#FelineFrenzy

[happytailtimes]

[recoveringdreamer]

TIMING: current LOCATION: syd's place PARTIES: @felinefrenzies & @recoveringdreamer SUMMARY: felix and syd catch up about the important things in life. CONTENT WARNINGS: none!

Syd kicked their legs up on the chair in front of them, Xena beside them with Lola attached to a harness on the neighboring chair. The sun had finally popped out from behind the clouds, and though it hadn’t pushed above 70 degrees, the warmth from the rays was more than welcome. A huff from beside her made Syd tilt her head to the side as she reached out, threading her fingers through the tufts of fur at the top of Xena’s head. “They coming to check in already?” Syd leaned up and pushed her glasses down the bridge of her nose to get a better look at who was coming up the walkway. 

“Oh, Felix! What’s up?” She swung her legs over the edge of her chair and grabbed Lola gently, propping the bearded dragon up on her shoulder as she shoved off of the beach recliner. “It’s been a while, right?” Weeks, maybe. She had been used to seeing them more as kids, them and their whole family. Now, it was just the two of them left behind in this godforsaken place. Lola climbed from one side of their shoulder to the opposite, little front leg extended to try and climb over to Felix. “Did you bring her grasshoppers?��� 

—

There weren’t many people left in Wicked’s Rest who knew Felix in the before. They knew they’d been different back then, in more ways than one. Before their mother died, they’d been happier. Before Leo, they’d been more confident. Sometimes, they thought it was a good thing that there weren’t a lot of people who could vouch for that; most, they thought, would be disappointed to know the person Felix was now, would be dismayed that he’d turned out worse instead of better. That was how they felt, so how could anyone else feel differently?

Because of this, Syd made them… not uncomfortable, per say, but nervous. Uneasy, unsteady, unsure. There were parts of him that they could understand better than most, given the balam of it all, but other parts? Felix worried she’d only end up disappointed. Still, Felix wasn’t one to give up on a friendship. They’d kept in contact with Syd as much as they could, visiting as often as their schedule at the Pit would allow… which was less and less, these days. It meant that, when Felix did have time to visit, they had to make sure they were bringing something to apologize for the absence that preceded the trip.

Which meant grasshoppers, usually.

They held up a small box at Syd’s question, smiling and reaching out a hand to assist Lola in her climb. “Only the best,” they confirmed. “I picked the fattest ones.”

—

Syd leaned towards Felix as Lola crawled down her arm onto Felix’s, beady eyes trained on the box that could only mean one thing. “I’m pretty sure she has the shape of those boxes memorized.” As Lola crawled up Felix’s arm and to their shoulder, Syd was quick to grab the hanging leash and drape it over Felix’s free hand. “I’m starting to think you only come around here to see her.” Xena whined in protest, huffing as she got up from her spot next to the chair to trot over to Felix. 

“You want anything to drink? Got limeade, water…” She paused as she opened up the bright pink cooler, disappointed by the lack of contents. “That’s all, actually. Think I might have some cold brew inside if that’s more your speed.” Syd knocked the cooler top down, pressing it with her knee to ensure it closed entirely. The more she looked at them, the more she realized they looked like a hollowed out version of themselves. These days, it wasn’t hard to feel that way, herself. “You look like you could use some food, too. I have extra fixings for sandwiches, if you want one. Almost out of dijon though.” 

—

Felix ducked a little to accommodate the height difference between themself and Syd, allowing Lola more ease with which to make the transfer. They laughed as the lizard began making her way towards the box, shifting so that the leash could be properly secured to ensure Lola’s safety. “She’s smart,” he agreed, holding the box out of Lola’s reach. “We need to get you inside before you can break it open,” they told her seriously. “The bugs would all hop away out here.”

Leaning down as Xena trotted over, Felix gave her a scratch behind the ears. They ached for Penelope, still at their old apartment with Luci. Bringing her with him to the boiler room would have been cruel, but he missed her all the same. They flashed Syd a small smile. “I come to see you, too! You’re just way less excited about grasshoppers.” Glancing to the cooler, they let out a little laugh. “Limeade sounds good.” He shifted, a little guilty with how easily they had noticed his state. Was it that obvious? “Sure. A sandwich sounds good.” It would be rude to refuse, wouldn’t it?

—

“They’re right,” Syd hummed. They glanced behind them towards the winnebago, door propped open with a cinderblock. The enclosure that Syd had custom built for Lola took up half of the trailer. She wasn’t about to be flamed for improper care of a reptile. Not when she’d done so much research. “Sometimes I put her in one of those kiddie pools– empty, obviously, and dump some crickets in. She has a fucking blast chasing them down.” The only thing normal at this point in her life were the two creatures beside her, both varying in disposition, but the right kind of companion she needed when it felt like her life was falling apart. 

“Don’t think it’s really in our nature to want them, y’know?” Syd cracked their own grin before motioning for Felix to follow them into the winnebago. From there, Felix would be able to give Lola her crickets. They were quick to grab a bottle of the homemade limeade they’d made before, placing it on the table in the small kitchenette. “What do you want? There’s uh…” They peered inside of the fridge, leaning slightly to the side as they moved some of the condiments around, “salami, turkey, roast beef.” There were lactose free cheeses inside, too. She held one of the packets up for them to inspect. “You like this stuff?” 

—

“I’d like to see that,” Felix laughed, imagining the chaos that must have come from a lizard on the prowl. It was clear that Syd had a good setup here; Felix would wager that Lola was one of the most well-taken care of lizards on the planet, and they liked that. It was nice to see. He’d always heard that you could tell a lot about a person by how they took care of their pets, and Syd’s treatment of hers spoke volumes. 

Following Syd to the winnebago, Felix carefully deposited Lola in her enclosure while Syd retrieved the limeade. They put a few crickets in the enclosure — not the whole box quite yet — and grinned as Lola began chasing them. “Oh, uh, turkey sounds good!” They glanced back at Syd, flashing a grin at the cheese she held up. “Oh, hey, yeah, that’s great!” Lactose free cheese was one of Felix’s favorites — all the flavor of cheese, without the upset stomach. “So, how have you been?”

—

Xena didn’t come in after them, but instead curled up next to the small metal stairway, head draped over one of her paws. Syd tore a piece of turkey from the package and threw it to her, hearing the dog immediately snap it up off of the ground. “You and her both.” She grinned down at Xena as her big, droopy eyes blinked upwards, willing to somehow control her owner for more. “Later,” Syd assured, then turned to the cabinet to grab a plate. 

“How have I been,” Syd hummed, delicately positioning the pieces together on the bread she’d just gotten from one of the town’s bakeries. “You know, so-so.” She could probably be honest with them about what happened, or what was happening. The abnormality, the inability to control her shifts– the way the jaguar seemingly had a mind of its own at this point. “Parents are in New Mexico, I think. Postcards are on the fridge.” Syd motioned towards them with the knife as she slathered some mustard onto the opposite side of the bread. “So it gets lonely except with these two, it’s a bit better.” They slapped the bread over top of the rest of the sandwich and turned the plate towards Felix. “How about you? You look real fucking tired.” 

