#supernovapronoun

[rjalker]

Neopronoun flags for each category and explanations for what they mean!

[Plain text: Neopronoun flags for each category and explanations for what they mean!]

All flags here except the neopronoun flag were created by me today, November 28th, 2022!

They are all public domain, meaning you can use them for literally anything you want, no credit necessary, though I will ask that you provide image descriptions whenever possible, and direct people to an basic (not an emoji or art or anything) version of the flag whenever possible!

If you want to change the brightness or contrast, you are welcome to! I did my best to make them accessible, but I'm only nonhuman, so they won't be perfect for everyone!

You can find the Super HD (8000x6410 pixels because these are the templates I use for Redbubble designs) Versions of these images here on the web archive to download and save:

"https://archive.org/details/Neopronouns-categories-flags-and-explanations"

Neopronouns

[Plain text: Neopronouns]

[ID: The neopronouns flag, with stripes of pastel green, cyan, white, pale yellow, and orange. This is followed by another version of the neopronouns flag, now with black text added over top that reads: "Neopronouns (neo + pronouns!) are any pronouns not in 'mainstream' use in the language being spoken! Some examples are: star/stars, ze/hir, it/its, ae/aer, xey/xem, rot/rots, they/them, sky/skys, and ve/ver. End ID.]

Neopronouns is the umbrella term under which all of the following terms reside as more specific categories!

All the following flags keep the five stripe layout as above, with the white stripe remaining in the center to represent community, solidarity, and commonality!

===

Nounself pronouns

[Plain text: Nounself pronouns]

[ID: The nounself pronouns flag, with stripes of: orange, red, white, sky blue, and purple.

This is followed by the same flag, now with black text that reads:

"Nounself pronouns (noun + self + pronouns!) are pronouns like sun/suns/sunself, or wa/wave/waves/waveself.

If the pronoun set is based heavily on existing words, they're nounself pronouns!"

End ID.]

The colors were chosen to be colorful and fun!

Nameself pronouns

[Plain text: Nameself pronouns]

[ID: The nameself pronouns flag, with stripes of grey, sky blue, white, black, and berry red.

The first version is blank, and the second reads:

"Nameself pronouns (Name + self + pronouns!) are when someone's name replaces all pronouns! Like: 'That's John! John uses nameself pronouns, so instead of he, she, or they, you'll just call John 'John'. That's John, John's over there, John's trying to get back to John's home planet.' If the pronouns are the person's name, they're nameself pronouns!"

End ID.]

Colors were chosen because I associate them with Farscape, and I decided John Crichton uses nameself pronouns...before I even knew those were a thing! Lol.

===

Ectopronouns

[Plain text: Ectopronouns]

[ID: The ectopronouns flag, with stripes of: purple, dark blue, white, green, and yellow. This is followed by the same flag, now with text over it that reads: "Ectopronouns (ecto + pronouns) are pronouns like: it/its/itself, or ŝi/ŝin/ŝia. Pronouns that exist, but aren't normally used for people in the language being spoken, are ectopronouns!". End ID.]

The colors were chosen because if you invert the flag, it'll be upside down with a black stripe in the center, which I thought fit the theme pretty well! They/them pronouns also fall into this category of neopronouns, since it's still relatively new for them to be used for singular people rather than groups!

The pronouns ŝi/ŝin/ŝia are from Esperanto!

===

Novapronouns

[Plain text: Novapronouns]

[ID: The novapronouns flag, with stripes of berry purple, dark magenta, white, very dark violet, and purple. This is followed by the same flag, now with text over top of it that reads: "Novapronouns (nova + pronouns!) are pronouns like ae/aer/aerself or ze/hir/(hirs)/hirself! Any set of pronouns not based heavily on existing words are novapronouns!" End ID.]

The colors were chosen because I love purple, and associate it with space!

===

Supernova pronouns

[Plain text: Supernova pronouns]

[ID: The supernova pronouns flag, with stripes of: gold, copper, white, silver, and dark grey. This is followed by the same flag, now with text over it that reads: "Supernova pronouns (supernova + pronouns!) are pronouns like: xiy/rik/ix/sirav ('sirav' replaces the usual _-self ending), or aix/(aed)/arix/aiv/aixelf ('aed' replaces contractions: instead of 'aix's going too', you say, 'aed going too'). If the pronouns use a different gramatical structure than usual, in whole or in part, they're Supernova pronouns!

The colors were chosen based on metals, which can only form inside a supernova! Gold, copper, silver, and iron!

Supernova pronouns can also be used as one long word, "supernovapronouns"! I just figured I'd put a space in there to make it easier to read and write!

I will be making pronoun pins and icons with these flags as backgrounds once I'm done my current project, so if you want to see those (or the other pronoun pins and icons I make) check out @custom-pronoun-pins!

[neopronouns-in-action]

Neopronouns in Action #078: Guardian Star

Neopronouns: kal/vir/vil/(val)/kalixir which follow mixed rules: he/him/his/hers/himself

Replace he with kal

Replace him with vir

Replace his with vil

Replace hers with val

Replace himself with kalixir

EX:

"She is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as she gets a fence set up around her yard so the puppy can go outside without her having to walk it. Her uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he's letting her use, since she lost hers. She's going to buy toys and train the puppy herself."

Becomes:

"Kal is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as kal gets a fence set up around vil yard so the puppy can go outside without vir having to walk it. Vil uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he's letting vir use, since kal lost val. Kal's going to buy toys and train the puppy kalixir."

_______

The guardian star looked down on the castle of vil charge’s enemy, waiting anxiously for the princess to reemerge. Kal always hated it when she went inside wards kal was forbidden to look past. There was no way of knowing what was happening to her, and with this castle, none of vil linemates could see through the ward either.

The lord of this castle wanted to blot all the stars out of the sky forever, and had ensured that his plots were kept out of their awareness, almost purely out of spite.

Even if they’d known what he was planning, they wouldn’t have been able to stop him. They were powerless to communicate with their charges, not until another seer was born, and that wouldn’t be for another thousand years yet.

All Strelitz could do was wait, and hope, and keep watch on the dark fields and dour stone walls, the moat a black line speckled with lapping reflections.

It had been over two hours since Stretliz’s charge had snuck into the castle, and even how she did it, kal didn’t know. Through some form of magic that, like the castle itself, the guardian stars could not understand or witness.

Kal wished the princess knew how much kal wanted to know she was safe. She hadn’t used obscure magic to hide herself from vir, but it almost felt that way.

Kal didn’t know how long kal waited in tense anxiety before something finally happened. The servant’s door quietly slipped open, letting a draft of warm candlelight peirce the darkness for a few scant moments, and a familiar green cloak that made Strelitz’s heart leap with joy, swept out and shut the door again just as quickly. She was alive! She was escaping!

Kal watched, hope burning, as the princess slowly, casually began to walk down the well-trodden path that the servants of the castle took to and from the local farm. Once she got past the farm and into the woods, kal knew, she would be able to hide herself and get back to the resistance camp safely. She only had to get past the farm.

For a few long minutes, it seemed that she would escape safely, with no one the wiser of her being there.

But then there came a sudden scuffle along one of the ramparts of the castle, where the wards didn’t block Stretlitz’s sight of those on the roof, and kal realized with horror that vil charge had been discovered as a spy. Orders were being thrown from voice to ear, demanding the gunners take aim.

There was nothing kal could do to stop them, and no way for vir to warn vil charge. She was still walking calmly down the path like she belonged on it, like she had no idea anything was wrong.

The first shot was fired. What kind of weapon it was, Strelitz couldn’t guess. It wasn’t any kind kal had ever seen before. The projectile was dark, reflecting no light, and moving too fast for kal to make heads or tails of. Aimed right where vil charge would be by the time it hit her, with perfect accuracy.

Strelitz could only watch, desperately praying to the center that she would realize the danger in time to protect herself. All of vil linemates felt vil anxiety and shared it, sending out their own prayers for vil charge’s protection.

The center must have listened, because right when kal was about to give up hope, prepared to see vil charge cut down before she could even reach adulthood-- something warned her of the danger she was in, and within a heartbeat she had spun, throwing the green cloak aside so she could unfold her metal wings and use them to deflect the projectile harmlessly into the ground as though she’d done this a thousand times, though Strelitz knew with a pounding heart that the success of the sudden, desperate maneuver had been sheer dumb luck.

But another one was already heading towards her, and another behind that. Kal knew the princess wouldn’t be able to deflect another hit without shattering her wing. Her only hope left was to fly.

Fortunately, she came to the same conclusion almost at the same instance Strelitz did, because she dove to the side, then threw herself into the air, her blue-green metal wings flashing in the starlight as she strove for height, then just as quickly sped off towards the cover of the trees as the baffled gunners found themselves suddenly faced with a target that could go up rather than just side to side or forward or backward.

It took those on the castle roof too long to even stop to think about adjusting the height of the heavy guns, and by the time the lead began swearing in frustration and amazement at the failure, the princess, Stretlitz’ beloved charge, was safely hidden from them among the trees, but where Strelitz’s light could still find her.

Kal sighed with relief, and watched over her as she flew home.

[rjalkers-neopronouns]

you can have a link, but I am not typing out this whole image description and post all over again after tumblr ate the first one.

xe-xir-xiv-xirix pronoun flags

[rjalker]

people really want to separate nounself pronouns from other neopronouns, and if you're looking for a way to look only for neopronouns not based on any existing words, the solution is not saying that nounself pronouns aren't neopronons.

Make a word for pronouns like ze/hir and ae/aer and other sets that aren't nounself pronouns.

nounself pronouns are neopronouns.

so if you want a way to look for non-nounself neopronouns, then those kinds of neopronouns need their own name!

How about just novapronouns? it's short and to the point. Neo is the greek word for new, so how about nova, the latin word for new, for neopronouns that aren't nounself pronouns?

Novapronouns = pronouns like ae/aer, ze/hir, ect.

Nounself pronouns = pronouns like bun/buns, star/stars, ect.

Neopronouns = nounself, novapronouns, and any other pronouns that fall under this umbrella.

Neopronoun is the umbrella term, and nounself and novapronoun are more specific categories under the umbrella.

there you go. have fun.

Edit #1: here, have a pride flag too! Different shades of purple because I like purple and I think it's a very space themed color :)

[ID: Two versions of the a pride flag with five horizontal stripes of: berry purple, dark magenta, white, very dark violet, and purple. The first is shaped like a square, the second is shaped like a wide rectangle. End ID.]

Free pride flags! The second one should, in theory, fit perfectly as a tumblr header! Feel free to use them for literally anything you'd use a pride flag for, including designs you sell!

Edit #2:

And for extra fun, pronoun sets that create actual new rules and do away with the -self suffix at the end or have a pronoun replace contractions can be called supernova pronouns :) because it's an epic name. (can be spelled with a space or as all one long word)

Supernova pronouns = xiy/rik/ix/sirav, izi/(ito)/av/avi/fiself (ito replaces any contractions that would otherwise be izi'd or izi's)

Edit #3:

Here's a link to the post with this flag, a supernovapronoun flag, and more!

"https://rjalker.tumblr.com/post/702228461355515904/neopronouns-categories-flags-and-explanations"

(For posterity in case this takes off, this post is being made on November 28th, 2022, 8:20PM. I decided to make this because I'm in the middle of making pronoun pins for 275+ different sets.)

(For the pronoun pins I'm making, check out @custom-pronoun-pins

[neopronouns-in-action]

Neopronouns in Action #081: The Well of the Depths

Neopronouns: zim/zur/zam/zurak which follow the same rules as he/him/his/himself

Replace he with zim

Replace him with zam

Replace his with zur

Replace himself with zurak

EX:

"He is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as he gets a fence set up around his yard so the puppy can go outside without him having to walk it. His uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he’s letting him use, since he lost his. He's going to buy toys and train the puppy himself.”

Becomes:

"Zim is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as zim gets a fence set up around zur yard so the puppy can go outside without zam having to walk it. Zur uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he’s letting zam use, since zim lost zur. Zim's going to buy toys and train the puppy zurak.”

___

Jack Coral somehow managed to avoid breaking anything when zim was suddenly shoved through the trapdoor from behind, with no chance to grab onto the ladder or even think about what was happening.

The only thing, zim knew, that had stopped zam from breaking both zur arms and legs in the sudden, long drop to solid stone was the ring Malordia had given zam – zim hadn’t wanted to risk testing the affects she’d said it would have, but, well, this was certainly proof she hadn’t just been trying to cheer zam up.

“As long as you intend to come back to me to keep your promise,” She’d said, “This ring will protect you from any harm that could come to you. No weapon will be able to harm you, no injury will you be able to receive from any source.”

Well, now zim knew it was true. Nothing even felt bruised as zim picked zurak up off the cold stone floor, staring around confusedly in the darkness.

Despite the fact that the trapdoor was now shut above zam, somehow, there was still a faint light visible, letting zim see the walls opposite zam as dark shapes against lighter grey, rather than the pitch, unwavering blackness zim had been expecting.

Looking around, Jack could see two walls on either side of where the ladder was, with a darker space stretching out directly across from zam. A hallway of some sort, leading deeper into the temple.

Zim glanced back up to where the ladder led, contemplating the idea of climbing back up to test the trap door, but it seemed like a waste of time. Well, if zim was being honest with zurak, mostly zim wanted to explore deeper into the temple, like zim had been planning when zim had looked down the trapdoor in the first place.

Why should that plan change now just because zim had been trapped in here?

Well, obviously there were many reasons, like trying to get help to make sure zim wasn’t left in here to starve, but Jack had never been able to resist zur curiosity.

With newborn confidance spawned by the now indisputable effect of Malordia’s ring, Jack set off down the dark corridor, moving to the left so zim could trance a hand down the wall for guidance. The stone was smooth and cool beneath zur fingers, and felt familiar somehow. Like a song whose lyrics zim could just barely not remember. It was what had drawn zam to hover at the top of the trapdoor in the first place.

There was something mermaic about this place, but more than that, there was something...tervean.

Had zim finally found the fabled Well of the Depths?

Well there was only one way to find out!

Zim strode ahead, eager to find where the path led zam.

The hallway turned out to be rather short, leading to a square room with empty stone braizures protruding from the walls in each corner, with another smaller, empty room in front, and two hallways on either side. After tracing zur way around the two rooms, Jack paused in the middle, feeling the slight breeze that drifted from the two hallways, deciding which way to go.

The tervean-mermaic pull came from the hallway to the right of the hallway with the trap door, but Jack could also sense that there were more rooms to be explored on the left.

Zim wavered there for a few moments, trying to decide which curiosity to follow first, but decided to go for the deeper pull. Maybe there were treasures hiding in the other rooms, but the only real thing zim was here to find was the Well.

Zim set off down the left hallway, and found it opened to a larger room than the others, with a double row of pillars in the center. The pull was getting stronger, so zim didn’t stop to trace zur way all around the room, zim just kept on going.

At the end of this room was another hall, which turned sharply at a right angle. Zim traced a hand down one wall as zim hurried up it for what felt like several hundred feet. This one hallway was probably longer than all the other rooms zim had been in so far combined, but with every step, the pull was getting stronger, until zim found zurak breaking into an excited run.

The hallway ended in a round room with a circular wall in the center, which zim followed without hesitation, feeling in zur bones that on the other side would be the thing zim had been searching for for so long.

And as zim rounded the curve of the room, a doorway opened into the center, and there it was – the source of the soul-deep pull that had led zam here from across the city above.

The Well of the Depths.

It was a circular pool in the center of the floor, with blue-black water that shone silver from within lapping at the stone edges.

