[sprig]

It looks like trick or treaters are starting to arrive!

This calf has a new mythic holiday exclusive mutation! Read about the new mutations here.

WISP SWITCH

- Ghost like see-through switch
OTHER EDITS

C - Eye
UC - Hair

REMINDER: Due to the special nature of this Buttermilk, you may not message its owner asking about a slot unless it is offered.

Mini impress me! I would love to see some character development.

Min 500 words
Max 1500 words

Min 1 art piece
Max 3 art pieces

Art can be made by you or by someone else. Winner will keep all art used in every entry. Entry must remain on this thread, separate threads will not qualify.

END DATE 11/15 @7am CT



Code: Select all

[b]Username:[/b]
[b]Name:[/b]
[b]Gender:[/b] DFAB
[b]Prompt:[/b]

[Synerie]

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【 username: Virixin 】xxxxxxxJ I N N !xxxxx【 gender: DFAB (she/they/it) 】

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Despite her solemn and otherworldly appearance, Jinn is a gentle and motherly soul, incredibly attuned to the emotions of those around her. Protecting those near and dear to her is her biggest priority, guiding them back to the path that is right for them. Jinn's very own past may be riddled with ghosts that haunt her from day to day, but she chooses to stand tall to wade through the fog, shaking her head free from snaking thoughts that try to drag her to her knees. She may never be able to fix what had been broken in her past but now, in the present, she can help bandage the future for those who need to find the smallest wisp of light to guide them along to a herd they can call their very own. And, with the help of a heifer named Itsy Bee, Jinn is on the path to doing so.

"Oh, Jinn, slow down, will ya?" Her mother's voice carried over the bushes, rolling her eyes as she kept her rhythmic pace along the rocky path, her switch swishing against her hind legs. The young calf happily bounded ahead, weaving beneath the curling thickets of foliage. Above her, the moon was her guide, shining across the path the pair had taken for years, shimmering across the downtrodden dirt with freckled light. In the distance, a crow took flight, startled. Jinn paused for just a moment, ears twitching backwards as she tossed her head over her shoulder, scrunching her nose upwards, "But mama, you're so slooow!"

"Well, when you get hurt, don't come wailin' to me, ya hear? I ain't gonna baby ya when you when you ain't willin' to listen to me," Her mother's voice carried over the space between the two, a hint of smugness to it. Jinn scoffed, digging at the dirt beneath her hoof as she pouted. Her mother was right, after all, but on the other hoof, Jinn wanted to feel the wind in her fur. After contemplating, she finally turned to head back through the undergrowth, squeezing between towering tree roots to find her way back to her mother. Behind her, Jinn's unusual tail bobbed and curled with her, standing out against the greenery of the forest.

What she failed to notice was the quiet sounds behind her as something slowly stalked in the shadows...

"There you are, my little ghost." Her mother's voice softened as Jinn came back into view, shaking a lose leaf off her nose. Her mother leaned down to nuzzle the top of her daughter's head just as she crept closer. Jinn gave a squealing laugh, puffing up as she bounded around her mother, pressing into her side momentarily as the pair paused to greet each other despite having only been separated for a few minutes. While her daughter's focus had flickered aside, Mama couldn't help but eye Jinn's otherworldly switch with a hint of disgust, taking a step away with a cough to clear her throat, "Alright, Jinn, let's get back home now, hmm?"

"Yes, mama," Jinn yawned, trotting after to keep a decent pace with elder heifer. And Mama's pace was unbearably slow for the young calf, especially now as Jinn was beginning to realize just how tired she was. She gave a quiet whine, giving a little headbutt to her mother's flank, earning a swat to the rear end by her mother's tail. "Can we move faster? I'm tired, mama!"

Crrraccck!

Mama suddenly paused, her ears angled upwards, her nostrils flaring. Jinn stumbled right into one of her back legs. blinking up at her in confusion. She scrambled backwards to crane her head around, "W-what's wrong? What was that sound, mama?"

"Be quiet, Jinn." Mama's voice was so stern, very low. She had never heard her this serious before. Jinn cowered low to the ground, ears pinned to her head as she trembled. From the shadows came a low, rumbling sound unlike anything she had ever heard before. Mama took a few steps back, Jinn skittering around her hooves to avoid being crushed beneath each lumbering hoof. Branches snapped once more around them, before lanky shapes finally emerged from the shadows, the light of the moon revealing silvery fur and the twinkling eyes of hungry predators Jinn had never encountered. There had to have been at least five of them, their lips curled in snarl, drool dribbling from glistening fangs. Mama froze, her voice barely a whisper, "Wolves."

One took its chance, slowly creeping up on Mama, snapping at her hind leg. She immediately kicked out, sending the wolf sprawling out before it scrambled to its paws, shaking its head out. Jinn lowered herself further to the ground, eyes wide with fear. She managed to find her voice, barely a squeak as she trembled, "M-mama, what do we do?"


