Andromeda. It’s a name renowned by astronomers, astrologists, and historians alike. As the closest spiral galaxy to our own, the Milky Way, it was always sure to turn some heads. To some, the name instead refers to the near-tragic tale of the daughter of King Cepheus of Ethiopia and Queen Cassiopeia. Those who recall the myth gasp when someone recounts how Cassiopeia dared offend the Nereids by proclaiming herself more beautiful. They shiver, sweating nervously, as King Cepheus chains Andromeda to the ironshore, sacrificing her to Poseidon. And they heave hearty sighs of relief when Perseus swoops in, the hero as ever, and frees Andromeda from her binds. But many people overlook the greatest structure that bears the fine name Andromeda- the constellation that blinks into the night sky on those nights when clouds disperse. It’s a great constellation; one often overshadowed by its neighbor Pegasus. Pegasus, however, holds nothing to the constellation of Andromeda- indeed, it’s merely a newcomer attempting to shove its way into the legendary leagues of constellations. And that’s without even mentioning how its stars hold nothing against the stars of Andromeda! Why, Andromeda the constellation is home to the finest of stars- namely, Andromeda! Yes, that's right. Upsilon Andromeda, a binary star system within the constellation, shines far beyond any star in Pegasus could hope for. Its brightness is revered throughout the solar system. It-

“Excuse me?”

Upsilon Andromeda glances at the voice, as if surprised by the interruption. “Pardon?”
“I do believe, Upsilon, that you’ve gotten your facts a tad misaligned,” said a neighboring star. “Why, you’d begun to harp on about yourself as if you were the greatest star in the constellation! Ha!” The star shook its head, chuckling pointedly.

Upsilon rolled its eyes. “Come on, Mirach-”

“No, Mirach’s right,” chimes in another star. It’s Almach, the third brightest star in the constellation. They flash a grin at the rest of the group. “Upsilon should, of course, begin by talking about the best star in our constellation- myself!”

“You do mean me, no, Mirach?” Almach jumps back in. “I realize you get your Ms and As mixed up sometimes. No hard feelings- just making sure each star gets deserved recognition! Which means, of course, that Upsilon should talk about me first.”

“Guys,” Upsilon interjects wearily. Every time. Every time it tries to make any kind of introduction to the constellation, Almach and Mirach always have to start bickering about this and that- who's brighter, who’s more likely to have habitable exoplanets, the like. Upsilon Andromeda is fed up.

“I think”- interjects Mirach.

“No, actually-” shoots Almach.

“GUYS!” Upsilon yells. It sighs. “Can I please have a chance to be the primary star? I’m cool too- I'm ranked 22nd on NASA’s list of potential harborers of fertile exoplanets!”

Mirach and Almach stare. They burst into laughter simultaneously.

“Fine, fine,” Upsilon mutters. “I’ll stop. I’ll do my intro again. But I’m not putting any of you guys as the primary star! I’ll-” Upsilon glances at Alpheratz, who’s been surveying the scene coolly in the distance. Binary star with unusual chemical composition, incredibly luminous, renowned in multiple cultures, and part of Pegasus as well. Alpheratz has it all. “I’ll just do Alpheratz first, like usual. Fine?”

“Fine,” the others echo.

Upsilon Andromeda rolls its eyes and clears its throat.

“Andromeda. It’s a name renowned by astronomers, astrologists, and historians alike…”

564 words

✦ daily 13 — the sky remembers ✦ constellations: ursa major & ursa minor ✦ word count: 433

⋆⁺₊⋆☾⋆⁺₊⋆

The girl didn’t go outside at night anymore.

Not since the hospital. Not since her world fractured into quiet corners and long silences. Not since the one who used to call her “cub” stopped coming home.

But the stars waited.

They were patient. They did not knock. They did not leave.

One evening, without deciding, she walked to the hill behind her house. The grass whispered against her legs. Wind tugged her hoodie, pulled at her hair. City light spilled into the sky like a fog, but she squinted upward anyway.

And there they were.

Ursa Major. Ursa Minor.

Two bears drawn across the dark. Not fierce. Not wild. Just still.

She remembered her mother’s voice in the summer dusk—warm, half-laughing, always knowing. “See that little curve? That’s the tail. Polaris sits right there.” “And the bigger one?” she’d asked, brow furrowed. “That’s the guardian. She watches over the little one. Just like I do. Just like you will.”

The girl hadn’t understood it then. But she had liked the idea—stars as stories, constellations as keepers. She'd whispered secrets to them like they were old friends.

Now, she looked up at the night sky like it might collapse into her arms. The little bear tucked beside the North Star. The large one stretched wide, bold, protective.

They hadn’t shifted. Not like people. Not like life.

The girl lay back, the earth cold beneath her. She blinked up at ancient light and let her guard fall.

She told the stars everything. That she missed her. That she was angry. That she didn't know who she was without her.

She spoke through tears. Through a cracking voice. Through silence too long held.

And still, the sky listened.