—

“I must have good taste, then,” Felix replied, smiling fondly as Xena snapped up the turkey. There were worse comparisons to be made, they knew, especially from Syd. It was clear just in the way she looked at the dog that they loved her entirely, obvious from the look shining behind her eyes. And it was nice to see, really. There was something undeniably heart warming about seeing something, even a dog, be loved so entirely.

He nodded as Syd repeated the question, wondering what level of honesty they’d find in the reply. It was give and take, sometimes, especially in this town. Strange things happened all the time, and Felix was never entirely sure what to do with any of them. Sometimes, the whole world felt heavy. He had no doubt that it was the same for Syd — it was the same for everyone. There was no one alive who wasn’t struggling under some kind of a weight. They nodded along as Syd explained a little further, glancing to the postcards on the fridge. “At least you’ve got good company,” he said with a smile, looking down at Lola. She’d made quick work of the grasshoppers they’d given her and was demanding more now. Felix complied, emptying a few more from the box. 

Of course, it was inevitable that the question was turned around on them. Wasn’t that always how it went? You asked someone how they were doing, they asked the same of you… Felix shrugged, rubbing their face absently. The truth was, they were tired. Exhaustion clung to their very bones these days. It was hard to sleep in the boiler room. It was hard to do much of anything, really. But none of that should be placed on Syd’s shoulders, so he shrugged. “I’m okay. I moved into a new space, and my neighbors are kind of loud. It makes it hard to sleep, you know?” The lie came so easily that it scared them a little. They never used to find it so simple to stretch the truth.

—

Syd looked over at Felix as they emptied a few more grasshoppers into Lola’s enclosure. “You’re such a lush, Ols.” The reptile did not have a care in the world, and she couldn’t blame her. “But yeah, you’re right. Could be worse.” There was a constant fear that she might wake up one day covered in the blood of Xena, or that Lola’s enclosure would be busted through, glass scattered around the trailer. But she had faith in her jaguar to know that above all, Xena and Lola were what kept her at her calmest, and though mutual respect had flown out the window, she needed to believe they would be safe. 

“You should get an air horn, start sounding it off every time they get too loud mouthed.” Syd took a seat at the small table, kicking their leg up to the side on an empty dog food bin. “Or you could move into one of the empty cabins here. Won’t charge you shit, you just gotta walk Xena when I’m not here.” She flashed a grin at them, knowing well enough that they wouldn’t take the offer. “The cabins don’t have a lot to offer, so before you get all misty eyed at the suggestion, know you’d have to use one of the fire pits to cook literally everything.” There were only three cabins on the entire grounds– the rest were typical tent sites, with a few hookups for trailers like her own. It was modest, but it brought people closer to nature, and that was what her parents had always aimed for. 

—

Lola seemed happy, and it was easier to focus on that. Felix didn’t want to think about the weight on his chest or the looming dread that seemed to hang over everything lately. They would much rather laugh at the way Syd’s lizard chased grasshoppers, and the way Syd spoke to her like she understood everything. “I’m glad you have them,” Felix said, watching Lola still. “And that they have you. You guys are all pretty lucky, I think.” Was anyone, in this town? 

The laugh that slipped through their lips was genuine, and they tried to imagine using an airhorn any time someone in the Grit Pit made too much noise. They didn’t think it would end particularly well for them, but it was a funny mental image all the same. “Maybe I’ll try that.” There was a warmth in his chest at their offer, though Felix knew they wouldn’t be able to take it. If money were the problem that drove them into their current living situation, it would be one thing. That problem would be far easier to solve. Felix knew there were plenty of people who’d take him in in that case, Syd included. But, as it stood… “I couldn’t do that. Thank you for the offer, I really appreciate it. But… I’m stuck where I am for now.” In a pretty literal sense. “But if you want tips for cooking on the firepits, I’m actually pretty good at it.”

—

“I’m going to definitely take that as a compliment.” Because it was one, wasn’t it? All things considered, Syd still existed, despite the circumstances. Despite the blood and sinew that ran across the roof of her mouth, Syd had pushed through, had decided that while the jaguar had all the say, there was little to no room for it to puncture holes in her day to day. Well, despite the whole quitting her apprenticeship thing, but that didn’t count. Enclosed spaces meant harm could be done, and it was better out here, anyway. 

“Let me know how it goes. Maybe I’ll try it for those fucking squirrels that hang out here and eat all the bird seed.” Syd nodded towards the open window which, on the other side, revealed a bright orange bird feeder with ornaments hanging from the bottom, all of which were filled with sugar water, prepared especially for the ruby throated hummingbirds that meandered around the area. “Fuck being stuck, Felix. Hope you get out soon. Shit sucks, feeling like you can’t leave.” Her fingers twitched, itching for the vape pen under her pillow. Even though Lola couldn’t speak, she knew that as soon as she unearthed it, the dragon’s beady little eyes would bore into her in disappointment. “But if you ever need it, it’s always here. The bed’s are actually pretty comfortable. Had to stay in one when this thing was getting patched up.” Syd pointed to the ceiling of the winnebago, revealing a different section of material that had been installed to prevent further leaking from rainfall. Syd studied them for a moment, leaning forward, dropping the leg that was propped down. “Everything good?” 

—

“It was meant as one,” Felix clarified quickly, smile half-apologetic. They weren’t always good at making things like that clear, but they liked to think that Syd understood. Maybe it was because she’d known them longer than most, or maybe it was the spirits that lived within them. Other shifters could understand a bit, of course; Anita and Wyatt both tried, Mona put forth more of an effort than most. But at the end of the day… They couldn’t perfectly understand Felix’s plight any better than Felix could understand theirs. Syd had more of an inside view on things. There was some comfort in that, even if Syd’s inside view only really gave them insight on the jaguar parts of Felix’s issues.

The idea of Syd blaring an airhorn at passing squirrels drew another laugh from Felix’s lips, and they nodded their head. “I’ll be sure to give you a full report,” he promised, offering a sloppy salute. They looked to the birdfeeder, feeling something stir in their chest at the way it hung so freely there. It was stupid to be jealous of birds, but Felix was. Felix was jealous of anything and everything that seemed freer than he could be. Syd was right in their distaste for being stuck. It wasn’t something meant for people like them. Felix wondered if her jaguar struggled with the idea as much as theirs did. “Thanks, Syd,” they said softly. “I’ll let you know, okay?” Maybe someday. Maybe if Leo ever let him move out, maybe if Luci didn’t want him back in the apartment, maybe if living here seemed better than living there. “Everything’s okay.” It was a lie, but it wasn’t Syd’s problem. “Uh, are things… good with you?”

