#until finally she suggested different substrate

[aaaaanndbackstabbed]

Della: FOUR MONTHS!

Donald: What is she talking about?

Scrooge: it’s really not that long

Louie: Totally over reacting

Della: for four months you all stood by and watched water a fake plant!!

[chuuulip]

Another Earth

Pairing: August Walker (werewolf) x Female Reader (red ridding hood)

Warning: 18+, PWP, Oral (M and F receiving), Unprotected Sex, Multiple Orgasm, Slightly ABO Universe, Rough Sex

Words: 7434

Summary: After a failed attempt to sign up for the Halloween haunted house to meet your Superman, the last minute ticket turned your night upside down as you were stuck in another earth.

A/N: Unbeta! Any grammar mistake will be on me. Divider by me 😆 This is for @jtargaryen18​ Halloween challenge, and I’m pretty late! Sorry for that life has been busy xD I still have another one in progress (the Andy barber one) and hopefully can post it soon! Thanks to @navybrat817​ and @venusdemonroe​ for giving me the idea for this story and help me discuss what a werewolf August Walker would do in this lol. Actually I wanted to mention a lot....of things but I guess it would be too much for a one shot lil but anyway Happy reading!!!

***

This year's Halloween event was mental. Several big haunted houses are hosted by celebrities. To name a few, there's an Avengers Tower haunted house, The Hall of Justice League, The X-Mansion, and even Walking Dead one. 

 You knew it wasn't easy. All of them have a huge fandom. The ticket was sold out immediately when it was open for sale, like 3 months before Halloween, and you were terribly upset. You were whining for a month straight to your boyfriend. Or more like your sugar daddy. He was patient and wealthy, but he knew he can't satisfy you enough, so he usually did everything he could for you. But that time, you just have none of it. The relationship, if you could ever say that, fell out immediately because you were unreasonable.

 You really wanted to go to The Hall of Justice League and maybe meet Clark Kent. The obsession started because he always visited your dream and mostly engaged in the steamiest dream ever. It's been your wildest dream, really, to have that body blanketed yours, in a really not innocent way.

 Just one day before Halloween, you finally secured one ticket for The Hall of Justice League haunted house. Of course, the first thing you did was scream. You had been on their waiting list since the ticket sold out, but you really lost hope since last week. But now, you celebrate it with a bit of a jump and constant scream.

 "What the fuck?" Your only housemate barged into your bedroom. Face annoyed.

 You stopped your silly jumps and looked at your housemate. With a broad smile, you hug your housemate and shake her body, "I got it! I got the ticket for The Hall of Justice League haunted house! Can you believe that?"

 The redhead hugged you, and both of you jumped in a circle. "Oh my gosh...I can't believe it! Congrats!!! I really hope you will meet your Kryptonite." she gave you her suggestive smirk.

 "I mean...a girl can only hope. But this is a charity event. I don't think he will be available. What if it's all a decoy and I only meet his wax figure?" you pouted at your friend.  

 "Well, at least you have the opportunity to see it yourself. But remember, behave, young lady, don't let him if he's there, I mean, witness your brattiness."

 "Aye...aye Captain!" you giggled but immediately gave your housemate a military saluted.

 That night you dreamed of those big blue eyes and his firm, fantastic arms on yours.

 ***

 Dress in your red riding hood costume, you patiently sat in the backseat of the Uber car. Well, maybe a little bit impatient, since it's already 11pm. 

 Everything just went down the hill since morning. You can't seem to find your Poison Ivy costume. Not to mention that you were late for work that morning. Your boss was a bitch since she seems annoyed at you every time the male employee or investor became too friendly with you. 

 Who can blame you? You were just good at acting all cute to them, and it's not your fault that they mostly thought you were a cute little employee. 

 You check your wrist. The expensive rose gold watch from your ex sugar daddy elegantly pointed at 11.30 pm. You sighed, "do you know how long I will arrive at my destination? It will close soon."

 "Hopefully, in 10 minutes. Dunno why it's jam-packed." Said the Uber driver.

 You huffed in exasperation, but there's nothing you can do. You arrived very last minute, like 15 minutes before the haunted house closed. Wearing black stiletto boots, you carefully made a small run into the stairs. The booth was stationed to the far left of the building. 

 "Good night, little red riding hood; you are lucky because we are almost closed. Can I see your ticket, please?" A man dressed as Edwar Scissorhands greeted you at the far left of the building. 

 You fished out your smartphone from your small basket bag and showed him your barcode. He scanned it and looked at the monitor in front of him. "Hmm, here for a kryptonite, aren't you." He eyed you up and down and smirked at you. "I hope you have a spooky night, little girl." 

 You smile at him and sashay your way to the entrance. Apparently, they makeover a warehouse into a vast real-life Justice League Hall. Like in the comic. A white half-circle exterior completed with two giant pillars at each side imitated the picture you only seen in comic books. It looks so magnificent. 

 You entered the door after you scanned your barcode at the scanner next to it. The whooshing noises startle you a bit, but you were too excited and step in immediately. 

 The inside was bright with a black marble flooring that shone bright; you even can see your reflection. There's a different section of the silvery door like in most sci-fi, alien invasion movies. So futuristic, so clinical. 

 You darted your eyes and found where you needed to go. A small rectangle monitor with a very digital clock font in it showed you 'Krypton' words. Without hesitation, you did a little run and waited in front of it. The small rectangle monitored turned to green, and it shone. It startled you, but you let out a sigh of relief when it just scanned your body from your head to toe. 

 "So much for a haunted house." You muttered. 

 When the door opened, you stepped in. It was a glass elevator. You circled your eyes and found everything was dark. When the elevator ran, bringing you down several floors, the surrounding changed. 

 Once, the darkness engulfed you like you were being shipped to the deep ocean, but it changed dramatically. Your eyes darted in awe as you drank on the scenery. The scenery of what you would call the imitation of Planet Krypton. So beautiful yet so harsh. 

 When the elevator stopped, the ding noise pulled you to the present. With excitement, you grabbed your smartphone and took several pictures of the scenery. It was just so surreal that a haunted house would make something like this. But you remember how expensive the ticket was.

 "This three grant haunted house better give me a chance to fuck a real-life Clark Kent." you cackled. 

 There's a weird tower with a green light on top of it. You assumed some futuristic objects were supposed to be 'kryptonite' as it floated sparsely in most parts of the supposed Krypton. A bit further, you could see a white crystal-like triangle building. Oddly enough, it reminded you of the Louvre Pyramid. This one just full of crystal-like pillars crisscrossed it. 

 Didn't want to waste your time, you decided what path you should choose. It wasn't easy. Your stiletto pierced to the weird substrate like mud but also crystal-like as if it's ice. Carefully, you mind your footing while again stayed alert. There's this odd feeling of being watched. But you reminded yourself that you were in a haunted house, so it's understandable.

 You let out a loud scream when suddenly a mummy appeared behind one of the floated crystals. "Holy shit, I didn't see that coming." you try to slow down your breath as you clutched the white ruffle shirt under your red corset.

 When you feel that you can walk again, you try to do it faster. Several times it looks like the Krypton had shifted in its light as if the sun rose and shone, but the next five minutes, it set. Made the scenery look like it was illuminated by the crystal alone, like a lamp.

 When many ghost-like mannequins showed up, it got scarier and scarier, and you immediately lowered your hood to shield you from some view. Your eyes perked up when you finally saw the path to the Fortress of Solitude. It was more like an icy bridge with a dark pond surrounding it. 

 As your right foot stepped onto the bridge, a loud noise of a clock surprised you. It struck once and counted until it stopped at the twelfth. It was so loud it's voice echoed. You can even feel it under the sole of your boots. 

 Stunned for a moment, your mind suddenly set on alert mode when the water from both ponds on each side of the bridge rippled. A dinosaur-like head appeared from both ponds. It has a single protruding horn. It opened its mouth and let out a loud growl. A blast of wind came out of it like a thunderstorm. It has sharp teeth like sharks that you assumed could quickly rip your body apart if it sank on yours. 

 "Holy shit. This is— this is a joke, right? It's not real?" Body trembled in fear; you ran your life out to the Fortress of Solitude. The monsters crawled up out of the water. Its slithered movement mimicked a snake, but it didn't have any problem crawling up without things to latch on. 

 You screamed as both of the monsters chased you. Run as fast as your legs allow you. This haunted house event might be too much for you. When you can see an oval object that looks like it can be a big mirror or a huge door, your gloved palms immediately bang on it. "Open the door!" You screamed. When the door finally opened, the two snake-like monsters that chased you suddenly disappeared.

 "Oh— oh my god. Oh my god…," you chanted as you let yourself drop down on the floor. 

 "I see you finally make it." 

 Your face turned to the left. In front of you, stood up tall and proud, Clark Kent with his superman costume. He's just so big. If you compared your tiny body to him, you definitely, nothing.

 You replied to Superman's bright smile with a scowl. Slowly you got up from the floor and cleaned your skirt. "Isn't that just too much? What if I fell to the pond? I can't swim, you know?"  

 He seems surprised, "apologized my lady. It was something the organizer will handle. I don't think they mean any harm."

 "Yeah...yeah… right." you walked closer to the hero and already fished out your mobile phone. "So… what did I need to do now I meet you, Superman?"

 "Hmm… most attendants ask for pictures. Some of them spent time just talking with me. Since you are the last one, you can take as many pictures as you like and of course. If you have any questions about my protection for the earth, I will gladly answer it." The tone in his voice was more soft than authoritative. 

 Think of not sabotaging your Halloween any longer; you tried to forgive the silliness of the whole new level of scary from this haunted house. It's hard not to show off your brattiness in this kind of situation. Still, you reminded yourself that he was someone you weren't familiar with—practically a stranger.

 Gave him a sweet smile, you took several pictures with him. At one time, you tried to bat your eyelashes at him and asked for a picture where you sat on his lap. You spent a solid 15 minutes talking to the handsome alien. Your fingers touched his biceps here and there. You knew that he knew what you were implying, but he didn't refuse you either. At least not blatantly.

 "I apologized, my dear, but I think it's already time." Superman gently put you back on your feet. You gave him an upset face, but you knew it's time to go home. You bid the handsome man goodbye and sneaked a kiss on his cheeks. There's a twinge of pink on his cheeks, and you jump triumphantly at that reaction. Of course, behind his back.

