Bug Tamer Van

Today I found a stink bug. I believe he was sleeping.

his camouflage was pretty spot on. Unfortunately this little guy seemed to have a busted wing casing.

taking a guess I think they don't have a larvae stage.

Today is dedicated to this little one hanging on my car.

A lovely jumping spider. sooooo cute. I love these little guys. they have tons of personality.

Today I've spotted a beetle. identification app says it's a strawberry seed beetle.

known for being a nocturnal benefit to any garden.

my wife found this lovely invasive gem yesterday.

European paper wasps.

with it being a little chilly out in the mornings my friends are all cuddling to keep warm.

paper wasps and brood. look at all that white.

I wish I could have snapped a better Pic.

wasps are known for aggressive protection of their home and family.

today's buddy is the mole cricket.

pretty harmless little buddy. he can bite but it's not exactly strong.

this one has no real defenses as far as I know.

it eats roots and is apparently an enemy of gardeners.

today, I found a shiny phantump.

But now, in this new world. He had powers he could never imagine.

Sadly due to everyone elses ignorance they ignored him and shunned him.

He wasn't lonely though.

He spend a lot of time sculpting.

He honed his craft becoming better and better.

It was all he did.

A mother a lovely elf who performs an unusual show. She loved using her arcane abilities to bring joy to those around her. She had learned through her years how to make toys come to life. And crowds were very amused. One day she met a human who was traveling through town and he loved making fantastic toys. He was surprised top see my mom first in line to purchase from his unique selection. He was so curious but when he saw that she could bring the man's toys to life he was amazed. And decided he had to make toys just for her.

They decided to work together and they fell madly in love. It wasn't long after that they got married and had a half- elf child. They were all so happy together.

This child was taught by his father how to make toys as a pass time. It was time much better spent in his opinion than with the elven kids of the town which made fun of him at every opportunity. They called him names in elven assuming he couldn't understand because he was only a half elf. But he wasn't bothered. He could enjoy spending his time with his father.

One day around the boys 8th birthday his father got sick. It wasn't long before he passed away. It was hard on the boy and his mother both. For a while the boys mom couldn't bring herself to go outside and the toys once brought to life now lay still on a shelf. She wouldn't even look at the toys that now collected dust.

One dark day the boy went to market to get some food and drink for himself and his mother. And he was cornered by a couple of elven kids in the alley. They pushed the boy to the ground. "you're only a half breed. You need to get out of our city. " the elf quickly struck the boy. The boy reacted by putting his hands up and *pff*. He heard a thud. The boy looked up he saw something floating in the air a single large rock and an elf boy who struck him on the ground confused. The other elf couldn't even react before the half-elf boy struck him with the rock too. The elvish boys quickly ran away.

As the boy came out of the alley he noticed something strange. All the elves in town were looking at him. They knew the elven boys had pushed him into the alley. They knew everything the entire time. But no one was willing to help him. It was the first time he realized he was different and was treated differently by everyone. Including the adults. They were looking at him with anger instead of ignoring him now. As though he was doing something wrong. But he only defended himself and without even meaning to. So he grabbed his bread and fruit and ran home. Rushing into the house he eagerly explained what had happened and what he had done.

After the experience the boy and his mother left the elven city. His mother seemed revitalized somehow and started teaching him the ways of the arcane strings. It wasn't long at all before they both could make toys come to life. They were arcane puppeteers and boy made them new toys as they traveled and they put on showed while staying in taverns for coin and selling the very toys used in the show's to other kids.

One day an elf man approached them as they finished a show in a new town He was amazed with their gift. He offered a free room while they were in his town. He was an arcane mage but didn't know abilities like the boys and his mothers even existed. The boys mother fell in love with this elf and they stayed with the elven. After all it had been 3 years since the boys father passed and the boy was 11 now.

The man taught the boy a little about the arcane spells he knew and how they could be used. He apparently loved hearing himself talk. Something never quite felt right about the elven man. Something was odd about this mage.

One day after being with the elven man for two years there was yelling. The elvin man was angry at the boys mother for not being able to bear a child and gift him with a child.

He wanted a son of his own but the boys mother apparently could not have kids anymore. The boy shrugged it off and snuck outside. He imagined he couldn't hear them despite hearing the screaming and yelling. Then there was a loud crash. The boy rushed back into the house as the elvish man had walked out. The boy saw his mother with tears in her eyes. With a rosy red cheek. She'd been struck and this filled the boy with much rage. Even when he was bullied by the elven kids he didn't feel much rage. But this anger devoured him.