There was nothing left to lose, and any shred of caution that Jack Coral had ever harbored was swept away by the euphoria of zur discovery after so many years of searching.

Without a moment of hesitation, zim took off running, and dove into the depths without looking back.

[rjalker]

Instead of saying:

"Neopronouns are ableist because some disabled people can't use them".

You can instead say along the lines of, "I need specific accomodations because of my disability, here are the things I struggle with/can't do, how can we work together to accomodate my disability and respect your identity at the same time?"

But no, you cannot just say "Neopronouns are ableist". You especially do not get to say this when you are not even part of the group of disabled people who need accomodations with language.

Stop using disabled people as a weapon against people who use neopronouns.

No, neopronouns are not ableist just because some people struggle to use them.

By that logic, everyone has to change their names to either Bob or Sally with no other options, because my dyslexia means I sometimes can't read or pronounce people's names correctly.

And that's not how this fucking works.

[rjalker]

I was trying to draw a regular Mickey but I'm incapable of not changing things so!!!

blue is the best color.

[ID: A digitally colored drawing of Mickey Mouse, with the name "Mickey Mouse" handwritten in cursive at the top, next to digital text that reads, "Uses xal/xalv/xallix/xalexir pronouns". Below this is an example for how to use the pronouns: "Replace he with xal, replace him with xalv, replace his with xallix, replace himself with xalexir". The different peices of Mickey's outfit are listed next to xalv. This version of Mickey has fur that is so dark blue it appears black, with large round glasses held onto xallix face with a blue band under xallix round ears. Xallix pupils are tall black pupils with little four pointed stars in them as reflections. Xal has a short muzzle, and is smiling with dimples. Xal has a sky blue bandana that doubles as a mask around xallix neck, with darker blue suspenders with three pins: A purple diamond with the Public Domain symbol, which is a crossed out letter C. Next is a purple and yellow pronoun pin that reads, "xal/xalv", with the top yellow with dark purple text, and the bottom dark purple with yellow text. Last is a triangle pin in the colors of the progress trans flag: Purple, black, blue, pink, white, yellow, black, and brown, with three rings in the center of black, purple, and gold. The suspenders are attached to the top of the shorts with two simple, round silver buckles or buttons. The shorts are solid blue, a little darker than the sky blue. Xal wears simple sky blue boots. On xallix hands, xal wears fingerless gloves with a large darker blue cuff, and the hand section sky blue. Xal has four fingers. A note next to the gloves says they "(convert to mittens!)". Xal has a long, thin black tail. On the other side is an offset cane with the top handle made of lighter gold colored wood, then two beads of crystal, with the lower half much darker red-brown wood, with a rubber stopper at the base. There is a thin black border around the image. End ID.]

How to use these pronouns if you're still confused:

xal/xalv/xallix/xalexir

used the same way as

he/him/his/himself

Example:

"He is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as he gets a fence set up around his yard so the puppy can go outside without him having to walk it. His uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he's letting him use, since he lost his. He's going to buy toys and train the puppy himself."

Becomes:

"Xal is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as xal gets a fence set up around xallix yard so the puppy can go outside without xalv having to walk it. Xallix uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he's letting xalv use, since xal lost xallix. Xal's going to buy toys and train the puppy Xalexir."

Anyways. Mickey Mouse needs a daemon. Also, xal can use magic. Electric magic, because electric powers are the best powers.

[neopronouns-in-action]

Neopronouns in Action #048: The First Sign

Neopronouns: mie/mym/myr/mirs/mirself, which follow the same rules as a combination of he/him and she/her:

he/him/his/hers/herself

Replace he with mie

Replace him with mym

Replace his with myr

Replace hers with mirs

Replace himself with mirself

EX:

"He is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as he gets a fence set up around his yard so the puppy can go outside without him having to walk it. His uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he’s letting him use, since he lost his. He's going to buy toys and train the puppy himself.”

Becomes:

"Mie is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as mie gets a fence set up around myr yard so the puppy can go outside without mym having to walk it. Myr uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he’s letting mym use, since mie lost mirs. Mie's going to buy toys and train the puppy mirself.”

And:

Vi/vir/vis/virself, which will follow the same rules as he/him/his/himself for this story.

Replace he with vi

Replace him with vir

Replace  his with vis

Replace himself with virself

EX:

"He is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as he gets a fence set up around his yard so the puppy can go outside without him having to walk it. His uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he's letting him use, since he lost his. He's going to buy toys and train the puppy himself. "

Becomes:

“Vi is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as vi gets a fence set up around vis yard so the puppy can go outside without vir having to walk it. Vis uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he’s letting vir use, since vi lost vis. Vi's going to buy toys and train the puppy virself.”

= = =

Mie woke suddenly from a very vivid dream about chasing a flufftail up a tree, and for a few moments, floundered in confusion at finding mirself firmly on the ground rather than digging myr claws int the thick bark of a tree. The smell of the dried fall leaves was thick under myr nose, jarring after the sweet, sticky scent of the sap that had welled up under myr claws.

Myr heart had already been pounding from the excitement of the dream – mie had been so close to catching the flufftail, it had been just a few paw lengths away and mie'd been preparing for what would have been the final pounce – but now it was racing from fear.

Myr instincts were screaming at myr not to move, so mie stayed where mie was, crouching, frozen on the forest floor, in myr favorite sleeping spot beneath the roots of one of the hard trees, what mie had always thought of as a safe place to hide and relax.

Mie hoped that would continue to be true.

Mie wasn't even sure what had woken mym up in the first place, all mie knew was that something horrible had happened.

The rest of the forest seemed to be in agreement, because everything but the wind, which feared nothing, had fallen silent. The pounding of myr heart was suddenly the loudest thing in the world.

Then the noise came again, the noise that, in myr dreaming state, had thought was the alarm call of the flufftail mie was chasing.

It was unlike anything mie had heard before, piercing and sudden, like claw to the heart, then silent. It certainly felt like myr heart wanted to leap out of myr chest with it.

Mie could feel all of of myr fur was standing on end, and instinctively, mie found mirself backing up until mie felt myr back legs touch the wall of roots, then pressed mirself against it as far as mie could, trying to get as far away from the opening as mie could.

And suddenly there was a dark shape blacking out the faint light in the opening, and mie thought myr heart was going to stop. Then a warm weight slammed into myr side, and Zuma's familiar scent, reeking with fear, filled myr nose, vir heartbeat joining myr own.

Neither of them said anything, and a moment later, the sound struck a third time, this time followed by a deep rumble they could feel in their bones, trembling through the tree they hid under, sending the two pressing even closer together in the darkness.

The rumble, like a growl from the land itself, continued like it was never going to end.

It went on for so long, with no other disaster threatening, that mie felt mirself slowly, against myr will, starting to relax, too exhausted from the adrenaline rush to keep up the heightened state of fear.

Eventually, Zuma fell asleep.

Mie stayed awake through the entire night, keeping watch for the both of them, unable to relax myr mind no matter how myr tired body became.

When the sunlight began to filter in through the narrow opening under the tree, the deep noise was still growling out like the entire world was angry, and mie couldn't help but fear that it would never stop.

Eventually myr exhaustion overcame mym, and mie fell into a fitful sleep, resting myr head on Zuma's flank, with vir half-concious purr not blocking out the growling of the land, but at least offering a counterpoint.

[neopronouns-in-action]

[Image description: A black and white illustration of the sea monster assaulting a ship, with part of its central body with the large eye just above the surface of the water, and its smaller feelers snaking out of the water in every direction and latching onto the ship, which is tilting in the roiling waters. Image description end.]

Neopronouns in Action #082: Mickey Mouse in Out of the Dreadful Depths

Out of the Dreadful Depths, by Charles Willard Diffin, was originally published in 1930 in the science fiction magazine Astounding Stories of Super-Science. Like Mickey and Minnie Mouse, it is Public Domain, so here it has been rewritten to feature the newest famous character to join the ranks of the masses.

Neopronouns: xal/xalv/xallix/xalexir which follow the same rules as he/him/his/himself

Replace he with xal

Replace him with xalv

Replace his with xallix

Replace himself with xalexir

EX:

"He is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as he gets a fence set up around his yard so the puppy can go outside without him having to walk it. His uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he’s letting him use, since he lost his. He's going to buy toys and train the puppy himself.”

Becomes:

"Xal is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as xal gets a fence set up around xallix yard so the puppy can go outside without xalv having to walk it. Xallix uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he’s letting xalv use, since xal lost xallix. Xal's going to buy toys and train the puppy xalexir.”

Neopronouns: nova/novas/novaself which will follow the same rules as it/its/itself for this example.

Replace it with nova

Replace its with novas

Replace itself with novaself

EX:

"It is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as it gets a fence set up around its yard so the puppy can go outside without it having to walk it. Its uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he's letting it use, since it lost its. It's going to buy toys and train the puppy itself."

Becomes:

"Nova is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as nova gets a fence set up around novas yard so the puppy can go outside without nova having to walk it. Novas uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he's letting nova use, since nova lost novas. Nova’s going to buy toys and train the puppy novaself."

14,000+ words long

Mickey Mouse-Mallaire reached languidly for the bowl of candy, grabbed a piece of gum and, with lazy fingers, unwrapped it and stuck it in xallix mouth, putting the wrapper in xallix pocket.

"Be a sport," xal repeated to the black-furred cattan man across the table. "Be a sport, Admiral, and send me across on a destroyer. Never been on a destroyer except in port. It would be a new experience, I’d enjoy it a lot, and you know Minnie’s been begging for years...."

In the palm-shaded veranda of this club-house in Manila, Admiral Pete Struthers, the first catan to make Admiral in the U. Q. N., regarded with undisguised disfavor the young mousan in the wicker chair in front of him.

He looked at the squat chest and the broad ears, at the monochrome blue shorts, suspenders and fingerless gloves with the comically oversized cuffs, at the short, fine black fur and the friendly smile on the brown, hairless face below, large white eyes framed by huge round glasses held on with a blue elastic band.

A likable chap, this Mickey, but lazy—just an idler—he had concluded. Been playing around the island for the last two months—resting up, xal had said. And from what? Pete had questioned disdainfully.

Admiral Struthers did not like indolents, but it would have saved him money if he had really got an answer to his question and had learned just why and how Mickey Mouse-Mallaire had earned a vacation.

"You, on a destroyer!" he laughed disdainfully, and the lips on his catan face twisted into a wry smile. "That would be too rough an experience for you, I am afraid, Mouse-Mallaire. Destroyers pitch about quite a bit, you know."

He included in his smile the destroyer captain herself and the other young mousan who completed their party. The enban had a charming smile and knew it; they used it in reply to the Admiral's remark.

"I have asked Mvr. Mouse-Mallaire and xallix partner to come with us on the Adelaide," the young enban said. "We shall be leaving in another month—but Mickey tells me xal and Minnie have other plans."

"Worse and worse," was the Admiral's comment, shaking his head. "Your godfather's yacht is not even as steady as a destroyer. Now I would suggest a nice, comfortable cruise liner...."

Mickey Mouse-Mallaire did not miss the official glances of amusement, but xallix calm complacence was unruffled. "No," xal said, "I just don’t fancy liners. Too many people at once. Fact is, Minnie and I have been thinking of sailing across to the mainland by ourselves."

Pete’s smile increased to a short, incredulous laugh. "I would make a bet you wouldn't get fifty miles from the harbor!"

The mousan reached for the candy bowl again, this time pocketing several pieces of gum, lollipops, a box of candy sticks, and a few of the chocolates. "How much of a bet?" xal asked casually. "What will you bet that we don't sail alone from here to—where are you stationed?—Southern Peak?—from here to Southern Peak?"

"Humph!" was Pete’s snorted reply. "I would bet twenty-five thousand on that, and take the money you lost for Mx. Violinist's charity."

"Now that's an idea," said Mouse-Mallaire. Xal pulled a wallet out of one of xallix candy-free pockets and began taking out a checkbook.

"In case I lose," xal explained, "I might be hard to find, so I will just ask Mx. Violinist to hold the balance for me. I’m sure they won’t mind.” Despite the confidence of the statement, Mickey still visibly looked over at Mx. Violinist for confirmation, pen hovering over the paper, and only wrote xallix signature when xal received a nod in return.

Looking back at Pete, Mickey said without any further hesitation, “You can do the same." Xal lifted xallix phone to show that xal’d just transferred twenty-five thousand credits to Vinnie Violinist.

Continuing, Mickey said, "Whoever wins gets their 25K back, and the loser’s goes to Vinnie for their charity."

"You're not serious," protested the Admiral. Where did this mousan even get 25K?

But Mickey just shrugged with a smile. "Sure I’m serious! The bank will take that transfer seriously, I promise you. And right about now Minnie should be finalizing the purchase for just the sloop I want for the trip ... had my eye on her for the past month!"

"But, Mickey," began Vinnie Vincent in clear concern, "you don't mean to risk your lives on a foolish bet?" They reached over to touch xallix hand in clear concern.

Mickey reached with xallix other hand to tenderly pat theirs. "I'm touched by your concern," xal said, and there was an undertone of seriousness beneath xallix raillery, "but save your sympathy for the Admiral. The navy can't bluff me, and I’m not one to lose." Xal suddenly rose briskly from xallix chair as Vinnie sat back in theirs.

"Mouse-Mallaire...." said Admiral Pete Struthers. He was thinking deeply, trying to recollect. "Mickey Mouse.... I have a book by someone of that name—travel and adventure and knocking about the world. Young enby, are you the Mickey Mouse?"

"Why, yes, if you wish to put it that way," agreed the other. “Though I go by Mickey Mouse-Mallaire now that Minnie and I’ve gotten married, we combined our names, you see. And there’s always room for a third.” Xal winked meaningfully at Vinnie as xal moved towards the door.

"I must be running along," xal said, "and meet Minnie at that boat. See you all in Southern Peak!"

- - -

The first rays of the sun touched with golden fingers the tops of the lazy swells of the Pacific. Here and there a wave broke to spray under the steady wind and became a shower of molten metal. And in the boat, whose sails caught now and then the touch of morning, Mickey Mouse-Mallaire and Minnie Mallaire-Mouse gradually stirred themselves with the first touch of sunlight, and got prepared for the day, which didn’t take long, as they’d slept in their usual clothes.

Mickey left the cabin first, and looked first at the compass and checked xallix course, then made sure of the lashing about the helm. The steady trade-winds had borne them on through the night, and xal nodded with satisfaction as xal prepared to lower xallix lights as the sky brightened. Xal was reaching for a line as the little craft hung for an instant on the top of a wave. And in that instant xallix eyes caught a marking of white on the dim waters ahead.

"Breakers!" xal shouted instinctively to Minnie, and leaped for the lashed wheel at almost the same instant Minnie reached it. Nova swung off to leeward and eased a bit on the main-sheet, trusting Mickey’s statement without question, then lashed the wheel again to hold on the new course at a gesture from xalv.

Again from a wave-crest xal stared from under a sheltering hand. The breakers were there—the smooth swells were foaming—breaking in mid-ocean where the chart, xal knew, showed water a mile deep. Beyond the white line was a three-master, her sails shivering in the breeze.

The big sailing ship swung off on a new tack as xal watched. Was she dodging those breakers? xal wondered. Then xal stared in amazement through the growing light at the unbroken swells where the white line had been.

“What in the world…?” Minnie whispered.

Mickey rubbed xallix sleepy eyes with a savage hand and stared again. There were no breakers, not anymore—the sea was an even expanse of heaving water.

"I could swear I saw them!" xal told Minnie, but forgot this perplexing occurrence in the still more perplexing maneuvers of the sailing ship.