 Following the word of 'exit' behind the piles of the crystal-like shape props, you opened the door. The scenery in front of you caught you off guard. The harshed white tundra scenery was replaced by now dark, almost jungly like one. Unconsciously you stepped back and turned your body to come back to the exit door. How shocked you were when it vanished. Disappear without a trace.

 As far as your eyes could see, it's only darkness and mist. Only the full moon aided your visions. The exhalation of your breath came out like a plume of white steam. It's definitely colder here than the fake Krypton one. The cold air seeped into your skin quickly as if you were actually in the deep of a forest. 

 With a loud sigh, you walk straight. You tumbled and fell down on your knees as your boots got caught with something: either roots or a massive branch. 

 Tired and frightened, you screamed loudly. You weren't sure if this was the continuation of the haunted house or not, but what you want right now just to be back in your apartment and soaked in a warm, relaxing bath. 

 "Get me out of here!" you yelled again. There's a lot of sounds as if a lot of people stepping on branches. A screeching sound of an owl surprised you, but you tried to follow its direction with your ears. 

 There's no way you will wait here and do nothing. Oh...my phone! You fished out your smartphone, but it showed no signal. "Shit!." you muttered. 

 The sounds from a far away crept closed, and you knew it. "You can do it! There's nothing more frightening than that monster snake." tried to encourage yourself; you stood up and slowly navigated. You followed the noises that now closer, like an animalistic growl. It was so intense you can feel all the goosebumps rise up your skin. 

 You weren't sure how long you have been walking, but you stopped suddenly when there's not only a pair but like 7 pairs of reddish eyes glowed in the dark. 

 "Come here, little lamb. Don't follow that voice." a vaguely familiar voice distracted you from stepping forward. 

 "Who the fuck are you, and why you get in my way just now." your voice came out hoarse. There's a twinge of fear in it, and you knew it. You felt like backed down wasn't the best option you had right now.

 "I said, come here, or else I can't even save you when they get you." 

 You stilled as if you didn't hear him talking to you. "Wasn't this still one of the tricks from the haunted house? To let the people scramble in fear?" 

 "Are you out of your mind? Come here right now, or I left you to death. They will either rip you apart or play your body like a ragdoll before one of them eats you." 

 You screamed in horror as one pair of red eyes slowly came out. It's huge. Almost four feet of canine shook its fur. 

 You were hyperventilating right now. Body rooted to the ground as you were surrendered. Welcoming your fate. 

 "Fuck!" 

 You heard a curse from behind your back. Maybe the stranger gave up and left you alone to be eaten by the wolves. 

 The scrunched sound of leaves crushed was loud. Suddenly you felt strong arms hauled you upside down. 

 Your eyes faced the skin of someone's back. You craned your neck a little bit to get a better view of the wolf. Screamed escaped your lips when you saw not only one but all of them, in a pack, chased both of you. 

 "Stay still." The stranger yelled. 

 Did the best thing to not get thrown out by his weird, fast speed, you secured your thumbs in his belt loops. He ran, escaped the pack inside the deep of what looked like a pine forest. 

 You weren't sure how long you ran with him, but you felt that he's finally slowed down. 

 When the thud thud sound reached your ears, you opened your eyes and saw that the stranger walked up a stair.  

 You felt nauseated when he suddenly put you to sit on something that was apparently a countertop. The rushes of blood that circulated through your body made you regain your sense of surroundings. 

 "Where am I?" you didn't mean to add an ungrateful tone in your sentence, but it was too late.

 The stranger eyed you like you were some sort of ungrateful bitch, which maybe you are. "At my cabin," he said flatly.

 You haven't had time to look at him in the forest, but now, under the actual lighting inside his house, what you saw might instantly make you drooled, which you already did right now. Stand up in front of you, a shirtless beefy tall man that's definitely more than six feet tall. He has short dark brown hair with a somewhat thick mustache that's complemented by a stubble. The front strands of his hair were loose and slightly curled. Looks likely due to all the running.  

 The sudden chill of air made you shiver, and he didn't miss your reaction. He left you for a minute and came back with a rug. The sudden heat from it, when he draped the fabric on your shoulder made you let out a gasp of satisfaction. 

 But the next thing you know, he ripped your stocking. You were shocked, eyeing him in horror. "What the fuck are you doing?!" You threw whatever things that's on your reach. The loud sound of glass hit the wall, and the strong grip on your wrist instantly made your stop.

 "Be still!" His azure irises left no room for confrontation. When you felt a sting on your knees, that's when you realized that he just pressed some gauze on it. Likely soaked with alcohol first. There's quite a prominent stain of blood on your legs, and it almost made you nauseated. 

 "If you stop acting like a brat, you'll heal faster." He looked at you with that cocky smile of confidence. "Understood?" 

 You just nodded at him. He continued to clean the blood and inspect the wounds. The position where you were sitting right now made it easier to study him carefully. 

 Although you felt the temperature decreased significantly, the beefy stranger in front of you appeared very sweaty. 

 Immediately your gaze ran down to his neck and continued its way to his chest and his abs. The unmistakable bulge under his pants made you squirm unconsciously. You were in a haze of fear and lust; you definitely insane. 

 "Wha— what's your name, sir?" 

 His strong gazed felt as if his eyes alone can subdue you. Maybe he has these laser eyes like Cyclops, your inner thought buzzed with speculation.

 "August. My name is August Walker. What's your name, little lamb?" 

 How dare this man call you a little lamb? You cleared your throat and told him your name and where you were from.

 "New York? It's pretty far from here." He patched you up nicely. The water-resistant gauze looked really neat pressed on your knees and some on your shin. You were impressed.

 When your eyes returned to August, you gave him a smile that you hoped looked like a smile of gratitude. Not the kind of smile you always presented to any potential partner in bed, sultry, and flirtatious.  

 "I— I haven't said anything but— thanks. Thank you for saving my life." Your left fingers instinctively pat his right arms. The feeling of his skin startled you. It's warm; in fact, it felt like he had a very high fever.

 "Are— are you alright? Your temperature feels off." 

 "Don't mind me. Just take care of yourself." 

 You knew there's something off with him, but you weren't sure if you had a clear mind to think right now. Not with the wolf pack outside and his words on New York being far away from here. Where the fuck am I? 

 "I… I have a—,"

 "I suggest you stay here if you don't want to meet them."

 "But I…,"

 "You can use the bedroom there," his hand pointed to the door on the far end. "Feel free to use anything you want. Just don't come to the basement. I will meet you after a couple of days, and we figured things out." 

 His authoritative voice and dominant persona immediately made you want to counter his suggestion. The funny thing was, looked like he sensed it.

 He approached you, face just inches away from you. Your eyes immediately glanced away from the delicious plane of his sweaty chest. His fingers drew your chin up, so both of your eyes were at the same level. "Do what I said, understand?. Thrust me; you don't want to know the consequences if you violate my suggestion."

 Suggestion, my ass! Your inner mind ready to throw insults at him, but you quickly held it back. In the end, you nodded at him obediently.

 —

 That night you were restless. But in a weird sense, you felt comfortable staying in that cabin. The first night after August left you to your own devices, you had been pretty careful. Not touched a lot of things except food and items that help you with your long bath. 

 His cabin was quite spacious. The interior was a mix of something slicked and modern with an equal touch of classic. Tried to look homey. Not to mention his bathroom, it's super luxurious and made you feel at home instantly. Reminded you of your ex (sugar daddy's) bathroom. 

 Since you couldn't find another bedroom in that cabin and you don't feel like sleeping on the couch, you slept in his bed instead. After all, he said you can use the bedroom there. Still wearing your red riding hood costume, you slipped under the soft comforter. 

 After that, you woke up feeling a bit groggy. Aimlessly wandered around the kitchen, you weren't sure what to do first. Tried collecting your bearing, you tried to make a coffee. Or any equivalent things of it. Everything felt different; you just knew it. When the only thing you could find was several jars that you assumed were granules of tea, you brew it. You sat on the sofa that faced up a lake. The wall was made of glass, making everything well seen. 

 You walked closer and gazed at the vast pine forest in front of you. The trees were tall and big, so majestic. Somewhat it's different from the pine trees you usually see. The lake in front of you looked like it had two different colors, fusion together with weird looking fishes and plants that should grow on the land instead of water. Where the fuck am I? 

 The next day, you woke up feeling a little bit refreshed. You changed your slutty costume into one of the clothes you found in his closet. It was so soft and comfy. You knew when things were from high-quality material.  

 You continued your days by drinking your tea, ate whatever breakfast you can munch, and read a book that has these unusual fonts. You were sure it wasn't in the alphabet, but one day you absentmindedly swipe your fingers on some of the pages, and the font changed. Hell, it even translated into English in an instant. You were definitely impressed. 

 One thing you are sure of was, this place was strange. Wherever you were right now, it didn't look like it's on earth. Or the earth that you knew. Why were you so calm? Because you already freak out. After you freak out, you also wondered, did the haunted house event organizer realized that they were the culprit behind what the fuck happened to you right now? Did your housemate recognize that you weren't home for days? Or maybe she thought you fuck the Superman or perhaps found another sugar daddy? It was so absurd yet so real.

 The last two nights, you were struck in awe as your eyes were spoiled by two moons. Two fuckin moons. It was always quiet at night, but you heard all the howls that you suspected likely from the pack of those giant wolves.   

 It was pretty late, almost midnight. You finally found your small bag hindered under the sofa that evening. Now…, now you had some time to check it. The first thing you checked was if there's a signal. Definitely no signal at all. 

 You curled up on August bed while swiping the pictures on your phone. When you scrolled your pictures with Superman, you realized why August seems familiar. It was none other than August having quite the same face, the same build, even somewhat similar voices with Superman. 

 "Fuck...maybe I should ask August if he would like to be my Daddy while I'm here." Imagining him spoiled you with gifts and other physical attention made you chuckled at yourself. 

 Your fingers instinctively crawled under the gray long sleeve shirt you borrowed from his closet (again). Your brain projected an image as if it was August's hands that ran on your upper thigh. Find its way quickly to your wet core. Two fingers slipped under the black lace panty. The panty that you need to wash daily due to no other replacement available. Left you a couple hours with only his buttoned-up shirt without anything underneath. 

