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So I took the LSATs.
General | Posted 15 years agoI don't usually write a lot of journals. I just never feel as if my mundane life and experiences warrant a journal and I spam enough of my daily events on Twitter, addicting as it is.
If you know anything about me, I've been studying off and on for the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) for the past five months. It's been a huge focus of my attention, a cause of stress, and pretty much my biggest headache dread for the summer.
I took them today at 8:30 AM in San Francisco at USF.
How did I do? Well enough that I feel I won't have to take it again a second time. It really wouldn't have been possible without wonderful friends like
radjinwolf and 
kashra who let me stay at their place and then take me to the testing center about 40 minutes from their home.
Radjin got me up in the morning and made me breakfast (pancakes, eggs, bacon, the works!) and I really was just blessed with some awesome friends who helped me get there and took care of me and made the morning as easy on me as possible. I love them a lot and owe them big time for the things they do for me. I could go on about the little things they did for me over the months but that would be boring. I just wanted to share that they really had my back for this and I really appreciate them for it. Radjin is making me go to dinner so I'll wrap it up. =)
So, cheers to them and here's hoping for a 180 in five weeks time.
-Tibs
If you know anything about me, I've been studying off and on for the LSAT (Law School Admissions Test) for the past five months. It's been a huge focus of my attention, a cause of stress, and pretty much my biggest headache dread for the summer.
I took them today at 8:30 AM in San Francisco at USF.
How did I do? Well enough that I feel I won't have to take it again a second time. It really wouldn't have been possible without wonderful friends like
radjinwolf and 
kashra who let me stay at their place and then take me to the testing center about 40 minutes from their home. Radjin got me up in the morning and made me breakfast (pancakes, eggs, bacon, the works!) and I really was just blessed with some awesome friends who helped me get there and took care of me and made the morning as easy on me as possible. I love them a lot and owe them big time for the things they do for me. I could go on about the little things they did for me over the months but that would be boring. I just wanted to share that they really had my back for this and I really appreciate them for it. Radjin is making me go to dinner so I'll wrap it up. =)
So, cheers to them and here's hoping for a 180 in five weeks time.
-Tibs
Four Moons IV Preview
General | Posted 15 years agoPhew, it's been awhile since I posted something in my HMT universe, huh? I've been working hard on summer classes (complete) and studying for the LSATs (Take it next month). I also started up working again and that's been biting into my free time. I'm hard at work writing a story for a really awesome friend of mine which I'll post sometime in the near future but I wanted to share a bit of what I have for Four Moons IV.
This isn't edited and is subject to change. I'm not entirely happy with how I've written Arch in this bit but you should get a taste about what is to come. Enjoy!
The Half-Moon Tribe: Four Moons IV (Preview)
_________________________________________________________________________
I was in a lot of trouble.
"You killed Reyna!" The voice said over me. I hadn't expected anything like what just happened; I had been on my feet and only found myself flat on my back from a push of energy, and not only that, I had something around my neck. My eyes still weren't clear but my sense of danger was screaming at me to get the hell outta here! That same sense had saved my life about five times in the last two years.
I shook my head a little bit and saw Renin, the Beta-Mage to Arch's pack, standing over me. His face was wet with tears. His typically amber eyes looked swollen and the fur along his cheeks and muzzle damp with thin rivulets. His hands were clutching his staff, a long pole with a crescent moon shape on the end just wide enough for a neck to be in, around my neck. The ends were very sharp and thankfully he hadn't cut my neck in the process of attempting to kill me.
Instinctual urge kicked in and my hands lifted upwards and grasped the staff just below the moon and tried to pull it upwards. Sadly, gravity was not on my side and Renin was leaning his weight down onto the staff. I felt the curve of the wood push down into my neck and nearly choke me. I coughed loudly and felt my ears slowly flick backwards.
"I'm going to kill you! Reyna hated you and I hate you too!" Renin screamed and the energy crackled around him. I knew jack squat about magic but I had seen it done more times around me in the last few weeks then in my whole life. I knew the whole pack considered Renin some kind of prodigy, someone with enough strength that he could have been Alpha-Mage himself. I had been shown that you could see magic if you just relaxed your eyes a little bit and tried to look past the person.
I didn't need to do that now.
Renin was forcing out every drop of his power and it was ruining the ground. I could hear the ground behind my head crack, I could feel the air pushing away from his body, and I had no idea why he was summoning up so much magic into his body. I had been told that when a mage does this it usually meant a destructive spell. I gasped for air again as he pushed harder, the wood of the staff remaining nice and solid because Renin willed it so. The jewel tied to the base of the moon was dangling in front of my eyes and glowing brightly, a faint ringing sound echoing as the ether-like waves whipped it about gently, like a bell with no ringer. I had no idea why Renin tied the magic stone to the base of the moon but it was supposed to help his magic I heard someone say once in passing. Right now I was more focused on loosing my head.
"Renin!" I heard someone shout from behind me. I tried to look but I couldn't see them. "Stop this! Get off him!"
"No!" Renin said and looked up to the mystery person. "He's the reason Reyna's dead! He's the reason all this is happening! He has to die!"
"I said GET OFF HIM!" There was a rush of energy and heat. I sucked in a quick breath of cold air as the heat washed over me and pushed Renin backwards. I saw the young mage, who was around my age for crying out loud, pushed off me after a mild struggle. He ripped his staff up out of the ground and flew backwards, laying on his back with a heavy thud. I coughed and rubbed my neck and stood up slowly and looked over to see who it was who had pushed him off me. It was, of course, Arch. Knight in shining armor as always. He was flanked by a strider and two scouts, Ezia for one, and even a mage who I had no idea who was. He was white. Was he one of those wolves from the other packs?
"Thanks Archie, I was getting--"
"SILENCE!" Arch roared in my direction as the heat was pushed at me like a solid wave. I groaned as I was flung backwards and fell right next to Renin. I coughed and rubbed my chest. At least I wasn't going to be sick from that heat again. it still hurt, let me make that very clear. I didn't want to admit it then or now but Arch was one of the scariest guys I had met. How do you even wrap your mind around someone who can kill you with a thought? I always kept him at arms length because of that and made sure to never push him too far. I did like living.
I looked up and saw Arch stalking forward. He bent down and hauled Renin up by his robes and held him up to his face, staring the small mage in the eyes. "Reyna dying is...troubling, but you're disgracing her by acting irrationally, Renin. Collect yourself."
"Arch!" Renin pleaded, his hands holding Arch's wrist as he dangled there and looked right into his eyes. "He's the one! He's the reason they're in the woods!"
"What do you mean?" Ezia said as she walked over to me and kneeled. I saw she was armed. For some reason the scouts enjoyed fist-like weapons. Ezia's hands were clad in black gloves with spiked points along the fingers and between the knuckles. Even larger spikes on the top knuckles. She touched my shoulder but it wasn't to help me up, it was to keep me down.
"The invaders," Renin said, looking down at me as best he could from his position of being held. "They're Severed Moon! They're the disgraced pack!"
I saw Arch's ears flick a bit and then look at me. "Is this true?"
"I don't know what the Severed Moon is!" I said as I tried to get up. Ezia held me down though. I growled at her and batted at her arm. "Look, let me go! I don't go for girls anyway. I don't know what Renin or that invader is talking about! I'm from Roll Hill village! That doesn't sound anything like Severed Moon to me. Then again, you savages have a unique way of talking..."
"Jack!" Arch said in my direction. "Shut up."
I did as I was told. Arch looked back to Renin and stared at him with those strong amber eyes. Those eyes always unnerved me. I played a lot of card games and Arch had one of those faces you could never read no matter how hard you tried. He had mastered a face of passiveness and if he showed emotion it was because he wanted you to see it. I wanted to hustle people with Arch. I'd make a fortune.
"Go on, Renin."
"Thank you," Renin said as he was let down onto his feet and rubbed his neck. "The blood mage said that he was from Zane's kingdom, and that they're from the displaced Severed Moon. The fourth moon who left the woods so many centuries ago."
"And because of that," Ezia said as she looked down at me. "They should be unable to enter the woods and not get lost."
"That's true," Renin said as he rubbed his face with his open palms, sniffling quietly. "But Reyna told me ancient magic doesn't always go away. There are spells on all of us and our children which are placed on us at birth, at conception. Its part of us and our families forever. One of those spells is the pack sensitivity."
"What's that?" Arch asked, his arms crossing over his chest. "Reyna never spoke of such spells to me."
"It's not...it's hard to explain. Why talk about the blessings on all of us? We never have to worry about being in these woods. But we're all blessed with magic that lets us get through the protective magic because we're blessed by the gods." Renin said as he rubbed his eyes. Was he really still going to cry? Baby. "When the Severed Moon left the woods they didn't lose all their blessings. The Gods were angry at them for leaving the woods forever, of course, but they did not disgrace the children of the woods completely."
"What do they still have?" Ezia said, pushing me down harder into the earth.
"When one of their own is lost they can sense them. It only works in the woods." Renin said as he looked right at me. "Jack is, apparently, a descendant of the All Moon Tribe, what we call the Severed Moon; the group of wolves who wanted more than what the Elim woods had to offer. They wanted the lands to the west which we are told to never spend a long time in as the God's grace does not reach there. When they left the Gods cried and forbid them to ever enter the woods again, saddened their children wouldn't listen to them."
"But they found Jack," Arch said. "How is that possible if they were cast out of the woods?"
"They can sense their own in here. I suppose the Gods did it to protect them. If they got lost in the woods they could go in and find their own and then quickly leave before getting terribly lost and die. The problem is the Severed Moon knows this and is using it to their advantage."
"They're using Jack like a signal," Ezia said. "Like when we scout use smoke signals to signal to the others to either converge or disperse from a location."
"Right," Renin said, sniffling again as he wiped his tears from his eyes. "They want to find Jack. They want to find our home, Arch. They are moving soldiers into the woods and following the magical tether that Jack is signaling to others of his pack. They will find our home and they will do whatever they want."
"What do they want?" Arch said, growling. He stalked over to me. "What do your people want with the Half-Moon?"
"I don't know!" I said, pushing away from Ezia and standing up. "I never heard any of this garbage until JUST NOW! You're also getting your information from someone whose blubbering over the death of an old lady and not thinking clearly! Ask him what the mage did to me!" I was scared now. I had no idea what was going on with these wolves and this other pack, but I knew that it was nothing good. The problem was that if they didn't believe me they would probably kill me to keep themselves safe. They didn't like dealing with the group of people outside the woods that they called the Outsiders.
"He...attacked Jack. Knocked him out and cast him aside as if he were driftwood." Renin admitted. "He wanted Wolf's Wisdom, Arch. When Reyna died it appeared like a crystal and I took it into my body."
"I know," Arch said calmly and spared a glance to Renin. "We all sensed it. Slayn and Chance are guarding the temple. I gave them permission to use their Gifts if they need to. Its too risky right now to simply fall back to my judgement. Besides, Reyna used hers without asking and it probably saved all of your lives."
"Arch," I said firmly and looked up at him. "I don't know what's going on. I never even SAW Zane or anyone from the palace. I've never even been to the capital cities. Orphans aren't allowed!"
"You're an orphan?" Ezia said and looked at me curiously. "And they don't let you where you have family?"
"It doesn't work like it does here!" I said, rubbing the back of my head in exasperation. Sometimes these people could be so wonderful but they were clueless about how the real world worked. "Where I'm from when you lose your family you're nothing. I should be dead. I only lived because some old lady took me in. Watched and raised me until I was 9 and then she died from a flu in the winter. Then I wandered a bit...did some things and then you found me on the boarder cities." I cut a lot of information out. Why tell my sob story to a bunch of people who were considering killing me? Best save that card for later. "No one would take me as an apprentice and I couldn't join the military because I have no family--no honor. It's hard to explain. The best thing I could do was hope to work on a farm but I hate the countryside. So I do what I do best."
"You gamble and cheat." Ezia said flatly.
"Right," I said to her with a little grin. I saw her just shake her head and roll her eyes. "But whenever I talked to anyone with a military or royal crest it was usually to smack me away from getting anywhere or to get out of their face. I don't like the crown anymore than you do!"
"He's lying!" Renin said at me and pointed at me. "They know OF Jack. How would they know of him and he be clueless? Come on, Jack." Renin said with a mildly angry sneer on his face. "Aren't you the master of lies? This one's terrible."
I sighed and shook my head. "That's the problem," I said calmly. "I tell the truth most of the time and people always assume I'm lying." I was mildly embellishing. I told a lot of little fibs and warped stories but that shouldn't condemn me to a life of a liar.
"You do make it hard to trust you," Ezia said, and looked at Arch. "But he's not that bad at lying. I believe him. I think he may just be bait. Scouts do it all the time to lure out enemies. He may just have been the unfortunate number drawn."
"Thank you," I said to Ezia and took her hand. I moved to kiss it but she brought it out of my grasp quickly and smacked me on the back of the head hard enough to make me stumble. "Ow."
"That doesn't make sense!" Renin said with a growl. "He was there in the inn when WE were. And he said he was there randomly. How could that happen?"
"Good question," Arch said and looked at me. "But these are questions to be asked by the Council. We need to get back home."
I didn't know what to make of that. But I was still alive. I knew Renin wasn't going to be the only one out for my blood.
*********
We arrived at the temple an hour later. Arch had carried me on his back and the moment we entered the clearing a group of people were waiting for us. Slayn was standing there in his new clothing. He wore his traditional blue loincloth but around his neck and shoulder was a matching long blue scarf. He wore leather gauntlets that held small blades linked into them. A last ditch weapon perhaps? On his chest was a strap of throwing knives. On his hips were his new daggers, leather straps around his thighs with the sheaths pressed firmly to his flesh and fur. Now I knew why the end of his daggers were all circular. He could easily slip his finger into the hole and draw it with a simple wrist flick. He was prepared for battle.
Avalon was at his side. He was wearing his typical red bandanna but he was also wearing a pauldron on his right shoulder. It was connected to his belt by a strap crossing down across his chest to a thicker belt where his sword hung. He had his traditional sword on his back and a heavier looking loincloth on his waist. He looked far more fierce in this extra armor. Both of them did. The couple had been given all kinds of gifts for their Joining and these seemed to be some of them.
"Slayn," Arch said as he put me down on the ground. "The reports are confirmed about Reyna. I want you to send striders to Apollo and Ender. Get them or their second in command here right away. I want you here though so send your best." Arch was walking and the group of wolves followed. Chance jogged up, his heavy axe on his back and a look of worry on his face.
"Ezia," Arch said as he looked over at her. "Get the message to the visiting Alpha Males. Siro and the Warboz need to be briefed on this. Tell them we will hold a Meeting of the Alpha by twilight. I want all their questions answered. Offer striders to them for messages to be couriered to their people. Ask them to put their packs on standby." Arch looked down to the white wolf following with the black ear. His hand moved out and grasped his shoulder. "Kaliko, as much as I don't want to send you away right now, this is Half-Moon business until Siro involves you."
