Hey guys, I’m going to be doing a charity art stream on Saturday May 1st for the charity No Kid Hungry on Twitch. It’s going to start at 2pm EST and run to 7pm EST.

If you can’t make it to the stream, you will be able to donate via the Tiltify page or if you can’t donate, please share the links on your socials. Many people have been impacted heavily by the pandemic and are in need of help. Let’s make a difference.

About No Kid Hungry

“No child should go hungry in America. But in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, 1 in 6 kids could face hunger.

No Kid Hungry has a plan to make sure those children are fed, both during this crisis and in the recovery to follow. Through a combination of emergency grants, strategic assistance, advocacy and awareness, No Kid Hungry is helping kids, families and communities get the resources they need. But we need your help!

Every $1 you donate can feed a child up to 10 meals!

Aw, I’m sorry to hear that! I can throw out a few stories, sure!

A multichapter thing about Jackieboy giving amazing hugs when the others need them: With Outstretched Hands: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Chase helping the others keep up their PMA when they’re feeling down: Not Broken, But Breaking Through

A cute sleepy story about how Jackie and Schneep spend some of their nights: Up, Up, And Away

***

She tilted the small barrel where she kept her baking nuts on its side, scooping out what little was there.

Barely enough to make one loaf.

There was no avoiding it: Dawn needed a new supply.

The hearty bread that Ris had become so fond of was a constantly shifting thing. It was never the same twice, with the types of nuts and seeds and their ratios changing based on what she had. Occasionally she added fruit to the mix as well, when it was available. But it would be very plain, indeed, if she had nothing to add to the bread at all.

Eager to go, she gathered her bags and a hand basket, locked the door behind her, and set out into the crisp, autumn morning.

The Alnwick market was as lively as ever, and she enjoyed strolling amongst the stalls in the sunshine, smiling and chatting with the vendors. They were her neighbors, after all; the people who lived on the outskirts of Alnwick with her, who kept small farms to supply the city with fresh food. She bought vegetables to make a stew for dinner. A little boy won her over and she bought a bouquet of yellow mums for her table. Zucchini, onions, and a small pumpkin soon weighed down her bags, all destined to be pickled according to Mrs. Lenande’s recipes.

Finally, she reached her last stop and her favorite store in Alnwick: Pierson’s Spices. As soon as she stepped into the store, the smell of herbs and spices overwhelmed her with dreams of culinary possibilities.

Mrs. Pierson greeted her cheerfully, but her enthusiasm waned when Dawn told her the reason for her visit.

“I’m afraid we haven’t any nuts for you today.” She lamented. “Garrin hurt his leg rough-housing with friends, and until it heals he cannot go out and forage for them. Neither can I search for them, with Garrin injured and Molly as young as she is.”

While Dawn was disappointed that there weren’t any nuts to be had, she certainly couldn’t blame the Piersons. So she bought a braid of garlic, draped it over the handle of her basket, and headed for home, her arms aching under the weight of her purchases. It never failed: whenever she went shopping, she always seemed to come home with slightly more than she could carry.

After she put away her groceries, she stood in the kitchen, frowning at the empty nut barrel once again.

Well, if Garrin can’t look for nuts, nothing says I can’t!

In a moment she was back out the door, basket in hand, wearing clothes she wouldn’t mind getting dirty.

The forest that surrounded Alnwick was a beautiful place. It was a gentle wood, a welcome relief from the craggy, unforgiving mountains she had crossed when she made her escape. There were trees of all kinds, and nut trees were no exception. She trailed beside a creek, picking up the hazelnuts and walnuts as she went. She felt like a squirrel, inspecting them for cracks, then shaking them to make sure there was actually a nut inside.

When something rustled in the bushes nearby, Dawn ignored the sound. She had been spooking the local wildlife the whole time she’d been foraging.

It’s probably just a rabbit.

She reached down for another walnut and glanced into the bush to see if she could spot the poor creature she’d scared, and her eyes locked onto a large pair of eyes. Distinctly feline eyes.

With a growl, the cat launched out of the bush at her, and Dawn backpedalled like mad. In her haste to get away, she tripped, basket and nuts flying in a spray above her.