 The sound of a loud howl startled you. It was as if it circled you in close range. Moved as fast as you can, you snatched the oversize robe on you. Your eyes tried to creep behind the curtain in the bedroom. 

 You knew the owner of this cabin stated that you can't go to the basement. You wouldn't be so lucky if that giant wolf found you first and broke in. Although you haven't been really out of the cabin, you tried to inspect a little bit and found it odd that this cabin was apparently a treehouse-style cabin. How come there's a basement in the house.

 You exit the bedroom and go to the kitchen when you last saw August a couple nights ago. Next to the slick wooden cabinet was a particular thing that looked like a door. The surface of your palms works like a stethoscope, felt as if something with pressure from your hands. You tried not to get disturbed by the nonstop howl outside. When you hear something as if the door was shifted, you immediately step back. 

 "Oh my, finally…," you slipped inside the small door when it opened automatically. It was a small narrow corridor-like, and it was dark. Walk inside carefully, you follow the path that leads you to another door. The metal door let out a weird creaked as you pushed it open. 

 "Didn't I tell you not to come down here?" 

 Shocked was evident in your face when you heard his rather gruff tone. You step over, closer to where he sat, that looks more likely an even bigger size of the bed than the one he had upstairs.    

"Don't —,"

 He warned you, but you being you, could never obey orders. Although challenging, your eyes finally adapt to the only natural light from the glass wall. That said, you were totally confused as you can see the lake parallel to your eyes. 

 "What the… wait, how there's even a basement down here? Last time I checked, the cabin is a treehouse?"

 "It's camouflage. No one can't see it or enter from outside."

 "Holy… why there's a three moon?" you switched your gaze from the moon to August. Curiosity got the better of you when you saw his irises were now pale blue. You can still see the outer form that is August, but something was off. 

 A gasp escaped your lips as August rose up from the bed. The powerful moon shone his feature. He was taller, bulkier, and dangerous as he stalked towards you slowly. Your heart thumped erratically as you were cornered. Back supported by the glass wall as now you can see August in his other form. 

 "Holy shit. Wha—what are you?"

 "Told you not to go here, and you just can't listen, little lamb." his smirk turned maniacal as he looked at the fear on your face. His white fangs, longer than usual. His fingers also look unusual, claw-like. 

 "Are you— are you a werewolf?" 

 "Well...you can say that. I'm half human half wolf if you are curious." 

 "So why— why did you save me?"

 The tip of his nose inched closer to yours. You held your breath when his warm skin touched you. It moved to your left cheek and stopped near your ear. "I'm curious," he whispered.

 "I haven't really met a pure human in the same age range. So I have followed you since I saw you step out of that door. I follow you until you meet the other wolf pack, and I decide to help you instead of fulfilling my need." 

 "What need?" you asked him, dumbfounded.

 "This," he pulled away from you, his claw-like finger pointed out below his hip. Focusing on the long and hard appendage that was unmistakably, his cock.

 "Oh—I- I'm sorry?" you gave him your best apologetic face. Eyes seemed eager to stare longer, but you gazed away quickly. Wait, why did you apologize to him? You cleared your throat, "I— I actually not sure what I should do to help?" tilted your head to the right, you looked him in the eyes, almost challenged him.

 Despite almost getting eaten by wolves, August's menacing presence didn't really scare you. Maybe the fact that he was still human and less scary made it easy for you. Not to mention he's hot too, with all his glory. 

 His somewhat evil chuckled sent shivers down your spine. "If you really wanted to help, I think you know what to do, don't you?"

 "W-wait—is—does this mean we 'mate'?" you gave him a somewhat weird expression. "And—and you bite me, give me marks that I'm yours? And knot me, and I will have a litter of puppies, and I become your omega—,"

 His pale blue eyes stared at you as if you grew two heads. It softened immediately as he smiled. Broad one showed you a set of white teeth with extra long fangs. 

 "Oh, my little lamb...what have you read?"

 "Err— Omega verse? Fanfic?"

 He blinked. Gave you a quizzical expression.

 "It's— it's erotica. Where mostly the character you know—," you darted your eyes away from August. "—mate, err have sex. Mostly was written very explicitly."

 "Go on." He said.

 "They are wolves, scenting, imprinting. An alpha mates with omega, and it's been told in a variety of plots possible. Sometimes two alphas fight too." You were breathless. You didn't realize you explained it to him in a quick, incoherent way. 

 You staggered backward as he came closer, forgetting that you already cornered. His long fingers reached out to the white robe you put on you. Although his fingers had claws that looked alarming to you, his hand still skillfully unfastened the robe.

 "That's a bit of an exaggeration, I think. Pack and hierarchies usually form just for a mating season; they hunt together for food and shelter in the winter. We might be scenting people, I guess. After all, we have a very sensitive sense of smell. But no, we don't bite our mate." He took off the robe from your body, left you only with his grey buttoned-up shirt.

 "Well...I love that you are wearing my shirt as if you are mine already."

 You purse your lips at him. "Why aren't you in a pack? Isn't it a mating season?" 

 "I mostly can control myself during the full moon. That's the advantage of being half-human. I don't need to transform myself into a wolf and be in a pack. But I am an alpha if that's what you are curious about."

 "Can-can you turn back to your human form? Not like—you know, you aren't in your human form, bu—," your words were cut off by his thumb on your lips. 

 "You talk too much, aren't you, little lamb…," August leaned down and touched his lips to yours. Your first reaction was to freeze since you were afraid of his fangs. But his surprisingly soft lips coaxed you relentlessly, making you surrender as you closed your eyes. Opening your mouth, his tongue sneaked past your lips easily. His fangs poke at your lower lips, but it didn't hurt.

 The non so innocent kiss became more desperate. Your once shied tongue now dances together with August. Your once clasped palms that were situated on top of your chest now scraped at his shoulder. 

 Your eyes fluttered open as August nipped down from your jaw to your neck. Forgotten, you even close your eyes in the first place. His claw-like fingers unbuttoned his shirt on yours without difficulty, left you only in your black lace panty. 

 The feeling of temperature as if dropped significantly made you glued your body to August. Smooth skin of your chest pressed to his hot hairy one, seeking warmth. One hand secured behind your back while the other palm on your ass. Massage the globe there. 

 "Ohh…" you gasped as you felt his finger on your clothed core. 

 "Hmm… wet already, I see." he let the pad of his finger move up to your clit, while the movement of the claw added sensation to your already. Seeing your reaction, he repeated it a couple times. Made you a mess with only one of his fingers.  

 Arched your body a little bit, you were thrilled to see his expression. Traveled your hands down from his hairy chest; your eyes still focused on his face, while your palms found their way to his hard cock. 

 "Oh, so big…," slowly at first, you ran your hands at the tip of his cock. Even without looking at it, you knew it's definitely bigger than any cock you've ever seen. 

 Eyes widened as your hand slid down to the base. The other weighed his balls. "Holy…," your eyes looked down, stared in awe at his cock. 

 "Careful little lamb, you drooled on it."

 "Who's not?" You eyed him in disbelief.

 August let out a weird laugh, "I expect you to worship it, then." He looked at you with a bemused expression as you quickly worked on his length. Stroked it up and down repeatedly. 

 You go down on your knees, eyes crossed as you focused on his slit that oozed pre-cum. Unconsciously, you stuck out your tongue and brushed it on his slit. Wrapped your right hand at the base of his cock, your gaze rose up to meet his. Left handheld on his upper thigh for support as your lips covered the heat of his cock. You bobbed your head calculatedly as you accommodate him halfway. 

 "Such a good little lamb for your wolf, aren't you." August's right hand was at the back of your head as he nudged you none too gently. Made you choke at his cock, and pulled it out from your mouth. You gazed at the mix of your saliva and his precum in awe. But it didn't last long as August pulled you to your feet and picked you up. 

 He climbed up on the bed with you and laid on his back. He situated your hips and pulled it closer, so your opening was hovering on top of his face. On all four, for him. August was rewarded with a yelped and a moan as his tongue licked your clothed core. 

 The sound of fabric being ripped made you turn your head to the right. "That's my only pa— ohhh," your protest died right away as his tongue lapped your opening. The feel of his claws as he spread your ass cheeks added wonder to your pussy. 

 Trying to keep yourself busy, you swallowed the head of his cock for a starter. His cock was too big for you; your mouth can only allow half of it. Diligently, you tried to move your tongue while you suck on his cock, hands slid up and down. Feeling all the veins that encircled his length made you shuddered.

 August bucked his hips as you put one of your hands to massaging his balls. The action made you gagged as his cock entered further than before. But it didn't take a long time for you to stop due to his sudden attack on your pussy. 

 His tongue was not lapped at you anymore; it rammed inside your wet core like a starved man. You squealed as the end of his fangs scrapped at your now wet pussy. The pressure on your clit as the pad of his fingers made a circular motion left you breathless. It drove you to your high faster than you ever experienced. A surprised scream left off your lips as his tongue scraped your most sensitive part. Your body quivered as your inner walls spasm, hands held on his cock as you ride your high. 

 "Ohh— my god, ohh—my god—," you can still feel the kitten licked as August feasted on it. 

 "Ahh—that' s—that's good." You let your head rested on his left thigh. 

 "Now, for the main course." August's gruff tone pulled you back from your hazy state. His hard cock was evident on your right hand. 

 You felt your body shifted position, and now you were on your back. August spread your legs wide and shifted his position. The feeling of his heavy cock on top of your pussy made you nervous but also excited. Unconsciously you nibbled your forefingers while eyes traveled down to his long and hard cock. It made an up and down motion on your opening. You can feel your wet pussy clenched in frustration, ready to be filled. 

 "August please…," still nibbled at your fingers, you gaze at the wolf on top of you, one elbow supporting your upper body. He's so big, literally and figuratively. If you can't come back to your world, so be it. You didn't mind staying and being his plaything as long as he wanted you. 

 "Please, what my little lamb?" You pouted at that. You definitely weren't a little lamb. If anything, you should be the succubus. 

 "Please put that in me—," you writhed underneath him. 

 "Please put what?" His big body tower over you. His pupils dilated and only left a small ring of pale blue irises. His clawed fingers move up and down your thigh.

 "Ple—please, ohhhh, put that cock inside me! Fuck me, my wolf— nhhh—," your plead was answered when August suddenly pushed the head of his cock on your opening. 

