you guys would love my cat Gibby he's a 16 pound elderly tuxedo cat and he drools when you pet him and enjoys eating lettuce

Beast of Bladenboro

The first animal deaths possibly related to the Beast of Bladenboro were reported on December 29, 1953. Witnesses described a creature that was "sleek, black, about 5 feet (1.5 m) long", which killed a dog in Clarkton, North Carolina, approximately eight miles (13 km) from Bladenboro. On December 31, 1953, two dogs belonging to a resident of Bladenboro were found dead with a significant amount of blood near their kennels. 

Their owner reported that the dogs were "torn into ribbons and crushed". “My dogs put up a good fight. There was blood all over the porch, big puddles of it. And there was a pool of saliva on the porch. It killed one dog at 10:30 and left it lying there. My dad wrapped the dog up in a blanket. That thing came back and got that dog and nobody's seen the dog since. At 1:30 in the morning, it came back and killed the other dog and took it off. We found it three days later in a hedgerow. The top of one of the dogs heads was torn off and its body was crushed and wet, like it had been in that thing's mouth. The other dog's lower jaw was torn off.” 

The following day, on January 1, 1954, two more dogs were found dead at a Bladenboro farm, and on the night of January 2, 1954, a farmer reported that a dog of his had been killed.

Two more dogs were found dead on January 3, 1954. An autopsy was performed on one of the dogs and it was reported that "there wasn't more than two or three drops of blood in him [...] The victim's bottom lip had been broken open and his jawbone smashed back."

Further deaths were reported in the subsequent days: on the night of January 5, 1954, a pet rabbit was found "cleanly decapitated and still warm", and on January 7, a dead dog was found in a pasture near the Bladenboro swamp. A goat was also reported to have died with its head flattened.

One local described the animal as "about four and a half feet [1.4 m] long, bushy, and resembling either a bear or a panther", while another person described it as "small" and noted that there was "a little one just like it [...] running beside it." Another local described hearing "a strange noise [...] like a baby crying". Though he did not see the animal, he estimated it was "close to 150 pounds [70 kg], the way it went through the bushes."

Another account detailed in a local newspaper contained the following physical description: It was bout 20 inches [50 cm] high. It had a long tail, about 14 inches [35 cm]. The color of it was dark. It had a face exactly like a cat. Only I ain't ever seen a cat that big. It was walking around stealthy, sneaky...

A group of hunters from Wilmington spent that night tracking the creature for three miles (4.8 km) around swampland. According to them, the tracks showed claws at least an inch (2.5 cm) long and indicated an 80-to-90-pound (35 to 40 kg) animal. The beast's circling movement suggested it might have had offspring or a mate nearby, the hunters said.

On January 5, the beast was witnessed attacking a dog which ran away and was not found. Tracks were seen along a creek bank near one of the attack sites; there were two sets of prints and one was smaller.  Later that day, in the early evening, another resident described "a big mountain lion" near some dogs three houses down. The creature ran toward her, but turned and fled when she screamed. Outside her home, the tracks left in the dirt road were "bigger than a silver dollar" according to Police Chief Fores.

A young boy named Dalton Norton reported seeing what he called "a big cat" on January 6, which "made a noise like a baby crying" on his porch before leaving.

On January 11, two cars stopped for an animal reported to be four feet (1.2 m) long. One of the men in the cars was quoted as saying he animal had "runty-looking ears" and was "brownish and tabby."

On the night of January 3, Police Chief Roy Fores searched for the creature with his dogs, but they reportedly would not follow the trail. "A half-dozen brave youths" and their dogs then spent January 4 searching for the creature, while that night, Fores and eight to ten other officers conducted their own hunt. Hunters who travelled to Bladenboro from Wilmington also searched for the beast that evening, reportedly tracking it for 3 miles (4.8 km) around the swamp.

On the night of January 5, more than 500 people and dogs hunted through the woods and swamps for the creature.

On January 6, more than 800 people turned out to hunt for the beast in the swamps. Fores planned to tie up dogs as bait to lure the creature out, but this plan was not put into action. The hunt itself was also ended by officials due to safety concerns.

On January 7, another 800 to 1,000 people gathered to hunt the creature.

During the evening of the 8th, four fraternity brothers from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill were the only reported hunters. Mayor Fussell officially called off the hunt unless the creature made another obvious kill or there was a legitimate sighting. The armed hunting parties of previous nights had become too large for safety, and Fores received a telegram from a humane society in Asheville, North Carolina protesting his plan to stake out dogs as bait for the creature.

On January 13, Luther Davis, a local farmer, found a bobcat struggling with a steel trap in Big Swamp, four miles (6.4 km) from the city, and shot it in the head. Woodrow Fussell, the mayor of Bladenboro, told newspapers that the beast of Bladenboro had been found and killed. However, it has been questioned whether such a small cat could have killed and mangled the dogs. On the same day, Bruce Soles from Tabor City was leaving Bladenboro when he hit a cat with his vehicle. According to reports, it was "spotted like a leopard," about 20 to 24 inches (50 to 60 cm) high, and weighed between 75 and 90 pounds (35 and 40 kg). He took the cat home with him to Tabor City. Yet a third man, "professional hunter and guide" Berry Lewis, is credited in some newspapers as having killed the animal. There were conflicting reports about whether it was Davis's or Lewis's cat that Mayor Fussell photographed and sent out to the press. Lewis was reportedly hunting in a different part of Bladen county when he shot and killed his bobcat.

Many reported accounts describe the Beast of Bladenboro as feline, but do not agree on any one species.

Halloween Sex Kitten

--A sequel of sorts to “Dressed to Party.”

Contortioness was thrilled when a package arrived for her at Libido League Tower. As one of the League’s newer and less-powerful members, Contortioness had gotten used to being overlooked by the public. When Skarlette City was saved, they cheered for Captain Alpha, the Vixen of Vigor. When the news needed a quote, they interviewed the brilliant Platinum Panther. When they sought inspiration for the power of hard work and determination, they looked up to the non-superpowered archer Flechette. When unspeakable things went bump in the night, they whispered the name of Doctor Q, the Enchantress Exemplar of Earth.

No one noticed simple, flexible Contortioness.

And yet, the package that arrived Halloween afternoon was clearly addressed to her. The envelope contained an invitation to the Skarlette City costume ball, with a card that read “Trick or treat, from one cool cat to another. —A”. The box inside showed the stylized “A” logo of the city’s hottest fashion designer, Aye. Inside was a stylish Halloween costume. It was a sleek cat costume, with sequined tabby stripes, pointed ears covered in rhinestones, and a glittering collar of diamonds with a silver bell. She’d never seen anything so beautiful, let alone hold it in her hand. Even with her powers, Contortioness couldn’t slip into the clothing quickly enough. The costume fit like a dream and Contortioness scampered to the costume ball without mentioning a thing to any of her teammates.

At the ball, the heroine was excited by the pounding music and the sensual rubbing of bodies on the dance floor. During the DJ’s laser light show, she couldn’t take her eyes off the bright red beams.

“I’m so glad you liked my little gift,” said a man’s voice behind Contortioness.

Startled, she leapt and spun to face him. It was the designer Aye, wearing the leather pants and shirtless vest of a lion tamer. A smile broke across the heroine’s face. “Yes. I love the costume. It fits purrrrrrrfectly.” She felt like she was rolling the “R” with her whole body.

“Good. I had to guess at your sizes,” Aye said, stepping close. “You’ll be amazed how I can dress you once I’ve properly measured you—inside and out.” He touched her cheek with his fingertips. Contortioness nuzzled against the touch, her whole face and neck glowing with pleasure.

Somewhere inside, the heroine realized her reactions were odd. She’d never liked Halloween, particularly not the sexy costumes. Why was she doing any of thise?

Click! Aye clipped a silver leash to the diamond collar. Contortioness opened her mouth to protest that the leash was a bridge too far. “Meow,” she said.

“Yes, that’s such a good kitty,” Aye said, pulling her close. “I guess the cat’s out of the bag, but that costume will make you my own personal sex kitten.”

Before Contortioness could register his words, Aye ran his hand through her hair and scratched behind her tender ears. His gentle fingers sent waves of bliss through her body. She writhed with the orgasm that consumed her, the caterwaul escaping her lips drowned by the DJ’s booming bass.

A struggling supeheroine closed her eyes with ecstasy. An obedient sex kitten opened them.

---

Like what you read? Will you buy me a coffee and request something rich to sink my teeth into? Or peek into the depths of my longer fiction?

My newest erotic novel, Libido League #13: Panther’s Passion is now available at Smashwords and Amazon.

The good news: over the past 13 months, Murphy managed to lose a lot of weight on his diet and went from 26 to 19 pounds! I'm so proud of him!

[Image description: Murphy, an abnormally large brown, black, and white tabby cat, screams in his stroller whilst waiting for the elevator to Steph's apartment building because he does not want to go to the vet, 12/14/22. End image ID.]

The bad news: I got fish oil supplements to help with his coat because he still sheds worse than any cat I've ever had and when I was putting it in his food this morning he shoved his head in and got fish oil on it and has now smelled like fish oil the entire day. Cat shampoo and vinegar have both failed. I have to get original Dawn soap to clean his head like if he was a penguin in an oil spill. Please help, he smells.

fire and ice - chapter 12

< Chapter 11 || Index || Chapter 13 >

Fire Heart had found himself unable to get his sister out of his mind. Sleep had been difficult to come by at night, and he woke at dawn the next day with her scent still clinging to his nose. He pushed his way out of the den, hoping the routine of the day would distract him. 

It was another cold, frosty morning. White Flower and Pale Tail were waiting near the camp entrance, preparing to leave on patrol. Mouse Fur padded past on her way to join them and greeted Fire Heart with a cheery mew. Pale Tail called for Swift Bird, who came racing out of his den just in time to follow the patrol as it pounded out of the camp, thundering away into the morning-fresh forest. It was a scene Fire Heart had watched many times.

Brindle Face was just squeezing out of the narrow nursery entrance as Fire Heart padded nearby. A gray-and-white speckled kit unsteadily followed her, then one more. A third kit, pale tabby, tumbled out and fell onto the ground. The queen picked it up by the scruff and gently placed it on its four legs on the ground, then flicked a bit of dust off its tiny nose with her paw. The tenderness of Brindle Face’s action brought Fire Heart’s dream flooding back. His mother had probably done the same for him and his littermates.