She squealed before she hit the water, but the breath was knocked out of her when she went under. The icy current cut right through her clothes, though she only had a moment to register the cold before her head hit something sharp and everything went black.

When she came-to, Dawn immediately rolled over and heaved up a lungful of water. She laid there, coughing and hacking, until she could breathe freely again. Slowly, she started register what was going on around her.

The creek was bubbling away merrily as if it hadn’t just tried to kill her. The breeze rattled loose leaves down from their limbs and went right through her wet clothes. She might well have been wearing nothing at all. And an Arinaen woman was pacing very close by, worry plain on her face.

“Oh, thank goodness! Are you alright? Are you hurt?” Her black-spotted ears were turned back, and her tail swished to and fro in agitation.

“I- I’m fine-“ Dawn struggled to speak through the coughs. “There’s a- wildcat- We’re in d-anger-“

The Arinaen’s expression went from one of relief right back to concern.

“No, no! You’re safe! Astra’s not wild; she’s my pet.”

“You keep a- wildcat as a pet?!?” Dawn asked incredulously. She rolled to her knees to stand, and the Arinaen came over to help.

“Well, yes!” She said brightly. “She’s my hunting buddy. I’m sorry she scared you. Astra tends to be extra protective of me when we’re tracking.”

She clicked her tongue and a beautiful snow leopard emerged from the brush, it’s white fur dappling an iridescent lavender where it caught the light. It’s now-familiar eyes regarded Dawn warily.

“It’s alright, Astra.” The Arinaen cooed. “She’s a friend.”

Astra walked over and circled Dawn, smelling her. Dawn shut her eyes when the cat got close. She couldn’t tell if she was shivering from the cold or from fear.

“See? Nothing to worry about.” A hand took her arm and plucked at her sleeve. “But you’re soaked! You’ll freeze to death if we stay here. Come with me; I have a camp up this hill. It will take me a bit to get a fire going, but-“

“No, wait!” Dawn tugged her wrist from the woman’s grasp, checking to make sure her scarf was still snugly in place on her head and hugging her arms close to her chest. “I l-live in Alnwick. My house is on-n the outskirts of t-town. It isn’t far. I’ll j-just go home.”

Dawn clamped down on her jaw to keep it from chattering. The woman looked taken-aback.

“But-“

“Please?” Dawn interrupted, starting to panic. She knew her wet shirt was translucent. At any moment, the stranger would see her skin through the fabric.

I can’t be recognized! Not now! Not when I finally have a place that feels like home!

“It’s really not far!” Dawn smiled through gritted teeth. “I’ll be fine. Thank you for pulling me out of the creek. I’m in your debt.”

She picked up her empty basket and walked quickly, heading back the way she had come.

“Wait!” The Arinaen called, jogging up beside her. “I’d like to come with you. To be sure you make it home safely.”

Dawn started to protest, but the chill was making it too hard to speak, so she simply nodded. She powered ahead, desperate to get home before her secret was discovered.

Many tense minutes later, Dawn threw open the door to her cottage and bolted inside.

“Come in!” She called over her shoulder, going to the wardrobe to retrieve a new outfit. She rushed to the bathroom with her dry clothes. “Make yourself at home! I’ll be back in just a moment.”

She closed the door behind her and took a shaky breath. Terror still coursed through her.

I’m not safe yet. She might have seen something. She might have followed me home to confirm her suspicions.

Dawn unlaced her bodice and peeled the wet clothes from her body, dropping them into the tub for the time being. Toweling off, she changed into her thickest, woolen shirt and skirt. She was fully aware that she would probably switch to lighter clothes once she was warm again, but at the moment they weren’t quite enough to get rid of the chills still running up and down her spine.

She paused with her hand on the doorknob, taking a few steadying breaths.

It’s okay. Just go out there, smile, thank her again, and kindly ask her to leave.

When she opened the door, Dawn was surprised to find the woman knelt by the hearth, using the bellows to fuel a now roaring fire. She could see steam spiraling from the kettle that hung over the flames. The Arinaen’s ears swiveled at the sound of the door and she stood quickly, looking a little embarrassed.