 The back of your head fell to rest on the thick pillow as the intrusion of August's cock sent a surprising jolt on your body. You knew he's big. But when his cock finally spread your lips open and entered you, the overwhelming sensation was something you still didn't expect. 

 "Ohh— so big—," your pussy clenched immediately when August tried to push deeper but also slowly. The noticeable ridge of his vein scraped at your inner wall deliciously. With closed eyes, you gripped the edge of the pillow as you mumbled about how full you feel right now. 

 "Work your clit for me. Yes...make that tight pussy cream on my cock."

 "Oh—like this?" Your fore and middle fingers slowly pulled the hood and made a circular motion as August asked. 

 "Yes… Just like that…."

 It didn't take you long enough to feel the fast buildup on your lower belly. Something that never happened before. "Ohh—yes—I'm going to cum, my—ahhh," you work your clit faster as August cock made a shallow fuck inside you. 

 "Yes, cum on my cock, my little lamb. I want to see your pretty face when you cum for your wolf." His wolf tone deliciously affected your body. His growl sent an extra twitch on your clit. And you lose it when he thrust all the way inside your wet pussy. 

 You scream in ecstasy as your pussy quivered uncontrollably on his hard cock. You feel so full. The feeling of his cock all the way inside you made your brain feel as if it was submerged. Forgotten that you ever closed your eyes, you were rewarded by a sly smirk on August werewolf's face. His eyes were now all dark. His hair loosened, made the curls of it fall to his forehead. 

 "I see you enjoying yourself, my little lamb." His claws caressed your thigh gently.

 "Nnn—of course, I ahhh—I am." A little movement from August made you aware that his cock still inside you. Hard as a rock. 

 August lifted up both your knees and secured it with his hands. You lifted your upper body with your elbows as he retrieved his cock from your wet core. You gasped when you witnessed August pulled it out, inches by inches. Left only the head inside you.

 You moaned when he pushed again. Stretched you like no one else ever had. He did it slowly, knew that you still adapt to his girth. But the feeling when the tip of his cock scraped your most sensitive part every time he thrust inside you, you were tripped to your high even faster than before. 

 The moan of pleasure became incoherent as August sped up his pace. Repeated syllables of ahhh and ohhh accompanied your plead for him to fuck you like you were a female wolf. Released his pent up frustration to mate. 

 Both of you fuck like an animal who just needs to reproduce. Lust clouded the atmosphere in the room. Moaned and growled were sung like a prayer under the moonlight that shone its way to the basement. 

 His balls slapped against your ass every time he plugged in inside you. Sweats trickled down your body, and it looked even animalistic in August. His werewolf form was so majestic that you just wholly let him own you. 

 His feracious fucking looked like almost to its limit. The buzzed on your lower belly was ready to explode, but you held it.

"Fuck!" He growled.

 "Uhh—uhh—uhh—cum in me. Yes—cum in me, my wolf— filled me up with your thick hot cum!" You pleaded like a bitch in heat. 

 August slammed his cock deep inside you as he screamed and let out a long howl. The feel of his warm cum inside you triggered your orgasm. You wail as your inner walls contracted and squeezed his cock. Spurt and spurt of his cum filled your womb to the brim. Something that you never allowed any of your partners to do in the past. 

 You didn't realize that you lock both your ankles behind August ass. But also you sensed something changed. August was draped on top of your body, head sneaked at the crook of your neck. Still, in a haze caused by the release of oxytocin in your bloodstream, you missed the way August kissed turned into something more. He bit you. 

 The still clouded brain of yours pop-up an image of you becoming August omega. His only mate. Bear a litter of pups for him and live happily ever after in his house, in his world. Your pussy unconsciously clenched at his cock that was still inside you. You never really said this to anyone, but you imagine you live in another world since the first time you ever read a story about omega verse. 

 You mewled when the biting stopped. Maybe August bit you just for fun. When he craned his head up to look at you, something was different. His eyes turned back to his azure color. His fangs now short, back to its regular human teeth, and his body wasn't as hairy as he's before. He's practically not in his werewolf form anymore. 

 "You changed? Why?"

 He looked at you with his quizzical expression. "You wanted me to return to my werewolf form?" 

 You glanced away from him and kind of embarrassed to declare that his werewolf form was way hotter than his human form. Not that his human form wasn't hot either. Damn, you definitely bang him every time you can, but his werewolf form just made you curl your toes in an instant. 

 You cleared your throat and looked him in the eyes, "I like it very much."

 "Well...the full moon is still in the sky for quite some time. Are you ready for the next round, my little lamb?"

 "Yes, my wolf." You purred seductively at him and witnessed in delight his transformation before your eyes.

***

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Mushroom Developing

Mushroom Developing

 There is a very big variation between the farming or even expanding of environment-friendly vegetations and mushroom expanding. While the green plants are actually furnished with chlorophyll for getting the nutrients they need for development, mushrooms carry out not have chlorophyll which has made it powerful for all of them to get their meals via reliance on other vegetation components. The main body of the mushroom is made up of the mycelium which is really the little strings which grow on the plant product (the substratum) whereby they acquire their required nutrients. Mushrooms are understood to grow on diverse vegetation products. Magic Mushrooms Canada

 It is actually prudent that a person that is planning on entering into the growing of mushroom should recognize rather about the fungi life process. Illustrated listed below are the things that will assist one aiming to enter mushroom increasing to know the many things he or she requires to be productive in the project of mushroom growing Magic Mushrooms Dispensary.

 As soon as one acquires a common knowledge worrying the various fungis life cycles, the person is going to after that move on to comprehending the criteria required for the growth and well being of any one of the varieties of mushrooms the person is desiring to grow. Outdoors mushroom expanding in the form of a yard is actually one that requires really little bit of initiative once the person has actually provided the necessary shot to the logs or every other materials with mushroom give rise to. The only work left behind for the person to carry out is monitoring the humidity and also managing the mushroom give rise to in regards to fruiting. As quickly as the mushrooms show up sensibly, they are at that point picked and sold.

 There is actually likewise the in the house mushroom increasing which often tends to fill up any kind of area left behind due to the outdoors mushroom growing. Every function that relates to growing mushroom is actually executed within. It in fact gives really good end results however this is simply reliant upon the individual's know-how, endless oversight and also proper management of the whether health conditions.

 In mushroom developing, the adhering to steps are taken as well as it can last for approximately fifteen full weeks or even lower depending exclusively on the particular specie of mushroom being developed.

 One has to pick the channel by means of which the mushrooms will definitely be actually expanded, disinfecting the picked tool of farming, injecting the chosen medium along with mushroom generate, keeping the best feasible temperature, humidity and various other setting that will definitely not inhibit the development of the mycelium as well as assistance to a wonderful degree in the mushroom generate creating excellent fruits, tweezing or even collecting of the mushrooms, packaging as well as sales of the accumulated mushrooms, clean up of the farming establishment and resumption of yet another period of mushroom farming Magic Mushrooms Dispensary.

 Exactly How to Grow Mushrooms From Mushroom Growing Kits

 Mushroom sets have in fact had a fair quantity of flak in latest times along with many critics claiming that they provide very inadequate worth for money when reviewing the yields of the mushroom sets along with the genuine cost of the mushrooms in the shops. I locate this a really unjust evaluation as well as experience that it is wrong to merely review the 2 with the quantity of mushrooms that they generate.

 You may buy mushroom expanding kits for only a few various varieties of mushroom - you can receive button mushroom increase sets and you can obtain shellfish mushroom expand packages. These two are actually one of the most common and could be purchased at most garden facilities as well as usually on backyard center internet sites. You can easily also develop various other varieties coming from even more professional web sites, permitting you to increase your very own mushrooms like Shiitake, Portobello as well as more. These kits usually cost around ₤ 5 to ₤ 10 as well as are going to perhaps deliver you along with around ₤ 5 really worth of mushrooms (if increased in the most ideal possible setting, and also depending on the range as some mushrooms cost additional after that others in the outlets) Magic Mushrooms Dispensary.

 I do not understand why folks groan when it sets you back more to get a mushroom expanding package then it does to acquire the mushrooms on their own. The majority of the food store mushrooms are actually developed enormously wholesale and are normally expanded in other countries and also imported all over, where it is a lot less expensive for them to grow them. Theres the fact that in a kit you receive a carton as well as acquire the substrate (compost or straw) as well as a small bag of spawn. When you acquire mushrooms coming from a shop you aren't left behind over with superb compost for your yard (mushroom garden compost is just one of one of the most nutritious and also expensive kinds of garden compost as the mushrooms break as well as reprocess lots of nutrients existing in the substratum). And afterwards there is actually the truth that you are developing mushrooms your own self - definitely the excitement and also fun factor are worth spending for as well.

 In my point of view mushroom growing packages are actually an outstanding technique of increasing your very own mushrooms and also even when occasionally they don't give impressive value for loan when matched up to the shop price you will discover a lot coming from performing it your own self as well as is going to most likely take excellent satisfaction in developing and after that consuming your own mushrooms. Maybe even the moment you've found out a little even more regarding growing mushrooms you can eliminate the intermediary and also discover your own substrate (straw, newspaper, manure) and buy or produce your personal mushroom generate. This is actually where you can receive real worth for money also, growing hundreds of extra pounds worth of mushroom coming from actually a couple of extra pounds expenditure Magic Mushrooms Dispensary.

 The Magical Mushroom

 Mycology, the research of mushrooms, is taking brand-new fans to the 'fungus one of our company." Already being used for a variety of medical explanations all over the world, the humble toadstool might be slung in to the limelight soon as an effective, substitute treatment for some persistent inequalities.

 Mushrooms are actually valued through vegetarians due to their higher nutritional value.They manage to make vitamin D when uncovered to direct sunlight. Mushrooms have B vitamins, vitamin C, blood potassium, phosphorus, zinc, salt, as well as calcium.

 Medical mushrooms possess lots of substances as well as nutrients that are actually health-strengthening. Eastern medicine, specifically standard Chinese process, has used mushrooms for centuries. In the U.S., studies were actually carried out in the very early '60s for feasible techniques to modulate the immune system and to prevent cancerous tumor growth with essences Magic Mushrooms Dispensary.