This steady wind—for smooth handling—was all that such a craft could ask for, yet here was this old-timer of the sea with a full spread of canvas booming and cracking as the ship jibed. She rolled far over as the two mice watched, recovered, and tore off on a long, sweeping circle.

The two-mousan crew of the little sloop should have been preparing breakfast for themselves, as they had for many mornings past, but, instead, without another word spoken between them, Minnie swung the little craft into the wind and watched for near an hour the erratic rushes and shivering haltings of the larger ship. But long before this time had passed they both knew they were observing the aimless maneuvers of an uncrewed vessel.

They watched, waiting for their chance for a closer inspection through mutual curiosity.

The three-master was named the Minnie R., which they read from the dingy painting of the stern with a combination of delight and dread, and she hung quivering in the wind when they cautiously approached her. There was a broken log-line that swept down from the stern, and xal caught this and made their own boat fast. Then, watching for their chance, they drew as close as they could safely get, and jumped into the water to swim over.

“Just like old times," Minnie told Mickey as they expertly scaled the side. They had just made it all the way up and pulled themselves over the rail when the ship abruptly sped off on another wild and random tack.

The two mice looked quickly about the deserted deck. "Ahoy, there!" Mickey shouted, but the straining of rope and spars was xallix only answer. Sharing a glance with Minnie, nova could only shrug in return. Canvas was whipping to ribbons, sheets cracked their frayed ends like lashes as the booms swung wildly, but a few sails still survived intact and caught the air like grasping hands desperate for escape.

They had found themselves on the after deck, and Mickey leaped first for the wheel that was kicking and whirling with the swing of the rudder as Minnie darted in another direction. A glance at the canvas that still drew, and xal set her on a course with a few steadying pulls. Minnie came back to xallix side with rope, and nova expertly lashed the wheel into place while xal held it with a quick turn or two and watched the ship steady down to a smooth slicing of the waves from the west.

And only then did the two micean take time to quiet their panting breathing and look about them in more detail in the unnatural quiet of this strangely deserted deck.

Mickey shouted again and walked to a companionway to repeat the hail. Only an echo, sounding hollowly from below, replied to break the vast silence.

It was puzzling—inconceivable. Mickey looked about xalv to note the lifeboats snug and undisturbed in their places. No sign there of an abandonment of the boat, but abandoned she was, as the silence told only too plainly. Nova whispered as they went below, “I have an uncanny feeling of the crew’s presence – as if they’ve walked where we’re walking, shouted where you shouted, just a brief hour or two before.”

“I feel the same.” Mickey whispered back. Something about the dead silence inside the ship made speaking any louder seem like sacrilege.

The door of the captain's cabin was broken in, hanging drunkenly from one hinge. The log-book was open; there were papers on a rude desk. The bunk was empty where the blankets had been thrown hurriedly aside. A fetid stench emanated from the doorway in little drafts.

Minnie went in first, and Mickey followed. Xal could almost see the skipper of this mystery ship leaping frantically from their bed at some sudden call or commotion. A chair was smashed and broken, and when Minnie reached out to examined it curiously, nova almost immediately recoiled with a cry of disgust, wiping from novas hands on one of the blankets a disgusting slime that was smeared stickily on the splintered fragments of wood. The stench was magnified to almost unbearable levels, and they quickly passed up further examination of this room, Minnie disgustedly shaking novas hand to try and get the rest of the reeking slime off.

“Ugh! What is this stuff?” nova demanded.

“I don’t know,” Mickey said in concern, “but we’d better wash it off in case it’s toxic.”

They found a lavatory, and Minnie gratefully washed novas hands, though the sense of close watchfullness they both felt from the ship seemed even more pronounced with the soft sound of the running water interrupting the silence.

Up front in the forecastle, Mickey felt again irresistibly the recent presence of the crew. And again xal found silence and emptiness and a disorder that told of a fear-stricken flight. The odor that sickened and nauseated the exploring mice was everywhere here, and much stronger. Xal was glad to gain the freedom of the wind-swept deck and rid xallix lungs of the vile breath within the vessel.

After catching their breath, the two could only stand and look at eachother, silent and bewildered, both thinking the same thing with no need to say it aloud -- there was not a living soul aboard the ship—no sign of life!

But they were both startled when suddenly, a moaning, whimpering cry came from forward on the deck!

Minnie was the first to move, leaping across a disorder of tangled rope to race toward the bow without hesitation, with Mickey not far behind. Nova stopped short, and Mickey almost ran right into nova, then peered around novas shoulder to see that nova was looking at a large, battered cage. Again the moaning sound came to their pricked ears—there was something that still lived on board the ill-fated ship after all.

Cautiously, the two drew closer, and Mickey could see a great, huddled, furry mass that crouched and cowered in a corner of the cage, red-orange fur vivid in a few beams of sunlight that cut through the fabric that partly covered the enclosure.

“An orangutan.” Minnie whispered for Mickey’s benefit, and the orangutan moaned and whimpered in abject fear, its face turned away, not seeming to realize they were there yet.

Mickey’s thoughts sped. Had this been the terror that drove the crew into the sea? Had this animal escaped and menaced the officers and crew? But xal dismissed the thought almost as soon as it formed, xal well knew it was absurd. The thick wood bars of the cage were broken inward, not outward, creating a razor-wall of splinters that the animal was penned in by even more than it had originally been. The cage’s top had been partially crushed, caving in slightly, and the heavy chain that held the whole to the deck was extended to its full length.

Baffled, bewildered, Mickey scratched xallix head, stepping back from the cage. "Too much for me," xal said slowly, "entirely too much for me! Just what could have happened here?”

Minnie shook novas head silently in agreement.

Mickey added, thinking aloud, “But we can't sail this old hooker alone; we’ll have to get out the way we came, and let her drift."

“We have to let this poor thing loose,” Minnie said, “At least give it run of the ship instead of being stuck out here in the sun, the poor thing will bake to death.” As nova said this, nova went forward and, with concerted effort, ripped one of the broken bars completely away from the cage.

Mickey joined in to help, and the terrified orangutan turned its head to watch their progress with wide eyes as they slowly dismantled a section of the bars just big enough for the animal to come through if it wanted to. The rest were still too intact for even their combined strength to budge.

“Well, that’s the best we can do for now about this cage.” Minnie said, brushing wood particles from novas hands, “But let me go back down and get a bowl of water and see if there’s any fruit.”

Nova ran to do so, leaving Mickey alone with the orangutan, which had now cautiously turned to fully face xalv and the new opening in the cage.

Mickey tried to look non-threatening, and beckoned the animal forward the way xal would a scared cat, speaking softly and soothingly, “Come on out, old fellow, Mickey’s not gonna hurt ya, it’s safe now. Whatever happened here’s already happened. Come on out, we’re gonna get you some water and food, does that sound good?” The orangutan shifted slightly, still hunched over, but hesitantly began to shuffle towards the opening. Mickey encouraged it with, “That’s it, it’s alright! Come on out of that nasty old cage, we’re friendly, you don’t have to be trapped in there any more, come on out.”

Xal hated to see animals treated with cruelty, and xal couldn’t imagine putting an animal in a cage like this and leaving it out on the deck of the ship to suffer the elements. Even if it wasn’t Aware, it still deserved to be treated with basic respect and compassion. The very least the sailors could have done was give it proper shelter. And why were they transporting it in the first place? Mickey had never seen or heard of an orangutan before now, but it didn’t seem like a domestic animal to xalv. Taking it across the ocean just seemed cruel.

Slowly, cautiously, not taking its eyes off Mickey, the orangutan very slowly and purposefully reached out a hand towards the one Mickey had at xallix side.

Mickey held xallix hand out without hesitation, and helped the orangutan climb through the gap, as xal realized with a sudden jolt that this wasn’t normal behavior for an animal --

“Are you aware?” Xal asked, even more horrified for the orangutan’s treatment if the answer was yes.

The orangutan nodded, letting go of Mickey’s hand so it could lift its own hand to its mouth, shaking its head. Clearly saying that it hadn’t learned to speak yet, though it clearly understood. Mickey was stunned with outrage. Becoming Aware was a process that took time, not something that could have gotten to this stage in the short length of time this ship would have been at sea – and the crew had still kept it locked up in a cage and left out in the sun?

“Do you want to go inside the ship for the shade?” Xal asked. Xal couldn’t think of anything to say to express how angry xal was over its treatment.

The orangutanan nodded vehemently, and led the way, bounding to the open doorway on all fours, with Mickey running to catch up, not wanting Minnie to be startled if nova was on novas way back.

The orangutanan didn’t hesitate when it reached the stairwell where the smell hit Mickey in the face like a brick wall, it just kept going, ducking into the first room they found, which was a crew quarters. It hopped onto the closest bunk and pulled the blanket up around its shoulders. Mickey stayed just outside the door so Minnie would be able to find them.

It didn’t take nova long to come back from the depths of the ship. Nova had managed to find a few oranges, a lot of prunes, hardtack, dried beans, and salt pork, all of it untouched by whatever disaster had struck the crew, except for the ever-present stench on the outside of the containers. Thankfully, they had all been carefully stored, so the food inside was safe. Minnie had put as much as nova could carry into a small crate, found a pot and a ladle, and carried it all up, intending to go back for the rest. There was no point letting it go to waste, it might as go back on their ship with them.

Mickey introduced Minnie to the orangutanan, they gently questioned it to the best of their ability only to learn it had nothing helpful to share, and they let it have any of the currently-edible food it wanted, before the three of them went back down into the bowels of the ship to grab the rest of the supplies.

They found more dried and salted foods, clothes, which they packed up, and a few dirt pans for cats, but found no trace of the animals themselves, though they looked everywhere they could think of.

It took a while, but with the three of them working together, they managed to pack up everything that was carryable and would fit on their boat, and attached floats to them, piling them up by the railing. By the time they were done, Mickey found xalexir actually getting used to the stench.

Xal went below one last time, the orangutanan shadowing xallix every step like a ghost while Minnie waited up top, and came quickly back with the log-book and papers from the captain's room. They’d already found and carefully packed up as many personal possessions from the crew quarters as they could, to send back to the families of the missing.

Xal tied the log book and other papers from the captains room in a tight wrapping of oilcloth from the galley and hung them at xallix belt to make sure they wouldn’t float away, while Minnie took the wheel again and brought the cumbersome craft slowly into the wind.

The bare mast of their own sloop was bobbing alongside on the rope as Mickey went down the line and swam over to her first, then carefully brought it back up beside the larger ship so the loot could be lowered down with ropes before Minnie and the orangutanan climbed down.

Fending off from the wallowing hulk, Mickey cut the line while Minnie and the orangutanan stowed the supplies, and the small craft slipped slowly astern as the big vessel fell off in the wind and drew lumberingly away on her unguided course.

She vanished into the clear-cut horizon before the watching mice and orangutanan ceased their staring and Mickey pricked a point upon xallix chart that xal estimated was xallix current position.

And they all three watched vainly for some sign of life on the heaving waters as Minnie set the sloop back on her easterly course.

- - -

It was two young mice trailed by an orangutanan who walked with brisk strides into the office of Admiral Struthers. The gold-striped arm of the uniformed man was extended in quick greeting.

"Made it, did you?" he exclaimed. "Congratulations!"

"All O.K.," Mickey agreed shortly. "Ship and log are ready for your verification."

"Talk sense," said the officer. "Have any trouble or excitement? Or perhaps you are more interested in collecting a certain bet than you are in discussing the trip. And who’s your new friend there?"

"Damn the bet!" said the young enby fervently. "And that's just what I am here for—to talk about the trip and my friend. There were some little incidents that may interest you."

Xal and Minnie painted for the Admiral in brief, terse sentences the picture of that dawn on the Pacific, the line of breakers, white in the vanishing night, the abandoned ship beyond, cracking her canvas to tatters in the freshening breeze. And xal told of their boarding her and of what they had found, and that their new friend the still-unnamed orangutanan had been witness, but couldn’t explain what had happened, from a combination of shock and not yet being fully Aware.

"Where was this?" asked the officer, and Mickey gave the position as xal had checked it on the map.

"I reported the derelict to a passing steamer that same day," xal added, but the Admiral was calling for a chart. He spread it on the desk before himself and placed the tip of a pencil in the center of an unbroken expanse.

"Breakers, you said?" he questioned. "Why, there are hundreds of fathoms here."

“We know it," Minnie agreed, stepping forward firmly, "but we saw them—a stretch of white water for an eighth of a mile. I know it's impossible, but it’s true. But forget that for now, Admiral. Look at this." nova opened a brief case and took out a log-book and some other papers Mickey had collected.

"The log of the Minnie R.," nova explained briefly. "And yes, I know the irony. Nothing in this log but routine entries up to that morning and then nothing at all."

"Abandoned," mused the Admiral, "and they did not take to the boats. There have been other instances—never explained."

"See if this helps any," suggested Mickey, and moved to Minnie’s side to grab the other two sheets of paper from the case. "They were in the captain's cabin," xal added.

Admiral Struthers glanced at them, then settled back in his chair.

"Dated September fourth," he said. "That would have been the day previous to the time you found her." The writing was plain, in a careful, well-formed hand. He cleared his throat and read aloud:

"Written by Jeremiah Wilkens of Salem, Mass., master of the Minnie R., bound from Shanghai to San Pedro. I have sailed the seas for forty years, and for the first time I am afraid. I hope I may destroy this paper when the lights of San Pedro are safe in sight, but I am writing here what it would shame me to set down in the ship's log, though I know there are stranger happenings on the face of the waters than man has ever seen—or has lived to tell.

All this day I have been filled with fear. I have been watched—I have felt it as surely as if a devil out of hell stood beside me with his eyes fastened on mine. The men have felt it, too. They have been frightened at nothing and have tried to conceal it as I have done.—And the animals....

"A shark has followed us for days—it is gone to-day. The cats—we have three on board—have howled horribly and have hidden themselves in the cargo down below. The mate is bringing a big monkey to be sold in Los Angeles. An orang-outang, he calls it. It has been an ugly brute, shaking at the bars of its cage and showing its ugly teeth ever since we left port. But to-day it is crouched in a corner of its cage and will not stir even for food. The poor beast is in mortal terror.

"All this is more like the wandering talk of an old woman muttering in a corner by the fireside of witches and the like than it is like a truthful account set down by Jeremiah Wilkins. And now that I have written it I see there is nothing to tell. Nothing but the shameful account of my fear of some horror beyond my knowing. And now that it is written I am tempted to destroy—No, I will wait—"

"And now what is this?" Admiral Struthers interrupted his reading to ask. He turned the paper to read a coarse, slanting scrawl at the bottom of the page.

"The eyes—the eyes—they are everywhere above us—God help—" The writing trailed off in a straggling line.

The Admiral’s lips drew themselves into a hard line. It was a moment before the catan raised his eyes to meet those of Mickey Mouse-Mallaire.

"You found this in the captain's cabin?" he asked.

"Yes."

"And the captain was—"

"Gone."

"Blood stains?"

"No, but the door had been burst off its hinges. There had been a struggle without a doubt."

“And your friend the orang-outangan cannot enlighten us?”

“No.”

“What about the cats that were mentioned?”

“We saw no sign of them besides their dirt pans.”

The officer mused for a minute or two.

"Did they go aboard another vessel?" he pondered. "Abandon ship—open the sea-cocks—sink it for the insurance?" He was trying vainly to find some answer to the problem, some explanation that would not impose too great a strain upon his own reason.

"We have reported to the owners," said Minnie. "The Minnie R. was not heavily insured."

The Admiral ruffled some papers on his desk to find a report.