“I started a fire. I hope that’s not too forward of me...”

“Not at all. I appreciate it, actually.” Dawn grabbed a folded blanket from the end of the bed, wrapping it around her shoulders, and gestured to the padded chair in front of the hearth. “Have a seat.”

The Arinaen watched her sit on the stool by the fire with confusion.

“Wouldn’t you rather-?”

Dawn shook her head.

“The closer to the fire, the better.” She smiled. “Really. You can sit.”

The Arinaen hesitated, but eventually did as Dawn bid, her white tail curling around her leg timidly. Astra, who had been laying the door, got up and laid down at the woman’s feet.

Dawn spread her hands in front of the fire and felt life slowly coming back to her limbs.

“We never had a formal introduction, did we?” She asked, looking over at her guest.

“Oh, I’m sorry! I never told you my name! I’m Nico.”

“And I’m Dawn.” She smiled. “Forgive me for not getting up to shake your hand; the fire is too nice to leave.”

“Of course. How do you feel now? Are you alright? I apologize again for Astra. She won’t hurt you. I promise.” Even if Nico could somehow mask her face, her ears would leave nothing to the imagination. They were like a dowsing rod for her emotions, and they pushed back with worry.

“I’m fine, thanks to you. If you hadn’t pulled me from the water, I would have drowned.” She felt the back of her head. It was quite tender. “I think I hit my head on a rock and passed out.”

Nico hopped up from her chair, startling Astra, who rumbled her confusion.

“Let me run into town and buy you some ice!”

Dawn blinked as Nico hurried to the door. Astra heaved herself to her feet with a groan and followed her.

“Wait, you don’t have to-“

“It’s the least I can do after what happened! I’ll be back as soon as I can!”

Before Dawn could say another word they were gone, the cottage door shut behind them.

She stared into the fire, puzzled. Why was this perfect stranger being so kind to her? If she knew the truth about her...condition, why wasn’t she afraid?

Fear suddenly gripped her heart.

What if she left to sound the alarm? What if she was running through town, yelling for the authorities?

Dawn curled in on herself, burying her face in her knees. She didn’t know what to do. Ris might be willing to help her, but then again, the truth might change his opinion of her, too.

She had no one to turn to, and nowhere to go.

She would lock the door, but it was pointless. That would only delay the inevitable. They would come in after her, pitchforks and torches, burning the house to the ground.

Tears welled in her eyes.

I can’t go back. I can’t. I can’t. Not like this. I’ll die-

The door opened and she jumped, certain her end was near, but Nico strode into the room, bag in hand.

“That man isn’t selling ice; more like highway robbery. But it’s no problem.” She handed the cloth full of ice to Dawn. “Here, put this on your head.”

Dawn looked down at the ice in her hands. No authorities? No torches?

Nico doesn’t know.

Her secret was safe. Dawn could have wept with relief. She was already on the brink anyway with hysteria. She stood up from her stool, quickly running the back of her hand over her eyes.

“I hate to rush you out, but I think I need to lie down. As it turns out, drowning can exhaust a person.” She offered a hand to Nico, who took it. “But you are welcome here. Both you and Astra. If you’re ever hunting in this part of the woods again, I insist you sleep here instead of outside.”

“Fair warning: I may take you up on that.” Nico smiled. “Rest well.”

Chapter 3, page 1 WIP.

_____________________________

Just some defense training in the woods with the Nek(r)o gang. What could possibly go wrong? @nekob00

***

“Okay.” Nico took a couple of steps back. “Come at me.”

They were in the clearing that Nico used before as a camp whenever she hunted in this part of the woods. It was far enough away from town to be secluded, but still close enough to be accessible. Open on all sides but one, it backed up to a rocky wall, exposed long ago when the mountain grew tired of hiding and wanted to feel the sun on its face. Moss had grown on many of the ledges, but when the sun hit it at the right angle, it sparkled with mica between the green patches. In early spring, the clearing would be carpeted in purple and white crocus breaking their way through the last of the winter snow, but summer was in full bloom, and they had trampled down the knee-high meadow grasses for their exercise.