No answers. No fix. Just presence.

The stars did not heal her. But they did not leave her, either.

She saw her grief reflected in the little bear — small, steady, tucked into the sky beside her guide. And she saw her mother in the larger one — watching, always watching.

Perhaps that’s why the story held. Why ancient folk cast bears into the heavens. Because some love stays. Some guardians linger.

And even in loss, even in aching, some light remains.

She stood slowly. Her legs stiff, but her heart — not whole, but less hollow.

She looked up once more.

“Okay,” she whispered to the stars. “I’ll try.”

The bears didn’t reply. They simply held their place in the sky. Still. Faithful.

And as the girl walked home, Polaris held North steady, and the sky kept her secret, and two bears watched quietly over their cub.

word wars #2 - against Miss-Mash-Mash - 3 min - 197 words - prompt: none

⤙⟡⟅⟜⌂︐⤚⟡⊹⤙⟡⤚︐⌂⟅⟜⟡⤚

have you ever looked at a banana and thought, “wow, nature really said phone-shaped snack”? no? im not weird guys trust. but really, like, was someone just hungry and slightly confused and that’s how we got the peel method? also, who decided “peel from the top” instead of the bottom, like monkeys do? wait, do they peel from the bottom? i think like my brother told me this once when i was like. five? i don't even know. this is not a credible source. anyway they’re literally professionals. like imagine being bested by a monkey in life efficiency. and uhh what do i write now?? hrmm. hehe sometimes I wonder if pigeons think we’re just tall, slow birds with very questionable and random feather placement. they probably see us wearing beanies and go, “ah, yes, another fledgling.” oh and socks - why do they vanish? is there like a sock void or something in the laundry? are they living their best life behind the dryer, hosting little laundry parties with runaway tupperware lids? anyway i have like 30 seconds left so uh. the world’s weird. you’re wonderful. and if today’s a little off… blame the sock void.

constellation: cassiopeia | july 14 daily

—

The girl watched.
And waited for an answer.
She didn’t understand why her parents had named her after a constellation.
Well, the constellation was named after a queen in Greek mythology, which should have been interesting, except that Cassiopeia just happened to be a vain queen. A vain queen who was trapped in the stars and upside down.
Upside down. The world must be very weird to her.
The girl was named after the constellation Cassiopeia, and she had always assumed it had to do with the constellation’s story. So for so many years, she had been very proud. That is, until she had learned what the story was actually about. Now, she wasn’t so sure. They made it sound like Cassiopeia was not a very nice person (maybe that was why she was cursed to sit on a fancy chair upside down and get all dizzy in the way that you get dizzy when you’re upside down). But the girl didn’t think she was like Cassiopeia. Was she?
Okay, so Cassiopeia was a queen who took her beauty too seriously and said that she was way prettier than some nymphs. This angered Poseidon and he sent her to eternal doom. Eternal doom being “stuck to a fancy chair that happens to be hanging upside down in the sky” and being made up of stars. And the constellation looked kind of like a “W” or “M” shape.
Yes, the girl was a big space nerd. She really liked it too, not just because she was named after a constellation. But what she didn’t understand was why her parents had named her after Cassiopeia?
Cassiopeia, the constellation that is basically a person in an upside-down chair. But the constellation was so much more than that. The constellation meant so much more than that. The girl knew.
So, because she knew the importance of Cassiopeia, she called out to its stars.
It was a foolish thing to do, a dream that would never come true. But she did anyway. She wished on a shooting star and asked the stars what she really was named after.
Then she opened her eyes and watched the stars.
And waited for an answer.

—

367 words

14.07.25 ⟢ 279/250 words - Orion

A sudden wind rattles the camping ground and a little girl called Zoey huddles with her parents as she stares at the night sky, cold puffs of air escaping her lips as she leans closer to the crackling fire. Her parents are explaining the constellations with her, but she isn't exactly listening: the long strange names are hard to remember. Zoey happily stuffs an extremely burnt marshmallow in her mouth and traces the twinkling lights dotted above. ‘What’s this one?' she interrupts suddenly, dragging her finger across to point at three stars in a line.

'That's Orion.' replies her mother, ‘Well, that’s Orion's Belt. If you follow this line,' she explains, guiding Zoey’s small finger, 'there. This is Orion.’ Zoey nods sagely, fascinated. Furrowing her brows, she asks if he has a moustache, or a goatee… or both! With a laugh, her father continues, ‘He was the only male hunter Artemis tolerated, until he overstepped.’ A grave look flits across the girl’s small features. ‘That happened to me once. Layla thought she could take my serving of broccoli because I told her I was allergic to vegetables.’

‘Go on,’ nudges her mother, intrigued.
‘Well, I told her that she was wrong!’ Zoey grins extra wide. ‘A-And I did so politely, of course.’ she hurries to add, after seeing the expression on her mom’s face. Eager to divert the situation, Zoey turns her head back to look up. ‘Why are his arms going up like that? Is he doing the Macarena, or something?’