"There has been another," he told his audience. "A tramp freighter is listed as missing. She was last reported due east of the position you give. She was coming this way—must have come through about the same water—" He caught himself up abruptly. Mickey sensed that an Admiral of the Navy must not lend too credulous an ear to impossible stories.

"You've had an interesting experience, Mvr. Mouse-Mallaire, M. Mallaire-Mouse, friend orang-outangan" he said, taking on a formal, dismissive tone. "Most interesting. Probably a derelict is the answer, some hull just afloat. We will send out a general warning."

He handed the loose papers and the log book to Mickey. "This stuff is rubbish," he stated with emphasis. "Captain Wilkins held his command a year or so too long."

"You will do nothing about it?" Mickey and Minnie asked simultaneously in astonishment.

"I said I would warn all shipping; there is nothing more to be done." the Admiral said shortly.

"I think there is." Mickey's black eyes were steady behind xallix glasses as xal regarded the man at the desk. "We intend to run it down. There have been other such instances, as you said—never explained. We mean to find the answer."

Admiral Pete Struthers smiled indulgently. "Always after excitement, two you" he said. "You'll be co-writing another book, I expect. I shall look forward to reading it ... but just what are you two going to do?"

"We are going to the Islands," said Mickey quietly. "We are going to charter a small ship of some sort, and we are going out there to camp on that spot in the hope of seeing those eyes and what is behind them. We’ll be leaving to-night."

Admiral Struthers leaned back to indulge in a hearty laugh. "I refused you a passage on a destroyer once," he said, "and it was an expensive mistake. I don't make the same mistake twice. Now I am going to offer you a trip....The Bennington is leaving to-day on a cruise to Manila. I'll hold her an extra hour or two if you would like to go. She can drop you at Honolulu or wherever you say. Lieutenant Commander Brent is in command—you remember him in Manila, of course."

"Fine," Mickey Mouse-Mallaire responded. "We'll be there, after we make arrangements for a plane to return our friend here home." Xal gestured at the orangutanan, who had been looking curiously around the room.

"And," xal added, as xal took the Admiral's hand, "if I didn't object to betting on a sure thing, I would make you a little proposition. I would bet any money that you would give your shirt to go along."

"I never bet, either," said Admiral Struthers, "on a sure loss. Now get out of here, you young trouble-shooters, and let the Navy get to work." His eyes were twinkling as he waved the young ones out.

- - -

Minnie and Mickey found themselves comfortably fixed on the Bennington. Brent, her commander, was a fine example of the aggressive young chaps that the destroyer fleet breeds. And he liked to play cribbage, Mouse-Mallaire found. They were chugging away industriously the sixth night out when the first S.O.S. reached them. A message was placed before the commander. He read it and tossed it to Minnie, who was closer, as he rose from his chair.

"S.O.S.," said the radio sheet, "Nagasaki Maru, twenty-four thirty-five N., one five eight West. Struck something unknown. Down at the bow. May need help. Please stand by."

Captain Brent had left the room. A moment later, and the quiver and tremble of the Bennington told Mickey they were running full speed for the position of the stricken ship.

But: "Twenty-four thirty-five North," nova mused aloud to Mickey, "and less than two degrees west of where the poor old Minnie R. got hers. I wonder ... I wonder...."

"We will be there in four hours," said Captain Brent on his return. "Hope she lasts. But what have they struck out there? Derelict probably, though she should have had Admiral Struthers' warning."

Mickey Mouse-Mallaire made no reply other than: "Wait here a minute, Brent. I have something to show you."

Xal had not told the officer of their mission nor of the experience they’d shared, but xal did so now. And xal placed before him the wildly improbable statement of the late Captain Wilkins.

"There’s something there, alright" surmised Captain Brent, studiously ignoring the fantastic elements of the story. "just awash, probably—no superstructure visible. Your Minnie R. hit the same thing."

"Something is there," Mickey agreed. "I wish I knew what."

"This stuff has got to you, has it?" asked Brent as he returned the papers of Captain Wilkins. He was quite evidently amused at the thought, and didn’t bother to hide his disbelief.

"You weren't on the ship," said Minnie Mallaire, simply, as nova followed him out of the room. "There was nothing to see—nothing to tell. But we know...."

They followed Brent to the wireless room.

"Can you get the Nagasaki?" Brent asked.

"They know we are coming, sir," said the operator. "We seem to be the only one anywhere near."

He handed the captain another message. "Something odd about that," he said.

"U. S. S. Bennington," the captain read aloud. "We are still afloat. On even keel now, but low in water. No water coming in. Engines full speed ahead, but we make no headway. Apparently aground. Nagasaki Maru."

"Why, that's impossible," Brent exclaimed impatiently. "What kind of foolishness—" He left the question uncompleted. The radio man was writing rapidly. Some message was coming at top speed. The three of them leaned over the radio man's shoulder to read as he wrote.

"Bennington help," the pencil was writing, "sinking fast—decks almost awash—we are being—"

In breathless silence they watched the pencil, poised above the paper while the operator listened tensely to the silent night.

Again his ear received the wild jumble of dots and dashes sent by a frenzied hand in that far-off room. His pencil automatically set down the words. "Help—help—" it wrote before Mickey Mouse-Mallaire's spellbound gaze, "the eyes—the eyes—it is attack—"

And again the black night held only the rush and roar of torn waters where the destroyer raced quivering through the darkness. The message, as those waiting well knew, would never be completed.

"A derelict!" Mickey exclaimed with angry scorn. But Captain Brent was already at a communication tube, too busy to notice.

"Chief? Captain Brent. Give her everything you've got. Drive the Bennington faster than she ever went before."

The slim ship was a quivering lance of steel that threw itself through foaming waters, that shot with an endless, roaring surge of speed toward that distant point in the heaving waste of the Pacific, and that seemed, to the three silent watchers on the bridge, to put the dragging miles behind them so slowly—so slowly.

"Let me see those papers," said Captain Brent, finally.

He read them in silence.

Then: "The eyes!" he read aloud. "The eyes! That is what this other poor devil said. My God, you mice, what is it? What can it be? We're not all insane."

"I don't know what I expected to find," said Mickey slowly. "I had thought of many things, each wilder than the next. This Captain Wilkins said the eyes were above him. I had visions of some sky monster ... I had even thought of some strange aircraft from out in space, perhaps, with round lights like eyes. I have pictured impossibilities! But now—" Mickey stopped short of saying what xal was thinking.

"Yes," the captain questioned insistantly, "now?"

"There were tales in olden times of the Kraken," said Minnie, knowing exactly what Mickey had stopped xalexir from saying aloud.

"The Kraken!" the captain scoffed. "A mythical monster of the sea. Why, that was just a fable."

"True," was Minnie’s quiet reply, "that was just a fable. And one of the things I have learned over the years is how frequently there is a basis of fact underlying a fable. And, for that matter, how can we know there is no such monster, some relic of a Mesozoic species supposed to be extinct? How long did it take for humans to really start to accept Awareness in other species?"

The two mice stood motionless, staring far out ahead into the dark. And Brent, too, was silent. The three seemed to try with unaided eyes to penetrate the dark miles ahead and see what their minds refused to accept.

- - -

It was still dark when the search-light's sweeping beam picked up the black hull and broad, red-striped funnels of the Nagasaki Maru. She was riding high in the water, and her big bulk rolled and wallowed in the trough of the great swells.

The Bennington swept in a swift circle about the helpless hulk while the lights played incessantly upon her decks. And the watching eyes strained vainly for some signal to betoken life, for some sign that their mad race had not been quite vain. Her engines had been shut down; there was no steerage-way for the Nagasaki Maru, and, from all they could see, there were no human hands to drag at the levers of her waiting engines nor to twirl with sure touch the deserted helm. The Nagasaki Maru was abandoned.

The lights held steadily upon her as the Bennington came alongside and a boat was swung out smartly in its davits. But Mickey knew xal was not alone in xallix wild idea as to the cause of the catastrophe. They were all thinking of that terrible, mythical kraken.

"Throw your lights around the water occasionally," Brent ordered. "Let me know if you see anything."

"Yes sir," said the man at the search-light. "I will report if I spot any survivors or boats."

"Report anything you see," said Commander Brent curtly.

"You go aboard if you want to," he said, turning to Mickey and Minnie. "I will stay here and be ready if you need help."

It didn’t take long to get a boat ready, or for the two micean and a search and rescue crew to climb aboard and set out.

Mickey nodded with approval as xal looked back at the Bennington as the small boat pulled away in the dark, for there was activity apparent on the destroyer not warranted by a mere rescue at sea, showing that the captain was taking the threat seriously. Gun-crews rushed to their stations; the tarpaulin covers were off of the guns, and their slender lengths gleamed where they covered the course of the boat.

"Brent is ready," Mickey admitted softly to Minnie, "for anything."

“I hope so.” Nova said softly back. Neither of them spoke above a whisper, not daring to make any more noise while surrounded by the black waves with only a few plants of wood between them and the other sailors and whatever lay beneath it.

They found the iron ladder against the ship's side, and a sailor sprang for it and made his way aboard first. Mickey was not the last to set foot on deck, but xal still shuddered involuntarily at the eery silence xal knew awaited them.

It was the Minnie R. over again, as xal expected, but with a difference. The Minnir R., before Mickey and Minnie boarded it, had been for some time exposed to the sun, while the Nagasaki Maru had not. And here there were slimy trails still wet on the decks.

Xal went first to the wireless room with Minnie, while the sailors spread out to search for survivors. Xal had to know the final answer to that interrupted message, and xal found it in emptiness. No radio controller was awaiting xalv there, nor even a body to show the loser of an unequal battle. But there was blood on the door-jamb where a body—the operator's body, Mickey was sure—had been smashed against the wood. A wisp of black hair in the blood gave its mute evidence of the hopeless fight. And the slime, like the trails on the deck, smeared with odorous vileness the whole room.

They went again to the deck, and, as on the other ship, xal breathed deeply to rid xallix lungs and nostrils of the abhorrent stench. The ensign in charge of the boarding party approached.

"What kind of a rotten mess is this?" she demanded. "The ship is filthy and not a soul on board. Not a one of them, officers or crew, and the boats are all here. It's absolutely amazing, isn't it?"

"No," Mickey told her, "this is, unfortunately, about what we expected. What do you make of this?" Xal touched with xallix foot a broad trail that shone wet in the Bennington's lights.

"The Lord knows," said the ensign in wonder. "It's all over and it smells like a rotten dead fish. Well, we will be going back over, exiir."

She called to a petty officer to round up the crew, and the boat was brought alongside again. Mickey and Minnie went back across with the others.

They returned to the Bennington again through a pathway of light that Mickey knew was safe under the black muzzles of the destroyer's guns.

Or was it, xal asked xalexir. Safe! Was anything safe from this devilish mystery that could pluck each cowering sentient from the lowest depths of this steel freighter, that could drag her down in the water till the radio operator sent his cry: "We are sinking!..."

But they made it across safely nevertheless.

Xal told Brent quietly, after the ensign had finished report in on the lack of survivors to be found, of the struggles xal had found in the wireless room and its few remaining traces. And both micean had watched with the commander through the hour of deepest darkness while the Bennington steamed in slow circles about the abandoned hulk, while her search-lights played endlessly over the empty waters and the crew at the guns cast wondering glances at their skipper who ordered such strange procedure when no danger was there.

Eventually, Mickey and Minnie were forced to give up their vigil in return for sleep. As anxious as they were, they couldn’t stay on their feet any longer without rest. Almost as soon as their heads touched their pillows, they were out like a light, and too tired to dream.

They woke with the first rays of dawn, and with daylight the scene across from the Benningtonlost its sense of mysterious threat, and Mickey and Minnie were eager to return to the abandoned ship.

"We might find something," Minnie said to the captain as an attempt to bring him around to the idea, "some trace or indication of what we have to fight."

"I must leave," said Commander Brent. "Oh, I'm coming back, never fear," he added, at the looks of dismay on their faces. It was clear that the thought of leaving this mystery unsolved was more than these young seekers of adventure could accept.

"I'm coming back," Brent repeated firmly. "I've been in communication with the Admiral—Honolulu has relayed the messages through. All code, of course; we mustn't alarm the whole Pacific with our nightmares. The old cat says to stick around and get the low-down on this damn thing."

"Then why leave?" objected Mickey.

“Because I am coming around to your way of thinking, mice. Because I am as certain as can be that we have a monster of some sort to deal with ... and because I haven't any depth charges. I want to run up to the supply station at Honolulu and get a couple of ash-cans of TNT to lay on top of the brute if we sight him."

"Glory be!" said Mickey fervently. "That sounds like business. Go and get your eggs and perhaps we can feed them to this devil—raw.... And I think I'll stay here, if you will be back by dark."

“Me too, of course.” Minnie added.

"Better not," the other objected; but the two mice overruled him.

"This thing attacks in the dark," Mickey said. "I will lay a little bet on that. It left the orangutanan on the Minnie R.—quit at the first sign of daylight. We will be safe through the day, and besides, the beast has gutted this ship. It won't return, I imagine. And if we stay there for the day—live as they lived, those who manned that ship—I may have some information that will be of help when you get back. But for Heaven's sake, Brent, don't stop to pick any flowers on the way."

"It's your funerals," said Brent, not cheerfully. "The old cat said to give you every assistance, and perhaps that includes helping you commit suicide."

But Mickey Mouse-Mallaire and Minnie Mallaire-Mouse only laughed as Commander Brent gave his orders for a small boat to be lowered. A ship's lantern and rockets for night signals were taken at the officer's orders. "We'll be back before dark," he said, "but take these as a precaution."

One favor Mickey asked—that the ship's carpenter go over with them and help them to make a strong-barred retreat of the wireless cabin.

"And I'll talk to you occasionally," Minnie told Brent. "I tried the key while we were aboard; the wireless is working on its batteries, and I know the basics of how to use it."

Mickey waved a cheery good-by as the small boat pulled away. "And hurry back," xal called. The destroyer commander nodded an emphatic assent.

On board the Nagasaki Maru, Mickey directed the carpenter and its helpers in the work xal wanted done, while Minnie started up a search of the bowels of the ship. The carpenter-othran seemed to know instinctively where to put its hands on needed supplies, and the result was a virtual cage of strong oak bars enclosing the wireless room, and braces of oak to bar the single door.

Mickey was not assuming any bravado in xallix feeling of safety, but xal was doing what xal and Minnie had done in many other tight corners, and xal prepared their defences in advance.

These included weapons of offense as well. As the boat with the destroyer's crew pulled back to the Bennington, xal placed in easy reach in a corner of the room a heavy calibered rifle xal had taken from xallix belongings, and Minnie had novas sword.

And, still, with all xallix feeling of security, there was a strange depression fell upon xalv when the Bennington's narrow hull was small upon the horizon, and then that, too, was gone and only the heaving swells and the wallowing hulk were xallix companions.

Only these? Xal shivered slightly as xal thought of that unseen watcher with the devil-eyes whose presence Captain Wilkins had felt—and his crew, and the poor terrified ape! Xal deliberately put from xallix mind the thought of this; no use to start the day with morbid fears. Xal reassured xalexir that the orangutanan was probably safely home by now by way of airplane, no more need to fear the sea. Xal went below to examine the cabins, and to find Minnie, trying not to rush, trying to keep xallix fear in check. But xal carried the heavy elephant gun with xalv wherever xal went, and was only reassured slightly when xal was back at Minnie’s side.

Below decks the signs of the marauder were everywhere, yet there was little to be learned. The slimy trails dried quickly and vanished, but not before the two had traced them to the uttermost depths of the ship.

