#Ikuchi
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A long, long, long hazard at sea. A crew must remain diligent and will have very little room for rest should their ship be beset by an ikuchi passing across their vessel.
#BriefBestiary#bestiary#digital art#fantasy#folklore#legend#myth#mythology#japanese folklore#japanese legend#yokai#ayakashi#ikuchi#ikuji#sea monster#sea serpent#monster#fish monster
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The oceans are the perfect creators of legend and myth. An endless plain of blue that can be still as glass one moment then turn to a dark boiling storm of mountainous waves and unabated fury. A world that delves so far down that light cannot even reach, and gives home to creatures one would believe impossible. To travel this realm, to experience its vast loneliness and mystery, is to embark into one of the great unknowns. What fate does the sea hold for you? What will you find out in that blue void? The many tales that arise in dockside taverns will let you know that there are plenty of horrors and mysteries to be found out there. So many stories of great serpents and vast leviathans. Of ethereal ships and alluring maiden voices that come from inhuman throats. They are always fascinating to listen to, but there is certainly a bit of magic lost from them as the world grows more known. The strange beasts of the oceans have names now, and are mortal flesh like the rest of us. The bizarre phenomenon are understood and the mysterious grows more mundane. I would think that this knowledge has slightly dulled the luster of myth, but then there are times I think it makes it shine even brighter. Where understanding lets us realize the true beauty of these encounters, and how our dissections of these legends reveal something even more bizarre.
One such species that comes to mind is the Ikuchi, a fabled serpent that slithers through the depths of the ocean. While the Ikuchi is not the biggest, most dangerous, creature out there, its body has certainly catapulted it to a mythical level in sailor's eyes. Whales and such have the great bulk that dwarfs ships and makes you believe in ocean giants, but the Ikuchi is one that makes you question reality. It is a beast of impossible length, its serpentine body seemingly stretching farther than one can see. Those who glimpse it slithering beneath their ships say that it has no end, never seeing a head or tail of this creature. Legend claims that it would take an Ikuchi hours to pass by a boat, though many don't stick around to truly test it. While I must say that this species does indeed have ends to it, that really doesn't rob the awe that comes from seeing a specimen in the flesh. It is still an insanely long creature, putting many land serpents to shame! They stretch onward for hundreds of feet, the sheer size making it almost impossible to get a real measurement. How can an animal even survive at such ludicrous lengths? How can it ensure its entire body remains unharmed by predators and nature if there is so much of it to protect? Even so, how long does it take nutrients and blood to make it from one end to the other?! The answer to those questions have turned out to be absolutely fascinating.
The truth of the Ikuchi shows that my previous statements are wrong. I keep saying "a creature" and "an animal." I refer to it as a singular entity when, in fact, it is a massive colony of many. The Ikuchi is indeed a species, but every individual monster we see is actually a collective that is strung together in this serpentine form. A close look at a specimen reveals it to be made up of hundreds, if not thousands, of fleshy bulbs, sacs and tendrils. At first we believed them to be mere appendages and growths, but now we know that each individual piece is its own entity. All the parts are members of the colony that have specially grown with a purpose in mind, with a role to fill. Some are meant to help it swim, some grow to help it sift nutrients from the water, and others develop to defend the collective from harm. It is how such an absurdly long specimen can survive, as every inch of it is its own cluster of individuals that can live, eat and grow on their own. It is essentially like a caravan train that has no end, each cart with its own people and supplies who can fend for themselves and get what they need. This would mean that this "serpent" technically has no end! There is no true head or tail, just more individuals that happen to sit at the ends of the great chain. Indeed, the ends form special growths to help it navigate towards promising waters, but it is no true brain. If you were to chop the Ikuchi in half, the two halves would simply swim their own ways without any issue. That is pretty much how this snake-like form "reproduces," as a colony gets so long it eventually breaks into pieces. They simply get longer as more of these fleshy bulbs split and grow, more individuals joining the everlasting serpent.
While it is a fleshy long chain, it isn't defenseless. It certainly would seem ripe for predation, what with no "head" to spot danger or obvious weapons to ward off attack. In truth, special individuals line the entire body that are capable of producing a fluid that turns water into thick choking slime. When a cluster feels a disturbance nearby, these pieces squirt out the liquid and coat the section with this goo. Anything that tries to bite them will get a mouthful of nasty gunk instead. Even the waters around this segment will be clouded with slime, clogging gills and throats of those who get too close. It has also been found that these agitated clusters will alert their neighbors, telling them to fire off their slime glands as well. This ensures that the predator doesn't just simply move down the line to a cleaner segment. It also causes the entire area to be quickly consumed by the slime, which I feel leads to the legends of this "serpent" being so great and deadly that the seas empty in their presence.
This defense mechanism sounds pretty solid for foes in the water, but it doesn't seem so threatening to those above on the surface. Why would fishermen and sailors flee the presence of an Ikuchi, when all it does is make slime? Well, first off, an ocean of slime is not an easy one for a ship to move in. Rudders get stuck, oars get caught in the gunk, and sailboats are held fast by the floating patch of glue. As for fishing lines and nets, forget about those! Once they get swallowed by the goo, there is no getting them back. Even if you did, the cleaning would take days to get it all off! So people don't want to get stranded if one of these colonies below get agitated. The other thing is that this species is also worried about threats from above. If the source of irritation is on the top or surface, the slime is unleashed and also the segment of the creature will begin to rise and writhe. As it gets closer to the surface, it coils and loops, spreading more gunk and looking to entangle those that would dare threaten it. This is to get their foes covered in thick slime, which can sink seabirds and asphyxiate other creatures. If a boat happens to be near an angered Ikuchi, the slithering segment may find them and believe them a threat. One of the coils will land upon the ship and release its slime, hoping to choke this strange wooden beast. Though the sailors don't have to worry about drowning in goo, they do have to worry about the sticky glue that is starting to fill up their vessel. If they can't escape the segment fast enough, or can't remove the gunk quickly, their boat can be mired in this gooey bog and sink. If that happens, and you fall into this slime cloud, your chances aren't looking so good. It will slow your limbs and make swimming difficult, causing you to tire out quickly. Simple acts like getting into your boat or swimming to safety are difficult chores in this gunk, and many tend to drown when they lose the energy needed to keep them afloat. So thus, many are quick to paddle as fast as they can away from an Ikuchi, lest they suffer this fate. And it is not like you can just wait for it to leave, because that may take a couple hours!
It shouldn't come as a shock that this species is seen with some fear and reverence, as its sheer size is impossible to ignore. Some claim it to be a spirit of the ocean, while others suggest it is born from the souls of those who drown at sea. Its never ending body is often used as a symbol of eternity or for a path that stretches onward forever. I have seen it used on clothing and equipment of those who have sworn themselves to an eternal duty, and warriors tend to liken it to an unending march. As for the actual animal itself, it remains unbothered by most. Its flesh is watery and useless as food, and hunting one will only result in a slime logged boat. It seems for now that these massive colonies will be left to their mindless swimming, forever drifting in the void. It makes me wonder if they even know we exist, if they are aware of any of the life around them. Perhaps they remain ignorant to everything that isn't a direct threat, and somehow didn't hear the delighted squealing of a dryad seeing her first specimen slithering beneath her boat.
Chlora Myron
Dryad Natural Historian
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“Ikuchi”
I know that the Ikuchi in drawings and paintings typical is an endless serpentine body with no head or tail, but I didn't think that would really look that good in my style. So here is the front end of one!
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DSDF Charapters // Different Scales in the Demonic Fish (Original Work)
I promised to post the second huge post and here it is! Enjoy! 😋
⚠️Disclaimer⚠️
Mention of discomforting topics, abuse, fatshaming, sexual violence, world domination(dictatorship bordering on obsessive faith).
All countries in this post are just stereotypical copies. I don't strive for realism. Only clichés and stereotypes.
Brief description of the idea:
An evil corporation kidnaps a scientist to recruit him into a willing slave. However, during the brainwashing, something goes wrong and the secretary hesitates. The kidnapped scientist is happy he was kidnapped and confess that he actually always dreamed of being hired to work for this evil corporation. The secretary takes a liking to the scientist and manages to convince the Leaders that the scientist is obedient enough and doesn't need to be brainwashed. The Leaders allows it and this becomes the beginning of the return of memory to the secretary...
The main character is the scientist, but the main action takes place with the secretary, who falls in love with the scientist and gradually regains his memory of his past life. This, of course, makes the leaders of the corporation angry and they are trying to prevent the main characters from being together. The senior Leader threatens the secretary, and the junior Leader bullies the scientist.
About Sea Serpents:
Sea Serpents are an evil corporation founded in Japan by two Ikuchi(long sticky fish snakes) demons. Nagai Sakana controls the most cruel and largest part of the company, and Aoi Sakana controls the part that has direct control over Japan.
The influence of the evil corporation extends to the whole world. Agents work in a wide variety of fields, including government agencies in many countries. 20 years ago, during the crisis in the USSR, Sea Serpents provided support and began close cooperation with the authorities of the USSR and their military forces. The slogan has spread in the country that Sea Serpents are friends and can be trusted. Most people believed that.
The USSR is not the only country to which the Sea Serpents provided support in order to introduce their agents into the government. But we are interested in the USSR, because Andrey is from there. Besides, the USSR is big. And the Cold War...
