Flo's Challenge to me

[Ranger of the North]

I will hug dis snake. Dis snake ned luv. Poor baby

[TheSongOfTheStars]

Yis yis snake need many hug

[blackbird.]

sorry imma be the jerk here
and say that i don't really like snakes
(don't kill me omg)
it's a really cute one-shot!
if only it were any animal apart from a snake...

[TheSongOfTheStars]

That's fine. I absolutely loathe monkeys but a lot of people think they're cool. It's a matter of opinion

[Ranger of the North]

I really dislike snakes as well XD *shudders*

But Adrian? Dat boy ned huggles. The one snake I love C':

[blackbird.]

aw phew thank goodness im not the only one!
snakes really scare me like a lot
but totes agree adrian is such a sweetie!
if only real snakes were like that heh
@song monkeys are really scary too omg
the bus stop i used to take from school
was next to a nature reserve and sometimes
there'd be monkeys there and they'd proper
rummage through people's bags to steal food DX

[TheSongOfTheStars]

"Are you sure it's dead?"
815 words

Calypso Nix leaned over the bow of her ship, the flames of the burning carnage hitting her face with a wall of heat.
The pirate captain grinned madly as her crew gathered behind her and she began to turn to face them.
Her mouth opened, coarse and triumphant words on her lips. But they never made it past her whiskers as a shadow came bearing across the wreckage spread over the waves. A much larger ship than the ragtag rogue vessel broke the horizon with a jagged line and without a so much as a twitch in its rigging, slammed into Captain Calypso Nix's vessel.

The ring-tailed cat pitched over the railing and into the water.
There was a second of pure panic. A sharp pain.
Then black.


Cletus tucked his paws into the draping sleeves of his coat to guard them against the chill of the deep evening.
A breeze with an icy bite came sweeping over the bay, chasing the waves up and down the beach. A bitter reminder that Twora never really felt the touch of summer.

The ferret sighed and looked back over the way he'd come, just a single trail of footsteps trailed through the damp sand.

He continued walking, closer to the water, the foam tinged blood red from the sinking sun.

His dark eyes watched the driftwood being smacked about against the shore, most of the pieces rigid, but one of them swayed limply.
The awkward movement drew his gaze and with a rising dread he quickened his pace.
A few more steps confirmed what he feared.
It was no twisted tree branch or stray plank torn from a ship.

It was a body, limp and sodden. And very very still.

Cletus hesitated only a second before rushing into the water and pulling the soggy form from the grasp of the ocean.

It was a ringtailed cat, torn and tattered, but somehow, someway, still alive.

Cletus supported her head and back as her body instinctively began heaving up the water she'd inhaled.

For a moment he thought she was going to wake up, as her limbs twitched and a long moan escaped her lips, but then she went limp again.

He looked down at her and then up the beach towards his rundown shack.
The ring-tailed cat wasn't large, but she was soaked and already gathering sand.
He sighed, there was nothing to do but drag the poor thing up the dune.

It was more rigorous work than the aging ferret was used to, but he managed to get her inside and onto a cot.

The next twenty minutes he spent busying himself with stoking a fire, boiling water to cleanse the sand and salt encrusted wounds with, and gathering bandages.

He was just about to start binding her injuries when an authoritative knock nearly wrenched the rickety door from its hinges.

Hurriedly closing the door to the room his patient was in, Cletus rushed to the front shaking sand from his clothes and opened to find a pair of city gaurds standing on his doorstep, fully decked out in obviously uncomfortable armour and armed with long but clearly decorative spears.

"What may I do for you two gentlecreatures?" Cletus asked with a warm steady smile, as if they were his guests.

They exchanged a look, the other apparently hoping for the other to initiate the conversation.
Finally the one on the left sighed and began explaining.

"Early this morning the pirate ship Radagar was attacked and sunken by official warships, most of the crew was captured and is due to be executed within the week, but unfortunately the captain, one Calypso Nix, was not apprehended."

"She must've drowned," Cletus shook his head.