"I understand," Kaliko said and nodded gently. "I'll go back to my room. Don't worry about me." He said with a smile and walked off.
When Kaliko was out of ear shot he looked to Ezia. "I want Scouts listening on the two Alpha Male. I know they're allies but I don't want to take any risk. They're getting all the information and giving very little. They may have intel they're witholding from us for whatever reason. Use your best scouts that can remain hidden. I don't care how they stay hidden just do it."
"Yes, Alpha," Ezia said we were walking up the steps. "If they're found out?"
"They won't be if you pick the right people," Arch said calmly as he pushed the huge double doors into the temple's main level. The glowing trees in front of us with the cascading waterfall were beautiful and I usually spared a moment to look at it. Not right now as were heading down a hallway toward the Council chambers.
"Chance," Arch said. "Jack is to have a warrior guarding him at all times. I don't know or care for who, just get someone. He's going to be with me mostly but the extra security can't hurt."
"Yes, Arch." I heard Chance say. Yay I get a bodyguard. That could either lead to a lot of fun or a huge headache. I was betting on the headache. Warrior males were more problem then they were worth.
"Renin," Arch said as he pushed the huge double doors to the council chambers open. "I want you to find a way to dull the blessing of the Gods on Jack. Find a way to weaken their ability to sense him. Use Wisdom if you have to. I want our home protected. I want everyone prepared. Strengthen the defensive ring of the Scout outposts and have striders work in teams of two. Do not scare anyone with the mobilization, either. I just want a show of force. I want striders stationed at the scout outposts as well." Arch seemed to be going down some mental check list. When the Alphas had their orders he dismissed them from the council room.
Now it was time for Arch and I to talk.
This isn't edited and is subject to change. I'm not entirely happy with how I've written Arch in this bit but you should get a taste about what is to come. Enjoy!
The Half-Moon Tribe: Four Moons IV (Preview)
_________________________________________________________________________
I was in a lot of trouble.
"You killed Reyna!" The voice said over me. I hadn't expected anything like what just happened; I had been on my feet and only found myself flat on my back from a push of energy, and not only that, I had something around my neck. My eyes still weren't clear but my sense of danger was screaming at me to get the hell outta here! That same sense had saved my life about five times in the last two years.
I shook my head a little bit and saw Renin, the Beta-Mage to Arch's pack, standing over me. His face was wet with tears. His typically amber eyes looked swollen and the fur along his cheeks and muzzle damp with thin rivulets. His hands were clutching his staff, a long pole with a crescent moon shape on the end just wide enough for a neck to be in, around my neck. The ends were very sharp and thankfully he hadn't cut my neck in the process of attempting to kill me.
Instinctual urge kicked in and my hands lifted upwards and grasped the staff just below the moon and tried to pull it upwards. Sadly, gravity was not on my side and Renin was leaning his weight down onto the staff. I felt the curve of the wood push down into my neck and nearly choke me. I coughed loudly and felt my ears slowly flick backwards.
"I'm going to kill you! Reyna hated you and I hate you too!" Renin screamed and the energy crackled around him. I knew jack squat about magic but I had seen it done more times around me in the last few weeks then in my whole life. I knew the whole pack considered Renin some kind of prodigy, someone with enough strength that he could have been Alpha-Mage himself. I had been shown that you could see magic if you just relaxed your eyes a little bit and tried to look past the person.
I didn't need to do that now.
Renin was forcing out every drop of his power and it was ruining the ground. I could hear the ground behind my head crack, I could feel the air pushing away from his body, and I had no idea why he was summoning up so much magic into his body. I had been told that when a mage does this it usually meant a destructive spell. I gasped for air again as he pushed harder, the wood of the staff remaining nice and solid because Renin willed it so. The jewel tied to the base of the moon was dangling in front of my eyes and glowing brightly, a faint ringing sound echoing as the ether-like waves whipped it about gently, like a bell with no ringer. I had no idea why Renin tied the magic stone to the base of the moon but it was supposed to help his magic I heard someone say once in passing. Right now I was more focused on loosing my head.
"Renin!" I heard someone shout from behind me. I tried to look but I couldn't see them. "Stop this! Get off him!"
"No!" Renin said and looked up to the mystery person. "He's the reason Reyna's dead! He's the reason all this is happening! He has to die!"
"I said GET OFF HIM!" There was a rush of energy and heat. I sucked in a quick breath of cold air as the heat washed over me and pushed Renin backwards. I saw the young mage, who was around my age for crying out loud, pushed off me after a mild struggle. He ripped his staff up out of the ground and flew backwards, laying on his back with a heavy thud. I coughed and rubbed my neck and stood up slowly and looked over to see who it was who had pushed him off me. It was, of course, Arch. Knight in shining armor as always. He was flanked by a strider and two scouts, Ezia for one, and even a mage who I had no idea who was. He was white. Was he one of those wolves from the other packs?
"Thanks Archie, I was getting--"
"SILENCE!" Arch roared in my direction as the heat was pushed at me like a solid wave. I groaned as I was flung backwards and fell right next to Renin. I coughed and rubbed my chest. At least I wasn't going to be sick from that heat again. it still hurt, let me make that very clear. I didn't want to admit it then or now but Arch was one of the scariest guys I had met. How do you even wrap your mind around someone who can kill you with a thought? I always kept him at arms length because of that and made sure to never push him too far. I did like living.
I looked up and saw Arch stalking forward. He bent down and hauled Renin up by his robes and held him up to his face, staring the small mage in the eyes. "Reyna dying is...troubling, but you're disgracing her by acting irrationally, Renin. Collect yourself."
"Arch!" Renin pleaded, his hands holding Arch's wrist as he dangled there and looked right into his eyes. "He's the one! He's the reason they're in the woods!"
"What do you mean?" Ezia said as she walked over to me and kneeled. I saw she was armed. For some reason the scouts enjoyed fist-like weapons. Ezia's hands were clad in black gloves with spiked points along the fingers and between the knuckles. Even larger spikes on the top knuckles. She touched my shoulder but it wasn't to help me up, it was to keep me down.
"The invaders," Renin said, looking down at me as best he could from his position of being held. "They're Severed Moon! They're the disgraced pack!"
I saw Arch's ears flick a bit and then look at me. "Is this true?"
"I don't know what the Severed Moon is!" I said as I tried to get up. Ezia held me down though. I growled at her and batted at her arm. "Look, let me go! I don't go for girls anyway. I don't know what Renin or that invader is talking about! I'm from Roll Hill village! That doesn't sound anything like Severed Moon to me. Then again, you savages have a unique way of talking..."
"Jack!" Arch said in my direction. "Shut up."
I did as I was told. Arch looked back to Renin and stared at him with those strong amber eyes. Those eyes always unnerved me. I played a lot of card games and Arch had one of those faces you could never read no matter how hard you tried. He had mastered a face of passiveness and if he showed emotion it was because he wanted you to see it. I wanted to hustle people with Arch. I'd make a fortune.
"Go on, Renin."
"Thank you," Renin said as he was let down onto his feet and rubbed his neck. "The blood mage said that he was from Zane's kingdom, and that they're from the displaced Severed Moon. The fourth moon who left the woods so many centuries ago."
"And because of that," Ezia said as she looked down at me. "They should be unable to enter the woods and not get lost."
"That's true," Renin said as he rubbed his face with his open palms, sniffling quietly. "But Reyna told me ancient magic doesn't always go away. There are spells on all of us and our children which are placed on us at birth, at conception. Its part of us and our families forever. One of those spells is the pack sensitivity."
"What's that?" Arch asked, his arms crossing over his chest. "Reyna never spoke of such spells to me."
"It's not...it's hard to explain. Why talk about the blessings on all of us? We never have to worry about being in these woods. But we're all blessed with magic that lets us get through the protective magic because we're blessed by the gods." Renin said as he rubbed his eyes. Was he really still going to cry? Baby. "When the Severed Moon left the woods they didn't lose all their blessings. The Gods were angry at them for leaving the woods forever, of course, but they did not disgrace the children of the woods completely."
"What do they still have?" Ezia said, pushing me down harder into the earth.
"When one of their own is lost they can sense them. It only works in the woods." Renin said as he looked right at me. "Jack is, apparently, a descendant of the All Moon Tribe, what we call the Severed Moon; the group of wolves who wanted more than what the Elim woods had to offer. They wanted the lands to the west which we are told to never spend a long time in as the God's grace does not reach there. When they left the Gods cried and forbid them to ever enter the woods again, saddened their children wouldn't listen to them."
"But they found Jack," Arch said. "How is that possible if they were cast out of the woods?"
"They can sense their own in here. I suppose the Gods did it to protect them. If they got lost in the woods they could go in and find their own and then quickly leave before getting terribly lost and die. The problem is the Severed Moon knows this and is using it to their advantage."
"They're using Jack like a signal," Ezia said. "Like when we scout use smoke signals to signal to the others to either converge or disperse from a location."
"Right," Renin said, sniffling again as he wiped his tears from his eyes. "They want to find Jack. They want to find our home, Arch. They are moving soldiers into the woods and following the magical tether that Jack is signaling to others of his pack. They will find our home and they will do whatever they want."
"What do they want?" Arch said, growling. He stalked over to me. "What do your people want with the Half-Moon?"
"I don't know!" I said, pushing away from Ezia and standing up. "I never heard any of this garbage until JUST NOW! You're also getting your information from someone whose blubbering over the death of an old lady and not thinking clearly! Ask him what the mage did to me!" I was scared now. I had no idea what was going on with these wolves and this other pack, but I knew that it was nothing good. The problem was that if they didn't believe me they would probably kill me to keep themselves safe. They didn't like dealing with the group of people outside the woods that they called the Outsiders.
"He...attacked Jack. Knocked him out and cast him aside as if he were driftwood." Renin admitted. "He wanted Wolf's Wisdom, Arch. When Reyna died it appeared like a crystal and I took it into my body."
"I know," Arch said calmly and spared a glance to Renin. "We all sensed it. Slayn and Chance are guarding the temple. I gave them permission to use their Gifts if they need to. Its too risky right now to simply fall back to my judgement. Besides, Reyna used hers without asking and it probably saved all of your lives."
"Arch," I said firmly and looked up at him. "I don't know what's going on. I never even SAW Zane or anyone from the palace. I've never even been to the capital cities. Orphans aren't allowed!"
"You're an orphan?" Ezia said and looked at me curiously. "And they don't let you where you have family?"
"It doesn't work like it does here!" I said, rubbing the back of my head in exasperation. Sometimes these people could be so wonderful but they were clueless about how the real world worked. "Where I'm from when you lose your family you're nothing. I should be dead. I only lived because some old lady took me in. Watched and raised me until I was 9 and then she died from a flu in the winter. Then I wandered a bit...did some things and then you found me on the boarder cities." I cut a lot of information out. Why tell my sob story to a bunch of people who were considering killing me? Best save that card for later. "No one would take me as an apprentice and I couldn't join the military because I have no family--no honor. It's hard to explain. The best thing I could do was hope to work on a farm but I hate the countryside. So I do what I do best."
"You gamble and cheat." Ezia said flatly.
"Right," I said to her with a little grin. I saw her just shake her head and roll her eyes. "But whenever I talked to anyone with a military or royal crest it was usually to smack me away from getting anywhere or to get out of their face. I don't like the crown anymore than you do!"
"He's lying!" Renin said at me and pointed at me. "They know OF Jack. How would they know of him and he be clueless? Come on, Jack." Renin said with a mildly angry sneer on his face. "Aren't you the master of lies? This one's terrible."
I sighed and shook my head. "That's the problem," I said calmly. "I tell the truth most of the time and people always assume I'm lying." I was mildly embellishing. I told a lot of little fibs and warped stories but that shouldn't condemn me to a life of a liar.
"You do make it hard to trust you," Ezia said, and looked at Arch. "But he's not that bad at lying. I believe him. I think he may just be bait. Scouts do it all the time to lure out enemies. He may just have been the unfortunate number drawn."
"Thank you," I said to Ezia and took her hand. I moved to kiss it but she brought it out of my grasp quickly and smacked me on the back of the head hard enough to make me stumble. "Ow."
"That doesn't make sense!" Renin said with a growl. "He was there in the inn when WE were. And he said he was there randomly. How could that happen?"
"Good question," Arch said and looked at me. "But these are questions to be asked by the Council. We need to get back home."
I didn't know what to make of that. But I was still alive. I knew Renin wasn't going to be the only one out for my blood.
*********
We arrived at the temple an hour later. Arch had carried me on his back and the moment we entered the clearing a group of people were waiting for us. Slayn was standing there in his new clothing. He wore his traditional blue loincloth but around his neck and shoulder was a matching long blue scarf. He wore leather gauntlets that held small blades linked into them. A last ditch weapon perhaps? On his chest was a strap of throwing knives. On his hips were his new daggers, leather straps around his thighs with the sheaths pressed firmly to his flesh and fur. Now I knew why the end of his daggers were all circular. He could easily slip his finger into the hole and draw it with a simple wrist flick. He was prepared for battle.
Avalon was at his side. He was wearing his typical red bandanna but he was also wearing a pauldron on his right shoulder. It was connected to his belt by a strap crossing down across his chest to a thicker belt where his sword hung. He had his traditional sword on his back and a heavier looking loincloth on his waist. He looked far more fierce in this extra armor. Both of them did. The couple had been given all kinds of gifts for their Joining and these seemed to be some of them.
"Slayn," Arch said as he put me down on the ground. "The reports are confirmed about Reyna. I want you to send striders to Apollo and Ender. Get them or their second in command here right away. I want you here though so send your best." Arch was walking and the group of wolves followed. Chance jogged up, his heavy axe on his back and a look of worry on his face.
"Ezia," Arch said as he looked over at her. "Get the message to the visiting Alpha Males. Siro and the Warboz need to be briefed on this. Tell them we will hold a Meeting of the Alpha by twilight. I want all their questions answered. Offer striders to them for messages to be couriered to their people. Ask them to put their packs on standby." Arch looked down to the white wolf following with the black ear. His hand moved out and grasped his shoulder. "Kaliko, as much as I don't want to send you away right now, this is Half-Moon business until Siro involves you."
"I understand," Kaliko said and nodded gently. "I'll go back to my room. Don't worry about me." He said with a smile and walked off.
When Kaliko was out of ear shot he looked to Ezia. "I want Scouts listening on the two Alpha Male. I know they're allies but I don't want to take any risk. They're getting all the information and giving very little. They may have intel they're witholding from us for whatever reason. Use your best scouts that can remain hidden. I don't care how they stay hidden just do it."