Remembering her daughter was there seemed to set something off in Mama.

"You. You're the reason they found us. I knew I should have abandoned you like the herd suggested the moment you were born. You are a curse. A blight. That tail isn't right," She snapped her head around to glare down at Jinn, her eyes wild with fear. Jinn froze, tears pricking in her eyes. What? What was her mother going on about? She tried to open her mouth to speak but Mama reared up to slam her hooves down on the ground, startling Jinn up to her own. "Get OUT of here! This is your fault, Jinn!"

Jinn gave a choked sob, turning tail to bolt into the forest. She paused to throw a look over her shoulder just in time to meet her mother's gaze one last time. Her mother refused to meet hers, her focus now on the pack of wolves slowly advancing.

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"Jinn! Wake up!" Jinn jolted awake with a gasp.
She blinked away tears, shaking her head slowly
as she squinted blearily at the heifer before. It was
none other than Itsy Bee. Bee frowned, worry written
over her typically sweet face. Jinn gave a faint sniffle,
ears flicking backwards as her gaze sunk to the waves
gently lapping at the sides of the Royal Seashell. The
other heifer circled around before settling by her
side, leaning into Jinn to comfort her, "...Did
you have that dream again?"

"I still don't understand how she turned so fast on
me," Jinn whispered out, shaking her head as her
gaze lingered on the water. Bee gently nuzzled her
friend's shoulder, nodding as she listened to her. Jinn
glanced at her from the corner of her eyes before
giving a little sigh, "Y'know, Bee, I really did love my
mom.. and I thought she loved me too. But she just...
why? Why did she do that? She never said
anything like that before."

"I'm not defending what she said in any means, but
fear does crazy things to the mind and can make you
say irrational things.. I'm certain she loved you, Jinn."

Jinn rose to her hooves with a heartier sigh, easing her way to the front of the ship, lifting her head to feel the cool night breeze in her fur. Bee was absolutely right, but deep down.. did her mother mean what she said? Or did she say it out of fear? Either way, it had deeply scarred the heifer, knowing deep down it was her fault her mother was now gone. Itsy Bee paused before shifting to glance at Jinn, giving a soft smile as she watched her friend. "Plus, y'know Jinn, you are definitely a blessing."

"H-huh? What?" Jinn paused, glancing back over her shoulder at the other heifer, taken by surprise. Bee gave a quiet laugh, her shoulders shaking in amusement. She rose to her hooves, bobbing her head in a nod as she gave a smile, "Yeah! You, Jinn, are a blessing. I mean, ever since you joined me on the Royal Seashell those few years ago, you have immensely helped me with my grandpapa's final wish and I can never thank you enough for that."

"Well, I mean, it really is nothing, Bee..." She responded shyly, shuffling her hooves. Bee shushed her, moving to stand at her side. Jinn looked down as Bee gently placed a hoof on her chest. "It means everything to me and I mean it. Your mother may have seen your tail as a curse, but it is more than just that. It is a part of you and you are using it for good things, Jinn. You are doing good things. You are helping young, scared calves find their way to us, the Royal Seashell, so we can help them find a way home, to safety. Isn't that a blessing? So, doesn't that in turn make you one too?"

Jinn lifted her gaze to her friend, tears stinging in her eyes as she saw the honesty in Bee's eyes. She lurched forward to knock their heads together, "Thank you for being my friend, Bee."

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【 total word count:xx1500 wordsxxxxcredits:xxitsy bee owned by myself .. fullbody by myself .. bust by koikee .. royal seashell pair by myself 】

[sprig]

End date added!

[certified]

-withdrawing-

[♔Voltaire♔]

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Username:Voltaire
Name: Ori
Gender: dfab
Prompt:

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"I'm losing it again."

In an instant, she is by my side, a gentle haze of sage argyle, and the familiar sinking of the mattress as she takes a seat next to my bedridden figure brings a warm comfort, countering the cold that has begun to seep from my fingertips and spread throughout my body. Before her approach she had been stocking the fireplace, my gaze contentedly watching the flames while worrying the sherpa blanket covering me between the pads of my forefinger and thumb, the soft sherpa catching painfully on my dry, chapped skin. But now, the fire feels frigid, and her eyes scan me worriedly, her fingertips brushing against my jawline. She is silent yet omnipresent, her anxiety palpable, contributing to the oppressive, inevitable weight in the air. Her touch is faint, the sensation of the soft blanket between my fingers reduced to mere background noise as a chill spreads to my collarbone, my lips, my nose. The edges of my vision begin to blur, and I fight the urge to panic. I feel cold, hollow, as lifeless as the force that seems poised to take over, and as I slip into unconsciousness, I'm uncertain if I'll ever awaken.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.