"It seems most likely, but based on where the ship sank, the current could've possibly swept her up onto this beach."

"Well, I don't own the land so you don't need my permission to search it."

"Yes we know," there was another uncomfortable exchange of looks, and the taller one sagged his shoulders as he continued
"Sir, on multiple occasions you've been found in the company of unsavoury characters."
"I give aid to those who come to me," Cletus shrugged "And sometimes I forget to ask questions."

"Be that as it may, it is my duty to inform you that if you are found giving aid of any sort of the pirate Nix, you will face immediate incarceration that could lead to your imminent execution."

"I'll keep that in mind," Cletus frowned slightly "Is there anything else I ought to know?"

"No, sir."

"Well then, I wish you good luck and good day," he stepped back into his house and closed the door without waiting for their answer.

Through the cracks in the wood he watched them leave, then retreated into the back room and sat by the unconscious ring-tailed cat.

"Oh dear," he sighed.

[Ranger of the North]

Well. He definitely takes everything in his stride XD

[TheSongOfTheStars]

"You must..."

537 words

There was no submission in the set of the girl's shoulders, no fear in the tilt of her chin, only anger blazing from her blue eyes.
Cress froze as she saw the young selkie in the doorway , flanked by the sailors.
"Captain," one of them asked "Should we remove the muzzle?"
"Leave us," Crowfeather ordered in a strangled voice "Leave immediately."
"But Captain the risk-"
"Now!"

Bewildered they turned and left the girl standing alone.

Cress stood up, tipping her chair over in her hurry as she rushed to Shyshie's side and began undoing the latches that held the muzzle in place. She pulled it away and it clattered metallicly to the floor.

"What are you doing here Starwalk?"
Shyshie stayed stiff as a board beneath her aunt's touch.
"You took us."

"No, no, no, Shyshie," Cress gripped the girl's shoukders tightly "Sweethert, you're confused. They confused you. But don't worry, you're safe now."
"You don't understand," Shyshie pulled away from Cress, she looked up at her, eyes dull, face blank "I'm one of them."

Crowfeather hesitatated, then shook her head "No, Starwalk, I know you think that, but it's just a dream. The singing... the singing..."

Shyshie took another step back, her fingers curling into fists.
"No Aunt Cress. I am not confused. I am not dreaming."
Cress stood up, a fearful frown creeping across her face "Ypu can't, Shyshie, you must-"

"I. Am. A. Selkie."

For a second, Cress stared at her in mute shock.
"But, they're monsters," she whispered finally "Unnatural creatures, you can't be..."

"I am."


"No," Cress shook the stunned look off her face "No. You've been tricked. You've been dreaming. Some rest and you'll feel better, I promise. I'll make sure you get back home and nobody has to know this ever happened."

"Are you going to let my friends go?"
"Starwalk....Starwalk they're not your friends."

Shyshie stepped back, her fists planted on her hips "Yes. They are. And I won't leave until you let them go."
"Yes, yes you will," Cress snatched one of Shyshie's fisted hands and started dragging the resistant child towards the door "You're leaving right away."

"Captain?!?" The gaurd exclaimed and stepped away as he saw the child not wearing the muzzle.
"This girl is not a selkie," Cress snapped pulling Starwalk forwards "They've ensnared her mind and she'll need to be placed in solitary confinement until we can return her to her family."
"I'll see to it right away," the sailor said with a nervous salute "Shall I escort her?"
"No. I will," Cress glanced down at Shyshie, who was fighting silently against her grip, tears streaming from her blue eyes "Starwalk, stop, please, I promise you'll be okay."

"No!" Shyshie yanked against Cress's hold "You have to let them go! They didn't do anything wrong!"

"You must trust me Starwalk!" Cress caught Shyshie's other hand and forced her to look up at her.
For a moment she paused as all she saw was anger in the blue eyes, no fear even though tears where pouring down th3 soft brown fur.
Starwalk looked just like he mother.

"You're going to be okay," Cress said, her voice suddenly choked "But you must trust me....just trust me..."

[Ranger of the North]

o,o racism?