 Mushroom seeking is actually preferred, but it is certainly not secure. Some edible mushrooms are actually just about similar to poison ones. It takes a specialist to tell the difference. Additionally, mushrooms behave like a sponge and effortlessly take in toxic substances coming from dirt as well as sky. However, mushrooms are actually conveniently thought about a 'organic food.'

 Without the method of photosynthesis, some mushrooms acquire nutrients by malfunctioning raw material or by feeding from much higher vegetations. Yet another market attacks living vegetations to eat all of them. Poisonous and eatable wide arrays are located near origins of oak, yearn and fir trees.

 Mushrooms were actually made use of ritually by the locals of Mesoamerica for countless years. They were actually extensively eaten in spiritual events by cultures throughout the Americas. Cavern paintings in Spain represent ritualized intake dating back as for 9000 years. Psilocybin usage was actually decreased until Western psychiatry rediscovered it after World War II.

 The questionable place of research is the use of psilocybin, a naturally happening chemical in particular mushrooms. Psilocybin has been actually shown to become successful in addressing dependency to alcohol and cigarettes.

 New research studies present the psychedelic medicine could alleviate stress as well as depression in some cancer cells individuals. State of mind raising effects that lasted a minimum of several weeks after eating the fungi were stated in some studies.

 While fungus has actually fascinated individuals for centuries, it may finally be entering a brand new time where its recuperation electrical powers and unknown premiums are being actually uncovered. The mushroom could well store the secret to some long ago locked illness and also puzzles.

 Perform you desire to expand good quality shiitake mushrooms for your small business? You can easily possess nutritious enhancement to your assortment if you fruit product your logs. These exquisite, fleshy fungis may include a scrumptious touch to your dishes. The taste you will obtain will definitely surpass any other recipe that makes use of other sort of mushrooms. You can easily also keep these new shiitakes in the refrigerator for two to three weeks. Regardless of whether they dry up, they will certainly reclaim their original texture if you saturate all of them in water. The process of blanching and afterwards cold will certainly help in always keeping the shiitakes in usable condition for many months.

 Beginning your company along with these suggestions

 You might be actually pondering over the idea of right now starting your growing. If you have a rewarding creation, you may also consider starting your own organisation on a small scale. Acquire mushroom logs for sale from distinguished suppliers and also obtain a clean supply of mushrooms. Find out a few of the general tips so that you can find yourself along with a nourishing yield Magic Mushrooms Dispensary.

 1. Frequent routine maintenance

 You must buy mushroom logs up for sale from the marketplace as well as take adequate steps to sustain all of them on a regular basis. These chunks can be kept well-balanced through saturating them after a space of two full weeks. For this purpose, you must make use of only non-chlorinated water. The sources might be filteringed system, bottled or rainwater.

 2. Living living thing

 You should recognize the truth that the log you are dealing is a living body. Sky, water, and also sun light are actually the elements essential for the growth of mycelium. You can easily consistently oblige fruit your log after a gap of two months. This purpose may be obtained through soaking those blocks in non- chlorinated water for a whole day. These will definitely lead the portions to feel that the autumn or even the spring time is actually merely close.

 3. Forms of woods

 The blocks which work absolute best are actually oaks, ironwood, difficult maple as well as wonderful gum. You may achieve faster end results by utilizing lighter hard woods. Nonetheless, they are not that heavy duty contrasted to denser styles. The visibility of fungicidal resins creates softwoods unsuitable for mushroom growing. You can easily consistently rely on a reliable vendor for offering you along with the correct selection of logs.

 4. Industrial operators

 The office drivers are specialists that generate logs by producing them go through different temperature level setups as well as submersing all of them in amazing water at proper intervals. The greatest quality portions are actually offered to the ranches as well as local organisations.

 5. Various elements possessing an effect

 You can enjoy cultivating new mushrooms for 4 years or two if you take enough care of your logs. The elements that possess an influence on the fruiting of the logs are actually the amount of humidity, volume of sun light and also proper temperature level. You should regularly remember that a well-rested log generates the absolute most effective end results.

 Increasing Button Mushrooms Using a Mushroom Growing Kit

 The button mushroom, or even Agaricus Bisporus, is one of the best cultivated mushrooms on earth. In the wild this mushroom appears in areas and has a darker, brownish cap along with darker gills as well. They are actually recognized in bush as field mushrooms yet they are actually usually labelled as the switch mushroom or even the Portobello mushroom, although the Portobello varieties are often larger in dimension.

 Mushroom developing sets have ended up being significantly preferred in recent years as the general public opinion as well as perceptions towards fungis seems to have unwinded a little - no longer are individuals scared of mushrooms and rather are actually readied to make an effort and also try at expanding their personal in the house Magic Mushrooms Dispensary.

 Although mushroom grow packages are actually confined in fungi species currently (I've just seen switch, Shiitake and Oyster grow sets), the switch mushroom is actually without a doubt one of the most extensively on call develop package. A lot of gardening stores market mushroom growing sets, and also these shops seem to be to concentrate on the most popular, thought about as being "more secure" mushrooms - the Button mushroom.

 The Button mushroom increase packages are actually really straightforward to use, also a little one can efficiently grow their personal plant of mushrooms in only a couple of full weeks! You just require to clear the substrate right into a compartment and leave behind in a trendy damp location till the mycelium expands fully by means of the block (transforming it white colored) and after that cover it with the studying garden compost provided. Relocate in to a cooler place and also spray with water on a regular basis to always keep damp. Little white circular blobs will definitely seem which will definitely turn into mushrooms after simply a number of times.

 The Secrets to Mushroom Growing

 Definitely if you are actually a mushroom fanatic, you would like to know just how to develop mushrooms. Normally, you would wonder about mushrooms.That is actually perfectly regular. If experienced mushroom eaters will wish to grow their own mushrooms, it will to no surprise. Mushrooms are actually great resources of protein.

 As opposed to the common knowledge that mushroom expanding will include a massive amount of skill-sets along with a focused type of technique in growing these little bit of jewels, mushrooms are the no-frills kind. AS long as their food items is actually given plus all the necessary needs are actually gotten to, all the raiser must do is actually to stand by until it is actually time for harvest. Real, when you reside in the country side, you can expand as many as you can. Just because you reside in the urban area carries out certainly not suggest you might certainly not have the ability to grow your own mushroom backyard. Long as you have the room, your channel and also some spores, you can easily create mushrooms by batches. Similar to the countryside, you primarily allowed all of them be, Making sure that they have enough food to eat and also humidity and the temp is actually just enough, your mushrooms will certainly come like little bit of white colored globs on your tool right just before your eyes!

 Did you recognize that the tip to developing mushrooms is certainly not a great top secret? Perhaps when you ask a mushroom raiser what the tip to a wonderful tasting mushroom is, all he answers is a smile on his skin. Probably you might conclude that it must be a long-kept secret that just a handful must know.A handful, alright. Yet the technique is actually not really that fantastic Magic Mushrooms Dispensary.

 Are you curious what that is actually? All you need to possess is actually to give rise to or even possess spores when you really want to develop great mushrooms. You don't need to take care of it either. Don't consider this as some amazing vegetation that has some exclusive demands. Ever before become aware of the words "Popping up like mushrooms along the railroad"? Effectively, that is actually basically it. Mushrooms essentially merely turn up.

 In addition to spores as well as the likes, what perform mushrooms require?

 For sure, mushrooms carry out certainly not need to have light therefore much better maintain them somewhere where light can certainly not trickle through like in a closed package. An additional necessary element to note is actually the temperature. You need to have a dependable one. Attempt certainly not to hit 50-600F at this point.Be certain that you maintain the humidity level constant. You do not would like to have perished -appearing mushrooms.

 These are the necessities, or even should our experts state, the technique to mushroom expanding. As you could have discovered by now that the secret performs certainly not feature some unusual compound or even anything; instead, the trick concerns possessing the ideal mix of all the mentioned variables. The moment you receive the correct formula for a particular mushroom varieties, your endeavor will definitely expand significantly.

 Outdoors mushroom expanding in the type of a yard is actually one that requires very little bit of initiative once the person has provided the proper vaccination to the records or even any type of various other products along with mushroom give rise to. You may buy mushroom developing sets for only a few different species of mushroom - you can obtain switch mushroom grow sets and also you can acquire oyster mushroom expand packages. When you purchase mushrooms coming from a store you aren't left behind over with great garden compost for your landscape (mushroom garden compost is actually one of the most nourishing and pricey types of compost as the mushrooms damage down as well as reprocess many nutrients found in the substratum). In my point of view mushroom expanding sets are an excellent way of developing your very own mushrooms and also even if at times they don't provide outstanding value for cash when contrasted to the shop price you are going to find out therefore much from performing it your own self and also is going to probably take terrific pleasure in developing as well as then consuming your own mushrooms. They are actually understood in the crazy as area mushrooms but they are commonly classified as the button mushroom or the Portobello mushroom, although the Portobello varieties are generally larger in dimension.