"Yes, Alpha," Ezia said we were walking up the steps. "If they're found out?"
"They won't be if you pick the right people," Arch said calmly as he pushed the huge double doors into the temple's main level. The glowing trees in front of us with the cascading waterfall were beautiful and I usually spared a moment to look at it. Not right now as were heading down a hallway toward the Council chambers.
"Chance," Arch said. "Jack is to have a warrior guarding him at all times. I don't know or care for who, just get someone. He's going to be with me mostly but the extra security can't hurt."
"Yes, Arch." I heard Chance say. Yay I get a bodyguard. That could either lead to a lot of fun or a huge headache. I was betting on the headache. Warrior males were more problem then they were worth.
"Renin," Arch said as he pushed the huge double doors to the council chambers open. "I want you to find a way to dull the blessing of the Gods on Jack. Find a way to weaken their ability to sense him. Use Wisdom if you have to. I want our home protected. I want everyone prepared. Strengthen the defensive ring of the Scout outposts and have striders work in teams of two. Do not scare anyone with the mobilization, either. I just want a show of force. I want striders stationed at the scout outposts as well." Arch seemed to be going down some mental check list. When the Alphas had their orders he dismissed them from the council room.
Now it was time for Arch and I to talk.
"You know you're from California when..." MEME
General | Posted 15 years agoStolen from 
zerospanda
Rules! Go to Google and type "You're know you're from (City and/or State) when..." and hit "I'm Feeling Lucky" Past the list into the journal and bold ones that apply to your life!
Enjoy!
Your monthly house payments exceed your monthly income.
You make over $300,000 and still can’t afford a house.
You take a bus and are shocked when two people carry on a conversation in English.
Your coworker has 8 body piercings and none are visible.
You speak Spanish, but you’re not Mexican.
Your child’s 3rd-grade teacher has purple hair, a nose ring, and is named Flower.
You don’t know anyone’s phone number unless you check your cell phone.
You’ve been to a baby shower that has two mothers and a sperm donor.
You have a very strong opinion about where your coffee beans are grown, and you can taste the difference between Sumatran and Ethiopian.
You begin to “lie” to your friends about how close you are when you know damn well that it’ll take you at least an hour to get there (see below).
Getting anywhere from point A to point B, no matter what the distance, takes about “twenty minutes.”
You drive to your neighborhood block party.
A really great parking space can totally move you to tears.
Gas is $1.00 per gallon more than anywhere else in the US
Unlike back home, the guy at 8:30 am at Starbucks wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses who looks like George Clooney really IS George Clooney.
You can’t remember … is pot illegal?
You pass an elementary school playground and the children are all busy with their cell phones or pagers.
It’s barely sprinkling rain outside, so you leave for work at least an hour early to avoid all the weather-related accidents.
Both you AND your dog have therapists, psychics, personal trainers and cosmetic surgeons.
You drive next to a Rolls Royce and don’t notice.
In the “winter,” you can go to the beach, ski at Big Bear, mow your lawn in your shorts and maybe get a sunburn all on the same day.
You eat a different ethnic food for every meal.
If your destination is more than 5 minutes away on foot, you’re definitely driving.
Calling your neighbors requires knowing their area code.
You know what “In-’N-Out” is and feel bad for the other states that don’t have any.
You don’t stop at a STOP sign, you do a California roll.
You’ve partied in Tijuana at least 3 times and you can’t remember at least 1 of them.
You go to a tanning salon before you go to the beach.
Your have a permanent impression on the side of your head from your cell phone.
You know that Venice is a beach.
The waitress asks if you want “carbs” in your meal.
You know who the tinsel underwear dude in Venice Beach is.
You classify new people you meet by their Area Code. An “818” would never date a “562” and so on…
You call 911 and they put you on hold.
You have a gym membership because it’s mandatory.
The gym is packed at 3pm … on a workday.
You think you are better than the people who live “Over the Hill.” It doesn’t matter which side of the hill your home is, you are just better than they are.
You know that if you drive two miles in any direction you will find a McDonald’s or a Starbucks.
You know what “sigalert,” “PCB,” and “five” mean.
You can’t remember . . . is pot illegal?
It’s barely sprinkling rain and there’s a report on every news station: “STORM WATCH.”
The Terminator is your governor.
You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from California.
PS —If you drive here illegally, they’ll take away your driver’s license. If you’re an illegal alien, they want to give you one!
zerospanda Rules! Go to Google and type "You're know you're from (City and/or State) when..." and hit "I'm Feeling Lucky" Past the list into the journal and bold ones that apply to your life!
Enjoy!
Your monthly house payments exceed your monthly income.
You make over $300,000 and still can’t afford a house.
You take a bus and are shocked when two people carry on a conversation in English.
Your coworker has 8 body piercings and none are visible.
You speak Spanish, but you’re not Mexican.
Your child’s 3rd-grade teacher has purple hair, a nose ring, and is named Flower.
You don’t know anyone’s phone number unless you check your cell phone.
You’ve been to a baby shower that has two mothers and a sperm donor.
You have a very strong opinion about where your coffee beans are grown, and you can taste the difference between Sumatran and Ethiopian.
You begin to “lie” to your friends about how close you are when you know damn well that it’ll take you at least an hour to get there (see below).
Getting anywhere from point A to point B, no matter what the distance, takes about “twenty minutes.”
You drive to your neighborhood block party.
A really great parking space can totally move you to tears.
Gas is $1.00 per gallon more than anywhere else in the US
Unlike back home, the guy at 8:30 am at Starbucks wearing a baseball cap and sunglasses who looks like George Clooney really IS George Clooney.
You can’t remember … is pot illegal?
You pass an elementary school playground and the children are all busy with their cell phones or pagers.
It’s barely sprinkling rain outside, so you leave for work at least an hour early to avoid all the weather-related accidents.
Both you AND your dog have therapists, psychics, personal trainers and cosmetic surgeons.
You drive next to a Rolls Royce and don’t notice.
In the “winter,” you can go to the beach, ski at Big Bear, mow your lawn in your shorts and maybe get a sunburn all on the same day.
You eat a different ethnic food for every meal.
If your destination is more than 5 minutes away on foot, you’re definitely driving.
Calling your neighbors requires knowing their area code.
You know what “In-’N-Out” is and feel bad for the other states that don’t have any.
You don’t stop at a STOP sign, you do a California roll.
You’ve partied in Tijuana at least 3 times and you can’t remember at least 1 of them.
You go to a tanning salon before you go to the beach.
Your have a permanent impression on the side of your head from your cell phone.
You know that Venice is a beach.
The waitress asks if you want “carbs” in your meal.
You know who the tinsel underwear dude in Venice Beach is.
You classify new people you meet by their Area Code. An “818” would never date a “562” and so on…
You call 911 and they put you on hold.
You have a gym membership because it’s mandatory.
The gym is packed at 3pm … on a workday.
You think you are better than the people who live “Over the Hill.” It doesn’t matter which side of the hill your home is, you are just better than they are.
You know that if you drive two miles in any direction you will find a McDonald’s or a Starbucks.
You know what “sigalert,” “PCB,” and “five” mean.
You can’t remember . . . is pot illegal?
It’s barely sprinkling rain and there’s a report on every news station: “STORM WATCH.”
The Terminator is your governor.
You actually get these jokes and pass them on to other friends from California.
PS —If you drive here illegally, they’ll take away your driver’s license. If you’re an illegal alien, they want to give you one!
Prop 8 Defeated!
General | Posted 15 years agoJust now California threw out Prop 8 which banned gay marriage in the state.
Time to celebrate and hope it'll start the proper domino effect.
<3 California
Time to celebrate and hope it'll start the proper domino effect.
<3 California
Relationship meme. <3
General | Posted 15 years agostolen from 
nekomon
1. Who eats more?
Oh, he does hands down. He grabs a cookie on our way out the door to dinner. =p
2. Who said “I love you” first?
You know, I'm not sure. I THINK it was me, but he said it right back.
3. Who is the morning person?
HE IS! XD. He tries to wake me up but I'm dead to the world.
4. Who sings better?
I'm too shy to sing, though I have a little bit for him. I'm going with Keto on this one.
5. Who’s older?
I am by three years.
6. Who’s smarter?
That depends on what you consider smart. Keto's personable and knows a lot about art and about his own unique things. I suppose I'm the more academic of the two. We work out well together. =)
7. Whose temper is worse?
Dunno. I've only heard stories of Keto being mad or upset. Ask him about when he went to see Paranormal Activity. =p
8. Who does the laundry?
He's washed some of my things before, but we don't live together. HOWEVER on that technicality I rule him. =p
9. Who does the dishes?
He does it more often than I do.
10. Who sleeps on what side of the bed?
Depends on where we sleep. Not really fixed. Sometimes I like the right, sometime the left.
11. Whose feet are bigger?
Mine. He was surprised I wear a size 11. Not too big, right?
12. Whose hair is longer?
Keto likes the Captain Picard look. So mine. Easily.
13. Who’s better with the computer?
Me with PCs, him with Macs.
14. Do you have pets?
Nope! We plan to own a red husky though in the near future.
15. Who pays the bills?
Not living together so N/A
16. Who cooks dinner?
He's cooked dinner for a group of us, I just helped. He's actually really good in the kitchen. =) I'm all right in it. I think he'd be happy as a chef.
17. Who drives when you are together?
You know, I don't think either of us have driven each other around. We're usually together with other people who drive. More time for holding hands in the back seat. Among other things.
18. Who pays when you go out to dinner?
We trade off. Doesn't really come up much. I like buying him things. I usually insist on buying his movie ticket 'cause that's just something cliche I like to do.
19. Who’s the most stubborn?
Probably me. It's hard to change my mind about something if I've put myself dead set against it.
20. Who is the first one to admit when they’re wrong?
Both of us are. Built this relationship on talking about how we feel even if we're mildly upset. We haven't really argued since we're so quick to share if something is bothering us and we're easily willing to admit we're wrong.
21. Whose family do you see more?
I lived with him for awhile in San Diego at his parents house. He hasn't met mine yet, so right now I've seen more of his. =p
22. Who named your pet?
I think I came up with future dog's name. Drift. Or Tybalt. Depends on which we decide at the very end.
23. Who kissed who first?
I leaned in first. =p
24. Who asked who out?
Dunno. I THINK me.
25. What did you do on your first date?
We went to Sushi and they introduced me to it. =p Was fun! Even though I don't like sushi.
26. Who’s more sensitive?
Jeez. Probably him by a SLIM margin. XD
27. Who’s taller?
Me. Not by much though.
28. Who has more friends?
He's the social butterfly. =p Though I think I'm catching up!
29. Who has more siblings?
iHe does. I have one sister. He has two brothers and a sister.
30. Who wears the pants in the relationship?
Oh, I do. =p And he loves it.
<3
keto
nekomon1. Who eats more?
Oh, he does hands down. He grabs a cookie on our way out the door to dinner. =p
2. Who said “I love you” first?
You know, I'm not sure. I THINK it was me, but he said it right back.
3. Who is the morning person?
HE IS! XD. He tries to wake me up but I'm dead to the world.
4. Who sings better?
I'm too shy to sing, though I have a little bit for him. I'm going with Keto on this one.
5. Who’s older?
I am by three years.
6. Who’s smarter?
That depends on what you consider smart. Keto's personable and knows a lot about art and about his own unique things. I suppose I'm the more academic of the two. We work out well together. =)
7. Whose temper is worse?
Dunno. I've only heard stories of Keto being mad or upset. Ask him about when he went to see Paranormal Activity. =p
8. Who does the laundry?
He's washed some of my things before, but we don't live together. HOWEVER on that technicality I rule him. =p
9. Who does the dishes?
He does it more often than I do.
10. Who sleeps on what side of the bed?
Depends on where we sleep. Not really fixed. Sometimes I like the right, sometime the left.
11. Whose feet are bigger?
Mine. He was surprised I wear a size 11. Not too big, right?
12. Whose hair is longer?
Keto likes the Captain Picard look. So mine. Easily.
13. Who’s better with the computer?
Me with PCs, him with Macs.
14. Do you have pets?
Nope! We plan to own a red husky though in the near future.
15. Who pays the bills?
Not living together so N/A
16. Who cooks dinner?
He's cooked dinner for a group of us, I just helped. He's actually really good in the kitchen. =) I'm all right in it. I think he'd be happy as a chef.
17. Who drives when you are together?
You know, I don't think either of us have driven each other around. We're usually together with other people who drive. More time for holding hands in the back seat. Among other things.
18. Who pays when you go out to dinner?
We trade off. Doesn't really come up much. I like buying him things. I usually insist on buying his movie ticket 'cause that's just something cliche I like to do.
19. Who’s the most stubborn?
Probably me. It's hard to change my mind about something if I've put myself dead set against it.
20. Who is the first one to admit when they’re wrong?
Both of us are. Built this relationship on talking about how we feel even if we're mildly upset. We haven't really argued since we're so quick to share if something is bothering us and we're easily willing to admit we're wrong.
21. Whose family do you see more?
I lived with him for awhile in San Diego at his parents house. He hasn't met mine yet, so right now I've seen more of his. =p
22. Who named your pet?
I think I came up with future dog's name. Drift. Or Tybalt. Depends on which we decide at the very end.
23. Who kissed who first?
I leaned in first. =p
24. Who asked who out?
Dunno. I THINK me.
25. What did you do on your first date?
We went to Sushi and they introduced me to it. =p Was fun! Even though I don't like sushi.
26. Who’s more sensitive?
Jeez. Probably him by a SLIM margin. XD
27. Who’s taller?
Me. Not by much though.
28. Who has more friends?
He's the social butterfly. =p Though I think I'm catching up!
29. Who has more siblings?
iHe does. I have one sister. He has two brothers and a sister.
30. Who wears the pants in the relationship?
Oh, I do. =p And he loves it.
<3
keto New Story Preview!
General | Posted 15 years agoWell, Four Moons III is done. I'm just musing it over for now before I post it. After I finished it I felt like writing something outside my comfort zone, so I picked this idea. It's set in Ancient Rome during the time when the Senate was the powerhouse of the Empire. It's going to focus on Atticus Augustus, young noble turned soldier, and Silvan, a young fox servant to his family. I'm probably NOT going to turn this into a series, but I wanted some early feedback before I continue, so I'll post what I just wrote.
******
Sheathing the Roman Sword
******
Who would have thought I would finally be home in Rome? I had left the city two years ago, as most boys my age do. You see, I'm not that special. I'm from the Augustus family. Nobility and blue blood so thick that it would clog the rivers if it spilled into it. Being the oldest son of my father, Agrippa, I had been destined to take his position in the Senate when I was old enough to. Since I was a child I had been educated for that one goal; to be one of the prime leaders of Rome. My father had insisted on strict education and physical fitness. He had hired trainers and tutors from all over the Empire, some men coming from places past even the untamed wilderness of Gaul. These barbarians, while not technically Roman citizens, had told me so many wonders about the far off world I could barely contain my excitement to see them myself.