Main protagonists:
Andrey - Code: F-1678
29 year old, short, chubby man. Came to Japan from the USSR at the age of 22. Scientist in the field of robotic technology.
Andrey's family believed the propaganda. His father got a great job! The family's well-being has improved, but when Andrey was 4 years old, his father mysteriously dies. The mother and the rest of the family started express strong doubts about the Sea Serpents, but this doesn't convince Andrey. Deceived by propaganda, he moved to Japan when he turned 22, to increase his chances of getting hired.
Hengry - Code: L-808
32 years old, tall, strong man. Doesn't remember his past life and real name. Works as Nagai Sakana's secretary.
Henry is not the real name of L-808. When Andrey asked what the real name of the secretary is, L-808 suggested that the scientist come up with one that he would like. And Andrey liked the name Henry.
He was incredibly surprised that Andrey dreamed of working for Sea Serpents all his life, because most people cries and resist, showing strong unwillingness to become slave.
Main antagonists:
Aoi Sakana — Ikuchi
BITCH— I mean, sassy, narcissistic abuser who sees humans only as his toys and test subjects. He is bulling Andrey for being chubby. (the real antagonist 😡 Andrey is pretty man 💞)
He flirts with Henry, but L-808 doesn't reciprocate... some sexual violence occurs 😭
Nagai Sakana — Ikuchi
A cruel, merciless fish-snake yokai(demon). The eldest of two brothers (hi, Aoi Sakana). Represents the role of the Leader in Sea Serpents, but allows Aoi Sakana too much to do, causing the lines between Kumichō (The founder) and Sosāi (The second head after the founder) to blur. Aoi Sakana has more influence on the Japan, but not global world.
Inspired by:
HYDRA - Marvel. But I've never read a single comic book, I've never watched a single movie, and I only found out about this company thanks to an AI bot. I read the information about it on funwiki, and I liked it so much that I created something separate, simplified, but still similar.
#Andey#Hengry#Ikuchi#DSDF#Different Scales in the Demonic Fish#Original#art#sketch#oc#big text#character profile#Aoi Sakana#Nagai Sakana#original character#original work
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OOC; i've got a lot of starters and replies to get to (not complaining, i am living 4 this) HOWEVER, I am also...in a bit of like? a meta writing mood SO if you have any questions about my muses, verses, interactions, etc., please send me an ask or reply to this post bc??? i have many thoughts u_u
#ooc#tbh one on my mind is literally just philo's training bc did y'all KNOW he has a masked MENTOR!?#also wanna write one big post about ikuchi/ayumu's species bc they're cool as hell in my lore imo#AND DEFINITELY WANNA WRITE A LIL THING ABOUT Deacon and his big ol crush on his boss / what his job actually is djkfbvkjd#but tbh i'd love to know if y'all have any specific questions/things u wanna know about :'3
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#starfield#sam coe#virtual photography#neon#ikuchi market#he's hot when he's serious#spxcefarer original
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Summoning your familiars: Scarabia Edition
Ikuchi- (イクチ ) a yōkai of the sea serpent type in Japanese legend.
Baku- (獏 or 貘) are yōkai that are said to devour nightmares. However, they may devour one’s dreams and aspirations as well.
Jamil Viper
A faint mist gathers around your feet, a chill settling deep in your skin. From the corner of your eyes, you see massive shadows weaving in and out of sight, massive serpents of darkness coiling around you, keeping you within their scaly embrace, enveloping you in shadow.
In the midst of it all the shadows and the mist, you see the faint shimmer of gold. Threads of gold, braided in ebony locks. Those very same ebony locks brush by your cheek, as smooth as silk. Glancing beside you, you meet a pair of grey eyes, colour rather close to the coils of mist curling around your ankles. Your familiar, Jamil Viper.
A jet-black tongue slips out of his lips, forked at the very end. It flickers ever so slightly, carefully analysing the smells of Jamil’s surroundings. It laps against your cheek gently, before it darts back, startled. Jamil’s cheeks flush a crimson red, before he slithers back ever so slightly. He dips into a sheepish bow.
“Master, I do beg your pardon. It wasn’t my intention to do that to you…. You do taste rather sweet, though..:”
Muttering the last few words, Jamil takes a deep breath. He seems to regain his composure after that. Straightening back up, those misty eyes meet yours once more, the ghost of smirk dancing across his lips.
“Jamil Viper, at your service.
Now, what does your heart desire, Master?”
Kalim Al Asim
There’s an odd prickling sensation at the very back of your neck. The sensation of a pair of eyes on you, burning through your skin. It felt like claws breaking through skin, tearing at your innermost thoughts. A greedy gaze staring straight into your very soul, reaching for everything it could seize.
Then as fast as the feeling overtook you, it vanished entirely. Instead, you felt a weight slam into your back, followed by the melodic jangle of Jewelry crashing into each other. A pair of hands wrap themselves around your torso, wrists shinning with brackets and bangles of blinding gold. Those arms squeeze affectionately, merry laughter ringing out like a wind chime’s joyful song.
Turning around, you find yourself facing a beaming face. The shining face of your familiar, Kalim Al Asim. Eyes of crimson staring back at you, nothing but pure excitement shining away within. A wide, tooth grin stretched across his lips, your familiar trapped you in his embrace, squeezing you as tightly as he could.
“Master! It’s been forever since you summoned me. Honestly! I nearly fell asleep because it was so boring! Oh, I’m so glad you decided to call me!”
You laugh softly, poking his nose gently. Reminding Kalim that you just saw him an hour ago.
“Yeah, but I can’t help it. Everything’s so boring without ya around, y’know? Oh right, I gotta’ do the official greeting, or Jamil’s going to get mad.
Kalim Al Asim at your service!
Let’s have fun today, Master!”
#twisted wonderland#twst#disney twisted wonderland#twisted wonderland x reader#twst x reader#Jamil viper#Jamil x reader#Jamil#Jamil viper x reader#Kalim Al Asim#Kalim#Kalim Al Asim x reader#Kalim x reader#mystic au#lucky potion 🔷
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Chapter Eighteen of I'm Sorry, Teenage Mutant What Now? is now up! The Hamato Family finally goes back home. And now everything is okay and back to normal... right? Read it on ao3 or below the cut.
[ prev ]
The world wasn’t spinning anymore.
Damn, did that mean he was dead? Cowabummer.
As he looked around, however, Leo slowly realized (for the second time over a very short period) that, no, he was not dead. Or, at least, he didn’t think he was dead-- despite the fact that he was absolutely surrounded by a warm, comforting light, enveloping him and holding him close.
He could hear the roars of the crowd in the distance. And though he was no longer flailing through the air, his head was still reeling, having not quite realized that they weren’t falling anymore. And as he slowly gathered his bearings, he realized he could see his siblings, all gathered together close; held behind the protective fold of a bright red light, shielded from the debris and dust that had been sent flying through the ring.
Vaguely, he came to the conclusion that the Ikuchi had fallen.
And he hadn’t.
It wasn’t until the red light faded and was replaced by his eldest brother’s tight embrace that he came back to reality properly, stumbling a bit, his eyes wide and his brain still buzzing a little; held up only by his brother’s grip rather than his own strength.
“... Did you catch me?” He finally managed to get his tongue to move.
“Never do that again,” Raph hissed in reply, and about half a second later, Mikey, April, and even Donnie had joined them, all stumbling into him and clinging to him all at once.
“What is wrong with you!? You idiot!” April cried, burying her face into his shoulder.
“Why did you do that?!” Mikey wailed through sobs. “I told you guys! I told you not to protect me! Why would you do that!? D-don’t-- don’t do that! Don’t e-ever do that again! Why don’t any of you-- e-ever listen to me? I would have-- I--! Leo!”
“Sorry!” Leo found it in himself to laugh, though even he could admit that he sounded just a little bit deranged. Eugh boy, were things still spinning? “It’s fine!... I knew Raph would save me.”
“No you didn’t!” Raph snapped. “Raph didn’t even know Raph was gonna save ya!”
“How did you do that?” April gaped.
“I don’t know!” Raph laughed, his voice stumbling slightly with the threat of oncoming tears. “I just knew that if I didn’t save him, I’d never hear the end of it…!”
“I told you all not to,” Mikey wept, clinging to him. “I told you…”
“Aw, I knew you had magic powers,” Leo slurred. Okay, maybe he was still a little out of it. “You just needed… the right motivation…! All part of the plan…”
“Liar,” Raph hissed, tightening his hold on him, bundling his brother up close to his chest and burying his face against his shoulder. “If you ever pull some bullshit like that ever again, I swear to god, I’m gonna murder you--”
His next words were cut off by yet another shuddering crash of impact, nearly tossing the gang from their feet. And Leo was still not exactly feeling steady, per se, but turning to face the glowering form of an angry spider did wonders for sobering a person up.
“Well then,” Big Mama hissed, her eyes narrowed into slits as she glared down at them. “Wasn’t that an impressive performance.”
“I told you we’d give you a big hurrah. Was that cool or what?” Leo laughed, pulling away from Raph so that he could stand on his own-- stumbling a bit, but then finding his balance again, summoning up whatever he had left in his body to face her alongside his siblings. He could practically see Big Mama grit her jaw.
“Isn’t that just… splendifirous,” she hissed. “Well! Big Mama never breaks a deal! She does, however, alt--”
“Okay, hang on. Hold that thought. Sorry. Just. One second,” Leo said quickly, moving to shove his hand into his jean pockets, digging around for a moment as he approached the other.
