough to go after you. Brambleclaw apparently didn’t care at all, and that was Squirrelflight’s fault!” “DAAAAANG! HE GOT ME GOOD!” Cloudtail high-pawed Jayfeather as he stalked across the clearing. “And who’s this? Ashfur? What a joke. Your life got ruined by my parents too! Squirrelflight used your emotions to get Brambleclaw back! You must hate them! I wouldn’t be surprised if you did something crazy to my pa-” “Enough! THEIR NOT YOUR PARENTS!” Leafpool exploded. Everyone in the clearing fell silent. “What? That not funny? Well, it’s true! I’m your real mother, and Crowfeather’s your real father!” 

Yeah, gonna end this there. I gotta say, quite the twist with the Jayfeather roasting bit. Even I didn’t expect that. But now Hollyleaf is probably gonna go on a killing spree, murdering the whole of ThunderClan, because they would all know that her birth goes against the Warrior Code. What a dozy. A bit of ranting against Squirrelflight because I hate her(except for the long name; gotta respect a mouthful)
Now, we see something incredible. We have some scenes that aren’t cannon and never happened, but in this, all of the warriors/medicine/apprentices/leaders/deputies/kits have special powers tied to their personality and their name(think of it as a kind of wacky ‘if warrior names were taken seriously(clearly, this won’t have all the characters ever(mainly because I can’t think of what their powers would be(the powers will mainly be similar enough to put in categories(but I won’t)))))

Firestar stretched, the flames on his back climbing higher into the air. Sandstorm stirred beside him, still asleep. When the she-cat took a nap, the swirling winds of her being calmed into gentle gusts, barely moving the sand of her body. 

He peered out of his den, then stepped onto High Ledge. Graystripe was sharing tongues with Millie near the fresh-kill pile, which was looking a bit more like a single squirrel than a pile. Not wanting to wake up the best hunter in the clan, Firestar looked around the clearing for candidates for a hunting patrol. Brambleclaw, who would usually be organizing the patrols, had gotten a few things tangled in his brambles, so he was in the medicine den. Leafpool had said that it wouldn’t take long to untangle him, so he hadn’t told anyone else to take over deputy duties.
Just then, Lionblaze and Hollyleaf walked into camp, two mice and a large thrush between them. Dark feathers were caught in Lionblaze’s golden mane. Firestar rushed down to meet the littermates. “Hey, Firestar,” Lionblaze mumbled around the thrush.
“How’s the prey running?” asked the ThunderClan leader. Hollyleaf placed her mice on the fresh-kill pile. “Well, we saw a family of rabbits running around, but we were already on our way back to camp, so we decided against it.”
“Oh! I also saw a few deer near the WindClan border that I could catch,” Lionblaze purred, dropping his catch. Firestar nodded his head. One deer would feed all the elders, kits, and queens with some to spare. “Great. Hollyleaf, take Spiderleg and Berrynose to make traps for the rabbits.” Hollyleaf growled.
“Do I have to? Berrynose is a pain.” Firestar flicked his tail at his grandkit. “Yes, you do. Berrynose is the only one who can summon berries that the rabbits will eat.”
“He would be great to have around if his nose could summon berries that actually have medicinal powers.” Firestar turned, seeing Jayfeather pad towards the clump of cats. Small bits of moss were caught in his fur and feathers. “Unfortunately, StarClan can’t be so gracious.”
“What’s up with you, Jayfeather? You look like you’ve just rolled in a pile of moss,” Lionblaze commented. Jayfeather swished his tail. “Really? I haven’t noticed,” he growled sarcastically. Firestar cleared his throat, trying to get the three cats’ attention.
“If I could, I would like to get back on topic.” The younger cats bowed their heads, and he continued. “Hollyleaf, Berrynose, and Spiderleg-” “Oh, Spiderleg is great! That is, he would be great if would use his powers to make cobwebs instead of showing off! What a-”
Lionblaze nudged his brother, trying to get him to shut up. Firestar stared at the medicine cat. What is up with him today? The tom was almost always cranky, but this was a new level. And interrupting a clan leader! Getting the message, Jayfeather closed his mouth.
“Hollyleaf, Berrynose, and Spiderleg will go out before sun-high and set traps for rabbits and will check the traps at sun-high. Alright?” Hollyleaf nodded her head like a scolded kit, then went off to gather her patrol.
“Lionblaze, go and catch a deer or two. You can take someone with you if you want, but I do think you can handle it yourself.” Lionblaze grinned, and reared his head up. He shook out his mane as it grew out and turned a bright orange. His shoulders stretched out and his fur grew shorter and paler. His claws stretched out of his paws, and he let out an enormous roar. In a matter of moments, Lionblaze had turned into a fearsome lion.
“Quiet down or you’ll wake up all the clans!” Mousefur shouted from the elder’s den. “Yeah! Some of us went out of dawn patrol,” mumbled Cloudtail. “Sorry!” roared Lionblaze. Sighing, Firestar flicked his tail, motioning for Lionblaze to leave the clearing. The lion ran out into the forest, his large paws leaving imprints into the ground.
“Well, we’re almost out of juniper. I wouldn’t have to go find some if Berrynose-nevermind.” Jayfeather padded out after his brother, muttering about the cream-colored warrior and his nose.