—

Syd grinned at them, grateful for the compliment, even if it seemed Felix was uncertain about it being one to begin with. Things had changed with time, especially between their two families. What once had been mutual respect had been usurped by the weaving of time and grief, etching different marks into them. Syd couldn’t blame Felix for disappearing, or for his siblings doing so– even if at the time, there’d been confusion. Her parents had explained it in simple terms; life did not always turn out the way that one had hoped. Felix’s mother’s passing had sent tremors through their community, and though Syd had things she wanted to say about it now, the time had since passed for such a thing. 

But still, Felix was in front of her now, faux smile pulled at the corners of their lips. She could see the pain in his eyes, the exhaustion, but it wasn’t for her to mend. If he decided he needed help, he’d come to her. Besides, she had enough of her own shit to deal with without tearing him down with her. Syd saluted Felix, a grin tugging at the corners of her lips. “Hope you do. Want full explanations. Or abbreviations is fine. Give me a key.” The look on Felix’s face as they watched the bird feeder stirred something in her chest, but she pushed it down. These days, she wasn’t sure if it was her own set of feelings, or if it was the jaguar doing it for her. “Yeah, no problem. No pressure, either. Figured I’d offer since it’s here.” Would it be better to have somebody like her in proximity should the jaguar run its weight through her? Or would it be worse? Syd couldn’t be sure. At his question, she shrugged, own fake smile plastered on now, only she was sure hers was more convincing. “Oh, you know. Apprenticeship got busted, budget cuts.” It was a lie. The owner of the shop was still trying to convince her to come back. “So now I’m doing this full time.” She pointed to the clipboard of check-ins hanging next to the fridge. “It’s not bad though. Could be worse.” It was as bad as it was going to get, but she knew she needed to hang on to the little things. “Hey, finish your sandwich and we can take Xena on a walk, yeah?” 

—

There were people who wanted to help them, and maybe that should have come as a relief. Maybe Felix should have been happy for it, should have accepted their assistance with open arms. But all he could think about were the most recent attempts at help, and what they’d resulted in. Zane and Wyatt’s good intentions had only dug Felix into a deeper grave, and Charlie’s attempts at assistance had made him worse off. Felix didn’t think they’d be able to forgive themself if anyone else ended up in a bad situation because of him, and they didn’t think they could handle their own situation growing worse. It was better, he thought, to swallow it all. To pretend nothing was wrong at all and hope that, this time, the person they were speaking to would respect them enough to accept it. With Syd, he didn’t think it would be much of an issue. There was an understanding there; Felix needed that.

They respected Syd enough to return the favor, too. There was something going on, he thought, something hiding behind her expression, but if Syd wanted to talk about it, Felix would let them do it in her own time. His good intentions wouldn’t make things worse for his friend — Felix would make sure of it. “I’m sorry,” they said with an apologetic smile. “You can still do my tattoos. I’ll pay you more, anyway. Better to have someone who gets it doing them, right?” They offered her a nod, absently dropping a few more grasshoppers into the enclosure. At Syd’s suggestion, they turned back towards her and brightened a little, stuffing the rest of the sandwich into their mouth and swallowing. “I want to hold the leash,” they said eagerly. 

For the moment, at least, they felt like things could be okay. Even if it was only for the moment.

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[bookofbolden]

TIMING: Current LOCATION: The Generic Store PARTIES: Syd ( @felinefrenzies ) & Eleanor SUMMARY: While grocery shopping Eleanor runs into Syd who is in the middle of an intense battle with the beast within. WARNINGS: None!

Groceries. It was a necessary evil that Eleanor had had the pleasure of forgetting about while she’d lived with her sister. She simply wrote on the chalkboard door of the pantry what she needed from the store and it appeared almost like magic. Now she had to get all of her things together, including her long list, and trudge to the store herself. Not that she could really complain, she didn’t want to be in the apartment for too much longer than absolutely necessary, it had been left a mess and somehow seemed even more so after her return.

Almost immediately after she’d walked into The Generic Store the cashier gave off some mildly irritated vibes but Eleanor could understand, she wouldn’t have wanted to be at work and miss out on whatever else was going on outside of the store, either. She smiled at the worker and continued on her way to the groceries as she took out her list. Only a few other people roamed the aisles and they were all either extremely calm or just a little bit anxious as they made sure they had gotten everything they’d come for. Because of the lack of strong emotions within the vicinity, the feeling of dread and distress was as noticeable to her as if the person had announced that they were feeling it.

Eleanor looked over her shoulder and offered a kind smile in hopes of calming the stranger. “Hello, I’m not in your way, am I?”

Syd leaned against the cereal aisle, gaze fixated on the stupid off brand Tony the Tiger. Their vision blurred ever so slightly, off brand Tony dancing in the corner of their eye as they looked away, as if mocking them. From one cat to another, it sang. Syd clenched their teeth and tried to focus on the ring of their heart in their ears, of the way it sounded, a rhythmic beat to the discussion and footfalls of shoppers in and around the store. They’d been through this time and time again, and they could do it again. There were faces they knew here, and they couldn’t risk the chance of shedding their skin, of hurting the very woman who had handed them their diploma several years back. 

They’d been so focused on controlling the shift, from keeping it at bay that they hadn’t noticed somebody was next to them now. Concern echoed in their voice and Syd tore their eyes away from a neighboring box of low sugar off brand Toucan– what the fuck was that bird’s name?  Their company stood only a few feet away, and the warnings that fell at the back of Syd’s throat were swallowed by the anxiety of possibly creating shreds out of the person in front of them. “No,” Syd stammered, tightening their grip on the shelf. The jaguar hummed, circling them as if prey. “Sorry, I’m–” They let out a soft laugh that came out as a hiss, unfurling into something of a growl. Quickly, Syd covered it up by coughing into their arm. “I think I left the house before the flu left me.” They gave a half-assed smile, tongue moving against teeth, against cheek– anything to keep them rooted. “Did you need…” They looked at the aisle they were in again, then to off brand Tony. “This?” 

Eleanor could tell that something awful brewed just below the surface but she didn’t want to call too much attention to it. Some people preferred to pretend that nothing was going on even if they were going through some of the worst moments of their life. “No need to apologize, I’m sorry that you’re not feeling well. I can bet that it must be miserable being sick in this weather. Have you been getting enough fluids? Have you tried chicken noodle soup? Whenever I haven’t been feeling my best I typically give it about a week and then if things aren’t getting better I go to the doctor.” She knew that she’d started to ramble so she stopped herself. “Not that you asked for any of my advice. I’m sorry, you're an adult, you know how to take care of yourself.” She blushed, but she had genuinely just wanted to offer some kind of help because it was obvious between the stuttering and the swirling dark cloud of emotions within them that things weren’t going well.

Although Eleanor hadn’t been in the market for the off brand cereal she nodded and took it anyhow, adding it to the small selection of items in her basket. “Sure, I appreciate it.” She looked them over one more time then turned as though she were going to leave. She’d gotten halfway down the aisle before she turned and went back, her heart unable to allow her to simply walk away. “I’m sorry, and please tell me to buzz off if I’m prying, but you don’t seem well. Is there anything I can do, someone I can call for you? You shouldn't be out if you’re feeling this terribly - what are you shopping for? I can grab it for you so you don’t have to be on your feet for too long.”