Her father shakes his head. ‘Remember how he was a hunter? Those are his… hunting tools.’
Zoey’s mouth falls open. ‘Wow!! I would like one of those!’

Daily: Our Multiverse, February 2022 Article
Word count: 1033 | 07/14/2025
Are there any night lights that pique your curiosity? Any sky maps that have you wondering? Well now’s your chance to tell a tale of the stars in the classic Constellation Daily!! Choose a constellation, and write a story of 250 words. Your story could be about anything, any aspect of the constellation. It will earn you 200 points, and you can claim another 100 for sharing your masterpiece. Bring the skies to life, and we can’t wait to see what you write!!
What if constellations actually gave you unique abilities and determined your destiny? This was meant to be short but it spiraled out of my control

The Intersection Times (February 2022, ET)
Our Multiverse: Tales of Magic
Introduction by Dina Zhang
Story submitted by Amyas Fiskell
Written February 19, 2022 (Earth Time)

Nestled at the center of the universe Faerwynd-14 is an archipelago unlike any other: Evellia, the Isles of Destiny. Surrounding its 88 islands is an ocean made of liquid magic, supposedly condensed from the thoughts of faraway stars. With it, the Evellian people harness a unique mystical craft, wherein they draw constellations to imbue objects with power from the stars. Even people can receive them, which is why every child who reaches the age of 13 is inscribed with a constellation, granting them permanent magical abilities and revealing the path of their fates. What follows is an account from one of these inscription ceremonies. Here Amyas Fiskell (34) narrates the story of how this magic changed their life.

A New Life
A few decades ago, Evellia was at war with another nation across the sea. We had imprisoned one of their princes for attempting to steal the constellation magic, so they attacked us. My island, Emacone, was one of the first islands they targeted.

It was around the same time that I turned 13 years old. Then, my father ran a perfumery one island over. I remember being so joyful that night. The town center was full of life and lanterns and singing and dancing. My father had even closed the shop early to be with me.

When midnight arrived, the island elder stepped out in front of the big fountain bearing a telescope adorned with gold. Everyone stopped and gathered around in anticipation. It was time. Walking up to him, I was excited and filled with energy, yet at the same time a little nervous. Anyone would have felt that way in such a situation.

He chanted a spell in an ancient tongue and raised the telescope. He peered at the patch of sky directly above my head. I looked downwards, as was the tradition. He then pointed the telescope at me, perhaps looking at my soul.

Then he smiled. I can remember what he said perfectly. “Amyas Fiskell, by the grace of the sea and the stars you shall now be granted the symbol of Pisces, the fishes.” With a quill and the water of the fountain he started to poke onto the back of my palm the stars of the constellation. It felt oddly cold as it melted into my skin, leaving seafoam green dots. “You are compassionate and resilient. You will find a place in the tides of change.” Then he began drawing the lines connecting them all. “Your path, though rough, will lead you to safety and prosperity. This is your destiny as it always has been, and will continue to unfold.”

When he finished, the symbol grew brightly for a few seconds. The gathered townsfolk cheered. I held out my hand and tried to cast some magic – it felt as natural as swinging my arms, or blinking. A few bubbles sprung to life before me and floated off into the night.

“Congratulations, Amyas,” my father told me. He hugged me, and I saw his inscription – the same long, odd structure of Pisces in seafoam green, just about as vibrant as mine was. “A Zodiac too, eh? An eventful life is in store for you. But you’re strong – I know it.”

He was right on that first part. Only two days later, the foreign nation attacked. They sent a great army of soldiers to our island. They outnumbered us ten-to-one, and they possessed an unnatural, monstrous magic. Leading the charge was a great monster I dare not even describe. Me and my father were to flee immediately.

It would prove difficult – all the boats were destroyed in the ensuing battle. Some of the townspeople fought back with enchanted arrows and great bursts of flame, but many of them had fallen. I remember running past the headless body of the town elder.

With no other hope left, my father and I jumped off a pier into the sea, aiming to move the water and propel ourselves all the way to the nearest peaceful region, outside of Evellia. It was already a week’s travel by ship. Even with our command of water, the chances of reaching it without tiring or dying of starvation were slim. We had hardly left the archipelago (and seen all the other islands with columns of smoke emerging from them) when I felt my body begin to ache and sink into the blue.

But then a miracle happened – some spark appeared in my mind, as if it had come down from the heavens and popped in through my ear. I willed it, and then me and my father were encased in a swirling bubble. When it popped we found ourselves transformed into fish!

With a renewed vigor we continued on our journey, stopping occasionally along the way to feed. I learned what coral tasted like: it is rather odd, but it grows on you. The fish and other marine life mostly avoided us, as though they knew we were not one of them. After a number of grueling days, we reached the shore of our salvation. We transformed back into people and set out to start our new lives.

