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More from `ursulav

Elf vs. Orc 9Sings-to-Trees' head shot up. He knew Fleabane's barks like the back of his hand. Short, rapid barks, not grating, hysterical ones--somewhere between a greeting and a warning. Fleabane knew the person approaching, but he didn't really like them.

That meant it was either one of the humans from down the road (excepting Matilda, who brought cheeses and always had a tidbit for a hungry coyote) or the rangers.

"Shit!" Sings-to-Trees leapt to his feet and began kicking Celadon's armor under the bed, followed by the extra blankets.

Celadon got unsteadily to her feet. "What is it?"

"Company. Might be rangers."

She could have asked questions, lik

Elf vs. Orc 8Celadon woke up in the elf's arms.

This sounded a lot more romantic than it actually was.

For one thing, learning to sleep in proximity to another person is an acquired skill. You learn what to do with the arm that always seems to get stuck between you and where to put your feet and whether they mind having a leg draped over theirs and who can use whose arm as a pillow without nerve damage or a sore neck. Then there's the whole complex negotiation of blanket treaties and sheets and who gets what and who needs layers and who has to stick their feet out.

Without acquiring these vital habits, you wake up pretty much like Celadon—stiff, sore,

Elf vs. Orc 7This was easier said than done.

She gave him some very practical suggestions about how to tie the ropes. A bit of slack between the feet, enough to shuffle, not enough to run. A rope around the neck as a kind of leash in case she attacked him. He could tell she'd done this sort of thing before.

Sings-to-Trees, at that point, would have been happy just untying her completely and pointing her in the direction of the outhouse, but he had a horrible feeling he'd disappoint her if he didn't at least try to hold up his end. So he steeled himself to stay awake a bit longer and got the ropes set up, and hauled her out of the bed.

Then she wound up

Elf vs. Orc 6He got a nasty start a few hours later, when he came in to check on her.

He'd tied her hands, her feet, thrown a loop or two around her waist, and roped everything to the bed, the chair, and the fire iron, just for good measure, He'd done everything short of hog-tying. She wasn't going to get loose in a hurry.

He wasn't sure why he was bothering, really, since he had a horrible feeling that if she said "Will you untie me?" he might do it, and if she said "please," he'd definitely do it.

Still, she didn't seem to be a threat conscious, so maybe that was okay.

Then, because his feelings were still churning and there was nothing for emotiona

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Submitted: April 3, 2008
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Gearworld: Fish for Eveby `ursulav

Traditional Art / Paintings / Surreal

This is the fish painting that the other fish was a study for--got the composition in the other one, but this was a gift for Eve Forward, a dear friend, and bettas are her personal totem. She had a connection to the first "Spawning Wall" painting and I had been wanting to do a gift for her in that vein for ages--she was pure, unadulterated awesome, and one of my major touchstones during my divorce and subsequent lunacy--but it was only recently that motivation, time, and madness all dovetailed and I was able to paint this.

Bettas, in her lexicon, are about being tough and beautiful in very adverse conditions, and granted that they've found bettas living in the muddle puddle left by a horse's hoofprint, I can't think of much better symbolism.

Prints of this painting are available for $10 plus shipping, but since I've a philosophical objection to profiting off gift art, proceeds will go to a local animal charity.

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~tammi Jan 14, 2013

This is amazing!

~seaoceanblue Jan 1, 2013

I just lluv this

~Moe8 Aug 29, 2012

this is incredible!!! i love this!! i just got my own betta fish the other day and i am so happy that i got one!! they are so gorgeous and so amazing!! this is great!! and the colors are so beautiful!! amazing!!