I had been trained by all kinds of men, typically soldiers, and one of my earliest memories was holding a wooden gladius and being taught how to parry while I was still at the height of my father's knee. The weapon had been heavy, but as my trainers had often said; I had some kind of gift with it. I was not sure for a long time if they were being honest of if my father's gold coins were greasing their tongues and simply praising his child.
Anyway, I should stop talking about the past. When I became fifteen years old I had duty in front of me that I could not ignore. If I was going to serve in any major capacity of our government it required I give her some of my flesh and blood. So, on my fifteenth birthday my father had taken me to one of his best friends at the time. His name had been Marcus Basillius, Genderal of the 7th Legion. I remember that day so clearly; I had walked into the parade grounds where various generals stood with their golden battle standards, the flying eagle glinting in the crisp daylight. This was one of the recruiting days and my father would have me only serve under his friend. I had walked up to the standard and signed my name upon the parchment and pledged myself, for two years, to Marcus Basllius. It was there I had changed from a proud Roman citizen to a proud Roman soldier. My father had been owed a favor or five by Marcus, who was a huge polar white wolf, and pulled some strings for me to start with more rank than I should have. I was granted the rank of Optio; one in each Centurion and was second in command of that centurion.
A week later I had donned my father's armor, tightened my father's sword around my waist, and marched off to war. We headed to Greece to quell some of the rebels who had been creating problems for Rome. There I saw many things; I watched people bleed out, I watched a man try to desert his post, I saw hungry people begging on the street who were able to work, I saw people who couldn't even speak Latin! It was an incredible sight, being so far from home and in such foreign territory. I had wanted to go toward Gual but Marcus had been assigned elsewhere. I went where my general went.
Don't get me wrong, military life was good for a pampered brown wolf. I had hardened up in terms of how to handle people. I learned that a strong gaze and a growl could get even the burlist man to back off. I learned how to handle myself in combat, saving my Centurion not once, but twice. I had led men over ridges and around banks, cutting off the enemies and bringing victory to our people. I had friends who bore the same armor and carried the same sword and we became more than fellow soldiers; we became brothers in arms. I had learned to trust these men, boys much like myself, with my life and knew that if I left my back exposed they would easily guard it for them and vice-versea. It was with these men I had my first sexual experience. we had gone to one of the brothels on the edge of Rome and they paid my fair. I had laid with five women that night, and I couldn't believe how good it felt. I had thrusted furiously into their bodies, leaving my young, verile seed into them. I tied three of them even though I was not supposed to, but I had been a virgin that dawn and I couldn't resist. I left with sore legs and and a drunk grin, but I felt more like a man than ever before.
Of course, there were times I turned to my fellow soldiers for pleasure. That trip to the brothel had awakened my libedo, and I couldn't resist some of them for very long. A young man needed his release, and it was here I learned that my brothers could be just as good, if not better, then the girls who could easily rob me for every gold piece I owned. I had shared tents with these men and I had shared my body with them, my seed, my strength. I remember, quite fondly, waking up with dry, sticky fur and panting loudly after such an experience. It had been so wonderful. I was a man; a warrior, a soldier, and so close to these men. So, you can understand that when my legion had completed its assignment and returned to Rome I was a little concerned. I had served my two years required duty to Rome and then some by half a year.
Now I had a choice. I could either turn the military into a carrier and stay with the men whom I loved and respected, or I could become a civil official and become an even greater leader for Rome. The problem was that both positions could be one in the same, just insanely difficult. A general as a Senator was not uncommon but it was hard, most other generals who held the rank of Senator elbowed new entries out for fear of power being usurped. If I simply became a Senator without much military power my voice would be weak for years; I would have to vote in ways I may not agree, and no one would honestly take me seriously, or as seriously, if I didn't have the military to back me up. Rome was funny that way; the ones who were in power were the Senators who had legions at their command. I was not sure what to do.
I had two weeks to make up my mind.
I stood at the gate to my family's estate, sighing. I had left this place wearing armor loose on me, a red tunic that had been pristine, and finely made leather sandals. Now I was different. My young body had grown up a bit and I filled out that armor much better. The red tunic I had worn when I left was on my body this time, but it was faded and cut, frayed at the edges and showing more of my thighs then I was comfortable with. My sandals were gone, I was wearing new ones given to me after I had exchanged enough gold coins for them in one of the many camps that had been made when our legion stopped in Greece.
My armor gleamed in the sunlight, glinting finely. My helmet was on my head and probably equally shiny. It was silver and gold, polished that morning in the camp just outside the city walls. Some of the small fastenings were polished gold and my helmet was matching in terms of shiny silver and gold. It was durable but also beautiful, as Rome was; a jewel of a country but it could withstand anything thrown at it.
I looked to the guard and tipped my head a bit, and walked forward, but he did not open the gate for me.
"What business do you have here at the Augustus estate, soldier?" The man said. He was a gnarled black wolf. His eyes were sharp and amber. He had been guarding my family for the last ten years and went by the name Brutus Sixtus. He had been a soldier but retired when my father had offered him quite a comfortable position here in our estate.
"I'm here to come home," I said. I lifted my hands up and removed my helmet, revealing the chocolate brown fur that I had inherited from my mother. My under coat was not the typical cream color that so many brown wolves were born with but a solid, shimmering white. I smiled a little bit as I shook my head and made my headfur bristle out a little bit. I gave the man a smirk. "Or did my parents turn my suite of rooms into a new apartment for one of my aunts, Brutus?"
The black wolf blinked his eyes for a moment and then widened his eyes. He stepped forward and got painfully close. He grasped my soldier and hauled me closer. My armor clinked, and my hand shot up and out of insinct, grasping his wrist tightly. I stared at him and washed away my muzzle. I didn't move and nor did he. I began to fear something had happened, something bad. Was my family in danger?
Finally, Brutus smiled. He just shook my shoulder playfully and let me go. "A soldier's reaction. It is a pleasure to see you again, Lord Augustus."
"Please," I said with a sigh as I tucked my helmet under my arm and grinned faintly. "Call me by my first name like you always did, Brutus."
"As you wish, Atticus. Your family will be happy to see you again." He said with a smile and unlocked the gate.
"I can only imagine my mother doting over me. She'll never let me out of her sight when she realizes I have a scar on my shoulder now."
"A scar?" Brutus said with a smirk. "A bit reckless on the battlefied?"
"Hardly," I said with a roll of my eyes as I turned to face him. "I never took injury fighting besides the small cut or scrape. The scar was from a...well...a partner of mine was a bit too into me at the time, and bit on my shoulder."
I saw the older wolf's eyes widen and then laugh, slapping me hard enough on my back to send me staggering forward. "This is why I prefer my whores to face away from me, Atticus. You should learn that position is probably safer."
I flushed a bit, my ears turning red. I knew better now though. I had to either joke back or I would forever be teased. So, I was left with little choice but to grandstand, if not outright lie. "I wanted them to bite me."
"Oh?" The guard said, sounding surprised. "I had no idea you would be into something like that."
"Brutus," I said with a smile. "YOu have no idea what I'm like now."
Brutus just smirked and then waved to some servant girl who had been passing. He had passed orders. The young master, Atticius Augustus was home from war. She was to pass on several things, one being to probably set up my room, get fresh food, and let everyone know I was home. I watched her scurry off. Squirrels were always so fast at tasks like that. I looked to Brutus and sighed.
"It is good to be home," I said as I rubbed my forehead with my gloved palm.
******
Sheathing the Roman Sword
******
Who would have thought I would finally be home in Rome? I had left the city two years ago, as most boys my age do. You see, I'm not that special. I'm from the Augustus family. Nobility and blue blood so thick that it would clog the rivers if it spilled into it. Being the oldest son of my father, Agrippa, I had been destined to take his position in the Senate when I was old enough to. Since I was a child I had been educated for that one goal; to be one of the prime leaders of Rome. My father had insisted on strict education and physical fitness. He had hired trainers and tutors from all over the Empire, some men coming from places past even the untamed wilderness of Gaul. These barbarians, while not technically Roman citizens, had told me so many wonders about the far off world I could barely contain my excitement to see them myself.
I had been trained by all kinds of men, typically soldiers, and one of my earliest memories was holding a wooden gladius and being taught how to parry while I was still at the height of my father's knee. The weapon had been heavy, but as my trainers had often said; I had some kind of gift with it. I was not sure for a long time if they were being honest of if my father's gold coins were greasing their tongues and simply praising his child.
Anyway, I should stop talking about the past. When I became fifteen years old I had duty in front of me that I could not ignore. If I was going to serve in any major capacity of our government it required I give her some of my flesh and blood. So, on my fifteenth birthday my father had taken me to one of his best friends at the time. His name had been Marcus Basillius, Genderal of the 7th Legion. I remember that day so clearly; I had walked into the parade grounds where various generals stood with their golden battle standards, the flying eagle glinting in the crisp daylight. This was one of the recruiting days and my father would have me only serve under his friend. I had walked up to the standard and signed my name upon the parchment and pledged myself, for two years, to Marcus Basllius. It was there I had changed from a proud Roman citizen to a proud Roman soldier. My father had been owed a favor or five by Marcus, who was a huge polar white wolf, and pulled some strings for me to start with more rank than I should have. I was granted the rank of Optio; one in each Centurion and was second in command of that centurion.
A week later I had donned my father's armor, tightened my father's sword around my waist, and marched off to war. We headed to Greece to quell some of the rebels who had been creating problems for Rome. There I saw many things; I watched people bleed out, I watched a man try to desert his post, I saw hungry people begging on the street who were able to work, I saw people who couldn't even speak Latin! It was an incredible sight, being so far from home and in such foreign territory. I had wanted to go toward Gual but Marcus had been assigned elsewhere. I went where my general went.
Don't get me wrong, military life was good for a pampered brown wolf. I had hardened up in terms of how to handle people. I learned that a strong gaze and a growl could get even the burlist man to back off. I learned how to handle myself in combat, saving my Centurion not once, but twice. I had led men over ridges and around banks, cutting off the enemies and bringing victory to our people. I had friends who bore the same armor and carried the same sword and we became more than fellow soldiers; we became brothers in arms. I had learned to trust these men, boys much like myself, with my life and knew that if I left my back exposed they would easily guard it for them and vice-versea. It was with these men I had my first sexual experience. we had gone to one of the brothels on the edge of Rome and they paid my fair. I had laid with five women that night, and I couldn't believe how good it felt. I had thrusted furiously into their bodies, leaving my young, verile seed into them. I tied three of them even though I was not supposed to, but I had been a virgin that dawn and I couldn't resist. I left with sore legs and and a drunk grin, but I felt more like a man than ever before.
Of course, there were times I turned to my fellow soldiers for pleasure. That trip to the brothel had awakened my libedo, and I couldn't resist some of them for very long. A young man needed his release, and it was here I learned that my brothers could be just as good, if not better, then the girls who could easily rob me for every gold piece I owned. I had shared tents with these men and I had shared my body with them, my seed, my strength. I remember, quite fondly, waking up with dry, sticky fur and panting loudly after such an experience. It had been so wonderful. I was a man; a warrior, a soldier, and so close to these men. So, you can understand that when my legion had completed its assignment and returned to Rome I was a little concerned. I had served my two years required duty to Rome and then some by half a year.
Now I had a choice. I could either turn the military into a carrier and stay with the men whom I loved and respected, or I could become a civil official and become an even greater leader for Rome. The problem was that both positions could be one in the same, just insanely difficult. A general as a Senator was not uncommon but it was hard, most other generals who held the rank of Senator elbowed new entries out for fear of power being usurped. If I simply became a Senator without much military power my voice would be weak for years; I would have to vote in ways I may not agree, and no one would honestly take me seriously, or as seriously, if I didn't have the military to back me up. Rome was funny that way; the ones who were in power were the Senators who had legions at their command. I was not sure what to do.
I had two weeks to make up my mind.
I stood at the gate to my family's estate, sighing. I had left this place wearing armor loose on me, a red tunic that had been pristine, and finely made leather sandals. Now I was different. My young body had grown up a bit and I filled out that armor much better. The red tunic I had worn when I left was on my body this time, but it was faded and cut, frayed at the edges and showing more of my thighs then I was comfortable with. My sandals were gone, I was wearing new ones given to me after I had exchanged enough gold coins for them in one of the many camps that had been made when our legion stopped in Greece.
My armor gleamed in the sunlight, glinting finely. My helmet was on my head and probably equally shiny. It was silver and gold, polished that morning in the camp just outside the city walls. Some of the small fastenings were polished gold and my helmet was matching in terms of shiny silver and gold. It was durable but also beautiful, as Rome was; a jewel of a country but it could withstand anything thrown at it.
I looked to the guard and tipped my head a bit, and walked forward, but he did not open the gate for me.
"What business do you have here at the Augustus estate, soldier?" The man said. He was a gnarled black wolf. His eyes were sharp and amber. He had been guarding my family for the last ten years and went by the name Brutus Sixtus. He had been a soldier but retired when my father had offered him quite a comfortable position here in our estate.
"I'm here to come home," I said. I lifted my hands up and removed my helmet, revealing the chocolate brown fur that I had inherited from my mother. My under coat was not the typical cream color that so many brown wolves were born with but a solid, shimmering white. I smiled a little bit as I shook my head and made my headfur bristle out a little bit. I gave the man a smirk. "Or did my parents turn my suite of rooms into a new apartment for one of my aunts, Brutus?"
The black wolf blinked his eyes for a moment and then widened his eyes. He stepped forward and got painfully close. He grasped my soldier and hauled me closer. My armor clinked, and my hand shot up and out of insinct, grasping his wrist tightly. I stared at him and washed away my muzzle. I didn't move and nor did he. I began to fear something had happened, something bad. Was my family in danger?
Finally, Brutus smiled. He just shook my shoulder playfully and let me go. "A soldier's reaction. It is a pleasure to see you again, Lord Augustus."
"Please," I said with a sigh as I tucked my helmet under my arm and grinned faintly. "Call me by my first name like you always did, Brutus."
"As you wish, Atticus. Your family will be happy to see you again." He said with a smile and unlocked the gate.
"I can only imagine my mother doting over me. She'll never let me out of her sight when she realizes I have a scar on my shoulder now."
"A scar?" Brutus said with a smirk. "A bit reckless on the battlefied?"
"Hardly," I said with a roll of my eyes as I turned to face him. "I never took injury fighting besides the small cut or scrape. The scar was from a...well...a partner of mine was a bit too into me at the time, and bit on my shoulder."
I saw the older wolf's eyes widen and then laugh, slapping me hard enough on my back to send me staggering forward. "This is why I prefer my whores to face away from me, Atticus. You should learn that position is probably safer."