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Cancer pagurus

Cancer pagurus

Cancer pagurus, commonly known as the edible crab or brown crab, is a species of crab found in the North Sea, North Atlantic Ocean and perhaps in the Mediterranean Sea. It is a robust crab of a reddish-brown colour, having an oval carapace with a characteristic "pie crust" edge and black tips to the claws. A mature adult may have a carapace width of up to 25 cm (10 in) and weigh up to 3 kg (6.6 lb). C. pagurus is a nocturnal predator, targeting a range of molluscs and crustaceans. It is the subject of the largest crab fishery in Western Europe, centred on the coasts of the British Isles, with more than 60,000 tonnes caught annually. Description Mouthparts and chelae of a female Ventral view of an egg-bearing female The carapace of C. pagurus adults is a reddish-brown colour, while in young specimens it is purple-brown. It occasionally bears white patches, and is shaped along the front edge into nine rounded lobes, resembling a pie crust. Males typically have a carapace 60 millimetres (2.4 in) long, and females 98 mm (4 in) long, although they may reach up to 150 mm (6 in) long in exceptional cases. Carapace width is typically 150 mm (6 in), or exceptionally up to 250 mm (10 in). A fold of the carapace extends ventrally to constitute a branchial chamber where the gills lie. The first pereiopod is modified into a strong cheliped (claw-bearing leg): the claw's fingers, the dactylus and propodus, are black at the tips. The other pereiopods are covered with rows of short stiff setae; the dactylus of each is black towards the tip, and ends in a sharp point. From the front, the antennae and antennules are visible. Beside these there are the orbits in which the eyes are situated. The mouthparts comprise three pairs of maxillipeds, behind which there are a pair of maxillae, a pair of maxillules, and finally the mandibles. In common with most crabs, the abdomen is folded under the thorax and shows clear sexual dimorphism: in males it is comparatively narrow, whereas in the female it is wider. Life cycle Reproduction occurs in winter; the male stands over the female and forms a cage with his legs protecting her while she moults. Internal fertilisation takes place before the hardening of the new carapace, with the aid of two abdominal appendages (gonopods). After mating, the female retreats to a pit on the sea floor to lay her eggs. Between 250,000 and 3,000,000 fertilised eggs are held under the female's abdomen for up to eight months until they hatch. The first developmental stage after hatching is a planktonic larva (1 mm) called the zoea that develops into a postlarva (megalopa), and finally a juvenile. The first juvenile stage is characterised by a well-developed abdomen, which will, in time, become reduced in size and folded under the sternum. Juveniles settle to the sea floor in the intertidal zone, where they stay until they reach a carapace width of 60–70 mm (2.4–2.8 in) and then migrate to deeper water. The growth rate in males slows from an increase in carapace width of 10 mm per year before it is eight years old, to 2 mm per year thereafter. Females grow at about half the rate of males, probably due to the energetic demands of egg laying. Sexual maturity is reached at a carapace width of 12.7 cm (5.0 in) in females, and 11 cm (4.3 in) in males. Longevity is typically 25–30 years, although exceptional individuals may live for up to 100 years. Distribution and ecology The blue mussel, Mytilus edulis, is a favourite food of Cancer pagurus. Cancer pagurus is abundant throughout the northeast Atlantic as far as Norway in the north and northern Africa in the south, on mixed coarse grounds, mud and sand from the shallow sublittoral to depths of about 100 metres (330 ft). It is frequently found inhabiting cracks and holes in rocks but occasionally also in open areas. Smaller specimens may be found under rocks in the littoral zone. Unconfirmed reports suggest that C. pagurus may also occur in the Mediterranean Sea and Black Sea. Adult C. pagurus are nocturnal, hiding buried in the substrate during the day, but foraging at night up to 50 metres (160 ft) from their hideouts. Their diet includes a variety of crustaceans (including the crabs Carcinus maenas and Pilumnus hirtellus, the porcelain crabs Porcellana platycheles and Pisidia longicornis, and the squat lobster Galathea squamifera) and molluscs (including the gastropods Nucella lapillus and Littorina littorea, and the bivalves Ensis, Mytilus edulis, Cerastoderma edule, Ostrea edulis and Lutraria lutraria). It may stalk or ambush motile prey, and may dig large pits to reach buried molluscs. The main predator of Cancer pagurus is the octopus, which will even attack them inside the crab pots that fishermen use to trap them. Compared to other commercially important crab species, relatively little is known about diseases of Cancer pagurus. Its parasites include viruses, such as the white spot syndrome virus, various bacteria that cause dark lesions on the exoskeleton, and Hematodinium-like dinoflagellates that cause "pink crab disease". Other microscopic pathogens include fungi, microsporidians, paramyxeans and ciliates. Cancer pagurus is also targeted by metazoan parasites, including trematodes and parasitic barnacles. A number of sessile animals occasionally settle as epibionts on the exoskeleton of C. pagurus, including barnacles, sea anemones, serpulid polychaetes such as Janua pagenstecheri, bryozoans and saddle oysters. Fishery Crab pots, Lindisfarne, North Sea Cancer pagurus is heavily exploited commercially throughout its range, being the most commercially important crab species in Western Europe. The crabs are caught using crab pots (similar to lobster pots) which are placed offshore and baited. The catch of C. pagurus has increased steadily, rising from 26,000 tonnes in 1978 to 60,000 t in 2007, of which more than 70% was caught around the British Isles. The fishery is widely dispersed around the British and Irish coasts, and C. pagurus is thought to be overfished across much of this area. Most of the edible crabs caught by the British fleet are exported live for sale in France and Spain. A number of legal restrictions apply to the catching of Cancer pagurus. It is illegal to catch "berried" crabs (females carrying eggs), but since ovigerous females remain in pits dug in the sediment and do not feed, fishing pressure does not affect the supply of larvae. Minimum landing sizes (MLS) for C. pagurus are set by both the European Union technical regulations and by the UK government. Different minimum sizes are employed in different geographical areas, to reflect differences in the crab's growth rate across its range. In particular, the "Cromer crab" fishery along the coasts of Suffolk, Norfolk and Lincolnshire is subject to a MLS of 115 mm (4.5 in), rather than the 140 mm (5.5 in) MLS in most of the species' range. An intermediate value of 130 mm (5.1 in) is used in the rest of the North Sea between the 56th parallel north and the Essex–Kent border, and in the Irish Sea south of 55° N. Around Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, there is a separate MLS for males (160 mm or 6.3 in) and females (140 mm or 5.5 in). The Norwegian catch is 8,500 tons annually, compared to 20,000 tons in the United Kingdom, 13,000 tons in Ireland, 8,500 tons in France, and a total 45,000 tons globally. Cookery Around one third of the weight of an adult edible crab is meat, of which one third is white meat from the claws (see declawing of crabs), and two thirds is brown meat from the body. As food, male edible crabs are referred to as cocks and females as hens. Cocks have more sweet white meat; hens have more rich brown meat. Dishes include dressed crab (crab meat arranged in the cleaned shell, sometimes with decoration of other foodstuffs), soups such as bisque or bouillabaisse, pâtés, mousses and hot soufflés. Taxonomy and systematics External identifiers for Cancer pagurus Encyclopedia of Life 1022230 ITIS 98681 NCBI 6755 WoRMS 107276 Also found in: Wikispecies According to the rules of the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature, Cancer pagurus was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758, in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae, which marks the starting point of zoological nomenclature. It was chosen to be the type species of the genus Cancer by Pierre André Latreille in 1810. The specific epithet pagurus is a Latin word, deriving from the Ancient Greek πάγουρος (pagouros), which, alongside "κάρκινος" (karkinos), was used to refer to edible marine crabs; neither classical term can be confidently assigned to a particular species. Although the genus Cancer formerly included most crabs, it has since been restricted to eight species. Within that set of closely related species, the closest relative of C. pagurus is the Jonah crab, Cancer borealis, from the east coast of North America. source - Wikipedia Dear friends, if you liked our post, please do not forget to share and comment like this. If you want to share your information with us, please send us your post with your name and photo at RBbox.in@gmail.com. We will publish your post with your name and photo. thanks for joining us www.rbbox.in

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[paulinatow-blog]

"The Hunt for the Gay Gene" - a very vague pre-filming script

[NARRATOR all read out by the woman on Google Translate. Cue a cheesy intro - think VHS-era science videos and the first Tron movie. Also I mostly won’t write these in until editing but use bits of old hunting footage throughout.] NARRATOR: Hello. My name is [insert name which references Polari but which Google is also able to pronounce. A Sure Challenge] and I will be your guide for today. [CUT to forest scene with Amy standing still as DR WILLET with a gently manic expression, wielding rifle and gaydar] In this episode we shall be following Dr Willet on his quest to hunt down the gay gene, which we may be able to find lurking within the depths of this forest. Before we try and hunt down the gay gene, we must first understand the science behind it. [cut to some shots of DNA from old science video] The volumes of four cell groups in the anterior hypothalamus of the brain were measured in postmortem tissue from three subject groups: women, men who were presumed to be heterosexual, and homosexual men. No differences were found between the groups in the volumes of INAH 1, 2, or 4. As has been reported previously, INAH 3 was more than twice as large in the heterosexual men as in the women. It was also, however, more than twice as large in the heterosexual men as in the homosexual men. This finding indicates that INAH is dimorphic with sexual orientation, at least in men, and suggests that sexual orientation has a biological substrate. Unsurprisingly, not much evidence has been found regarding the issue of female sexuality. I wonder why this might be. [Cut back to DR WILLET] Back to our scene, it is 10 on this fine Sunday morning as we find Dr Willet on the prowl, armed with his rifle [close up] and specially designed gaydar [also a close up]. These are both wonders of modern technology. The gay gene is highly elusive and only [dramatic pause. the pun is too good to waste] /comes out/ on the last Sunday of every month. Today is the 25th of March, and hunting conditions are optimal [follow with description of the conditions which knowing this country are probably not great]. Providing the gay gene is indeed to be found in its natural habitat, if we are lucky we might see it burrowing out from deep underground [insert clip of GAY GENE burrowing] or hiding high up in the trees like a bird [another clip there]. In fact, the gay gene is so elusive we have no idea where it might actually be; highly sensitive sensors have suggested its whereabouts but it has never yet been observed with the human eye. What does Dr Willet intend to do once he has hunted down the gay gene? Let’s ask him:

DR WILLET: Once I, Dr Willet, hunt down the gay gene, I intend to eliminate it and hang it as a trophy over one of my mantlepieces.

NARRATOR: Dr Willet has refused to tell us which mantlepiece, and how many exactly he possesses. Clearly the rich are a mysterious bunch.

[Next, the NARRATOR shuts up for a while, or maybe she doesn't actually but I’m not going to script it here. Dramatic shots of DR WILLET as he wanders about the forest might be good vaguely narrated. They start out slow but get faster and faster. General dramatic closeups, a lot of consulting gaydar - make sure to film in a way which doesn’t reveal the fact it doesn’t actually move. Start including shots of GAY GENE running through the trees in the distance - these also start out brief but get closer and more extended. Final confrontation scene is in slow motion - DR WILLET from the side, puts gaydar on the ground and aims rifle very deliberately; GAY GENE from the front, flailing arms about with a horrified expression. Very sudden cut followed by footage of similar scenes - ie. confrontation moment - in old hunting videos. Then, cut to DR WILLET holding a deceased GAY GENE.]

[Here I think some sort of actual quotes from hunters may be good. About the joys of hunting and all that.]

