#askingalyssa

Kind of like being a broson.

Anon, I'm pretty sure you're trying to troll me but the joke's on you: I've worked in zoos for about three years and have done a number if education programs inside a nationally renowned nutrition center that fed over 2000 animals on a regular basis. Carnivores and omnivores are fed an assortment of animals: fish, rats, rabbits, chicken, as well as larger domestic animals like horse depending on species as well as nutritional needs. Yes, many of these species are "domestic;" but the animals are not from your pet store. These animals are raised for the express purpose of being food, meaning they are fed and cared for at a higher standard than many other domestic/pet animals whose purpose is to be purchased as a pet. Additionally with a number of large carnivore (lions, tigers, and bears [oh my!]), they are fed mutton, horse, and/or venison because these animals are nutritionally higher quality than beef. Beef is used but more of a treat/reward rather than a standard food source.

I’m torn between two things:

1. Finish one of my novels

2. Live in a van so I can travel all over North America as I want to and visit all my friends on this continent.

APPLE BLOSSOM FAIRY: What would you like your future self to be like? Physically comfortable. My life hasn't been easy and I don't want it to be but I would like to see my future self able to cope with my chronic health issues to the point that my daily pain/discomfort ratings would be under 4 (out of 10) consistently. I feel that once my future self can get that handled a career and life goals would be pretty obtainable.

CHICORY FAIRY: Something you love to do that keeps you energized? Music. It's been my coping mechanism for pretty much everything. Without music I don't know what I would do.

YAY THANKS! I'm putting this under a cut because it is a freaking novel at this length.

HATHOR: What brings you joy? Books, nature, the sounds of wind and rain, dancing, my friends. A lot of stuff, lbh.

HEKATE: Have you ever tried to communicate with the dead? I haven't but I've seen my family's dead dogs howling at a full moon. It was incredibly powerful.

The world ended. They know because they ended it together, as a family. At least, as much a family that their broken group could be.

Then, the world ended again. This time they were scattered across time and space and reality. But they were still family, albeit with new members.

Finally, the world ended a third time. This time, they were all together. Everyone. Even those who were only with them in spirit the first time the world ended. The world ended and when they woke up this time, there was a new world.

A new world and everyone was scattered as if they had never known each other, never fought together, never became a family together. But much like the first time the world ended, they all found each other and things were right except for one thing.

Lightning.

Months passed and everyone fell into habits and lives, including Hope. Letting his intelligence show without shame, he dove into research and physical training. His days were filled with studying, training, and going to the edge of town every night. There, he pulled out Lightning's knife and whispered her name, both her old name and the one she took because she had to be strong.

There was no answer.

It didn't bother Hope. He spent five hundred years calling out for Lightning and knowing she couldn't answer. But he would still call out and wait because she did the same for him years and years ago when he was nothing but angry, scared, and grieving. They were partners.

One night -- Midsummer -- Hope stood on the edge of town as everyone else was celebrating. Everyone had come home to celebrate the longest day in the year and be with their hodgepodge family. More members had trickled in, this time from Noel finding the rest of Snow's NORA team. The party became more raucous and Hope wanted a little peace and a chance to get away from the couples pairing up and vanishing into the darkening night.

Vanille called out to him to join her and Fang as they watched the bonfire but Hope had to go out and call for Lightning. Fang shushed her understandingly and let Hope step away.

That night when the entire family flooded the town, when Hope went out to call for their one errant member, a shadow stepped from the darkness.

"Light!"

"There you are," she answered, hiking her bag higher up. "I should've known you all would end up by the ocean. Is NORA here too?"

Hope walked into Lightning's open arms and hugged her. He met her shoulder, now. It had been so long since they ended the world for the final time.

"I missed you," he admitted face buried in her shirt, still clenching her knife.

"I missed you too," she agreed and bent down to kiss his forehead, a sisterly gesture much like every time they touched. He beamed and took her hand.

"Come on, if we make a big enough commotion we might shock some of them enough they'll come out half dressed to see you."