I flushed a bit, my ears turning red. I knew better now though. I had to either joke back or I would forever be teased. So, I was left with little choice but to grandstand, if not outright lie. "I wanted them to bite me."
"Oh?" The guard said, sounding surprised. "I had no idea you would be into something like that."
"Brutus," I said with a smile. "YOu have no idea what I'm like now."
Brutus just smirked and then waved to some servant girl who had been passing. He had passed orders. The young master, Atticius Augustus was home from war. She was to pass on several things, one being to probably set up my room, get fresh food, and let everyone know I was home. I watched her scurry off. Squirrels were always so fast at tasks like that. I looked to Brutus and sighed.
"It is good to be home," I said as I rubbed my forehead with my gloved palm.
Finally on Twitter...
General | Posted 15 years agoSo, keto finally talked me into getting a Twitter. I've resisted and resisted FOREVER but I guess now I will join the masses. You can follow me at: https://twitter.com/TiberiusRings
Still don't think I'm interesting enough to be followed though. =P
Peace!
keto finally talked me into getting a Twitter. I've resisted and resisted FOREVER but I guess now I will join the masses. You can follow me at: https://twitter.com/TiberiusRingsStill don't think I'm interesting enough to be followed though. =P
Peace!
So who is your favorite character?
General | Posted 15 years agoWhen I posted my Jack picture I stated that Jack was, by far, the most popular character from my stories. However! I had a few people contact me and told me that Jack was someone they'd like to smack the crap out of and put him in his place (Note to everyone who wants to beat up Jack: That's the idea. If you find him annoying at least a tiny bit then I've done my job as a writer!)
I was just curious as to YOUR favorite character, and why. This info may influence who I get drawn next when I can afford it. So spill your guts, tell me your thoughts, and just chat it up, yo!
Also, if you don't have one, just sayin' hi isn't bad, either. =)
Enjoy your Monday!
-Tibs
I was just curious as to YOUR favorite character, and why. This info may influence who I get drawn next when I can afford it. So spill your guts, tell me your thoughts, and just chat it up, yo!
Also, if you don't have one, just sayin' hi isn't bad, either. =)
Enjoy your Monday!
-Tibs
Four Moons III preview.
General | Posted 15 years agoI just got back from Spring Break and I found my muse. Sometimes people ask me why I don't write fast, or why it takes me a long time to write. One thing I believe about writing is that if it doesn't come naturally then the story won't flow naturally. I write when inspiration hits me and I got hit last week. I spent some free time churning ideas about and fleshing out scenes. I've been writing and writing and here's a short preview that people have been asking for. Enjoy!
Four Moons III
"Reyna, where are we going?" A soft voice said behind me. Renin, always gentle in his attitude to me, was nipping at my heels. I had dragged him out of the party quickly and he had been enjoying some of the sweet pastries. I had made some excuse, not that I really needed to, who would stop me?
"If you stopped flapping your little muzzle you'd find out quicker. Keep up, boy." I say back, sighing. I can't believe I'm going into the woods. Young people should be doing this, not me. I all ready miss my soft chair in my office.
Renin is quiet as we walk down the steps to the base of the temple and down the left road. This is the Scout's Alley, as everyone calls it. To the right of the steps are the striders, but this side is scouts. Everyone likes to live in familiar groups after all. The tents are more solid, the leather is older and thicker and look more sturdy, as if they're not going to move so easily. Strider tents are always so gentle and elegant, the kind that can be taken down at a moment's notice and vanish into the woods. It is a testiment to their lifestyle and mentality, as are these tents to the Scouts.
I have no idea what's in the woods.
You see, for an old crone like me, I like feeling safe. Yes the young, handsome men with their muscles and stamina and thick heads are great shields. The other three sects of our people have kept our home safe for a long time, but I like to be extra careful. When I was younger, but no less pretty, I had set up a string of spells along the edges of the scout outposts deep in the woods. Why would I do such a thing? I can all ready hear that young little whelp Arch brought back. Well, I could hear him if he was actually here and knew what the hell I was thinking. The brat would protest that the woods are protected by magic and blessings and the cats on the edges of the woods, there's absolutely no need for something like that I did. He'd be right, but I like being in control of my life and my safety. If you only knew what kind of spells were protecting our enclave you'd never want to step foot inside it again. I can't wait for that whelpish brat to try. I have spells designed just for him.
I had felt something snap my little magic web in the woods.
The sensation had always been there. The best example you young people need is that it's always like a faint humming white noise. It has been there for a long time and I almost forgot it. However, in the middle of the party I felt the vibration end and the silence startle me.
I had to go check.
Now, before you call this old lady crazy, a number of things could have happened. One of the stone markers could have shattered or fallen apart, something could have wiped the seal away, or the magic simply ended. magic is not a perminant source of energy, it is like starting a fire. Without wood the fire goes out and the same with magic; without fuel the power fades. It's complicated, just accept this.
I was just about to take another turn at a wooden structure when I saw the leather flaps billow. It makes me stop and dig in my staff right there into the soil. My arm extends to stop Renin. I'm sure he noticed but didn't respond nearly as quick as I did. The Gods knew my beta has a world of training to go through.
I see Ezia step out of the flaps, holding something against her chest. I blink at our new Scout-Alpha. This one was picked by Arch himself, not usually done. Typically the caste picks their new leader but with Jeran's mistakes and the Scouts so willing to challenge his authority Ezia had been picked by the Council. She was young and beautiful, an off white wolf with brown hands and a mark down along her hips. Her ears were tipped brown and her waist narrow. She wore her typical outfit; the loincloth and tabard with cloth over her feet and shins and over her arms and hands. She wore her typical dark green scarf around her neck to match her eyes. She looked up at me and gasped.
"Reyna!" She says quietly.
I clear my throat, tapping the bottom of my staff in the soil.
"My apologies, Alpha-Mage, I did not expect to see you here." She says gently. "I was just getting something to show Slayn."
"Oh?" I hear Renin say behind me. The boy moves around my arm and stands next to me, looking at the item in her arms. "What is it? Didn't you give slayn and Avalon that rug for their room?"
"I did," She says quietly, and then shifts the weight in her arm. "This is more...well, it's Slayn's cub."
My eyes widen. The whelp had been born? How come no one had told me! I always liked to be present when children were born. I was there when Renin and Slayn had been born and I missed this one? I stepped closer, lifting my hand to the bundle. It's a baby wrapped up in some soft cloth. I move and brush the cloth from the child's face, looking it over and blinking. I see a small face and a short muzzle, and know instantly this is the fruit of our young strider's loins. The fur is nearly identical; the mark down the top of his muzzle and along his ears is very much Slayn. The brown is a softer shade but it's so similiar it may as well have been Slayn years ago. I could smell the baby's scent and could pick up a smiliar scent to Slayn's. I brush my old, gnarled fingers along the muzzle, making the newborn's head shift and grunt at me for disturbing it. I can see its teeth when the lips pull back. Did it just try to nip at me?!
Renin chuckles and reaches his own paw out, brushing fingers along the top of the head of the child, flicking his fingers along the top of his head and scritching behind his ears. I watch as the cub shifted and rolled, pushing more into Ezia.
"Where's the mother?" I say firmly, moving my hand away.
"Well," Ezia says as she looks down. "You know she's Jeran's daughter, right?" She pauses for the rhetoric question to sink in. "She was an internal component of the whole...mess. She didn't like what Jeran was doing to Slayn, but she made a blood oath..."
"Blood oath?" Renin asked, a little surprised as he leaned his staff against his shoulder, still petting the sleeping child in Ezia's arms.
"Yes," Ezia said. She looked completely uncomfortable. Good. This was new information about the whole mess Jeran and Slayn plunged the caern into. I was a little angry but I kept my mouth shut. Scolding her really wasn't going to change the past. "She swore she would never talk to Slayn again."
"But she's the mother of his child. I say with a loud groan. "You young people are idiots. Never thinking two steps in front of you, and you Scouts do that every day! Lets make the baby feel the strain of that event."
"Reyna," Ezia says quietly, sighing. "I know this. I couldn't do anything about it at the time and she's Jeran's kin. She had no choice with how Jeran became more and more agitated. She was worried Jeran would hurt her, and risk the baby."
"Jeran would be furious, too. It's a boy that looks like Slayn." I say with a huffed half smirk. "I will tell Arch about this oath. He can annul it if he wants to."
"Arch can do anything he wants,"Ezia says almost mechanically. She knows the rules. The Scouts are always being watched these days. They'll behave, and Ezia is a strong person but her loyalties are to our hot headed Alpha Male.
"What's his name?" Renin asked, snapping me out of my thought process. "Mothers always pick the names, right?"
"They do," Ezia says, shifting the baby so we can see it's face. The baby is sleeping, curled up with its small hand against it's small muzzle. He's beautiful, I won't lie. Slayn was cute but this boy will grow up into a heart throb around the caern. His mother is beautiful and his father sleek.
"What did the mother pick?" Renin asked, insisting on an answer.
"Well," Ezia says with a shift of her hips as she held up the boy. "It's an odd name. I don't really get it but she said she heard it from an Outsider once, and she loved it."
"What is it!" Renin needs to control himself sometimes. I sigh and shake my head.
"Tiberius," Ezia says. "She named him Tiberius."
Four Moons III
"Reyna, where are we going?" A soft voice said behind me. Renin, always gentle in his attitude to me, was nipping at my heels. I had dragged him out of the party quickly and he had been enjoying some of the sweet pastries. I had made some excuse, not that I really needed to, who would stop me?
"If you stopped flapping your little muzzle you'd find out quicker. Keep up, boy." I say back, sighing. I can't believe I'm going into the woods. Young people should be doing this, not me. I all ready miss my soft chair in my office.
Renin is quiet as we walk down the steps to the base of the temple and down the left road. This is the Scout's Alley, as everyone calls it. To the right of the steps are the striders, but this side is scouts. Everyone likes to live in familiar groups after all. The tents are more solid, the leather is older and thicker and look more sturdy, as if they're not going to move so easily. Strider tents are always so gentle and elegant, the kind that can be taken down at a moment's notice and vanish into the woods. It is a testiment to their lifestyle and mentality, as are these tents to the Scouts.
I have no idea what's in the woods.
You see, for an old crone like me, I like feeling safe. Yes the young, handsome men with their muscles and stamina and thick heads are great shields. The other three sects of our people have kept our home safe for a long time, but I like to be extra careful. When I was younger, but no less pretty, I had set up a string of spells along the edges of the scout outposts deep in the woods. Why would I do such a thing? I can all ready hear that young little whelp Arch brought back. Well, I could hear him if he was actually here and knew what the hell I was thinking. The brat would protest that the woods are protected by magic and blessings and the cats on the edges of the woods, there's absolutely no need for something like that I did. He'd be right, but I like being in control of my life and my safety. If you only knew what kind of spells were protecting our enclave you'd never want to step foot inside it again. I can't wait for that whelpish brat to try. I have spells designed just for him.
I had felt something snap my little magic web in the woods.
The sensation had always been there. The best example you young people need is that it's always like a faint humming white noise. It has been there for a long time and I almost forgot it. However, in the middle of the party I felt the vibration end and the silence startle me.
I had to go check.
Now, before you call this old lady crazy, a number of things could have happened. One of the stone markers could have shattered or fallen apart, something could have wiped the seal away, or the magic simply ended. magic is not a perminant source of energy, it is like starting a fire. Without wood the fire goes out and the same with magic; without fuel the power fades. It's complicated, just accept this.
I was just about to take another turn at a wooden structure when I saw the leather flaps billow. It makes me stop and dig in my staff right there into the soil. My arm extends to stop Renin. I'm sure he noticed but didn't respond nearly as quick as I did. The Gods knew my beta has a world of training to go through.
I see Ezia step out of the flaps, holding something against her chest. I blink at our new Scout-Alpha. This one was picked by Arch himself, not usually done. Typically the caste picks their new leader but with Jeran's mistakes and the Scouts so willing to challenge his authority Ezia had been picked by the Council. She was young and beautiful, an off white wolf with brown hands and a mark down along her hips. Her ears were tipped brown and her waist narrow. She wore her typical outfit; the loincloth and tabard with cloth over her feet and shins and over her arms and hands. She wore her typical dark green scarf around her neck to match her eyes. She looked up at me and gasped.
"Reyna!" She says quietly.
I clear my throat, tapping the bottom of my staff in the soil.
"My apologies, Alpha-Mage, I did not expect to see you here." She says gently. "I was just getting something to show Slayn."
"Oh?" I hear Renin say behind me. The boy moves around my arm and stands next to me, looking at the item in her arms. "What is it? Didn't you give slayn and Avalon that rug for their room?"
"I did," She says quietly, and then shifts the weight in her arm. "This is more...well, it's Slayn's cub."
My eyes widen. The whelp had been born? How come no one had told me! I always liked to be present when children were born. I was there when Renin and Slayn had been born and I missed this one? I stepped closer, lifting my hand to the bundle. It's a baby wrapped up in some soft cloth. I move and brush the cloth from the child's face, looking it over and blinking. I see a small face and a short muzzle, and know instantly this is the fruit of our young strider's loins. The fur is nearly identical; the mark down the top of his muzzle and along his ears is very much Slayn. The brown is a softer shade but it's so similiar it may as well have been Slayn years ago. I could smell the baby's scent and could pick up a smiliar scent to Slayn's. I brush my old, gnarled fingers along the muzzle, making the newborn's head shift and grunt at me for disturbing it. I can see its teeth when the lips pull back. Did it just try to nip at me?!
Renin chuckles and reaches his own paw out, brushing fingers along the top of the head of the child, flicking his fingers along the top of his head and scritching behind his ears. I watch as the cub shifted and rolled, pushing more into Ezia.
"Where's the mother?" I say firmly, moving my hand away.
"Well," Ezia says as she looks down. "You know she's Jeran's daughter, right?" She pauses for the rhetoric question to sink in. "She was an internal component of the whole...mess. She didn't like what Jeran was doing to Slayn, but she made a blood oath..."
"Blood oath?" Renin asked, a little surprised as he leaned his staff against his shoulder, still petting the sleeping child in Ezia's arms.
"Yes," Ezia said. She looked completely uncomfortable. Good. This was new information about the whole mess Jeran and Slayn plunged the caern into. I was a little angry but I kept my mouth shut. Scolding her really wasn't going to change the past. "She swore she would never talk to Slayn again."
"But she's the mother of his child. I say with a loud groan. "You young people are idiots. Never thinking two steps in front of you, and you Scouts do that every day! Lets make the baby feel the strain of that event."
"Reyna," Ezia says quietly, sighing. "I know this. I couldn't do anything about it at the time and she's Jeran's kin. She had no choice with how Jeran became more and more agitated. She was worried Jeran would hurt her, and risk the baby."
