As temperatures soar during the summer heat wave, the risk of dehydration increases significantly. Dehydration, a condition that occurs when the body loses more fluids than it takes in, can have serious health consequences. It’s crucial to understand the dangers of dehydration and the importance of staying hydrated, especially in extreme heat.

Symptoms of Dehydration

The symptoms of dehydration can vary depending on the severity of the condition. Mild to moderate dehydration may cause:

• Thirst
• Dry mouth
• Fatigue
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Dark yellow urine
• Reduced urine output

Severe dehydration can lead to more serious symptoms, such as:

• Extreme thirst
• Very dry skin
• Rapid heartbeat
• Rapid breathing
• Sunken eyes
• Confusion or irritability
• Fainting

The Dangers of Dehydration

1. Kidney Problems: Chronic dehydration can lead to kidney stones and urinary tract infections. In severe cases, it can cause kidney failure.
2. Cognitive Impairment: Dehydration affects brain function, leading to problems with concentration, alertness, and short-term memory.
3. Heat Injury: Lack of adequate fluids can result in heat-related illnesses, such as heat cramps, heat exhaustion, or heat stroke.
4. Seizures: Electrolytes like potassium and sodium help carry electrical signals between cells. When electrolytes are out of balance due to dehydration, involuntary muscle contractions and loss of consciousness can occur.
5. Hypovolemic Shock: This is a severe condition resulting from low blood volume, causing a drop in blood pressure and reduced oxygen supply to organs. It can be life-threatening if not treated promptly.

Preventing Dehydration

The best way to prevent dehydration is to drink plenty of fluids each day. Water is the best choice, but other beverages and foods can contribute to overall fluid intake. Aim to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day, and more if you are physically active, pregnant, or nursing.

Herbal Formula to Support Hydration

To support hydration and provide additional health benefits, consider incorporating a herbal tea blend into your daily routine. This blend includes herbs known for their hydrating and restorative properties.
Hydration Herbal Tea Blend

• Hibiscus: Rich in antioxidants and vitamin C, hibiscus helps maintain hydration and supports the immune system.
• Chamomile: A soothing herb that aids in relaxation and digestion, chamomile also has mild diuretic properties that help maintain fluid balance.
• Licorice Root: Known for its soothing properties, licorice root helps maintain electrolyte balance and supports adrenal function.
• Ginger: Promotes digestion and circulation, helping to ensure proper nutrient absorption and hydration.
• Peppermint: A refreshing herb that aids digestion and provides a cooling effect, which can be particularly helpful in hot weather.

Conclusion

Dehydration is a serious risk during summer heat waves, but it is preventable. By staying mindful of your fluid intake and taking steps to keep cool, you can protect yourself from the dangers of dehydration. Remember to drink regularly, choose hydrating foods, and avoid activities that increase fluid loss. Stay safe and stay hydrated this summer!

A mixture for fattening in a week using fenugreek
the components
Two tablespoons of fenugreek.
A cup of milk.
Half a cup of water.
A spoonful of honey
How to prepare
Boil the fenugreek in water in a pot over the fire.
Then strain it and add a cup of hot milk with it.
Sweeten it with a spoon of honey.
Eat it daily for a whole week
the components
Two tablespoons of fenugreek.
A cup of milk.
Half a cup of water.
A spoonful of honey
How to prepare
Boil the fenugreek in water in a pot over the fire.
Then strain it and add a cup of hot milk with it.
Sweeten it with a spoon of honey.
Eat it daily for a whole weekThe benefits of glycerin with lemon for the skin include:
· Treats the effects of pimples on your skin.
· It treats the problem of excessive secretion of pigment in your body.
. It helps moisturize your skin and prevents dryness inside it.
· It works to rid your skin of burns and marks, and removes any other impurities that may be stuck in it. This is thanks to the ability of lemon to lighten areas that contain spots and marks, while at the same time glycerin softens these areas.
Natural recipes of glycerin with lemon:-
- Glycerin and lemon to exfoliate the face. You can use a mixture of glycerin and lemon as a scrub for your face. This works to rid your skin of dirt and dead skin cells that have accumulated on your face. When you continue to use this recipe, you will get lighter skin in your dark areas, in addition to In addition, it is good for you to know that you can use this recipe for your face, hands, neck, and knees. Below we will explain how to prepare this recipe:
Ingredients: a teaspoon of glycerin. A teaspoon of lemon juice. A tablespoon of rose water. A teaspoon of sugar.
Preparation method: Mix glycerin with lemon juice and rose water well. Add the sugar to the mixture and stir well until the sugar is close to dissolving. Apply the mixture on your face and rub it gently to exfoliate your skin. Wash your face with water. Repeat this recipe every day.
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Where does the physical body and mind come from? Have we pondered? Have we pondered how we were created? Who created the brain, the heart, the kidneys, the bone, the skin? How does it all start? It started with the spark of energy that caused our conception nine months before our so-called birthday. Then the zygote became the embryo, the foetus. This is not to be spiritual. This is all scientific. What is growing in the physical body? The virtual mind doesn't exist — it's just a bundle of thoughts. But everything in our body, every cell of our body is nothing but energy. What is this energy? It is the energy of the Soul. It is the energy of the supreme, SIP, the Supreme Immortal Power. Everything that is growing in us is nothing but, the supreme power, the energy, which can be called Soul.

To get rid of acne without leaving scars, the best method may vary from person to person, as everyone's skin type and acne condition are different. However, here are some methods you can try:
Keep the skin clean: Clean your face regularly, use a gentle facial cleanser, and avoid using harsh cosmetics or cleansers.
Moisturize properly: Use oil-free or non-comedogenic moisturizers to maintain skin hydration balance.
Avoid squeezing pimples: Squeezing pimples can lead to bacterial infection and inflammation, increasing the risk of scarring.
Use products containing salicylic acid or fruit acids: These ingredients help remove dead skin cells, reducing the formation of acne and scars.
Maintain a balanced diet: Try to avoid high-fat, high-sugar, and processed foods, and consume plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables, and high-fiber foods.
Use acne treatment products: Such as those containing benzoyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, or salicylic acid, which help reduce acne and scar formation.
Seek professional treatment: For severe acne problems, it's best to consult a dermatologist who may recommend laser treatment, chemical peels, or other professional treatments.
Please remember that even with these methods, it may not be possible to completely eliminate acne and prevent scarring. Everyone's skin condition is different, so it's best to seek professional advice and tailor a treatment plan to your specific situation.

22 AMAB transgender male-to-female. Diagnosed with IIH. 5'10 360 lbs. Currently taking estradiol 2 mg twice daily, Diamox 250 mg 4 times daily, an iron supplement, a vitamin D supplement, a collagen/biotin supplement and Flonase as needed.
I’ve just recently started taking hormone replacement therapy (within the last month) and have been having testicular pain for about a week (three weeks into taking HRT). I initially thought this was due the shrinking of testicles associated with hormonal changes but am now unsure as it’s been constant for about a week and isn’t going away at all. Pain in testicles is worse when standing up, and when standing up I feel extremely light headed and like I am going to faint. Right testicle is sensitive to the touch while left is not. Recently had all vitamins checked and not terribly deficient in anything except iron and vitamin D (but the supplements have been helping). My doctor also asked if I was fighting an infection as my white blood cell count was high but I haven’t been sick (except minor allergies).
This is embarrassing but I don’t know how to properly check for lumps in my testicles. I tried to check my testicles and I can’t distinguish anything on my left testicle but feel a harder area on my right, under the skin near the backside of the testicle, but I can’t tell if this is actually a lump or not.
I’m not sure what to do or if this is normal. I called my doctor who is assisting with my care for HRT and haven’t heard back. Is this something I need to be seen for ASAP? Is the pain normal for this amount of time? I don’t know what to do.

Welcome to Skin Secrets by Dr. Greta McLaren, your trusted source for non-invasive cosmetic treatments near Port Charlotte, FL. At our clinic, we focus on addressing a variety of skin concerns such as face wrinkles, eyebags, acne, neck wrinkles, and more, using the latest advancements in aesthetic medicine.
Under the expert guidance of Dr. Greta McLaren, our team is dedicated to providing you with effective, non-surgical solutions tailored to enhance your natural beauty and improve your skin’s health. We are committed to helping you achieve a smoother, clearer, and more youthful complexion without the need for invasive procedures.
Visit Skin Secrets near Port Charlotte, where we combine innovative techniques with personalized care to deliver transformative results that will leave you looking and feeling your best.
Message Skin Secrets today or call us at [239-800-SKIN(7546)](tel:2398007546) to schedule your complimentary consultation.

For Your Face

• Botox & Dysport

Achieve a relaxed, well-rested, more youthful appearance by smoothing and lessening the wrinkles between the brows, on the forehead and/or around the eyes.

• Dermal Fillers

Reverse the changes associated with aging with Restylane™, Juvéderm™, or Radiesse™ and achieve a more natural appearance than surgery affords.

• FaceTite

FaceTite is a minimally-invasive contouring solution for the face and small areas of the body. This is a safe, effective, and exciting treatment that offers patients significant aesthetic changes. FaceTite is powered by RFAL technology and involves three-dimensional remodeling of the tissue.

• Renuvion

Renuvion is an advanced energy device combining the unique properties of cold helium plasma with RF energy. Helium plasma focuses on RF energy for greater control of tissue effect, enabling a high level of precision and virtually eliminating unintended tissue trauma.

• Vampire Red Carpet Treatment

PRP with Microneedling is used to improve the appearance of wrinkles, scars, and stretch marks. It rejuvenates the under-eye area; tightens stubborn open pores; plumps and volumizes any area (e.g. cheeks) where someone might otherwise get fillers.

• Evoke Hands-free Facial Remodeling

Evoke is a revolutionary, hands-free facial remodeling platform. This proprietary non-invasive technology is an industry first, delivering a structural re-organization of the facial and submental tissues. The remodeling of these areas produces results that are associated with a youthful appearance. The ultimate in medical-grade technology that ensures your practice capitalizes on client demand for facial remodeling treatments.

