Sunflowers and Moonmonsters
Quote from Mae on August 12, 2023, 11:41 pmAnd Mercy did listen to the sound of Robin's heart, and every breath she breathed, for it comforted her. Though Mercy's head could not remember, her heart certainly did, how faithful and kind Robin had been to her.
The world was full of sounds and sights and smells Mercy did not know. It frightened her. But the world had been frightening before, and there was no one's arms to turn to then. Here, perhaps at last, Mercy was safe. So she stayed. She closed her ears and eyes to other distractions, and held onto the one thing she knew; she had a friend in Robin. That was all that mattered just then.
And Mercy did listen to the sound of Robin's heart, and every breath she breathed, for it comforted her. Though Mercy's head could not remember, her heart certainly did, how faithful and kind Robin had been to her.
The world was full of sounds and sights and smells Mercy did not know. It frightened her. But the world had been frightening before, and there was no one's arms to turn to then. Here, perhaps at last, Mercy was safe. So she stayed. She closed her ears and eyes to other distractions, and held onto the one thing she knew; she had a friend in Robin. That was all that mattered just then.
Quote from Kaqurei on August 13, 2023, 12:22 amBig emotions are stupid and difficult. They barge in like they own the place and start barking orders in Chinese.
Josh did not speak Chinese.
So he stared at the scene, wondering at the miracle he'd just witnessed. The preacher embraced Mercy--this new creature that had never been, not even sleeping below the surface, but now was. By heruclean effort, now was.
All the while, big emotions were going gibberish in his chest like an annoying swarm of angry Chinese-speaking hornets. Ordering him to do something. He knew he needed to do something. Urgency was rising to do something. But he did not know what it was.
Then the lights came on and he understood. He wanted to howl.
He knew it was stupid to howl. Even he wasn't that stupid. Stupid big emotions.
But that's what the stupid big emotions wanted him to do: Howl and claim that new wolf as kin.
To his credit, he did not. He did not often fight his instincts. Most of the time he let them run the show. But the Preacher Woman was down there--this was her show, not his. He respected her enough not to trespass.
At least, not trespass on this. He'd already trespassed on her territory. But that was different. He had orders from the Alpha to do that much. He was here to protect. Protect the Alpha's woman, said the Alpha. Protect Mercy's child, said the Alpha's woman. Protect Mercy and the Preacher, said the stupid big emotions.
He could do it all, just by sitting there right where he was.
He settled down comfortably on his haunches. It wasn't often everything came into alignment so nicely. He was sure it would get jumbled up again somehow. But just then, in that moment, everything made sense.
Big emotions are stupid and difficult. They barge in like they own the place and start barking orders in Chinese.
Josh did not speak Chinese.
So he stared at the scene, wondering at the miracle he'd just witnessed. The preacher embraced Mercy--this new creature that had never been, not even sleeping below the surface, but now was. By heruclean effort, now was.
All the while, big emotions were going gibberish in his chest like an annoying swarm of angry Chinese-speaking hornets. Ordering him to do something. He knew he needed to do something. Urgency was rising to do something. But he did not know what it was.
Then the lights came on and he understood. He wanted to howl.
He knew it was stupid to howl. Even he wasn't that stupid. Stupid big emotions.
But that's what the stupid big emotions wanted him to do: Howl and claim that new wolf as kin.
To his credit, he did not. He did not often fight his instincts. Most of the time he let them run the show. But the Preacher Woman was down there--this was her show, not his. He respected her enough not to trespass.
At least, not trespass on this. He'd already trespassed on her territory. But that was different. He had orders from the Alpha to do that much. He was here to protect. Protect the Alpha's woman, said the Alpha. Protect Mercy's child, said the Alpha's woman. Protect Mercy and the Preacher, said the stupid big emotions.
He could do it all, just by sitting there right where he was.
He settled down comfortably on his haunches. It wasn't often everything came into alignment so nicely. He was sure it would get jumbled up again somehow. But just then, in that moment, everything made sense.
Quote from Mae on August 14, 2023, 9:35 pmAs Mercy's heart and mind steadied, she dared to think about all the new sights and sounds around her. Her ears swiveled, and her head followed. She kept very still and close to Robin, but she was now listening and watching the brook. She noticed a moth fluttering over the field, which diverted her gaze as it danced in the light of the moon. She watched it. Then her attention went back to the brook again. She needed water, but she was not yet comfortable enough to go get it. Still, it tempted her. Wherever her eyes wandered, whatever took her attention from it, she always had one ear turned toward the brook.
As Mercy's heart and mind steadied, she dared to think about all the new sights and sounds around her. Her ears swiveled, and her head followed. She kept very still and close to Robin, but she was now listening and watching the brook. She noticed a moth fluttering over the field, which diverted her gaze as it danced in the light of the moon. She watched it. Then her attention went back to the brook again. She needed water, but she was not yet comfortable enough to go get it. Still, it tempted her. Wherever her eyes wandered, whatever took her attention from it, she always had one ear turned toward the brook.
