Ok, I've now officially gone farther than ever before in my budding new foray into DCSS. I've cleared all 15 levels, the Lair, and the Orcish Mines. I know the next step is to head into the Lair Rune Branches, but I'm terrified! I've been doing so well!!
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I'm not sure how much of a dump anyone wants, but here's a lot. If anyone wants to offer advice before I plumb these new depths, that would be great!
HippieInHawaii the Warrior (Minotaur Berserker) Turns: 28739, Time: 06:25:46
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Health: 128/157 AC: 29 Str: 30 XL: 16 Next: 47%
Magic: 14/15 EV: 18 Int: 4 God: Trog [*****.]
Gold: 928 SH: 0 Dex: 14 Spells: 15/15 levels left
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rFire . . . a - +4 battleaxe (heavy)
rCold . . . (shield currently unavailable)
rNeg + . . s - +4 plate armour "Xuikofo" {rPois Stlth+}
rPois + (helmet restricted)
rElec . j - +1 cloak "Zucoomul" {Rampage rN+ Str+4 Stlth-}
rCorr . H - +2 pair of gloves {infuse}
SInv . O - +2 pair of boots
Will +.... n - amulet of magic regeneration
Stlth P - +4 ring of slaying
HPRegen 0.46/turn C - +5 ring of evasion
MPRegen 0.54/turn
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%: rampage, infuse magic (1 MP)
@: very slightly contaminated, studying Fighting
A: horns 2, retaliatory headbutt
a: Renounce Religion, Berserk, Trog's Hand, Brothers in Arms
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You are on level 15 of the Dungeon.
You worship Trog.
Trog is extremely pleased with you.
You have visited 3 branches of the dungeon, and seen 22 of its levels.
You have also visited: Gauntlet and Volcano.
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You have collected 3260 gold pieces.
You have spent 2332 gold pieces at shops.
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Inventory:
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Hand Weapons
a - a +4 heavy battleaxe (weapon)
b - a +3 arbalest of draining
Q - the +7 battleaxe of Tenacity {protect, rC+ Will- SInv}
(You found it on level 3 of the Lair of Beasts)
rC: It protects you from cold.
SInv: It lets you see invisible.
Will: It decreases your willpower.
S - a +1 heavy executioner's axe
Z - a +4 battleaxe of flaming
Missiles
d - 27 poisoned darts (quivered)
e - 7 boomerangs
L - 8 javelins
Armour
g - a +2 plate armour of fire resistance
j - the +1 cloak "Zucoomul" (worn) {Rampage rN+ Str+4 Stlth-}
(You found it in a Gauntlet)
Str: It affects your strength (+4).
rN: It protects you from negative energy.
Rampage: It bestows one free step when moving towards enemies.
Stlth: It makes you less stealthy.
If you remove this armour, your AC would decrease by 3 (29 -> 26).
s - the +4 plate armour "Xuikofo" (worn) {rPois Stlth+}
(You bought it in a shop on level 1 of the Dungeon)
rPois: It protects you from poison.
Stlth: It makes you more stealthy.
If you remove this armour, your AC would decrease by 20 (29 -> 9).
A - the +0 plate armour of Feasting {rC+ Will+ Int+3}
(You found it on level 14 of the Dungeon)
Int: It affects your intelligence (+3).
rC: It protects you from cold.
Will: It increases your willpower.
If you switch to wearing this armour, your AC would decrease by 4 (29 ->
25).
F - a +1 cloak of poison resistance
H - a +2 pair of gloves of infusion (worn)
O - a +2 pair of boots (worn)
Jewellery
c - a ring of flight
n - an amulet of magic regeneration (around neck)
v - a ring of fire
C - a +5 ring of evasion (right hand)
I - a ring of protection from cold
K - a +4 ring of protection
N - a +6 ring of strength
P - a +4 ring of slaying (left hand)
X - the ring of Caghir {rN+ rCorr Str+2}
(You found it on level 5 of the Lair of Beasts)
[ring of resist corrosion]
Str: It affects your strength (+2).
rN: It protects you from negative energy.
rCorr: It protects you from acid and corrosion.
Wands
k - a wand of digging (4)
l - a wand of light (8)
y - a wand of iceblast (19)
E - a wand of polymorph (13)
R - a wand of flame (28)
V - a wand of paralysis (3)
Scrolls
i - 11 scrolls of teleportation
m - a scroll of fog
t - 7 scrolls of fear
u - 3 scrolls of magic mapping
w - 4 scrolls of blinking
J - 2 scrolls of silence
U - 11 scrolls of identify
Potions
f - 5 potions of haste
h - a potion of invisibility
o - 2 potions of flight
p - 3 potions of berserk rage
q - a potion of magic
r - 11 potions of curing
x - 2 potions of heal wounds
z - 2 potions of cancellation
B - 3 potions of might
G - 5 potions of ambrosia
Miscellaneous
D - a lightning rod (4/4)
M - a phantom mirror
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Skills:
* Level 17.9 Fighting
* Level 17.3 Axes
+ Level 11.0 Ranged Weapons
+ Level 10.3 Throwing
+ Level 12.6 Armour
+ Level 11.6 Dodging
+ Level 9.6 Stealth
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You have 15 spell levels left.
You don't know any spells.
Your spell library is empty.
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Dungeon Overview and Level Annotations
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Branches:
Dungeon (15/15) Temple (0/1) D:5 Lair (5/5) D:11
Shoals (0/4) Lair:2 Snake (0/4) Lair:3 Slime (0/5) Lair:5
Orc (2/2) D:12 Elf (0/3) Orc:2 Vaults (0/5) D:13
Depths (0/4) D:15 Volcano (visited) Gauntlet (visited)
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Altars:
Cheibriados
Dithmenos
Elyvilon
Fedhas
Qazlal
Ru
Trog
Wu Jian
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Shops:
D:1 [? Orc:1 ! Orc:2 (([?
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Innate Abilities, Weirdness & Mutations
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You have a pair of horns on your head.
You reflexively headbutt those who attack you in melee.