• Fat Transfer

Fat transfer to the face is quickly becoming the #1 treatment to rejuvenate aging skin replace lost volume, restoring fullness, and smoothing wrinkles.

• Renuvion

Renuvion Cosmetic Technology is a revolutionary minimally invasive technology used to tighten skin on the face and b

Facial Treatments

• Hydrowand Microdermabrasion

Utilizing DiamondTome facial wands with diamond tips, the superficial layers of dead skin cells are removed revealing luminous, glowing skin. A great treatment for fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, acne scars and blackheads.

• Dermaplane

Dermaplaning is safe, provided the person performing it is properly trained, and highly effective physical exfoliation procedure. It requires the use of a sterile, surgical scalpel to gently “shave” the skin’s surface, removing the top-most layer of dead skin along with fine, vellus hair (aka peach fuzz).

• Chemical Peels

Chemical peels rejuvenate your face and chest by improving the appearance of fine lines, blemishes, uneven skin pigmentation, and acne.

LASER & RF TREATMENTS

• Forever Young BBL™

Forever Young BBL™ is a skin rejuvenation treatment using a type of Intense Pulsed light or IPL called BBL which stands for broad band light. While similar to a laser, broad band light is multiple wavelengths of light instead of just one, allowing different conditions to be treated at the same time.

• Fractional C02 / Skin Resurfacing

Restore your skin to its natural beauty and healthy glow with a revolutionary treatment designed to repair years of environmental damage. Your skin’s texture, tone, and tightness will improve, and acne scarring and wrinkles will diminish through the stimulation of the body’s natural production of collagen.

• IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Laser Therapy

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) Laser Therapy is a wonderful treatment option that can treat numerous skin conditions without injuring the skins surface.

• Lumecca for Skin Damage

Lumecca is a breakthrough intense pulsed light (IPL) that delivers up to 3X more energy in the 500-600 nm range to improve efficacy for vascular and pigmented lesions. It is optimized for clinicians to treat a variety of lesions with fewer sessions.

• Microlaser Peel
• PDO Thread-Lift

PDO therapy involves the implantation of fine, absorbable polydioxanone threads, similar to those used in medical suturing, into the subcutaneous layer of the skin using small needles.

• ProFractional Laser Treatment
• Radio Frequency (RF) Micro-Needling

Morpheus8 is a fractional skin treatment that stimulates collagen production of the underlying layers of the dermis. By targeting the deeper layers of the skin, the building blocks will reorganize themselves in a natural anti-aging process.

• ThermiSmooth

ThermiSmooth is a non-invasive procedure that uses radiofrequency for improving skin laxity. It is ideal for treating problem areas around the eyes, mouth, cheeks, and neck.

Pamper Youself

• Cavitation
• Facial
• Lash and Brow Tint
• Waxing Services
• Micro-Channeling
• Permanent Makeup

Premier Medical Spa, and Anti-Aging Clinic near Port Charlotte, FL

When you’re searching for a premier, upscale MedSpa experience, look no further than Skin Secrets near Port Charlotte, Florida. Our experienced team – led by Dr. Greta McLaren – specializes in minimally invasive, non-surgical procedures and treatments customized to your personal needs and goals.
For over 30 years, Dr. McLaren has undergone extensive training in both cosmetic dermatology and laser surgery. She is a laser Surgeon and aesthetic medicine specialist who is considered an expert and has been invited to teach her aesthetic skills nationally to other physicians throughout the United States. She is a member of the American Society of Laser Medicine and Surgery, and American Society for Photodynamic Therapy.
Message Skin Secrets today or call us at [239-800-SKIN(7546)](tel:2398007546) to schedule your complimentary consultation.

The Benefits of White Tea for Preventing Signs of Aging
Antioxidants are abundant in white tea, and they aid in shielding the skin from harm caused by free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that are produced by our bodies as a result of natural processes, such as metabolism, and environmental factors, such as pollution and UV radiation. Accumulation of free radicals in the skin can cause harm to the collagen and elastin fibers responsible for providing firmness and elasticity to the skin, resulting in early signs of aging.
Catechins are a type of antioxidant found in high concentration in white tea, which work by neutralizing free radicals and preventing skin damage. Studies have demonstrated that these antioxidants can have anti-aging benefits for the skin. Catechins help reduce inflammation, protect against UV damage, and improve skin elasticity.
Apart from catechins, white tea also harbors other antioxidants like flavonoids and phenolic acids that supplement its anti-aging characteristics. These components foster cell growth and refurbishment, thereby aiding in the mitigation of the visibility of fine lines, wrinkles, and other aging indications.
Skin Brightening Benefits of White Tea
In addition to its anti-aging benefits, white tea also has skin-brightening properties. Thearubigin, a type of polyphenol present in white tea, has been found to hinder the function of the tyrosinase enzyme. Tyrosinase plays a vital role in producing melanin, the pigment responsible for our skin color. When tyrosinase activity is inhibited, less melanin is produced, which can help lighten dark spots and other forms of hyperpigmentation.
White tea also contains caffeine, which can help stimulate blood flow and reduce puffiness. When applied topically, white tea can help reduce the appearance of dark circles and under-eye bags, giving the skin a brighter, more youthful appearance. You can buy tea online at Teanourish.com.
How Can You Include White Tea in Your Skincare Regimen?
There are various ways to integrate white tea into your skincare regimen if you're interested. One option is to use skincare products that contain white tea extracts, such as cleansers, toners, and moisturizers. Look for products that list white tea as one of the main ingredients, and be sure to check the concentration to ensure that it is high enough to be effective.
A different alternative would be to prepare a serving of white tea and apply it as a facial toner. Simply steep a white tea bag in hot water for a few minutes, and then allow the tea to cool to room temperature. Transfer the tea to a spray bottle and spritz it onto your face after cleansing. The antioxidants in the tea will help soothe and protect your skin, while the caffeine will help stimulate blood flow and brighten your complexion.
End Note
Overall, white tea is a powerful skincare ingredient that offers numerous benefits for anti-aging and glowing skin. Its high concentration of antioxidants, including catechins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, helps protect the skin against free radical damage and promotes cell regeneration. Additionally, its thearubigin content helps inhibit tyrosinase activity, which can help lighten dark spots and other forms of hyperpigmentation. If you're looking for a natural, effective way to enhance your skincare routine, consider incorporating white tea into your daily routine.
Teanourish, the best online tea store in the US, has a huge collection of premium quality white teas. Explore our collection now at https://teanourish.com/collections/white-tea.

Context: my husband (36m) and I (41m) are from Virginia. We are living and working in AZ and are on a 2 week trip home. Both my parents and his parents are also here in VA. We all live in the same area, but husband and I, as well as his parents are currently employed in AZ. The town he and his parents are from in VA is about 45 minutes from the town my parents and I are from - same area, neighboring towns. So we are essentially on a 2 week vacation to be home and visit family and friends. With our jobs, we only get two trips a year to come home. Next one will be Christmas.
A good friend from AZ decided to spend a week with us because she had never been to East Coast and we invited her - a very close friend to my husband and I for the past 3 years. After spending several days with the MIL, our friend (she is a dear friend to my husband and me both) has decided she REALLY does not like my MIL. She explained it yesterday as my MIL constantly making comments about what she was wearing, what she was eating, her makeup, repetitively suggesting sunscreen while in the sun (only because my MIL recently had a scare with basal cell carcinoma) and actually got tearful talking about it to me. There were multiple other comments she cited, that to me seems rather trivial. My MIL can be borderline annoying. She tends to tell the same stories and repeat herself many, many times. And she's pretty forward with her suggestions on many things. After 16 years, I just ignore it - not that it ever really bothered me in the first place. It's just her personality. She is a chatty lady, never rude or condescending, but she certainly loves to talk a lot. But on the other hand, I can see how it would really irritate others. The 10th time she's told you about how they cut the basal cell carcinoma off her leg and how she's keeping her skin covered and sunscreen on to prevent sun exposure - yeah, it doesn't even phase me at all, but apparently it's like nails on a chalkboard to some. I honestly thought it was just minor annoyances adding up until my friend explained yesterday that it made her feel like my MIL was calling her out for being brown (we are all white and our friend is Navajo). To be clear, my husband, in-laws and I all live and work on the Navajo reservation and have for many years. I do not think my MIL did or ever would say anything racially charged because I don't think she has those thoughts - none of us think like that at all. Regardless of what I think or know, this is how my friend interpreted it. For reference, she and I are staying with my parents, who are a whole different speed and she loves them and spending time here.
Today, we had to take my husband to his parents and plans were known that our friend and I were going out to get pedicures. My MIL loves pedicures and more than that, just loves being around people. My FIL and husband were doing a lot of farm work today, essentially leaving my MIL to be at home all day alone.
When we got there, my MIL was dressed, hair done and ready to go with us. Our friend had said enough that I knew this was not a situation I could diffuse. Nor do I think it is my place to intervene. Our friend never said anything to my MIL about how badly her comments bothered her because she doesn't want to make an issue of it. She just does not want to be around her.
I feel so caught in the middle, dancing the fence and feel like I was forced to choose a side by ditching my MIL - a position I despise being in. I just told my MIL that we were going bar-hopping after pedicure, which was a lie but she is a 100% non-drinker and I knew she wouldn't go if she thought that is what we were doing. It worked and she didn't go.
If it were me, by myself, I would never in a million years have just left her sitting by herself if I knew she wanted to go somewhere with me. The guilt today has been unbearable and I've been a bit tearful over the whole thing. Fighting back the tears in public is embarrassing AF, y'all. I love my in-laws dearly and would bend over backwards for them any day of the week. I've gotten multiple texts from my husband about how sad my MIL has been today because we left her there alone. He took her out for lunch after we ditched her and she told him that we saw her as a 3rd wheel and it made her sad and honestly, my MIL is NOT the "sad type". I've never saw her sad in the 16 years I've been around her, other than after her mother died. I.e., for her, sad isn't even in her vocabulary. I can't and won't tell my husband that our friend is the reason I didn't take my MIL out today because I'm afraid that would turn the whole situation nuclear and cause more friction and volatility amongst everyone and I also don't feel like it's my place to speak on our friend's behalf. I also don't want to cram two women in a car, one of whom can't stand the other one and not knowing if my MIL would make more comments to my friend that would make her uncomfortable. I could see how upset my MIL was in her face before we left. I immediately told our friend how horrifically guilty and terrible I felt for leaving her alone before we pulled out of the driveway because I knew how much she was looking forward to getting out of the house with us today and how much getting ditched by us would hurt her. I was really hoping our friend would backstep and agree to my MIL going with us. She just told me "thank you for not inviting her, I don't think I could handle it anymore". To beat it all, my husband is staying with his parents because there's a lot of upkeep needing to be done at their place and I really kinda miss my husband a lot, but seeing him would require our friend to be around my MIL and that won't fly. My husband also feels like I don't want to be around him and his family, now. However, we are the ones who invited our friend here and I certainly wouldn't feel right about ditching our friend to go see my husband either. I generally try to be very conscientious about others and go out of my way to ensure everyone is comfortable, happy and having a good time. But this entire situation is completely untenable.
I drop the friend off at the airport on Weds to fly back to AZ, the husband and in-laws leave to drive back to AZ on Thurs (I'm following a few days after) so this whole horrible mess will be over with then. I loath and hate this entire situation. I feel angry with our friend for putting me in this situation, but also was never present when my MIL made whatever comments she made. Or perhaps I was present and literally nobody paid attention because we all know my MIL and sometimes we just let her talking go in one ear and out the other. I feel like and I want to say our friend is over exaggerating, but I can't because I didn't hear or do not remember what my MIL said to our friend. And especially if she feels like she is being attacked based on her race or culture. I'm not touching that with someone else's 10-foot pole. I'm again going to reiterate how horrible and what a shitty human being I feel like for ditching my MIL today, knowing how badly it would hurt her feelings and how badly I hated doing it. Also reiterating that neither my MIL, nor any of us are racist and our friend is the same race and culture as the people we've been working with, working for and living amongst for the better part of 5 years now. If someone had ever told me they thought my MIL was racist, well...I don't know what I would do, but I can guarantee I wouldn't have felt guilty about leaving her today. Plus, I've spent enough time around her that I'm pretty sure I'd know if she were racist by now. I just have one more day to dance this dance and I can deal with the fallout later when everyone has more distance between them. I have no idea if I'm actually going to tell my husband and MIL all of this later, but saying anything now with emotions raw seems like a treacherous and flammable experiment. I'll just take the blame and play middle-man for now.
AITAH for ditching my MIL?