Most people would move on after being advised that the person they were speaking to had the flu, but the girl ahead of her stayed put, concern pulling over her features. Frustration flickered brightly at the center of Syd’s chest. They wanted to tell her to leave, that they didn’t need the suggestions. Because that much was true, they didn’t. They could take care of themself. The sound of the front door opening, a bell ringing– the till, the count of change, the exchanging of thank you’s, it hit Syd from every side. It was hard to ignore. On top of it all, the smiling brunette had the audacity to be kind. The longer Syd stood there, the more their irritation grew, and they felt horrible for directing it at somebody who was only trying to help. “Chicken noodle soup, no. Pozole.” Through clenched teeth, Syd continued, “you should try it sometime.” Maybe the brunette already had. It was easier to focus on the comfort of a warm meal than it was to focus on the tiles beneath their feet and how it might feel to press their face against them. They’d be cool to the touch, they were sure, and maybe it’d soothe the sweat that had begun to break out at the back of their neck. 

“S’okay,” Syd coughed out again, attempting to hide a pained whimper as the jaguar tugged at the corners of their mind, as if luring them inward in order to take total and complete control. “Appreciate it all the same, actually.” It was harder to speak now than it had been previously, and that wasn’t good. They knew that. Syd moved to the side slightly as the brunette reached for the box of cereal. A blur of colors danced in the corner of their vision as they kept their eyes on the shelf’s price display. They traced each number carefully, one breath in, one breath out. She was retreating, and Syd felt some minor relief that maybe she would leave the store before the jaguar split the seams of the individual standing there. Syd hoped so. Nobody that kind should be mauled in a grocery outlet. The footfalls stopped, and Syd let out a huff, ready to explain that yes, she was sticking her nose where it didn’t belong, all for the sake of ridding a victim from a soon to be crime scene. But instead, Syd refocused, staring at the toucan on the stupid cereal box. They memorized the colors, thought of them on human skin, the thrum of the tattoo gun in their hand. Grounding techniques, that was what their father had called them. Important, to beings like them. “Call? No, nobody to call.” Their parents were in Arizona, and it wasn’t like Meredith needed to be bothered, they were only just now reconnecting. “You’re really fucking nice and all, but look, I don’t– I would have asked for your help if I needed it, alright?” Frustration plucked at Syd’s vocal cords and their voice broke slightly at the end of the sentence. Agitation burrowed itself, dragging away the kindness that Syd had been born with. “Fuck, sorry, I just– it’s so fucking loud in here, right? So fucking loud.” 

There was a flash of frustration and Eleanor took another miniscule step back. Had she said something unkind, out of line? She didn’t think so, but not everyone received unsolicited advice well, perhaps that had been the other’s breaking point. She was sure that if she’d felt awful out in public and someone came along yapping about soup and doctors then surely she too would become irritated. But this was different, it had to be, it couldn’t have all been aimed at herself - the irritation, fear, anger… it was all too much to have occurred during their brief exchange of words. But still, they offered up another bit of conversation and she took it because she didn’t know what else to do in such a situation. “I have! It’s very good, one of my best friends makes it.” But her words sounded forced, scared. What could have caused such a storm within them? It wasn’t her place to get to the bottom of it, she needed to learn where to draw the line, but she also wouldn’t have forgiven herself if she were to just walk away and leave them in such a state.

Their response was exactly what Eleanor had expected so it didn’t hurt her feelings when they lashed out, she simply nodded and smiled sadly. Hadn’t she always done the same thing? Lashing out was a whole hell of a lot easier than trying to explain whatever was going on inside of her mind so no, she hadn’t been offended. But it did still worry her. “No need to apologize, I was just offering it. Whenever I see someone who might need a helping hand I offer, but you by no means have to accept it, I understand that you’re wanting your space.” She let out a breath and brought her palm to her forehead as though checking for a fever. The intensity of their emotions had started to create a headache. “Yes, it’s very loud in here, I agree. I hope that I’m not coming down with something myself.” Although the volume she was complaining about happened to be on a different wavelength, one she was sure they were unable to hear. “I’m Eleanor. I don’t think I’m supposed to give out my name freely, but I want you to know who I am just in case… you ever need anything? Whatever’s going on, flu or otherwise, it’ll all pass. I’m sure your family and friends would be more than willing to listen to anything you have to say about what might be going on, and if not then… I don’t know. I’m here, too. I’m no therapist, I don’t claim to be one, but I’m really good at listening despite my habit of always talking.” She didn’t want to leave, as much as being around them pained her, so she went further down the aisle as she had before but stopped to pretend to be very interested in the loaves of bread on the shelf.

It was at inopportune times like these that the jaguar had wanted to come out, desire to be freed from its vessel trumping any reason that Syd tried to make. The last thing they wanted to do was hurt anybody, and they knew that leaving sooner rather than later was probably their best bet at doing little to no harm. But it was hard to move– to put one foot in front of the other. They could barely focus on each and every breath that filled their lungs, a labor in its own right– defying the very spirit that lived within them, coaxing Syd to release any and all control. Their grip on the shelf tightened, and they leaned into it gently, careful to not put their full weight as they didn’t want tons of cereal boxes to come crashing down. It didn’t seem like the brunette was hurt by her words, which was a surprise in itself. Instead, it looked like she understood the aggression, tucking it away for further investigation. 

Syd tried their best to focus on her words, to allow them to carry them further from the tightening in their chest. It felt odd, being talked down so gently after misplaced cruelty stained their words. “No, it’s–” Another sharp inhale, another clench of the jaw. “Ah, fuck. Hope not. Sure it’s going around town, though.” Syd wasn’t actually sick with anything, so maybe the girl– now named Eleanor, was using empathy as a means to distract them. “Don’t worry, not gonna use your name against you. I don’t even use Facebook. Plus, I’m sure there’s loads of other Eleanors in town.” It hadn’t occurred to them that there was a deeper seated meaning to her words, but it was hard to focus on that. “You talk like a therapist. Not that it’s a bad thing.” The words came out raspy, a hollowed out version of Syd’s typical cadence. “Never been to a shrink, though.” Never had to, before now. Were there such things as balam shrinks? Would they be able to tap into the jaguar and coax a level of understanding? Maybe they should look into that. “My name is Syd.” If they focused on the conversation, then maybe it would pass. They could feel the feverish warmth at the back of their neck beginning to subside, a sign that perhaps the jaguar was relenting. “You do this a lot?” Syd asked after a moment of listening to the other noises from within the store, “talk people down who have the flu in the cereal aisle, I mean.” 