Petos the 10th seat so far has to be the worst villain in the series since not only is his design just so bland, goofy, and uncreative his personality is just so boring and cliche. And sure most of the villains in the series has cliche personalities but atleast they were fun and interesting like for example perv asshat. Petos on the other hand is none of that he's just so boring. Maybe I'm just pissed that he wasn't the one to die instead of Fenrir but either way he's just going to be another character to either be fodderized by Shadow or Zeta. Yeah let's talk about his relation to Zeta and how he got the 10th seat, so apparently he's Zeta's main antagonist and the person she desires to kill since he killed her family and she doesn't even interact with him not counting her backstory and sure they might see each other in the future volume which could maybe lead to her development as a character but I doubt that he'll put much of an impact to her character since due to Zeta's goal right now killing him would only benefit her goals. And let's talk about how he got into the 10th seat. You think he got amazing strength and intellect to be in a rank higher then Nelson. Sorry to disappoint you guys but he got it by killing Zeta's clan and that's it. Even Fenrir doesn't approve how he got in the 10th seat. He doesn't even have good strength either and let's talk about his powers and abilities. He uses chains. How very creative compare it to the other knights simple knights like mordred powers is 10 times more interesting then petos who uses normal chains and they're not even artifacts everything about this character is so uncreative and is a definition of a joke. Overall this is my opinion if you like his character that's fine plus it's too early to judge his character anyways but I doubt my opinion on this character will change anyways.

This is going to be an abnormally long post, so I apologize in advance. I (27f) endured a traumatic sexual experience when I was 15 years old with a stranger while on vacation. The years after that situation happened, I had to spend hours in therapy, be put on antidepressants and mood stabilizers, and attempted to take my own life twice. I was one of the lucky sexual violence survivors that my attacker was put in prison. But as we know, many women don’t have this experience.
The one thing that I find hard occasionally about watching the podcast is the amount of times that these incel, gremlin freak shows, justify assaulting or raping women. However, I can always depend on Olivia to speak up for women who have had their voices silenced. As a newer fan (I started listening about a year ago) I wasn’t aware of Olivia‘s past experience. And when she was vulnerable enough to share that part of her life and have two disgusting scum of the Earth content makers, belittle her lived experience and make light of something that many people die over, I was heart broken.
I want you to know Olivia that people like me hear your commentary and feel seen. I wasn’t as strong as you at 23 years old, and the strength that you portray on the show inspires me to speak more about my story. You are truly an incredible role model to young women everywhere that want to take back their power, and demand the basic respect that they deserve. Please never let content creators like Babble/Aba/Reach/PeachesNCream/WhoTheFuckCares make you feel like what you are doing is not making a difference. I know that people throw around this phrase very loosely on the Internet these days, but I can guarantee, you are saving some little girls life out there that’s watching the podcast. I wish that I would’ve had a role model like you when I was going through what I went through.
Keep being you. Keep speaking. Keep slaying queen. snappy finger waving love you girlie. 💕

hi. so i need a gps app that record my trips, but also record speed. so later i can view/play my trip on a 3d map and see speed at specific points ( where i touch on the map ).
does that exist ? i tried 2 or 4 that promise to do that but arent working at all or its far from what i want. thanks

From what I’m reading this is normal and showing activity? It pulses at different speeds. Not a steady on or off. (Not sure so I’m looking to calm my heart rate.)
It started after I began installing Windows 11.

Have had t mobile for about a year and a half now and recently have been having some trouble. My gateway tends to swap between two different bands on the same tower, one being b2 and the other b66. At first when I compared the two there really wasn’t much of a difference and so I was happy with my 45ms ping and 250d and 30up. However recently during the night when I’m on b66, the speeds have been severely reduced. Now if I’m on b66 my download doesn’t even hit 15 and my ping is now going up towards around 60. This makes downloading and general use a bit of a pain, even just streaming is becoming more difficult as time goes on. Any idea on what could be causing this?
I also should note that I’m using a single 2x2 mimo proxicast antenna to connect to the tower. Had to do this to keep the gateway from connecting to a worst tower further away.

$18 pack. Spent a total of $350 on random packs and a box of recon. This was the highlight pull.