Sofia, honey, please wake up' mum mind links as I stir in my sleep. I moan, not wanting to wake up. Why would mummy want to wake me up in the middle of the night? Maybe she didn't say anything and I'm just dreaming about this whole thing. I sign and roll over, sleep overcoming me. 'Sofia, please' I groan, trying really hard to wake up. She doesn't sound too happy with me. 'What's wrong mummy?' I ask her, still half asleep. 'Sofia, you need to get up and run. We're under attack from a rogue pack. Your father and I managed to hide your sister away somewhere safe but we can't get to you' 'Where are you, mummy?' 'The other side of the house baby. I tried to get to you and I was so close but a rogue got to me before I could reach you and knocked me out. I'm tied up. There's too many of them so I need you to get out of bed and run away from here as fast as you can. Use the door in daddy's office and the tunnels to get out. Run to one of the neighbouring packs and when you get there tell them what happened and then wait there for us to come and get you. Do you understand my love?' 'Yes, mummy.' 'Good girl. I love you Sofia.' 'I love you too mummy.' 'Run sweetheart.' 'Yes, mummy' I reply as a tear slips down my face. I sit up quickly and reach over to my bedside table. I fumble my hand around in the dark, trying to find my hearing aids. My hands connect with the cold plastic and I grab them and put them in as my bedroom light turns on and I come face to face with two large men. Rogues. I study them for a split second, frozen in place. Maybe I will blend into the duvet if I'm still enough. The man on the left is taller than the man on the right. Both of them have dark hair and black eyes, a mixture of dirt and blood covering their bodies. I bite my lips, trying to hold back a scream. "Hello there, sweetie," the man on the left says in what I hear as a mumble. I whimper as they get closer, still frozen with fear. "What's your name?" the other one asks with an evil grin. I shake my head and shuffle back against my headboard. 'Mummy?!' I mind link. No answer. 'Daddy? Please?' Still no answer. "I said what's your name girl?" the man asks again, his voice rising, anger clear in his tone. I whimper and point at my hearing aids, more tears falling down my cheeks. The men look at each other before looking back at me. "Are you deaf?" The one on the left asks loudly, his smile darkening. I whimper again and nod. He grins at the other guy before looking at me. "How old are you?" he grunts. Not wanting to make him any angrier, I shakily hold up eight fingers. "Oh, this should be fun," he says chuckling as he walks over to me. A scream manages to finally escape my throat, more tears rushing down my face as I curl up into a ball in terror. The man stops for a moment and pulls out some black leather gloves from his back pocket. He puts them on before pulling out a pair of silver handcuffs. My heart stops. Daddy told me what silver does to werewolves. It burns their skin and causes them pain. It's meant as a means of torture. Suddenly, he grabs my hands, yanking my arms behind my back as he turns me around, cuffing me. The silver burns into my skin. Just as daddy had warned me. I scream out in pain, sobs falling from my lips and he does the same with my ankles before taking the gloves off. I continue to cry, not daring to move as it will make the burns worse. Deathly still, I watch as the shorter of the two men walks over to me, an evil smile spread across his face. He proceeds to pick me up and carries me in his arms towards the door and out of my room. I start screaming again, thrashing and kicking to try and loosen his grip on me but it only makes the burns worse. I lull in my attempts to break free, knowing now that it will only cause me more pain. A pain worse than I have ever felt before. All of a sudden, we stop and the taller man turns around and walks up to the rogue and I. He looks at me grinning and touches my hearing aids. Oh no, he's noticed them. "You won't need these where we're going" he snarls loud enough for me to hear him clearly, still smiling. Time slows down as he rips my hearing aids out of my ears, dropping them on the ground and stomping on them. Crushing them into a million pieces. I proceed to sob even harder as the dull ringing fills my ears. The pain of the burns starts to take over and I start to see black spots. 'Mummy?' I try mind linking again. Nothing. I really hope she and daddy and Claire are okay. My eyes start to flutter and the last thing I see is the back of the other man as we walk out the door and towards a car. I whimper one last time before everything turns black.
TEN YEARS LATER
I weakly pace around my tiny cell, trying to keep myself awake. I haven't eaten in two days and I'm surprised my wolf and I are still hanging on after all this time. This dirty, disgusting cell I have been trapped in for more than half of my life.
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Chapter 2
I look up and see a guard watching me with a smirk on his face. He says something but all I hear is muffled noises. But that's all I ever hear so I'm used to it. He walks up to my cell and unlocks it and I know I'm about to be beaten again when suddenly, the ground shakes. I look up to see the guards start to panic and run out of the room, leaving my cell wide open. Now's my chance. I've been waiting for so long to escape and now is finally the time. I send a silent thank you prayer to the Moon Goddess before stumbling out of my cell and out the door. I walk through the office and over to the window to see a fight outside. The whole rogue pack is fighting what looks and smells like to be another rogue pack. I take one last look before slipping out of the door and into the forest without anyone noticing me. I run. Fast. I feel my wolf getting a tiny bit stronger as I run through the forest, the fresh air filling my lungs. I haven't left that tiny cell in ten years and now I am free. It's honestly too good to be true. I know I have to keep moving or they will find me. I continue to feel my wolf get stronger and begin to surface as I continue to run, trees whipping past me. After a while, I stop for a moment and feel myself begin to shift as my wolf takes over my body completely. I scream out in pain, my bones cracking and popping and I feel my dirty rags rip to shreds. God, it was just as painful as the first time it happened. Hopefully it gets easier the more I do it. I quickly dig a hole and paw in the shreds to hide the evidence of me being here before covering it up and taking off again. My wolf lets out a happy growl and runs faster. It feels nice to let my wolf out again after I first shifted. I shifted about a year ago, I think, in my tiny cell and they screamed at me and I shifted back out of fear. I then got beaten and tortured and that made my wolf disappear. I haven't felt her in so long which is understandable due to everything that has happened. But now I know she's still there which is good. I continue to run, having no clue where I'm going but that doesn't matter. As long as I get away from that horrible place, I'll be fine.
I've been running for maybe about an hour, I'm not really sure. I feel like I haven't gotten anywhere. The rogue base must've been hidden out in the middle of nowhere because honestly, I haven't come across a single wolf pack territory yet. Or at least I don't think I have. All I know is that I'm not on the rogues land so either it's neutral land or a wolf pack's territory, both of which I find terrifying. I can feel my wolf starting to get tired but I know that the rogues will have discovered that I'm missing so I need to keep moving. I can't get caught. I won't let myself get caught. I can't go back to that hell hole now that I'm free. God only knows what Zane will do to me if he does catch me. I shiver at the thought. I must keep running.
I think I've been running for what seems like hours now and I'm exhausted. To be honest, I'm can't believe I'm still going. I'm surprised I'm still alive even today after everything that I've been through over the years. I know if I had been human then I definitely would have died a while ago. I continue to run, although I feel myself starting to slow down once again, my wolf growing more tired by the second. At this point, I don't know how many territories I've crossed. My wolf senses have gotten weaker, become almost non-existent from being locked in my cell with silver chains and wolfsbane injections for so many years so I'm finding it harder to tell. Either that or packs have gotten better at masking their scent nowadays, but I highly doubt that. I can't tell how many I've been through, I'm just glad I haven't been caught by anyone yet. I slow down a bit more to catch my breath when suddenly something flashes past in the corner of my eye. Whatever it is, it was gone as quickly as it arrived. Inhaling deeply, the faint smell of wolf hits my nose. Oh shit. Panic sets in and I instantly pick up my pace but I am quickly tackled to the ground by another wolf. I whimper, trying not to struggle too much because I know from past experience that if you struggle, you'll get beaten. There are always consequences for your actions. I close my eyes, another whimper escaping my throat and feel the weight suddenly disappear from me. I get up and slowly back towards a tree and the wolf gives me a funny look. Suddenly, two more wolves appear and stand next to the other wolf. I whimper again and continue to back slowly away until I hit the tree behind me. Losing my balance, I fall over and decide it's best to just stay on the ground as I'm absolutely exhausted. I look at the wolves and they stare back at me. The one that tackled me has a chocolate brown coat, while the one on its left has a sandy blonde coat and the one on its right has a pure white coat.