“Oh! Okay. Here. Here you go,” he hummed, pulling a tiny black coin, etched with sigils that he couldn’t even begin to comprehend, from his pocket, where it had lived ever since it was retrieved from Big Mama’s own vault by Mayhem. He pressed it firmly into her insectile palm. “This is for you.”
Big Mama paused.
She stared.
She bristled.
Every hair on her body stood on end as she snarled, puffing up twice the size that she had been a second ago. She bared her fangs, digging her claws into the ground as she loomed over the group, a furious hiss escaping her as she leaned in close to Leo. Beyond a slightly dizzy rock on one foot, he stood his ground, keeping his gaze even and trained on her.
“Go collect your father and get out of my Nexus,” she spat, turning sharply away.
Inwardly, Leo let out a massive breath of relief, his entire body sagging ever-so-slightly. He nearly fell over as he turned on his heel to try to re-join his slack-jawed siblings.
“You heard the spider lady--” he said, wobbling dangerously. Luckily, Raph and Donnie were quick to react, each grabbing an arm on either side to keep him upright. Oh thank god. He was still thinking he might just throw up. Or pass out. Maybe both.
“What the hell was that!?” Raph hissed, his eyes wide and his voice hushed. “Leo! What did you give her!?”
“Honestly,” Leo said, chuckling the tiniest bit beneath his breath. “I have no fucking clue.”
---
The rest of the day was a blur.
Mikey had never seen their father cry so much, nor heard him scream so loud, informing Leo at least eleven times that he was grounded for the rest of his life for scaring his family like that. And though he didn’t necessarily disagree, Mikey felt guilty the entire time. He kept wondering if anyone was going to yell at him for needing to be saved in the first place, but no one did.
They collected their dad. They collected Mayhem. They collected all their things.
They walked out of the Battle Nexus, back out the same way they had entered four days earlier. Mikey dimly noted the alleyway where they had huddled together and plotted just days ago. People repeatedly stopped and begged for their father’s autograph, seeming unsurprised to see him out and about, and he politely declined each and every request.
Their father clearly knew his way around the Hidden City. He knew the way home, too, and soon, they were back up on the surface-- in New York City.
They were in New York City again. And it looked the same.
From there, they called 911.
Mikey barely remembered the ambulance ride, though he remembered thinking, wow, I’ve never been in an ambulance before. He wanted to tell someone that he was okay, he wasn’t hurt, that it was their dad and Leo that they had to worry about, but he couldn’t quite get his tongue to work. Every time he tried to open his mouth to talk, he’d just start crying again. Every time someone asked him a question, tried to ask what happened, if he was okay, where it hurt, he’d try to reply and instead tears would just bubble up again and spill over, painting streaks down his face over and over again until his head hurt.
Maybe that was a blessing, because he had no idea what he would have said. Their dad, however, did. Mikey was silently shocked by how easily he lied. By how effortlessly he weaved together a tapestry of tales to explain their absence-- wearily and emotionally describing the crazed fan who had kidnapped him and held him hostage in their apartment. He tearfully explained how his children had been contacted by the culprit and foolishly attempted to take matters into their own hands after being warned not to contact the police, only to be captured themselves until they were able to make their escape.
It sounded dramatic. It sounded implausible, if Mikey was being honest, like the plot of a soap opera. But the way his Dad said it, it sounded… so believable.
And everyone seemed to eat it up without question in a way that made Mikey squint, but in a way that he didn’t question, either.
They got to the hospital. They patched up all of Dad’s injuries-- the cracked ribs, the bruises, the cuts and scrapes, the bloody knuckles and torn muscles and swollen joints. Mikey could tell he was anxious, but he somehow didn’t panic even half as much as he did going in for a physical. He kept a brave face throughout, recounting the story as many times as he needed to, firmly declining any opioids, and keeping his focus squarely on Mikey and his siblings the entire time, even as doctors actively treated his wounds.
After some fluids and a long nap, Leo bounced right back, seemingly no worse for the wear. They wrapped Raph’s hands. Treated Donnie’s concussion and his back. Even April had managed to sprain her wrist in the fight, a mild and easily treatable injury, but an injury nonetheless.
But he was fine. Even after tripping and falling in the Nexus; he wasn’t hurt at all.
He felt fine.
They gave him fluids, anyway, for how much he had bailed out in quiet sobs and sniffles.
April’s mom and dad met them at the hospital, getting there almost as soon as they did, and were in absolute pieces. Mikey had never seen April’s dad cry before, but he had been experiencing a lot of firsts of that ilk recently, so he supposed he wasn’t that surprised. They hugged April and didn’t let her go until she insisted that they were crushing her and she couldn’t breathe. She, much like Leo, was informed that she was grounded for the rest of her life for doing something so reckless and stupid. Their dad apologized at least eighty times for putting her in harm’s way, for getting her involved in such danger, but April’s parents insisted that they were just relieved that everyone was okay, and Mikey could tell that they really meant it.
Their dad and April’s parents were really good friends, actually. He had almost boundless memories of the three of them hanging out and chatting while he and his siblings played. They’d often sit out on the front stoop together when it was nice outside. April’s mom came over regularly for tea. Her dad and his dad played baseball together, even, on the weekends sometimes.
He supposed they had probably been scared for him, too.
And then eventually, they were just…
Home.
Before Mikey knew it, he was back in his own room, staring at the wall and wondering how the hell he got here.
Was this real? He kept waiting to wake up, and it didn’t happen. Did all that actually happen? When he reached back through his memories and touched them, they wiggled like Jell-O, and he wasn’t quite sure if he could trust them or not.
He shifted in place, hearing the springs of the mattress creak beneath him. He smoothed his hands over the cotton of his bedspread, feeling the soft, knitted texture beneath the pads of his fingers.
He stared up at the glow-in-the-dark stars that his dad had put there for him when he was four.
He was certain he was here now. They had… made it back home. His brothers were home, too. They had all retreated back to their own rooms for the night when they all finally got home, at nearly four in the morning, all exhausted from the experience. Even their dad was home. He knew he was. He watched him get here with them.
Very slowly, Mikey sank down in bed, laying flat on his back.
And even though he had been crying all day, it felt like he was finally letting the dam burst when he reached deep down into his chest and pulled out an aching, shuddering, genuine sob.
---
Raph didn’t think he could ever miss his own bed so much. He spread himself out, splaying out his limbs like a starfish, before eventually rolling over onto his side, curling up and finding the closest stuffed animal to grab and hang onto.
He didn’t want to admit it, but he had been starting to wonder if they would ever see their home again.
But now they were here. All of them, safe and sound. Their dad included. Their dad was home.
They got their dad home.
He got everyone back home.
But somehow, he didn’t feel better yet.
That wasn’t really true. He did! Mostly. He kind of felt better. He-- he was relieved, certainly. He was so grateful that everyone was home, safe and sound-- that everyone was safe, that Dad was okay, that Leo was okay, he just…
He hadn’t expected to feel so…
Angry.
But now, laying here in his bed, staring off at the wall and listening to their quiet house, all filled up to the brim with his family, that was all he could feel. It felt sour in his stomach, poking and prodding at the edges of his muscles and ribs like a horned creature, snorting hot and pawing at his gut and stamping its hooves, jabbing at him over and over until his face felt ugly and awful and warm.
He was angry that they were lied to. That they were tricked. That their lives weren’t what they thought they were all this time.
He was angry at the pain that had been inflicted on their family. For all the tears that his siblings had cried over the past two-and-a-half weeks. He was angry at the suffering that their father had endured for the entertainment of others in a glorified fight pit. He was angry that there were people who would do that to them-- who thought that that was okay. He was angry for every drop of blood that he had lost.
He was angry at himself for believing something untrue; for how naive and silly it made him feel, even if he recognized that the circumstances were complicated to say the least. He was angry for how close he had come to letting his family slip through his fingers.
But mostly, he was angry that their father had ever agreed to go away from them.
He and his siblings had been prepared to go to the ends of the earth to find him and bring him home and reunite their family. Raph would have done anything to get him back. They all would have. They were ready to give up everything if they had to.
And he had agreed to stay away?
He had agreed to leave them behind?
He was shocked by how meaningless he could suddenly feel in the face of his own father, who had never before made him feel anything but loved.
His anger smoldered inside of him like a stubborn campfire, unwilling to be put out, even as hot tears of frustration singed their way down his face.
---
He couldn’t sleep.
Wow, what a surprise.
If he was being honest with himself, he hadn’t even tried, but he had very little interest in engaging with the process right now. Besides that, he wasn’t even that interested in the prospect of sleeping at all. Just the idea of trying to sleep right now was exhausting and wholly unappealing. He was too tired to try to fall asleep. He just wanted…
Well, he didn’t actually know what he wanted.
He supposed that’s how he had ended up here.
Leo had been curled up in the same place on the floor for hours now, his knees drawn up to his chest and his head resting on his knees as he just… stared at himself in the mirror. Examined his body, a tiny frown on his face.
It looked the same. Just the same as he always had. The same stripey face and spotted belly. The same curly blonde hair with dark roots poking through. His chin curved the same way it always did, his waist still pinched the same way, his shoulders sloped just the same as they always had.