His mother stroked his hair and said it was ok. But it wasn't and the boy knew it wasn't. So when the boys mother was in the wash room he took a knife from the kitchen and hid it on a shelf in the book case. Just in case he needed to protect his mother she obviously needed protection. She obviously couldn't protect herself. She needed someone to protect her and he was the only one who could.

That night the boy had a bad feeling that he couldn't shake. Something seemed off. The elven man never came back so the boy got out of bed. He snuck through the hall and peeked into the candle lit kitchen to see a short man in black. He had the boys mother, his hand across her forehead and a sharp knife in her neck. As she was let go she collapsed on the ground, lifeless.

The boy seethed with anger. He saw the blood dripping from the man's knife as he wiped it off with a rag. The boy couldn't contain his rage any longer and with a yell he ran into the room and used his arcane strings to grab the hidden knife he had placed earlier. It flew into the man's back from behind. He never saw it coming as he let out a big grunt. He pulled out the knife and threw it to the ground he moved up to the boy so swiftly and quietly it was terrifying.

The short man went to plunge his knife into the boy's gut when the boy held up his hand in response and then he stopped. The man was brought to a stop. Again a knife had found his back but this time it was the boys mother. She impaled him with the kitchen knife and the guy was in shock as he looked back in horror. "You're dead! The elf said this job would be easy." The short man fell to his knees. He was dead.

The boy knew his mother was definitely dead. He was an arcane puppeteer and he could control all sorts of things. The short man and the boy didn't realize a corpse could be a puppet as a weapon. The gathered his things as he thought. He thought about his step dad, he thought about the short man and what he had said, he thought about revenge. The boy was full of rage. He packed food and everything. He'd need. That he'd used while traveling with his mom. He took the coins from the short man. He searched his belongings and took his knife as well as anything that seemed valuable. As he took things from the short man he pulled back his hood. It was a young halfling. Didn't seem very skilled probably new and cheap to hire. The boy thought to himself.

Before leaving the elena mansion home the boy kicked the halfling as hard as he could. "I'll kill that elven man one day. He'll die in the worst way for taking my mom from me. "

The boy changed into the darkest clothes he had. Putting on the halflings cloak and fingerless gloves.

The boy pulled his hood up and grabbed a few toys off the shelf and left on his own. At 13 years old all alone. Over the course of a few years he'd lost everything. But he had to do what he could to keep living. He had one main goal and no one would stop him. But he had to find a way to kill a mage.

A years passes by. The farther he got from the town his mother died the less he saw his wanted posters. He was wanted for the murder of his mother and a family friend. His face was posted all over the place for a while. So he made a mask to hide his face.

It was all just more fuel for the fire in his eyes. He now wears black garbs with a dark hood and a mask. Dark in color with a dark red smile and yellow eyes with purple lines under each eye.

His show's seem to grow in popularity. Crowds naturally group around his show while he does amazing things with his toys. From knights fighting dragons, to saving the damsel in distress. The people see incredible life like movement as the toys dance and fight. The people give coin in a tankard as the boy continues to perform.

One day in the back of the crowd is someone dressed like the boy he's big and broad with dark clothes and a dark green cloak covering his face. He smiles as notices something odd about the show. And he approaches the boy after his show.

"Care to talk?" The boy snaps "busy."

"A small toy makes his way through the crowds back. He swiftly uses a sharp knife to cut pursed and gathers the few extra coins from non payers. Still not interested?" The boy having been caught red handed. "Yeah, I'll chat."

The two walk off to a dark corner as the man pulls back his hood revealing a big dark green half-orc with huge tusks and a scar across his face.

The half-orc clears his throat before speaking up. "you've got skill boy. But if you don't watch it you'll get found out. Just like today. I can teach you some interesting tricks if you're interested. I'm a half-orc of many talents" "What's in it for you?" The boy snaps. "Half our lootings" before he knew it the boy was in training. The half-orc taught him how to sneak around so quietly no one could hear him. and he was fast too. He learned how to pick locks and many useful tricks as well as weapons training. The man trained him to use many weapons and how to create and disarm traps. They stole from many people and made lots of money together. Somehow although very different the half-orc reminded the boy of his father. They had fun being bad and took from a lot of people. But they eventually attracted too much attention do to the amount of thievings in the town. The guard became so tight the half orc decided it was time to move on.

The day they were to leave the boy came back to their shelter with supplies for traveling. He opened the door and found the half-orc dead on the floor in a puddle of his own blood. The boy heard rustling in the back room. The boy snuck in and snatched his gear that was ready for them and left without a sound thought. At the front door he noticed a paper. Picking it up it was his wanted poster. The boy adjusted his mask and looked around. He snuck into the shrubbery and waited outside the door.