I want to thank Meatcanyon and Wendigoon for starting Creepcast. I've played around with writing horror, and here is my first short story. I will post it for free in a few other places to see what people think. Please enjoy!
A Hike to Remember
By R.L. Oclen
Chapter 1
A woman sits with hastily pulled-up fire-red hair in the waiting room of the state patrol station. The procedurally sterile off-white walls and decade-old magazines do little for comfort. With her head hanging low, her shoulders pushing forward, and her boots rapidly tapping on the floor, something has to give.
"Please just let her be okay." The woman growls as a pair of officers come in from the field. The officers' demeanors quickly change when they see the familiar face.
"Tabitha, did Officer Nichols call you?" one of the state patrol officers asked sympathetically.
"Yes, he asked me to come in and pick up a few things," Tabitha said, shooting back a muted look.
" I'll let them know you're here." The officer said, nodding to Tabitha as they passed the security door. Tabitha leaned back against the hard plastic chair, staring blankly into the fluorescent light. She had done this dance in the macabre repeatedly over the past month. The last image of her younger sister, Lisa, still burned in her mind. Tabitha had always been protective over her younger sister after their parents died. A pang of guilt shoots through her chest as she thinks about her and Lisa's argument.
"Tabitha Hymm, Officer Nichols is ready for you."
"Okay," she stood up, shaking off her guilt, and followed the officer back. The familiar surroundings of the state patrol station blurred as Tabitha stared forward. She followed the officer as they came to a rustic wooden office door, which was embossed with "Officer Nichols."
The escorting officer turns the old brass door knob. "Sir, I have Tabitha Hymm here." A grizzled West Virginia Highway State Patrol veteran sits behind the desk and nods. The escorting officer steps aside, pushing the door open as Tabitha pushes past him and slumps in the awaiting chair like so many times before. An uncomfortable relationship had formed between the two, born out of necessity and duty.
"Cup of coffee?"
"No thanks. Let's just cut to the chase. You don't have anything new?"
The worn laugh lines and Officer Nichols's face flattens. His eyebrows contour sympathetically as he shakes his head.
"Tabitha, I don't have anything else new for you. I wanted to give you the clothes returned from the lab." Her face darkened at the same response she had heard many times.
"As we discussed two weeks ago, there is nothing new and no signs of struggle or foul play," Officer Nichols said while placing a box marked evidence on the table and sliding it forward. Tabitha began to weep at the realization of Lisa's clothes in front of her. In a coordinated queue, Officer Nichols brought out a box of tissues. Reluctantly, Tabitha took a few moments to unblur her vision.
"How does someone stop their car in the middle of the Remington West Virginia State Park, lock it, and then walk into the woods?" Officer Nichols clasped his hands together and sighed at her worn question.
"Tabitha, I wish I had an answer for why your sister stopped her car in the woods and simply walked off. We're still going through her cell phone, but no signs exist that anyone forced her. On that Tuesday morning, she pulled over to the side of the road, secured her car, and walked away." Officer Nichols said empathetically.
Tabitha became stoic at the same explanation she had heard many times before. " So what next?"
"You should go back to Ohio, and I'll contact you as soon as I have more information." She winced at Officer Nichols's words. Reality began to pull at her that bills and work wouldn't wait much longer.
"If I leave, she's gone for good."
" You staying won't bring her back." Officer Nichols said sympathetically.
" So is that it? She's just gone?"
" Tabitha, I'll be honest with you. In cases like this… when people do things like this. Recovery is harder in the spring due to the weather and the animals. You know her mental condition better than I do. I can't explain why she did what she did. But until I find a solution, a suicide note, some intention, or body. She's not here. Tabitha, I'm-"
" Don't you fucking say sorry!" Tabitha stood up, screaming at Officer Nichols, throwing the plastic chair backward against the wall. " I should just look for myself."
"No!" Officer Nichols said momentarily, gripping the desk as his face hardened, then relaxed. Tabitha was caught off guard by Officer Nichols, who was normally composed. "Tabitha, I know this is unbearable. I've sat on this side of the desk and had these conversations. Trust me; I need you to be safe if I need your help later."
Tabitha nods, knowing Officer Nichols is right. She reaches down, picks up the evidence box of her sister's belongings, and leaves.
" Tabitha, if you're heading home, don't stop your car; just keep driving." Tabitha stops to look at Officer Nichols, feeling an eeriness to his words.
" Goodbye, Officer Nichols," Tabitha said as she closed the rustic wooden door behind her. She counted the tiles as she exited the West Virginia State Patrol Station. Placing her sister's belongings carefully in the back seat of her Jeep, Tabitha then sat momentarily behind the steering wheel, staring at the emblem. The familiar numbness washed over Tabitha as she pushed the start button. She pulled onto the highway, driving to the motel that had been home for the last month or so. Muted pop music accented the drive back as her mind raced with questions. Once inside the two-and-a-half-star motel room, Tabitha sat her sister's belongings on the corner table, crumbled onto the bed, and cried.
***
Tabitha wiped the steam from the slightly spotted mirror above the bathroom sink. The hot water from the shower felt good and loosened some of the stress from her body. Looking back at her, Tabitha's face was framed by damp curls around her shoulders. Her face marked the stress of the past month. Frowning, she examined the bags under her eyes; sleep had to come tonight. Walking into the living area, She changed into her favorite gym shorts and oversized sleep shirt. The alarm on her phone flashed "7:00 am," so she could drive home five hours after breakfast.
Tabitha hated feeling comfortable in this once strange room, but falling asleep was getting easier now. Her eyes closed slowly as the ceiling fan droned evenly. At first, nothing came in her dreams, but she let her guard down and slipped further into sleep.
As she dreamed of floating overhead like a bird of prey, Tabitha soared over the vast Remington National Park. The high noon sun bore down on the crisp woods, perfectly contrasting sky and forest. The heat of the sun felt good on her feathers. Distant cries rang out through the dream-like forest, catching her attention. Tabitha tilted her wings toward the screams, feeling a sense of familiar curiosity.
She now recognized the sobs and cries for help as she flew closer, her sharp eyes locked on her sister leaning against a large oak tree. She glided overhead without care, examining the situation below. Lisa clung to the tree, her eyes darting back and forth, scanning upwards. Lisa's face reflected desperation, looking for help in any direction. Tabitha lazily circles Lisa several times before perching on a sturdy branch higher in one of the oak trees. She watched Lisa intently with hunger. She bellowed deeply, hearing the unnatural sound she made, catching Lisa's eyes. Lisa's expression changed; she became calm, almost uncaring, as she stared back at Tabitha's form. Hunger grew exponentially in Tabitha as she spread her large wings. Her large eyes gaze down at Lisa before diving straight for her sister.
Tabitha jolts awake to the alarm on her phone flashing "7:23 AM." She breathes in sharply, shaking off the last horrible thoughts from the reoccurring nightmare. The strange details become more vivid each time. The lingering memories of folk stories her mother told sat in the back of her mind. In those stories, the dead would reach out in dreams as a matter of warning. Leaning back on the headboard, she searched for the advice her psychologist gave her. During their last session, Dr. Ryland explained dreams are a form of self-actualization of guilt. He told Tabitha that it was natural to feel responsible when losing a loved one in this manner.
Tabitha grumbled, lightly running her hands through her red hair; she pushed everything to the back of her mind. "Get it together!" She grumbled to herself. She pushed herself off the bed and got ready to leave. It was going to be a long trip home, and the only thing she could do now was leave things in the authorities' hands. Packing up was pretty easy since she only cycled through the outfits she brought. The local laundromat must have made a small fortune off her. Tabitha took one last look at the box of Lisa's belongings before throwing them in her duffle bag. She was thankful she didn't have to spend another night in this room.
***
Tabitha sat behind the wheel, waiting for the 90's model minivan to finish their order so she could grab a breakfast burrito on the way out. Considering the situation, the Deer Stop Family Restaurant did have a good breakfast. Finally, pulling up to the 70-style drive-in board, Tabitha rolled off the order she had been accustomed to. " I'll take a large iced tea with the double breakfast burrito meal and hash browns, please."
" Would you like some happy hot sauce with that?"
" That's fine, and a few ketchup packets as well."
" Your total is $8.79. Please pull around."
She pulled around to her window, flashed her debit card, got the receipt, and waited for her food. Luckily, the young woman serving her wasn't very talkative in the morning. The last thing she wanted was a conversation about the weather or meaningless small talk.
" Here's your large iced tea and breakfast meal. Ketchup and happy hot sauce are inside."
" Thanks," Tabitha said while mustering her best fake smile. The woman only smiled and nodded as the service window automatically closed. She pulled into the parking lot and dug into breakfast. Turning the radio to the weather, Tabitha sat back and enjoyed her meal. The local DJ read through the headlines, making nonpartisan comments about politics and grumbling about improving the economy. Tabitha powered through the updates of the "out-of-state woman" who'd gone missing. It was nice that the local radio station gave Lisa's name, description, and a missing person's number for sightings or leads. Tabitha even interviewed with the local news and radio stations, hoping it would bring Lisa home. But she soon found all it brought was a sorrowful look from the locals as she interacted with them in her day-to-day life.
Finishing the last of her hash browns, Lisa wadded up everything in the paper bag and threw it in the back seat. The 9 AM weather report said it was nothing but clear skies and sun the rest of the week. Tabitha flipped the radio over to the greatest hit station, pulled out of the parking lot, and began her trip home. She memorized the roads, every bend and turn in the early weeks as she frantically looked for Lisa. There's something hypnotic about the trees: the way they flow together. The trees' green tops and the oak trees' wide trunks were a relaxing view. Tabitha enjoyed the lazy s-curves of the road, bending and winding around the hills and the trees. The occasional farmhouse or field dotted the sides of the road as she made her way to the main highway.