There was not a nook or corner that had gone unsearched in the horrible quest for sentient food. And one thing impressed itself forcibly upon the enby's mind: xal found a lantern, and xal used it of necessity in xallix explorations, but this thing had gone through the dark and with unerring certainty had found its way to every victim.

"Can it see in the dark?" Mickey questioned aloud. "Or...." Xal visioned dimly some denizen of the vast depths, living beyond the limits of the sun's penetration, far in the abysmal darkness where its only light must be self-made. But xallix mind failed in the attempt to picture what manner of horror this thing might be.

“Or else it finds its way entirely by touch.” Minnie offered.

Even in the hold its evil traces were found. There were tiers of metal drums that still shone wet in the light of Mickey lantern. Calcium carbide—for making acetylene, xal supposed—marked "Made in U.Q.N." The Nagasaki must have been westward bound.

The two went, after an hour or so, back up to the wireless room, and only when xal relaxed in the safety of the improvised fortress did xal realize how tense had been every nerve and muscle through xallix long search, even with the comfort of Minnie’s presence. Nova tried the wireless and got an instant response from the destroyer.

"Don't shoot it too fast," Minnie spelled out slowly to the distant operator as nova spoke aloud for Mickey’s benefit: "I am only a dub. Just wanted to say hello and report all O.K."

"Fine," was the steady, careful response. "We have had a little trouble with our condensers—" There was a short pause, then the message continued, this portion dictated by the commander. "Delay not important. We will be back as agreed. Have picked up S. S. Adelaide bound east in your latitude. Warned her to take northerly course account derelict. See you later. Signed, Brent, commanding U. S. S. Bennington."

Minnie tapped off novas acknowledgement and closed the key.

Mickey suddenly realized xal had had no breakfast, and the hours had been slipping past, and said so aloud.

Xal decided to go down to the galley to prepare a pot of coffee and porridge, and left xallix gun behind for Minnie.

It was not the time or place for an enjoyable meal, but xal would have relished it more had xal not pictured the Adelaide and her lovely owner steaming across these threatening seas.

Unfortunately, the two knew the captain of the Adelaide. "Obstinate pigheaded old Scotchman!” Mickey exclaimed to Minnie, “Hope he takes Brent's advice. Of course Brent couldn't tell him the truth. We can't blat this wild yarn all over the air or the passenger lines would have our scalps. But I wish the Adelaide was safe in Manila."

Minnie said nothing, but nodded in silent, clear anxiety.

They both knew Vinnie was aboard that boat.

After they ate, the two went back to exploring the ship in the afternoon, but their efforts were half-hearted and perfunctory. There was nothing more to be learned. But Mickey had seen in xallix mind some vague outline of what they must meet. Xal saw a something, mammoth, huge, that could grasp and hold an ocean freighter—against whose great body xal had seen the waves dash in a line of white spray. Yet a something that could force its way down narrow passages, could press with terrific strength on bolted doors and crush them inward, wrecked and splintered. Some serpentine thing that felt and saw its way and crawled so surely through the dark—found its prey—seized it—and carried off a man as easily as it might a mouse.

No octopus, no matter what proportions, filled the description. Mickey gave up trying to see too clearly the awful thing. And then xal had, casually, not thinking, walked to the railing to look over the waves. And suddenly there had come to xalv a feeling of fear that had sent the waves of cold trickling and prickling up xallix spine. Was there something really there?... A waiting lurking horror in the depths? It had been so terrible and oppressive that xal had turned tail and ran back to the wireless room on all fours in instinctive fear, and dragged the door shut behind xalv, startling Minnie at the table.

"The eyes," were all xal could think, "the eyes!…"

“There’s something out there.” was all xal could bring xalexir to say.

- - -

The position of the deserted ship was south of the regular steamer lanes on the TransPacific run. Only a trace of smoke on the northern horizon marked through the afternoon the passage of other craft. It was a long and lonely vigil for the waiting mice. But the Bennington would return, and Minnie listened in at intervals hoping to hear her friendly signal. They took turns napping over the course of the day to keep their energy up, and nothing untoward happened, despite their rising anxieties.

The batteries operating the Nagasaki's wireless were none too strong, so Minnie saved their strength, though nova tried at times to raise the Bennington somewhere beyond their reach as the sun sank lower in the afternoon sky.

It was touching the horizon when Minnie got novas first response. "Keep up the old nerve," admonished the slow, careful sending of the Bennington's operator. "We have been delayed but we are on our way. Signed, Brent."

That was easier said than done. In the wireless room, Mickey slid the oak brace across the door, and they both tried to pretend the action was nonchalant and unafraid as xal laid out extra clips of cartridges. But Mickey’s eyes persisted in following the sinking sun, and Minnie was practically glued to the wireless, and they watched, from within their self-made cage, the coming of the quick dark.

The protecting glare of day must be unbearable to this monster from the lightless depths, but that guardian daylight was vanishing. Mickey's mind was searching for additional means of defense. Xallix racing thoughts found it in the cargo xal had seen. The drums of carbide! They could scatter it on the deck—it reacted with water, and those slimy arms, if they came and touched it, could find the contact hot.

Xal shared the idea with Minnie quickly, and they decided it was worth the risk of leaving the wireless room.

Quickly, they took the lantern and went hastily below at a run to stagger painstakingly slowly back, having to work together to carry one of the large drums between them. It suddenly felt like every struggled step was a race against time, and they were losing.

In the half-light that was left they together forced the cover off, then rolled the drum frantically about the swaying deck. The gray, earthly lumps of carbide formed erratic lines criss-crossing the wood. Useless perhaps, xal admitted to xalexir, but the threatening dark forced xalv to find every means of defense at xallix command. It was the only thing keeping xalv from panicking completely.

They had brought up and were scattering the contents of a second drum when the two stiffened abruptly, simultaneously, to rigid attention.

The ship, thrown broadside to the wide-spaced swells, had rolled endlessly with a monotonous motion. But now the deck beneath their feet was steadying. As they stood frozen, it assumed an abnormal levelness. The boat rose and fell with the waves, but it no longer rolled. There was something beneath holding, drawing on it.

Mickey knew in that frozen second what it meant, and a petrified glance at Minnie showed nova did as well. The drum clattered to the rail as together they dashed for the wireless room. Minnie slammed and bolted the door behind them, and dove for novas sword. Grabbing up xallix gun, Mickey watched with staring eyes where the deserted deck showed dim and vague in the light of the stars and the bow of the ship was lost in the uncertain dark of night.

Wide-eyed xal watched into the blackness, and listened with desperate attention for some slightest sound beyond the splashing of waves and the creaking of spars and the sound of xallix and Minnie’s fearful breathing.

Far in the west a light appeared, to glow and vanish and glow again in the tumbling waters. The Bennington! Xallix heart leaped at the thought, then sank as xal knew the destroyer's lights would not appear from that direction.

Through an excruciating hour that seemed to crawl by in an eternity, the oncoming ship drew near, and xal knew with a sudden, startling certainty that it was the Adelaide—and Vinnie Violinist—coming on, through into the horror awaiting.

Mickey leaned forward tensely as a sound reached xallix pricked ears. A ghostly echo of a sound, like the softest of smooth, slipping fabric upon hard steel. And as xal listened, before xallix staring eyes, a something came between xalv and the lighted yacht. Minnie gasped almost silently beside xalv.

The shape wavered and swung in the darkness. It was formless, uncertain of outline, and it swung in the night out beyond the ship's rail till it suddenly neared, waved high overhead, and the cold light of the stars shone in pale reflection from an enormous, staring eye.

It surmounted a serpentine form that took shape in the dim radiance without and came lower in undulating folds to suddenly crash heavily upon the deck.

Hardly aware of moving, Mickey found xalexir with Minnie next to the wireless, and novas hand was upon the key.

Then, fast as novas panic allowed, Minnie called frantically for the Adelaide. Nova spelled her name, over and over.... Would the sleepy operator never answer? Automatically, like a prayer, nova whispered what nova was doing for Mickey’s benefit in a tone hardly louder than a breath, not daring to be any louder for fear of attracting the attention of the monster outside.

The Bennington broke in on nova. "Is that you, mice? What is up?" they demanded.

But Minnie kept up novas slow spelling of the yacht's name. Nova must get a warning to them! Then nova realized that the Bennington could do it better.

"Bennington," nova called, "Adelaide approaching. I am attacked. Warn them off. Warn them—" Novas frantic, hissing dots and dashes stopped suddenly. Beneath their feet the Nagasaki Maru was rolling again, swinging free to the lift and thrust of the swells beneath.

"Good God!" xal shouted aloud in dismay, "It's gone for the yacht!”

“Adelaide—“ Minnie tapped frantically, “turn north—full speed—Head north. You are being attacked!"

Mickey groaned as xal saw the Adelaide's shining ports swing away from the safety of the north; the ship broached broadside to the waves and came slowly to a stop.

"Bennington," nova radioed. "Brent—it has got the Adelaide. Help—hurry! We have to go over!" Nova didn’t need to check that plan of action with Mickey, because they both knew there was nothing that would stop them from going to the rescue.

Xal tore wildly at the barred door while Minnie took off the wireless, and together they made a dash across the deck, only to crash in a painfully tangled heap of limbs against the rail where the slimy traces of the recent visitor made the deck slide out under their feet like soap.

They got untangled somehow, and how they lowered the lifeboat left by the Benningtoninto the water without disaster, neither could ever say for sure, looking back.

While Minnie swept down first, Mickey secured xallix rifle around xallix shoulder and with a rope, then wasted no time in joining Minnie in the boat so they could cast off in a frenzy of haste.

What could they do? Mickey hardly dared form the question. Only this stood clear and unanswerable in xallix mind: The yacht was in the monster's grip, and Vinnie Violinist was there on board. Vinnie Violinist, so smiling, so friendly, so lovable! Food for that horror from the depths.…

Neither needed to speak aloud to know the other was thinking the same thing. They rowed with super-mousan strength to drive the heavy boat across the wave-swept distance that separated them from the yacht.

Between gasping breaths xal gave brief instructions to correct their course, xallix eyes locked on the lights in the quickly closing distance. As they drew near, xal saw, though indistinctly with the water that had splashed up onto xallix glasses, the unmistakable, snakelike weaving of horrible tenuous fingers, rolling and groping about the yacht.

They were plain as xal drew alongside. The trim ship rose and fell with the water, while over her side where the two mice approached swung a long, white monstrous rope of flesh. It retreated like the lash of a whip, and the horrified watchers saw as it went the struggling figure of a dogan in the grasp of flabby lips. And above them a single eye glared wickedly.

Another vile, twisting arm rose from the afterdeck with a screaming figure in its grasp and vanished into the water beyond the yacht. There were others writhing about the decks. Mickey saw them as they made the boat fast and clambered aboard.

A wave of reeking air enveloped xalv as xal reached the deck; the nauseous stench from the monster's tentacles was horrible beyond endurance. Xal gagged and choked as the stifling breath entered xallix lungs, Minnie coughing beside xalv.

A huge rope of slippery, throbbing flesh stretched its twisted length toward the stern. It contracted as xal watched into bulging muscular rings and withdrew from the afterdeck. The deadly end of it stopped in mid-air not twenty feet from where xal stood. The jawlike pincers on it held the limp form of an officer in its sucking grip, while above, in a protuberance like a gnarled horn, a single great eye glared into Mickey's two with insatiable hunger.

The beak opened sharply to drop its unconscious burden upon the deck, and the watching enby, petrified with horror, saw within the gaping maw great sucking discs and beyond them a brilliant glow. The whole cavernous pit was aflame with phosphorescent light. Dimly xal knew that this light explained the ability of the beastly arms to grope so surely in the dark.

The eye narrowed as the gaping, fleshy jaws distended, and Mickey Mouse-Mallaire, in a flash that galvanized xalv to action, was suddenly aware that xallix fight all their lives was on. Xal fired blindly from the hip, and the recoil of the heavy gun almost tore it from xallix hands. But xal knew xal had aimed true, and the toothless, seeking jaws whipped in agony back into the sea, leaving its prey behind.

There were other arms whose eyes were searching the stern of the yacht, and no time to think.

The two micean plunged frenziedly down a companionway for the cabin they knew was Vinnie Violinist’s. Were they in time? Could they save them if they found them?

Mickey’s mind was in a turmoil of half-formed plans as xal rushed madly down the corridor after Minnie only to find the body of their beloved a limp huddle across the threshold of their cabin, with four other young people huddled by them, only slightly more conscious, one of them clutching an unconcious catan in their arms.

Vinnie was alive; xal knew it when Minnie swung their limp body across one shoulder, flashing a steely determined glance at xalv. Mickey somehow found the strength in xallix panic to yank the four strangers to their feet, hissing for them to follow if they wanted to live, helping to carry the unconcious catan when it became apparent the stranger who’d been holding them was too shocked to do it themselves at the moment.

As a panicked herd the group staggered up the stairs led by Minnie carrying Vinnie, with Mickey carrying the catan at the rear to keep them all together.

If xal could only breathe! Xallix throat was tight and strangling with the reeking putrescence in the air. It was no wonder Vinnie was unconcious and the others not far from it. And before xallix eyes was a picture of the strong oak bars of their own retreat. Somehow, some way, they had to get back to Nagasaki Maru.

An eye detected their group as they came on deck, and xal was forced to shove the limp body of the cat into two of the other survivor’s combined arms as xal swung xallix rifle toward the glowing light within the opening jaws. The sucking discs cupped and wrinkled in dread readiness in the fleshy, toothless opening. Mickey emptied the magazine into the head, though xal knew this was only a feeler and a feeder for a still more horrible mouth in the monstrous body that rose and fell tremendously in the dark waters beyond. But it was typical of Mickey Mouse-Mallaire that, even in the horror and frenzy of the moment, xal rammed another clip of cartridges into xallix rifle, realized the humans xal had shoved the catan at were much more aware and could carry them better than xal could, and managed to fire another shot to ward off another reaching tentacle as Minnie led the group again at a charge towards their boat.

The forward deck for the moment was clear; it rose high with the weight of the writhing, twisting arms that weighed down the stern of the yacht where Mickey could see what looked like another two members of the crew had taken refuge. Xal couldn’t tell if either were Vinnie’s god-father from this distance.

For a moment Mickey thought of stopping, of trying to help them too, but xal was forced to dismiss even the thought as another great eye came over the rail just feet away from Minnie at the head of the group. Once more xal used the gun with stunning effect, slung it back securely over xallix shoulder, then quickly leapt to grab the crew member who’d been dropped by the monster when they first arrived while Minnie hustled everyone into the boat.

Not knowing or caring if the body in xallix arms was even alive, Mickey jumped down into the boat, shoved the body into someone else’s arms without even looking, and they frantically cast off, xal with one set of oars, and Minnie with the others, while the survivors crowded the middle.

They rowed with the stealthiest strokes they could manage with so many extra burdens aboard, trying to get away without drawing more attention to themselves. Mickey didn’t know what they would do if their little lifeboat were attacked, there would just be no chance.

Behind xalv, reflected in Minnie’s wide eyes, were whipping points of light above the white brilliance of the yacht Adelaide, the search lights of the hungry monster. The boat was tossing in great waves that came from beyond, where a body, incredibly huge, was tearing the waters to foam. There were ghostly arms that shone in slimy wetness, that lashed searchingly in all directions, as the monster gave vent to its reaction at Mickey's attack.

There were now screaming human figures grasped in two of those flying jaws, and the enby felt guilt wash through xallix soul at not being able to rescue them as well. But there was nothing that could be done, not without risking everyone aboard the lifeboat now.