He had never loved his body. He knew he acted all confident and cocky, and that wasn’t all for show-- there were times when he really did feel confident. Lots of times, actually. He was perfectly capable of being confident and capable and fucking bright as a person, and not as a body, and no, he wasn’t afraid to declare to anyone who wanted to listen that he was very cute, thank you very much, and yes, he did have great taste in clothes, and yes, his hair was amazing, wasn’t it? I’ll tell you what conditioner I use--
But truthfully, he didn’t love his body. He didn’t hate it, either-- it had just existed up until now. It had just been, and he had dealt with it, liked the parts that he liked and tolerated the parts he didn’t, making plans to customize in the future, and it was… okay.
But he had never despised his own skin so deeply as he did in this moment.
Looking at himself now, he couldn’t find a single thing to enjoy. He looked at himself in the mirror and he glowered, curling his lips in disgust, even though he was unable to look away.
It was the same as it was before. Nothing had changed. But somehow, he hated it now.
---
Donnie had always preferred to base his world on facts and logic over emotions. He had always found that this was what worked best for him. If he collected data, examined it, and allowed these values to influence his decisions, everything tended to work out better. No, admittedly, this did not, by any means, guarantee success, much to his annoyance, but he had run the statistics, and facts worked. They were reliable. He could lean on them and count that they would hold him up. He could place his trust there.
For example--
Fact: Hamato Donatello is adept in the care of tropical plants. This was supported by a vast array of data. He had no less than two dozen different varieties of houseplants flourishing in the living room alone that he could point to support this claim, thank you very much, and they were all thriving under his expert care. This was a fact. This was something that he knew to be true. He could rely on this. He could lean on this. It would not change.
Even those that he, at times, found painful, he could still count on.
For example--
Fact: Hamato Donatello is bad at talking to new people. He didn’t like it, but it was a fact. Never in his life had he met someone and been able to strike up a conversation without, at some point, putting his foot in his mouth and fucking it up or floundering. He always seemed to find a way to mess it up, even if he didn’t realize it until later on. Even if he, in the moment, thought that things were going great! He was… better than he had been. He had learned, over time, and gotten the hang of the art of conversation, at least to a degree. People he knew, he could handle, no problem but someone new? It was just…
It was just a bullet point in the long list of micro-facts that had always supported the claim of, “Hamato Donatello is different from other people. He doesn’t fit in, and there’s something that separates him from his peers.”
And he had always known this. He was diagnosed with autism when he was five. He had always known that he was different, that he didn’t quite match with everyone else. It had always felt like he was missing something; like handbooks or a set of rules had been passed out at some point, and he never got his copy. There were times when it had bothered him, sure, but he had long since come to terms with it. He had found people and places where he could fit, where ‘matching’ mattered a lot less, where the mold that he was expected to adhere to had far more give to it. He had spent years in therapy discussing this gap; years trying to learn the content of the missing ruleset through secondhand explanations. And even if it wasn’t always his favorite fact, it was still a fact. It was something that he knew to be true. He could rely on this. He could lean on this. It would not change.
Or, well. He had thought so.
He had set up a new spreadsheet so he could run through all the data-- so he could review what he thought he had known, and that which he could no longer rely on. He got to work measuring just how patchworked his universe had suddenly become. Began evaluating just how much of the floor was actively falling out from beneath him, and put it all into neat, numbered rows and columns.
Fact: Hamato Donatello is an awarded athlete.
(Inconclusive. If he was only a talented swimmer because he was a mutant, could any of these accomplishments really be attributed to him, in all fairness? Further research needed.)
Fact: Hamato Donatello is autistic.
(Inconclusive. Can this diagnosis be considered valid if he was not human? There was no diagnosis criteria for turtles. Perhaps he was just odd and different and didn’t fit because he was a mutant. Or because he was a failed experiment. Further research needed.)
Fact: Hamato Donatello is a member of the Hamato family.
(Inconclusive. If he was a mutant rather than simply his father’s child, did he really belong on the family tree? Could he actually be considered a Hamato descendent? Was their father truly their father to begin with? Further research needed.)
Fact: Donatello is a human being.
(Inconclusive. Though he was still not sure what his exact standing was, or how he could be categorized now, it was very clear that he was not simply a human as previously believed. Further research needed.)
Fact: Donatello is a member of society, just like everyone else, and deserves to be treated with kindness and respect by others.
(Inconclusive. He was not a human, and therefore, it could not be said that he was a ‘member of society,’ nor that he inherently deserved anything based on this status, despite what his therapist Mossy had previously taught him. This statement was based on outdated information, and could no longer be taken at face value. Further research needed.)
Fact: Donatello belongs in human society.
(Inconclusive. Further research needed.)
---
April was kind of starting to think that maybe her parents might mean it when they said she was grounded for the rest of her life. And, to be fair, she knew that she had scared them.
A lot.
She had scared herself, too. If she was being honest, she was still scared.
It had been weeks since she had last been here, standing in her own bathroom, looking at herself in her own mirror as she brushed her teeth and got ready for bed. And it was all normal, all the same as it ever was, but--
Everything that had been keeping her upright the past three weeks, the adrenaline, the survival instincts, the desire to support her brothers and stay steady and hold them up while things fell apart, the desire to protect them, to figure things out, to investigate, to fix things, it was all…
It was all gone.
Everything that had been propping her up had suddenly given way, and she had just been carried up the stairs into the apartment by her dad, her arms wrapped around his neck like she was six again, getting home from a family outing that had gone late. And now she was sitting here in her bathroom and looking at her own face in the mirror and it was her face, and not anything spooky or mutated or unfamiliar, and that felt so unfair, somehow? And--
She hiccuped softly. And then she sobbed, until she eventually sank down onto the floor, curled up in a little heap and weeping softly.
Oh my god, what had just happened?
She could have died.
They all could have died.
Her brothers could have died. Leo could have died. She thought Leo was going to die.
She could have died.
She still had toothpaste in her mouth, and it was getting all down her chin and the front of her shirt, and it was fucking gross but she couldn’t really get herself to care. She just sat there and she cried until her mom knocked on the door, just barely cracking it open and joining her on the cold tile floor. And then, eventually, her dad had joined her, too, and she had wrapped herself up in their arms and practically climbed into his lap and just clung to them. She really didn’t know what else to do.
Something horrible almost happened. But it hadn’t. They were all okay. They were all home, but…
God, why did she feel like her little brother was still falling?
---
The whole way home, Yoshi was terrified that one of his children would begin talking to him. Terrified that one of them would ask some question that he wouldn’t be able to answer. But the journey back to their apartment was near silent. Somehow, that was almost worse.
He thought to himself, god, why is this your main concern right now? Why are you worrying about that, of all things? What is wrong with you?
He got everyone back home. He made sure each of his children ended up safely in their own beds. And, finally, he retreated back to his own.
He’d like to say that his room was just as he had left it, but that was untrue. It had clearly been ransacked multiple times, and he groaned softly, scrubbing at his face with his hands, wondering who all had been in here and what they had uncovered. He supposed there was nothing he could do about it right now.
He didn’t do much besides clear off his bed. One at a time, he removed the items stacked on top of it. The piles of old paperwork. The DVD cases. The dirty laundry. He didn’t have the energy to sort through any of it properly or put it away right now, so he simply placed it all to the side, stacking things on his dresser or tossing them across the room instead, promising himself that he would get to it in the morning and dreading the thought of it.
He would have a lot of things to do in the morning.
Internally, he scolded himself. Shouldn’t he be happy? Or at least relieved? This was the best case scenario. All of his children were home, safe and sound. He was home-- he would never have to set foot in the Battle Nexus again. He was free to live his life and raise his children, wasn’t he?
But the only thing he could find in his chest was dread, no matter how deep he dug. Very gingerly, he eased himself down onto his bed, laying out flat on his back and staring up at the ceiling. There were no answers up there. He had looked many, many times before, and he already knew. At the very least, it felt good to lie down. To finally lay down properly in a bed and allow his body a proper break.
Ah, if only he could allow his mind to do the same…
What the fuck was he going to say to them? What… could he say? How was he supposed to explain all the choices and mistakes he made-- to explain the things he had done and what he was, and then still look them in the eyes? Even worse-- would they still want to? Would they be able to look at him?
God. How could he have let this happen to them?
His eyes wandered aimlessly around his room, a very soft sigh working its way up his chest. He felt like he had come back from the dead. He felt like a ghost. A part of him had already accepted that he would never be back here. Had accepted that he would never see his children ever again. And now here they all were, right here in the same house as him. Only a few floors away.
It didn’t quite feel real yet.
He wanted, more than anything, to get up and go get them this very second. He wanted to gather them all up in his arms like he did when they were babies and pile them up in his bed with him. He wanted to hold them all and fall asleep that way, knowing that they were there and that they were close and that they were okay. He didn’t think he possibly could sleep otherwise.
But he didn’t do that.
He was afraid that if he tried, they wouldn’t want to come with him. And that fear was enough to keep him pinned in place, cold and still, staring blankly up at the ceiling.
He knew they were upset. He could feel that they were upset, and how could he blame them? They were justified. They had every right to be upset, to be angry with him, to hate him, after all he had kept from them! After all the ways he had failed them. He just…
He hadn’t known what else to do.
He still didn’t know what else to do.
This had never been his intention.