NARRATOR: As we can see, Dr Willet has clearly achieved his mission for today. [close up of DR WILLET looking very proud] Dr Willet is very proud. [zoom out again. now DR WILLET has one leg up on GAY GENE like in those hunting photos] The population of the gay gene has now decreased by a total of: one gay gene. [Now go back to somewhat neutral video of cells floating around] Join us again next week for some fun where we [Work on this bit later. See what videos I can get my hands on.]

[doxampage]

Book Printing: Tips on Preparing Book Cover Art

A book printing client of mine is about to send a 5.5” x 8.5” perfect-bound book to press. She and her husband, a publishing team for literary books of prose and poetry, have circulated “galley-proofs” (lower production quality versions of the book for editors and reviewers to use for commentary), and the reader suggestions will have been introduced into the final-copy art files shortly.

What this means is that the page count is in flux. And that in turn affects the overall price of the book (and the dollar payment my clients will need to send before the production work begins), plus the width of the spine is also in flux, so the cover designer is in a wait-and-see mode at the moment.

Regarding the last comment above, here’s the rub. The designer will need to create a single file with the back cover on the left, then the spine, then the front cover, all side by side. For this particular print book, there will also be French flaps (3.5” extensions on either side of the back and front cover). When folded in, these French flaps will provide a little interior space to print an author bio, reviewers’ quotes, or marketing blurbs. They will also make the paper-bound book look more like it has a dust jacket (like a hardcover book).

So reading from left to right, the final art for the cover will include a 3.5” French flap followed by a 5.5” x 8.5” back cover followed by a spine (indeterminate size at the moment) followed by a 5.5” x 8.5” front cover followed by a 3.5” front cover French flap. To this the cover designer will add bleeds for this four-color printed product (the interior of the book is simpler: black text throughout, with no bleeds).

All of these components need to be stitched together, but more importantly they must be of the correct measurements, or the spine art will end up wrapping onto the front or back cover and looking just plain ugly.

Fortunately the caliper of the interior text paper is known: 400 ppi. For the ease of the math, that means that if my client’s book winds up being 400 pages, the spine will be one inch. In actuality it will probably be 256 pages (it has ranged from about 264 pages down to 250 pages—for the digitally printed “reader’s galleys”). So the spine will be more than half an inch and less than an inch (.64”), but the exact size cannot be finalized until the page count is firm. That means the Photoshop file (the cover designer likes to work in Photoshop rather than InDesign) will need to be fluid, and the final press-ready PDF cannot be distilled until the text pages have been finalized.

In your own print buying work, there are three take-aways from this case study to consider:

Understand the concept of paper thickness or caliper, and get this information from your book printer once you have chosen a paper stock. To be safe, after you have calculated the spine width, have him confirm your math. It’s better to be safe.

Learn how to stitch together the various pieces of a book cover, making sure the overall size is correct, with or without bleeds, and the pages are in the correct order (back cover, spine, front cover).

Send your book printer both the native Photoshop or InDesign file (to his specifications) and a press-ready PDF (to his specifications).

Don’t be surprised, or upset, if your book printer needs you to make some final technical adjustments and resubmit these files. This is complex work.

Further Thoughts

Here are a few more things that I do when I design a print book cover. You might find them useful.

The Color of the Paper

The clients noted above often print the text blocks of their books on a cream stock. That is, the color of the paper is tinted slightly yellow, in contrast to bright white sheets that are tinted slightly blue. (The blue-white is less noticeable. It just looks like a very bright white.)

When my clients add a 12pt C1S cover to this text block, it is usually blue-white rather than natural, cream, or warm white. Usually, my clients print the inside front and back covers as well as the outer front and back covers and spine. The difference between the bright blue-white of the interior covers and the cream white of the text is not visible to the reader at this point because of the ink on the interior covers (it distracts the reader). However, if my clients choose to print a book on cream stock and they have nothing printed on the interior covers, the difference in paper shade between the blue-white interior covers and the cream white text block will be visible.

In cases like these I have often encouraged them to choose a bright white shade for the text as well as the cover.

As an alternative, could my clients print the covers on a cream-white cover sheet? Presumably. However, printing four-color process imagery on a yellowish tinted paper will change the tone of the inks. Remember, process inks are transparent, so the substrate will affect the perceived color of ink printed on an off-white substrate.

So it’s a trade-off. Depending on the colors, my clients may actually either have a bright white cover and cream white text, and live with the difference, or they might print four-color imagery on cream cover stock—depending on the colors in the images. It’s usually not good to print flesh tones on a cream substrate, since facial coloration can look odd (i.e., jaundiced).

Coated One or Two Sides

On a related note, when my clients do print on the interior covers, I always specify a C2S paper (coated two sides). Many coated cover sheets are specified this way: as 80# cover, for instance, rather than 10pt C1S. It can be assumed that cover stock paper has coating on two sides, since this is not specified, whereas C1S paper specified in points (10pt., 12pt.) is coated on only one side because the notation says it is.

I encourage my clients to do this for the following reason. Ink behaves differently on a coated, vs. uncoated, surface. Ink sits up on the top of a coated surface, but it seeps into the paper fibers if there’s no coating. Because of this, four-color imagery printed on the front of a C1S (coated one side) sheet will have a completely different look than four-color imagery printed on the uncoated interior covers (front and back). Ink on the interior covers in this case would seem dull in comparison. If you want that look (a softer, crunchy granola look), it fine if it’s done throughout a book, but it looks odd if it’s done on the inside front and back covers only.

(On a related note, keep in mind that all of the text blocks of this particular client’s books are printed in black ink only on uncoated paper stock. Everything I’m saying would become far more complicated if my clients were to shift to four-color interior text blocks. In fact, at that point, I’d suggest that they either print both the cover and text on coated stock or print the cover and text on uncoated stock, depending on the effect they were seeking.)

Print Out a Hard Copy

One thing I always suggest for my clients’ book covers is that they print out a hard copy on paper with crop marks and printer’s bars. They may need to tile the pages and then tape them together. But the idea is for them to have a full-size physical representation of the cover, ruled out to show the bleeds. This will make it abundantly clear–in ways that often elude the viewer who only looks at the cover on-screen—as to whether everything is correct.

You can see where the type falls on the spine: whether it is centered vertically, or whether it is too high or low. You can see whether the front or back cover art is centered on the page (exclusive of the bleeds, which can be misleading, because once you draw pencil marks–“rule out the cover”–to connect the trim marks, you can see what the cover will look like after it has been printed and trimmed to size).

All of this is visible on a computer screen, granted. Maybe I’m just “old school.” But I do find it easier to see the flaws when the entire front and back cover and spine are before me in actual size (not enlarged or reduced– zoomed in or out). You can always catch the errors at the physical proof stage (and I would encourage you to request a hard-copy cover proof rather than depending on a virtual proof for a print book cover), but why pay to fix errors you can catch by just printing out and taping together a cover mock-up?

Book Printing: Tips on Preparing Book Cover Art published first on https://getyourprintingcompanies.tumblr.com/

[yesilovehorses-blog1]

Feeding Horses Post-Colic

New Post has been published on http://lovehorses.net/feeding-horses-post-colic/

Feeding Horses Post-Colic

Depending upon the type and severity of the colic, some horses will need to be held off feed for 12 to 48 hours post-surgery.

Photo: Amelia Munsterman, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, ACVECC, CVA

Most horse owners understand how to handle a colicking horse, but managing a horse post-colic is a different animal. Feeding choices for horses post-colic could help or hinder the animal's chance for a full recovery.

During a presentation at the 2012 Kentucky Equine Research Conference, held May 17-18 in Lexington, Ky., Amelia Munsterman, DVM, MS, Dipl. ACVS, ACVECC, clinical lecturer in equine critical care medicine and surgery at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine, gave a presentation on feeding horses with or after colic.

The Relationship Between Feeding Choices and Colic

Munsterman first explained that horses evolved to consume small quantities of high fiber, low carbohydrate feeds continuously. Many modern-day feeding techniques, she said, contradict these nutritional needs. Tactics such as stall confinement and large meals, for instance, can lead to digestive upset and colic, she said.

Munsterman also discussed associations between different feed types and colic:

Pasture: Munsterman said that although horses were designed to consume grass throughout the day, today's pastures often contain different grasses with high levels of fermentable carbohydrates that can potentially cause seasonal colic. One study she discussed found no decrease in colic risk with turnout, while another case-controlled study she discussed revealed horses not allowed turnout or with a recent reduction in turnout were three times more likely to develop colic than horses allowed ample pasture access. She noted that in the first study, lack of water available in the pasture doubled the colic risk.  

Dried Forage: Hay is a popular forage choice for horses, but Munsterman noted it too has been associated with colic development. One study she discussed showed that consuming large portions of low-quality forage increased the risk of impaction colic, and another revealed that horses consuming round bale hay had a 2.5 times greater risk of colicking. Additionally, she noted, abrupt hay changes have been implicated in colic cases. Finally, she explained that researchers have linked both coastal Bermuda hay and alfalfa hay to colic; the former contributing to ileal impactions (a blockage forming in the small intestine) and the latter creating a dietary tract environment that promotes enterolith (intestinal stone) formation.  

Concentrates: "Carbohydrate-rich feeds, including grains, are the most commonly implicated dietary cause of colic in the horse, likely due to the well-documented influences of this substrate on the flora of the equine gastrointestinal tract," Munsterman said. Resarch study results have found several associations between concentrates and colic risk, she said. One found that feeding more than 2.7 kilograms of oats per day increased colic risk, while another identified whole corn as a major risk factor. Studies have yielded conflicting results regarding whether pelleted feeds increase colic risk, but researchers have shown that changes in the concentrate a horse consumes elevates colic risk.

Although research has provided some conflicting results, Munsterman offers proven feeding suggestions to prevent colic:

Provide a consistent diet, as diet changes increase colic risk;

Ensure at least 60% of the horse's diet is forage (hay or pasture), and ensure this amounts to a minimum of 1 to 1.5% of the horse's body weight per day if weight loss is needed; healthy horses should consume about 2% of their body weight daily;

Keep concentrate consumption to a minimum, and break concentrate meals into several small servings throughout the day;

If additional energy is required in the horse's diet, consider concentrated sources such as vegetable oil, beet pulp, or soy hulls; and

Make all dietary changes gradually over the course of seven to 10 days.

Feeding After Colic

Munsterman relayed that different types of colic require different post-treatment feeding plans. She outlined several different types of colic and made suggestions for refeeding.