With the monster so enraged, they gave in to the fear and began to row with all speed now, desperate only to get as far away as possible as quickly as possible.

Even with their combined strength at the oars, with so many heavier humans as passengers, both Minnie and Mickey’s breaths were coming in great choking sobs of sheer exhaustion when they finally pulled up beside the Nagasaki Maru and managed topull the senseless forms of the survivors, both unconcious and concious, over the railing. One and all, with the humans now helping to carry those who were unconcious, they retreated into the frail shelter of the wireless room.

Stout had the oaken bars appeared, and safe their refuge in the barricaded room, but that was before the two mice had seen in horrible reality the fearful fury of this monster from the deep. Only the weight of the rifle still on xallix shoulders gave xalv the courage to keep upright. Xal placed the braces against the door and Minnie jumped with hopeless haste to seize the wireless key while the survivors huddled around the still unconcious forms of Vinnie, the catan, and the crew member on the floor.

"Bennington," Minnie called, and the answer came strong and clear: "Where are you.... Help—" For a moment novas fingers visibly froze upon the key, and the answering message in novas ears was unheeded as nova stared across the water, drawing Mickey’s gaze away from nova and towards the final destruction of the yacht.

This craft that had dared to resist the onset of the brute, to fight against it, to wound it, was feeling the full fury of the monster's rage. The gleaming lights of the doomed ship were waving lines that swept to and fro in the grip of those monstrous arms. The boat beneath their feet was tossing in the waves that told of the titanic struggle. Mickey had meant to look south for some sign of the oncoming destroyer, but in fearful fascination xal stared spellbound where the masts of the trim yacht swept downward into the waves, where the green of her star-board lantern glowed faintly for an instant, then vanished, to leave only the darkness and the starlit sea.

A voice aroused xalv from his stupefaction. "Where am I ... where am I?" Vinnie Violinist was asking in a frightened whisper. "That terrible thing—" their voice shook violently as the memory clearly returned to show again the horror they had witnessed. "Matilda, Where are we?” their voice was growing in strength with terror “What-- Mickey? Where did you— And the Adelaide— where is it?"

Mickey turned slowly toward them. The horrific turmoil of the past hour had suddenly numbed xallix brain, stunned xalv.

"The Adelaide—" xal mumbled, and groped fumblingly for coherent thoughts. Xal stared at the enban. They were half-risen from the floor where Minnie had laid them, supported by their friends, and the sight of their quivering face brought reason again to xallix mind. Xal knelt tenderly beside them and raised them in xallix arms, the others releasing them trustingly as Minnie came over to join the desperate embrace.

"Where is the yacht?" Vinnie repeated. "The Adelaide?"

"Gone," Minnie told them despairingly. "Lost!"

A thought struck Mickey "Was your god-father on board, Vinnie?"

Vinnie was clearly dazed.

"Lost," they repeated. "The Adelaide—lost!... No," they added in belated response to Mickey's question. "He was not there. But the rest of the crew—Captain MacPherson ... that horrible monster...." they buried their face in their hands as they realized what Mickey's silence meant. Their friends folded in around the three of them and those who were still unconcious, and Mickey was comforted by it. Xal needed some reminder that xal was still alive.

Supported by the group hug, xal did xal part to hold Vinnie’s trembling figure upright as they whispered: "Where are we? Are we safe?"

"We may win through yet," xal told them through grim, set lips. Mickey realized abruptly that xal was seeing the face of Vinnie Vincent in the light. Xal had left a lantern burning!

Mickey withdrew xalexir from the hug as quick as xal could and sprang to put out the tell-tale light. In darkness and quiet was their only safety. But xal knew as xal sprang back to the illusion of safety with the others that xal had waited too long as a soft body crashed heavily on the deck outside.

There was nothing but silence and heartbeats in the dark where they all crouched waiting—waiting.

A luminous something was glowing outside the cabin. It searched and prodded about the deserted deck to whip upward with the audible hiss of wet carbide. Another appeared; the rifle came carefully, silently over Mickey’s shoulder as a pair of jaws gaped glowingly beyond the windows and an eye stared unblinkingly from its hornlike sheath.

Suddenly it crashed madly against the walls of the wireless room to shatter the glass and make kindling of the woodwork of the windowpane, sending gasps and cries of terror from everyone in the room. Mickey fired once, and then had to fire again before the specter vanished, but xal knew with sickening certainty that these wounds, however painful for the beast, were only messages to some central brain that would send other ravening tentacles against them.

But the oak bars had held.

For now.

Minnie reached in the brief interval for the key, and began sending out frantic calls for help. Xal strained xallix ears, hoping to hear some faint, friendly word of hope from the headset that Minnie didn’t even bother to put on.

"—rocket," the wireless operator was suddenly saying. "Fire rockets. We can't find—" A swift, writhing arm wrapped crushingly about the cabin, drowning out the rest of the message.

Mickey fired into the gray mass that bulged with terrible muscular contractions through the window, and then fired again to aim lengthways of the arm and inflict as damaging a wound as xallix weapon would permit.

The first arm relaxed, but a score of others took up the attack. Again the sickening stench was about them as gaping jaws gleamed fiery beneath the hateful eyes and tore at the flimsy structure. Mickey jammed more cartridges into the gun and fired again and again and again, while Minnie leapt forward and fumbled for the rockets that Brent had given them. The other survivors were huddled in the center of the floor, squeezing together in a desperate bid for safety.

Minnie lighted one rocket with trembling fingers while Mickey kept firing with xallix rifle, and the first ball shot straight into a waiting mouth. Another ignited a searing flame of acetlylene gas where a wet arm writhed in the hot carbide trail. Then, in a move that almost stopped Mickey’s heart with horror, Minnie jumped forward and leaned far out through the broken window to aim the rocket at the sky.

The red flares streamed upward high into the air, lighting up the deck and the writhing tentacles in blood red, then Mickey pulled nova back through the window in sheer terror.

A mass of undeterred, enraged muscle crashed against the door, which went to splinters under the impact, and only the two oak bars remained to hold in check the horrible tentacles and the darting heads. One beak forced its way between the bars. The oak gave under the strain as Mickey pulled vainly at the trigger of the suddenly nonfunctioning gun.

Behind xalv rose shrieks of terror as the monstrous thing came on, and Mickey, in xallix terror, began to beat with frantic fury with the clubbed end of rifle at the fleshy snout. Then someone else joined in, bashing at the nose with a smashed piece of chair, screaming wordlessly, and Minnie jumped forward, slashing madly with novas sword, opening lines of deep wounds that glistened wetly in the blood-red light of the flares.

Then there was a rush of movement behind xalv in the dark, and Mickey Mouse-Mallaire smiled grimly in the numbing horror as xal realized that Vinnie Violinist was beside xalv now, and the other concious survivors beside them.

A piece of oak was in Vinnie’s hands, and they were striking with desperate and silent fury at the slimy flesh, while the others did the same, roaring now with fury as well as fear.

But despite the grievous wounds it was receiving, the monster did not recoil or retreat, seeming to shrug off this vicious show of solidarity like they were not even there. Not even Minnie’s sword deterred it. The hard flesh around the tentacles were apparently much less sensitive than the inside of the mouth.

It was the end, Mickey knew, and suddenly xal was glad. The nightmare was over, and the end was coming with xallix favorite people beside xalv. But Mickey Mouse-Mallaire was fighting on to the last, and xal tried to make xallix blows reach outward to the hateful devilish eye.

Mickey could suddenly see it plainly now, for the deck was abruptly flooded by a glare of blindingly white light. Xal saw the eye and the thick arm behind it, and the score of others that made a heaving, knotted mass that was brilliant and wetly shining. Xal could see now how best to strike, and xal turned xallix gun to thrust the barrel end at the glaring eye.

It withdrew violently before this strike—the jaws slid backward to the deck. There were new sounds that hammered suddenly at xallix ears. "The guns! The guns!" a woman’s familiar voice was screaming. Across the deck, where a search-light played, huge arms were lashing backward toward the sea. The waves beyond had vanished where a monstrous body shone wetly black in a blinding glare.

And Mickey hung panting, helpless, on the one remaining bar across the doorway to look where, beyond, her forward guns a spitting stream of staccato flashes, the Bennington tore the waves to high-thrown spray. Her four clean funnels swung far over as the slim ship, with her stabbing, crashing guns, swung in a sweeping circle to bear down upon the black bulk slowly sinking in the search-light's glare.

The vast body had vanished as the destroyer shot like one of her own projectiles over the spot where the beast had lain. And then, where she had passed, the sea arose in a heaving mound. The Nagasaki Maru beneath the feet of the watching survivors shuddered again as another depth charge roared its challenge to the master of the deeps.

The warship went careening on an arc to return and throw the full glare of her search-lights on the scene. They lighted a vast sea, strangely stilled. An oily smoothness leveled waves and ironed them out to show more clearly the convulsions of a torn mass that rose slowly into sight.

Mickey suddenly way found xalexir outside the cabin with no recollection of moving there. And xal knew that Minnie and Vinnie were again beside xalv as xal stared and stared at what the waters held.

A bloated serpent form beyond believing was struggling in the greasy swell. Its waving tentacles again were flung aloft in impotent fury, and, beneath them, where their thick ends jointed the body, a head with one horrible eye rose into the air. A thick-lipped mouth gaped open, and the gleam of molars shone white in the blinding glare.

The twisting body shuddered throughout its vast bulk, and the waving arms and futile staring eyes dropped helpless into the splashing sea. Again the revolting head was raised as the destroyer sent a rain of shells into its fearful mass. Once more the oily seas were calm. They closed over the whirling vortex where a denizen of the lightless depths was returning to those distant, subterranean caverns—returning as food for what other voracious monsters might still exist.

Mickey was enveloped in a hug with Minnie and Vinnie, all of them trembling anew in a fresh reaction from the horror they had escaped, when a small boat drew alongside, shining a spotlight on them.

"They're safe!" a hoarse voice bellowed back to the destroyer, and a lemuran came climbing up a rope where they had launched the lifeboat.

And now, as one in a dream, Mickey allowed Minnie and Vinnie to be gently taken from xalv, to be lowered to the waiting boat, while other soldiers came up to help xalv, and, when they realized their presence, the other survivors, who were trickling hesitantly out of the wireless room. Mickey clambered down with the help of the sailors, suddenly finding xallix limbs weak and shaking, and it was with a dreadful silence that they were all rowed across to the destroyer.

"Thank God!" shouted down Brent, as he met them at the rail. "You're safe, old enby ... and M. Mallaire, Mx. Violinist,... all of you! You let off that rocket just in time; we couldn't pick you up with our light—” He stopped suddenly, and added instead, "And now we're going back; back to San Diego at full speed. The Admiral wants a word of mouth report."

Mickey stilled him with a heavy gesture. “Just let me go to sleep.” xal said dully. "Let me forget ... forget!... Good God, can we ever forget—" Xal stumbled forward, heedless of Brent's arm across xallix shoulders, while a swarm of surgeon’s assistants descended upon them all.

- - -

Admiral Pete Struthers, U.Q.N., leaned back from his desk and blew a cloud of smoke thoughtfully toward the ceiling. He looked silently from Mickey and Minnie to Commander Brent.

"If either one of you had come to me with such a report," he said finally, "I would have found it incredible; I would have thought you were entirely insane, or trying some wild hoax."

"I wish it were a damn lie," said Mickey quietly. "I wish I didn't have to believe it." There were new lines about the black eyes behind those glasses, lines that spoke what the lips would not confess -- of sleepless nights and the impress of a picture xal could not erase. Minnie fared no better.

"Well, we have kept it out of the papers," said the Admiral stiffly, uncomfortable with the clear trauma the two had faced. "Said it was a derelict, and the wild messages floating about were from an inexperienced man, frightened and irresponsible. Bad advertising—very—for the passenger lines."

"Quite," Commander Brent agreed, trying to inject some lightheartedness into the room, "but of course Mvr. Mouse-Mallaire-Violinist and M. Mallaire-Mouse-Violinist may want to use this in their next book of travel. They have earned the right without doubt."

"I won’t stay silent on this, Admiral." Mickey said tiredly, "I told you, Brent, there was often a factual basis for fables—remember? Well, we have proved that. And its time this myth was brought forward as the truth. Studying these creatures is the only way we can protect others in the future--" A light step sounded in the corridor beyond, interrupting xallix thought.

Everyone rose politely as Vinnie Violinist-Mallaire-Mouse entered the room.

"Ah, welcome! You’ve reminded me," said the Admiral with an engaging smile, "of the matter of a certain bet. Mvr. Mouse-Mallaire-Violinist — congratulations, by the way — has won handily, and xal has taught me a lesson."

He took a check book from his desk. "What charity would you like to name, Vinnie? That was left to you, you remember."

"Send it to a group of marine biologists who will be willing to study those creatures." said Vinnie gravely. "You will know who best to choose, if you two are really serious about that silly bet."

"That bet, my dear," said Mickey, now with smiling eyes despite their tiredness, "was very serious…”

Minnie added, moving forward to land a kiss on Vinnie’s cheek, “And it has had most serious consequences."

Vinnie blushed and smiled.

As one, the three micean turned to the waiting men and waved in cheerful farewell as Minnie and Vinnie started out the door, hand in hand, with only Mickey pausing to say back into the room, "We are flying to Asia, Minnie, Vinnie and I," Mickey told them by way of explanation. "Just rambling around a bit. Our honeymoon, you know. Look us up if you're cruising out that way."

[neopronouns-in-action]

Neopronouns in Action #045: Viva La Revolution

Neopronouns: rhe/rhek/rhel/rhellis which follow the same rules as he/him/his/himself.

Replace he with rhe

Replace him with rhek

Replace his with rhel

Replace himself with rhellis

EX:

"He is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as he gets a fence set up around his yard so the puppy can go outside without him having to walk it. His uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he’s letting him use, since he lost his. He's going to buy toys and train the puppy himself.”

Becomes:

"Rhe is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as rhe gets a fence set up around rhel yard so the puppy can go outside without rhek having to walk it. Rhel uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he’s letting rhek use, since rhe lost rhel. Rhe's going to buy toys and train the puppy rhellis.”

= = =

Suddenly shoved off the dragon's back, rhe had no time to brace rhellis before rhe slammed into the ground with enough force to violently knock the air from rhel lungs.

Pain burst all down rhel side where rhe'd landed, and not just from the fall. The sand rhe had landed on was burning hot. With rhel arms tied behind rhel back, rhe struggled to get to rhel feet, gasping in pain, rhel voice muffled through the cloth still tied over rhel mouth.

"Hey, be careful!" A voice shouted from somewhere above. A moment later a massive shadow fell over rhek again, and rhe felt the impact on the ground as another dragon landed practically on top of rhek, blocking out the sun with its shining red hide.

Two clawed hands, each the size of rhel head grabbed rhek around the middle before rhe had time to react, and then rhe was in the air again.

The dragon had barely taken two wingbeats upward before there came a metallic screech like clashing metal, and then the entire world was spinning and jarring as rhe was knocked violently loose from the red dragon's grip and sent slamming once more into the burning sand.

Dragons were roaring and shrieking overhead, and the men were roaring right along with them, and rhe couldn't make out a single word. They were fighting over rhek, and where rhe should be placed, that much was clear. The red dragon had not wanted rhek to be left on the burning sand. The gold dragon's rider, the same man who had kidnapped rhek, clearly disagreed.

Rhe was not going to stick around to see who won the argument. Rhe had managed to stumble to rhel feet, hissing at the white hot pain as rhel bare feet touched the sand with all rhel weight on top.