The blur of a semi-truck snapped Tabitha's attention as she pulled up to the mouth of the highway. She had four and a half hours ahead of her, which would be a long ride. Tabitha pulled onto the highway and picked up speed, noting sparse traffic. She relaxed into her seat, letting her gaze gloss over the blur of green foliage. Without warning, Tabitha caught a large shadow from the corner of her left eye. When she registered the black feathery form, Tabitha tensed up and slammed on the brakes as it swooped across the vehicle's hood. Quickly, she pulled the car safely off the road. She couldn't determine exactly what it was, but it was bigger than any bird she'd seen. It was a bird, right? Tabitha turned off her Jeep and grabbed the keys and cell phone. Standing before the Jeep, she looked over the grill to see if she made contact with the entity.
Bewildered, she scanned the tree line, spotting something in the distance. Sitting in the clearing of the large oak forest was an enormous black owl. It stared intently at Tabitha with bright, shiny yellow eyes. She pushed the lock button on her keys, causing the jeep to beep securely. She turned, looking across the open field, an enormous black owl perched in the upper branches of an old oak tree. Each step she took away from the road piqued her curiosity. Soon, Tabitha stood in the middle of the open field, staring intently into the eyes of the enormous owl.
The horn of a passing semi-truck blared, pulling Tabitha's attention away from the mysterious large creature. She looked back and saw that she had walked farther away from the Jeep than she had thought. She glanced back to the forest line only to see the enormous owl was deeper into the woods than before. She narrowed her vision to find the two large, bright yellow eyes staring back. Had it moved? The day's stress, care, and worry suddenly poured out of Tabitha. It was replaced by only curiosity and overbearing tranquility. She warmly smiled for the first time in months as her feet pulled her further into the woods.
Chapter 2
The tug of gravity pulls Tabitha to her senses as her body reacts, falling forward. Her arms thrust forward, bracing for impact. Water rushes around her face as she struggles to get her bearings. Quickly, Tabitha pushed herself up in the ankle-high stream she fell in. The haze slowly clears from her mind as she stares at the muddy water. The dull ache throbs up her legs. Tabitha can smell the sweat from her clothes. Her face contorted in panic as she quickly stood up in the water, looking for her cell. Thankfully, the device was still in her pocket, dry and unscathed.
"One o'clock. How can that be?" Tabitha says, slowly looking up from the screen to see the vast, dense West Virginia forest encompassing her view. She shakes her head back and forth with disbelief. A smile gently spreads across her face, with the last bit of tranquility leaving her body. How did I get out here? Her breathing becomes faster as her pulse begins to quicken. I'm in the forest. I'm all alone—just like Lisa!
"NO, NO, NO, NO! THIS FUCKING CAN'T BE HAPPENING TO ME!" Tabitha screams into the void of trees. Her eyes well up with tears as she crumbles to her knees, gripping her phone tightly to her chest. Her sobs ring out through the thick oak trees. Her breath slows a little as she regains her composure. She begins to search her mind for anything. What is the last thing I can remember? The image of the black shadow crossing her vision while driving flashes into her mind.
"Okay, I got out of the Jeep, the…then what?" Tabitha says, trying to refresh her memories. She thinks her memory is not just gone; it's a black void in her mind. Complete blackness fills her mind right after remembering locking the Jeep and then turning to see the…
"Fuck I saw something. What was it!" Tabitha says, frustrated with her mind. She knew there must be a logical reason she was out here. Officer Nichols warned her not to go looking for her sister. She wasn't stupid; she just said that as a last-ditch effort to get him to do anything. Now I'm here.
"Run!" Tabitha heard Lisa's voice in her ear. Before she could turn around, she heard a loud bellowing coming from overhead. Fear shot down her back, reminding her of the nightmares she had over the past month. She shot forward full bore as something crashed to the ground behind her. Glancing back as she ran, a black mass of feathers convulsed between the broken branches of the trees. Its slick black feathers rippled across its surface as its bones crackled and flesh tore. Its body contorted and twisted from the shape of an owl to something bigger.
"Run, Tabby! Don't let it catch you!" Tabitha pushed forward, hearing Lisa's scream beside her face. Her breath burned in her chest, and she moved past the old oak trees bent over the creek bed. Her feet slammed rapidly, splashing along the side of the creek. Another loud bellow comes from behind as the trees bend and break to the force behind her. A small opening in the rocky creek bed catches her sight from the left. She dives into the crevasses, not caring where the fathoms lead. Tabitha tumbles in the pitch black, taking scrapes and sharp jabs from the rocks as she tumbles further into the void.
She finally tumbles to a stop on the sandy, wet floor of the cave. Her body aches from the sudden burst of exhaustion. The cool water running around her body from the creek is soothing despite her bumps and bruises. Pushing herself up, she scoots out of the water. Feeling her way forward, she finds a dry spot to collect herself. Quickly pushing her hand into her pocket, she finds her phone undamaged.
The sound of footsteps pushing against the creek fills the void around Tabitha as the light steps move closer to each other up the underground creekbed. She slowly removes her cell from her pocket and then shines the camera light toward the sound. A pair of scratched and bruised pale bare legs hold up a frail form in front of her in the creek. She wears the darkness as a shroud with nothing else to clothe her. Tabitha froze, not wanting to shine the light further in the pale form before her.
"Tabby, turn your light off. You need to save your battery." Tabitha turned off the light and then rushed forward, embracing Lisa—the how or why didn't matter, only the now. The pale form hugged her tightly. Tabitha felt her cold, bare skin. The darkness couldn't hide the feeling of the marks across her back and torso.
"Lisa, I'm-"
"Hush! I don't have much time. This wasn't your fault! I'm with Mom and Dad now. You have to survive, Tabby! Listen. Wait until the sun shines through the cracks, making a trail out. Follow it down the creek until you come to the opening. You'll see a large hill you hike up for a cell signal. And remember…If you can't see it… It can't hurt you. I love you-"
Tabitha stumbled forward before catching herself. The void in front of her arms was only filled by cool air. She looked up and noticed a faint glimmer of light pushing through the ceiling. She sat down, relaxing against the limestone wall of the cave, waiting for the trail of light to form.
***
After a few hours, the light shining through the cracks of the cave ceiling was bright enough to lead Tabitha to the other side. She stepped onto the creek bed, thankful for the sun hanging lower in the sky. Scanning the sky, Tabitha saw only a few clouds. The foothills of Appalachia backdropped the forest as she scanned for the hill. Her eyes found the trail leading up the steady slope of an impressive hill. The top of the hill was bare. Part of the hill must have sheared off in a landslide, leaving the top void of trees and a jagged cliff face. Tabitha started her hike up the back of the hill. She was careful to stay under the heavy canopy of the old trees, hopefully avoiding the creature's eyes.
She did her best to quiet her mind while hiking up the trail. Come on, almost to the top, then I can call 911, she replayed repeatedly in her mind. Her adrenaline made up for the lack of food since morning. She drank some water from a clean spot in the creek. She was placing her bet on rescue rather than worrying about the water.
Leaning against one of the trees, Tabitha took out her cell and measured the signal.
"Damn it, nothing!" She swore under her breath. She listened nervously and cautiously peered her head out from the tree line. Standing at the tree line, the cell phone still had a low signal. She pushed her anxiety down with a swallow and slowly stepped forward onto the bare rock. Tabitha was now out in the open. She walked with the cell phone pointed upwards, measuring the signal. Within three feet of the cliff face, her signal bar punched up to full. Tabitha began to punch in the numbers just as a pair of large yellow eyes appeared. She felt her legs become weak, and her vision blurred as the creature snared her in its gaze.
Tabitha ducked, missing the giant owl's claws as it swooped for her. She squinted her eyes shut, momentarily breaking the hold of the infernal beast as it crashed to the ground, tumbling down the path of old trees. On her hands and knees, she tucked the dialed phone back into her pocket. She heard the creature's loud bellowing, followed by the snapping of bone and flesh ripping. It was changing its shape to finish her off.
Tabitha tried to get up, but the flash of its eyes did something to her. Her legs were numb, her stomach was in knots, and she could barely put a few thoughts together.
"If you can't see it, it can't hurt you." Tabitha heard clearly in her left ear. She quickly pushed herself into a sitting position and fumbled for the key chain in her right pocket. Pulling the long chain of keys, luck charms, and keepsakes, her father's Swiss army knife dangled at the end. She slowly opened the half-inch blade. Her body wholeheartedly rejected her plan and tried to fight her. Every internal warning system sounded as her body fought against her as she brought the blade against the corner of her left eye.
She didn't know if she could do it until the creature bellowed in her direction. With one quick motion, the half-inch blade sliced across her left eye. The world dimmed and then went black on her left side. Behind her, the beast's thundering gallop was getting closer. Tabitha plunged herself into total darkness with the last bit of her strength. Her hand gripped tightly around the bloody knife as she folded forward onto the ground. She could feel herself weeping blood. She squinted, doing her best to stem the tide of blood loss.
A large feathered paw drove into Tabitha's right side, flipping her onto her back. She lay still as the hulking creature stood over her. It remained motionless, and Tabitha was confused about why it didn't move or bite her. Then she started to giggle, just a little at first. Then, laughing madly into the creature's face as it growled back at her. She could not see it; she couldn't see anything. Her mind couldn't be eaten!