---
“Dad--”
“Don’t run in the house,” he replied, not even looking down at his son as he dashed into the kitchen, quite nearly crashing into his leg.
“I wasn’t!” Leo protested, even though he most certainly was, rolling his eyes with a huff. “Dad, I’m gonna be late! Hurry up! Justin and Ben are already waiting for me!”
“Oh, well, if I am going too slowly, I suppose that you can pack your own snacks for camp from now on--”
“Dad!”
“So ungrateful,” he tsked, scooping the last of the vegetables he was slicing up into his son’s bento box, handing it over to the impatient eight-year-old. “There. All the carrot sticks and sugar snap peas that a little turtle could ever ask for,” he teased. A rarely used nickname, but one that sugar peas always made him think of, given how excitedly they would be devoured on the rare occasion he was able to offer some when they were small.
Leo scoffed as he accepted the offering, shoving it into his backpack. “Dad, we’re too old for that game. We don’t play turtles anymore,” he huffed.
Yoshi froze.
“What?”
“We’re not little kids, Dad! We don’t play make-believe anymore!” Leo said matter-of-factly, shooting his dad an absolute withering look. Yoshi floundered for a moment, struggling to find his tongue, which suddenly felt heavy in his mouth, before he finally nodded.
“Yes… of course.”
“I’ll be home later! Tell Donnie not to go in my room or else I’ll know!” Leo yelled over his shoulder as he ran out the door, hopping down the steps to meet his two classmates who were attending the same summer camp, and Justin’s mother, who had kindly offered to walk them to the bus stop each morning. Yoshi watched him go, and he waved, but things felt… far off.
He sat down on the kitchen chair once Leo was gone, and thought about the conversation for quite some time, wondering if he had understood correctly.
After sitting there for about twenty minutes, he eventually got to his feet, shuffling up the stairs to Mikey’s room and knocking gently on the door.
“Yeahhhhhh?”
Yoshi peeked his head in, unsurprised to find his youngest bent over some elaborate arts and crafts project, currently busying himself in taping a pack of construction paper together to create a massive canvas, no doubt for his latest masterpiece. Yoshi sighed very softly through his nose, smiling for just a second as he shuffled his way in.
“What are you working on, my son?”
“‘S gonna be a painting. But I want it to be big!” He explained, throwing his hands out to illustrate. “So I’m making a super big paper to paint on first.”
“Ah, I see. You will have to show me when you are done. I’m sure it’ll be very impressive.”
“Mmm-hmmmm,” Mikey confirmed, quickly returning his attention back to his project, his tongue sticking out from between his lips with his intense focus. Yoshi hesitated for a moment before he spoke again.
“Orange, do you remember… playing turtles?”
“Yeah,” Mikey replied easily. “Why?”
“Well,” he wobbled for a second, choosing his words carefully. “What do you remember?”
“Uhhh,” Mikey tilted his head to the side for a second before he shrugged. “I dunno. It was just a game we used to play. We used to pretend to be turtles and stuff when we were little. We used to play it all the time!” He chirped. “Buuuuut we don’t really play it much anymore. Leo says we’re ‘too old’ for make-believe,” he sighed. “But he still plays Jupiter Jim. He says that’s ‘acting’ and it’s different, but it’s not,” he informed their father, giving him an exasperated look, as if to say, ‘can you believe he would say something like that?’
“... Ah. I see. Thank you, Mikey.”
“Why?” Mikey asked again, and Yoshi swallowed.
“Nothing, no reason! I was just thinking of something else… Also, ah, I wanted to ask you, what do you think about pizza for dinner tonight, my son?”
“YEAH! PIZZA!” Mikey immediately cheered, his face lighting up, and Yoshi inwardly sighed in relief. Pizza for dinner was a small price to pay to put an end to this conversation. After taking a few requests (demands) regarding toppings and which place they should order from, Yoshi was eventually able to escape from his child’s room, closing the door behind him as he made his way back out into the hall.
He slumped against the wall, staring up at the ceiling.
They…
Forgot. He hadn’t ever imagined that they would forget.
[ next ]
#sorrywhatnowau#sorrywhatnowau fanfic#fanfic#writing#rottmnt fanfic#rottmnt fanfiction#rottmnt human au#rottmnt au#rottmnt leo#rise leo#rise of the tmnt#rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles#tmnt#we're in the 'feeling our feelings and processing trauma' chapter of the story
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Inu-Mothership Spotlight Saturday: Holiday Edition!
Week 5: Home for the Holidays
Hello everyone! We here at the @inu-mothership are back with another week of holiday-themed fics! This week the focus is on "Home for the Holidays," and we have for you ten fics that we hope will give you that warm and cozy, very homey feel.
Stories are, as always, listed below the cut, in alphabetical order, with ship, rating, and status (complete or ongoing) in the parenthetical.
We have just one more list after this one! We've so enjoyed putting these lists together for you, and a special thanks goes out to the mothership membership, who were so helpful with their suggestions!
All I Want for Christmas (KagKik; T; complete) by Yukio (Ao3)
Kagome wants to invite Inuyasha to spend Christmas with her in the modern era, but things turn different and Kagome invites someone else.
Coffee, Kisses, and a Side of Christmas Cake (InuKag; Rated T; complete) by @clearwillow/BrigidtheFae (Ao3)
When her plans for Christmas go awry, Kagome finds herself quickly making a friend with the half demon she'd made small talk with at the airport. So why does everyone assume that they're a couple?
I’ll Be Home for Christmas (InuKag; E; complete) by @splendentgoddess
Three long years have passed since the night they shared in her room, protected by the warmth and magic of Christmas Eve. Kagome still dreams of being surrounded by silver and gold, wrapped securely in a blanket of fire-rat red. Off-canon post-manga.
Lost and Found (SessKag; T; complete) by EchoHuntress (Ao3)
After completing the jewel and her mission in the past, Kagome is forcibly removed from the past and thrust back into a present she is lost in. After a beneficial move to the United States to help Kagome heal and finish her education, Kagome steps foot in Japan during Christmas for the first time in over six years. Her mother has surprised her with a trip to a remote ryokan for the holiday, an invitation given by the family of Souta's best friend, Ikuchi. The ryokan merges memories of her shard-hunting days in the past with her present in more ways than one. Will she be able to handle the clash of past and present?
Meet the Parents (SessKag; E; complete) by @effinsusie
Sesshoumaru goes home with Kagome for Christmas.
Merry Christmas, Inuyasha (InuKag; G; complete) by @splendentgoddess
'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the shrine, the Higurashis were preparing a meal fine. Kagome went to retrieve the chicken with care, not knowing a certain hanyou had followed her there... Okay that's enough rhyming. Inu/Kag Fluff! Enjoy!
My Gift is You (InuKag; T; complete) by @sapphirestarxx
Christmas is coming up and Kagome is determined to make it home in time. Inuyasha doesn't want her to go. She has a surprise for him but doesn't want to ruin it...will their misunderstandings ruin the holiday or will they make up in time to spend it together?
Silver and Gold (InuKag; E; complete) by @splendentgoddess
Christmas Eve is a time to celebrate family, love, and togetherness. Not something Kagome gets a lot of while trying to stop Naraku. But everyone deserves the occasional night off, right? Takes place during manga chapter 512.
Text Me Merry Christmas (SessKag; E; complete) by @sereia1313
He’d promised her they’d spend Christmas together, given his word he’d be home within the week, but the meetings had dragged on, advisors and competition alike unsatisfied with insignificant nuances every day, and before he could blink, it was Christmas Eve.
The Way to Her Heart (KogKag; Rated E; complete) by @fawn-eyed-girl
Kagome has invited her boyfriend Kōga to spend the holidays with her family at the shrine.
The only problem? He's never met any of them before.And while he has one idea on how to make a good first impression...
It turns out that the way to win over Kagome's family (and earn her heart forever) is something quite different.
#inu mothership spotlight saturday#inu mothership#spotlight saturday holiday edition#week 5: home for the holidays#holiday fic recs#fic rec lists#fic recs#inuyasha fanfiction
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✨🪐💫 A Field of Stars ✨🪐💫
A story set in a galaxy far, far away…well, many of them. Written for the aib server prompt: Sci-Fi AU
The view from her penthouse in Imperial City was breathtaking. Airi had lived there for a few years and she was still overwhelmed by the vastness of it. Coruscant, the Jewel of the Core Worlds; trillions of citizens, human and alien alike. The city-planet had become the hub of galactic culture, education, finance, fine arts, politics and technology.
But Airi hadn’t moved there to flaunt wealth or mingle with high society, her reason was more pragmatic: Coruscant was home to the Senate Building, if she took her Diplomat career seriously, this is where she had to be. She wouldn’t be heard anywhere else.
So far, it hasn’t been exactly easy to earn her spot. Well-established–and frankly, old–Senators are always ready to tell her she’s too young, too inexperienced, her ideas too harsh, too radical, too alienating.
Kovacs had warned her this would happen. Takeshi Kovacs, a former Protectorate Envoy turned bounty hunter, the man she once believed would be the love of her life. Even then, he had been just another man telling her what she couldn’t do.
Well, fuck him. Fuck them all.
Airi paced from the living space to her bedroom and back again, reciting her next speech under her breath. She would speak at the Senate the next day and there was no room for error.