The Digital Hypno Human vs Robot Challenge

Do you think you can tell which Hypnosis Script intro was written by ChatGPT and which was written by a Professional Hypnotherapist?
Are you willing to risk being right or wrong by making a decision?
For just a little bit of fun, I'll post 5 x different Hypnosis/Guided Meditation Script intros, and comment as to whether you think it was written by a human or AI.

-🌀-🌀-🌀-🌀-🌀-Intro #1 - Journey of Mindfulness:

Welcome. This session is designed to guide you to a place of peace and present-mindedness. Begin by adjusting your breathing, finding a slow and controlled rhythm. With each inhale, imagine drawing in the fresh, clean air, and with each exhale, let go of tension and stress, as if it were a puff of grey smoke dispersing into the ether. This is your time, your space.
Imagine now that you are in a deep, lush forest, surrounded by towering trees that have stood the test of time. As you breathe in, feel the cool forest breeze that carries with it the rustling whispers of the leaves, a delicate earthy scent, and the nurturing essence of nature. Each breath you take makes you feel more and more a part of this vibrant forest scene.
Now, let's embark on a journey of mindfulness, a journey that anchors us in the present moment. As you traverse the forest in your mind, notice the rough texture of the bark as you gently run your fingers along a tree, the sound of a distant stream bubbling, and the way the forest floor feels beneath your feet. This journey isn't about reaching a destination, it's about being here, now. Every sensation you experience, every breath you take, is a gentle reminder to stay present.
Remember, this journey is for you. Encourage yourself, for each step taken in mindfulness brings you closer to inner peace and tranquility. Breathe in the forest, breathe in the present moment, and when you're ready, take one last deep breath, hold it, and release it slowly, letting the serene calmness wash over you.

-🌀-🌀-🌀-🌀-🌀-Intro #2 - Universal Silver Light:

Close your eyes and take in a deep breath. Let the breath go all the way down to your abdomen, then breathe all the way back up. Allow yourself to continue breathing in and out, up and down, as you sink deeper into the chair, feeling more comfortable.
Now, as you start to focus on your breath and all the other pleasant feelings it creates, recognize that with each breath, your body is becoming more relaxed and comfortable. It's almost as though there is a white silver light washing over your body as your breath travels up towards the top of your head. It explodes out into the universe like a shower of energy, and then just as quickly, it travels back down over your entire body as you breathe in and down to your toes, grounding you back into the center of the earth.
By doing this you are giving yourself the gift of deeper connection and oneness with everything around you, bringing a greater sense of peace & harmony, as a foundation for creating long-lasting, positive changes, by harnessing the infinite power of the universe and earth.

-🌀-🌀-🌀-🌀-🌀-Intro #3 - Landscape of Your Life:

Sit back, relax & close your eyes and allow this journey to help restore equilibrium in your mind, body, and spirit. To start, focus on the pattern of your breath, a simple yet powerful tool. Take a deep, full breath in, filling your lungs completely. Hold this breath for a moment, allowing the oxygen to fully saturate your system. Now, slowly let it out, taking twice as long to exhale as you did to inhale. This slow release helps signal your nervous system to switch into a state of rest and relaxation, quieting the chatter of the mind.
Visualize yourself standing on top of a majestic mountain. From here, you can see the world sprawled out below you, its chaos and noise merely a whisper carried away by the wind. The air is clear and cool, tinged with the crisp scent of mountain trees. As you breathe in this pure air, feel it cleanse your body and spirit, wiping away stress and negativity. Each exhalation is a step further into tranquility, your breath echoing the gentle breeze that sweeps across the mountain top.
Embark on a journey of rejuvenation. With every slowing breath, imagine yourself tapping into an unlimited source of energy deep within you. This journey is about revitalization, not just physically, but also emotionally and psychologically. As you look out from your mountain top, consider each element of the landscape as a part of your life. Perhaps the river in the distance represents your emotions, the forest your relationships, the open sky your dreams. Breathe in the healing air, knowing that with each breath, you are nurturing these aspects of your life.
This practice is a gift you're giving to yourself, a testament to your innate ability to regulate and balance your body and mind. Each slow, intentional breath is a step towards a better you. As you continue to breathe deeply and slowly, feel the calming effects washing over you, enhancing your capability to create positive change now.

-🌀-🌀-🌀-🌀-🌀-Intro #4 - Quantum Healing:

Sit back, relax, and close your eyes. Now, just imagine that with each breath, a radiant, healing light infuses every cell and atom of your body, energizing and harmonizing them. This light represents the powerful quantum field that underpins all of reality, capable of manifesting profound transformation. You're floating amongst fluffy clouds, surrounded by the tranquil hum of the cosmos, a testament to the vibrational nature of existence.
This journey you're on is one of quantum healing and epigenetic change. Feel the energy and vibration within you, aligning with the frequency of wellness, balance, and positivity. Visualize this light, drawn in with your breath, influencing your genes on a profound level, turning on codes of health, resilience, and vitality.
You're harnessing the vibrational essence of your being, focusing it on manifesting positive changes in your life. Continue this process of mindful quantum change, aware that each breath you take, each vibrational shift you make, brings you closer to your optimal self.