The comment about Facebook confused Eleanor for a moment and she wondered if they even understood what she had meant by the layered comment. Perhaps they really were sick and it wasn’t anything supernatural… that would be strange simply because it wasn’t strange. Everything that happened in this town had to be weird, right? It was the law or something. It just wasn’t feasible to Eleanor that this person was plainly sick with the common flu. She shrugged one shoulder and attempted a chuckle. “I’ve been to plenty of therapists, I know their lingo. Going to one isn’t a bad thing, it’s not admitting weakness or anything like that, sometimes you just need someone to talk to you, someone who doesn’t know a thing about you and can give everything a glance from the outside - it’s really helped me.” How they had moved from the subject of possibly catching a virus to her trying to coax them into therapy she wasn’t sure, but as long as they spoke with her the more she would continue as well. It seemed to work as a distraction, keeping them from completely toppling over.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Syd. Lovely name.” Eleanor wondered if it was short for Sydney but then decided that it was none of her business. Syd, as they had introduced themself, was all she needed to know. At their question she truly laughed. “I’m sorry, I’m not laughing at you, I'm laughing because… no, no I don’t talk people down from the flu in the cereal aisle often. But I give myself damn good pep talks in the bathroom mirror so I’m using all of my skills I’ve learned by doing that - is it working? Because if it is then I need to give myself a raise.” There was a gradual shift in the atmosphere that indicated that perhaps they had started to feel a tad bit better and Eleanor took that as a sign that she was doing well. It felt good to be the one to help someone else for a change. “What brought you out to the store with the flu, Syd? All of the DoorDashers busy?”

Syd snorted. When leaving the campsite today, they hadn’t anticipated a minor panic attack in the cereal aisle of a store they had gone to since they were a child. Syd was positive that if their parents had service, Glenn, the manager of the place, would be calling them erratically asking what had gotten into Syd. Everyone knew each other here, it seemed. Except Syd knew that Wicked’s Rest wasn’t really that small of a place– it just so happened that they were a creature of habit, frequenting the same places that their parents had. 

“You should be a marketer for them.” Syd took another deep breath, gaze flashing up to the ceiling to seek out the patterns of the tiles above their heads. “Maybe I’ll look into it one day.” If balam therapists were a thing, they’d jump at the chance, no questions asked. They didn’t think they’d get that lucky. Maybe they’d have to find somebody else– a zombie therapist who understood what it was like to no longer be in control. There was a degree of separation, but Syd felt as though that was their best bet. “I’m glad it’s helped you, though. You seem to know what you’re talking about.” Eleanor’s voice was helping keep Syd’s mind off of the thrashing in their mind. It was a constant tug-o-war, keeping the jaguar at bay, silently pleading with it to give them a moment within their own body. 

Then again, like Syd normally did, Eleanor could be talking out of her ass. Syd, however, was incapable of dissecting the true meaning of the other’s words. “Ah, shit. No, you’re totally laughing at me. ‘S alright, I get it. I’m sick in the cereal aisle.” Not sick, but plagued with the spirit of something they should have been able to harmonize with. Syd finally tore their gaze from the ceiling. It landed back on Eleanor and they let out a laugh of their own, however it sounded congested and strained, as if being peeled from their lungs. “You should ask for a raise, deffo.” They gave a curt nod, pushing away from the shelf slightly, grip loosening. “I can be my own DoorDasher, y’know?” Their reasoning for why they looked violently ill was slipping. Realistically, nobody should go out when they were sick. Syd looked like they didn’t care about those around them, and they didn’t like that, but it was too late to fall back on the excuse now. “Thought it was over, then it fucked me up again is all. You know, false hope.” For somebody who engaged in therapeutic discussions, surely Eleanor wouldn’t be able to argue the topic of false hope. “Hope you don’t take this the wrong way, but you deserve a gold star. Not many people’d take a look at someone hunched against a shelf and ask if they were okay.” Syd’s voice was still strained, but the cloud of agitation was dissipating. 

It was Eleanor’s turn to scoff. “Perhaps if the whole writing thing doesn’t work out then I’ll definitely either become a therapist or a marketer for them. Maybe BetterHelp can sponsor my upcoming book.” She joked, glad to have gotten some amusement out of them. She shrugged and fiddled with the basket in her hands. “I just know how to sound like I know what I’m talking about. It’s a skill, really, one that I inherited from someone in the past.” One of her past foster fathers had been one of the best bullshitters she’d ever met in her life - she’d learned from him how to boost herself up in the best way possible but she only used it whenever necessary. She noticed that Syd had started to take deep breaths which was a good sign, it meant that they had at least started the process of calming down.

Eleanor bit her lip to keep from laughing again. “I swear that I’m not laughing at you but you have to admit that this kind of interaction isn’t necessarily… normal. Did you wake up planning to speak with a stranger next to colorful boxes of cereal because she refused to leave you alone while you were sick? I’m self aware enough to know that I’m a little annoying but, I don’t know, I think sometimes it pays off.” The gold star comment made another giggle rise out of her. She liked Syd, even if they did seem like they were going through a lot more than they were willing to disclose. She probably wouldn't have been comfortable laying everything out on the table, either. But she could tell from the emotions that flowed from them that a lot more was going on with them whether they’d admit it or not. “I’m a sucker for gold stars, the other kids in my class used to hate me because I’d do everything I could to get one added to my chart every day. I was that kid.” She allowed her smile to fade just a tad so that she looked more serious. “Are you sure you’re alright? I’ve asked that a million times but please, if there’s truly anything I can do let me know. Maybe I could help you out of this stupid aisle? I’m sure that tiger staring at you isn’t helping.”

“Yeah, who knows. Maybe they’ll jump at the chance.” Syd grimaced, knowing well enough that continuing to talk through things like it was all fine probably would have turned out not fine, and leaving was definitely the smarter thing to do, but Eleanor’s kindness was hard to turn down. “A book though, really? Yeah, I guess that tracks. You look like a writer.” In a way that books wrote about writers, but Syd wasn’t sure that Eleanor would take that as a compliment. Syd definitely meant it as one. Not that they read a whole lot, but still. “Oh, so you’re bullshitting me? Does therapy even really work?” They steeled themselves, knowing the joke probably didn’t hit the way they wanted it to given the fact that they were trying not to fall apart. “That was a joke.” Maybe that would help. 

“I think that I plan on that every day. It’s what keeps me going.” Syd tilted their head back, letting out another breath, pushing the jaguar out from the corners of their mind. It was still circling, a constant thing, claws ripping into her psyche, but she could handle it. Could coax it into submission, at least for the time being. Without really knowing if it was the death of Callum or the abnormality that had done this to her, she had no way of fixing it, but taking deep breaths did help, and so did having somebody to talk to about it, even if it wasn’t necessarily the truth, and instead just a simple distraction or two. As Eleanor went on to explain that she gained the most gold stars out of any other kid in her grade, Syd nodded. “Yeah, that also fucking tracks. You look like one of those kids who’d put it in a whole ass sticker book or something. It’s probably in a box somewhere, right?” Eleanor was making it easy to make fun of her, and Syd felt a little bad. “That was another joke, by the way, even if it’s kind of true?” They leaned away from the shelf finally, realigning their gaze with Eleanor’s, no longer tracing out the patterns of the ceiling. “The flu is a bitch, what can I say?” Syd wore a lopsided smile that looked more like a grimace, so she tried a little harder, pushing it to reach her eyes. “The tiger can’t do shit to me, but uh, I really– seriously, thanks for hanging out while I go through the ten stages of what the fuck is happening.” 