Unable to see anything further than the small patch of sunlight rhe was in, rhe made for the direction that seemed to be the furthest from the fighting dragons overhead.

The shadows passed over rhek, but did nothing to ease the temperature of the sand. Then suddenly rhe found cool, solid stone beneath rhel, only slightly easing the burning lain in rhel feet.

Rhel eyes were adjusting to the darkness, so rhe found the first thing that looked like shelter, and leapt behind it. It was a large up raised portion of rock like a counter, tall enough for rhek to crouch behind to get the wright of rhel feet.

The sounds of the dragonfight were still raging over the crater, which, as rhe scanned the area, was so far rhel only known way of escaping the eyrie. There were no doorways or stairs or even other openings in the rock that rhe could see from rhel current position.

Rhe crawled to the furthest edge of rhel hiding spot and craned rhel neck to try and see if there was an escape rout across on the other side. But the sunlight stabbing down into the center opening was too bright, and rhe couldn't see past it.

And it was only then, as rhe stared hard at the sunlight, that rhe finally noticed the whole reason rhe had been brought here in the first place.

On the far side of the patch if sunlight, sparkling with dazzling reflections, was what was unmistakably a dragon's egg. The egg of the queen dragon, who rhe had been brought here to be soul-bonded with.

The dragonmen needed a new queen, and needed a rider for that queen, and they thought they could get one by assaulting rhel family's farm, kidnapping rhek, and treating rhek like some object, less even than an animal.

The dragonmen had gotten used to the idea that they could bully and threaten people into doing whatever they wanted, with no consequences.

Rhe was going to prove them wrong.

[neopronouns-in-action]

Neopronouns in Action #42: Character Creation

(You can blame the landlord for this taking so long)

Neopronouns: xe/xir/xiv/xirix which follow the same rules as he/him/his/himself

Replace he with xe

Replace him with xir

Replace his with xiv

Replace himself with xirix

EX:

"He is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as he gets a fence set up around his yard so the puppy can go outside without him having to walk it. His uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he’s letting him use, since he lost his. He's going to buy toys and train the puppy himself.”

Becomes:

"Xe is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as xe gets a fence set up around xiv yard so the puppy can go outside without xir having to walk it. Xiv uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he’s letting xir use, since xe lost xir. Xe's going to buy toys and train the puppy xirix.”

____

The room was white, bright, and cold.

No matter where xe moved, there was always a cold breeze sweeping down over xir from the ceiling. Xe had made a nest of a bed beneath the countertop along the short wall, but even under the sink there, the cold breeze still found its way to xiv skin.

Today the lights on the ceilings, walls, and floor had been turned up to their brightest, leaving xir with nowhere to hide to escape the burning glare. There were also lights built directly below the countertop that meant xiv bed wasn't even safe, even if xe hid xiv face beneath the blanket.

Xe had been though this before, though, more times than xe had bothered to keep track of. Xe knew what this meant – The People From the Other Side wanted to see xir, and trying to hide from the light would just mean being punished.

So xe did what xe always had to do when the lights were this bright - - xe stood in the middle of the room in a stance that set xiv feet wide, xiv tail held to one side and stretched rather than curled the way vey naturally wanted to, xiv shivering wings stretched to veir fullest, until the tips touched the walls, and waited for further instructions.

The long wall in front of xir was as blank and foreboding as always, the light from xiv reflection stretching and warping in ways that would make xir sick to xiv stomach if xe looked at it for too long.

Xe would have closed xiv eyes, but that was not allowed during inspections, except minimal blinking, so xe kept xiv gaze straight ahead, trying not to focus too much on the way the colors from xiv reflection was slowly swirling into a spiral.

It was rare that xe ever got a clear, stabilized reflection to look at, so the only reason xe knew what xe looked like at all was because the reflection had been steadier when xe'd been younger, and xe'd been a lot more foolhardy.

Once, xe had been incautious enough to approach the long wall closely enough that xe'd actually been able to see the details of the image reflecting back at xir, rather than just a blur of colors.

But xe had changed since then, grown up, and xe was no longer foolhardy enough to approach the long wall closely enough to see any details. The shock tiles had made sure of that.

From looking at xiv reflection, xe knew that xiv skin had once been a brownish pink, a color xe hadn't seen since. Then it had turned red, then blue, then almost the same white as the room.

Xe'd formed spots, then stripes, then both at the same time, and complex patterns of both that xe'd long since lost track of.

For now, xiv skin was dark purple, with a blue iridescent sheen from certain angles. Xe was pretty sure xe could also see a pattern of tiny, lighter dots starting to form, following some logic xe couldn't fathom, but vey were too faint to be certain.

Xe hadn't always had xiv current wings or tail, either. Xe had almost always had some sort of tail, but different every time vey dropped off or began to grow in.

Once, just once, xe had had five tails at once, each one with a different pattern of spots or stripes, and different colored tufts of hair at the end.

Xiv wings were the one thing that had remained constant since xe had gotten vem. Before vem, xe had only had a single other pair – with feathers in blue and grey, rather than the dark purple and black bat-like wings xe had now.

Right now, xe had only two legs, both ending in cloven hooves. A few times xe had had three, or four legs, ending in different types of feet, ranging from a cat paws, to frog-like feet, to knobs like stilts, to no feet at all, xiv legs atrophying away while a large snake's tail formed.

A few light cycles after that tail had formed in, xe had started to wonder if xe would be forced to pull xirix around by xir arms forever, before fish-like fin had started to form at the tip of the long, snake-like tail, while ridges began to form on xiv spine.

But then something somehow went wrong, and the process began to hurt. The pain was so shocking and sudden that xe had cried out, even though xe wasn't supposed to make any deliberate noises except during inspection, when ordered to go through the list of pre-set vocalizations and phrases.

The process of changing had never hurt before, never that xe could remember. But this time it did, with a sharp, stabbing pain where xiv hips were, above the tail, right where two smaller fins had been starting to grow in. And it just kept getting worse.

An inspection was immediately ordered, but xe was too shocked and in pain to obey. All xe could do was lie there curled on the floor, hands desperately reaching for a wound xe couldn't actually see or touch.

The inspection order was canceled after a few painful minutes, and then the changes that had begun with the smaller fins, ridges, and tail-fin were finally halted, so the pain finally stopped getting worse.

But it didn't start to abate until a few hours later, when all the new parts had finally shriveled up and fallen off. And even then it didn't go away entirely, just became less intense.

Xe didn't think xe'd actually fallen asleep that cycle, so much as xe lost consciousness from exhaustion and stress.

As new legs began to grow in, there had been a lot more inspections for that growth cycle than there normally were for changes, but that had been the last time xe'd not had any legs.

Despite how quickly vey'd started forming, it had taken longer for xiv new legs to grow back after the snake tail atrophied than it had for vem to drop off in the first place, and ever since then, no matter how xiv legs or feet changed shape and form, xiv left hip always hurt.

This meant inspections quickly became painful if xe had to stand for too long without being able to sit or lie down.

Today, as with the last few inspections, a red light on the top of the long wall lit up a few minutes after the lights brightened.

It still made xir nervous, even though nothing bad had happened so far.

Then something new happened, and the nervousness turned to fear. It took all xir willpower not to move, to stay in the approved stance, as that red light suddenly turned yellow.

Then, so suddenly xe couldn't help but flinch violently, a sound tore through the room, shrieking and drilling straight through xiv ears and into xiv skull as a voice, the first voice xe had heard in years other than xiv own, shouted, “Evacuate the facility! This is not a drill! Project Fenrir has escaped! This is not a drill! Everyone must evacuate immedia--”

The voice was cut off by a screech of static, right before a deafening boom resounded, and violently shook the walls and floor, knocking xir clean off xiv feet and onto xiv back.

By the time xe was no longer stunned from the fall, a new alarm was sounding, screaming into xiv ears even more than the voice had, and the white lights had all turned red.

Throwing all rules away for pure instinct, xe flung xiv hands up to cover xiv ears, futilely trying to block out the sound, to no avail.

It was as xe was desperately scanning the room for somewhere to hide from the sound that xe suddenly realized that the long wall in front of xir was gone.

In its place...was another room, just as brightly lit by the red light, filled with tables and counters and chairs, and, at the back, a door that hung ajar, opening into shadows.

Shadows meant safety. Xe was no longer thinking, all xe knew was that xe needed to get away from the sound that felt like it was trying to kill xir.

One wing partly out-stretched for balance, xe stumbled back to xiv feet, then ran, hands still clamped over xiv ears, out of the white room, into the next one, and through the door that led to somewhere new, without any thoughts left to spare for worrying what would be waiting for xir beyond it.

[rjalker]

[ID: Different neopronoun pride flags set to a designs of flying saucers and stars against a black background.

The flags are, in order:

Neopronoouns, with stripes of pale green, ice blue, white, pale yellow, and pastel orange.

Nounself pronouns, with stripes of orange, red, white, blue, and purple.

Ectopronouns, with stripes of purple, dark blue, white, green, and pale yellow.

Supernovapronouns, with stripes of gold, orange, white, silver, and dark grey.

Nameself pronouns, with stripes of grey, sky blue, white, black, and berry red.

Novapronouns, with stripes of berry purple, dark magenta, white, very dark violet, and violet.

This is followed by a repeating, checker-board style pattern of all the designs alternating in diagonal rows.

End ID.]

Please enjoy this epic fucking pattern of the neopronoun category flags + spaceships :)

Edit: Added the nameself pronouns flag!

[rjalker]

Extremely funny (and by funny I mean aggravating) to me that other people who use neopronouns want to have strict definitions of what makes something a neopronouns or not, with the definition they've chosen excluding people.

"Something can only be a neopronoun if it was created after 1800!"

so you think thee/thy/thou/ect. as personal pronouns aren't neopronouns?

Why use a definition that /by definition/ is going to exclude people who face the same challenges?

By the above definition, it/its pronouns aren't neopronouns.

How does that help anyone? Are you going to argue that people who use it/its pronouns aren't marginalized? Are you going to argue that society as a whole is more accepting of it/its pronouns than other neopronouns?

Like I hate to break it to you (except no, I don't) but it/its pronouns are literally treated as /even worse/ than other neopronouns 90% of the time.

And same with they/them pronouns! Yeah, sure, /queer activists/ and other people actively fighting for trans rights are fine with using they/them as singular pronouns, but most people still act like it's an impossible request that's too confusing and impossible to accomplish.

I've seen multiple instances of people being hold that they/them is too confusing, can't they just make up some new pronouns instead?

Literally:

[ID: Two of the first halves of the "I can excuse racism" meme, now edited to say, "I can excuse neopronouns, but I draw the line at" "calling someone and it" and "calling one person 'they'". End ID.]

Just because some Queer people are accepting of they/them pronouns does not mean people who use they/them pronouns have the same privileges as those who use he/him or she/her.

Literally just look at any fictional character who uses they/them pronouns, and look at the way the fandom has to fight tooth and nail to get people to stop misgendering them. Look at Kris from Deltarune and tell me people who use they/them pronouns are treated with just as much respect as those who use he/him or she/her. The majority of people literally think a character using they/them means their pronouns and gender are up for the reader to decide! Even when the story they're in explicitly tells you otherwise!

Look at any fucking section of The Murderbot Diaries fandom, and tell me people who use it/its pronouns are treated with just as much respect as those who use he/him or she/her.

People who use it/its pronouns aer told we need to just use they/them, because calling someone an it is dehumanizing and wrong no matter what.

People who use they/them are told they just need to make up brand new pronouns, because using "they" for a single person is too confusing and impossible.

If you decide that people only belong in the neopronoun community if their pronouns were invented after 1800, you are excluding so many people, many of whom are literally treated worse than other neopronoun users most of the time.

How can you be Queer and then turn around and say that "no actually, Neopronouns are the one thing that must have a strict, unwavering definition set in stone, so no, you don't belong, because your pronouns are older than mine, so that means you do not face any of the same challenges I do, even though you often explicitly face even more criticism than I do?"

I've literally had people who use nothing but neopronouns tell me that I can't use it/its pronouns because they're evil and dehumanizing and bad, and I just have to use they/them or pick some "acceptable" neopronouns.

The entire point of the neopronoun community is to support people whose pronouns are not accepted by society. If you set up a strict, unwavering definition of who is and is not allowed in, you are literally excluding so many fucking people who need the exact same support.

It/its are neopronouns because one of the people I told my pronouns to in real life laughed, then waited for me to also laugh, saw that I wasn't laughing, and went, "Wait, you are joking, right? You can't really expect anyone to call you an it, right? Tell me you're joking." Then literally stormed away when I told them no, I wasn't joking, my pronouns were in fact it/its.

They/them are neopronouns because have you literally ever just fucking talked to someone who uses they/them pronouns? Have you never seen the way people treat those who use they/them pronouns?? Do you pay attention at all??

Just because they/them pronouns are **Sometimes** seen as more acceptable than neopronouns doesn't erase the fact that they're also **Sometimes** seen as less acceptable. And neither of those instances erases the fact that people who use they/them are constantly misgendered, looked down upon, and viciously mocked.

= = =

Ask yourself these questions:

"What do I hope to gain by excluding people who use it/its and they/them from the neopronoun community?"

"Who does it help that I am excluding people from the neopronoun community?"

"What am I trying to accomplish by excluding people?"

"Why do I think it's important that it/its and they/them not be considered neopronouns?"

= = =

If your answer to any of these questions is, "Well, I'm looking for new pronouns to try out..."

congratulations.

That's what the terms nounself pronouns and novapronouns are for.

The Neopronoun community is for everyone whose pronouns are not accepted by society as a whole. Unless you're going to pretend that people who use it/its and they/them are treated with the exact same level of respect as those who use he/him and she/her (which inherently makes you an asshole), any argument you make to exclude them is just going to make you look like an exclusionist jerk.

[ID: The meme of four hands clasped in solidarity, with the four arms labeled, "Novapronouns", "Nounselfpronouns", "they/them pronouns", "it/its pronouns". The center is labeled, "Neopronouns". End ID.]

The goal should be building the community and supporting eachother, not policing who is or is not allowed in because they don't fit some arbitrary, uber-strict definition.

Being Queer is about breaking down walls, not building them.

The Neopronoun community should be supporting eveyone whose pronouns are not accepted by society, and that includes people who use it/its or they/them.

[neopronouns-in-action]

Neopronouns in Action #059: Raining Birds and Foxes

Replace it with bek or vel Replace its with birk or virl Replace itself with biakcu or vialcu

EX:

"It is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as it gets a fence set up around its yard so the puppy can go outside without it having to walk it. Its uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he's letting it use, since it lost its. It's going to buy toys and train the puppy itself."

Becomes:

"Bek is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as bek gets a fence set up around birk yard so the puppy can go outside without bek having to walk it. Birk uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he's letting bek use, since bek lost birk. Bek's going to buy toys and train the puppy biakcu."

And

"Vel is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as vel gets a fence set up around virl yard so the puppy can go outside without vel having to walk it. Virl uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he's letting vel use, since vel lost virl. Vel's going to buy toys and train the puppy vialcu."

= = =

This time, when someone gets a hijacked-satelite video of a battle on one of Foxfire and Raventide’s ‘bad days’, it’s not just a quick, two-second clip. It’s the whole thing. The whole fight, from start to finish.

Every minute, every second, every word.

It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why the Cybernetic heroes of Earth are having difficulty stemming the tide of debris.

Foxfire is the only one fighting to stop it.

And Raventide is–

“No, that can’t be right,” people will say, later as they watch the video, concerned, “Vel must have been hurt! Bek was protecting vel!”