Fire Heart was overwhelmed by a pang of envy at the thought that the other cats here all shared something he did not — they were all Clanborn, and they all had kin in the Clan. Fire Heart had always been proud of his loyalty to the Clan that had taken him in and given him a life he would never have known as a kittypet. He still felt that loyalty — he would die to protect ThunderClan — but no one in the Clan understood or even respected his kittypet roots. It made sense, a warrior was to scorn the soft life of a kittypet; but it didn't hurt any less, and they would never understand.

But his sister would have no reason to look down on him for his roots. With an ache in his heart, he wondered what memories they might share. 

Fire Heart heard Gray Stripe’s heavy pawsteps behind him. He turned to greet his friend, stretching his head to touch Gray Stripe’s nose. “Could you cover for me today?”

Gray Stripe looked curiously at Fire Heart. “Why?”

“Oh, it’s nothing important.” replied Fire Heart as casually as he could. “I just wanted to check out something I saw yesterday. If he asks, tell Tiger's Claw I went out hunting.”

Gray Stripe’s eyes squinted. "Alright, but if I have to do apprentice duties for you, you owe me a plump piece of fresh-kill!"

“Thanks, Gray Stripe!” Fire Heart bounded away toward the camp entrance before his friend could remember to ask him where he was going.

  As the Twolegplace came into view through the trees, Fire Heart dropped into a crouch. He opened his mouth and breathed in the cold morning air. No sign of a ThunderClan patrol, and no Twoleg scents either. He relaxed a little.

Slowly he approached the Twoleg fence where he had seen the molly disappear. He hesitated at the bottom and looked around, sniffing the air once more. Then he leaped, landing on a fence post in one easy jump. No Twolegs to be seen — just an empty garden with its strongly scented plants.

Fire Heart felt exposed on the post. The branch of a tree hung low overhead. Its leaves had gone, but it would be easier to hide there. Silently he pulled himself up and lay down to wait, flattening himself against the rough bark. Fire Heart could see a swinging flap in the entrance to the Twolegplace. He had used one just like it as a kit. He fixed his gaze on the flap, hoping his sister’s face would appear at any moment. 

The sun rose slowly into the morning sky, but it did little to warm up Fire Heart. The damp branch was drawing the heat from his body. Perhaps the Twolegs were keeping his sister shut in. After all, she had been expecting kits, at less than a season-cycle old. Was she okay? She must be, right? Housefolk were very protective of their cats. Perhaps the other day she had merely snuck out, and now they shut the flap so she wouldn't leave the den. Fire Heart licked a paw and wondered if he should go back to the camp.

Suddenly he heard a loud clatter. Fire Heart peered down from the branch, and saw his sister pop out through the swinging flap. The fur along his spine rippled with anticipation, and Fire Heart fought to stop himself from leaping down into her garden straight away. He knew he would frighten her, as he had done yesterday. He looked and smelled like a forest cat now, not a friendly kittypet stopping by for a visit.

He waited until his sister had reached the end of the grass, then he crept to the tip of the branch and slipped down onto the fence. Quietly he jumped into the bushes below. Here on the ground, her familiar scent washed over him.

How could he get her attention without frightening her? Desperately he searched his mind, trying to think of the name his sister had been given. Would it even matter? Her Twolegs could call her something entirely different. Fire Heart called softly from the bushes. “Hey! It’s me, Rusty!”

The queen stopped dead and looked around. Fire Heart took a deep breath and crept out from the bushes.

The cat’s eyes widened with terror. Fire Heart knew how he must appear to her — lean and wild, with the sharp forest scents on his pelt. The molly raised her hackles and hissed ferociously. Fire Heart couldn’t help feeling impressed by her courage.

He lowered himself to the ground, forepaws tucked under him, trying to seem unthreatening. "I don't mean any harm, I promise! I just wanted to meet you. I'm Rusty, your brother!"

The kittypet remained tense for a moment. Hope soared in his chest as he watched his sister’s expression slowly change from fear to curiosity.

“Rusty?” She sniffed the air, eyes narrowed warily. Fire Heart took a careful step forward, maintaining his stance submissive. His sister did not move, so Fire Heart edged closer. Still, she held her ground until he was standing only a mouse-length away.

“You don’t smell like Rusty.” she mewed.

“I don’t live with Twolegs anymore. I’ve been living in the forest with ThunderClan. I carry their scent now.” She’s probably never heard of the Clans, Fire Heart realized, remembering his own ignorance before he’d met Gray Stripe in the woods.

The kittypet stretched her nose forward and rubbed her muzzle cautiously along his cheek. “But our mother’s smell is still there.” she murmured, half to herself. Her words filled Fire Heart with happiness, until her eyes narrowed and she took a step backward, her ears flat with distrust. “Why are you here?” she asked.

“I saw you yesterday, in the woods.” Fire Heart explained. “I had to come back to speak with you.”

“Why?”

He looked at her in surprise. “Because you’re my sister.” Surely she must feel something for him?

The brown molly studied him for a moment, curiosity in her eyes. To Fire Heart’s relief, her guarded expression lifted. "My housefolk call me Princess." She introduced herself.

Fire Heart dipped his head in acknowledgement. He didn't know much about kittypet customs, but felt right to show her respect the way he knew. "And I'm known as Fire Heart now." 

"Hm. You’re very thin, Fire Heart.” she mewed critically.

“Thinner than a kittypet, maybe, but not thin for a Clan— a forest cat.” Fire Heart replied. “Your scent was in my dreams last night. I dreamed of you and our siblings and...” Fire Heart paused. “Where is our mother?”

“Nutmeg is still with her housefolk, as far as I know.” answered Princess. "I used to live near her."

Nutmeg! he thought. That's my mother's name!

“What about...?”

Princess guessed what he was going to ask. “... our siblings? I believe at least one of them might live not far from here. I don't head that way much.” she didn't sound very interested.

"Do you know their names?" Fire Heart asked, hungry for more. Princess shook her head, but he couldn't stop his questions now. "Do you know a cat named Jake?" he asked.

Princess paused, tilting her head to the side. "I think Nutmeg mentioned him once?" she replied. "I've never met him, myself. She seemed sad that he passed away, it's all I remember. It was a long time ago, now."

Fire Heart nodded, saddened. He wished there was something more positive he could tell Tall Tail about the tom. Whoever Jake was, his mother had known him, and he had been important for the WindClan leader.

They sat silently for a moment, then Fire Heart asked. “Do you remember the soft bedding of our mother’s basket?” 

He felt a flicker of guilt about longing for such kittypet softness, but Princess purred. “Oh, yes. I wish I could have it for my own kitting.”

Fire Heart’s discomfort faded. It felt good to be able to talk of such a tender memory without shame. “First litter?” he asked, then realized what a foolish question that was.

Princess nodded, uncertainty showing in her eyes. Fire Heart felt a wave of sympathy. “You’ll be fine.” he mewed softly. “You look as if your Twolegs treat you well. I’m sure your kits will be healthy and safe.” I hope , he added to himself. If she were his clanmate, she would sleep in the nursery now, watched over by the capable paws of the healers and older queens. They'd be able to quell her anxieties and give her any herbs for any discomfort. Here, he could only hope the strange Twolegs cared enough to keep her happy and healthy.

Princess didn't reply. She moved closer to him, pressing her fur against his flank. Fire Heart felt his heart swell with emotion as he gently ran his tail down her back. For the first time since he was a kit, he caught a glimpse of what the Clan cats must take for granted: the closeness of kinship, a common bond determined by birth and heritage. 

He remembered what Misty Step told him the day before about her littermates, and was overcome with an urge for his sister to know about the life he led now. “Do you know about the Clans who live in the forest?”

Princess gazed at him, mystified. “I've heard tales of wildcat groups from my neighbors. They're real?”

Fire Heart nodded. “There are four Clans altogether.” He went on, the words tumbling out. “In ThunderClan, my Clan, we take care of each other. Younger cats hunt for elders and queens, warriors protect the territory from other Clans, and kits stay guarded in the camp until they're old enough to train. I joined as an apprentice and trained all greenleaf to earn my Clan name and become a warrior.” Fire Heart could see by her bemused expression that his sister couldn’t understand everything he was telling her, yet her eyes brightened with pleasure as he spoke.

“It sounds as if you enjoy your life.” she mewed in softly. She gazed contemplatively at the woods, with eyes the same shade of bright green as his own.

"Do you enjoy your life?" He asked her. Did she feel the same urge to have more that he had felt when he was a kittypet?

Princess hesitated, then nodded. "I love my housefolk a lot. But it's been difficult lately. I just moved here, from my previous home, soon after I learned I'm expecting. It's a lot to adjust to at once." She turned to face him. "I can't say I really understand you, but you seem earnest, brother. It'll be good to have a friendly face around in a new place." Princess purred. Fire Heart matched her purr happily. 

A Twoleg voice called from the house. Fire Heart instantly darted under the nearest bush.

Princess eyed him, amused, then turned her muzzle towards the den. “I should go. They’ll be worried if I don’t go back.” She glanced at her swollen belly, softness and concern in her gaze. "It's my feeding time, and they need it as much as I do."

Fire Heart looked out from beneath the bush. “Go, then. I have to return to my Clan anyway. But I’ll come back and see you.”

“Yes, I’d like that!” Princess called over her shoulder. She was already trotting back toward her Twoleg nest. “Good-bye!”

“See you soon.” Fire Heart called. His sister disappeared from view, and he heard the swinging flap slap shut behind her.

Once the garden was silent, Fire Heart crept through the bushes to the fence. He jumped over it and ran into the forest. Memories of kithood scents crowded his mind, suddenly more real than the scents of the forest around him.

He thought back to the Twoleg den where Princess lived. It wasn't too far from where he used to live. If he hadn't left to join ThunderClan, perhaps one day he'd have found her out on a stroll, and the two of them would have been able to get to know each other much sooner.

Fire Heart paused at the top of the ravine and looked down at the ThunderClan camp. He didn’t feel ready to go back yet. He was worried that it would all seem strange to him. I’ll go and hunt , he thought. The Clan would welcome any extra fresh-kill. He turned away and headed back into the forest.