-🌀-🌀-🌀-🌀-🌀-Intro #5 - Your Inner Jedi - Star Wars

Close your eyes and allow yourself to go on a journey across the galaxies, to bring balance to your mind, body, and spirit - much like the balance sought by the Jedi and Sith in the Star Wars universe. Focus on your breath, the natural Force within you, as powerful and tranquil as the Jedi Masters themselves. Inhale deeply, filling your lungs with life-sustaining oxygen, then hold, allowing the breath to saturate every cell in your body. Exhale slowly and notice as this rhythm mimics the gentle pulse of the Force, signaling to enter a deeper state of peace and relaxation.
Now, let your mind drift even more now to the shifting sand dunes of Tatooine. This harsh, yet strangely beautiful landscape symbolizes the shifting nature of life. Each grain of sand is like a moment in time, insignificant on its own yet contributing to the vast oceans of sand, just as each moment contributes to the vastness of your life. The undulating dunes remind you of life's duality, the rise and fall, the constant flux and flow. Feel the warm sand underfoot, the dry wind in your hair, the intense sun on your skin. Let these sensations ground you in the present moment, reminding you of your resilience and adaptability.
Using the inherent Force within you, this voyage is about revitalizing your inner self; physically, emotionally and psychologically. Picture the vast cosmos before you, each celestial body representing an aspect of your life. The tranquil moons symbolize your emotions, the vibrant stars your dreams & ambitions, the infinite galaxies your limitless potential. Breathe in the cosmic energy, trusting that with each breath, you're nurturing and balancing these elements of your existence.
This a testament to your innate ability to control and harmonize your inner galaxy. Every slow, purposeful breath brings you closer to the Jedi-like tranquility and strength within you. As you continue to breathe in rhythm with the Force, feel the calming effects washing over you, getting stronger and stronger with each breath, increasing your ability to create positive change in your own universe.
---- So which of these are written by a human and which are written by AI (ChatGPT with some detailed prompting)?

My soon to be 3rd grader has a same grade level and fellow lacrosse player friend. In visiting with my son's friend's father, the dad shared that his son didn't do great on the CogAT test this Spring '23 (our district administers CogAT testing at 2nd grade for all students). I asked how his percentiles were... 45% Verbal, 81% Quant, and 98% Nonverbal. So the kid is not getting GT services in our district any time soon, but it made me curious about how can a parent help a kid with high nonverbal abilities. What can a parent do to try and leverage this type of aptitude? I'm not trying to suggest my son's friend should get into our school district's GT services, but I am trying to help his dad gain an insight on how to play to his son's strengths. I dad coached the K2 lacrosse team for my son and his friend this past Fall and Spring. So I can see that the kid is a natural at solving problems, picking up field concepts and disciplined in his field play. Any insights you can share are appreciated. Maybe he'll test better as a 3rd grader.

The device is solid and sturdy. I like how the logo is black and blends in well. I keep my desk on the floor my desk so having something on the top of my desk that I can just single handed my plug things in like SD cards and usb devices is a real convenience. My mobo (z690-e) has two type-c rear I/O, a 3.2 gen 2 and a gen 2x2 port. The device has a type c which plugs in the 3.2 gen 2 port and another usb-A style for “auxiliary power” i used the black port which didn’t have the usb ss logo, this worked fine.
My only con was the mounting. To get it tight enough so it barely moves requires getting it really tight. It bends the metal here. Other than that it’s great but it also isn’t going anywhere so not too bad.
I haven’t been able to test the speed yet but I will come back with an update on with an sd card and external ssd speeds
Happy with it so far

I , recently just got a new GPU (RTX 3060, 12GB vram), and i have MSI afterburner and i want to know if it is better to let it run at a constant speed always (and keep on spinning and cooling) or, let it run on auto (they start to spin at 62 degrees celsius, and cool all the way down to50 degrees. i just need to know if it is better to let it go on auto, or have it on a fixed RPM.

does anyone else have a glitchy barrel hoop like it will sometimes go off the rail or go off it entirely change speed out of nowhere etc and does anyone know how to fix it cause ive been trying to get the 3000 achievement but i keep loosing it to those glitches