Since then, I had never been able to transform into a fish again. I do not think my father wants to do it again. Life has truly been hard on us, we are dirt poor and have been having a hard time finding work or a way back to Evellia. The war ended two decades ago, Emacone and the other islands have been rebuilt, yet here we still are. Last year, the portal to the Intersection opened up, and we have made the decision to go there soon, and perhaps try to find more opportunities in another universe. But I still have the magic embedded in my body, and perhaps my path has more surprises for me yet.

**

The Intersection Times’s monthly Our Multiverse articles, has featured inspiring stories from remarkable individuals across time and space since the dawn of the interdimensional age.

return to the pit where the horrors dwell

ˢʷᶜ ᵈᵃⁱˡʸ #² ︵

⋮ ⌗ constellation ( ˶°ㅁ°) !!

Annie had always wanted to be a star. That was just the way she was born. She would stay up late watching shooting stars zip by her window and munching on star shaped candies.
Her parents were worried, to say the least. They saw how other girls ran around and did nails and baked, and Andromeda, didn’t. She didn’t want anything to do with anything other than stars. She gazed at the sky all the time, even when it was light out, like she was willing the stars to come out.
Late one night, Andromeda was sneaking by her parents room to get a snack and she heard whispering, she pushed her ear to the door and heard her mother say,

“Herb, I thought you resolved this, now she wants to run off and be a star, what have you done?”

Annie could hear her father exhale in a defeated way,

“I’ll talk to Cassiopeia," he whispered, and then she heard a click. And then silence.

Andromeda continued towards the kitchen and exhaled when she sat down across from the fridge, who was Cassiopeia? Why was her Mother so frustrated when she knew in her soul that the sky filled with stars was where she was meant to be? Annie slid open the sliding door and stepped out onto the porch and put her head between her arms and prayed, please, make me a star, Cassiopeia? Please.
A white piercing glow filled Annie’s vision, and she looked up with a gasp.

writers note - so sry , this lwk is not my best work bc i was grinding the weekly yesterday ^^ #251/250 words

◆◇◆◇◆ BUTTERFLY WINGS ◆◇◆◇◆

author's note:
this is my writing comp entry for swc july 25! thank you to emyrs, livy, and leopard for critiquing this piece^^

last edited: july 23

We were scientists, writing equations and seeing if the numbers lined up. My messy penmanship was a sharp contrast to the neat numbers on your paper. You kept calm, writing numbers, pursing your lips, and then erasing and trying again. On the other hand, my reaction was much different, another contrast between us two. Really, I sometimes wondered how a guy like me managed to land with a girl like you.

‘What is this?!” I shouted out, slamming my hands on our shared desk. You shot me a deadpan look. Despite it, a semblance of a fond smile perked at your lips. I continued my tirade. “It’s a rocket! Just put stuff in it and make it go!”

You raised an eyebrow, “This is rocket science, Jonas.” You laughed with your usual laugh, bright and airy. This was one of my many outbursts that session. “You’ll figure it out eventually, you always do.”

I scoffed, rolling my eyes with no real malice. I slumped back in my seat and leaned forward, looking back at my messy handwriting.

“…Oh, I messed up the decimal…it should be one more place to the right…”

You snorted, trying to cover it with a cough. I decided not to comment on it. “See? There you have it!” You grinned. “What did I say?”

I huffed, “Yeah, yeah, you were right, laugh it up.”

You leaned forward and pinched my cheek, resulting in a small shout from me. I pulled back, scowling. I put a hand to my cheek (though it didn’t really hurt). A smug grin was plastered on your face. I made a ‘tch’ sound, but my lips twitched upwards.

“Sonya! What am I? Seven?”

“Pretty much.” You teased. “Sure, you definitely have the intelligence to be a scientist, but the maturity? I’ll have to think about that one.”

I pouted like a toddler, but then realized that only proved your point. You laughed, I didn’t mind. You were laughing at me, sure, but it wasn’t mean. It was in the way one would laugh at an embarrassing childhood story. I decided to get back to working on equations before we ultimately got yelled at by management (like we had before).

“I have no idea what to do from here.” I tapped my pencil on my paper. “Maybe I should build a time machine to go back to the 1950s, I can give them all of our current notes about rockets, then rockets would be more developed by now and I wouldn’t be working on these stupid equations. I probably know enough about theoretical physics to pull it off…”

You paused, putting your pencil down and giving me a stern look.

“You know why you can’t do that,” You started, about to wind into a lecture I heard every other time I mentioned making a time machine. “You know, the flapping of a butterfly’s—”

“Yeah, Yeah, the flapping of a butterfly’s wings can cause a tornado somewhere distant, I’ve heard it before.” I grumbled, “I was joking. I won’t be building a time machine.”

You smirked in triumph, and returned to your notes.

If only those days could last forever.

—

It was April 14th, 2025.

“Sonya!” I protested like a little kid (you were probably right that I had the maturity of a toddler), “I can go to work today!”

You waved around the thermometer that displayed my temperature of 102. “Nope. You’re not going.” You said in your usual authoritative voice. I sighed, knowing this was another argument I wasn’t going to win (you almost always won all of our arguments).