It wasn't long until the guy walked out and it was an elven man with armor. It was someone he'd once seen come and visit his step father. One of his ears had skars on it from being re attached.

The boy squinted at the man and before the elvish man could get away you could hear the pop of the elf's skin as a burly half orc pushes a blade into the back of the elf. The elf screams in pain as the half orc shoves his fist into the mouth of the elf and pulls him inside the shelter.

The orc then takes and ties the elf to a chair. And pulls the roaps so tight the elf looks like his eyes will pop out.

The orc takes off all his weapons and as quickly as he had struck the half orc falls over, lifeless. The elf confused struggles to get up. But fails. And quietly he hears a voice say from behind him.

"What are you looking for?" "Who's there!" The elf shouts loudly. "You were asked first." The boy hissed. Trying to distort his voice. The elf said nothing. "I recognize you, you're friends with the wrong people, and he sent you here didn't he." The elf again said nothing. The boy once again moved the half orc and put his face into the elf's face. "Why did you kill my friend?" And the half orc grabbed his dagger and slowly put it into the fire. He reached over and burned the elf's face. "Better talk before your face looks like your ear." As the sizzle and smell fill the room.

After a few hours the man had told him everything he wanted to know. The elf was hunting the boy. His step father hired him to kill the boy and instead found the half-orc. He found out that the boys father could scy on him using his old belongings. So he couldn't hide. But he was also told him scrying wasn't cheap for his step father. The Elf told the boy that his friend was the one he'd killed and that more of there friends would come in time for the boy. But he has traveled so far it's still a pain to find the boy.

Days passed and the boy walks out into the light and takes a bite of some bread. He throws his pack onto his shoulder and heads out.

His goal is repurposed and he starts traveling again. Still filled with anger and rage. But a look of satisfaction on his face. He pulls out a small notebook and scribbles. Then puts it away.

The boy is now a man. He's Traveled far, making money as a showman with his toys. Always on the move so they don't find him. On the side he crafts and works works on new tools to use because he know's he's being hunted. These tools he'll use for his protection and his revenge. It's his first life size puppet. Crafted to look like a goblin and is given a dagger and a cloak. To test out his new puppet he travels into the woods outside the town he's passing through. The puppet is heavy. It'll take some time to adjust. But he quickly darts the puppet around as though it were a real moving creature. The puppet swings it's knife through the air as though it were clashing swords with another creature. This is a useful tool because it's not just a dead body. But it's crafted for his own abilities.

My mother was a lovely elf. She loved using her arcane abilities to bring joy to those around her. She had learned through her years how to make toys come to life. And others were very amused. One day she met a human who was traveling through town and he loved making fantastic toys. He wad surprised top see my mom first in line to purchase from his unique selection. He wad so curious but when she saw that she could bring the man's toys to life he was amazed.

The human and elf decided to work together and they fell madly in love. It wasn't long after that they got married and had a half- elf child.

This child was taught by his father how to make toys add a pass time. It was time much better spent in his opinion than with the elven kids which made fun of him. They called him names in elven assuming he couldn't understand because he was only a half breed. One day the boss father got sick. It wasn't long before the man passed away. It was hard on them both. For a while there boys mom couldn't bring herself to go outside and the toys once brought to life now lay still on a shelf. But she wouldn't look at them.

On a dark day the boot went to market to get some food for himself and his mother. And he was cornered by a couple of elven kids in the alley. They pushed the boy rp the ground. "you're only a half breed. You need to get out of our city. " the elf quickly struck the boy. The boy reacted by putting his hands up and boom. Here heard a thud. S the boy looked up he saw something floating in the air a single large rock and an elf boy on the ground. Looking away the other boy here stick him with the rock to. The elvish boys quickly ran as the boy came out odd the alley he noticed something strange to him. All the elves in town were looking at him. They knew the elven boys had pushed him into the alley. They knew everything the entire time. Bit now they were looking away him with anger instead of ignoring him. So he grabbed his bread and fruit and ran home. Rushing into the house he eagerly explained what had happened and what he had done.

After the experience the boy and his mother left the elven city. His mother seemed revitalized somehow and started teaching him the ways odd the arcane strings. It wasn't long at all before they both could make toys come top life. They were arcane puppeteers. The boy made them new toys as they traveled and they put on showed while staying in taverns for coin and selling the very toys used in the show's.

One day an elf man approached them. Add they finished a show in a new town He was amazed with their gift. He offered a free room while they were in his town. He wad an arcane mage but didn't know abilities like ours existed. My mother fell in love with this elf and we stayed with him.