Dawn took a steadying breath as she gripped her marker. Nico had forbidden the use of real knives until Dawn was proficient enough to handle a blade. Instead, they used short sticks that had been burned to charcoal on one end and cooled. That way, a touch from the “knife” would leave a mark on their clothes. Dawn hadn’t yet been able to mark Nico, even a little. She suspected that she never would.

After a moment, Dawn rushed forward, brandishing her weapon. Nico matched her movements, stepping back and moving with her.

“Your eyes give everything away.” Nico’s teaching voice was calm but firm. “Don’t look to where you’re going; you need to watch your opponent’s eyes to predict my next move.”

“But you don’t give away that kind of information with your eyes!” Dawn panted exasperatedly.

“I will for the sake of training. When we move into defense, it’s a skill you will need. Start now. Watch my eyes, but keep your vision open to movement outside of my gaze as well.”

Dawn locked her eyes on Nico’s, trying to remain focused and unfocused at the same time. It wasn’t easy.

She lunged suddenly, hoping to take Nico by surprise, but Nico stepped into the attack and thwacked her stick against Dawn’s rib cage.

“You’re reaching. Too open. Keep it tight. Don’t give your opponent an opportunity to get to vital parts of your body.”

Dawn stepped back and tried again, feinting left but moving right, grabbing Nico’s sleeve and pulling it in an attempt to get her off-balance. Nico was rock-steady, however, and instead whipped her arm in a circle and trapped Dawn’s hand in the material of her sleeve, bending her arm and bringing her to her knees.

“Clothing grips can be useful, but be careful where you choose to grab. The back of my arm would have been more effective than my wrist. Places I can’t move are even better. Try again.”

“What’s this? Two fey gone dancing in a fairy circle, and I wasn’t invited?” A voice called out between the trees. Ris emerged into the clearing, his face pulled into its usual smirk of mischief.

“We’re training, Ris. That’s not a two-person job. Well, not yet anyway.”

Dawn’s eyes widened with poorly-concealed apprehension and Nico chuckled.

“We’ll work up to multiple opponents, then Ris can join us. Maybe Miri will even give us some of her time.”

Ris settled down with his back against one of the trees that lined the clearing.

“And how goes the training?” He asked Dawn. “Have ya poked her full of holes yet?”

“No. Of course not.” She groaned, resetting her position to go again.

“We’re focusing on the basics right now.” Nico added. “Form and stance.”

“Well, don’t worry, Dawn.” Ris picked a long piece of grass and chewed on one end. “When you’re done dancin’ with Nico here, you ‘n me can start the real training.”

“This is real training.” Nico stood up out of the stance she’d taken to glare at him. “Being able to analyze a situation can make or break a person in a fight.”

“Maybe, but it certainly isn’t the fun part.”

“Fun? FUN? Was it fun to have wounds all over your body? Was it fun to be beaten so badly that you couldn’t move?” Nico strode across the clearing and stood over Ris, her eyes stormy with anger. “Was it fun to die?!?”

Ris stood up and tried to stutter out something in his defense, but Nico cut him off.

“No. You know what? You’re right. I should have invited you to our training. It’s clear that you’ve forgotten the only two rules of fighting defensively with a short-range weapon:” she held up her fingers in succession. “Disable and disengage. That’s it. That’s how you stay alive.”

Ris tried to interject again, but Nico continued right over him.

“I’ve seen you fight before, Ris. You’re smart. Smart enough to know when you should bow out of a situation.” Ris took a step forward, his hands up in a placating gesture, but Nico pushed his shoulder back into the tree, forcing him to stay put. “But you kept coming back! Over and over and over again! What the hell were you thinking?!?”

“MAYBE I WAS READY TO DIE!” Ris suddenly roared, his ears flat against his head. Dawn’s hands flew to her mouth and Nico pulled up short.

“Maybe I was sick of bein’ snubbed and hated by every person I meet on the street.” He growled through gritted teeth. “Maybe I was tired of fightin’ a reputation I didn’t choose.”

His words began to lose their fire, and his eyes flicked over to Dawn.

“Maybe...maybe I finally found something worth dyin’ for.”

Silence swept over the clearing. Not even the birds dared to break it. Then, quick as lightning, Ris turned and took off through the trees.