  When he finally returned to camp, he carried a vole and a wood pigeon in his mouth. The sun was setting, and the Clan cats were gathering for their evening meal. Gray Stripe sat alone beside the nettle clump near the warriors' den, a fat chaffinch at his paws. Fire Heart nodded to him as he padded across the clearing to the pile of fresh-kill that had already been collected.

Tiger's Claw was sitting below the Highrock, his amber eyes narrow. “You have been out of camp since dawn.” he meowed as Fire Heart dropped his catch onto the pile. “Where were you?”

Fire Heart returned Tiger's Claw’s gaze. “It seemed a good day for hunting — too good to waste.” he replied, his heart thudding in his chest. “The Clan needs all the fresh-kill it can get at the moment.”

Tiger's Claw nodded, suspicion darkening his eyes as he looked down at the pile. “That's hardly a whole day's haul. Don't think that leaving camp before I assign patrols will let you do whatever you like with your day." His lip curled, a sharp fang poking out of his lips. "I haven't forgotten that little stunt you pulled at Thunder Blue Fur's den the other day. You're a warrior now, you have to pull your weight. Leaf-bare doesn't care about your delusions. As a matter of fact, since you seem to like being out early so much, you can join the dawn patrol tomorrow.”

“I understand, Tiger's Claw,” Fire Heart meowed. He dipped his head respectfully, resentment burning in his belly. “I’ll be there.”

“Good.” The deputy turned his head and looked around the camp. Fire Heart picked up the fresh vole and carried it over to eat next to Gray Stripe.

“Find what you were looking for?” asked Gray Stripe curiously.

“Yes.” He pushed his vole toward Gray Stripe. "I promised you a piece of fresh-kill. Want to swap?"

Gray Stripe's eyes gleamed as he smelled the still warm vole. "Don't mind if I do!" The two friends exchanged prey and began to eat.

As he crunched on the chaffinch, Fire Heart scanned the clearing. He could see Sand Storm and Dusty Earth crouched nearby. Dusty Earth was busy ripping apart a rabbit. Fire Heart caught Sand Storm’s eye but she looked away quickly.

Frost Shine's kits were eating fresh-kill together near the nursery. They were looking more like apprentices each day, and they'd been eating only fresh-kill a good while now. The gray kit, Blazing Cinder, was meowing enthusiastically to her littermates as they ate. Bracken Leaf, a golden-brown tabby, nodded along while the other two kits looked at each other with amusement. The kit with a nicked ear, Thorn Claw, meowed something that made Blazing Cinder puff up and leap at him, leaving Bright Flame to quickly reach for their meal before the two kits rolled over it.

Seeing the young siblings together, so friendly and carefree, reminded Fire Heart once more of Princess, and for the first time the familiar sights of his clan made Fire Heart feel uneasy. He had been careful to lick his sister’s smell from his fur before returning to camp, but it was her scent that lingered in his nostrils as the sun disappeared over the distant horizon. 

He had found the closeness he had missed, but it had given shape to a sense of loneliness that, until now, had lain vague and nameless in his heart. 

Were the deep-rooted memories he shared with Princess stronger than his loyalty to the Clan?

Blue Desert Books and this little chonk are forever intertwined.📚

Living in Portland was brutal, not necessarily because of the people or the climate, but the whirlwind of life events that hit all at once when I moved there. Once my living situation settled I went to the @aspca determined to “just look” but ready to adopt when the right one came along. I saw a pair of orange tabby’s in one of this big displays, and asked to see one. They put me in the little room, then came in to tell me the kitten I was looking at had just been adopted, but there was another one in the same kennel.

He was 9mos old, and had been returned twice already.

When they brought him to the to room, he immediately b-lined it for the farthest corner under a bench, but we hung out for a few minutes and he warmed up a little.

I don’t know how, I just knew he was perfect.

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I was so broke at the time (hence the going just to look) there was a woman behind me at the register who gave me the an extra $15 to get the full kitten setup kit.

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I was living in a trailer at the time and was so paranoid the air conditioning wasn’t working well enough I drove home every day on my lunch break just to make sure he was ok. Shortly thereafter we had to move again, but this time we moved into a little studio apartment with a beautiful little patio that had an amazing view of the apartment complex dumpsters.

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There was a goodwill down the street, with a “vintage books” shelf that I loved to go peruse and whenever I felt isolated, depressed, or lonely I would splurge the $5 I could spare to buy one.

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With the help of little (he’s not little anymore he’s a good 13 pounds now) Archie and thrift store books, the absolute rubble that was my self confidence and mental health began to rebuild.

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We have moved 7 times and 3 states since then, and I swear to god I don’t know what I would do without this derpy mildly overweight anxiety riddled tabby cat and this #bookstagram community.

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Adopt don’t shop for books and cats. Please consider donating to the ASPCA so other broke ambitious people can find their furry soul mates.

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American Bobtail: Origin, size, weight, Personality, Care Full Info

The American Bobtail is an unusual breed of domestic cat that was developed in the late 1960s. It is most notable for its stubby “bobbed” tail, about one-third to one-half the length of a normal cat’s tail. This is the result of a genetic mutation in the cat’s body that affects tail development, as in the Manx cat.

Despite the similar name and physical type, the breed is not related to the Japanese bobtail – the breeding programs are completely unrelated, and the genetic mutation that causes the bobbed tail is known to be different because the mutation that causes the tail of the American bobtail is dominant, while the mutation that causes the Japanese bobtail tail is recessive.

American Bobtails are a very robust breed, with short and long hair coats. Their coat is shaggy rather than dense or fluffy. They can have any color of eyes and coat, with a strong emphasis on the “wild” tabby appearance in visible animals.

ORIGIN: United States

HEIGHT: 9–10 inches

WEIGHT: 7–16 pounds

SIZE: Medium to Large

LIFE SPAN: 13–15 years

COLORS: White, black, blue, red, cream, chocolate, lavender, cinnamon, fawn, plus various patterns and shadings

Breed Characteristics

American Bobtails are ideal pets for almost anyone in any living situation. These tough, big cats adapt beautifully to family life with children or other pets, but they also bond deeply with single humans.

Because of their open, friendly nature—even with strangers—American Bobtails are often employed as therapy cats.

History

The American bobtail received little attention until recently, so many people are surprised to learn that the breed has been in North America since the 1960s. Because of their haphazard debut, however, American bobtails are now starting to come into their own.

The original bobtail was a short-tailed brown tabby male named Yodi, who was found in a motel in Arizona after being dropped off by a kid from a nearby reservation.

A couple met Yodi while they were vacationing at a motel. Yodi’s parentage and lineage were unknown, but he was rumored to be a bobcat/domestic cat hybrid due to his feral appearance and short, bobcat-like tail.

While it is possible for domestic cats to breed with bobcats, such hybrids, especially first-generation males, will almost certainly be sterile. It is more likely that Jodi’s short tail arose as a spontaneous mutation in the domestic cat population.

Impressed by Yodi’s friendly personality and the short stub of tail, the couple took him home with them. Once home, Yodi impregnated the family’s Seal point Siamese.

This first litter contained some normal-tailed and some bobtailed kittens, suggesting that the gene governing Yodi’s bobbed tail was dominant, as her Siamese had no history of short-tailed ancestors. Only one copy of the dominant gene was required for the trait to appear in the offspring. They chose the name American Bobtail for the breed.

The original lines of Yodi and his descendants became inbred and unhealthy. The focus then became on making the breed more healthy and Yodi-like: a large, wild-looking tabby with long hair and a bobbed tail. Healthy cats have rounded brows from forehead to eyelid, giving them a “hunting look” that enhances their feral appearance.

American associations

The American bobtail is recognized by four North American associations. The new and improved American bobtail comes in all colors, and categories, and has the sweet demeanor but wild look of a bobcat. They have both long and short coats.

more details:https://animalatoz.com/american-bobtail/

American Bobtail: Origin, size, weight, Personality, Care Full Info

The American Bobtail is an unusual breed of domestic cat that was developed in the late 1960s. It is most notable for its stubby “bobbed” tail, about one-third to one-half the length of a normal cat’s tail. This is the result of a genetic mutation in the cat’s body that affects tail development, as in the Manx cat.

Despite the similar name and physical type, the breed is not related to the Japanese bobtail – the breeding programs are completely unrelated, and the genetic mutation that causes the bobbed tail is known to be different because the mutation that causes the tail of the American bobtail is dominant, while the mutation that causes the Japanese bobtail tail is recessive.

American Bobtails are a very robust breed, with short and long hair coats. Their coat is shaggy rather than dense or fluffy. They can have any color of eyes and coat, with a strong emphasis on the “wild” tabby appearance in visible animals.

ORIGIN: United States

HEIGHT: 9–10 inches

WEIGHT: 7–16 pounds

SIZE: Medium to Large

LIFE SPAN: 13–15 years

COLORS: White, black, blue, red, cream, chocolate, lavender, cinnamon, fawn, plus various patterns and shadings

Breed Characteristics

American Bobtails are ideal pets for almost anyone in any living situation. These tough, big cats adapt beautifully to family life with children or other pets, but they also bond deeply with single humans.

Because of their open, friendly nature—even with strangers—American Bobtails are often employed as therapy cats.

History

The American bobtail received little attention until recently, so many people are surprised to learn that the breed has been in North America since the 1960s. Because of their haphazard debut, however, American bobtails are now starting to come into their own.

The original bobtail was a short-tailed brown tabby male named Yodi, who was found in a motel in Arizona after being dropped off by a kid from a nearby reservation.

A couple met Yodi while they were vacationing at a motel. Yodi’s parentage and lineage were unknown, but he was rumored to be a bobcat/domestic cat hybrid due to his feral appearance and short, bobcat-like tail.

While it is possible for domestic cats to breed with bobcats, such hybrids, especially first-generation males, will almost certainly be sterile. It is more likely that Jodi’s short tail arose as a spontaneous mutation in the domestic cat population.

Impressed by Yodi’s friendly personality and the short stub of tail, the couple took him home with them. Once home, Yodi impregnated the family’s Seal point Siamese.