The creature roared into Tabitha's face while plunging one of its sharp claws into her shoulder. Tabitha screamed in pain, slashing the knife downward. The blade hit something soft, and she ripped the blade down, rending whatever she had hit on the abomination. A bright yellow, foul-smelling liquid gushed in a torrent over Tabitha's face. She turned to cough, having swallowed a portion of it. The creature reared back, squealing in pain. Its hind leg came down hard on Tabitha's leg, snapping her tibia. She jerked her leg up, causing the creature to tumble forward and fall over the edge of the cliff side.
Tabitha heard the creature crash below at the base of the hill. A large dead tree speared the creature through its chest. Tabitha could hear the labored whines of the creature as its cries became weak and slowed. A wave of sickness hit her as she rolled over and vomited. The foul smell drenched her. She did her best to focus, reaching into her pocket and pulling out the phone. By memory, she typed in the unlock pin. She held her breath and placed her thumb where the call button should be.
She could hear the call being made then, "911. What is your emergency?"
"Please help me! A bear has attacked me, and I can't see. I think I am on a hill."
"Ok, ma'am, stay with me! Do you know where you are located?"
"No, I'm lost. Please send help."
"It's okay. Stay with me on the phone, and I'll use the cell signal to try to find you."
"I'm on top of one of the hills. I think I am lying on a bare roc-" Tabitha slipped unconscious with the cell still tightly in her hand. Her body began to tremble and convulse.
"Ma'am! Ma'am! Stay with me. I have help on the way."
Chapter 3
A young man in military fatigues frantically compiles images and reconnaissance data from his drone feed. Confirming his hunch, he commands the winged surveillance drone to make a hard left and send a live video feed. His eyes widened as he saw a large owl-shaped shadow crash onto the top of a hill. He watches in awe as the sleek black owl twists and shifts into something much larger, like a grizzly. As the drone turns, he sees a woman at the cliff's edge trying to steady yourself on her hands and knees.
He bolts up from the command module, jotting down the drone's coordinates on one of the printouts. The drab government-issued office motif for the watch station blurs in the corner of his eye as he rushes down the hallway to the watch commander's office.
"Sir, recon has eyes on AMOS! And it's feeding!" the man said, swinging the heavy wooden door open. He took the hastily compiled file and pushed it forward to the commanding officer.
An older, tanned man quickly stands, reaching for the files. His brow furls, seeing his charge is awake. "Keep eyes on it! Go Adams!" The young man nods, turning on his heel and bolting for the drone command module. As his office door slams shut from the subordinate officer, he grabs his headset and frantically dials the closest military outpost to the coordinates.
"Hello, Sergeant Klein; this is Agent Smith of Black Watch outpost 7948! Shadow is active, code Alpha, Mike, Oscar, Sierra. The coordinates and data package have been sent. A civilian is on the ground; deploy strike-and-rescue ASAP.
"We'll be up in five, Agent Smith! The line cuts as Agent Smith closes out the call on his headset and rushes to the door. The normally quiet watch station buzzes alive, with personnel flooding the central command station. The background echoes resource allocation calls, frantic typing, and the hum of cold computers warming up.
"Adams, get our eyes back on Amos!"
"Coming back around in 30 seconds." Thirty sets of eyes stare at the three giant screens, anxiously waiting for the drone feed to clear the bank of trees. The camera clears the tre top to see the giant feathered grizzly rear back slinging its massive head away from its prey. Its large yellow right eye spews bright yellow liquid all over the red-haired woman and the cliff face. The giant feathered grizzly missteps, crushing the woman's leg and causing the creature to tumble over the cliff face.
"Fuck!" Agent Smith yells in horror as he watches AMOS fall four stories, impaling a sharp, 3-meter-tall log lodged in the boulders. The command center freezes wide-eyed at the flailing dying creature on screen. Agent Smith pulls his cell out quickly and dials.
"Klein, Scrub the current request! AMOS is down! Switch to rescue and harvest now!
"What, someone took out AMOS?"
"YES! It's at the bottom of the cliff, bleeding out essence! The woman is covered in it as well. Clean as much of it off her as possible before you take her to the ER.
"Understood!"
Agent Smith, in a rage, slings his phone straight forward, connecting with Private Adams's skull. Adams flinches at the sudden impact of the hard plastic and covers his head. Agent Smith grabs the table in front of him and flips it over, sending the computer equipment crashing to the government-issued tiled floor.
"A two-year cycle gone! All that essence is gone! Now I have to wait another 24 months for AMOS to resurrect!" Agent Smith screams, causing the rest of the staff to recoil away in fear.
"Jones!" Agent Smith says sternly, turning to a petite woman on his left. She stares at him, pleading.
"Yes Sir?'
"Get Officer Nichols on my office line. That fuck up has some explaining. He should have told us AMOS was awake."
"Right away!" Jones quickly sits back down and begins dialing Nichols, thankful she doesn't have to deal with Agent Smith further. The command center quickly shifts gears as Agent Smith returns to his office.
***
Two Weeks later…
"Tabitha… Tabitha… This is Doctor Wilhelm. Wake up." The kind older gentleman said as they gently nudged Tabitha in her hospital bed.
"Where am I?" Tabitha asked, waking from what felt like years of sleep. She sat up, the world still pitch black, but an odd sense of the world around her seemed to hum just behind her eyes.
"You're in the hospital, dear; you scared us. Do you remember anything?" He said as he sat down on the side of her bed.
Tabitha thought for a moment the last parts after she slashed her eyes were a blur. She remembers people yelling and the sound of two or three helicopters over her. " No, it's really all just a blur."
"Well, it's probably for the best. You had some very serious injuries. The first night, we honestly didn't think you would make it. Then…" The doctor trailed off with a concerned expression, not knowing how to explain things further.
Tabitha felt his pulse quicken somehow. She didn't understand it but fully felt or sensed the doctor beside her. She sensed the two other nurses standing at the end of the bed. Her body didn't hurt. She felt great. She felt hungry.
"Doctor, you said had. What happened to my injuries?" She said calmly, trying not to startle the old doctor further.
"Well, Tabitha, it's the closest thing to a miracle I've ever seen. You had violent seizures from the minute you hit the entrance of the ER. We couldn't even set your leg. The medications we gave you had a minimal effect, and you thrashed so much that we had to restrain you. Then, the early morning check-in found you in a deep sleep. All but your eyes were completely healed. So we switched gears to support care and treated your eyes the best we could." He said, watching her reaction.
Tabitha leaned back in her bed, taking in the wild account. "Do you know how I healed so quickly?"
"What happened to you is beyond all scientific reason. A miracle is the only way the staff and I can explain it. I know you have been through a lot, but I want to check your eyes."
"Thank you for all your help, Doctor Wilhelm." She said, sitting up in bed.
"You are most welcome, dear. Now I am going to unwrap your eye-dressing. Hold still, please." he said as he reached up and pulled on the bandage tape. Tabitha felt a quick tug and felt the bandages loosen from around her head. The doctor slowly unwrapped the bandages. The doctor's brow wrinkled as he examined the two large black scabs covering Tabitha's eyes.
"Tell me if this hurts at all, ok?"
"Yes, doctor." She relaxes as the doctor's gloved fingers pass over the scab. He pushes and gently tugs at the side of one, and it starts to lift. He pulls on the scab more, and Tabitha begins to sense the light as it hits her eyelid.
"Oh, I can sense the light, Doctor Wilhelm!" She said, smiling.
"Wonderful! Nurse Allen, please hand me some saline solution. I think a little water will loosen these right up. Hold still; this may feel cold," he said as he reached for the solution. She felt the cool liquid flush over the left eye, then the right. The scabs fell away with a gentle tug from the doctor. She could see the light shine through her eyelids. She grinned widely, happy to have some form of sight left.
"Please open your eyes for me," he said as he sat back on the bed. Tabitha slowly opened her eyes. The flood of light was almost too much, causing her to squint. After a few moments, she adjusted to the fluorescent lights. Three figures began to take shape in front of her. First, the distinguished older features of Doctor Wilhelm came into view quickly, followed by the brunette and blonde younger nurses standing at the end of the bed. Suddenly, her vision snapped into place, crisp and clear.
"I can see perfectly! This is amazing! Thank you, Doctor Wilhem!" she said, turning to look directly into his eyes, but he stared back at her unmovingly.
"Doctor Wilhelm?" she said as her expression became more worried. Doctor Wilhelm just sat staring, intensely focused on her eyes. His expression was overbearingly calm. She glanced at the nurses, rigidly staring back at her with trapped, calm expressions. Doctor Wilhelm began to twitch slightly. It traveled from the base of his spine out to his limbs, finally convulsing.
"Doctor Wilhelm, are you okay?" Tabitha yelled as the doctor began to have a seizure and fell on top of her bed.
"Help Him!" She screamed at the two nurses only to see both of them crumble to the tiled floor. One of them bashed her head off the bed frame. Tabitha recoils back from Doctor Wilhelm in terror as he starts foaming at the mouth. She climbs over the bed rail and hits the tiled concrete floor with a thud. Her adrenaline surges as she bolts for the door, looking for help.
At the entrance of her hospital room, she sees another nurse leaving the adjacent room. "Please, my doctor and staff need help!" As the male nurse turns to see Tabitha, he suddenly goes stiff before collapsing into a violent seizure, spilling his cart over with him.
"What's happening!" Tabitha screams, thinking something is in the air, or everyone has come down with something. A pair of security guards round the corner, hearing the screams and commotion.
"Ma'am, are yo-" The guard freezes mid-stride as he makes eye contact with Tabitha. Both men start to convulse and topple over, thrashing violently on the hard tile.
"No, no, no, no!" Tabitha yells as she darts into the women's bathroom, a few doors up the hall. She runs in, terrified of the situation. She approaches one of the sinks, bracing herself against the cool porcelain. Her stomach turns, and she dry heaves in the sink. She steadies herself while turning on the cold water. Leaning in, she takes a drink. As she looks up, a glint of two yellow eyes catches her. Tabitha stumbles backward on reflex. Then, she sees her reflection in the mirror. Two completely bright yellow eyes stare back at Tabitha. She screams at herself in the mirror, not feeling hungry anymore.
The end.
I will