Although some might not have taken it as a compliment Eleanor was thrilled to hear that she “looked like a writer”. She had always been able to point out an author in any crowd simply by the way they dressed and handled themself and she wanted to give herself a pat on the back for being able to emulate such a presence. “I’ve spent years trying to perfect my wardrobe and even my hair - I think the new bangs are what really ties the whole look together. It’s even more evident whenever I wear my glasses - I see that as a compliment whenever someone is able to guess that I write for a living. What do you do, if I may ask?” She wanted to continue the conversation because it seemed that she and Syd had finally gotten to a place of friendliness. “Oh, it definitely works, I can assure you of that. I would be absolutely falling apart at the seams if not for my therapist. But I know a joke when I hear it.” She winked at them.

“Well in that case I need to start planning very strange and specific things to do in my day. This has been nice, getting to meet a lovely new person.” Eleanor liked Syd a lot and she hoped that maybe if they were to run into one another at a different time that it would be under better circumstances. She blushed but nodded to answer the other’s question. “Actually… I believe it’s in a box in my parents’ home. My mother is very sentimental about things like that. She wants to bring out all of my book reports and essays anytime someone speaks about my books - she wants the world to know how young I began writing but I find it a bit embarrassing.” She subconsciously mimicked Syd and took a deep breath, happy to see them finally standing up straight and making eye contact. “Talking is what I do best! I’m always happy whenever someone’s around who I can yap to so thank you for making my day better. I’m sorry that we couldn’t have met under better circumstances, maybe we’ll run into one another soon enough and we can have an actual conversation. I promise that I won’t completely talk your ear off, I’ll listen to any and everything you have to say since you’ve allowed me to get carried away this time.”

Syd couldn’t help but let out a chuckle as Eleanor went on to explain that she purposely dressed as a writer, hoping others would deduce as such. Yeah, maybe that was important– being proud of whatever you did. When Syd worked at the tattoo shop, it’d been a lot more obvious what they did for a living, but now that that was behind them, nobody ever really pointed at them and said campsite manager. Not unless they knew them from before, at least. “I run the three pines with my parents.” This time, as they spoke, it wasn’t said through gritted teeth. That was good, at least– a change in direction, a chance that the jaguar was beginning to settle down. They let out another chuckle, this time more strained, as Eleanor reassured them that therapy did in fact work. “Alright, you’ve got me. You therapized me here, I’m a believer now.” Not quite, but on the fringes of it. Eleanor had in fact helped them calm down considerably. 

Lovely was a stretch, but Syd made no move to correct her. Maybe in another life, they would’ve been lovely to meet, all toothy grins and an arm wrapped around her shoulder as they showed her to the seat where she’d get her first tattoo, because they definitely wouldn’t have met in the cereal aisle where Syd was having a meltdown. No way. That was definitely not the way Syd liked to meet people, nor the way they liked to leave a lasting impression. “Of fucking course you do.” This time it was a snort instead of a chuckle. “Cute, though. Sounds like a good mom.” Their mom was the same. Even if the first time they’d come home with a tattoo, they’d nearly been disowned. Over time, they accepted that the art Syd created wasn’t meant for a sketchbook, and rather for their skin, and that of their peers. “I feel like that should be the case, though. Pretty fucking important, to be proud of something like that. Not everyone just writes a book.” That wasn’t necessarily true, so Syd amended, “or is good at it.” They didn’t know if Eleanor’s books were good or not, but they made a mental note to at least find it on audio book. “Nah, you’re– you did more than enough.” Eleanor didn’t need to stop at all, and Syd was grateful she did, even if annoyance had transcended that feeling entirely during their first moments. “But uh, I’m good– flu is hitting the road or whatever.” 

The jaguar was still antagonistic, and it’d be good to go home and avoid any more uphill battles. “Not every day somebody stops and talks to somebody who’s bitching at them for being too loud.” Not that Syd had been yelling at Eleanor specifically, but it could’ve come across as that. “I appreciate you though, for real. Uh, keep… being a therapist to people in the streets. Or don’t, maybe not– maybe a bad idea.” Especially here. “Maybe only do it in public places?” They let out another short laugh. 

Laughter was a good sign and Eleanor once again gave herself a pat on the back for the progress Syd had made. She hadn’t been entirely sure that any of her efforts would affect them at all so to see such a change made her happy. “That sounds wonderful, I’m guessing you’re outside a lot? That’s the perfect time to just let loose and take a couple deep breaths in case you’re ever needing to calm yourself. It worked for me although I’m sure my neighbors believed me to be completely off my rocker after that time I went out into the rain to do some deep breathing. It couldn’t wait, I needed to do it then and there.” She wasn’t sure if Syd meant what they said about her convincing them that therapy worked, but since she’d accomplished her goal of calming them down that was all that mattered to her. “Good. I’m glad that I could be of assistance.”

Syd’s words encouraged Eleanor. She knew what a difficult road it was to write books, much less books that were welcomed with open arms by the public and did well, so it was nice to have some recognition. “I’m obviously not the best but my books do well enough for me to live off of what I make from them, that’s a huge deal in the writing community. I don’t like to sound like I’m bragging though, no one likes someone who talks about themself during the entire conversation, so back to you: I’m glad that you’re feeling better. I’m sure the flu probably just got annoyed with me and decided to abandon ship. It was my pleasure being able to be your makeshift therapist for a little while, but I certainly don’t think that I’ll be doing it too often. I got lucky running into someone who didn’t try to fight me or something because I was only trying to help. I hope you have a lovely rest of your day, you should definitely go home and rest so that you don't get sick again.” She shifted awkwardly onto the balls of her feet because she was unsure how to end the conversation. “Goodbye Syd, hopefully we’ll run into each other again when you’re feeling better.” She offered them one last smile then finally turned and actually continued on down the aisle to continue her shopping.

[closingwaters]

TIMING: Mid June

PARTIES: @felinefrenzies @closingwaters

SUMMARY: Syd sees Teagan is having trouble getting her bracelet back from a lollusc, and they jump in to help.

WARNINGS: Mentions of sibling death and parental death

“Where are you, bugger?” Teagan groaned, stomping around the sand in hopes of luring out the giant clam that had her sister’s bracelet stuck to it. She’d been out at the beach for the better part of four hours, having no luck. “Hm…” She grumbled to herself, watching the sand move erratically. Knowing it was either the sand beast or the clam, Teagan quickly made her way to the pavement that met with the beach, disappointed to find it was only the thing that lurked below. She blew a raspberry at it, dropping to the ground in a crouch as she assessed the situation. 