03/01/2021: About Me

Hey. So, I’ve kind of already done something like this before, but figured I’d update. This isn’t your traditional “get to know me”/ “about me” post so if you want to make one yourself, feel free to copy. While I do not intend on going into any graphic detail, I will put a Trigger Warning/Content Warning here.

 Who are you? Tell me about yourself

I go by Star

32 yr old, cis female, United States

Straight

Currently a veterinary assistant at a spay and neuter clinic

Currently going to school for Health Information Management so I can eventually become a medical biller/coder

In a relationship; boyfriend of 7 years [and yet it is complicated]

I have two orange male tabby cats that, while they can be little kitty brats, do give me a sense of joy in life.

 No, really…tell me about yourself

292 pounds at 5 foot 6 inches tall (this is the heaviest I have ever been in my entire life. It is not a good feeling)

Harmer of self since the age of 15, with periods of recovery/non-injury

Hating my body/self since I was extremely young [maybe 7 years old; I remember writing in my diary “I need to go on a diet” or “On Monday, I start my diet”; without any realization of what it means. But always felt like the ugly duckling and was always about 20 pounds heavier than the other girls in my class/age-range] 

Wasn’t really allowed to date while living with my parents [I lived with them until I was 24 so you can do the math there….didn’t have my first kiss until I was like 22, didn’t have an actual intimate relationship until I was 23/24] 

Never been officially diagnosed with anything; despite an episode of harm which landed me into the emergency room and then to a mental health facility (you’d think they’d diagnose me with some kind of *something* while I was there but…nah. It was basically, show up to group and be nice/quiet and if you want to leave you can since you voluntarily came here. I stayed for a day and a half, expecting to get help but didn’t really get it other than “you need to learn to communicate with people and people need to take the time to hear you speak”. And that day and a half cost me almost $5,000 and I don’t have insurance so ofc I’m not going to stay longer. I was lucky that they had a financial aid type thing and that I qualified; they basically wrote off the debt and all I was responsible for was the ER visit and paying the doctor to patch me up). Still, it would be nice to know EXACTLY what’s going on with me mentally [Am I bi-polar? Do I have an anxiety disorder? Am I on the spectrum? Do I have BPD?]

What’s your trauma?:

Emotionally neglected child who grew up into an angry and depressed teenager

Essentially forced to become a third parent/default babysitter to my siblings [one older sister, two younger Autistic brothers] at the age of 8, as my parents didn’t feel they could trust my sister to care for us, but trusted me.

Harmer of self since the age of 15.

Ideation of disordered eating between ages of 13-16 [again, I remember looking into Ana and Mia and writing in a diary that my goal was to “become Ana”]. 

Sought approval from father by being a “good kid” and never getting into trouble and trying to get nothing less than perfect straight As in all my classes from 10th grade [sophomore year in high school] onward. 

Sought attention from older men, since boys my age didn’t like me and were terrified of how intimidating my father was (like I would be 16-18 and chatting with guys 20-28 years old; one guy coerced me into phone s3x at the age of 16, he was 26 and a member of my church who has had a reputation for doing this to young girls but nothing was ever done about him). 

Currently an unhappy, socially awkward, adult who is trying very hard to make a 7 year relationship with an alcoholic work but am also talking with another man who lives over 1,000 miles away [it started off as very “mature”/”adult” talking and has now regressed back to “get to know you”/”being friends first”; he has stated that he is not interested in pursuing women or a relationship because of his own hurt and break ups but also is not opposed to the possibility of a relationship at some point – seems very indecisive about what he wants or is trying to appear guarded but it’s starting to weaken the more often we talk]

I’m basically chasing after external love and approval that I’ve never properly received while also not loving myself.

 Why are you here on Tumblr?

To vent, like most people here. To express my thoughts and feelings that no one else really cares to listen to. To get better. To get worse (it’s kind of weird, like….I want to write down my thoughts and feelings so that I don’t keep it bottled up and end up hurting myself again and yet….I seek out triggering things; maybe because deep down I think that maybe if I get really really bad someone will notice….someone will finally care about me…..) To maybe help someone so they don’t end up like me. To be a “big sister” or other type of support to those who need it.

 What do you want to say to the people reading this/following you?

You deserve better and I’m so incredibly sorry that the people in your life have let you down so much. You deserve to have the hurt in your heart and in your mind fully healed. You deserve a chance at life. You all are so young and you do have potential to live a good and interesting life. I know it’s hard to believe, I know it’s hard to see your self-worth or to even think you have any worth beyond what people can take from you; but you ARE worth it. If you want to recover and heal, I hope you’re able to do so and offer my support and wish you the absolute best. If you’re not ready to recover (I’m sure as f not), then I can at least sit with you as we slowly work on bettering ourselves. I know I’m just some old random bish on here, but I do worry about you guys – especially if you go offline for days/weeks/months or if your account is no longer active. I want you guys to be safe and happy. I want that for myself too. And we will have it….one day…..someday.

 And just so we’re absolutely crystal clear: I will NOT be your coach. I will NOT encourage you to get worse [and any and all negative content or “meanspo” is directed towards me and ONLY me]. If you’re looking at my blog and thinking that you can ask that of me, I’m very sorry but you are wrong. I like to live by a certain motto: “Do no unnecessary harm unto others, be it Man or Beast.” And if you can’t get on board with that, then maybe it’s best you move on past my blog here. Don’t get me wrong, I offer you much love and support and hope you take the chance to get better and live a good life; but I will not enable you. I will not degrade you nor encourage you to get worse. I will not look at your young life and think “Hm, ya know, I had to suffer with some unnecessary bullsh*t; time to spread it around! Let’s toughen these kids up! If I had to suffer, so do you!” Seriously, F that mindset. That’s not my deal, that’s not the vibes I’m trying to send out into the world.

 If you’ve made it this far, thank you. I hope that I can be an ally and source of support for you. If you’ve read this far and feel like maybe my blog isn’t for you/it’s triggering or upsetting or whatever, you’re absolutely allowed to unfollow. I want you to do what is best for you. I’m not about that “tumblr fame” or whatever bullsh*t.

 I’m just a broken person trying to make a broken world a little less broken.

 Thank you for reading.

My 15 year old cat is getting surgery Thursday for removing a growth on top of his head that the vet can’t identify. I would very much appreciate any kind thoughts or prayers towards his surgery. His name is Mister Morris and I’ve been his mom for 12 years. He was thrown out of a car in front of me onto my farm in 2008. He was 2-3years old then. Making him around 13-15, but I truly believe he is 15.

He has been with me for 12 years. My whole adolescence. I just want the best for him, hence going with a surgery to remove the mystery lump.

Being a kitty who is 15.2 pounds, I was promised he would be just fine under anesthesia. Although I’m still really terrified. He will get the surgery this Thursday, and be able to come home that evening, if it’s problem free.

Any thoughts or prayers or good vibes you can send my baby boy, I would appreciate. His “paper” name is indeed Mister Morris, but I call him Momo for short. He’s a large orange tabby, and has survived Kidney Stones, Feline Respistory Syndrome, Sepsis involving high fever and abscesses along his sides, and also being bitten by a coyote when he was 4.

Character sheet:

Basics:

Name: Death Mime Dream

Pronounced: Deth myme dreem

Nicknames:Dream, dreamer, kitten

Gender: genderless shapeshifting eldritch creature, chooses to present as androgynous or male usually.

Height:varies, usually stays at 4’2” or so.

Weight: varies, tends to stay light for acrobatic and climbing purposes. Usually 40-80 pounds, but ranges up to several tons

Age: 54, a double sleep cycle for his parent. Still considered an toddler by his race.

Zodiac: Virgo( astrology)metal aspect moon rabbit (Chinese astrology)

Languages: feline, human(various dialects) eldritch common, eldritch elder god, abyssal, celestial, but mostly he speaks a childish chirping mix of English and cat.

Physical characteristics:

(Using most common form)

Hair: soft, fur-like red-gold

Eyes:teal, but can become orange as well

Skin: palest cream, with a light blush of kitten fur.

Body type: lithe, slim, acrobatic.

Accent: he likes to chirp and meow like a cat, and he purrs.

Dominant hand: yes. All of them. (Two in human form)

Scars: it’s hidden by hair, but he has one along the right side of his head, forehead to behind his ear.

Tattoos:do the faint tabby markings of his fur count?

Birthmarks: he was born with clown makeup markings on his face, and tabby stripes along his back.

Childhood:

Born:Derry, Maine

Hometown: he wanders, but has decided he likes Remy’s ‘nest’ the most.

Birth weight: n/a

Birth length:n/a

First words: a series of paint blistering eldritch words, but mostly, it translated to ‘mama’.

Siblings: thousands. Many adopted by himself.

Parents:only one. The eater of worlds.

Parental involvement: he was stolen as a hatchling, and injured. Spent his life raised by circus clowns.

Adult life:

Occupation: acrobat, theif, eldritch horror, cat deity

Friends:Remy, Pennywise, the midnight circus cast, a few other eldritch clowns, and at least one Deadpool.

Family: Pennywise

Relationships: lots of friends! Remy, Remy’s cats, the loser’s club, Mister Arkady( the ringmaster) Curley, Buster, Jangles, and the rest of the midnight circus clowns, miss Lila, and well..,it’s a long list!

Finances: he has little to no concept of money

Drives: Nope.

Criminal record: you have to be seen or caught to be one.

Misc:

Theme song: https://youtu.be/MuL8khTpOOY

Hobbies: spinning and weaving his spider silk, helping cook, helping in general, playing with cats, petting ALL the dogs, and generally being cute.

Mental issues: due to head trauma, the parts allowing him to age, or reason beyond a young child are damaged. He’s forever a 7 year old trapped in a 13 year old body.

Physical issues: see above.

Self confidence: plenty! He’s too adorable and friendly!

Romance and sex:

No. He’s a child.