“Ris! Ris, wait-!” Dawn picked up her skirt to follow him, but Nico put out an arm to stop her.

“No. Let him go.” A heavy sigh fell from her lips. “This is my mess. If anyone should go after him, it’s me.”

“But what did he mean?” Dawn stared out the way he’d gone in shock. “Something- something worth dying for?!?”

“I...don’t know.”

They stood there for a moment, and Dawn tried to process what had happened. What had Ris meant? Why was he so ready to die? Was defending her life really worth dying in his eyes?

“I think we’re done for today.” Nico turned and gathered their sparring weapons. “You head back to town. I’ll see you later tonight.”

“But you will stay with me tonight, won’t you?” Dawn asked, now worried for two of her friends. “Please don’t sleep out here.”

“I won’t.” Astra strolled out into the clearing, laying down at Nico’s feet, her mouth tinted pink with a recent kill. “I just... I need time. To think.”

Dawn turned her feet in the direction of home, her heart heavy. She glanced back over her shoulder at the clearing and saw that Nico had sat down where she had been standing, her ears folded back and every part of her body completely still.

***

Nico kept to her word and returned late that night, going right to bed and leaving before Dawn woke the next morning. She left a note on the table telling Dawn not to worry and promising to be back in a week for more training.

Dawn worried still.

When Friday morning arrived, she got up even earlier than usual to begin baking for Ris’ visit. Anxiety had left her restless every night since, and sleep was elusive at best.

She dug out a small bag of dried Iccia berries that she had been saving for a special occasion and worked them into her bread dough. Tasting simultaneously of roses and citrus, Iccia berries were a rare treat for anyone outside of the richest classes. Dawn had been so excited to find them growing out in the forest that she’d picked every berry she could find, then took a few clippings of the plant with her to grow in pots on her windowsill. She’d enlisted Miri’s help getting them to root, and now the tiny bushes were thriving in their new domestic home. It would be many moons before they would bear fruit of their own, though.

When everything was almost finished, Dawn opened the window and lit the lantern. A few minutes later, Ris swung into the room, crowing like a rooster.

“I do believe I beat him to it this time!” He chortled, then breathed in deeply. “Is that Iccia I smell? I must be doin’ something right if you’re wastin’ such an expensive ingredient on me!”

Dawn didn’t respond. In fact, she hadn’t even looked at him. She stared into the hearth, stirring the fire with the poker. After a long moment, she finally spoke.

“What did you mean, that I was worth dying for?”

After a heavy pause, she heard Ris sigh.

“Straight to the chase, huh?” He shuffled to the table, pulling out a chair to sit. Dawn swiveled around on her stool to find him with his hands folded near his mouth, looking pensively at the tabletop.

“Arinaens are a minority out here in the world. We’re considered second-class citizens, but treated like third. The reason why is buried in an ancient mudslide of political intrigue, one I haven’t bothered to dig through in a very long time.” His tail flicked back and forth rhythmically as he thought. “I’ve been branded as untrustworthy from the moment I was born, and at some point I stopped tryin’ to fight it. Maybe that’s why I became a thief.”

His eyes found hers briefly, then went straight back to the table in front of him.

“Friends have been few and precious in my life and... I guess it just seemed like an honorable way to go. Defending my friend. To the death.”

Dawn stood and moved towards him slowly, her eyes hidden behind her hair. When she reached his side, she dropped to her knees, hugging him around the waist.

“Don’t.” Her voice was tight with the tears she was trying to suppress. “Don’t die for me, Ris. I’ll learn how to defend myself. I won’t need protecting anymore.”

She took a shuddering breath as Ris’ hands wrapped around her.

“You’re too important to me. Please.”

He stood and pulled her into a full hug. She hugged him fiercely, needing that contact, the first real moment they’d shared since the incident with the guards.

“Alright.” His voice was quiet and gentle. “I guess I can stick around. If it means that much to ya.”

After a while, she brought him out to arm’s length to look him in the eye.

“You need to talk with Nico.” Her tone left no room for nonsense. “She was just as worried about you as I was. We all were.”

Ris looked out the window at the rising sun.