"Jeran would be furious, too. It's a boy that looks like Slayn." I say with a huffed half smirk. "I will tell Arch about this oath. He can annul it if he wants to."
"Arch can do anything he wants,"Ezia says almost mechanically. She knows the rules. The Scouts are always being watched these days. They'll behave, and Ezia is a strong person but her loyalties are to our hot headed Alpha Male.
"What's his name?" Renin asked, snapping me out of my thought process. "Mothers always pick the names, right?"
"They do," Ezia says, shifting the baby so we can see it's face. The baby is sleeping, curled up with its small hand against it's small muzzle. He's beautiful, I won't lie. Slayn was cute but this boy will grow up into a heart throb around the caern. His mother is beautiful and his father sleek.
"What did the mother pick?" Renin asked, insisting on an answer.
"Well," Ezia says with a shift of her hips as she held up the boy. "It's an odd name. I don't really get it but she said she heard it from an Outsider once, and she loved it."
"What is it!" Renin needs to control himself sometimes. I sigh and shake my head.
"Tiberius," Ezia says. "She named him Tiberius."
Final Fantasy XIII and JRPGS
General | Posted 16 years agoOkay, I'm not going to deny it; I'm excited about Final Fantasy XIII. It comes out a day before my birthday, it looks beautiful, I love the character Lightning, but I'm a little upset with how people are looking at this game.
I've read a lot of information on it from various gaming websites and a lot of the complaints people are happening are the very linear progression the game has to offer, often being compared to games like Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect (2). I'm surprised so many people consider Bioware games the pinnacle of an RPG experience. Really, all you get in more traditional western RPGs is a A) Be nice B) Be bad, or C) be the middle ground.
People tend to forget that the Final Fantasy series is not supposed to suck YOU in and make YOU the hero, it's a well presented book with some combat interface. When someone reads a book they are not making the choice about what the main character is doing, they're along for the ride. When people realize that games, like JRPGs, are like that I think people will stop throwing so many stones and nit picking.
Don't get me wrong, I loved Dragon Age but comparing it to Final Fantasy is like comparing The Lord of the Rings to Star Wars. Yeah they may have some rough similarities but they're very different beasts.
Anyway, just wanted to say that. =P
Peace!
I've read a lot of information on it from various gaming websites and a lot of the complaints people are happening are the very linear progression the game has to offer, often being compared to games like Dragon Age: Origins and Mass Effect (2). I'm surprised so many people consider Bioware games the pinnacle of an RPG experience. Really, all you get in more traditional western RPGs is a A) Be nice B) Be bad, or C) be the middle ground.
People tend to forget that the Final Fantasy series is not supposed to suck YOU in and make YOU the hero, it's a well presented book with some combat interface. When someone reads a book they are not making the choice about what the main character is doing, they're along for the ride. When people realize that games, like JRPGs, are like that I think people will stop throwing so many stones and nit picking.
Don't get me wrong, I loved Dragon Age but comparing it to Final Fantasy is like comparing The Lord of the Rings to Star Wars. Yeah they may have some rough similarities but they're very different beasts.
Anyway, just wanted to say that. =P
Peace!
So I got a Kindle...
General | Posted 16 years agoYeah, I know. Trendy e-Reader, right?
I'd been wanting one for awhile. I was tied between B&E's The Nook, Amazon's Kindle, and now Apple's iPad. Honestly, it was a tough call. I do a lot of reading. I mean, I like reading talented people so I can mooch off their abilities. =P One day I'll be good, too!
The reason I decided against Apple's iPad was that it is really a giant iTouch. I wanted something I would READ with, and while the iPad does have iBooks, the potential to minimize the pages and watch a video, or play a game. Also I wasn't sure about the screen. The Kindle and the Nook use screens that resemble paper and as such put no strain on the eye. A full color screen (which would have finger print smudges all over it) didn't seem appealing.
As well, the Nook is having problems up the wazoo. I can't really find any saving grace for it. Yeah, sharing books between Nooks is awesome but I've never even SEEN a person with a Nook. Plus, publishers can decide if the book can be shared or not. The Nook and the iPad do use ePub file format, but Amazon will probably support it with a firmware update, so no big loss there.
Anyway, now that I'm done justifying my purchase, I do have to admit I like the damn thing. It's always connected to the net, it's responsive, I can put the PDF files I have for class readings on the thing, books are incredible on it. It's comfortable in my hands, etc.
I just wanted to share, and wondering if anyone else has one, or the other variations.
On a side note...
Four Moons 2 is almost done. Just a couple more scenes to do and then editing. Sorry this is taking so long. The Kindle isn't helping but the break is helping me in terms of refreshing my creative juices. =)
PS
<3 keto
I'd been wanting one for awhile. I was tied between B&E's The Nook, Amazon's Kindle, and now Apple's iPad. Honestly, it was a tough call. I do a lot of reading. I mean, I like reading talented people so I can mooch off their abilities. =P One day I'll be good, too!
The reason I decided against Apple's iPad was that it is really a giant iTouch. I wanted something I would READ with, and while the iPad does have iBooks, the potential to minimize the pages and watch a video, or play a game. Also I wasn't sure about the screen. The Kindle and the Nook use screens that resemble paper and as such put no strain on the eye. A full color screen (which would have finger print smudges all over it) didn't seem appealing.
As well, the Nook is having problems up the wazoo. I can't really find any saving grace for it. Yeah, sharing books between Nooks is awesome but I've never even SEEN a person with a Nook. Plus, publishers can decide if the book can be shared or not. The Nook and the iPad do use ePub file format, but Amazon will probably support it with a firmware update, so no big loss there.
Anyway, now that I'm done justifying my purchase, I do have to admit I like the damn thing. It's always connected to the net, it's responsive, I can put the PDF files I have for class readings on the thing, books are incredible on it. It's comfortable in my hands, etc.
I just wanted to share, and wondering if anyone else has one, or the other variations.
On a side note...
Four Moons 2 is almost done. Just a couple more scenes to do and then editing. Sorry this is taking so long. The Kindle isn't helping but the break is helping me in terms of refreshing my creative juices. =)
PS
<3
keto Four Moons Soon!
General | Posted 16 years agoOkay, sorry for being so quiet...
But a lot of you know I was on vacation and on the other side of the country and I just decided to use that time to deflate and unwind, as everyone needs between semesters! I've been home for a week now and I've been writing. I'd post another preview but doing that would expose you, the reader, to far too much and I'd have people coming to bang on my door to finish!
Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm close to finishing Four Moons II. End of the week for sure, maybe tomorrow. We shall see!
<3
-Tibs
But a lot of you know I was on vacation and on the other side of the country and I just decided to use that time to deflate and unwind, as everyone needs between semesters! I've been home for a week now and I've been writing. I'd post another preview but doing that would expose you, the reader, to far too much and I'd have people coming to bang on my door to finish!
Anyway, I just wanted to say that I'm close to finishing Four Moons II. End of the week for sure, maybe tomorrow. We shall see!
<3
-Tibs
Four Moons preview.
General | Posted 16 years agoWell, I know I haven't really written in awhile, but I wanted to share wit you a little bit of the next chapter. It's nothing shocking, thrilling, but it's what I got. =) It's also not edited so don't cast any grammar stones at me!
Four Moons II Preview:
"So how's Jack fitting in?" I asked as we walked down the long corridor.
"He's not causing as much trouble as I expected. Why do you ask, Slayn?" Arch asked me.
We were on route to the Alpha's chambers. A year ago I would have been excited and nervous all at the same time. To be in the Alpha's private company always did make my knees quiver. Today it was more like a working friendship. Avalon had come into my life and when I needed him most he was there for me. I truly loved Avalon more than I could ever describe. Arch was always going to be my first crush, my first love, and you never quite stop loving that person even when you find yourself deep into a relationship. I was about to be joined and I still thought the man attractive, kind, and someone who needed a mate just as much as I needed one. Arch deserved someone just as much as I deserved Avalon. I did have to admit that being with Avalon made working with Arch much more...civil. I could actually concentrate on my work and not be distracted by what my body wanted. True there were the natural urges of being a man but those were easily quashed, especially in the evenings with Avalon.
"Just curious. I haven't really seen him do much but wander about the temple and roads."
"He's barely out of bed, Slayn. He's exploring and meeting people. I know he goes to the Warrior's Enclave a lot but he always returns back to the room before dinner is ready." Arch told me.
"He hasn't tried to run away?" A rhetoric question. If he had been I'm sure I'd have known about it.
"Not to my knowledge. None of the scouts have reported him going deep into the woods and the outpost guards never see him. I'm assuming he's behaving himself and actually listening to me. I told him not to wander into the forest."
"You do realize you kidnapped him, right?" I told Arch as we rounded the corner. I was tugging my messenger bag onto my shoulder. I had been running messages to the Scout outposts in the woods all morning and mid day. Evening now, I was simply reporting in. Arch had a few documents he wanted to give me so I could hand them out to my striders so we could send them out in the morning. We had a lot to do after all.
"I saved him," Arch said with a gruff noise from his throat. "You saw how he was; cold, thin as a rail and cheating people to make enough money to eat. I did what any Alpha would do in my place."
"I don't think the Warboz would have done what you did," I admitted with a grin.
"The End Moon are much more rough than we are, but I think they would have taken the boy regardless. It's not like we're chaining him up, beating and raping the kid. He's actually going to have a future here."
"Still, I'm sure he asks to go back to the cities and the Outsiders."
"Daily," Arch said with a sigh as he rubbed the back of his skull. "I can't see why."
"Well," I began. "If you look at Jack I think you can figure out why. He's had a pretty rough life by the stories he's told us. I know he lies but I don't think he's been lying about those events. He may have had it rough but it's really all he knows. If he feels like he's lost the only normal thing in his life then he's going to resist change. He still having problems wearing a loincloth?"
"Heh," Arch grinned. "He's at that age when boys get aroused because the wind is warm across their face, or the light flickers in the most alluring way. He's having trouble with it as any of our youth do."
"You did tell him he's not such a big deal to be aroused around other males, right?" It truely wasn't. Men got erections and that was the fact to end all facts. In groups of men they sometimes happened, especially in boys changing into men. When I was growing up and training with the other striders it happened from time to time. At worst a mild tease happened but nothing that would scar one for life.
"Yes, but he got one when we were talking to some of the women in the kitchens."
"Oh," I said with a laugh, holding a palm up to my muzzle. "Well, I suppose he must have been beat red."
"He grabbed my arm and dragged me back outside until it calmed down. At least we know he's a healthy young man. He seems to frequently get them." Arch said with another laugh. He sighed then as the laughing must have made him feel better. "I'll tell him that it's really no big deal. It is just a fact of life."
"A fact of life I'm glad my body got over."
Arch reached over and pushed against the wooden door to his room and looked at me. "Has Apollo said he'd also join the meeting and your Joining?"
Before I was able to answer I saw something in Arch's room I never quite expected. Jack had been living with Arch for a few weeks now because finding a spot for him meant we had to pick on a caste and we had been dragging out heels over it, mostly because whenever we talked about it Arch always changed the Council topic or something always distracted him from making us vote on it. So, for the time being, Jack lived with him. What I saw inside was humorous and shocking at the same time. There was Arch's large table surrounded by four warriors and Jack. I could see playing cards in their hands as well as pieces of clothing and items on the table, from shiny stones to what looked like loincloths. Jack was drinking something from a large wooden mug and had a huge grin on his face. However, when his gaze shifted to Arch and I in the doorway his face took on an expression of horror. Some of the warriors did the same, looking shocked and worried at the same time.
Jack stood up and then pointed at the warrior to his left. "He did it."
I looked over to Arch, who just huffed and shook his head, walking over to the table. I saw our Alpha examine the contents, and then I heard the growl. "Why are you betting these?" Arch asked, motioning to some odd nick knacks on the table.
"They looked valuable," Jack responded. At least he didn't lie. He didn't look phased to have Arch towering over him either. I decided to just hang back by the door.
"Anything from that shelf," Arch began and pointed to his book shelf. "You do not touch. They're gifts from Apollo and while I don't collect junk, his gifts are important to me."
"Oh?" Jack said with a curious little look on his face. It was enough to at least get my attention. "Why? Do you loooooove him?"
The warriors around the table blinked, squirmed, and I saw one trying to hide his laugh. No one but the Council knew about Arch and Apollo, but it was a quiet joke that took place behind our Alpha's back. The joke was he DID love Apollo and favored the leopard Alpha heavily. Oh how true it was.
Arch growled and slammed his palm onto the table, making the chips, the items, and the warriors to bounce in surprise. The only one who didn't move was Jack. "Anything from that shelf is mine, you can keep the rest of the items you won," Arch said with a huff. He watched as the warriors returned just an item or two, and then got up with their hoard, and left. I just smiled to them as they passed, and closed the door behind them, leaving the three of us alone in the Alpha's quarters.
"Jack!" Arch said with a growl.
"Arch!" Jack said, leaning back and popping his feet up on the table, shuffling the cards between his hands.
"You do know gambling in here, or pretty much anywhere at this hour is a bad thing, right?"
"No," Jack admitted, looking up to Arch. "I didn't."
"You're lying," Arch commented, gripping the back of his seat. "No one is that dense."
"I don't do well with IMPLIED rules, Archy. I don't really do well with rules in general, but eh..." Jack had said the second half of his sentence in a whimsical, rapid way, as if he was thinking out loud and not minding the Alpha one bit.
"You WILL work with the rules, or you will be punished." Arch said calmly, reaching down and snatching the deck of cards from the boy's palms. "Especially these next few days."
"Hey!" Jack protested, growling up at Arch. "Why? Because your little messenger is getting married?"
"That's exactly why. The other two packs are also arriving, and Apollo, and because I simply demand it. You need to behave."
"What's in it for me?" JAck said with a tilt of his head, removing his feet from the table and looking right up at Arch with a serious expression.
"Why do you need to get anything out of it? Can't you simply obey?" Arch asked, a little stunned sounding. I was too to a degree, this Outsider mentality of operating only on personal gain was different.
"Because there's no incentive for me to obey." JAck said, and reached his hand out, grabbing the front of Arch's loincloth and pulling. "There! I'll take this."
I saw Arch physically leap back an inch, and the Alpha's palms on his sides lifted and balled into fists. No one had really ever stripped Arch of his clothing, and the Alpha male stood there, naked, in front of the little wolf who seemed to have no sense of fear.
"You know," Arch said in a deeper, richer voice. "If you had been any other wolf I'd have taken this as an invitation to have my way with you, little wolf." He huffed a bit, causing me to blush. Yes, I had Avalon but naturally I was attracted to Arch. A lot of people were, it was simply natural because of his rank and abilities. "However, you get this one chance. Do it again, and I will take you where at least half the pack can see you, little wolf."