Tagged by: @bourbonstreetdevil

Tagging: anyone up to the challenge!

fuck you im doing all the cat questions

1. Name? Dmitri Ivanovich Victorovich Aslanov 2. Fur color? Grey! 3. Any family you know (other than you)? His brother Nemo :D 4. Age? 4! 5. Favorite toy? He loves this fucking string but he can’t play it because then he turns into a string monster and he ONLY wants to play string and he’ll wake me up at all hours to play string. other than that, dry spaghetti noodle, little mouse 6. Nicknames? Mr. Meow, Meow Meow Man, Baby, Bubba, Smelly Pooper, Sir Baby, Mr. Baby 7. Cinnamon roll or problematic fave? oh 10,0000% problematic fave he’s evil 8. Length of fluff? not a floof, he’s a Sleek Boi 9. Any funny habits? he just holds his mouse in his mouth and stares out the window at birds??? also he plays fetch 10. How old were they when you met? 8 weeks! 11. What does their food bowl look like? its just a lil blue plastic one with two areas 12. Indoor or outdoor cat? Indoor 13. Recent picture? i cant figure out how to insert that into this post 14. Old picture? see above 15. Cuddly? He snuggles me before I wake up and before I go to bed but he’s not a lap cat. He just bites me instead lmao he can’t handle the love 16. Ever changed their name? No 18. Eye color? Yellow 19. How do they express love for you? Following me around and meowing at me and giving me baths  20. How do you express love for them? so many sweet kisses  21. Any theories on what breed? His dad is a Russian Blue and his mom was feral, we think tabby but not sure, he’s got the Russian Blue genes for sure but he has little stripes on his tail 22. Do they ever wake you up? oh my god my alarm clock has four paws and his name is dmitri 23. How much do they meow? SO MUCH he’s so talkative 24. Any hiding spots? Under my chair and sometimes in the wardrobe 25. Do they enjoy guests? Not really, he’s a little scaredy cat but will come out after an hour or so  26. Lofty objects to sit on? The top of the bookshelf and the fridge 27. Wear a collar? no he nekky (and describe collar?) 28. How much shedding? no shedding 29. Do they enjoy brushing? No he tries to bite the brush 30. Ever drink from the toilet? No 31. How do they get your attention? Meowing or just jumping up onto my computer while I’m on it  32. Embarrassing thing they’ve done? Cats don’t feel shame 33. Weirdest thing they try to eat? MEDICINE child.......... 34. Are they like your siblings, children, or friends? my son  35. What time do they eat breakfast? 7:00 AM 36. Do you cut their nails? yeah i have to this bitch is SHARP 37. Do you think they understand you? definitely a few words....he knows gentle and no and stop and breakfast lmao  38. Ever make fun of them? No i love him  39. Do you take their picture often? Yes!!!!!!!! A photogenic boi 40. Ever hiss at you? hmmm one time when he got REALLY scared but not usually 41. Ever try to scratch or bite you? every single day but its not hard, its love bites 42. If you try to grab their paw, what do they do? Let me hold it  43. Do they ever eat bugs? Yes  44. Canned or dry food? Both, he gets a little dry food in the morning along with canned food and then at evening just canned food 45. Weight? about 16 pounds 46. Ever got lost? No but one time he got up on the roof and I freaked out 47. Do you buy them presents? Yes 48. Do they respond when you call? Yes! 49. Do they ever see other cats? He used to live with my moms cats and his brother stayed sometimes. Im gonna get him a friend 50. Declawed? no this is so evil  51. Funniest expression? his goblin face 52. Favorite place to be pet? butt scratch 53. Worst thing they’ve destroyed? my grandma’s $4,000 hearing aids 54. Give them a head kiss. Done! 55. What time of the year is most exciting for them? march bc the birds come back lmao 56. Are they good at hunting real prey? He is BugKiller extraordinaire. He watches the birds but does not attack 57. Do they ever attack nothing? yes 58. What are they doing right now? sitting at the window watching birds 59. How long have you had them? 4 years (omg!) 60. If you could have them stay as a kitten forever, would you? Hmmmmm idk he had REALLY sharp claws but he was so teeny tiny!!!!!!!!!! I love him now but he was definitely more work as a kitten. I mean he’s still work he’s a kitten on the inside 61. Ever baby-talk to them? Omg yeah I have the worst cat voice 62. Favorite napping position? Curled into a teeny ball like a dragon!!!!!!!!! 63. Have you ever stepped on their paw? Yes :( 64. Ever tripped you on stairs? Omg yeah 65. Any ear hair? YEAH little tuft 66. Favorite view from a window? Birds 67. Describe why they are precious. Because he has the best beans and he wakes me up with snuggles!!!!!!!! He talks big but he always lets me give him sweet head kisses and he licks me after he bites me bc he just cant handle all that love!!!!!!!! 68. Fit the cat stereotype? No hes too evil 69. Chaotic neutral? Chaotic evil 70. Do they enjoy following/ keeping you company? Oh yes what is space 71. Are you their favorite human?  Most definitely. He loves me a little too much 72. Do they like tv? No he will Not Be Fooled 73. Favorite noise to make? this tiny baby meow just to let me know he’s there 74. If they were a Neko Atsume cat, what would their momento be? its been too long since Ive played this game and idr what this means!

Exercise Isn’t All Bad

This is the story for the winner of my giveaway! The request was a date between Sans and a trans-Neko boy name Neeko. I had a lot of fun writing it, and I hope it’s well received. Thanks so much!

@arriesmain

           The Surface was more beautiful than any monster could possibly have imagined. Emerging from the dank caverns that they had called home for centuries, the monsters were greeted by crisp, fresh air and a bright blue sky, unlike anything they had seen before. Many tears had been shed and monsters were welcomed into the world by humanity. It was the perfect ending to their story and it was time for the “Happily Ever After” that they had all been dreaming of.

           For one monster in particular, it was time for a happy ending to his own story. Once the majority of monsters had gotten settled into rooms at the local village’s inn, Sans stepped up to the door of a special monster, knocking once, twice, three times. The door was soon opened by an orange tabby whom he’d been seeing on and off for some time now.

“Hey Neeko,” Sans greeted him with his typical, lazy grin, offering a bouquet of sunflowers to him. “I saw these and they reminded me of you.” A hint of nervous energy caused his free hand to tremble, and he stuck it into his pocket in hopes that it wouldn’t be noticed.

“Hey Sans,” Neeko grinned, leaning against the doorway. “Thanks, these are beautiful… Nothing like the echo flowers.” The tabby accepted the sunflowers, looking at them fondly, fingering a soft petal. He forced his gaze away from the pretty surface flower, grinning in return. “You want to come in? What brings you here?”

“Oh nah, that’s alright,” Sans shook his head, sticking his other hand into his pocket to avoid fidgeting with it. “I actually came by to say I’m planning to go to the gym in the village in the morning, and I wanted to see if you wanted to come with me.”

Neeko had to laugh, “You going to the gym? You hate the gym, why would you want to go there?”

“What, I’m not allowed to try something new?” Sans joked, but soon, a light blue color flushed across his cheekbones. “Alright, you got me. I figured you’d want to go, I know you just can’t weight to check out the gym on the Surface. I’m sure it’s got a lot more to it than the one in the Underground.”

The tabby chuckled at the pun. “Is this a date?” He teased.

“Maybe, if you want it to be. How about I swing by around ten?” Sans suggested hopefully, but he would not be so lucky.

“Ten? That’s way too late to be going to the gym.”

“Are you sure?”

“How about eight? You’re lucky I don’t say six,” Neeko winked, grinning at him.

Sans shook his head, rolling his eyes. “Fine, but I still think it’s too early to be getting up. Shouldn’t we be relaxing now that we’ve gotten up to the Surface?”

“Nope, now’s the perfect time to get into shape. I’ll see you tomorrow,” Neeko replied cheerily, and Sans leaned up to plant a kiss upon his cheek.

“See you tomorrow,” the skeleton returned, quietly congratulating himself on a successful mission as he walked away to meet his brother in their designated room.

The following day began bright and early for Sans. Woken by his alarm, he quickly turned it off before it could wake his sleeping brother across the room. Pausing to stare at the sunlight streaming through the window, he was in awe of the sun beams that touched the bed beside him. They successfully put him in a better mood as he (reluctantly) freed himself from the warmth of his covers, donning his shorts, an old t-shirt, and a pair of tennis shoes instead.

           A sleepy yawn would erupt from him as he rubbed the tiredness from his eye sockets with both hands. Stepping out the door, he pocketed his wallet, trudging down the hall to the room where he knew he would pick up his date. He didn’t even need to knock on the door, already finding Neeko waiting for him in the hallway, leaning against a wall and putting on his own tennis shoes.

           “Morning,” Sans greeted tiredly, unable to keep himself from yawning yet again.

           “Good morning,” Neeko returned, cheerily. “Ready? I heard that there’s a big gym in town. I wonder how many machines they have.”

           “Mhm,” Sans started to walk at Neeko’s side as they descended a staircase to the first level of the building, heading out into a cool, dewy morning. Without a car or other means of transportation, they simply walked, which was fine with the both of them. The gym wasn’t far, and they only needed to walk down a few streets before coming upon the rather large building. Sans held the door, and they were surprised to find the gym much larger than they had been anticipating.

           The building had two floors. On the bottom floor, there was a basketball court in the center with a set of locker rooms and a swimming pool off to one side. The upstairs floor had a running track and numerous machines of different types. There was also a room used for yoga and other classes. The place was huge, and Neeko was thrilled.

           “This is amazing!” the tabby cried. The entire gym in the Underground could likely have fit in the space reserved for the basketball court alone, so this was quite an upgrade.

           “Where to first?” Sans asked, once they’d signed in at the desk and paid to use the facility for the day.

           Neeko wanted to go upstairs and check out the machines first, and Sans simply trailed behind him, much like a lost puppy. The poor skeleton was quite lost in a place like this, and he just had to trust that Neeko knew what each of the different machines were and how they were supposed to be used.

           “There’s not many people here,” he observed, noting that there were only two or three people who had come in to the gym this morning.

           “Well it’s only 8, maybe more will show up later,” Neeko suggested.

           “I told you it was too early!”

           “8 is an average time to get up, you’re just a late sleeper.”

           Sans laughed. His comments were good-natured, and he was happy to be here on the surface, even if it meant a day at the gym this morning and a nap this afternoon.

           Neeko climbed onto a machine where he was meant to sit and pedal like a bicycle. Upon request, Sans joined him on the one next to him. His feet reached the pedals just fine and he started to pedal slowly without any resistance. It wasn’t so difficult, even if he didn’t like to exercise very much. Neeko, on the other hand, had upped the resistance level to 10, and was pedaling quickly, much to Sans’ surprise, without yet breaking a sweat. It was impressive.