A cup of hibiscus tea laid on my bedside table, I smiled at the care. I didn’t deserve someone as good as you.

“I’ll see you after work!” You called out, having the voice of an angel.

You lied to me.


I woke up to a shattered world.

There had been a fire at the lab. Something about a different department trying to make a synthetic material that was fire-proof but still had a similar texture to fabric. They tested it, overconfident. It wasn’t fireproof like they thought.

It cost you your life.

I didn’t cry that day, I should’ve. I wished I never woke up at all, so I wouldn’t have had to wake up to a world without you. What was the point of doing anything if you weren’t there? It wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair that you died in one of the most painful ways and I didn't. You deserved life more than I did. You were so much better than me.

It should’ve been me.

The world itself knew I didn’t deserve you, so it took you away from me.

I wrote more equations after that day, but they weren’t ones for a rocket.
I did a lot of research on theoretical physics.

—

I did it. After 5 composition notebooks worth of messy-drawn diagrams and equations, I had done it.

I created a time machine.

It wasn’t a time machine in the traditional sense, but it sent me back in time, and that was enough.

“The flapping of a butterfly’s wings can cause a tornado somewhere distant.”

Maybe it was cruel not to act on the wishes of a dead woman, but I didn’t care about any consequences that could come with the butterfly effect. Because that dead woman was you, and you deserved to live. I wanted you back.

I held the time travel device in my hand. 2 charges, it would work 2 times until I had to replace the power source.

I set the time to April 14th, 2025 and pressed the button.

—

I woke up 4 months in the past. I checked my watch.

It was 12:10. 20 minutes until the fire.

With no time to waste, I rushed out.

The plan was to find the department that was creating the synthetic material, and convince them to test it with safety precautions. Their arrogance in thinking that they didn’t need to use them was what cost you your life.

I sprinted to the lab, every turn ingrained in my memory.

12:18.

8 minutes, not bad. I could make it work.

I entered the lab. The woman at the front desk let me through. She saw me enough to know I worked there. It was a good thing too, if she checked my ID she’d see that the renewal date was months in the future.

With a trembling finger, I pressed the up button of the elevator and made my way to floor 2.

The ride was only a few seconds, but it was a few seconds I could’ve spent searching the floor. I didn’t know where the department was, and I had—

I checked my watch.

—10 minutes to check before the fire starts. There were 3 floors I needed to look through.

I took a deep breath, but deep breaths are the types of breaths you take before a presentation to calm down. It doesn’t help you calm down when your lover’s life is on the line, apparently.

The moment the elevator doors slid open, I ran. I had no plan. I should’ve had a plan. I time traveled as soon as I could, but I made no plan. I was going to waste time, and it was going to cost you.

I mindlessly ran, hallway after hallway, the clock was ticking.

12:22.

I still hadn’t finished checking the floor.

12:24.

I checked places I already did. I was running in circles, precious time slipping from my fingertips. This was taking too long, and it would cost you. It would be my fault if you died yet again.

When I finished, it was 12:25.

5 minutes felt like too long.

I checked which room I was in front of. I froze, it wasn’t a regular one.

It was the calculation department, the one we worked in. It was lunchtime right now, but you would be here. We would eat lunch together here rather than in the cafeteria. Management didn’t mind since we didn’t do hands-on work where eating would be dangerous.

It couldn’t hurt to see you. Just once.

I had book smarts, that didn’t mean I had common sense. I knew I should’ve continued searching, but I didn’t. It was like a puppeteer was stringing me along.

I took the doorknob, and turned it.

There you were in all your glory. Hair tucked behind your ear, humming a pop song I didn’t know the name of, writing calculations with a sandwich in your hand. My breath caught in my throat, tears building up in my eyes.

You were in front of me, alive. Breathing, blinking, existing.

Your attention was now on me. We both stared at each other for a good moment. You stood up, walking over to me. I took tentative steps forward.

“Jonas?” You said my name like a question. “…Aren’t you sick?”

My bottom lip trembled. You noticed, I know you did. You were still the same as I remembered. “What are you doing here?”

I could’ve lied, but the real question was if I should. I couldn’t bring myself to lie to you. I didn’t like the idea of the first thing I said to you after months being a lie. I tightened my grip around my time travel device.

“I’m from the future. I’m preventing you from dying.” I lifted up the time machine as ‘proof’. You clasped it, wrapping your thin fingers around it.

You stared at it. Flickering your eyes between me and the device. Hesitation, fear, uncertainty, it was all in your expression.

“I’m going to die?”

You believed me. For whatever reason you believed me. I nodded. I explained everything. The fire, how you would die because of it, how I wasn’t willing to let you go and that’s why I was there.

“Oh Jonas…” You smiled softly, but something else was beneath it. You cupped my cheek in your hand, I could tell from your eyes that you too, were about to cry. “I’m glad I was able to spend the rest of my life with you.”

That implied you were still going to die.

“S-Sonya! What are you saying?! I-I’m going to save you! You’re not going to die! I can prevent it—”

You smiled, not out of happiness, but acceptance. I didn’t like that smile.