Jack just quirked his brow, looking up at Arch and smiled, shaking his head as he just tossed the pilfered cloth to his side of the room. I had no idea how they slept, but Jack had been given a corner, and there seemed to be no bed. Apaprently they slept in the same bed. In Jack's corner, however, was a large mass of various random objects...junk. I blinked, wondering how a wolf who had nothing to begin with managed to get such a hoard.
"Fine, duely noted, Alpha." Jack said with a teasing tone, and just looked up at Arch with that adorable grin on his face. "I'll behave, but in exchange I want you to do something for me."
"I don't operate like that, puppy," Arch said as he walked to his dresser and pulled out a loincloth. This one was a dark orange and he quickly wrapped it around his waist and tied it. "I'm the Alpha Male, I get what I want. I may be nice soemtimes, but I do not do this balance you keep speaking of."
"And just why do people obey you?" Jack sounded confused.
"Ask Slayn," Arch said. I saw Jack look to me.
I shrugged. "He's the Alpha. He protects us and leads us, and in exchange we obey his orders. He doesn't abuse his power and he's a good leader, there's no need to change the balance of power and he's well liked."
"Sounds like a king to me," Jack said with an obvious disgust. "You and Zane would probably get along."
"We're not here to debate how well I get along with Outsiders, Jack. we're here because I know you're good at woman work.' Arch said. I had to hold back from that. Arch still used that term.
"Woman work, Arch?" I asked, prodding him.
"Ugh," He sighed and rolled his eyes. "Fine, domestic work. When I was a pup I only remembered women in the kitchen, so I call it women work."
"Arch," I reminded him, but he cut me off.
"Yes, yes, I know. Our best clothier and cook are male. It's an old habit, Slayn," he said with a hand raised to me. We then looked to Jack. "You can cook, right?"
"Well," Jack said, rocking in his chair a little bit. "Yeah, I can. I worked for a year in an inn in the kitchen. Why?"
"We're short on people in the kitchen and we have so many packs. You probably have a knack for exotic dishes. Do you want to help?" Arch made it a question. I blinked, looking up to his face. was Arch...no way.
"Sure," Jack said and stood up, smiling. "I can make anything I want?"
"Yes," Arch said, his voice a bit softer. "You can make anything you want. Just make sure you can show the others how to do it since it has to be in bulk for so many people."
"And no one is going to get mad at me, snap at me, or try to shove me out of the kitchen?"
"You have authority there, pup," Arch said with a grin. "You can't be kicked out unless you do something stupid, like cut your finger off."
"That's not on the menu. Okay. As long as I'm the one in charge and no one will back talk me. hat if they do?"
"Find an Alpha or a Beta. If you say it, and are honest, we should know. Find me if all else fails." Arch said with another grin on his face.
"Okay, deal. I'm in the mood for something sweet anyway." Jack said as he gathered up his jacket. Jack had stopped by the striders tents one day and asked for a jacket because he was cold, and we had given him one because of his honest request. It was just made of leather, but what surprised a lot of people was he didn't button it and try to hide his body in it."
I watched as Jack worked past us and out in the stone corridor. I blinked and looked up at Arch, rubbing the side of my head. "You do realize you just let him cook for my Joining, right?"
"I know," Arch said with a grin. "Don't worry, he won't ruin your day."
"He better not."
Four Moons II Preview:
"So how's Jack fitting in?" I asked as we walked down the long corridor.
"He's not causing as much trouble as I expected. Why do you ask, Slayn?" Arch asked me.
We were on route to the Alpha's chambers. A year ago I would have been excited and nervous all at the same time. To be in the Alpha's private company always did make my knees quiver. Today it was more like a working friendship. Avalon had come into my life and when I needed him most he was there for me. I truly loved Avalon more than I could ever describe. Arch was always going to be my first crush, my first love, and you never quite stop loving that person even when you find yourself deep into a relationship. I was about to be joined and I still thought the man attractive, kind, and someone who needed a mate just as much as I needed one. Arch deserved someone just as much as I deserved Avalon. I did have to admit that being with Avalon made working with Arch much more...civil. I could actually concentrate on my work and not be distracted by what my body wanted. True there were the natural urges of being a man but those were easily quashed, especially in the evenings with Avalon.
"Just curious. I haven't really seen him do much but wander about the temple and roads."
"He's barely out of bed, Slayn. He's exploring and meeting people. I know he goes to the Warrior's Enclave a lot but he always returns back to the room before dinner is ready." Arch told me.
"He hasn't tried to run away?" A rhetoric question. If he had been I'm sure I'd have known about it.
"Not to my knowledge. None of the scouts have reported him going deep into the woods and the outpost guards never see him. I'm assuming he's behaving himself and actually listening to me. I told him not to wander into the forest."
"You do realize you kidnapped him, right?" I told Arch as we rounded the corner. I was tugging my messenger bag onto my shoulder. I had been running messages to the Scout outposts in the woods all morning and mid day. Evening now, I was simply reporting in. Arch had a few documents he wanted to give me so I could hand them out to my striders so we could send them out in the morning. We had a lot to do after all.
"I saved him," Arch said with a gruff noise from his throat. "You saw how he was; cold, thin as a rail and cheating people to make enough money to eat. I did what any Alpha would do in my place."
"I don't think the Warboz would have done what you did," I admitted with a grin.
"The End Moon are much more rough than we are, but I think they would have taken the boy regardless. It's not like we're chaining him up, beating and raping the kid. He's actually going to have a future here."
"Still, I'm sure he asks to go back to the cities and the Outsiders."
"Daily," Arch said with a sigh as he rubbed the back of his skull. "I can't see why."
"Well," I began. "If you look at Jack I think you can figure out why. He's had a pretty rough life by the stories he's told us. I know he lies but I don't think he's been lying about those events. He may have had it rough but it's really all he knows. If he feels like he's lost the only normal thing in his life then he's going to resist change. He still having problems wearing a loincloth?"
"Heh," Arch grinned. "He's at that age when boys get aroused because the wind is warm across their face, or the light flickers in the most alluring way. He's having trouble with it as any of our youth do."
"You did tell him he's not such a big deal to be aroused around other males, right?" It truely wasn't. Men got erections and that was the fact to end all facts. In groups of men they sometimes happened, especially in boys changing into men. When I was growing up and training with the other striders it happened from time to time. At worst a mild tease happened but nothing that would scar one for life.
"Yes, but he got one when we were talking to some of the women in the kitchens."
"Oh," I said with a laugh, holding a palm up to my muzzle. "Well, I suppose he must have been beat red."
"He grabbed my arm and dragged me back outside until it calmed down. At least we know he's a healthy young man. He seems to frequently get them." Arch said with another laugh. He sighed then as the laughing must have made him feel better. "I'll tell him that it's really no big deal. It is just a fact of life."
"A fact of life I'm glad my body got over."
Arch reached over and pushed against the wooden door to his room and looked at me. "Has Apollo said he'd also join the meeting and your Joining?"
Before I was able to answer I saw something in Arch's room I never quite expected. Jack had been living with Arch for a few weeks now because finding a spot for him meant we had to pick on a caste and we had been dragging out heels over it, mostly because whenever we talked about it Arch always changed the Council topic or something always distracted him from making us vote on it. So, for the time being, Jack lived with him. What I saw inside was humorous and shocking at the same time. There was Arch's large table surrounded by four warriors and Jack. I could see playing cards in their hands as well as pieces of clothing and items on the table, from shiny stones to what looked like loincloths. Jack was drinking something from a large wooden mug and had a huge grin on his face. However, when his gaze shifted to Arch and I in the doorway his face took on an expression of horror. Some of the warriors did the same, looking shocked and worried at the same time.
Jack stood up and then pointed at the warrior to his left. "He did it."
I looked over to Arch, who just huffed and shook his head, walking over to the table. I saw our Alpha examine the contents, and then I heard the growl. "Why are you betting these?" Arch asked, motioning to some odd nick knacks on the table.
"They looked valuable," Jack responded. At least he didn't lie. He didn't look phased to have Arch towering over him either. I decided to just hang back by the door.
"Anything from that shelf," Arch began and pointed to his book shelf. "You do not touch. They're gifts from Apollo and while I don't collect junk, his gifts are important to me."
"Oh?" Jack said with a curious little look on his face. It was enough to at least get my attention. "Why? Do you loooooove him?"
The warriors around the table blinked, squirmed, and I saw one trying to hide his laugh. No one but the Council knew about Arch and Apollo, but it was a quiet joke that took place behind our Alpha's back. The joke was he DID love Apollo and favored the leopard Alpha heavily. Oh how true it was.
Arch growled and slammed his palm onto the table, making the chips, the items, and the warriors to bounce in surprise. The only one who didn't move was Jack. "Anything from that shelf is mine, you can keep the rest of the items you won," Arch said with a huff. He watched as the warriors returned just an item or two, and then got up with their hoard, and left. I just smiled to them as they passed, and closed the door behind them, leaving the three of us alone in the Alpha's quarters.
"Jack!" Arch said with a growl.
"Arch!" Jack said, leaning back and popping his feet up on the table, shuffling the cards between his hands.
"You do know gambling in here, or pretty much anywhere at this hour is a bad thing, right?"
"No," Jack admitted, looking up to Arch. "I didn't."
"You're lying," Arch commented, gripping the back of his seat. "No one is that dense."
"I don't do well with IMPLIED rules, Archy. I don't really do well with rules in general, but eh..." Jack had said the second half of his sentence in a whimsical, rapid way, as if he was thinking out loud and not minding the Alpha one bit.
"You WILL work with the rules, or you will be punished." Arch said calmly, reaching down and snatching the deck of cards from the boy's palms. "Especially these next few days."
"Hey!" Jack protested, growling up at Arch. "Why? Because your little messenger is getting married?"
"That's exactly why. The other two packs are also arriving, and Apollo, and because I simply demand it. You need to behave."
"What's in it for me?" JAck said with a tilt of his head, removing his feet from the table and looking right up at Arch with a serious expression.
"Why do you need to get anything out of it? Can't you simply obey?" Arch asked, a little stunned sounding. I was too to a degree, this Outsider mentality of operating only on personal gain was different.
"Because there's no incentive for me to obey." JAck said, and reached his hand out, grabbing the front of Arch's loincloth and pulling. "There! I'll take this."
I saw Arch physically leap back an inch, and the Alpha's palms on his sides lifted and balled into fists. No one had really ever stripped Arch of his clothing, and the Alpha male stood there, naked, in front of the little wolf who seemed to have no sense of fear.
"You know," Arch said in a deeper, richer voice. "If you had been any other wolf I'd have taken this as an invitation to have my way with you, little wolf." He huffed a bit, causing me to blush. Yes, I had Avalon but naturally I was attracted to Arch. A lot of people were, it was simply natural because of his rank and abilities. "However, you get this one chance. Do it again, and I will take you where at least half the pack can see you, little wolf."
Jack just quirked his brow, looking up at Arch and smiled, shaking his head as he just tossed the pilfered cloth to his side of the room. I had no idea how they slept, but Jack had been given a corner, and there seemed to be no bed. Apaprently they slept in the same bed. In Jack's corner, however, was a large mass of various random objects...junk. I blinked, wondering how a wolf who had nothing to begin with managed to get such a hoard.
"Fine, duely noted, Alpha." Jack said with a teasing tone, and just looked up at Arch with that adorable grin on his face. "I'll behave, but in exchange I want you to do something for me."
"I don't operate like that, puppy," Arch said as he walked to his dresser and pulled out a loincloth. This one was a dark orange and he quickly wrapped it around his waist and tied it. "I'm the Alpha Male, I get what I want. I may be nice soemtimes, but I do not do this balance you keep speaking of."
"And just why do people obey you?" Jack sounded confused.
"Ask Slayn," Arch said. I saw Jack look to me.
I shrugged. "He's the Alpha. He protects us and leads us, and in exchange we obey his orders. He doesn't abuse his power and he's a good leader, there's no need to change the balance of power and he's well liked."
"Sounds like a king to me," Jack said with an obvious disgust. "You and Zane would probably get along."
"We're not here to debate how well I get along with Outsiders, Jack. we're here because I know you're good at woman work.' Arch said. I had to hold back from that. Arch still used that term.
"Woman work, Arch?" I asked, prodding him.
"Ugh," He sighed and rolled his eyes. "Fine, domestic work. When I was a pup I only remembered women in the kitchen, so I call it women work."
"Arch," I reminded him, but he cut me off.
"Yes, yes, I know. Our best clothier and cook are male. It's an old habit, Slayn," he said with a hand raised to me. We then looked to Jack. "You can cook, right?"
"Well," Jack said, rocking in his chair a little bit. "Yeah, I can. I worked for a year in an inn in the kitchen. Why?"
"We're short on people in the kitchen and we have so many packs. You probably have a knack for exotic dishes. Do you want to help?" Arch made it a question. I blinked, looking up to his face. was Arch...no way.
"Sure," Jack said and stood up, smiling. "I can make anything I want?"
"Yes," Arch said, his voice a bit softer. "You can make anything you want. Just make sure you can show the others how to do it since it has to be in bulk for so many people."
"And no one is going to get mad at me, snap at me, or try to shove me out of the kitchen?"
"You have authority there, pup," Arch said with a grin. "You can't be kicked out unless you do something stupid, like cut your finger off."
"That's not on the menu. Okay. As long as I'm the one in charge and no one will back talk me. hat if they do?"
"Find an Alpha or a Beta. If you say it, and are honest, we should know. Find me if all else fails." Arch said with another grin on his face.
"Okay, deal. I'm in the mood for something sweet anyway." Jack said as he gathered up his jacket. Jack had stopped by the striders tents one day and asked for a jacket because he was cold, and we had given him one because of his honest request. It was just made of leather, but what surprised a lot of people was he didn't button it and try to hide his body in it."
I watched as Jack worked past us and out in the stone corridor. I blinked and looked up at Arch, rubbing the side of my head. "You do realize you just let him cook for my Joining, right?"
"I know," Arch said with a grin. "Don't worry, he won't ruin your day."
"He better not."
SoFurry...
General | Posted 16 years agoOkay, so, as a furry writer I post my stories here as well as Yiffstar (Which is now SoFurry.com).
Playing around on the surface of the interface it's very good, I think Osfer made a good website but the tag search is weird, I miss the open categories without having to actually type them in, but this is probably just me not enjoying something new.
So, anyone else who uses Yiffstar/SoFurry what's your opinion on the change?
Playing around on the surface of the interface it's very good, I think Osfer made a good website but the tag search is weird, I miss the open categories without having to actually type them in, but this is probably just me not enjoying something new.
So, anyone else who uses Yiffstar/SoFurry what's your opinion on the change?
T'was the Night before Christmas...