           “I didn’t think we had one of these machines in the Underground. I’m surprised you know how to use it,” the skeleton commented, continuing his slow pace.

           “Oh yeah, it’s called an elliptical. We’ve got one, it’s just really old. This one’s even got a screen on it to turn up the resistance and things instead of a button. Here’s something you’ll like- you can watch TV on it too.”

           “You can? Huh, I wonder if you could watch whole movies on it. I guess that’s one way to get somebody to movie ‘round and exercise.”

           Neeko snickered at the joke and aided Sans in turning on the television feature, where Sans started to watch Animal Planet. Some program about wild cats was on.

It was some time later before Neeko finished his set on the bike, climbing off. “Let’s go try something else, want to? I want to try lifting some weights. You can be my spotter.”

           “Well good news, the cat had kittens,” Sans noted, turning off the screen, and trailed behind as they headed across the upper floor to an empty bench press. “How much are you going to try to lift?”

           “A hundred,” Neeko replied, placing his weights on the ends of the bar. Sans helped.

           “I can’t weight to see that, heh heh.”

           “You already used that joke.” Neeko winked and finished securing his weights.

           “Not today I didn’t,” Sans retorted.

Neeko laid on the bench, positioning his hands. He took a deep breath in and exhaled before pushing up on the bar, bringing the heavy load to his chest. He pushed up and brought it back down, completing ten difficult reps before Sans helped to put the bar back on the stand.

           “Let’s add ten pounds,” Neeko requested, leaving Sans to grab the weights and fix them to the ends of the bar. The tabby did ten more reps, ears flattening with the tension in his body as he fought to keep it going. He couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief as Sans helped him place the bar back.

           “That was amazing,” the skeleton complimented, impressed.

           “Heh, thanks,” Neeko grinned, aiding Sans in removing their weights and cleaning up the area. “I think I’m going to go for a run next.”

           “I’ll sit over there and cheer you on,” Sans grinned. There was no way he was going to be running too, so he was pleased to see that there were several benches set up near the track, and he sat down with his back pressed against the wall, watching as Neeko took a place on the inner circle for running, beginning with a jog.

           With each time Neeko passed him by, Sans did something different. At one passing he cheered. At the next, he gave two thumbs up. At the third, he waved his arms and shouted. Whistled. Made a funny face. And then he simply grinned goofily, perhaps running out of ideas, though he recycled some of the ones he’d already used, enjoying the way they made Neeko smile with each lap.

           The track was 13 laps to a mile, and Neeko completed the first mile out of breath and tired, deciding to do a run-walk combo for another half a mile. Sans was no less encouraging the second time.

           When the mile was finished, Neeko returned to Sans, tired and sweaty.

           “That was great!” Sans congratulated, before grinning. “I’ve got a perfect way to finish today’s workout, if you’re interested.”

           “What do you have in mind?” Neeko questioned, panting.

           “I challenge you to a game of Ghost downstairs.”

           “Ha! You’re on,” Neeko replied, grinning. “I can beat you any day.”

           “We’ll see,” Sans replied, standing from his seat and headed for the staircase, this time leading the way. He knew where he was going now.

           They paused at a water fountain before opening the door to the court, entering. The basketball court was empty, and there was a rack of different balls against the wall by the door for their amusement. Bleachers lined the walls on the opposite side for an audience if a game happened to be going on.

           Sans selected a ball, bouncing it experimentally on the hardwood floor. It bounced back easily. “Ready? I’ll go first.” Holding the ball in his hands, he moved to stand at the three-point line to the right of the basket, bouncing the ball twice before shooting it towards the hoop. It bounced around the rim twice before going in.

           Proud of himself, Sans stepped back, gesturing for Neeko to take a turn. “Your turn.”

           Neeko had to step up to the three-point line now where Sans had stood, bouncing the ball twice before launching it towards the hoop. It went in with ease.

           “Nice shot,” Sans commented.

           “Try this one.” Neeko grinned, standing at the free throw line, but he turned around backwards, doing a granny shot where he held the ball between his legs and launched it backwards without looking. It hit the edge of the backboard but bounced off into what would have been the crowd.

           Sans laughed. “Try this one instead.” Jogging over to collect the ball, he stood at the free throw line and tossed it with his non-dominant hand, managing to land it in the basket. “Have to use the opposite hand.”

           Neeko chuckled but attempted the feat. Unfortunately, the ball slid out of his hand in an odd way, and he dropped the ball. “Not fair! Let me redo it!”

           “No way!” Sans shook his head, grinning. “You’re a G!”

           Neeko scoffed, standing at the three-point line to the left of the hoop. He tossed the ball in with ease. Sans’ attempt to replicate the feat resulted in failure, and he, too, became a “G.”

           The game went on in this manner for quite some time, until Neeko was a “G-H,” and Sans was a “G-H-O.”

           Neeko stood at the three-point line directly in front of the basket, and shot, making it in.

           Sans collected the ball to do the same, and took his own shot, but it seemed as though the ball were veering right. The skeleton’s eye turned blue for the briefest moment before the ball flew into the basket.

           “Hey, that’s cheating!” Neeko accused, having spotted the unlawful use of magic.

           “What?” Sans asked innocently. “We didn’t establish any rules or anything…”

           “You can’t just use magic to put it in, that’s not fair. Wait a minute… have you been using magic this whole time? Is that why you were so good?”

           Sans grinned sheepishly. “Maybe a little bit, but not for every shot…”

           “Cheater,” Neeko stuck his tongue out at him. “I think you should have a penalty letter since you’ve been cheating this whole time…”

           “It’s not cheating if the rules were never established,” Sans winked, but chuckled. “Fine, I’ll take a penalty letter. Guess I’m a G-H-O-S now.”

           “And you’re about to be a ghost,” Neeko grinned. “Let’s see you do something like this!” The tabby began in the center of the court and ran, dribbling, up to the basket, where he leapt high to dunk the ball in, hanging on the rim of the basket for the briefest moment before dropping down, holding up his hands in victory. “What’s the matter, shorty? Bit out of your reach?” he teased.

           “Who you calling shorty?” Sans asked, mock-offended, retrieving the ball. He stood in the center of the court and started to jog, dribbling the ball as he went. He jumped to reach the basket, but his height was a disadvantage, and he only succeeded in splaying out on the floor, the ball bouncing away to the opposite wall near the bleachers.

           “You okay?” Neeko questioned, crouching down to check on the fallen monster, offering a hand to help him up.

           “Guess I got dunked on,” Sans replied, chuckling. He accepted a hand up, rubbing the back of his head. He’d likely end up with a nice bruise. “I’m the ghost, heh heh. That means I buy lunch, and you get to pick where we decide to go.”

           “It’s a little early for lunch, but I saw a diner two doors down that looks pretty good- they’ve got a lot of surface food I’ve never heard of before. It’s all red with black and white checkers. It looks neat. We should try it out.”

           “Sounds like a plan,” Sans agreed, reaching down to collect the ball. He plopped down on the nearby bleacher, taking the moment to rest. Neeko moved to sit beside him.

           “This was fun, we should do this more often,” Sans grinned, shooting the ball towards the ball cart from their position across the gym. His eye glowed blue, and the ball settled right on top of the pile, as it had been when they’d first come in.

           “I’d like that.” Neeko grinned, but his expression soon changed, as he began to rub his arm. Something was wrong. “Sans… I um,” he looked down towards the floor, unable to bring himself to look up at him. “There’s something I need to tell you… about myself.”

           The skeleton didn’t give him the chance to continue. “I already know,” Sans said softly, leaning over to plant a kiss on Neeko’s cheek.

           “You do?” Neeko questioned, tentatively and hopefully looking over at the other monster.

           “I do. I’m a pretty observant guy, you know.” Sans stood from his seat, moving to stand in front of his date. He leaned forward to plant a sweet kiss on Neeko’s mouth, full of love and care. “And I love you for exactly who you are.”

into the wild - chapter 14

< Chapter 13 || Index || Chapter 15 >

The cold air chilled Fire Heart's bones as blackness wrapped itself around him. He could hear nothing, and his nostrils were filled with the musty scent of damp earth.

Out of nowhere, a brilliant ball of light flared in front of him. He ducked his head, screwing up his eyes against the glare. The light shone, dazzling coldly like a star. Then it blinked out, disappearing as quickly as it had come. The darkness fell away, and Fire Heart found himself in the forest. He felt comforted by the familiar smells of the woods. He breathed in the moist green scents, and calmness flowed through his body.

Without warning, a dreadful noise burst from the trees. His fur bristled. It was the screeching of terrified cats racing out from the bushes up ahead. Fire Heart recognized their ThunderClan pelts as they fled past him. He stood rooted to the spot, unable to move. Then came great cats, huge dark warriors, their eyes glittering cruelly. They thundered toward him, pounding the earth with massive paws, their claws unsheathed. And out of the shadows, he heard a high, desperate cry filled with grief and rage. Gray Stripe!

Fire Heart woke, horrified. His dream vanished, leaving his ears ringing and his fur standing on end. As he opened his eyes, he saw the face of Tiger's Claw peering into the den. Fire Heart leaped to his feet, instantly alert.

“Something wrong, Fire Heart?” asked Tiger's Claw.

“Just a dream.” he mumbled his reply, panting slightly.

The warrior gave him a curious look, then growled, “Wake the others. We leave shortly.”

Outside the den, the sky glowed with a new dawn, and dew sparkled on the ferns. It would be a warm day once the sun was up, but the early-morning dampness reminded Fire Heart that the time of leaf-fall was not far off.

The three apprentices quickly gulped down the herbs that the healers had given them. Tiger's Claw and Blue Fur sat watching, ready to leave. The rest of the camp was still asleep.

“Ugh!” complained Gray Stripe. “I knew they’d be bitter. Why couldn’t we eat some fat, juicy voles instead?”

“These herbs will keep your hunger at bay longer.” answered Blue Fur. “And they will make you strong. We have a long journey ahead of us.”

“Have you eaten yours already?” Fire Heart asked.

“I cannot eat if I’m going to share dreams with StarClan at the Moonstone tonight.” replied Blue Fur.