“The flapping of a butterfly’s—”

“The flapping of a butterfly’s wings can cause a tornado somewhere distant! I-I know! I’ve heard it before!”

Your eyes were filled with a warmth I longed for. It was a warmth I hadn’t seen in such, such, a long time. Your eyelashes fluttered, like a-a…

Butterfly.

“I don’t want to go.” You admitted, and a hope flourished in my chest.

“So—if you let me-!”

“What if the world ends because of the butterfly effect? I don’t want you to live in an uncertain world because you changed the past.” That hope quickly shriveled. You were being selfless, you always had been.

I realized that this was another one of our many arguments you were going to win. You always did.

Suddenly, the time travel device my fingers were wrapped around felt that much heavier. I stared at the blinking April 14th on it.

I changed it to August 20th.

“Do I have to?” I whispered, hoping you would change your mind, but I knew the answer.

“Of course.” You smiled, face still beautiful despite the tears trailing down your cheeks.

“E-Even though I love you?”

“Especially because.”

“Okay.” I pressed my thumb against the button to send me back. Back to a world without you. My chest was tight, but when I averted my gaze to you it wasn’t. I smiled, a happy one.

“I’m going to miss you.”

“I’ll miss you too.”

I wanted to look back to see if you really said that or if I imagined it for my own comfort.

But I already pressed the button, using my second charge.

♖ | 2000 words

Jinx’s Constellation daily: (569 words)
Long ago, when the world was new, the skies were dark. In their world of shadows, people would cry out in fear, for they could not see and were lost in the depths of twilight. The sun had once blessed them and shone over their emerald valleys, but they had taken it for granted and sinned, leading the sun to turn his face away from them, cursing them to be lost in vast expanse of night. People sorrowed for many days, crying out for mercy, but the sun, in his pride would not grace them with light again. The crops died, and all creatures starved, and dug wells of grief, their tears creating oceans of pain. At last, the lady of the moon took mercy upon the people, trapped in the icy darkness, and came down to the wilds. People pleaded with the lady of the moon, and she promised them light.
“Do not worry,” she said gently, in the eternal winter, her silver cloak billowing in the soft wind. “I will journey, and find creatures willing to take a place in the sky beside me. I will find you light.”
The people looked at her wide silver eyes, and in them saw mercy.
“Thank you,” they said, in awe. “Thank you,” they said, in wonder.
The lady of the moon came to a forest, and said to the animals, “Your skies are dark. Your families are dying. Desperately, we all need light. Will you join me in the sky?” One by one, slowly, they came forward. The stag, in his glory, took to the sky, and then a constellation was born. The hare leaped into the air, engulfed in the silvery glow, and then there was light. The people watched in wonder, in gratitude. At last, all the willing animals in the forest had gone. The lady of the moon looked at the people, her enchanting silver eyes catching every creatures gaze.
“I need another,” she said gently. “I need but one more.” The people wished to join her, but the rules for becoming stars were different for humans. None of them could.
Their dogs wished to join the world, but could not leave their guardians. At last, a cat- a small but graceful cat- padded forward.
“I could join,” the tabby offered. The humans were shocked. This cat was ownerless- the humans had done nothing for her. In fact, she had often been chased from their homes. But this cat- this tiny cat- had still made the offer to leave this world, for the people who had done her nothing.
“What is your name, kind one?” The Lady asked.
“Felis,” the cat said quietly.
“You have never been treated well by people, and yet you willingly make this sacrifice?” The small cat nodded, and the Lady looked deep into this cat’s heart.
“Very well,” she murmured. “You shall be known as Felis, the first cat to be this selfless.” Her silver gaze met the cat’s golden eyes. “But when you wish to return to this world, you may, and your kind will be one of the greatest creatures to walk the earth.” The cat agreed.
The lady of the moon kept her promise, and many years later, cats returned to the earth, domesticated. But to this day, Felis glitters in the sky.. although only those who remember those days of darkness will remember her and her story.