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) appears as abnormal, uncontrolled growths or lesions arising from the skin's basal cells, which line the outermost layer of the skin. These tumors typically grow slowly and remain localized, rarely spreading beyond the original tumor site.

The primary cause of BCC is cumulative and intense, occasional sun exposure. Individuals who use tanning beds are at a significantly higher risk of developing this skin cancer, often at a younger age.

BCC predominantly affects fair-skinned individuals who have experienced high levels of UV radiation and sunlight exposure.

Learn more about this skin cancer: Symptoms How does it spread? What Can I Do? Seeking Medical Care Treatment

It appears as abnormal, uncontrolled growths or lesions that arise in the skin’s basal cells, which line the outermost layer of the skin. The tumor grows slowly and only on the skin, and it almost never grows beyond the original tumor site.

This cancer is usually caused by a combination of cumulative and intense, occasional sun exposure. People who use tanning beds have a much higher risk of getting this skin cancer and tend to get it earlier in life. It also particularly affects fair-skinned people who have had high levels of UV and sunlight exposure.

Learn more about this skin cancer: Symptoms How does it spread? What Can I Do? Seeking Medical Care Treatment

I want a cell shaded filter in the locker so bad because when i use a cell shaded skin i want the whole set to be cell shaded.

I am a total amateur writer and am currently embarking on writing my first short story. I have written a couple of paragraphs so far and I was hoping to get some feedback on how I can improve my writing, specifically the way I communicate the scene to the reader.
To give some background, the story is about a man who wakes up in a mall food court freezer without any memory of who he is or how he got there. On his quest for answers, he discovers truths about himself, reality, and the universe.
Thanks so much for anyhelp. Even just reading it and giving a thumbs up or down would be a great help!
Here is what I have written so far:
``` Trumpet-like sounds hummed and boomed, vibrating through the air and into John’s body, jolting him awake. His eyes fluttered open in a panic, gasping for air, only to be met with a blinding white light. The cacophony and brightness gradually faded as he lay there, leaving silence and dimness in their wake.
As if abruptly woken from a deep slumber, John’s mind was seeping with confusion and grogginess while his body writhed back and forth. Instinctively, he brought his hand to his face and temples, trying to center himself, and as he did, the mental fog gradually parted, leaving him aware.
Now fully aware of his wakefulness, he lay still for several moments. His hands squeezed his temples harder, his mind grasping desperately for any memory that might explain his predicament. However, after several moments of mental strain, the search only yielded his name and age, leaving him more disoriented.
The sharp, icy hands of anxiety crept their fingers over his chest, his thoughts careening from one end of his mind to the other and charged with a frenzied, almost schizophrenic energy. Disjointed questions tumbled through his consciousness: ‘What is.., where am.., who am…’.
The primal urge to survive took hold, and John turned over onto his belly into the prone position and simultaneously outstretched his arm to push himself up. As he rose from the floor, the chill of the air bit at his skin, sending shivers down his spine. He inhaled strongly in an attempt to calm himself and looked concernedly down at his body. He was wearing blue, long-cut jeans, bright white shoes, and a black shirt. He went to check his pockets but was greeted with a sharp, unexpected pain in his hand. Glancing down at his hands, John noticed a small, mysterious, horizontal-shaped wound on the tip of his finger. It seemed ‘fresh’ as it was red, tender, and not yet blistered.
He continued to assess his surroundings. He looked around and noticed shelves of food: shelves with containers of frozen red meat, cut tomatoes, onions, and olives, as well as shelves with whole chickens and sauces. It became apparent to him that he was in some sort of freezer. ```

Step 1: What is Fat Necrosis?

As a professional plastic surgeon, I understand the concerns patients may have about complications following a Brazilian Butt Lift (BBL) procedure. One of the most common complications is something called "fat necrosis." In this blog, I'll explain what fat necrosis is, why it happens, and how it's typically managed.
Fat necrosis is the death of fat cells that can occur after a BBL. It's important to understand that this is a natural consequence of the procedure and happens in virtually all patients, even if they don't notice or feel it. When we perform liposuction to harvest fat for the BBL, we're essentially taking fat cells from one part of the body and transplanting them to the buttocks. During this process, the fat cells get disconnected from their original blood supply, and some of them will not be able to establish a new one in their new location.

Step 2: The Survival Rate of Transferred Fat

Studies show that approximately 85% of the transferred fat survives the BBL procedure. The remaining 15% will not be able to integrate and will instead undergo necrosis, or death. This is similar to how a skin graft works - not 100% of the transplanted skin survives, but enough of it does to achieve the desired result.
The reason for this fat cell loss is related to the "oxygen gradient" in the transplanted fat. The fat cells closest to the new blood supply are most likely to thrive, while those farther away may not receive enough oxygen and nutrients to survive. This creates a gradient where the outer layers of the fat graft are more prone to necrosis.

Step 3: Deep vs. Superficial Fat Necrosis

Fat necrosis can occur in two main ways: deep within the tissue or more superficially, closer to the skin. Deep fat necrosis results in small, palpable lumps that patients may or may not notice. These are quite common but typically don't require any intervention, as they don't affect the overall shape or appearance of the buttocks.
Superficial fat necrosis, on the other hand, can be more noticeable and concerning for patients. In these cases, the dead fat cells work their way to the surface of the skin, causing redness, pain, and even an opening in the skin through which the fat can extrude. This can sometimes be mistaken for an infection, but it's actually the body's way of expelling the necrotic fat.

Step 4: Managing Fat Necrosis

For deep fat necrosis, I typically don't recommend any intervention. These small lumps are harmless and often go unnoticed by patients. Trying to surgically remove them could lead to scarring and other complications, so it's generally best to leave them alone unless they become problematic.
Superficial fat necrosis, while alarming in appearance, also usually resolves on its own without the need for medical treatment. The body will naturally expel the dead fat, and the area will heal over time. Attempting to cut or drain the area can actually lead to worse outcomes, so it's important to resist the urge to intervene and instead let the body do its job.

Step 5: Minimizing Fat Necrosis

As a plastic surgeon, I take several steps to try to minimize the risk of fat necrosis during a BBL procedure. This includes carefully harvesting the fat, avoiding large, dense deposits, and evenly distributing the transplanted fat to ensure adequate blood supply. However, even with these precautions, some degree of fat necrosis is virtually inevitable.
The good news is that fat necrosis, while common, rarely poses a long-term problem for the overall appearance and shape of the buttocks. As long as patients are aware of the condition and understand that it's a normal part of the healing process, they can rest assured that the final result of their BBL will still be excellent.

Conclusion

Fat necrosis is a common complication of Brazilian Butt Lift procedures, but it's important to understand that it's a natural consequence of the fat grafting process. By educating patients about what to expect and how to manage it, we can help alleviate concerns and ensure a successful outcome. If you have any further questions about fat necrosis or other BBL-related issues, please don't hesitate to reach out to me or your plastic surgeon.

kny au fanfic idea
(characters not included: zenitsu, tanjiro, nezuko) (zenitsu has been replaced with genya, all my homies love genya) (i think if i showed this note to a psychologist id be diagnosed with yippee on the spot :/)
follows the story of a young girl who runs away from home after she is turned into a demon by her crazed scientist/doctor of a father, mauling and eating her blind younger brother in the process of her transformation during the sengoku period. after waking up in the taisho era after sleeping for 512 years. later she meets giyuu after getting deja vu from recognizing his silhouette as a mysterious swordsman who took her in. after she questions him about what its like to be a demon slayer, she declares she wants to become a demon slayer as well. he gives her an oni mask to ward off evil spirits that may try to sway her off the path of good, and wishes her the best of luck during her travels.
Slayer’s Corps. The corps is recognized by the government and is treated like secret service work. the government is often behind the main funding aside from the Ubuyashiki Household. the government and the ubuyashiki household are working together behind the scenes to locate and research the blue spider lily and its properties utilising spies to find any information available.
demon slayers are typically trained by specialized trainer slayers in groups. however if certain slayers are of vip status or acquire special permission from higher ups in the corps they are allowed to obtain special private training from registered hashiras. Other exceptions are if a hashira chooses a tsuguko which is a pupil whos purpose is to take over their masters title of hashira and only be with them on major missions.
Every four or five months slayers of each respective demon slayer rank is gathered to test their strength to see if they qualify to rank up in the corps. This is determined by a mutual three round duel between two slayers. One slayer being of higher level, the other being a lower level. If the higher level slayer wins, no changes are made between the two slayers. If the lower level slayer wins the slayers ranks are swapped. If by any chance there is a tie, the lower ranked slayer will rank up while the higher level slayer will remain stagnant. Middle level slayers are determined to duel with a lower or higher level slayer depending on the amount of demons killed. this number of demon kills is tallied and counted by each demon slayers kasugai crow. when a slayer reaches a certain rank they are given the option to fight a hashira to obtain their rank. this is entirely optional however. if one fails at their attempt to defeat a hashira there is a minimum one year grace period between each challenge. if they win they will swap places with the hashira if all spots are taken. (ten in total)
as well as the physical test, hashiras are a part of the judicial and legal system of the corps and assist in making decisions along with the Ubiyashikis. therefore they must be knowledgeable about slayer history and lawmaking. this knowledge is tested in an exam that is graded harshly and score below 90% is a fail meaning that slayer must complete the test a month later until they pass or give up trying. the test consists of 125 questions and has similar properties to that of an iq test. the only exception is if a slayer is appointed to the hashira level by the Ubuyashikis directly (i.e. Muichiro). Once the test has been passed only then are lower ranked demon slayers allowed to challenge a hashira for their place if need be.
All hashiras are accompanied by at least four high level demon slayers at all times. These high level demon slayers live and train with their accompanying hashira(s). Upwards of two selected juniolow level demon slayers by the Ubuyashiki Household or the hashira may accompany said high level team to better learn the means of teamwork and/or familiarize themselves with mission when they become more veteraned slayers. These later more experienced slayers are more trusted and capable with being let on missions on their own with the assistance of close allies of their choosing. Or they can stay with their assigned hashira once at a higher level. if the assigned hashira dies the associating slayers will branch off with other hashiras or start tight nit non-hashira squads of their own.