The ginger tom felt his paws tingle when he heard these words. He was itching to begin the journey. With the dawn’s light and the familiar voices, the terror of his dream had left him. All that remained was the memory of the brilliant light, and the leader's words sent a renewed thrill of excitement through him.

The five cats made their way through the gorse tunnel and out of the camp.

Lion's Heart was just returning with a patrol. “Safe journey.” he meowed.

Blue Fur nodded. “I know I can trust you to keep the camp safe.” she answered.

Lion's Heart looked at Gray Stripe and dipped his head. “Remember.” he meowed. “You are almost a warrior. Don’t forget what I have taught you.”

Gray Stripe looked back at Lion's Heart with affection. “Of course, Lion's Heart!” he mewed, nudging his head against the tabby’s broad golden flank.

They retraced their route to Fourtrees. This was the quickest way to pass into WindClan territory. 

As Fire Heart bounded down the side of the glade toward the Great Rock, he could still smell the scents of last night’s Gathering. He followed the others through the grassy clearing and up the slope on the other side, into WindClan territory. The bushy slope became steeper as they climbed, and rockier, until the cats had to leap from boulder to boulder up the side of a craggy cliff face.

The apprentice paused when they reached the top. Ahead of them, the ground flattened out into a wide plateau. The wind blew in a steady gust that rippled the grass and bent the trees. The soil was stony, and outcroppings of bare rock dotted the landscape here and there.

The air still carried the scents of WindClan, but they were stale. Much fresher, and more alarming, were the pungent border markings of ShadowClan warriors.

“All Clans are entitled to safe passage to the Moonstone, but ShadowClan seems to have no respect for the warrior code anymore, so be alert.” warned Blue Fur. “We mustn’t hunt outside our territory, though. We’ll follow the warrior code, even if ShadowClan doesn’t.”

They set off across the plateau as the sun rose into the sky, following the tracks through the heather. Fire Heart had grown used to living under a canopy of trees. Without their shade, his flame-colored pelt felt heavy and hot, and his back seemed to burn. He was thankful for the steady breeze blowing from the forests behind.

Suddenly Tiger's Claw stopped on his tracks. “Watch out!” he hissed. “I smell a ShadowClan patrol.”

Fire Heart and the others lifted their noses, and sure enough, the scent of ShadowClan warriors traveled on the wind.

“They are upwind. They won’t know we are here if we keep moving.” meowed Blue Fur. “But we must hurry. If they move ahead they’ll detect us. It’s not far to the edge of WindClan territory now.”

They moved on quickly, leaping over the rocks, pushing their way through the sweet-smelling heather. Every few steps, Fire Heart sniffed the air and glanced over his shoulder, on the lookout for the ShadowClan patrol. But gradually the odor grew fainter and fainter. They must have turned back, he thought with relief.

Finally they reached the edge of the uplands. The landscape changed dramatically, shaped and altered beyond recognition by Twolegs. Wide earth tracks crisscrossed green and golden meadows, small woods dotted the land, and Twoleg nests were scattered here and there among the fields. In the distance Fire Heart saw a familiar wide, dark gray path, and an acid tang that stung his throat drifted on the breeze.

“Is that the Thunderpath?” he asked.

“Yes.” replied Blue Star. “It runs up from ShadowClan territory. Can you see Highstones behind it?”

Fire Heart looked at the distant horizon. The land rose sharply up to a point, jagged and barren. “Do we have to cross the Thunderpath then?”

“Yes. Come on.” Blue Fur meowed. She bounded forward. “We can be there by moonrise as long as we keep up the pace.”

Fire Heart followed her with the others, down the hill, away from the bleak hunting grounds of WindClan and into the lush Twoleg territory.

Keeping near the hedges, the cats walked on. Once or twice Fire Heart could smell prey-scent from the bushes, but the traveling herbs had succeeded in taking the edge off his hunger. The sun was still hot on his back, even in the shadows of the hedgerows.

They skirted a Twoleg nest. It stood on a wide expanse of hard white stone, with smaller nests round the edges. Keeping low, the cats crept past the fence that surrounded the white stone. A sudden barrage of barking and snarling made them spin around.

Dogs! His heart missed a beat. He arched his back, fur bristling from nose to tail.

Tiger's Claw peered through the fence. “It’s all right. They’re tied up!” he hissed.

Fire Heart looked at the two dogs scrabbling on the stone barely ten tail-lengths away. They were nothing like the pampered pets that lived in the gardens of the Twolegplace. These creatures stared at him with wild, killing eyes. They strained at their ties and reared up on their hind legs. They growled and barked, their lips drawn back to reveal huge teeth, until the shout of an unseen Twoleg silenced them. The cats moved on.

The sun was beginning to sink by the time they reached the Thunderpath. Blue Fur signaled to them to stop and wait beneath a hedge. His eyes and throat stinging from the fumes, Fire Heart watched as the great monsters flashed to and fro in front of him.

“We’ll go one at a time,” meowed Tiger's Claw. “Raven Shadow, you first.”

The black apprentice seemed to shrink.

“No, Tiger's Claw.” Blue Fur interrupted. “I will go first. Don’t forget, this will be the first time crossing a Thunderpath for the apprentices. Let them see how it is done.”

Fire Heart stared at his leader as she padded to the edge of the Thunderpath and looked up and down. She waited calmly as one monster after another flew past her, ruffling her fur. Then, when the earsplitting roar paused for a moment, she raced across to the other side.

“Off you go, Raven Shadow. Now you’ve seen how it’s done.” meowed Tiger's Claw.

Fire Heart saw Raven Shadow's green eyes widen with fear. He knew just how his friend felt. He could smell his own fear-scent. The small black cat crept forward to the edge of the road. It was quiet, but he hesitated.

“Go!” hissed Tiger's Claw from the hedge. Fire Heart saw Raven Shadow’s muscles tighten as he prepared to run. Then the ground began to tremble beneath his paws. A monster sped out of the distance and hurtled past. The black cat shrank back for a moment, then pelted over to join Blue Fur. A monster coming in the other direction threw dust up where his paws had been just a heartbeat before. Fire Heart felt his pelt shiver and he took a deep breath to calm himself.

Gray Stripe was lucky. A long lull let him cross safely. Then it was Fire Heart’s turn. 

“Go on, then.” growled Tiger's Claw. Fire Heart looked from the warrior to the Thunderpath, and then walked out from beneath the hedge. He waited at the edge, as Blue Fur had done. A monster was rushing toward him. Fire Heart looked at the approaching monster. After this one, he thought, and waited for it to pass. 

As he ran across, a smaller and thinner monster than usual appeared out of nowhere, a Twoleg covered in a black pelt on its back. It was heading straight for him! The monster made a deafening noise as Fire Heart leaped backward, and the Twoleg screeched as it swerved the monster away, neary crashing into the hedge as it sped off into the distance. He crouched, trembling, on the warm path. Through the roaring of blood in his ears, Fire Heart realized the Thunderpath was quiet again, and he raced the rest of the way across, running faster than he had ever done in his life.

“I thought you were fresh-kill!” cried Gray Stripe as Fire Heart cannoned into him, almost knocking him over.

“Me too!” Fire Heart gasped. He was trying to stop shaking. He turned back to watch Tiger's Claw dart over the path toward them.

“Twolegs!” he spat as he arrived at their side.

“Do you want to rest before we go on?” Blue Fur asked Fire Heart, sniffing him over.

He looked up. The sun was low in the sky. “No.” he answered. “I’m okay.” But he had leaped so frantically out of the monster’s way that his claws felt frayed and tender.

The cats carried on, with Blue Fur in the lead. The earth was darker on this side of the Thunderpath and the grass felt coarser underpaw. As they approached the foot of Highstones, the grass gave way to bare, rocky soil, dotted with patches of heather. The land sloped up now, toward the sky. Craggy rocks topped the slope, blazing orange in the sun.

Blue Fur stopped once more. She chose a sun-warmed rock to sit upon, flat and wide enough for all five cats to rest side by side.

“Look.” she meowed, tilting her nose toward the dark slope before them. “Mothermouth.”

Fire Heart peered upward. The glare of the setting sun blinded him, and the slope was engulfed in shadow.

The cats waited in silence. Gradually, as the sun dropped down behind Highstones, Fire Heart began to make out the cave entrance, a square black hole that yawned darkly beneath a stone archway.

“We’ll wait here until the moon is higher.” meowed the molly. “You should hunt if you are hungry and then get some rest.”

Fire Heart was pleased to have a chance to find food. He was starving now. Gray Stripe clearly felt the same and leaped away into a clump of heather, following a prey-scent trail that led to it. Fire Heart and Raven Shadow followed him. Tiger's Claw set off in the opposite direction, but Blue Fur remained where she was. She sat still and silent, gazing unblinkingly at Mothermouth.

The three apprentices gathered enough fresh-kill to fill them up, despite how prey-poor the lands seemed. With Tiger's Claw they crouched on the stony hillside and ate quietly. The air felt thick with tension and anticipation.

Afterward, the cats rested beside their leader until the warmth had seeped out of the rock on which they lay and cold black shadows reached up on all sides. 

Only then did Blue Fur call out.

“Come. It is time.”

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I have had a lot of rum today and will totally star for star with you....of course I will probably be sober by the time you get to this... MORNING RUM IT IS!!!!

48 STARS?   SERIOUSLY DO YOU WANT MY LIFE STORY?  CAUSE YOU’RE ABOUT TO GET IT.

1. my first pet was a rabbit named Carmel

2. my first cat was a yellow tabby named Orlith (Moreta’s queen dragon in the Dragonriders of Pern books)

3. my other two cats have been named Wolf and Lynx.  Wolf is my old lady cat, 18 years old.  Lynx I had to rehome when I moved a few years ago.  Orlith died years ago, the poor thing.

4. I learned how to hunt because I live in an area that is THE THING and also animals are tasty. I spent hours tracking a damn pheasant on my first hunt but because of my shitty eyesight/lack of depth perception, couldn’t see it, so my dad shot it. He still credited me with the kill since I tracked it.