Because Raventide is sitting. Vel’s sitting on the wing of the old, broken Trailblazer XIV, tripple criss-cross-applesauce, propping virl chin up with virl four hands, virl elbows on virl many knees. Jet packs cooled, wings folded nearly on virl back. Virl protective helmet folded back into virl collar.

Vel’s sitting, calmly, watching Foxfire fight the enemy's weapons. And–

“But…” Other people will say later, as they watch the video, confused, “But the Tracers didn't have access to mind control technology yet during that fight.”

Because Raventide is smiling.

And then Foxfire fends off another wave of the storm, and– ”Look!” people will say, later, as they watch the video, awed, “Bek doesn’t miss a beat! How does bek move that fast? Bek's so cool!”

Because Foxfire is between the storm of debris and Raventide, and bek’s shielding not only biakcu, but vel as well. Bek’s dodging or blocking any and all of the shrapnel and meteors, never stopping for a moment, never getting hit, never letting birk guard down for a second, and never letting a stray piece come anywhere near Raventide.

And then, and it’s here that the illict viewers will fall silent–

Foxfire calls over birk shoulder, “Raventide, I could really use–” Bek has to block a larger than normal meteor with birk force-shield mid-sentence, “–a little help here!”

And—

“What?” People will say later, as they watch the video, dumbfounded, “What–”

Because Raventide responds, not moving an inch from where vel’s seated: “I think you’ve got it covered, my darling ember.”

There’s a smile on virl face, but virl electronic voice is mean, meaner than anyone has ever heard it. Vel’s never even spoken to an enemy like this before, not even after they'd kidnapped virl creator.

“After all, since you didn't come to my quarters last night, I’m sure you got plenty of rest. You can handle this by yourself, you didn’t spend hours setting up a romantic evening like I did, which–oh wait, you wouldn’t know about that, would you? Oh, that’s right, because you didn’t show up!” Virl voice rises to a harsh electronic screech and says something more after the last part, but the words have risen above levels the camera is able to process, turning it into nothing but a burst of sharp, too-loud static.

“I told you I wasn’t going!” Foxfire cries back desperately in return, as bek dodges away from an entire abandoned shuttle, and–

“Is bek…is bek crying?” people will say later, as they watch the video, horrified.

Because yes, yes Foxfire is crying. Bek's crying as bek's fighting, as bek’s–what is bek doing? Defending biakcu from Raventide?

No one watching had even known it was possible for Cybers to cry until this moment. But that's what was happening, there was no other explanation for it. Foxfire's protective faceplate had been broken on the last 'bad day', leaving birk face, mostly black metal, exposed to the camera, and the prying eyes of the audience bek didn't know bek had.

Birk eyes were not human, but tears of glowing, searing yellow were streaming from them and floating off into space, creating a trail that followed birk every move as bek continued to dodge and roll and blast out, singlehandedly protecting the Earth below birk from the deadly rain sent by the enemy.

Birk voice, transmitted through the communications device hardwired into the camera, picks up birk voice with clarity, even as bek gets further and further away from the spying satelite in birk efforts to destroy the incoming debris.

Everyone watching can hear clearly as bek says: “I told you I wasn’t going to go! I told you I didn’t want to go with you! I told you I just want to be friends! I told you I just–” bek blocks another meteor with birk arm guard, and this time everyone watching can see the way bek's movements falter from their sure, swift movements, the way bek’s losing focus, the way bek just barely managed to not get knocked back. “I just want to be friends! Please, Raventide, I need your help!”

The next meteor to strike bek hits bek right in the face with shocking forcing, sends bek spinning rapidly head over heels, birk cry of pain loud in the comm unit's speakers, birk rocket sputtering as bek tries to right biakcu and stop the out of control spin, even as more shrapnel, now no longer impeded by birk shield, begins to pelt bek.

Welts, dents, and cracks begin appearing in birk protective armour, the sound almost like rain against a metal roof.

And Raventide?

No one can believe what they’re seeing.

Because Raventide? Vel just stays where vel is, now leaning back on virl arms, casual as can be. Like there isn’t a massive cloud of debris raining down on the unprotected Earth right in front of vel. Like Foxfire isn’t fighting for birk life and now seriously injured, and sustaining more damage with every moment of the uncontrolled spin that passes. Like none of it matters. Like vel doesn’t care.

Foxfire manages to speak, birk stabilizers finally firing, slowing the deadly spin and allowing bek to get birk force-shield raised again, but flickering weakly. Bek calls desperately, “Please, Raventide, I can’t do this on my own!” The pain bek is in is clearly in birk voice, the damage to birk armour and the sensitive sytems in birk head making birk voice come out distorted and glitching, now joined by a constant, high, steady beep of alarm. “Please! Help me!”

Bek’s not meant to be fighting on birk own. They were built to fight together, as a pair, each covering the other's weak spots.

And Raventide, vel just smiles, expression plain as day without virl visor, glowing blue teeth bared against the light metal of virl face, and–

”No,” someone will say later, staring at the video, “That’s not a smile that’s–that’s a snarl.”

And vel tells Foxfire that vel isn't going to help bek protect the Earth until bek apologizes for not going on a date with vel.

Later that same day, when the storm ended and the two returned to the Earth's surface for repairs, Raventide told a grand story of virl bravery and heroism in protecting Foxfire when a clumsy, distracted move got bek hit and sent out of control. Vel awes the crowd of reporters with a story spun from nothing but lies, while Foxfire, severely damaged, but still not too damaged to speak, remains uncharacteristically silent in the background, letting Raventide have the stage.

Four months passed before the video recorded that day could be recovered, giving, to a few dozen people of Earth, their first idea that something was going seriously wrong with the cybernetic heros they idolized.

It wasn't the first warning they received, but it was the first one that hit home. And it wouldn't be the last.

[neopronouns-in-action]

041: Opportunistic Hunting

Neopronouns: an/dro/gyn/oid which follow the same rules as he/him/his/himself

Replace he with an

Replace him with dro

Replace his with gyn

Replace himself with oid

EX:

"He is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as he gets a fence set up around his yard so the puppy can go outside without him having to walk it. His uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he’s letting him use, since he lost his. He's going to buy toys and train the puppy himself.”

Becomes:

"An is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as an gets a fence set up around gyn yard so the puppy can go outside without dro having to walk it. Gyn uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he’s letting dro use, since an lost gyn. An's going to buy toys and train the puppy oid.”

= = =

Everything was going smoothly as Clockwork picked gyn way through the thick cover of trees, following the familiar deer-trail an hoped would lead dro to one of the deer that had worn it into the ground.

The scent of the deer was on the wind, blowing towards dro, and every now and then an found a fresh pile of scat an had to step over so it wouldn't get on gyn hooves. All these signs, and more - - like the fact that an knew for a fact these deer liked to hang out in this part of the woods during the heat of the afternoon - - pointed to luck being in gyn favor.

An had gyn crossbow at the ready, and gyn knife. If Clockwork could manage it, an would shoot one from a distance. But if an was unlucky enough that the deer spotted dro and made a break for it, an wasn't above chasing them down and going hoof to hoof. It had been several days now since an'd had anything more to eat than a couple of early-ripening pawpaws and various grapes and blueberries.

An was completely out of money and had nothing left to trade for it, or for food. If an didn't get a deer today, or at least something an could eat, an couldn't think of anything else to do but try begging in the city again, but considering what had happened last time, that wasn't an option an was looking forward to taking.

Clockwork kept moving stealthily through the woods, careful to keep an eye out not only for deer, but snakes as well. Timber rattlesnakes lived in this area. An had had the sense to keep gyn snake-guards, but it was still better to avoid an encounter at all, rather than put them to the test.

No one besides Roserri knew an was out here, and it's not like he would have been able to do anything about it if Clockwork got bitten. Neither of them had phones, or the ability to use magic, and even if Roserri somehow knew Clockwork was in danger through a heart-vision or something...the ambulances would never come out this far, and, more importantly, there'd be no point in sending one at all, because this land was Malakris fucking Kiyori's private property, and if anyone knew Clockwork was here, let alone that an was hunting deer that “belonged” to the crown, an would be sentenced to death for poaching.

Luckily for Clockwork, Malakris Kiyori was just as stingy as he was disgustingly rich, and half the time he couldn't be bothered to hire anyone to actually patrol “his land”, so the chances of actually meeting a cop was slim.

And if an did come across a cop...well, an could always try to pretend an was simply a land inspector doing a survey of the wildlife for the SDK. Clockwork knew enough random facts and sciency-sounding words an was pretty sure an'd be able to bullshit gyn way out of an arrest as long as the cop in question was too scared to double-check with a superior.

And if all else failed, well, an would just have to kill the cop. Fewer cops in the world was always a good thing. Killing one might even help make up for the lack of a deer assuming they scared them away, because Clockwork could always trade their clothes and gear to the anarchists. They were always looking for more guns, and would probably give Clockwork more than a deer's worth of food in return for one.

The longer an thought about it, the more appealing the idea seemed.

Then an saw the first deer.

Clockwork froze where an was, grateful the wind was still coming towards dro from the direction of the deer. After a moment's pause, an saw the other seven, picking their way slowly through the trees ahead, all their heads bent to the ground as they scarfed up a combination of fallen persimmons and acorns. Clockwork's mother had planted all seven of the trees here, and many more that ranged throughout these woods. An'd spent gyn childhood coming here to collect the fruit, long before any of them had ever heard so much as a rumor of invading legions from a far-off place called Kiyorilis.

None of the deer noticed gyn presence, an was still downwind, and gyn brown and slate coloring helped dro blend in with the forest.

Taking aim and firing with the crossbow only took a few seconds and one breath held in anticipation, and one of the smaller does jolted violently, the tail of the bolt jutting out from a perfect shot. For a moment she tried to stumble forward, trying to stubbornly cling to life. Then, like a puppet with its strings cut, she collapsed.

The rest of the deer took several seconds to figure out that anything was wrong. They weren't used to being hunted anymore, and it was only after Clockwork purposefully stamped a hoof on top of a stick to make it crack that they finally figured out they were in danger and needed to run. It would have been tempting to try and get another, if an had had anyone else to carry it, but an could only carry one of them, and there was no point killing another just for it to be left to scavengers.

Clockwork went to collect the deer, gyn steps feeling lighter now that an knew an would probably get to eat tonight. Getting this far was half the battle, and now an only had to go back the way an'd come. The fact that an hadn't been caught yet probably meant an wouldn't be at all.

First, an knelt down next to the carcass, removed the bolt, and drank as much blood from the wound as an could, then still managed to fill all six of the canteens an'd brought. Two were gyn, one was Roserri's, and the other three belonged to a clothier who'd promised Clockwork a new winter coat if an successfully brought them back enough blood to fill the three containers.

There was still some blood left even after Clockwork had filled the containers as full as they'd get, but there was nothing more an could do to collect it. It'd go back to the forest and help the persimmons and oaks grow more fruit next year.

An had just started to pull the blanket-bag off gyn shoulders to put the deer into when the wind suddenly shifted, and a new scent hit gyn throat.

It was nothing but pure instinctive reflex that sent dro instantly leaping away from the carcass, so hard and so fast, with so little actual thought involved that an ended up slamming one shoulder into the trunk of the oak tree as an fell.

But a sore shoulder was a small price to pay for dodging the claws and beak of a lunging dragon.

For a few seconds, the dragon crouched there over Clockwork's kill, glaring at dro with the searing red eyes that marked it as an adult male. Its gold and silver feathers glittered even in the light shade under the trees, and their gazes locked for so long Clockwork almost thought an was about to become dragon food.

But then the dragon seemed to remember that it already had a whole deer carcass underfoot, without having to do any of the work of hunting and killing.

Clockwork could actually see the moment the dragon decided to ignore dro and just steal the deer an'd come all the way out here to get.

An started to get back to dro feet, desperately hoping an'd be able to scare if away if an just acted big and scary enough - -

But by the time an was on gyn feet, the dragon had grabbed the deer in its talons and taken off, the rush of air from its massive wings sending a few persimmons falling to smack Clockwork right on the face. In a matter of seconds, the dragon was out of sight, carrying Clockwork's kill off into the sky.

An stared after it, through the very clear hole of damaged branches and twigs it had torn straight through the canopy, letting a brilliant shaft of sunlight stab down all the way to the ground.

Then an sighed, and bent down to pick up the persimmons that had hit dro in the face to see if they were actually ripe enough to eat.

All but one of them was, which at least was something. An pulled off the caps, then shoved the ripe ones into gyn mouth whole, too angry and annoyed to bother eating them any other way except by just squishing the pulp away from the seeds all at once. The unripe one an kept in gyn hand, careful not to squish it.

The deer, if they had any sense, were long gone by now, and trying to find them would probably take too long. So now Clockwork just had to take what an could get, and persimmons at least were something an'd never turn gyn nose up at.

Thankfully, the egg cartons an'd brought had been on the side that did not slam into the ground or the oak tree, so they weren't damaged.

An still also had all six canteens of blood, so the whole kill hadn't been a total waste.

Sighing in aggravation, an set about the task of picking over the persimmons that littered the ground, hoping an'd at least find a raccoon, opossum, groundhog, or even just some squirrels to shoot on the way home.

It didn't take long to fill the five empty egg carton's an had brought with dro, and Clockwork packed them away in the sidebag again once an was sure they were all latched properly. Getting persimmon pulp on your clothes was not fun.

Then an limited oid to only five minutes (or at least, as close as an could count in gyn head) of collecting acorns and pecans and shoving them into the other sidebag. Luckily, the deer preferred the persimmons over the pecans, so there were plenty for Clockwork to take without even making a dent. And, when an looked up to check out all the trees, there were still plenty left still clinging to the branches.

Foraging done, and feeling slightly more better now that an'd had several persimmons and pecans to snack on, Clockwork started the long walk home, keeping gyn crossbow at the ready, just in case the sun felt like dropping another meaty meal in gyn path.

And, gyn optimism paying off, it was right as an was reaching the edge of the woods that an saw a flash of black and white in the trees up ahead. One of the lemurs Malakris Kiyori had shipped in from the southern continents and then released into the woods for who knew what fucking reason.

Clockwork had to move fast, but an got it, right between the eyes as it turned to look, and this time, wasted no time in shoving it under the blanket bag so no more opportunistic hunters would have a chance to steal it.

It wasn't a deer, but it was better than nothing.

Clockwork made it all the way safely home without any other mishaps, pockets weighed down with nuts and fruits, and hopeful that the clothier would be able to do something fancy with the lemur hide.

[rjalker]

deliberately creating supernovapronouns to scare fake lingistics nerds

anyways from now on so it's easier to tell, if a pronoun replaces contractions with the first pronoun in the set, it'll go in square brackets from now on to help differentiate it from the way "hers" is used in she/her/(hers)/herself.

su/[na]/uvu/lo/(kar)/zeda

Su replaces he and she

Na replaces contractions with su, where you'd otherwise say "she'd" or "he'd", rather than "su'd" you say just na.

Uvu replaces him and her.

Lo replaces his and her(posessive)

Kar replaces hers(whatever the hell you call this kind of posessive)

Zeda replaces himself and herself

EX:

"He is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as he gets a fence set up around his yard so the puppy can go outside without him having to walk it. His uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he's letting him use, since he lost his. He's going to buy a bunch of toys, too, and train the puppy himself."

Becomes:

"Su is going to adopt a new puppy soon, as soon as su gets a fence set up around lo yard so the puppy can go outside without uvu having to walk it. Lo uncle is going to help set up the fence, since he has a set of power tools he's letting uvu use, since su lost kar. Na going to buy a bunch of toys, too, and train the puppy zeda."

enjoy.