“What do clams even like? Do you want to be lured with some damned food? Just…just come on out already!” She stood up quickly, stomping her foot and raking her hands in her hair over and over again to keep herself from getting too angry. “Won’t let ya get to me. Won’t let ya…” The sand trembled again, only this time, to Teagan’s relief something rose slowly out of it. “You!” She found the nearest rock and threw it after seeing the telltale spot on the shell. The impact was light, thumping dully against the clam. It chittered curiously, tendrils writhing until a puff of something shot out of it and threw Teagan back a few steps. She began to laugh uncontrollably, eyes widening with surprise as she tried to stop.

Syd had been doing her best to stay outside during the day, that way at night when the inevitable happened, exhaustion loomed over the jaguar in a way that mattered, keeping it tucked away, as if hidden for safe keeping. A change of pace was necessary, as the trails Syd typically frequented did nothing to satiate the constant stirring at the back of her mind. Her nerves had turned into ribbons, constantly on edge, whipping from one edge to the other. 

It was how she found herself on a different path, one that led to the water’s edge. Water lapped at the shore, and at the ankles of a woman who was bent over the sand, hand plunged forward. Then, suddenly, laughter split the distance between them, and her head was thrown back. Syd narrowed her eyes, moving further along the edge. “You good?” Syd called out, nearly jumping out of her skin as something skittered by her foot. “What the fuck–” It was one of those stupid clams, or clam like being, and gas expelled from its narrow gap that kept its shell together. Syd immediately backed away from it, “I thought they got rid of these fuckers last year!” Waving away the gas, Syd kept their head tilted to avoid inhaling any of it. They had had a run in with these in middle school, and they weren’t about to get caught in the laughing misery again. “Hey, you need to back the fuck up or else you won’t stop!” 

Teagan’s abdomen hurt, the muscles unable to catch a moment of reprieve while the clam shoved its gas in the air. Tears streamed down her face, “Huh?” Teagan continued to laugh, a look of horror contorting her features as she did. “O-okay!” There was almost a sense of calm knowing there was a way to stop the laughter, but that meant the possibility of losing the clam completely and losing the chance at obtaining her sister’s bracelet. Her laughter hitched in her throat at the thought, and she had crawled toward the shoreline as an idea sparked in her mind.

Already, the short time of slight distance made the laughter die, if only slightly. Still, Teagan made it to the edge and plunged her hands into the salty water. It shocked her system enough to release her almost fully from the effects of the gas, and despite the excruciating pain, it felt like a small victory.

“Don’t…” She choked slightly, the last remnants of laughter stuck in her chest as she regarded the stranger. “Don’t let it get away! Please!” She swallowed, “It has—the tendrils! The-the damn thing has my—it’s important!” Teagan pleaded, reaching for the knife at her thigh, struggling for a few beats as the burns caused her hand to tremble. She gave herself a few moments to breathe and focus, studying the way the clam moved. When the timing felt right, she readied her knife, cocking her arm back and closing one eye to laser in. “Stop running!” Teagan shot her arm forward, torpedoing the blade straight to one of the clam’s tendrils. It let out a pained screech, and she let a smile curl to her lips as she trotted cautiously up to the stranger.

“Think that’ll slow it down?”

Syd missed the flash of pain that skittered across the blonde’s features as she stuck her hands into the ocean, too distracted by the pleading that came after. “Don’t what– oh, fuck.” They looked down at the sand, watching as the clam in question dug itself deeper into the sand, tendrils slipping through the sand. Suddenly, there was a knife, and the aversion Syd had to such objects showed in the way they recoiled, but it was stuck into the creature instead of her, and so she relaxed ever so slightly. “Fuck, one can hope, I guess.” 

They didn’t remember what had helped the time she and her friends had gotten cornered by a few of them, but there’d been somebody to help, then. Right now, it was just the two of them. “You go that way, I’ll uh, corner it from this side.” They didn’t sound too sure, but the pleading that came with the others’ actions was enough to make Syd stick around. Maybe she could strike it with claws. It’d be more efficient than one knife, she thought. Would the jaguar comply, though? Would it allow her a partial shift, or would it turn its back on her, despite the lack of actual danger? Syd crouched over the clam as it came to the surface again, tendrils striking out opposite sides, and gas leaking into the air ahead. They stuck their nose into their sleeve as they moved forward, shouting for their companion to dive. 

Tears brimmed in the nix’s eyes as victory and hope mixed together in her stomach. Acid coated her throat, but Teagan quickly swallowed it down as she watched the woman cover her face with her sleeve. That was a good idea, and for good measure, she held breath. It was a temporary one, but her lungs were more than capable while she exerted herself only slightly. With renewed enthusiasm, Teagan wrangled what tendrils she could and yanked the clam closer to her. She smiled, the blade’s hilt gleaming under the sun for a moment before being covered with gas. “Hmm…” A grumble escaped Teagan, and she could feel her lungs begin to burn with need for air. 

Coc oen…

If they were going to get anywhere with the clam, they needed something sharp, like her claws. There wasn’t a lot of time to ponder on the variables, but being as the woman was a stranger, it was near impossible to check if she were safe—supernatural. Grumbling again, Teagan figured taking down her glamour and taking a breath was a calculated risk she needed to take. “Pull!” She commanded with a brief chuckle, releasing her hold once the shell was completely out of the sand. As she continued to laugh, Teagan’s flesh turned a pale pink. Claws prepared to swipe, but she was quickly pushed aside by a few unnoticed tendrils, slicing her leg in the process.

Syd watched their company carefully, eyes widening slightly as the once pale skin pulled over itself with a sheen, almost as if in the blink of an eye. Claws appeared, so unlike their own that sometimes split from her fingers, and she opened her mouth to ask what was happening, but the laughter from the woman was distracting enough to make her realize that getting too close to the exposed gas might send her into a fit of her own laughter. Could they really afford that? Probably not. 

The tendrils snapped out, dragging viciously against the ground, and against the woman’s leg. Syd didn’t know what would happen now, if anything good, but they figured that now was as good a time as any. This person clearly wasn’t human, and this was clearly something important, and so Syd decided that it was important for them, too. They dug their own hands into the sand around the clam-like creature, willing their own claws to sprout. They did so on command, and Syd silently thanked the jaguar for having their back at least this once. Maybe it saw the other as a non-threat, thus allowing her control. Or maybe things were returning to normal. While the blonde worked on one side of the clam’s shell, Syd angled their own claws carefully to shove between the opposite side, popping it open finally, but not without some of the gas floating up towards their face. 

Laughter began to bubble in their chest as they shook their head in the direction of where their hands met around the clam, “get it out, quick!” 

Despite her limp, the nix dragged herself back to the clam and shoved her hand inside the thing. She tore aimlessly, feeling a wetness coat her arm and hand as she worked her way through. Several tidbits of weight plopped against Teagan’s limb and she felt laughter building in her belly while the thing screeched. She wasn’t sure if she had cut the right tendril off yet, but she didn’t really have the time to strategize, especially when she and the other were knocked several feet back with the creature’s last ditch effort to get away. 