Finally got into see a neurologist 2 months after onset of symptoms.
Feb 27th tested positive for CV19
March 17 "numbness" and tingling in fingers and toes. Over the next 10 days that would progress up my legs and stop at my diaphragm at the same time it was progressing up my arms to my shoulders leaving my chest unaffected.
When I refer to "numbness" I'm talking like the heavy feeling of your leg falling asleep, not numb like no sensation, just altered.
March 27 I went to my primary with more pronounced left sided weakness (had to hold up my left arm, and my left leg was near paralyzed) and weak reflexes. But both sides were affected. I also had;
-severe fatigue -shortness of breath -tachycardia -burning on top of left foot and outside of left shin -facial numbness
I was referred to neuro and prescribed gabapentin.
Over the next month my symptoms plateaued and abated. Until 2 weeks ago I was starting to feel better, not normal, but I could function.
Now my legs feel like jello, all my muscles feel like they're oxygen deprived, you know that feeling when you hold your arms above your head too long? Similar to that. I feel unbalanced, uncoordinated. I feel like I'm buzzing or vibrating 24/7 except for these shocks, split seconds of nothing. And its becoming painful.
I've also got a fine tremor thats visable in my hands and I went for a walk last week and my leg wouldn't stop shaking, my husband recorded it because it was so pronounced and it only stopped if I clenched my muscles.
My neuro is leaning toward CIDP, but she's not convinced since I don't meet all the criteria. I have no sensation changes on my skin, my reflexes are intact and most of my muscle strength is fine except for my left big toe, hips and something else I've forgotten.
I've been referred for a cervical and thoracic MRI, had 11 vials of blood drawn to rule out sjogrens, RA, MG, vasculitis, wilsons and more. And finally a EMG. She doesn't want to follow up for 3 months unless I continue declining. And won't do a tap until we've ruled everything out.
I'm disappointed that I'm declining again and that there's nothing I can do but wait. I really wish I'd have gone to the ER and requested a LP back in March when I was concerned about GBS instead of waiting to see my primary. At least then I'd have a definitive yes you have it or no you don't.
So if you've read this far I thank you. Hopefully I'm in the right place, if not at least I can learn some tips and tricks to living with a chronic illness, because this, whatever this is, sucks.

So this has bothered me for over 20 years.
In the Phantom Menace, literally 5 mins into the movie, Obi Wan and Qui Gon are battling their way through the droids on the Trade Federation ship when two droids “destroyers” with their force field roll in. Obi Wan and Qui Gon super speed down the hallway to get away from them.
This Jedi “Power” is not used again in the rest of the saga. Across 9 movies, never once used again. Despite this being an incredibly useful skill that should have made Jedi even harder to kill. Let alone all the situations it could have come in handy.
I mean later in that same movie when they are fighting Darth Maul and get separated and then end up separated again by the force shields…..Obi Wan is jogging to catch-up. Jogging. Why not use super speed and immediately catch up or when the force shields lower, super speed to keep it 2v1 against Maul?
Has anyone else thought this same thing?

People naturally hold back when dealing with someone lesser than themselves and that’s just how it is. No your grandpa can’t actually beat you in a fight and neither can your mom. Most people just don’t have the heart to go full strength on loved ones

Will Ozempic work for me if I need to just lose 15-20lbs? I've been working out 5 days a week (running on the treadmill and strength training) since March and have not dropped a single pound. I used to be able to drop 20lbs easily in 3 months when I was in my 30s. But now in my 50s it seems so much harder. I'm a small build 5'2" Asian so it's very noticeable when I'm 20lbs overweight.

Flying Sparks

Pre Order Now

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https://i.redd.it/vub83em8fb3b1.gif