Uncomplicated Colic: Simple colic cases that resolve quickly and relatively easily are considered uncomplicated. These resolve with medical treatment, and the horse generally recovers in 12 to 24 hours, she said.

In these cases, Munsterman said, feeding can resume as soon as normal gut sounds (borborygmi) and fecal production return. She recommended providing small amounts of good-quality grass hay every four to six hours for the first 12 to 24 hours. The horse's forage rations can increase and return to normal over 24 to 48 hours if no adverse reactions are noted, she said. She noted the importance of ensuring the horse stays hydrated post-colic. Avoid feeding concentrates for 10 to 14 days post-colic, she said, to avoid any potential gastrointestinal disruption.

She also recommended evaluating the horse's diet, environment, and feeding schedule to try to identify any predisposing risk factors for colic.

Duodenitis-Proximal Jejunitis: Researchers have shown that inflammation of the small intestines, known as duodenitis-proximal jejunitis (DPJ) or anterior enteritis, often occurs in horses with pasture access, Munsterman said. Treatment for DPJ can be either medical or surgical, depending on the colic's severity, she said. Both medical and surgical cases have a good prognosis for recovery if treated aggressively and if the disease is "allowed to run its course," she added.

Horses with DPJ often can't consume food normally due to ileus (lack of intestinal motility) and resulting gastric reflux, she said. Thus, to avoid excessive protein loss, veterinarians often administer parenteral nutrition (through an intravenous catheter), she said, and continue this until the horse can consume regular food without gastric reflux.

"Enteral feeding can begin once progressive motility is confirmed by a lack of net gastric reflux and ultrasonographic confirmation of small intestinal contractions," she said. At that point, Munsterman recommended providing hay, complete feed, or alfalfa pellets at 25% of the daily ration, divided into meals every two to four hours. The horse should be able to return to full rations in two to three days, she said.

For these horses, avoid feeding concentrates or grass with high fermentable carbohydrate concentrations, she said, and keep the horse off grain for about two weeks. If the horse needs to regain body condition, consider feeding high-protein forages or adding vegetable oil to the feed, she said.

Small Intestinal Strangulation: Regardless of the cause, veterinarians typically treat this dangerous condition surgically. Munsterman said the small intestine is sensitive to manipulation, so post-operative ileus is a common occurrence.

To prevent or reduce the chances of ileus, Munsterman said some veterinarians have adopted a newly validated practice of offering food to horses as soon as possible after recovering from anesthesia. She outlined one plan described by Freeman et al. of providing water 12 to 18 hours post-operation and then offering handfuls of alfalfa hay at 18 to 24 hours. Build the horse up slowly to 75% of his total feed rations over the next day or two, she said.

If the horse isn't able to consume food enterally (via the gastrointestinal tract), parenteral nutrition is an option. "It is still unclear as to any benefits of providing parenteral nutrition to surgical colic cases, with the downside of an increase in cost to the client," Munsterman cautioned. "Based on the lack of clear evidence, most horses are simply held off feed until ileus subsides."

Ileal Impactions: Veterinarians can often treat ileal impactions medically; however, severe cases might require surgery, Munsterman said. In this event, refeeding practices are similar to those for small intestinal strangulations, she said.

Most ileal impactions resolve within 12 hours, so parenteral nutrition isn't often required, she said. Feeding can resume once intestinal motility resumes.

Munsterman cautioned that because studies have implicated coastal Bermuda in ileal impaction development, avoid providing recovering horses with this type of forage. Instead, aim for high-quality, first-cutting hay, and ensure sufficient water intake, she said (if Bermuda is the only forage available, Munsterman recommended feeding good-quality, first-cutting). If good-quality hay is not available, owners can substitute pelleted complete feeds, chopped hay, or pasture.

Large Colon Impactions: Veterinarians treat the most common colic cause in horses, large colon impactions (a blockage forming in the large intestine), similarly to ileal impactions. Feed should be withheld during treatment, Munsterman said, but feeding should not be delayed once treatment has resolved.

"Good-quality forages, ideally alfalfa hay, should initially be provided in small amounts four to six times daily, with a gradual increase over 24 to 48 hours to normal rations," she said. Upon reintroducing feed, she recommended providing free-choice hay to reduce the risk of gastric ulcer development.

Green grass or alfalfa-based diets could provide a laxative effect, she said, and might help prevent recurrence in recovered horses. Additionally, she advised promoting water intake with salt or electrolyte supplementation to prevent impactions.

Sand Impactions: Veterinarians generally treat sand impactions medically, similar to feed impactions, Munsterman said, but severe cases might necessitate surgical correction.

The key to feeding horses post-sand impaction colic is to remove the animal from the sandy area, if possible. Additional steps include:

Avoid feeding the horse on the ground, if possible;

Use large tubs and/or rubber mats to prevent feed from spilling on the ground;

Avoid using overgrazed pastures; and

Provide horses with a psyllium supplement for one week, monthly, as a preventive measure.

However, "the most effective method of clearing sand from the gastrointestinal system is to provide 2.5% of body weight per day of hay," said Munsterman. "The bulk alone is capable of removing almost 95% of ingested sand and was better in a controlled trial than psyllium, mineral oil, or wheat bran."

Enteroliths and Fecaliths: Enteroliths are intestinal stones are made up of minerals, such as magnesium ammonium phosphate salts, that build up around a foreign object a horse eats but does not digest. Similarly, fecaliths are compacted fecal material in the intestine. Munsterman noted that surgery is the most common treatment for both conditions. Owners should feed post-treatment horses similarly to horses recovering from impactions, she said.

Munsterman noted owners can take preventive nutritional measures post-surgery to try to prevent future stones from forming, including:

Feed less than 50% alfalfa hay to predisposed horses, as alfalfa's high protein content has been statistically linked to enterolith formation;

Wheat bran is also suspected to encourage enterolith formation; however, it has never been linked definitively. Thus, consider limiting wheat bran intake for affected horses;

Avoid stall confinement for more than half the day, high-protein diets, low-fiber diets, and intermittent meals; and

Consider monthly psyllium treatments or feeding 2 to 2.5% of the body weight in hay daily to help clear ingesta that could lead to an enterolith or a fecalith.

Ascending Colon Displacement: Munsterman explained that the ascending colon moves freely in the abdomen, so displacements aren't uncommon. Medical treatment is possible, however many horses are taken to surgery, she said.

Post-treatment horses should be fed in a similar manner as large colon impactions, she said. Feed a good-quality forage with long fibers to "increase the bulk of ingesta in the colon." Avoid concentrates for 10 to 14 days after treatment.

Munsterman recommended eliminating or reducing the amount of concentrates affected horses consume and instead basing the diet on good-quality fiber sources and ensuring adequate water intake.

Large Colon Torsion: Veterinarians always treat this severe and life-threatening form of colic surgically, Munsterman said. Post-surgical feeding depends on the severity of the torsion (twist) and what was done during surgery.

In horses treated early with minimal intestinal resection during surgery, feeding can begin as early as six to 12 hours after treatment, she said. If the torsion is serious in nature and the veterinarian performs extensive surgery and resection, feeding will need to wait at least 12 to 24 hours, she said. If some of the intestine has become ischemic (has a lack of blood flow), horses might not be able to eat for up to 48 hours post-surgery, she added.

When the horse does eat, provide good-quality forage for four to six hours, Munsterman relayed. Feed intake can be increased over the next few days, and the horse should be able to consume his full ration by the third day. Once the horse has been fully reintroduced to feed, he will require a highly digestible diet to maintain body condition, due to the colon resection, she noted. Special considerations for these horses include:

The horse likely needs to consume good hay with high protein content (alfalfa) at a higher quantity than maintenance horses to prevent weight loss;

Affected horses need to consume more water than healthy horses (sometimes up to eight liters more) to account for excess water loss in the feces;

As the digestive tract rebuilds itself, the need for a specialized diet will diminish; and

If needed, provide oil or soybean meal to encourage weight gain post-surgery.

Cecal Impactions: Munsterman said cecal impactions are the most common cecum disorder resulting in colic, and depending on the case, veterinarians can treat them medically or surgically, she said.

"Feeding after cecal impactions is complicated by a high rate of recurrence," Munsterman said. Thus, she recommended refeeding slowly and gradually. She suggested only providing water for the first 12 to 24 hours post-resolution, followed by hand-walking and grazing for up to 15 minutes to promote intestinal motility. Next, she suggested providing low residue feeds–such as complete or alfalfa pellets–and reintroducing hay to the diet very gradually. She suggested alfalfa because of its laxative effects.

Cecocecal Intussusception: This type of colic occurs when the cecum telescopes into itself and is always surgical, she said. The severity and procedures performed during surgery dictate how soon post-operatively the horse can begin eating.

Some horses can eat in as little as 12 hours, while others must wait 36 to 48 hours, she relayed. When refeeding begins, offer water before adopting a feeding schedule similar to the one outlined in the "large colon impactions" section. Specifically, grazing promotes cecal motility, so it's advisable to allow the horse access to grass.

Small Colon Obstructions: Veterinarians select either medical or surgical treatment based on the obstruction's severity. The two treatment methods have slightly different refeeding procedures, she noted.

Medically managed horses can begin drinking water in the first 12 to 24 hours post-resolution, she noted. After that, she recommended using a similar feeding schedule as one would for a horse with ascending colon impactions. She recommended a forage-only diet for the first few days after impaction resolution.

Horses treated surgically should be held off feed for 36 to 48 hours post-op, Munsterman said, and slowly fed a small quantity of low residue feeds every six hours. These feeds, such as complete feeds or alfalfa pellets, should be fed for the first 10 to 14 days after surgery, she noted. If necessary, owners can continue this diet indefinitely should problems arise when they introduce a normal diet.

Take-Home Message

No two colic cases will resolve alike, and as such each case requires individual treatment. But understanding refeeding practices before colic strikes can help prepare an owner for whatever might occur in the future.

About the Author

Erica Larson, News Editor

Erica Larson, news editor, holds a degree in journalism with an external specialty in equine science from Michigan State University in East Lansing. A Massachusetts native, she grew up in the saddle and has dabbled in a variety of disciplines including foxhunting, saddle seat, and mounted games. Currently, Erica competes in eventing with her OTTB, Dorado.