5. I like to go fishing, if by fishing you mean “sit on the boat and read a book because its pretty on the water”

6. I like spreadsheets a little too much. Google Sheets means I can have them EVERYWHERE.

7. I love to sing, and its the one thing I’m actually a bit arrogant about. At least, I feel like its arrogance. Maybe its just being truthful? I have a really good voice. I trained it for a lot of years.  it’s one of the few things I can do that almost always lifts my mood.

8. I hadn’t seen any live concerts in ages, and then in 2016 I saw Final Fantasy A New World and the Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses

9. I have next to no confidence in anything outside my singing and it still boggles my mind that people like my writing. this isn’t me fishing for compliments, I’m honestly astounded. I read other people’s stuff and I’m blown away that those same people like mine, when theirs is just so fucking amazing.

10. sometimes I go anywhere between a day or a week without contacting anybody just to see if anyone bothers to talk to me if I don’t reach out first.  the results usually make me more sad than before I tried. and make me question most my ‘friendships’.

11. I’ve been single for two years and I kinda hate it, but don’t expect it to change anytime soon. part of the reason is i’m picky AF.  most of the reason is I have little to no social life.

12. I’m pagan and I am deeply spiritual but I generally don’t discuss it at all if I’m not asked by a close friend, because to me spirituality and religion is DEEPLY personal

13. I have never slept with a woman who hasn’t decided afterwards that she’s straight. this is probably why I’ve dated so few women. while logically I know there’s no correlation between my performance and their declarations (especially as my more recent ex-gf is dating another woman now), its still a pretty big ego blow.

14.  Sorry I just answering this to sing for like 10 minutes.   Currently trying to type while singing “Missing” by Evanescence.  ANGST ANGST ANGST ANGST!

15. i hate going to movies alone and will actively buy people tickets just so I don’t have to

16. I hate cooking for just me when my son isn’t home, so instead I tend to batch cook and freeze a bunch to enable lazy dinners down the road

17. I’m a really good cook :D

18. Tomorrow I play D&D! I play once a month with a small group of family and friends. This is the third group I’ve had for the same campaign and I don’t think I’ll ever see the end at this rate, haha.

19. I also play WoW.  In WoW, I play Xylianna, the Paladin.  In D&D I play a Fighter.  I like swords okay?

20. work sucked this week but I have rum now :D

21. I had cancer when I was 17.   In 2 months will be my 18th anniversary of being cancer free. I celebrate that more than my birthday, or my wedding anniversary before I was divorced.  Nothing gets you to pare the bullshit out of your life faster than getting that diagnosis, let me tell you.

22. HOW THE FUCK AM I ONLY ON NUMBER 22 WHAT DO YOU PEOPLE WANT FROM ME *gets a third drink*

23. In my local kink community, my ‘scene name’ is one of my first OTP’s.

24. If 23 didn’t warn you, I’m going to talk about BDSM now. I’m a switch insofar as I’ll top without any real hint of dominance since I LOATHE the responsibility of being a dom.  Iggy in Discretion/What Would Happen is totally based off me, because I vastly prefer to give over control since my entire fucking life is me running everything. I run my dept at work, I run my house, I run my gaming group, I run my karaoke group.  Sometimes I just need a break okay?

25. also gimme dat pain

26. and I’ll give you some, too, because I enjoy service topping

27. Consent is Sexy, okay?   I go out of my way to portray consent being constantly re-established in my bdsm fics particularly, because its never okay to assume that just because I was allowed to do X last week, its okay to do X this week. I mean obviously in an established relationship, it would be different, but even then CONSENT AND COMMUNCATION, SO FUCKING SEXY

28. I wish I could play a string instrument. I bought a guitar and tried to learn it but it turns out I am not good at teaching myself something so different from what I already know, haha.  Chords  are confusing to me for some reason. Or I made them more confusing than they had to be.

29. I am embarrassed to admit how many years its been since I picked up one of my clarinets.  I wish I could find a local ensemble to join, but, that would mean reaching out and asking and aahhhhhh *hides*

30. I would also totally lose my shit if I could find a choral group to join that wasn’t attached to a Christian church. no offense at all to christian churches, but I feel a bit dishonest joining a group connected to a faith I don’t share, you know?

31. when I go to xmas eve church with my mom at her church, my brother-in-law’s mother does indeed make me join choir for that night, and its great!

32. i’m intensely lonely most of the time but I pretend i’m not because indulging in the feeling won’t change anything. and tbh part of it is my fault for isolating myself.

33. I have chronic severe depressive disorder coupled with a side of anxiety. So I feel like shit, and I worry about it, LOL

34. Prior to November 2017 NaNoWriMo, I hadn’t written in over 10 years, save for a couple 300ish word short stories.

35.  part of me is terrified certain family members will find my AO3/Tumblr. I actually talked to my psychologist about this fear at my last appointment. We agreed that if they go to so much trouble as to find my internet alter ego, they deserve to be offended by my work. Fuck ‘em.

36. just once I wish I could feel the support I give my family given to me. I have one supportive family member and its not even blood. my brother-in-law is my best friend, for real.  my Warder (if you follow WoT), bonded in balefire.  I wish the rest of my family would care about me, but I’m working on accepting they just won’t.

37. I love learning languages for the same reason I love studying music, and I love writing - my goal is to communicate as effectively as possible, make people really understand, and the more avenues open to me the better

38. when I get a little drunk, I forget English and speak a mashup of Spanish, German, and Japanese

39. I have to go to karaoke tomorrow night for the first time since I was sexually harassed at karaoke last October, and I’m kinda terrified

40. I get very down on myself when I realize in my writing I do no world building and very little serious plotting. I basically write angst, or love, or smut. I’m trying to be okay with that, but I admit I feel like I don’t do a good enough job.

41. wow way to kill the mood, Xy.   honestly, if anyone is still reading this, you get a fucking medal.  i’m not that interesting, and I probably should have stopped writing this long ago.

42. I really wish life would give me a fucking break, you know?  but that’s not how it works.  you gotta make your own breaks, and I’m too gods-damned tired to try at present.  Maybe I’ll try later this year.

43. I wish I lived alone. Ironic, since I’m lonely 99% of the time.  But having a roommate isn’t the same as having companionship and sometimes I just want to not listen to someone else’s blaring TV or have someone else walk thru the house while I’m writing at the table or have someone comment on my singing (even if its complimentary)

44. WOW I GOT DEPRESSED LETS LIGHTEN THINGS UP SHALL WE?  I love apple scented shit.

45.  I own at least 10 pairs of kitty ears, and two tails.  In fact I am wearing ears to karaoke tomorrow.  Meow.

46.  I want the relationship I write for Gladnis in my Discretion series BUT I’M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH FAM

47.  my son is 8 yrs old and he’s honestly the best thing i’ve done with my life, and he is the thing I am most proud of, even topping my joy in beating cancer

48.  in 2016 I lost 120 pounds.  in 2017 i gained 30 back.  in 2018… we’ll see.

HOLY FUCK THAT WAS HARD I DESERVE MORE RUM NOW OKAY

Cymric cat: Height, Weight, Lifespan, Personality, Care Full Information

The Cymric Cat is a breed of domestic cat. Some cat registries consider the Psymic merely a semi-longhair variety of the Manx breed rather than a separate breed. Except for fur length, the two breeds are identical in all other respects, and kittens of either type can appear from the same litter.

The name derives from Cymru, an indigenous Welsh name for Wales, although the breed is not associated with Wales, and was probably given as an attempt to provide a “Celtic”-sounding name for the breed. The Manx bloodline of the breed originated in the Isle of Man, although Canada claims to have developed the long-haired type. The breed is called Longhair Manx or a similar name by some registries.

ORIGIN: Isle of Man

HEIGHT: 11″-14″

WEIGHT: Up to 12 pounds

LIFESPAN: Up to 15 years

EYE COLOR: Amber, Copper, Green, Gold, Hazel, Orange, Yellow

Breed Characteristics

The friendly, lovable Cymric is a long-haired variety of the tailless Manx cat. Apart from coat length, the two species are identical, with solid bodies, round heads, widely spaced ears, and large, round eyes. The thick coat comes in many colors and patterns, including tabby, tortoiseshell, and calico.

Tailless simian is the result of an autosomal recessive genetic mutation, a common occurrence in cats. In addition to its lack of a tail, the Cymric, which takes its name from the Gaelic word for Wales, is known for its rounded appearance:

Its head is round, its eyes are round, and its rear end is also round. Don’t think the Cymric is completely tailless, either; Some are—they’re called rumpy—but others have up to three spines fused at the spine ends; Some have up to five million stumps that they can wiggle around; And some, known as long, have a tail longer than a stump but shorter than a typical cat’s tail.

The Cymric weighs seven to 13 pounds and has a silky, medium-length double coat in many colors and patterns.

Cymric is gentle and playful. It is not uncommon for him to love fetching or carrying toys around. He is also smart and dexterous, able to use his paws to get into cabinets or open doors.

Fond of human company, it will communicate in a sweet trilling voice. Some Simrics give all their love to a single person while others are affectionate towards the entire family, including children.

He may lack a tail, but Simric has a powerful rear end and is an excellent jumper even without a natural counterweight to help his balance. When you see it accelerating from home and taking sharp turns and quick stops, you’ll think it’s a cat-shaped mini sports car.

Home

Cymric cat History

The Cymric is a long-haired Manx. The Manx is one of the oldest known breeds of cats. Many amazing legends surround the origin of this breed.

Most interesting, but at least genetically accurate, is that Manx was asleep when Noah called all the animals into the ark. Noah was closing the door of the ark when the cat woke up. The cat made it to the ark in time but Noah accidentally closed the door on the cat’s tail, cutting him off completely. Another legend has it that the cat came from a ship of the Spanish Armada that sank off the coast of the Isle of Man in 1588.

The true origin of Manx probably had more to do with trading ships sailing from Phoenicia to Japan. These sailors may have picked up some Japanese corkscrew-tailed cats on their travels, bringing them back aboard as mousers rather than importing a new breed of cat.

The first Manx champion was named Bonhaki. This silver tabby achieved fame in London around 1900. Manx has been bred in the United States since the early 1930s and the first United States Manx Grand Champion was awarded in 1951.

Cymric was first reported in Canada in the 1960s. Some registries still call these long-haired Manx; Others have given them the distinct race name of Cymric, derived from the Celtic word for Welsh.