She raised her voice when he reached her main idea. ‘Just because the elites have made Neon City into their playground where anything goes, that doesn’t mean illegal activities should be tolerated. Crimes related to the drug known as Aurora don’t affect these rich tourists as much as they affect the lives and livelihoods of the most vulnerable sections of the population, and this has to stop.’ She would have to modulate her voice some more, she was almost yelling by the end of it.
People–other diplomats, even Senators–usually asked her why she cared that much about a random city many galaxies away. Well, she would tell them, for one thing she was not going to stand for injustice anywhere. And for another, that was her hometown.
The pleasure city of Neon was a tourist trap that catered to the extravagant tastes of those who could afford all that the city had to offer. And for the locals? Not a lot of options outside fishing for Chasmbass, the source for the hallucinogenic drug Aurora.
Airi might still live there, working for Xenofresh Fisheries if she was lucky, if it hadn’t been for her parents. Her mother wanted her to have a real education, so she’d sent Airi off-world under the care of the Protectorate to study.
It wasn’t as if her life in Neon was too bad, Airi’s father worked for a ship manufacturing company and slowly but steadily managed to rise through their ranks. Meanwhile, as a young girl, Airi spent her days roaming the mean streets of Neon, befriending (or bothering) the hardworking denizens at Ikuchi market, mapping the Ebbside, even venturing into the Underbelly on occasion… and picking up useful skills on the way; she still had a knack for picking locks and hacking into terminals.
A soft beep made her turn around, bringing her back from her memories.
BB-8, the astromech droid that had adopted her (Airi was convinced of this, she hadn’t chosen the little round droid, he had chosen her), had stopped rolling around after her when he realized the pacing would take hours, but he still seemed to be complaining.
‘I know, I know. I won’t be too harsh tomorrow. Well, I will try,’ Airi said, patting the robot.
She hoped she could keep her promise. Her outspokenness had attracted attention from the moment she started speaking up. It earned her many supporters, but many enemies as well. Important ones, the kind who could hire someone to kill her, they had already tried. Why? Well, rich people don’t like it when their source of income is threatened. But as Airi saw it, getting that reaction meant she was going the right way.
Besides, the United Colonies backed her up. They had even sent some of their best Vanguard members to protect her. Which reminded her…
‘Cheer up, BB. We’ll go on a little adventure soon enough.’
After the Senate session, Airi would travel to Neon. She knew some Senators would demand tangible proof of the illegal activities that Airi was denouncing, they wouldn’t ask her to go to Neon City outright but they would heavily imply it, so she had beaten them to the punch, by making travel arrangements. They surely hoped she would suffer some terrible accident over there, but Airi had already contacted the UC.
‘You will meet a member of the Vanguard there,’ the UC contact told her. They hadn’t said who it was. She hoped it was Andrómeda.
Incoming message, the androgynous voice of her penthouse’s AI announced. Airi let the first few words play over the speakers before deleting it. An invitation to a fancy dinner. A date.
She had much to do and… Who had time for love anyway?
#aib rp#aib roleplay#aib sci fi au#monthlyAU001#[in which airi is a space diplomat]#[special thanks to andro ⭐️]#[au elements: Starfield Star Wars and Altered Carbon]
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Ayakashi
So, Ayakashi can refer to several things, as it’s a collective name for Yokai (a type of supernatural entity in Japanese folklore) that appear above the surface of a body of water. What you’ll see if you happen across one of these entities varies from prefecture to prefecture in the country. In the Nagasaki prefecture, this refers to ghost lights, while in Yamaguchi and Saga prefectures the term Ayakashi refers to Funayūrei, or vengeful ghosts at sea. On Tsushima Island, they appear on beaches, and are said to look like a child walking in the middle of a fireball. In coastal Japan, they are said to be ghost lights that appear in the mountains, and if someone was to try and intentionally find one, they’ll disappear. In Konjaku Hyakki Shūi (“Supplement to The Hundred Demons from the Present and the Past”) by Toriyama Sekien, Ayakashi are shown as a large sea serpent, though that could also be referring to a separate cryptid, the Ikuchi.
In the Kaidanoi no Tsue, which is a collection of ghost stories from the Edo period, there is a legend about a certain ship that needed water, and so went onto land. A beautiful woman brought water from a well to the ship. When the boatman was told about this, he said, “There is no well in that place. A long time ago, there was someone who needed water and went up to land in the same way and went missing. That woman was the ayakashi.” Subsequently, the woman chased after the ship, biting into the hull. The crew was able to make their escape by hitting her with an oar.
#nox hawthorne#cryptids#creature feature Friday#writers on tumblr#writer#artist#writeblr#writing#artists on tumblr#art#artwork#Ayakashi
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I finally got my dragon like completed! I'm in love with her!! Created for me by Adriano Lima (@addrianodivino on Instagram)
¤
In-Training: Margomon
Rookie: Mizumon
Champion: Makadramon
Ultimate: Ikudramon
Mega: Azuredramon
¤
Margo means pearl
Mizu is Japanese for water
Makara is a Hindu sea creature
Ikuchi is a water dragon in Japanese mythology
Azure dragon is a dragon in Chinese mythology that represents the east and the spring season
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Character Profile:
Aono Kamiyama (art was drawn by me, please do not repost).
Fandom: InuYasha
Fanfic: Mirror Image
-Basic Information-
Name: Aono Kamiyama
Name Meaning(s): Aono means blue-green, jade green and Kamiyama means God or Upper Mountain.
-Biographical Information-
Birth: March 12th, 1977 in Kyoto Japan
Age: 18; at the start, 19
Occupation: Private tutor
-Physical Information-
Species: Human/Reincarnation
Gender: Female
Height: 163 cm
Weight: 54 kg
Eye Color: Green
Hair Color: Black
-Family-
Grandfather: Seiji Kamiyama
Grandmother: Kurisu Kamiyama
-Skills Information-
Abilities: She manipulates Shikigami.
Weapons: Familiars/demons. She tames one for each of the five elements; earth, fire, water, wind, and void.
-Shikigami (in order of appearance)-
Earth-
Familiar: Chiyu, an earth kitsune.
Chant: Frailty in power
I refuse to accept it
We shall never fall.
Object/medium: a star orb attached to a bracelet around her wrist.
Water-
Familiar: Ikuchi, a massive sea serpent.
Chant: Roaring ocean tides
Pull me into your abyss
But I'm not afraid.
Object/medium: a beautiful scale that she keeps on a necklace.
Fire-
Familiar: Suzaku, a phoenix-like bird.
Chant: Devour me in flames
For if we turn to ash
I won't be alone.
Object/medium: a vermillion feather she keeps in her hair.
Wind-
Familiar: Kamaitachi, multiple yokai.
Chant: Feral like the wind
On the backs of dust devils
A thousand blades cut.
Object/medium: Her breath.
Void-
Familiar(s): Night Parade of 100 Demons
Chant: Their loud drums bring death
Hear their screams of pleasure
Hungry no longer.
Object/medium: the mediums from the other familiars.
-Facts-
Aono is the reincarnation of the heaven-opposing goddess Aina. She is based on Amanozako, a monstrous goddess with a furious temper. Aina means forever and her objective is to unleash the Hyakki Yako, the Night Parade on the world.
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There are just some species out there that seem to have been put on this planet for the main reason of making it more wondrous. Like they are the extra touches from a painter to really make the scene bloom and come to life. Obviously, yes, they actually do play a role in the ecosystem and food web, but I am talking more on whimsy here! Creatures and plants that you just look at and feel like you are witnessing a piece of living art. When you see great flocks of colorful birds take to the skies, or rivers packed with migrating fish as they leap and dance! I can certainly look at all these things and explain their purpose and what they are actually doing, but it does always force me to take a second and really drink in the sight. It always makes me happy when I experience things like this, because some days I feel like I have seen it all, or that I have grown numb to the wonders of nature. When I witness such incredible things, I am reminded that there is still so much to see. And perhaps I am not immune to the beauty and charm, no matter how many times I feel it. In fact, I think I grow more and more susceptible to it, as I always find new ways to fall in love with nature. This entry is on one of those species that really gave me one of those moments. When I stepped into the bustling streets of a local festival, enjoying all the lights, decorations and excited people. Seeing the parades and costumes go by, and then looking up from it all to see several Nectengshe floating through the sky, the stars of this wondrous festival. I would say words can't explain it, but I feel that I could given enough time and ink! What I should say is Eucella won't let me use the incredible amount of words I would need to explain it, so we will just say it was a breathtaking sight. I will always hold this species in a special place in my heart, from that first sight and the extraordinary festivities I got to partake in!
The Nectengshe are often jokingly referred to as "tourist dragons" by the locals, but not meaning that this species is not from around here. What they mean is that outsiders and visitors who aren't familiar with this species will show up, look to the sky and scream "LOOK! DRAGONS!" or "BY THE GODS! DRAGONS!," to which all the locals laugh. Indeed, they find it funny because the Nectengshe are not dragons, not in the slightest. They aren't reptiles, in fact they don't even have bones! They are actually a colonial organism, similar to the Ikuchi, that grows and sticks together to create a serpentine shape. The whole "creature" is just a massive collection of specialized, sacs, tendrils and polyps that work together to act as a single being. By producing a special gas in combination to their incredibly light weight, they can easily float through the air, building and releasing this gas to let them rise and fall as needed. Though this brings to mind the idea of flight, they don't actually do any real flying or soaring. Rather, they prefer to let the wind take them, only using minor movements of their own to keep them upright and in one piece. When you see them live and in the wild, they make you think more of a decoration than a creature, like someone's puppet blew away and is now hanging above your head forever. I will admit, the dangling tentacles do bring to mind streamers, and that many decorations during the festival looked almost exactly like this species.