Chapter 2

“Hazardous? I’ll show that manipulative, misanthropic, anti-establishment cretin just what hazardous means if he thinks I’m going to fold on this!”
The sound of vigorous guitar riffs made a fitting accompaniment to the angry tirade despite originating on opposite sides of the communal area. Ama was glaring at a laptop that sat on a stained oak desk shoved against the large table near the kitchen. She tapped a fingernail on the wood as she read through the alert.
“And what violation of basic human dignity has her royal prudishness’s undies in a bunch?” Em demanded with an affected sneer without looking up from his guitar scales.
“Oh you’ll agree with this one tree-hugger,” Drake muttered from where he sat oiling his work boots.
“Yeah,” Donny piped up, “Finney is trying to kill a perfectly healthy fir.”
“What!” Em demanded, carefully placing his battered old acoustic guitar down in its case and darting over to look at the computer screen. “You mean apark tree?”
Despite her simmering frustration Ama allowed a small smile to flicker across her face as she continued to type.
“Get out of your pajamas and I’ll tell you,” Drake ordered pointing towards the bathroom door with a stained rag. “School starts in forty-five minutes and you still have breakfast and chores. That goes for you too Pip-squirt.”
“I hope you washed your hands before you touched our food,” Em said with a frown.
“Boot grease makes a great source of fatty acids.” Drake retorted. “Now go!”
The two smaller boys muttered in annoyance but stumbled off to follow orders.
“So what is up?” the youth asked as he bent his head back over the smooth leather of his boots.
“Mrs. Finney wants that tree down that’s blocking her perfect view of Crescent Lake.” Ama replied in a dry tone.
“One that’s clearly on park property?” Drake asked.
“Indeedy-do.” Ama replied giving the paper in front of her a glare.
“So how’s she justifying it?” Drake asked.
“As a safety hazard to her house.” Ama replied.
“And?”
The biologist groaned and rubbed her face.
“As far as I can tell the trunk is perfectly healthy. There is an old trash can lid grown into the trunk and a little discolored sap is leaking out there.”
“Frass?”
“Watch your language!” Donny interjected as he darted up to the table.
“Frass is not a bad word,” Drake stated. “Have you let the chickens out?”
“Yes, what does frass mean?” Donny asked as he started piling stir-fry onto his plate.
“Look it up.” Drake ordered him. “Emerald! Breakfast ends in ten minutes! Get your tukus down here!”
“It’s bad health to rush meals,” Em snapped out as he came down a narrow stairway with deliberate slowness.
“It’s even worse for your health to skip meals altogether,” Drake growled threateningly.
“Shut it and give me some eggs.” Em snapped back.
“Emerald Waters Undersun,” Drake hissed out through gritted teeth. “You are going to get your own eggs.”
The boy threw himself into a chair and glared at Drake with challenge in every line of his body.
“Emerald,” Ama said in a calm tone. “I think you should apologize to your cousin now.”
“Sorry I disturbed you Ama,” he offered without breaking eye contact with Drake.
“Not me, him,” Ama said.
“Sorry you had to hear that Donny.” Em said.
Ama heaved a sigh and closed her computer.
“Emerald,” Ama said.
“Do you want to eat or go hungry?” Drake demanded.
Ama glanced at him with a familiar uneasy look in her eyes and Drake fought down a wince.
“Now, Em.” she said in a patient tone.
“I’ll go hungry,” Em snapped, jumping up and stalking over to the couch.
Donny kept his eyes fixed on his plate. Ama heaved a sigh before turning back to her computer. Em wriggled on the couch for several minutes before skulking back to the table. Drake moved to intercept him but Ama stopped him with a look and he let Em serve himself. Drake cast irritated glances at the wall clock as the time crept more and more into school time.
Ama closed her computer and stood, then sighed, sat and opened it again.
“I need to pick out their report topics,” Ama muttered.
“I could do it,” Drake offered.
“You do quite enough,” Ama replied briskly, as she scanned the news. “Here you go. For Donny, malfunctions at the Lewis- McChord Air Force Base air show.” A frown creased her face. “Wow, this is pretty serious. It looks like the F-16 demonstration team nearly got killed.”
Drake whistled and leaned over her shoulder.
“Multiple system failures,” he read out loud. “I am pretty sure that isn’t supposed to happen.”
“Nope,” Ama agreed. “Here is a topic on big game management for Em.”
“Reports due by next week?” Drake asked as the old printer on the desk began to squeal and grumble as it powered up.
“Same as usual,” Ama confirmed.
Drake put the printouts on top of the homework pile and moved to wash up the breakfast dishes.
“I need to get to work early today so you two be good for Drake,” she called out placing a quick kiss on top of the smaller boys’ heads and giving Drake’s shoulder a friendly squeeze.
“Good luck with Mrs. Finney, and stay safe.” Drake called out as she went into her room.
The table was cleaned off and wiped down and the clink of forks gave way to the steady scratch of pencils on paper. They broke for a recess after religion and then lunch after history and math, and by the time the Grandfather clock in the corner struck two the younger boys twitching with energy. Drake made certain the internet was disconnected at the router, and chased Donny and Em out into the garden.
“And don’t come in until dark,” he ordered tossing two snack bags out after them.
Donny as usual snatched his food and disappeared into the small orachard. Low grumbles about troglodytes and the Amish wandered out into the high corn following Em and Drake shook his head in exasperation wondering, not for the first time how the dark haired princeling came from the same gene pool as his little brother. The kitchen being mostly ordered Drake was turning to put the last random dirty sock in the hamper when a gnarled hand clutching a cane head appeared in the corner of his eye, causing his heart to make a valiant attempt to bolt out of his throat.
“Abuelita!” he gasped forcing his hands down from the guard position. “Where did you come from?”
Smoldering black eyes ran searchingly over the tall youth. An impossibly long mane of streaked silver and black hair was barely contained in a thick braid. A sharply pointed nose perched over a small wrinkled mouth. A vibrant red horse-hair serape hung over her shoulders concealing everything except her brown and gnarled hands which currently clutched the old tree branch she used as a cane. Drake had been more than a little comforted by the fact that both Em and Donny had admitted to having the thought ‘witch’ every time time they saw her as well.
“From the hand of God by the bodies of my sainted mother and father,” she replied after a long, uncomfortable silence.
She always spoke in a low husky voice that suggested years of smoking, though Drake had never smelled even stale smoke on her.