due to the dwindling number of slayers passing the entrance test per year, younger less experienced slayers are becoming more valuable to the corps. such as if up to ten lower level slayers end up KIA a hashira squad will be brought in as back up. this however drastically increases the work flow of the hashiras and their squad mates. this heightened stress and work load causes higher risk of injury and exhaustion when in already constant threat of being bombarded or found by one or more very powerful demons at all times.
the only way for a demon slayer to retire is through death. if a hashira lives beyond the age of 50, and have the ability to train new slayers, that hashira will still be fully registered however they are placed on the back burner and can be called to full time duty. such as if a spot is empty or if the corps is in the midst of a large scale fight and needs backup. in order for a veteran to be brought back into the corps full time they must prove they are still able to fight such as being able bodied, mentally stable(???), etc. this can be completed by completing the mandated training needed to become a certified demon slayer.
if a hashira has a successor of their breathing technique (calling it a style has always been a bit weird to me) and becomes a hashira that previous hashira will be given the royalties same to that of a veteran hashira no matter the age/age gap. however if said successor dies, the predecessor must retake their place as a hashira in their stead. (etc. rengoku dies, his father goes back on the job)
nichirin blades that are used throughout the demon slayer corps are made of a special type of magma forged from Mount Unzen, which is infused with the sun due to only being able to be harvested during the day. this material is unable to be scratched and can last forever if handled with care and expertise.
wisteria flowers are a type of flower commonly used in medicines and antioxidants because of its soothing properties making it very common in products such as sleep medicine and vitamin supplements in low enough doses. it is also very volatile to demons. however in order to cause enough damage to a demon to slow it down with wisteria one would need an incredibly high amount of it on hand possibly a third of a full grown trees worth. however because of its drowsing properties even a human become weakened by wisterias affects and can cause permanent physical damage if in close enough vicinity for a prolonged amount of time. this can cause someone to lose physical strength which can be life or death for a demon slayer. fortunately humans are stronger to the affects of wisteria than demons. demons slayers are also taught to cover their tracks from being followed by demons with a small bag of wisteria tied to their person at all times which even in small amounts block the senses of any nearby demon and deter them. (dosage suggests intaking wisteria)
demon slayer uniforms are traditionally unisex and are made of thin fibres of the same material as the nichirin blades in order to prevent normal melee low level demon attacks from reacher a slayers skin such as scratches and bites. however this black material is also quite weighted when worn as clothing making movement in the uniform harder as well as uncomfortable to wear in warmer seasons. because the fabric is so dense the edges of the cloth need to be stitched with very heavy fabric to prevent unraveling from the stress meaning they are to be repaired up to three times per year when worn reularly. these uniforms are corps mandated and are not to be customized through mediums such as dyes, bleaches, hemming, cropping, or tearing. damaging the material in ways such as these makes the nichirin fabric less effective allowing more harm to come to the wearer in combat. however customization such as sewing, embroidery, and accessories are allowed as they do not take away from the properties of the nichirin fabric. kyahans (the leg warmer-like things) are to close the gap between the hakama (pants) and the legs to reduce ripping at the seams and stop any demons attacks from below to get under the hakama leg and damage the slayer or trip them as well as improve overall mobility on foot. the only times a slayer can be out of uniform is when in company of a wisteria house or on an espionage mission which are given directly from the Ubuyashikis.
in order to prevent high level personnel such as hashira from being identified by demons of espionage by unique physical characteristics they all each recieve a black cloak to cover themselves with when in highly densed areas.
as japan embraces a more western identity throughout the taisho era, the ubuyashiki household implemented a western judicial system in the decision making with the head of the ubuyashiki clan acting as the judge l and the hashiras acting as the defending and accusatory parties as well as jury. all hashiras will make a statement to either defend the person on trial or go against them. copies of testimonies and eye witness cases are also given to the hashiras and a brief statement of the case is given to the head of the ubuyashiki clan.
once a slayer passes final selection to become a demon slayer they obtain a kasuguy crow and a slayer pack which includes small nichirin sword refills, rope, and a basic first aid kit from the corps. they are then assigned one of many nichirin sword smiths and will
Breathing Techniques and Forms breathing techniques use different stances for activation in order to assist with more oxygen going to the places needed to perform each technique.
thunder breathing needs more oxygen in the legs in order to perform high speeds attacks. water breathing needs more oxygen in the brain in order to make weightless, exact, and fluid movements.
this necessary oxygen transfering is slightly altered by those who make new styles based on existing styles.
because there is less oxygen going to the rest of the body it takes serious practice for someone to be able to last more than 10 minutes without collapsing.
before a demon slayer learns a breathing technique they must master total concentration breathing from the training of a teacher. once the slayer has mastered tcb only then are they allowed to be taught techniques to further enhance their skills unless given a pardon for special reasons. breathing styles are taught after the entrance test to become a demon slayer from higher up demon slayers and hashiras. after the entrance exams slayers are heavily encouraged to learn a breathing technique however it is not mandatory
Main/Secondary Character Names and Personalities (given names are put before family names so i dont confuse my little baby english brain)
OC: Etsuko Onimane (Kanji: 悦子 鬼真似) Yōko Kobayawaka (Kanji: 洋子 小早川)
(put backstory here). wears baggy clothes to hide from the sun when travelling during the day. due to her unable to form calluses on her hands to grip her swords because of her demonhood she resorts to gloves which also help futher hide her skin from contact with the sun. she also has to stress about the fear of any slayer possibly killing her in a misunderstanding. because she is a different kind of demon she doesnt burn in the sun but rather melts. this is an extremely gruesome process.
Genya Shinazugawa
Genya strives to become a strong slayer like his older brother Sanemi to make him proud and finally acknowledge him. this character is untrusting of others as a front to avoid being hurt as well as being abrasive and unwelcoming. due to his family being killed by his demon-turned mother he will have severe difficulties befriending/trusting etsuko. by consuming demons he is able to have superhuman senses much like that of a demon and copy the demons blood demon art. the more flesh of demons he consumes the stronger he becomes. however this means it is easier for him to lose control and can not step into sunlight as long as he has demonic abilities. if he eats more than one demon he gains more than one bda however it weakens all current bda’s in genyas system by the amount of bda’s (2 bda’s weakens them both by 50%). because of his ability to consume and harness the power of demons he is unable to perform breathing techniques. had he never have consumed demons in the first place he would be able to but no longer can.
Inosuke Hashibira
Raised by upper moon two, doma, he is a wild child who decides to become a demon slayer out of his want to have fun and become strong like doma unaware of his adopted/step-father’s identity and his connection to inosukes mother. This character often runs head first into confrontation whilst completely ignoring his own well being in the process sometimes causing missions to temporarily go off track because of his tendency for trail blazing and not following orders from his superiors, possibly at risk of his termination from the corps if his actions continue. doma is aware of inosukes actions however is not threatened by him working with the Slayers Corps. he is infact rather encouraging of him to get stronger knowing inosuke could never defeat him on his own nor his own accord and does not perceive him as a threat. this character does not see etsuko as a threat because of her demeanor and unlikeness to any other demon. this character also doesnt know doma is a demon.
Supporting Cast Akaza, Shinjuro, rest of characters
all explained in a separate document
Demons/Antagonists Muzan, Akaza, etc.
All demons are under the cruel and watchful eye of muzan kibutsuji as if they were to ever falter and sway from his will or be deemed useless he will dispose of them himself indiscriminately whether they were an uppermoon or not.
the fourteen strongest demons under muzans rule are called the kizuki with the weakest eight being called the lower rank kizuki and the strongest six being the upper rank kizuki.
due to the existence of muzans cells in each demons body and with muzan being unable to be in the sun, no demon has been able to withstand/conquer the sun.
certain moon phases effect demons strength and abilities. during a solar eclipse demons are able to stand in the day without getting burnt but only for a handful of minutes. super moons increase the overall strength of demons as well as their blood demon art abilities. blood moons/lunar eclipses work very similarly to super moons but to a much more extreme degree. this also means that demon attacks are more frequent during winter months and the opposite in the summer months
demons
ranking system for moon phases:
Demon King - Blood Moon Upper One - Upper Full Moon Upper Two - Upper Waxing G. Moon Upper Three - Upper Quarter Moon Upper Four - Upper Waxing Crescent Moon Upper Five - Upper Waning Moon Upper Six - Upper New Moon Lower One - Lower Full Moon etc…
please tell me if i should add or take away anything so far. please keep in mind this blueprint is a wip.

Nah cus, Okay im 16m, im mexican in a highly mexican area so beans are everywhere including my house, doesnt help that im extremelyyyy allergic to beans, but part of me confuses me
Im allergic to all type of beans, not coffee beans or nothing but like beans that you cook and boil and what not, and also some of its family like soy, if a product contains too much soy my mouth starts getting itchy and it starts getting a burning sensation all around my mouth, kinda like a heartbeat of pain in my mouth, and with regular beans, I never had one but if a cooked bean touched my skin it gets a allergy bump and stuff and if i eat it id probably die, it all started a bit after 4 years old probably cus my mom said i ate black beans a lot as a baby, but anyway, the part that confuses me has to do with onions strangely enough
Okay so another aspect of beans that irritates my body is the smell of when theyre being boiled, I have a bit of asthma like my dad and everytime they cook beans, i smell it from all the way in my room, and it makes my lungs weird, not like out of breath but like i struggle to breathe a bit and it makes them uncomfartble, its a veryyyyy distinguishable smell to me
Though then sometimes, When my mom cooks onions, it smells and effects me the SAME exact way, like the smell of beans being cooked and onions being cooked are undistinguishable for me, and im like not allergic to onions at alll, ive eaten onions before, and even when theres cooked onions on my tacos im not allergic at all, but the smell of it makes my lungs uncomfortable and raspy i think is a good word to describe it, like when i breathe out its raspy
and right now my mom was cooking beans like always, and she said she didnt add onions this time and it didnt smell for me, so now im beginning to question whether its the beans itself smell that effect me or the fact everytime they cook beans they add onion and it reaches my nose from 1000 miles away
and if its the second one, why tf do onions being cooked effect my body like that