For what they do, the answer is: not much. They just float through the air and live as long as fate lets them. For food, they use their tangling tentacles to pick up small bits from the air, like pollen, spores, tiny aerial creatures and such. They are adhesive and also have painful stingers for larger prey that gets tangled up. They sometimes eat the clumsy birds and bats that run into them, never picky as long as it doesn't break free from their grip. When a tendril has a hold of a good chunk of food, it retracts upward into the colony body and deposits it. The food will be digested and distributed, while the limb drops back down for more. It gets all it needs from the air around, be it prey or water. Their very slow and carefree looking lifestyle means they don't need a whole lot to get by, so a few days of slim pickings is no big deal for them. Also, the stinging tendrils they have help protect them from aerial predators, that is if something actually decides to attack them. As you can see, the Nectengshe bears a very strong resemblance to the dragons that can be found in this part of the world. Obviously, very few things really tangle with such powerful beasts, and it seems these colonies are trying to get in on that intimidation. Often a single glimpse of a dragon soaring through the sky is enough to make most creatures turn and run, so if the Nectengshe looks enough like it, many predators won't stick around for closer inspection. It is a pretty good trick, and one that has some unforeseen benefits!
Since this species doesn't actually do a whole lot, just float and eat whatever runs into them, it makes sense that people that live around them don't mind them. The worst a Nectengshe can do is accidentally get blown onto their roofs or get tangled in some flags. If one dies and drops upon their heads, it is a problem, but more so for clean up and whatever stings you may get. However, it isn't that people don't pay attention to them, as folks actually do love this species a whole lot! It should be obvious with the festival I was at, which was celebrating the annual bloom of Nectengshe, when this species is most prevalent in their skies! The species is looked upon fondly, as others find them quite beautiful and serene to watch! The other thing to point out is that in this part of the world, most folk actually like and even revere dragons! They see them more as symbols of wisdom, strength and ascension rather than as giant destructive monsters. Yes, they do have their fair share of dragons that do cause death and damage, but it doesn't seem to dampen their overall views. And since the Nectengshe bear a resemblance to these beloved serpents, the species gets to enjoy some of that appreciation too! Like I said, a pretty neat trick! Just float around and do nothing, and still have crowds of adoring fans! Kind of makes me envious some days!
Chlora Myron
Dryad Natural Historian
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"Nectengshe"
So continues the endless journey of posting Not Dragons during Dragon Month. I swear I make real ones! I do! They are just....well.....uh.....hmmmm...
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Stsil
A Bao A Qu
Aatxe
- Khalkotauroi
Abaia
Abere
Abuhuku
Adaro
- Zitiron
Adze
Afanc
Agrippa
Agropelter
Ahuizotl
- Ugjuknarpak
Airavata
Ajaju
Ajatar
Akaname
Akashita
Akheilos
- Isonade
Akhlut (Amarok)
Alp-Luachra
Amhuluk
Amikuk
Ammut
Amphisbaena
- Ouroboros
Anggitay
Aniwye
Aproxis
Apshait
Asanbosam
Asdeev
Aswang (Manananggal)
Awd Goggie
Banaspati
- Soucouyant
Banshee
- Limos
- Pesta
- Nemain
Barghest (Cadejo)
- Cu Sith
- Cwn Annwn
- Osschaert (Pesanta)
Bauk (Nalusa Falaya)
- Gaueko
Baykok
Berberoka
Berserker
- Einherjar
Binaye Ahani
Boitata
Boobrie
- Hverafugl
Bruch
Bubak (Tatty Boggle)
Buckrider
Buggane
Bukavac
Bulgasari
Bunyip
- Dingonek
Burach Bhadi
Burrunjor
- Kasai Rex
Butatsch
Byakko
Cactus Cat
Cacus
- Belacko
Caladrius
- Zhenniao
- Alicanto
Caleuche
Camulatz
Carbuncle
- Arkan Sonney
- Cagrino
Caspilly
Catoblepas
Cherufe
Chipfalamfula
Chochin-Obake
- Aoandon
Chon-Chon
Chupacabra
- Nadubi
Cipactli
Cockatrice
- Basilisk
- Codrille
- Aitvaras (Pukis)
Cuca
Cuero
- Rumptifusel
Curuara
- Inulpamahuida
Cyclops
- Papinijuwari
- Tartalo
Dijiang
- Hundun
Dire Boar (Erymanthian Boar)
- Bonguru
- Babi Ngepet
- Ao-Ao
- Cuchivilu
Djieien
Djinn
Doppelganger
- Fetch
- Frittening
Dorotabo
- Landvaettir
- Ahi At-Trab (Seitaad)
- Tsenagahi (Planctae)
Drop Bear
Dryad
- Radande
- Batibat
- Askafroa
- Yanagi-Baba
- Mandremonte
Dullahan
- Ankou
Ebajalg
- Hala
Echeneis
Egregore
- Ewah
Eintykara
Enenra
Erote
Fachen
Fad Felen
Fafnir
- Pixiu
Fomorian
Fossegrim (Nokken)
- Encantado (Boto)
Fulad-Zereh
Gaasyendietha
Gardinel
Garei
Gargoyle
Garmr
- Orthrus
- Cerberus
Gegenees
Girtablilu
Globster
Gloson
Goblin
- Nuno (Trenti)
- Kobold
- Grindylow
- Curupira
- Ijiraq
- Spriggan
- Pukwudgie
- Eloko (Chaneque)
- Likho
- Dactyl
- Bilwis
- Bugbear
Gold-Digging Ant
Golem
- Invunche
- Wulgaru
- Celedon
- Terra-Cotta
Griffon
- Sak
- Hieracosphinx
Grootslang
Gulon
- Rompo
- Taotie
Haietlik
Hantu Bulan
Harpy
- Siren
- Erinyes (Fury)
- Alkonost
- Lechuza
Heikegani
Hinnagami
- Jenglot
Hinqumemen (Engulfer)
- Umibozu
Hrimpursar
Hyakume
Hydra
- Orochi
- Ladon
- Nyuvwira
Ichneumon
Ikuchi (Ayakashi)
Imp
- Incubus
- Scarbo
- Bushyasta
- Skrzak
- Galtzagorriak
Intulo
Ipetam
Issitoq
- Aghash
- Aten
Itqiirpak
Ittan-Momen
Jba Fofi
- Tsuchigumo
- Aasivak
Jinmenju
- Wak-Wak
- Zaqqum
- Lunantishee
Jinshin Mushi
Jorogumo
Jubokko
Juggernaut
Kamaitachi
Kameosa
Kampe
Kappa
- Suiko
Karkadann
Karkinos
- Saratan
Kelpie (Each Uisge)
- Each Tened
- Helhest
- Apaosha
- Ceffyl Dwr
- Skinfaxi
Kerit
Keukegen
- Otoroshi
Kholkikos
Kikimora
Kirin (Qilin)
Kitsune
- Kumiho
Kongamato
- Ropen
Kurage-No-Hinotama
Lakuma
- Charybdis
Lamia
- Echidna
- Gorgon
Lavellan
Leprechaun
- Gancanagh
- Clurichaun
- Far Darrig
- Amadan Dubh
- Domovoi
Leshy
- Bies
- Anhanga (Waldgeist)
Leucrotta
Libelula Diablu
Longgui
Lou Carcolh
Lusca
- Iku-Turso
- Migas (Tree Octopus)
- Kraken
- Rogo-Tumu-Here
Makalala (Tuyango)
- Colorobetch
Makhai
Mandarangkal
- Empusa
Mandragora (Tiyanak)
- Davalpa
Manticore
- Sphinx
- Piasa
- Lammasu
Mapinguari
Marool
Minotaur
- Erchitu
- Sarangay
Miraj
Mishibizhiw
Mngwa
Morgawr
- Mamlambo
- Mokele-Mbembe
Moskitto (Xan)
Muhuru
- Mbielu-Mbielu
Muirdris
Musca Macedda
- Druj Nasu
Muscaliet
Muse
- Leanan Sidhe
Myrmecoleon
Nakshatra Meenu
Namazu
Nekomata (Cat Sith)
- Kasha (Ovinnik)
Nereid
- Rusalka
Ngoubou
- Odontotyrannus
Nidhogg
Nocnitsa (Mara)
Nosoi
Nuckelavee
Nue
Nurikabe
Olgoi-Khorkhoi (Death Worm)
Olitiau
- Popobawa
- Camazotz
- Guiafairo
Omukade
- Ek-Chapat
- Con Rit
- Kugdlughiak
Oread
- Lampad
Otso
Pard
Penchapechi
Peuchen
- Haemorrhois
- Seps
Piskie (Sprite)
- Ishigaq
- Phooka (Puck)
- Attercroppe
- Tooth Fairy
Polong
Poltergeist
- Dybbuk
- Isogashi
Poludnica (Lady Midday)
Psoglav
Qalupalik
Qinyuan
Qiuniu
Rahara
Raiju
Ramidreju
Rat King
Rawhead (Bloody Bones)
- Stuhac
Redcap
- Ly Erg
Roc (Ziz)
- Minokawa
- Thunderbird (Impundulu)
- Phoenix (Rarog)
- Psonen
- Tsenahale
- Nachtkrapp
- Naujakuksualuk
Rock Bolter
Roperite
Salamander
Salawa (Sha)
Satyr (Faun)
- Shurale (Mahaha)
Sazae-Oni
Scarab
- Khepri
Scorpios
- Sandwalker
Scylla
Sermilik
Shadhawar
Shen
Shinchu
Sianach
- Delgeth
Sigbin
Skinwalker
- Rougarou
- Selkie
- Bouda (Kishi)
Skolex
Sluagh
- Hidarugami
Spartoi
- Gashadokuro
- Tupilaq
- Mekurabe
- Ahkiyyini
Stella
Stray Sod
- Hungry Grass
Succarath
Tarasque
Tesso
Tiddalik
Tlanusi
Troll
- Kayeri
- Kapre
- Porotai
- Aigamuxa
- Yehwe Zogbanu
- Shellycoat
Trolual
- Raudkembingur
- Bakekujira
Umdhlebi
Valkyrie
Valravn
Veela (Sylph)
Velue (Peluda)
Vish Kanya
Vodyanoi
- Bagiennik
- Arzhavennik
- Bolotnik
- Cmuch
Wanyudo
- Ophanim
Water Leaper
Wendigo
Will o Wisp (Luz Mala)
Wyvern (Vouivre)
- Cuelebre
- Tizheruk
- Scitalis
- Knucker
- Suileach
- Caorthannach
Xhumpedzkin (Ix-Hunpedzkin)
Xiao
- Ahool
Xing Tian
Ya-Te-Veo
Yale
Yara-Ma-Yha-Who
Yowie
- Yeti
- Fear Liath
- Hidebehind
Yuki-Onna
Ziphius
Zirnitra
Zlatorog
Zmey
- Azi Dahaka
Zombie
- Draugr
- Mummy
- Topielec
- Corpo-Seco
- Gaki
- Aerico