“Right,” Drake blinked and grinned at the response; the one she always gave. “So you are here for their Spanish lesson? I have their grammar books ready and-”
The narrow end of the tree branch rapped against the concrete of the floor causing Drake to jump. Abuelita glared at him, locking his gaze and holding him in place with it for a moment.
“I am here for their lessons,” she finally stated, “and you are there for my payment.”
Drake thought longingly of the repair and maintenance manuals in the cab of the truck and the new tool he was itching to try, but he forced a grin on his face.
“Yes ma’am,” he said. “What can I get you today?”
Abuelita pulled out a bag of woven grass from under her serape causing the indistinct patterns on the cloth to shift and change.
“Take this,” she ordered him, “and collect me the cobalt blue berries that grow on a single stalk close to the ground. They must come from the mountain to the south east of here by the crystal brook.”
Drake nodded, and took the little bag, he didn’t quite manage to infused his gestures with enthusiasm he supposed. The old woman, probably wouldn’t have noted it anyway. She turned and moved towards the garden door without waiting for any other reply. However she called out over her shoulder as he turned to find his own way out of the rambling structure.
“Don’t dawdle little one. A storm brews in the distance.”
He tried not to roll his eyes at that, the weather forecast was clear and eighties for the next week according to the morning fire report Ama had printed. The youth only nodded and slipped around the corner. He circled the barn and pulled a set of loose tan pants and tunic out of the cubby. The soft worn leather almost perfectly matched the forest floor for color as did the moccasins he pulled on after them. His morning running clothes were modern stuff that wicked the sweat away from him and let him speed through the forest. These were his free day clothes. The ones that let him disappear into the forest and wander. Abuelita, for all of her demands, would tend Em and Donny until he returned no matter how late that was, and with the Park’s yearly budget talks still under way it was highly unlikely Ama would be home until long after the sun had set. Despite still hearing the call of the half restored truck he felt something lossening in him already. The soft cotton and smooth leather rested easily against his skin and Drake slipped into the forest.
Freedom; for the moment at least, blissful freedom. Pushing aside the guilt that accompanied the thought as well as any lingering worries about his charges the youth let his legs carry him through the trees. He shunned the man made paths, following the faint animal trails. This close to the barn they were as clear to him as if they were named city streets. Being animal trails, they invariably led him to water. Today he stopped at a trickling stream, took off his moccasins, and rolled up his pants legs. The youth turned and followed the thin flow of icy water upstream, letting it steal the heat from his body through his feet.
Some distance upstream, the stream widened and pooled under a boulder. There Drake paused and pulled an old black compass out of his pocket. Behind him he knew every trail and tree. Ahead was a broad swath of National Wilderness he would have to cross, or possibly Bureau of Land Management or even state managed forests where he more rarely wandered. It was hard to tell where the boundaries were from the ground. The clearing he wanted for the berries was solidly in BLM land and he still had quite a ways to go to get there. The stand of timber that stood between him and his goal was dense with young tree and branches that frequently formed impenetrable hedges he had to track around and he checked his compass regularly as he climbed in elevation. Even so the youth found he had wandered too far off his route and had to correct when he spotted the boundary fence. However he was in no hurry and he reached the clearing long before the sun told him it was time to turn around.
Sometime in the past some unknown force had carved a shallow trench across the side of one of the small mountains that that dotted the wilderness. It had puzzled Drake at first. The scour was at the wrong angle to be an old rock slide, and terminated in a near perfectly circular clearing at the lower end. Centuries old Douglas Firs abruptly gave way to a second ring only a few decades old. Those were in turn beginning to produce cones and a smattering of knee high saplings. The rest of the space was completely given over to wildflowers. No matter what season Drake visited it he found a riot of life.
There had been an early spring and many herbs that normally would have waited a month or more were already in full bloom in the mountain meadow. A white wave of foamflower washed in from the deep forest surrounding the clearing, sending up knee high stalks covered in the delicate white blooms. Late trillium hid close to the roots of the great firs, many having shed their white corollas and begun to put forth their bulbous seed heads. Fuzzy white baneberry blossoms nodded gently in the breeze. A riot of yellow and purple spread across the ground as vetch and buttercups and a host of clovers competed for space in the open sun. Great stalks of lupine as high as his head thrust up their purple and blue proudly from thick clusters of palm shaped leaves. Pink shooting stars and violet harebells crouched under the protection of the larger plants. Indian paintbrush lit the scene with flames of red and orange. Where a spring seeped into the meadow elephant’s head flared neon pink and corydalis bushes put forth blushing blooms. Pale green wild orchids stood along the wet spot and the swarms of bees danced from them to the glacier lilies.
Sometimes, as he bent over a tiny blossom and traced the intricate network of veins in the petals, drank in the scent, and felt the smooth surface of the leaves an otherworldly feeling would come over him. It was as if there was another world just out of range of his senses. If he could only really look, the thin illusion that was blocking him would slip away and reveal the real world underneath it.
“Look Awiegwa,” his father would whisper, pointing at a deer mouse perched on a fallen log. “What does it see?”
Awiegwa would screw up his face and squint. Trying to find the answer to the question.
Awiegwa had often wondered how so many flowers had come to be in the relatively small area. He had identified dozens of species and there were more he had yet to determine. The clearing was always the first place to bloom and the last to go dormant. Many of the flowers seemed to utterly defy their usual blooming patterns. However, as time passed he had simply come to accept it. It was one of the small good things that brought back the memories of his father. If it didn’t quite follow the rules Ama had taught him, well an impossible clearing in the mountains wasn’t a place for rules.