Teagan latched onto what tendrils she could, taking them with her in the fall. Sand was caked onto her wet skin, and she searched frantically through the oozing coils. Nothing like Efa’s bracelet appeared in her quick check and her shoulders fell. “Fuck. Fuck!” Teagan exclaimed through her laughter, scrambling on her hands and knees to pounce back onto the clam, but it had scurried back into the sand. “No!” Her fist slammed against the sand, and she laughed through her tears, shoving the clam’s limbs away with a distraught yelp. 

Despite the laughter that wrung out between them, this was no actual laughing matter. Syd could tell by the blonde’s body language that she was distressed, and while she thought of herself as the kind of person who could ease somebody into chilling out, she knew that suggesting that kind of thing, especially right now, would be the end of it all. If her company decided to become angry with them for the suggestion, there was no telling how the jaguar would react. So Syd held their tongue, plunging claws after where the last air bubble had broken the surface of the sand.

With their other hand, they began to scoop out the sand, throwing it to the side. Syd couldn’t stop the laughter that bubbled from between their lips, but there was no point in trying to stop it. They had jewelry to save. 

Finally, after what felt like a few monotonous minutes, her claw hitched on something. Quickly, Syd yanked their hand backwards, practically flying onto their back. The clam that they had originally been after, missing tendrils and all, flung into the air. Laughter boomed from Syd as they tried to get to their feet, scrambling forward to grab it before it could dive back into the sand. “Got it!” They giggled, swinging it by one of its tendrils, careful to avoid the razor sharp edge. The jewelry was visible, and Syd held it towards their company, allowing her the honors of yanking it free. 

Relief and awe washed over the nix's features, slowly becoming a victorious smile as her new friend presented her with what they had spent so long fighting for. She laughed and laughed, feeling the sensation rumble from a genuine place. Thanks to the stranger, Teagan didn’t have to let go of one of the last things she had of her sister's, and that filled her with a kind of glee she hadn't felt in quite some time. 

“It’s in my hand! Thank you!” And she meant it. She didn't care if her gratitude was taken, if she owed a million favors. All that mattered to the fae in that moment was that she didn't have to lose another piece of her sister again. She hardly remembered Efa’s voice, let go of their home and most of its momentos. If she had lost the bracelet, Teagan didn't think she'd ever forgive herself, but that didn't matter anymore. The creature had suffered enough and it was time to let it scurry away. 

“You can let it go now,” She chuckled, rolling over to her back to take a much needed break in the sand. “Think I…just need…a moment.” Still laughing, Teagan shut her eyes and held Efa's bracelet to her chest, hoping that the laughing gas's effects would fade away soon. 

“Oh, no worries!” Laughter spilled into the air from where they stood, and they were only a little annoyed that they’d let themselves get exposed to the laughing gas the little bastards expelled. She was just glad that she could successfully help somebody without… jagging out. Syd leaned forward, hands on their knees as they tried to even their breaths between the laughter. She knew that they were no joke in reality, and that it was better to… 

Syd blinked at the blonde, looking down at their hand that was still twisted around the weird tentacle structure that had taken the bracelet down with it. They dropped it, wiping their hand against their shin before swallowing in more air. “Me, too. Hope you don’t mind if I join you.” Even if the blonde did mind, was that really fair? It was with her help that she’d gotten what she’d been so frantic over. 

The balam collapsed a few feet away from the blonde on one languid movement, the sand a decent mattress beneath the exhaustion that was already beginning to slip over her frame from the laughter that continued on. They tried to clasp a hand over their mouth in an attempt to quiet it down, but it was no use. “Ah, fuck. This shit sucks, but I’m–” in between were giggles as they spoke to their companion, “glad you got your bracelet back. The name is Syd, by the way. It’s shitty to meet you under these circumstances, but good overall!” At least they had successfully won. 

[therapidreport]

Whiskers: A mischievous, sleek black cat with a knack for getting into trouble, always finding hidden nooks and crannies to explore.

Mittens: A fluffy, gentle gray tabby who loves cuddles and naps but will fiercely defend her territory when needed.

WhiskersTheCat #MittensTheTabby #CatAdventures #FelineFrenzy #MischiefAndCuddles #CatLife #PetLove #FurryFriends

[minyboy]

Maybe... maybe things will be ok.

[chasseurdeloup]

Lemon pepper sounds less awful but I don't want to eat that thing. It looks... tough. And you cut that off I have a feeling something's getting pissed off elsewhere. But guess it's up to you if you want to risk your life for it.

Need a tie breaker. Lemon pepper on The Leg, or BBQ sauce? If you're a little bit freaky, maybe even plain.

[digital8impact]

"Feline Frenzy: Unveiling the Charms of My Beloved Kitty"

Welcome to my channel! In this enchanting video entitled "Feline Frenzy: Unveiling the Charms of My Beloved Kitty," I invite you to join me on a delightful journey as I introduce you to my lovely cat. Get ready to be captivated by the irresistible personality, adorable quirks, and endless cuteness that my feline friend possesses.

Prepare to be charmed as we explore the magical world of my furry companion. From heartwarming snuggles to amusing playtime antics, this video showcases the true essence of what makes cats such cherished companions. As we delve into the unique bond I share with my beloved kitty, you'll witness the special moments that make me fall in love with them over and over again.

Not only are we going to uncover the irresistible charm of my pet, but we'll also provide valuable insights into cat care, grooming tips, and the best toys and activities to keep your own feline friend entertained. Whether you're a seasoned cat lover or simply looking to experience the joy cats bring into our lives, this video is sure to leave you feeling warm and fuzzy.

Remember to like and subscribe to my channel to stay tuned for future videos dedicated to uncovering the wonders of pet ownership. Let's embark on this

unforgettable adventure together and celebrate the pure bliss that cats bring into our lives.

#catlovers #felinefrenzy #belovedkitty #adorablecats #catsofinstagram #cutecats #kittylove #catlife #catvideos #catsoftiktok #catphotography #catobsessed #petlovers #catperson #cataddict #catmom #catdad #kittycharms #furryfriends #catcrazy

[vincentdesjardinsdraws]

Here’s my entry for Spoonflower’s upcoming Feline Frenzy challenge, “Calico Cats in the Cherry Trees.” My design was inspired by vintage Japanese prints. #felinefrenzy#spoonflowerdesigner #spoonflowerchallenge #calicocatspattern #surfacepattern #surfacepatterndesigner #textiledesigner #artlicensing #catsintrees https://www.instagram.com/p/B0O-G4fHrMT/?igshid=o1y6cj5w8v3p

[hubdownloads]

Mew-ve Over, Boring Days: Get Your Purr-fect Mewing Emojis Now

[welcometoparis]

There's more than one? And I have to [...] observe them? [......] I shall bring my camera with me everywhere in hopes of documenting such an occasion.

Uh, sure, yeah. There's a lot more than just that guy wandering around here, though. I'm sure you'll catch a glimpse eventually.