“Mama?” the little bear asked, trotting faster to try and keep up with his mother.
“Yes, dear?” she responded, glancing down to look at him.
“Where are we going?” he asked, bouncing a little. His brown eyes gleaming with curiosity.
It had been strange, Mama had woken him up in the middle of the night. She looked sad, in a way. But hopeful, too. He hadn’t questioned it, simply too excited by the prospect of adventure.
She paused for a long time. “The sky, my darling,” she murmured, and suddenly she looked sad again. “It’ll be where we belong now,” she said, lowering her head to be closer to his.
“… but…” he started and then whined. “But what about the cave. Our cave?” he wailed. “That’s our home! I wanna go home, mama!”
“That’s where we’re going,” she said, a tone of somber finality in her voice. “It’ll be our home now. And there you’ll be able to meet your brothers and sisters.”
“… oh…” but weren’t they…? “… okay.”
Both bears went quiet. They were quiet for a long, long time. They were quiet until they reached the edge of the forest, the trees thinning out to moorland. Starlight twinkled above the hills and grasses of the moor and the trees of the forest.
“Woah…”
The little bear ran up onto the nearest hill, followed closely by his mother.
The brightest star, watched them, and it seemed so, so close…
The little bear reached up and stretched, in an attempt to touch that star. And somehow, he did. His claws brushed against that star, its glow shining on them.
“Mama!” he called out, excited. “Mama, look!” he turned his head.
His mother just smiled and stood on her hindlegs. She didn’t have to reach as far as he did. “I can see,” she said. Gently, carefully, she reached up too, her own claws, much bigger than his, brushing against the star.
The star twirled, and the little bear thought that if he strained his ears enough, he could hear it laughing joyfully. Like it was happy that the two bears could reach it. And both bears were distracted by the star, oblivious to the way stars began to fall, landing on their pelts.
They were oblivious to the way their pelts darkened, becoming a beautiful midnight black with a splattering of blue. Stars were sprinkled over their heads and shoulders, back and legs.
The mother looked down at her son, ready to say something when without warning, the star shot up into the sky.
“Woah!” the little bear gasped, and started to chase after it. She couldn’t help but follow her son.
She didn’t know that they’d be forever destined to chase each other in the stars.

Constellation Daily
I don't really feel like this makes much sense.

Word count: 489

Walking down the field to the forest with only a flashlight to light the way, suddenly Dreama realized there were no stars. Not like the moon was gone, though that didn't make sense since according to her moon chart tonight there was supposed to be a full moon for her to make her spell jars. There were no stars at all.

That was very interesting. In some of the old books, it was said of a night all the stars and the moon would meet on the ground. But, Dreama never believed in any of that. That was all things that were just made up by people who didn’t have enough to do. Her grandmother was obsessed with all of that though. And she remembered the cold nights that she had dragged Dreama out with her just to check the woods if they were there. That had ended when her mother had found out.

Walking into the woods just at the edge, Dreama could see a weird glowing light coming from inside. She knew she should turn back but it was just pulling her towards it. Heading more towards the light she started feeling a tingling in her bones. Almost like all her bones were waking up from being asleep for way too long. Hearing voices she peeked her head through the bushes that were blocking her from the voices and then they became more clear.

Dreama had to actually blink multiple times and pinched herself to convince herself that this was real. Inside the clearing in the woods, there were people. But not just normal people, they were all glowing. As well as some bears, and other things.
“Luna, are you sure about this?”
“Andy, you worry too much. It's going to be fine.”
Were what 2 of them were saying. The first one “Andy” was dressed in a gown that made her look like some sort of princess and “Luna” was wearing a dress that almost looked like an ancient greek chiton in dark blue with glittering parts that almost looked like diamonds. Almost falling backwards Dreama realized that this was the night that the stars came out. The reason why they were no in the sky was because they were in her backyard. Then, she set of quietly through the forest back towards her house.

Nearly collapsing onto her back porch and realizing that almost the entire time she had been holding in her breath. Her grandmother would’ve been so excited. And raving about how she had been right. That it did happen. But, nobody would believe Dreama even though she would tell the truth about something that she didn’t believe in. The rest of her family was gone and that just meant that everything was a lot less likely to be believed. But, she put it down in a journal that later she would bury in her back garden under the light of the stars.

14th July - Daily
Words Written: 302/250
Prompt:



The constellation of Ursa Minor is one that is important for navigation - but it wasn’t always there. The story of Ursa Minor begins way, way back, a long, long time ago.

The constellations would look down upon the Earth, and find sailors and voyagers struggling to navigate without any landmarks in sight. Many of the constellations would try their best to help sailors and voyagers navigate, but it wasn’t enough. Ursa Major decided that this needed to change.

Together with Carina and Centaurus, Ursa Major devised a plan to help sailors navigate the waters by night. Carina would use Centaurus’s strength to pull the stars of the southern sky into the shape of a cross, while Ursa Major would arrange the stars into a smaller version of herself, with the tail being where North is.

They faced many difficulties along their path. Carina and Centaurus had to talk to the right stars, to ask them to shine brighter for the sailors, while Ursa Major ended up having to give birth to new stars who would form the constellation of Ursa Minor, the little bear, whose light would shine brighter than any other.

Nevertheless, the three constellations completed their mission. Carina and Centaurus talked several stars into becoming part of a constellation called the Southern Cross. Formed of five stars, the Southern Cross, also named Crux, would help guide sailors throughout the southern hemisphere by indicating where South was. Meanwhile, Ursa Minor was born, and she was also known as the Little Dipper. Her tail shone brighter than anything ever seen before, always in one position: North. Sailors would follow the tail-light of Ursa Minor and know that that way was North, and that was where they would sail to or sail away from.

And that is how the constellations came to be.

constellations
293 words

Humanity has had its fair share of warriors and protectors, heroes who fought for their family, or their country, or their values. But in times where it feels as if there is nobody selfless or strong enough to protect you, perhaps you could look up to the stars instead.