The particular bloom that Abuelita had requested had taken full advantage of the early sun and had already put forth a few cobalt blue berries; easily spotted at the edge of the clearing in the delicate sea of white flowers.
However before he left the shade of the forest for the meadow the youth paused and closed his eyes. Bole wasn’t always here, but he was often enough that Awiegwa always checked for him. Carefully he reconstructed the clearing in his mind; marking every tree and boulder on the edge. Three years he had been coming here and each time it was easier to recreate the clearing. Breathing evenly he opened his eyes, letting the mental image merge with the actual. There was a brief moment of confusion as details like the play of light through branches and the trembling of small clusters of flowers fixed themselves but there was only one truly jarring note. Awiegwa didn’t let his eyes focus on the disparity; he never did anymore, but a warm smile spread across his features as he slipped silently into the meadow.
He was here. As the youth moved in a low crouch, gathering the first fruits of the Queen’s Cup, he let his peripheral vision linger on a particular snag. There was nothing obviously interesting about it, other than the fact that it had not been there the last time Awiegwa was here. He had named the wanderer Bole, because it most often appeared as a thick tree trunk; sometimes living, sometimes dead. Occasionally it would be a boulder or simply a mound in the dirt. Often it wasn’t in the clearing at all. If the youth moved forward and tried to closely examine it he could never find anything to suggest it was something other than a tree or rock.
He had thought about taking a sample occasionally, had taken his knife out to do just that more than once, but something always held him back. Bole was a part of this place. Dissecting him would be too much like attempting to dissect his sense of his father’s presence here. The youth had never told anyone about this place, not even Ama with who could get most things out of him easily enough. Down at the house, in town, when he was Drake; solid, reliable, first up in the morning, two grades ahead in school with a penchant for science Drake, a productive member of modern society with a promising future and his mother smiling at him. Here he could be Awiegwa. Here he could believe in the ancient medicines his father had dug out of dusty old tomes and brought to life from the forest litter. Every time Awiegwa left the clearing and headed back towards home reality would reassert itself. Bole would resolve back into a figment of his imagination, created from pride in a somewhat better than average memory and what the social workers had called an “intriguing imagination”. When he reached the house and become solidly Drake again flickers of embarrassment would begin eating at him for letting his senses trick him like that, but as long as the blooms nodded around him in this garden Bole could exist even on a Thursday.
The little woven grass bag filled up with the berries fairly quickly and Awiegwa soon stretched out of his crouch and let his gaze wander contentedly over the clearing. As it always did, the warm space was working its special magic. Worries about Em getting out of his schoolwork, of not paying enough attention to the quiet Donny, of letting Ama see his petty resentments: it had all melted away from his muscles, thoughts of college costs and abandoning his duties dissolved into an acute sense of the now. The leaves rustled softly in a barely-there breeze, the heavy scent of some unidentified blossom filled his lungs, a dozen shades of green framed the rainbow of flowers, and over and above it all the creaking of the firs as the wind played over them. It was at times like these that he felth he could almost see into heaven; that something wonderful that existed just beyond his senses, and all he had to do was reach out and claim it.
The youth took a deep breath and let himself fall backwards onto a handy rise in the forest floor. His path had taken him to the foot of the snag and he shifted slightly to align himself with the gnarled roots. One hand gripped a time smoothed root.
“Ama trusted me enough to go out of state,” he murmured. “That’s the first time she’s done that. Usually she has Abulita stay with us to fend off the Harsh, but she said it’s long past legal now.”
It was his imagination of course that made him think the root vibrated in his hand in response. Many a long hour he had spent in this clearing with the wanderer. He had poured out his frustrations and anguishes over life’s injustices, had shared his secrets as he grew, and had shouted his triumphs. Sometimes he felt closer to Bole than to any of his human friends. However, something that sounded like his mother’s voice warned him that there was something odd about this and that awareness was the main reason he had kept this place secret from Ama. Their mother hadn’t exactly liked stuff like that. She had never objected to his father’s digging up the old stories of her people. Making cross generational connections between elders, who more often than not lived isolated lives, and the next generation, was an admirable goal in of itself in her eyes; objectively a social good. Storytelling was only the natural course for these relationships to take, but subtle looks had warned even a very young Drake that it was best to cautious what he shared with his mother. At least of those things that couldn’t be placed on a microscope slide. So this was Awigewa’s place, and while his father’s spirit wanders the flowers with he had never felt his mother here.
He let his focus drift up, and up. Dark blue Lupine nodded over his head framing the faint crisscross of jet contrails that threw a light haze over an otherwise cloudless sky. His clothed grew deliciously hot from the spring sun. The ground too had eagerly accepted the energy and now it conducted the heat into the muscles of his back. Bole’s wood beneath him was warmer even than the surrounding ground and an idle thought traced across Awiegwa’s awareness; something about it being odd for the light colored wood and relatively dry wood to retain more heat than the darker soil surrounding it. His mind was filled with the impression of a goal. He had been meaning to do, something. Something fun, yes, exploring, he’d meant to see if whatever had dug that den by the second boulder was cubing this year. He would just get up and do that in a minute. His back was so warm and comfortable.
​
https://i.redd.it/9sde27n9fb3b1.gif
“Flying Sparks”
Another foray into the lives of Drake McCarty, Ama Love, and the rest of their siblings as they discover that something alien is out in the forest around their home.
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/flying-sparks-a-novel-of-dragon-bear-and-boy/coming_soon
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