Upon awakening, I find myself nearer to the fire, its flames casting a gentle warmth upon my cheeks. My mother's expression, etched with relief at the sight of vitality flickering back into my eyes, speaks volumes in the hush that envelops us, broken only by the intermittent crackle of the fire. Silence lingers until the subtle movement of my fingers catches her attention, prompting her to address me in a whisper.

"Ori, are you home with me?"

I don't respond to her question, instead posing one of my own. "Was it the same one this time? The lady?" My mother exhales deeply, my query apparently serving as an answer to hers, rendering repetition unnecessary. She hums softly in confirmation, prompting my brows to knit together as my mind slowly processes the information. Her fingers curl around the edge of the blanket atop me, pulling it up beneath my chin. I can finally begin to feel warmth, the softness of her knuckles on my chin.

Since birth, I have always been sensitive to the world around me, and unfortunately for the state of my body, the world outside of me as well. As soon as I could articulate thoughts, it became clear that my body was not solely mine; it served as a conduit for the voiceless to be heard once again. From spirits wishing to communicate with their loved ones remaining earthside, to those looking to express long-hidden secrets, my body has become the home in which a soul can dwell for a temporary time before my consciousness is pulled back to the forefront once more. These ethereal guests visit unpredictably, and despite a decade of effort to govern their access, I find myself unable to bar their entry. Consequently, I find myself in seclusion, safeguarded from an untimely possession by these entities. For fifteen years, I've stayed confined within these walls, with my mother's concern looming that I might be permanently claimed by the spectral realm.

"Still searching for her husband," my mother finally responds after a prolonged silence, grasping the metal poker and rearranging the logs in the fireplace. I sneeze at the embers that follow, the charred scent bringing a clarity back to the mind I've longed for.

"I wish they would stop."

"I know, honey." Her voice is soft, regretful, and the heaviness in my heart begins to feel more noticeable the more I dwell on the pain simmering in her tone. The guilt I harbor about my condition is no secret to us; to ensure I'm not taken by the spirits that might claim me, she must also stay isolated, depending on close friends to bring food and necessities. Thankfully, the era of contactless delivery eases our burden, yet our longing for the outside world remains as stifling as ever. My mother can at least spend an hour or so on the porch when she needs a dose of fresh air, but for me, the risk is too high of a price to pay.

The flames lick against the charred bark of the firewood, illuminated embers rising slightly before losing their spark and falling airily into the ash. It's as if the small flecks of red and black are like stars, floating in the atmosphere before burning out and falling to the earth below. I have always wanted to see the stars, not from my window but from beneath the blanket they create above, though, at this rate, such dreams are forfeit. My cheeks begin to burn the longer I face the fire, and I lift the hem of the blanket a bit higher to shield my stinging flesh from the heat. My mother notices the careful adjustment, her eyes softening before she shifts toward me a bit more, fingers carding through the peppery locks of hair around my ear.

"So, I guess going outside tonight is off the table," I say, my voice tinged with a dry finality that I instantly regret.

She pauses for a moment before replying, "I'm afraid so."

"I was looking forward to it—" I begin, cutting myself off as I struggle to articulate my frustration. "It hasn't been like this for two weeks, and now, tonight of all nights! I just really wanted to... I just wanted..."

"To see the stars," she concludes gently, her face a blend of regret and understanding. "I know. I wanted that for you too."

My face falls, the anger stewing in my gut snuffing out and fading into a profound longing that makes my bones ache under its weight. If only I weren't seen as a vessel if only I had the opportunity to actually live rather than concede to the dead... The catalog of experiences, firsts, and lasts that will forever elude me stretches on endlessly, yet none holds more significance than the fleeting chance to witness the stars in their full splendor. I let out a deep sigh, a sentiment echoed by my mother as she rose from the floor and moved silently towards the dining room table, laden with the day's delivery of unsorted bags and boxes. The sound of her rifling through them is a comforting one, though in an instant it's over and she's returning to my side once more, sitting down carefully by my head and offering me a small box.

"This is..." I begin cautiously, easing myself into a sitting position to face her. I draw the blanket tighter around my shoulders, gently turning the box over in my hands. Opening it, I find a large stack of individual sheets of thinly sliced paper.

"I had hoped I wouldn't need these, but the phantom lady seemed to have other plans," my mother says with a wry chuckle, plucking a sheet and smoothing it between her thumb and forefinger. "I thought, if push came to shove, I'd bring the stars here."

"Here?"

"Here," she repeats, examining the thin paper before starting to loop, fold, and crease it, the repetitive motions both baffling and monotonous. After the paper appears to be completely crumpled, she pinches it at each side, and then gently places the finished piece in my hand. It's a star, roughly the size of a dime, meticulously folded and pinched into perfection.