Hi! Thanks for reading
•I'm 20 and female.
•My timezone is Eastern Standard Time (EST)
•I'm not picky with my partners response lengths, as long as it is enough to keep the story going/interesting!
•I enjoy world building, drama/conflict, twists, character development, multiple characters, and plot.
•I roleplay in 1st or 3rd person, whichever you prefer!
•I'm looking for someone to play a predominantly male character with some other characters throughout!
My idea: The kingdom of Avaloria and the kingdom of (Your choice) are enemies. The rulers don't agree and as a result, the kingdoms have been at war countless times. The hatred and feud dates back hundreds of years and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. If anything, tensions had been growing. To make matters worse, about 10 years ago an attack led by the enemy resulted in the death of the Kingdom of Avaloria's Queen. Luna is the Princess of the Avalorian Kingdom. Not many knew, but her mother, the queen, was a hybrid and Luna's one too. Hybrids are humans mixed with animals. They look human but have animalistic features: animal ears, tails, sharper teeth, etc. Hybrids are looked down on in most places. They're seen as animals, pets, and property. They are at the bottom of any rank. Hybrids have no say in what happens to them and no rights. Luna is an Artic Fox hybrid. She has bright white hair and fur on her fluffy ears and tail. She has a fair skin complexion and she has deep piercing blue eyes.
In the Avalorian kingdom, hybrids have rights and are free. A lot of hybrids live in the kingdom because of this. It makes the kingdom look weak to others. The King loved Luna's mother and was devastated by her death...But he eventually remarried, to a normal human. Luna's step mother hates her. Luna is in her sons way of taking the throne and she just hates hybrids in general. She's convinced the king not to let Luna leave the castle and keep her hidden away for 'safety'. Luna was reminded daily that she's a freak and hated. Her father never believed Luna when she tells him. She would always end up in more trouble, so she's given up on stopping it. Early one day, Luna wanders the castle halls when she overhears her stepmother. Luna hears how her stepmother plans to sell her to a hybrid pet seller from another kingdom in order to get rid of her. Luna would be out of her way for good and her stepbrother would be the next King. No one would really even notice Lunas absence and she could lie to Luna's father.
Luna panics and runs to her room. In a rush, she packs a bag with a few things she thinks she'll need. She feels bad for leaving her father, but he wouldn't believe her... She climbs out her window and goes straight to the stable. She mounts her horse and gallops away, not letting anyone stop her.
She knew what she had to do...she had to leave Avaloria to take refuge in the one place she thinks no one would look for her, the enemy kingdom... Since she was young, she's been taught how evil the kingdom is, but she's naive and has nowhere else to go. Luna has been sheltered and has no idea just how dangerous it is for her, especially now. Not just because of what happens if someone finds out she's princess of the Avalorian kingdom, this kingdom has some of the strictest laws and hatred for hybrids...
Luna makes the long journey, and miraculously sneaks her way in by hiding her features beneath her cloak. Things go very wrong once actually in the enemy kingdom. Her horse spooks and throws her off. She can't hold on and tumbles to the ground with a cry as it runs off, leaving her stranded and injured. Later, (your character) comes across her. She clings to her leg and cries. Her cloak had slipped a bit, causing a sliver of her ears to be visible. (Y/C's) confused. She is clean and has no collar, which is unheard of here for a hybrid. Hybrids usually don't live in great conditions and are dirty. They also must wear collars showing who they belong to. If anyone finds a hybrid without one they can claim it as their pet or sell it for money...
((If this intrigues you message me! Your character can be whoever you want: The King/prince of the enemy kingdom, a peasant struggling with money, a noble, a merchant, a hunter, a guard, anything you can think of! Be creative (: the only thing I want is for your character to be a male! It would also be great if they are more cold, rude, possessive, and controlling towards hybrids. Thank you if you take the time to read all of this!))