Quote from Adriana on August 14, 2023, 10:33 pmIf I stayed this way much longer, I was gonna fall asleep. Mercy was still alert, her attention focused ahead. I couldn’t risk passing out and having her go back to Charlie.
I untangled my arms and shook my body awake, then tried again to push her up into a stand on her three legs.
If I stayed this way much longer, I was gonna fall asleep. Mercy was still alert, her attention focused ahead. I couldn’t risk passing out and having her go back to Charlie.
I untangled my arms and shook my body awake, then tried again to push her up into a stand on her three legs.
Quote from Mae on August 14, 2023, 11:36 pmMercy appeared to tolerate Robin's attempts, but passively refused. The only indication she gave that she noticed at all was when her concentrated ear flicked back for a second in Robin's direction.
Mercy appeared to tolerate Robin's attempts, but passively refused. The only indication she gave that she noticed at all was when her concentrated ear flicked back for a second in Robin's direction.
Quote from Adriana on August 14, 2023, 11:47 pmWhat are you looking at?
My eyes followed hers towards the stream. She see something I didn’t? I licked my nose and went ahead cautiously to the water. Then lowered my head and drank some before taking another look around.
Content to find nothing by way of sight, scent or aound, I washed my hands in the stream, then cupped them and scooped up some of the water, carrying it to Mercy, holding it in front of her. Most of it draining out between my fingers, toes.
Shoulda brought a doggy bowl.
What are you looking at?
My eyes followed hers towards the stream. She see something I didn’t? I licked my nose and went ahead cautiously to the water. Then lowered my head and drank some before taking another look around.
Content to find nothing by way of sight, scent or aound, I washed my hands in the stream, then cupped them and scooped up some of the water, carrying it to Mercy, holding it in front of her. Most of it draining out between my fingers, toes.
Shoulda brought a doggy bowl.
Quote from Mae on August 14, 2023, 11:58 pmMercy watched Robin keenly. When Robin stooped at the stream, Mercy extended her neck and swayed her head for a better look. She watched Robin drink and return. Curiously, almost eagerly looking to see what Robin brought, Mercy sniffed at her wet paws.
Mercy watched Robin keenly. When Robin stooped at the stream, Mercy extended her neck and swayed her head for a better look. She watched Robin drink and return. Curiously, almost eagerly looking to see what Robin brought, Mercy sniffed at her wet paws.
Quote from Adriana on August 15, 2023, 12:04 am“Come, drink,” I said, in the voice of a human. My ears went back and I swished my tail, whining again.
“Follow me,” I backed up towars the stream.
“Come, drink,” I said, in the voice of a human. My ears went back and I swished my tail, whining again.
“Follow me,” I backed up towars the stream.
Quote from Mae on August 15, 2023, 12:16 amMercy's ears stood erect at Robin's words and her head tilted slightly. She watched Robin's movements and tilted her head the other way, only slightly. She appeared ready to try to stand again.
Suddenly, Mercy's attention snapped in another direction. Within a second, she was on her feet! Staring hard at the corner of the field. Her ears were erect and her eyes focused. There was nothing apparent in that direction.
Mercy's ears stood erect at Robin's words and her head tilted slightly. She watched Robin's movements and tilted her head the other way, only slightly. She appeared ready to try to stand again.
Suddenly, Mercy's attention snapped in another direction. Within a second, she was on her feet! Staring hard at the corner of the field. Her ears were erect and her eyes focused. There was nothing apparent in that direction.
Quote from Adriana on August 15, 2023, 12:47 amI followed her gaze if only to validate her concerns.
“Nothin out there, Mercy.” I tried to reassure, knowing my words probably weren’t gonna reach. They didn’t seem to help before she changed; they sure weren’t gonna help now.
And anyway, how could I be so sure? I knew enough hunters to know they were good at hiding themselves, whether it be by covering themselves in mud, animal feces-they had ways. Not fullproof, granted-but enough to buy them time. If they were gonna pull anything it’d be towards dawn, they wouldn’t take on two werewolves who had plenty of energy.The more I considered the possibility—what if this good for nothing tracked her?—the more unnerved I found myself getting.
“I’ll go look to be sure, but you gotta get low and stay put.”
I followed her gaze if only to validate her concerns.
“Nothin out there, Mercy.” I tried to reassure, knowing my words probably weren’t gonna reach. They didn’t seem to help before she changed; they sure weren’t gonna help now.
And anyway, how could I be so sure? I knew enough hunters to know they were good at hiding themselves, whether it be by covering themselves in mud, animal feces-they had ways. Not fullproof, granted-but enough to buy them time. If they were gonna pull anything it’d be towards dawn, they wouldn’t take on two werewolves who had plenty of energy.
The more I considered the possibility—what if this good for nothing tracked her?—the more unnerved I found myself getting.
“I’ll go look to be sure, but you gotta get low and stay put.”