"A star," I murmur, bringing my hand closer to my face to inspect the fragile object as if I carry the whole world within it. My mother hums softly in affirmation, her eyes sparkling in the emberlight. "How did you-"

"The manner of my doing is of no consequence; what matters is how it makes you feel," she replies tenderly, cradling my hands within her own."I may not be able to grant you peace or the control we both so desperately seek; however, I am your mother, and mothers will go to any lengths to ensure their children's happiness. So if it's the stars you desire, say no more. I will fetch you the stars."

And it is at that moment that I feel my throat tightening, twisting, and folding into tiny paper stars. She holds me close, the crackling of the flames a melody to the harmony of my soft sniffles and hiccups. It's not long before my current emotions are seen as a moment of weakness to lose looking for a vessel to control, the familiar icy tingles beginning to formulate at my fingertips once more. "Momma, it's-"

"Shh," she soothes, her arms enveloping me tighter, "Let it. I'll be right here to bring you back home."

The transition is swifter this time, and again I'm submerged in the silence and shadows of my mind, my essence sidelined as another entity seizes the chance to voice its woes. This time, however, the recesses of my mind seem warmer, the night's darkness supplanted by the glowing light of a billion paper stars.

.·:*¨༺ ༻¨*:·.



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Credits: Ghosts| art by: hookfang

Also, I figured I would do a bit of crafting for this adopt, whether it would count as an extra art piece can be determined by you; but here; 341 little paper stars I made over the span of these last couple days for this competition! I went with my star-themed paper for this one, for obvious reason <3 They're so addicting to make! c:

[Mastema-Rastus]

"𝔗𝔬 𝔟𝔢 𝔩𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔡 𝔦𝔰 𝔱𝔬 𝔟𝔢 𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔫𝔤𝔢𝔡"

Username: Mastema-Rastus
Name: Aria
Gender: DFAB
Prompt:
"To be loved is to be changed"
That is what Aria's best friend would always tell them.

"But what if I don't want to be changed," They whispered, voice full of unshed tears as they stared down at the still figure in the bed. "I want to go back. Who am I going to run with in the fields now? Who is going to stargaze with me and tell me everything will be alright?" Aria laid their head on the bed, gently nosing into their friend's side. "You changed me and then left. What am I to do with all this love now?"

Their friend had always been sickly but that hadn't mattered to Aria. They became fast friends as calves when they were in the same hospital. Aria had wandered from their room out of boredom and had stumbled across Starla trying to snag some snacks from the pantry. They had run off giggling, arms full of their stolen goods. They had talked for hours and hours. They'd been thick as thieves since then. Being by each others side almost every minute of every day. So much so that the townsfolk had lovingly referred to them both as the little wisps since they were always racing each other throughout town and the nearby fields.

Aria had always had an affinity for the spiritual side of things. They had been born that way. "My little will-o-wisp" Her father would chuckle as she raced around him and in between his legs. They'd been content to have no friends since the spirits kept her company but Starla had changed her forever. They did not know whether to laugh, curse, or cry. Should they hate Starla for changing them? For giving them the gift of companionship? Or should they hold onto this feeling tight, keep it close to their heart and nurture it?

The cool night breeze tousled their hair as they stared up into the night sky with tear-filled eyes. "Starla.." They whispered, voice cracking as they stared out over the expanse of their favourite meadow. The sky was clear save for a few clouds that drifted lazily across the harvest moon shining brightly above them. Taking a deep breath in, Aria began to walk across the meadow the town at their back. Moving slowly at first as memories began flooding back to them. "Remember when the nurses finally caught us after raiding the pantry for the third time?" A small smile spread across their face, remembering the nurses scolding them harshly but still let the giggling calves have their spoils. "Remember when I finally beat you at racing across this meadow?" Aria had been out of breath, legs shaking as the two had collapsed next to one another. They began to move faster, jogging now as the tears built in their eyes. "Remember when you confessed to me underneath the big oak tree behind my house?" Soft words and gentle touches had been exchanged, their heart had been racing at the time.

Aria broke into a full sprint, tears streaming down their face as they called into the night. "To be loved is to be changed!" A whisper of movement next to them had Aria tilting their head to the side to see a spirit following close behind. Soft giggling could be heard carried on the wind as the two wisps raced into the night.

564 words
Animation is mine

[sprig]

officially closed, check back in a few days for results <3

[sprig]

These stories were all so good, picking a winner has been so tough. After a couple day's deliberation, I think I've landed though.

This girl will be going home with Jaivia ! Even just the intro to your entry made me tear up, and it hit really close to home for me personally. Please let me know what color of collar you would like for her!

Additionally, a UCAO has been awarded to Voltaire & Mastema-Rastus for incredible entries !

[Synerie]

Oh gosh, thank you so much!! I’d love for the collar to be her eye color with a lil ghosty! 💖
I’m so surprised to be taking her home ; u ;