[F4M/GM] Fantasy, medieval rp. Two rival kingdom's and hybrids
Hi! Thanks for reading
•I'm 20 and female.
•My timezone is Eastern Standard Time (EST)
•I'm not picky with my partners response lengths, as long as it is enough to keep the story going/interesting!
•I enjoy world building, drama/conflict, twists, character development, multiple characters, and plot.
•I roleplay in 1st or 3rd person, whichever you prefer!
•I'm looking for someone to play a predominantly male character with some other characters throughout!
My idea: The kingdom of Avaloria and the kingdom of (Your choice) are enemies. The rulers don't agree and as a result, the kingdoms have been at war countless times. The hatred and feud dates back hundreds of years and shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. If anything, tensions had been growing. To make matters worse, about 10 years ago an attack led by the enemy resulted in the death of the Kingdom of Avaloria's Queen. Luna is the Princess of the Avalorian Kingdom. Not many knew, but her mother, the queen, was a hybrid and Luna's one too. Hybrids are humans mixed with animals. They look human but have animalistic features: animal ears, tails, sharper teeth, etc. Hybrids are looked down on in most places. They're seen as animals, pets, and property. They are at the bottom of any rank. Hybrids have no say in what happens to them and no rights. Luna is an Artic Fox hybrid. She has bright white hair and fur on her fluffy ears and tail. She has a fair skin complexion and she has deep piercing blue eyes.
In the Avalorian kingdom, hybrids have rights and are free. A lot of hybrids live in the kingdom because of this. It makes the kingdom look weak to others. The King loved Luna's mother and was devastated by her death...But he eventually remarried, to a normal human. Luna's step mother hates her. Luna is in her sons way of taking the throne and she just hates hybrids in general. She's convinced the king not to let Luna leave the castle and keep her hidden away for 'safety'. Luna was reminded daily that she's a freak and hated. Her father never believed Luna when she tells him. She would always end up in more trouble, so she's given up on stopping it. Early one day, Luna wanders the castle halls when she overhears her stepmother. Luna hears how her stepmother plans to sell her to a hybrid pet seller from another kingdom in order to get rid of her. Luna would be out of her way for good and her stepbrother would be the next King. No one would really even notice Lunas absence and she could lie to Luna's father.
Luna panics and runs to her room. In a rush, she packs a bag with a few things she thinks she'll need. She feels bad for leaving her father, but he wouldn't believe her... She climbs out her window and goes straight to the stable. She mounts her horse and gallops away, not letting anyone stop her.
She knew what she had to do...she had to leave Avaloria to take refuge in the one place she thinks no one would look for her, the enemy kingdom... Since she was young, she's been taught how evil the kingdom is, but she's naive and has nowhere else to go. Luna has been sheltered and has no idea just how dangerous it is for her, especially now. Not just because of what happens if someone finds out she's princess of the Avalorian kingdom, this kingdom has some of the strictest laws and hatred for hybrids...
Luna makes the long journey, and miraculously sneaks her way in by hiding her features beneath her cloak. Things go very wrong once actually in the enemy kingdom. Her horse spooks and throws her off. She can't hold on and tumbles to the ground with a cry as it runs off, leaving her stranded and injured. Later, (your character) comes across her. She clings to her leg and cries. Her cloak had slipped a bit, causing a sliver of her ears to be visible. (Y/C's) confused. She is clean and has no collar, which is unheard of here for a hybrid. Hybrids usually don't live in great conditions and are dirty. They also must wear collars showing who they belong to. If anyone finds a hybrid without one they can claim it as their pet or sell it for money...
((If this intrigues you message me! Your character can be whoever you want: The King/prince of the enemy kingdom, a peasant struggling with money, a noble, a merchant, a hunter, a guard, anything you can think of! Be creative (: the only thing I want is for your character to be a male! It would also be great if they are more cold, rude, possessive, and controlling towards hybrids. Thank you if you take the time to read all of this!))