The man taught the boy a little about the arcane spells he knew and how they could be used. He apparently lived hearing himself talk. Something didn't feel right. Something was odd about this mage. One day after being with the elven man for some time there was yelling. The elvin man wad angry about not having a prodigy. He wanted a son of his own but the boys mother apparently could not have kids anymore. The boy shrugged or off and plugged his ears. He imagined he couldn't hear them despite hearing the screaming and yelling. Then there was a loud crash. The boy rushed out of his room and the elvish man had walked out. The boy saw his mother with tears in her eyes. With a rosy red cheek. She'd been stricken and this filled the boy with much rage. Even when he was bullied by the elven kids he didn't feel much rage. But this anger devoted him.

His mother stroked his hair and said it was ok. Bit it wasn't and so when the boys mother was in the wash room he took a knife from the kitchen and hid it in a shelf. Just in case he needed to protect his mother. She obviously couldn't protect herself. She needed the boy.

That night the boy woke up. He had a bad feeling that couldn't shake. Something seemed odd. The elven man never came back. So the boy stood up from bed. He snuck through the hall and peeked into the candle lit kitchen to see a short man in black. He had the boys mother, his hand on her forehead and a sharp knife in her neck. As she was let go she fell to the ground lifeless.

The boy could only see red. As red as the blood in the room. He ran into the room and used his arcane strings to catch the knife he had hid earlier. It flew into the man in blacks back from behind. Here never saw it coming as he let out a big grunt. He pulled out the knife and moved up to the boot so swiftly and quietly it was terrifying. He went to plunge his knife into the boy's gift when the boy held up his hind in response and then he stopped. The man wad brought to a stop. Again a knife had found his back but this time it was the boys mother. She impaled him with the kitchen knife and the guy was in horror. "You're dead! The elf said this job would be easy." He was in shock as he hit the ground.

But the boy knew she was definitely dead. He was an arcane puppeteer and he could control all sorts of things. He gathered his things as he seethed with rage. He packed food and everything. He'd need. He too the coins from the short man. He searched his belongings and took his knife as well as anything that seemed valuable. Clothes and all.

Wearing a new black outfit the gnome laid dead near his mother the boy kicked the gnome as hard as he could. "I'll kill that elven man one day. He'll die in the worst way for taking my mom from me. The boy pulled his hood up and grabbed a few toys off the shelf and left on his own. Only at 10years old. Over the course of year he'd lost everything. But he had to do what he could to keep living.

Three years have passed since then. The father he got from the town his mother died the less he saw his wanted posters. He was wanted for the murder of his mother and a family friend. It was just more fuel for the fire in his eyes. He now wears black garbs with a dark hood and a mask. Dark in color with a dark red smile and yellow eyes with purple lines under each eye.

Yet another show on the street. His thoughts do amazing things. The people see incredible life line movement as the toys dance and fight. The people put coin in a tankard as the boys toss perform. In the back is a someone dressed like the boy he's big and notices something odd. And he smiles.

A small toy makes his way through the crowds back. He swiftly used a sharp knife to cut pursed and feathers the few coins that fall.

The show is over and the act is done the toys and the boy bow. The crowd scatters and the boy let's the toys crawl back into his pack.

A big man in black walls up. "Can we chat? "

"Not interested." The boy snaps from behind a mask. "I saw what you did. Taking from the back of your crowd with a small puppet." The boy decided to hear what the big guy had to say. They walked into the local tavern as they sat down the burly guy pulled his hood back revealing a sturdy jaw and large tusks with green skin. A half-orc. He clears his throat before talking."you've got skill boy. I can teach you some interesting tricks if you're interested." "What's in it for you?" The boy snaps. "Half our lootings" before he knew it the boy was in training. The half-orc taught him how to stay silent and fast. How to pick locks and many useful tricks as well as weapons training. The man trained him to use many weapons and how to create and disarm traps. They stole from many people and made lots of money together. Somehow although very different the half-orc reminded the boy of his father. They had fun being bad and took from a lot of people. But they eventually attracted too much attention do to the amount of thievings in the town. The guard became so tight the half orc decided it was time to move on. The day they were to leave the boy came back to their shelter he opened the door and found the half-orc dead. On the floor and heard rustling in the back room. The boy snuck in and snatched he gear that was ready for them and left without a sound. At the front door he noticed a paper. Picking it up it was his wanted poster. The boy adjusted his mask and kept moving. Given yet another reason the kill the elf his rage burns brighter.