General | Posted 16 years agoAnd here I am on FA! =P
Actually, just taking a moment to relax, warm up, and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays for those of you who don't celebrate it.
This is the time of year for family and friends, and I have to say I have a good mix of both. The friends I make here are wonderful and I wouldn't be half the writer I am today without the support of you guys.
Be safe and happy, always!
-Tibs
Actually, just taking a moment to relax, warm up, and wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays for those of you who don't celebrate it.
This is the time of year for family and friends, and I have to say I have a good mix of both. The friends I make here are wonderful and I wouldn't be half the writer I am today without the support of you guys.
Be safe and happy, always!
-Tibs
Obligatory "Welcome back FA Journal!"
General | Posted 16 years agoWell, FA is back! Hoorah!
In a day or so I'll be posting a short, mostly smut story, revolving around the events between Four Moons 1 and Four Moons 2. I'm working hard on FM2 and I'll try my BEST to get it up as quick as possible. Again, I'm glad everyone is here and back. =)
-Tibs.
In a day or so I'll be posting a short, mostly smut story, revolving around the events between Four Moons 1 and Four Moons 2. I'm working hard on FM2 and I'll try my BEST to get it up as quick as possible. Again, I'm glad everyone is here and back. =)
-Tibs.
New story soon, I promise!
General | Posted 16 years agoWell, the next part of my story is almost done. Class work has been slamming me hard and as such it's sat on my desktop untouched. I plan to try and finish it within the next few days and post it. I know a lot of people were worried I was going to stop writing about The Half Moon Tribe.
As a lot of people know (from reading) Slayn's general trial and tribulations are mostly resolved. However, now that I feel the society I write about, the dynamics of these wolves and how they function as not only a pack but as a people, I can expand upon the world. If there's enough interest I'll write an appendix of sorts because it's pretty vast. I'm going to write outside the wolf's society and venture to the other groups, and even the medieval society outside their protected woods.
Oh, the series continuing will be called The Half Moon Tribe: The Four Moons. I'll leave the name for speculation. =)
-Tibs.
As a lot of people know (from reading) Slayn's general trial and tribulations are mostly resolved. However, now that I feel the society I write about, the dynamics of these wolves and how they function as not only a pack but as a people, I can expand upon the world. If there's enough interest I'll write an appendix of sorts because it's pretty vast. I'm going to write outside the wolf's society and venture to the other groups, and even the medieval society outside their protected woods.
Oh, the series continuing will be called The Half Moon Tribe: The Four Moons. I'll leave the name for speculation. =)
-Tibs.
Ratchet and Clank Future: A Crack in TIme.
General | Posted 16 years agoWell, I got it late and I just beat it. R+C has been one of my favorite series since the first one waaaay back on the PS2. It wasn't anything influential in me being a furry or something like that, I just found the game to be very fun. Over the years Insomniac hasn't disappointed me in any way, shape, or form except for the fact that the games are incredibly short.
Really, I hate short games. If I didn't get R+C for practically free I'd be a bit burned by how little it took me. (Yes, I got every Zoni and the Ryno V), I didn't get every gold bolt but I've never been the type to get EVERYTHING in a game. Why not? Getting every gold bolt or item or secret weapon doesn't advance the story in anyway and sometimes I feel like it's just a waste of time. Sure I do it for fun in some games but nto in all of them. Eh, just my two cents. I'm sure someone will say I'm not getting my full worth out of a game unless I do.
Anyway, the story was nice, and I won't spoil anything here. Just hope Insomniac doesn't keep to their guns. One of their developers was quoted saying this may be the very last Ratchet and Clank game ever. I'd be a sad panda(Wolf) if that happened.
If you haven't got it, go get it!
-Tibs.
Really, I hate short games. If I didn't get R+C for practically free I'd be a bit burned by how little it took me. (Yes, I got every Zoni and the Ryno V), I didn't get every gold bolt but I've never been the type to get EVERYTHING in a game. Why not? Getting every gold bolt or item or secret weapon doesn't advance the story in anyway and sometimes I feel like it's just a waste of time. Sure I do it for fun in some games but nto in all of them. Eh, just my two cents. I'm sure someone will say I'm not getting my full worth out of a game unless I do.
Anyway, the story was nice, and I won't spoil anything here. Just hope Insomniac doesn't keep to their guns. One of their developers was quoted saying this may be the very last Ratchet and Clank game ever. I'd be a sad panda(Wolf) if that happened.
If you haven't got it, go get it!
-Tibs.
Photo-meme.
General | Posted 16 years agoWell, since everyone is doing it, I may as well, too.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/3038232/
Not my best picture, but then the rules are pretty random as it is, I just tried to be as natural as I could be without posing, changing, fixing my hair, etc. Plus, it was taken with a crappy cell phone, so there. I blame anything and everything on the camera.
http://www.furaffinity.net/view/3038232/
Not my best picture, but then the rules are pretty random as it is, I just tried to be as natural as I could be without posing, changing, fixing my hair, etc. Plus, it was taken with a crappy cell phone, so there. I blame anything and everything on the camera.
50 question meme.
General | Posted 16 years ago1 . What is the color of your toothbrush?
White and green. It's manual
2. Name one person who made you smile today.
Hmm. unshackledfenrir
3. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
Was actually asleep for once.
4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago?
Ratchet and Clank Future: A crack in time for the PS3
5. What is your favorite candy bar?
Reeses peanut butter cups
6. Have you ever been to a strip club?
Nope.
7. What is the last thing you said aloud?
"Don't get me busted."
8. What is your favorite ice cream?
Cookie dough
9. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Water
10. Do you like your wallet?
I love my wallet, but it's old and beginning to rip/tear. I need a new one.
11. What was the last thing you ate?
Nutrigrain bar.
12. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
I got a new hei-matau from a good friend!
13. The last sporting event you watched?
Baseball sadly. I don't like baseball.
14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn?
Butter
15. Who is the last person you sent a text message to?
My friend Pam
16. Ever go camping?
Once, long time ago.
17. Do you take vitamins daily?
Nope.
18. Do you go to church every Sunday?
No.
19. Do you have a tan?
Faint. Not as much as it was back during the three months I spent in Florida this summer.
20. Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza?
Heck no, pizza!
21. Do you drink your soda with a straw?
If it's in a cup and I'm out to eat, yes.
22. What did your last text message say?
"Yes, I have a corkscrew."
23. What are you doing tomorrow?
I have to go to work and be the face for our office when the UC president comes. I've got the gym, a research paper to write, 200 pages of reading, annnnnd maybe hanging out, dunno.
24. Favorite color?
Royal Blue.
25. Look to your left; what do you see?
My bathroom.
26. What color is your watch?
Green.
27. What do you think of when you hear “Australia”?
Sydney for some reason.
28. Would you strip for money?
I don't think so. XD It's situational of course.
29. Do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
Depends on if I'm going somewhere else, or I'm just going to sit for a bit with friends.
30. What is your favorite number?
17
31. Who’s the last person you talked to on the phone?
My mom called.
32. Any plans today?
Not anymore, nope. Everything is winding down.
33. In how many states have you lived?
Three
34. Biggest annoyance right now?
My research partners not giving me the data I need to finish our project. >_<
35. Last song listened to?
I forget, I was listening to it in the office and well...I'm just bad with song names.
36. Can you say the alphabet backwards?
Probably not. XD Dyslexic.
37. Do you have a maid service clean your house?
hat'd be sweet, but no.
38. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
I have these comfy brown shoes I love to wear. Try not to wear them all the time or i'll wear 'em out.
39. Are you jealous of anyone?
Sometimes, but I get over it. Doesn't take me long.
40. Is anyone jealous of you?
Jeez, I hope not. o.o
41. Do you love anyone?
Of course. But who? You didn't ask that. =p
42. Do any of your friends have children?
Now some do. Surprising!
43. What do you usually do during the day?
Work, school, studying. x_x
44. Do you hate anyone that you know right now?
There is someone whose never done anything directly to me but she drives me UP THE WALL sometimes. I have absolutely no idea why.
45. Do you use the word hello daily?
I think I use hiya more.
46. What color is your car?
Black
47. What size ring do you wear?
Not a clue.
48. Are you thinking about someone right now?
Drex, who sent me this.
49. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
Nope. Wanna go though
50. How did you get your worst scar?
Biking off road when I was eight, fell and skinned almost all the flesh off my knee. Still have a large scar on the knee cap.
White and green. It's manual
2. Name one person who made you smile today.
Hmm. unshackledfenrir
3. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
Was actually asleep for once.
4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago?
Ratchet and Clank Future: A crack in time for the PS3
5. What is your favorite candy bar?
Reeses peanut butter cups
6. Have you ever been to a strip club?
Nope.
7. What is the last thing you said aloud?
"Don't get me busted."
8. What is your favorite ice cream?
Cookie dough
9. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Water
10. Do you like your wallet?
I love my wallet, but it's old and beginning to rip/tear. I need a new one.
11. What was the last thing you ate?
Nutrigrain bar.
12. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
I got a new hei-matau from a good friend!
13. The last sporting event you watched?
Baseball sadly. I don't like baseball.
14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn?
Butter
15. Who is the last person you sent a text message to?
My friend Pam
16. Ever go camping?
Once, long time ago.
17. Do you take vitamins daily?
Nope.
18. Do you go to church every Sunday?
No.
19. Do you have a tan?
Faint. Not as much as it was back during the three months I spent in Florida this summer.
20. Do you prefer Chinese food over pizza?
Heck no, pizza!
21. Do you drink your soda with a straw?
If it's in a cup and I'm out to eat, yes.
22. What did your last text message say?
"Yes, I have a corkscrew."
23. What are you doing tomorrow?
I have to go to work and be the face for our office when the UC president comes. I've got the gym, a research paper to write, 200 pages of reading, annnnnd maybe hanging out, dunno.
24. Favorite color?
Royal Blue.
25. Look to your left; what do you see?
My bathroom.
26. What color is your watch?
Green.
27. What do you think of when you hear “Australia”?
Sydney for some reason.
28. Would you strip for money?
I don't think so. XD It's situational of course.
29. Do you go in a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
Depends on if I'm going somewhere else, or I'm just going to sit for a bit with friends.
30. What is your favorite number?
17
31. Who’s the last person you talked to on the phone?
My mom called.
32. Any plans today?
Not anymore, nope. Everything is winding down.
33. In how many states have you lived?
Three
34. Biggest annoyance right now?
My research partners not giving me the data I need to finish our project. >_<
35. Last song listened to?
I forget, I was listening to it in the office and well...I'm just bad with song names.
36. Can you say the alphabet backwards?
Probably not. XD Dyslexic.
37. Do you have a maid service clean your house?
hat'd be sweet, but no.
38. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
I have these comfy brown shoes I love to wear. Try not to wear them all the time or i'll wear 'em out.
39. Are you jealous of anyone?
Sometimes, but I get over it. Doesn't take me long.
40. Is anyone jealous of you?
Jeez, I hope not. o.o
41. Do you love anyone?
Of course. But who? You didn't ask that. =p
42. Do any of your friends have children?
Now some do. Surprising!
43. What do you usually do during the day?
Work, school, studying. x_x
44. Do you hate anyone that you know right now?
There is someone whose never done anything directly to me but she drives me UP THE WALL sometimes. I have absolutely no idea why.
45. Do you use the word hello daily?
I think I use hiya more.
46. What color is your car?
Black
47. What size ring do you wear?
Not a clue.
48. Are you thinking about someone right now?
Drex, who sent me this.
49. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
Nope. Wanna go though
50. How did you get your worst scar?
Biking off road when I was eight, fell and skinned almost all the flesh off my knee. Still have a large scar on the knee cap.
Much better.
General | Posted 16 years agoFeelin' better.
Was kinda bummed the last few days for some stupid reasons, mostly just being a silly fool and trying to appeal to someone. I bounced back though and so far this week has been pretty good. =D School is going really well, so is work, and besides a lack in sleep I feel pretty good right now.
The past few days made me think about the friends I have and come to realize I need a bit more to replace the ones who come and go, of course, with all the things in my life it's hard to have a social life. =) So, if anyone just wants to chat lemme know!
Anyway, have a good day, FA. I know I am.
Was kinda bummed the last few days for some stupid reasons, mostly just being a silly fool and trying to appeal to someone. I bounced back though and so far this week has been pretty good. =D School is going really well, so is work, and besides a lack in sleep I feel pretty good right now.
The past few days made me think about the friends I have and come to realize I need a bit more to replace the ones who come and go, of course, with all the things in my life it's hard to have a social life. =) So, if anyone just wants to chat lemme know!
Anyway, have a good day, FA. I know I am.
Argh, Windows 7.
General | Posted 16 years agoOkay, so I was a bit of an idiot and decided downloading Windows 7 would be quick and painless.
What is it with my mentality to need some of the latest, greatest things without actually thinking about the consequences? I spent hours cleaning up the mess and so far Windows 7 hasn't created a new problem. The problem is that the OS has only been out for a short time and very little fixes have been published.
So, in essence, I spent a lot of time researching and remembering why I got out of the Tech field. I managed to fix the stupid problems but the problem is I should have just been patient and waited.
Stupid me. >.>
What is it with my mentality to need some of the latest, greatest things without actually thinking about the consequences? I spent hours cleaning up the mess and so far Windows 7 hasn't created a new problem. The problem is that the OS has only been out for a short time and very little fixes have been published.
So, in essence, I spent a lot of time researching and remembering why I got out of the Tech field. I managed to fix the stupid problems but the problem is I should have just been patient and waited.
Stupid me. >.>
Live Journal!
General | Posted 16 years agoI now have a Live Journal, folks! It can be found here at: http://tiberiusrings.livejournal.com/
As always you can find a majority of my stories on Yiffstar.com with the same user name! It's easier for me to post there.
Anyway, take care!
As always you can find a majority of my stories on Yiffstar.com with the same user name! It's easier for me to post there.
Anyway, take care!
It looks like Prop 8 Passes.
General | Posted 17 years agoWith the absentee ballotsu ncounted, the passing of the Proposition in California to limit gay marriage is at 52% in favor. This is depressing.
Apparently many states voted down similiar rights for homosexual couples, as many as 27 states if the NY Times is accurate. I wish I could understand people's reasoning for open discrimination in this country. Is America not going to be happy unless it can perpetually hate some kind of minority?
The article says to not give up home because the abentee ballots could change the victory into a failurebut I don't know...
I already hate California, this is just another reason to leave as quickly as possible once I finish my education.
Apparently many states voted down similiar rights for homosexual couples, as many as 27 states if the NY Times is accurate. I wish I could understand people's reasoning for open discrimination in this country. Is America not going to be happy unless it can perpetually hate some kind of minority?
The article says to not give up home because the abentee ballots could change the victory into a failurebut I don't know...
I already hate California, this is just another reason to leave as quickly as possible once I finish my education.
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