Cat Sith / Pyrausta / Impundulu / Ninki Nanka / Khodumodumo / Minhocao / Marabbecca / Metminwi / Qupqugiaq / Myling / Moroi / Bloody Bones / Rokurokubi / Ifrit / Ghul / Ghawwas / Tiyanak / Mara / Acheri / Tikbalang / Baku / Calopus / Mahaha / Trollgadda / Tetragnathon / Vatnsandi / Ungaikyo / Naglfar / Oniate / Petsuchos / Sessho-Seki / Waldgeist / Tienlong / Tiamat / Asag / Hongaek / Ga-Gorib / Dalaketnon / Dobhar-Chu / Gbahali / Zheng / Antaeus / Maenad / Green Knight / Tulpa / Hiiden Hirvi /
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FEED ME, STAN | @violeteyedkiller
"I don't like 'em." He's talking about all land-dwellers here. Thankfully it's not an outright hatred just...he finds them so annoying sometimes. "They're...they're okay. They're fine."
Ayumu shrugs, chin still firmly resting against the edge of the dock as the rest of his body remains beneath the waves. "They don't give me food." Which, of course, was not their primary function but he figures it would be nice seeing as if he gets hungry enough he could just drag them down under the water and have them for dinner. "You think I should ssstart givin' 'em a ssscare?" Needle-like teeth snap and Ayumu lets out a little hissing cackle— despite how he may look, he's still young for an Ikuchi, and certainly immature.
#ch: ayumu#violeteyedkiller#here stan. have a lad#give him a can of tuna and he'll be your best friend
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Snakes in mythology. Symbolism of snake
Since there is a snake on Mujin's face in the teaser, we decided to highlight this in a separate post.
Let's consider this an educational moment :3
The symbolism of protection and destruction, which unites all the myths about snakes, shows that the snake has a dual reputation, is a source of power if used correctly, but is potentially dangerous and often becomes an emblem of death and chaos, as well as life. It can be both a symbol of good and a symbol of evil.
An example of the positive symbolism of a snake is the concept of kundalini: a symbol of inner strength, psychic energy, a snake—like tangle of vital energy dormant at the base of the spine.
The Assyrians had a snake as a symbol of life (in Assyrian and Arabic, the word "snake" comes from the root "to live").
In ancient Egypt, the snake is a symbol of the Sun and Osiris himself, as well as a symbol of the heavenly river.
There is a legend in Chinese folklore that snakes reward virtuous people with pearls.
The Japanese emperor bears the title "Mi-kado", which means "son of the snake", because he is attributed to the origin of the heavenly serpent.
If we consider the frightening part of the symbolism of the snake, then it is an obvious prototype of dragons and sea snakes (Western folklore) or snake—like hybrids, such as in Greek mythology the children of the Echidna (Hydra, Chimera) and the snake-tailed dog from the underworld (Cerberus), symbolizing the many dangers that lie in wait for a person in life.
In Iranian Zoroastrianism, the snake is one of the worst omens, foreshadowing the appearance of Satan, and it also symbolizes the darkness of evil.
In Tibetan Buddhism, the "green snake" is one of the three basic animal instincts inherent in man — hatred.
The Chinese genius of evil, proud before the Almighty, Tshi-Seu, is, in turn, a giant serpent. The snake is one of the five harmful animals in China, although it sometimes appears in positive roles. The demon of the Japanese is also a serpent, rebelling out of pride against God.
In Western folklore, the symbolism of the snake is mostly negative. The reason for this is in her forked language, which makes one assume hypocrisy and deception, and poison, which brings unexpected and instant death. The snake is accused of losing God's gift of eternal life because of it, referring not only to the story of Adam and Eve, but also to the Babylonian "Epic of Gilgamesh", whose hero traveled a great distance to find a magical plant that restores youth, and when he found it, he immediately a snake stole it.
Jewish and Christian traditions represent the serpent as an enemy and even identify it with Satan.
The diversity of the snake's symbolism is explained by the fact that it is in constant contact with the forces of the earth, waters, darkness and the afterlife — lonely, cold-blooded, secretive, often poisonous, rapidly moving without legs, capable of swallowing animals many times larger than itself and rejuvenating by shedding its skin.
Snakes are often found as ancestral ancestors (totems) in African and North American legends, as well as in China, where Na Gua and Fu Xi were serpentine ancestor gods, and snakes living in the house, according to belief, were ancestral spirits and brought good luck.
Totemic symbolism combined with the belief that snakes know the secrets of the earth and are able to see in the dark, endow snakes with wisdom or the gift of divination.
The snake coiled around the rod is an alchemical symbol of the Philosophical Mercury in its primary state. The rod is sulfur absorbed by Mercury. The snake is often used as a symbol of healing and medicine.
So, and now directly to the mythological representatives of this species.
This is hardly relevant to Mujin's future clip, but purely out of interest, I decided to look.
In Japan, according to the contents of the bestiary, there are no snakes. They are all dragons to one degree or another, and often aquatic. As one example, we can cite Ikuchi - huge sea monsters that wander in the open sea off the coast of Japan. In the Edo era, there were many stories where they were described as huge fish or some kind of sea snakes. Their bodies are covered in slippery oil that spreads around when they swim in the ocean.
In Korean mythology, the most famous snake is Imugi. He is described as a huge sea creature who dreams of becoming a dragon. However, as befits a living and unsystematic mythology, there is no uniform interpretation of the image of imuga among Koreans. In some legends, for example, it is said that imugi are hornless creatures similar to dragons, but unable to become them because of a curse. Other legends hold the idea that Imugs are "pupae" or "larvae" of dragons. And they will become full-fledged and full-fledged dragons after spending 1000 years in the ocean. In this interpretation of the image, they are depicted as giant good-natured sea snakes that live in the water expanses or even in coastal caves.
In Egyptian mythology, there is a huge serpent Apop, personifying darkness and evil, the eternal enemy of the sun god Ra.
The next mythological serpent is Boytata. In the folklore of the Brazilian Indians, tupi guarani is a giant fiery snake whose body is covered with glowing eyes of the victims it has eaten. (If you combine the glowing eyes around Mujin and the image of a snake on his nose, you get just a similar picture. An interesting coincidence, isn't it?)
Next comes Ermungand, the world serpent from Scandinavian mythology, the middle son of Loki and Angrboda. It is so huge that it encircles the earth (although it is located at the bottom of the sea). According to some versions, it weaves itself around the Yggdrasil tree. According to the myth of the "last battle", in Ragnarok Ermungand will come out of the ocean and poison the sky.
Another mythological world serpent is the Ouroboros. In symbolism, Ouroboros has several meanings. The main one is a reflection of the cyclical nature of the Universe: creation from destruction, Life from Death. The ouroboros eats its own tail to regain life, in an eternal cycle of renewal. In the drawing from the book of the alchemist Cleopatra, the black half symbolically represents the Night, the Earth, and the destructive force of nature, the beginning of Yin; the light half represents the Day, Heaven, the creative force, the beginning of Yang. Also in alchemy, the Ouroboros is used as a purification glyph.
And the last snake that has nothing to do with dragons or a cross between a snake and any other species is Yakul. He swiftly attacks his victim and strikes on the spot.
Also, while I was wooling the bestiary, there was another candidate for the type of spirits invoked by Mujin in the teaser. Latgav - in the folklore of the Filipino people of Sulu, a tall black demon with huge glowing fire eyes.
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