The constellation of Leo is visible to almost every single person on Earth, from the child peering out of their bedroom window in Norway to the stargazer in Chile. In fact, the only land in which you can’t see this constellation is Antarctica. Sorry, scientists.

Look for its distinctive shape, long and swooping lines formed by the bright stars. Look closely. Can you see the grand mane of the lion, its large body crouched on powerful legs, poised and ready to fight off any adversary?

The brightest star is found in the heart of the lion. Its name is Regulus, meaning “the little king”, and throughout history it has had regal associations and connotations with the noble and wise. Perhaps it matches the image of the powerful protector.

Look up at the Earth’s lion protector during November. In the midst of some of the darkest nights in the Northern Hemisphere, you may be able to spot streaks of white fire and light burning through the sky, erupting from the lion’s head. This is the Leonids meteor shower, a magnificent display of light. If you’re lucky, you might be gazing up at the shower on the special year, occurring every 33 years, where the shower is particularly prolific, capable of exceeding 100,000 meteors every single hour. What an amazing sight that must be to behold, perhaps a reminder of the protector of the sky, always watching and always defending our small corner of space.

lets ignore the fact I spent 30 minutes on the first 3 parts and 2 hours on the last. quality difference is insane lmao…

weekly #2

Part 1

We’ve all heard the story. At least the Disney version nonetheless. Cinderella is a sad lowly servant for her stepmother, Lady Tremaine. All Cinderella wants is to go to the ball and be free. And wow, magic a fairy godmother grants her wish, with one exception, that she has to be back by 12 am. Cinderella loses her slipper, finds her prince. Yada, yada. Well that’s the classic fairytale. However, some depictions across the world change Cinderella’s fairy godmother into other magical beings, like in the middle eastern version, it’s a fish who helps cinderella. And in the west african version, it's a magical pumpkin. And in England, it’s not Lady Tremaine, it’s her grandfather who mistreats Cinderella, and she meets the prince BEFORE the ball. In the Grimm Brothers depiction, a hazel tree helps Cinderella, and when the step sisters try the slipper, it mutilates their feet. It’s funny to think about how we’ve grown up with all of these stories that seem so normal to us, but then you think about different parts of the world, they have different plots, and some change the entire story. All of these variations are certainly unique and there’s lots of interpretation across the world.

203 words

Part 2

The mirror had tarnished the spirits of many, for as the ones who looked and did not approve of what they saw forever had it seared in the back of their minds. Yes, the mirror could tell all secrets, but some things are meant to be kept in the dark. The mirror was plain, with a silver border and some swirls. It looked insignificant. Looked normal. As with most magical objects, it didn't draw attention to itself. But for those unlucky enough to ask it the wrong thing, they would never be free. For one part of their mind surely would circle back to the answer, thinking about how miserable they now were. Most things are like that. Useful, but if misused, would cause severe consequences. People didn’t know why the mirror was there, for it had only caused pain to all that walked by. The fairy that had planted it there would come every couple of years to see what had happened. And just like they had predicted, the human race had torn themselves apart, searching for an answer. They didn't just let the mirror be. They saw the bad in everything. So the fairy shook their head disapprovingly, ignoring the cries for help.

205 words

Part 3:

“Yes, I’ll do the dishes.” the girl cried, looking over to the step mother.
“And the laundry.”
“Yes, I'll do that.”
“Now darling, not a peep shall be made out of you until we are back, you got that? The princess is having a ball, and my dear little boys shall become king. You have no reason to leave this house, and you certainly aren’t coming with us.”
“Yes, mother.”
“Good.”
Elle looked over to the door to make sure that it had completely closed before jumping up from her spot on the floor. She was not going to just stand there watching her stepmom and step brothers go to the ball. She was going to go too. Why did it matter that she was a girl and wasn’t fit to marry the princess? No one knew Elle liked girls, they just knew her as Cinderelle, the girl who cleaned their house for them. Her stepmother and step brothers all treated her with such disdain, to the point where Cinderelle had developed severe anxiety when they were around. Elle looked around the house for a dress of somesort, she didn't want to go to the ball looking like a barn animal! She found one of her stepmother’s finest gowns and after a bit of sewing added some jewels and tailored it to fit her. Now for transportation, Elle decided to take the extra wagon her family had. Elle made it to the ball unscathed and when she saw the princess her jaw dropped. She was gorgeous, with jet black hair, creamy complexion, and doe eyes.
“Hey!” The princess sauntered over. “What are you doing here? My mother the queen said only princes and their family could come, not a fine looking woman like you.”
“Well, I wanted to have some fun.” Elle replied. She could say no more for the princess had pressed her lips to Elle with such force it knocked her off her feet.
“Wha-” Elle managed to say.
“You are the prettiest girl I've met. I’d love you more than any prince.”
“I- I.” Elle blushed a bright pink color, feeling awfully embarrassed.
“Come, we can rule the kingdom together. Just us two.”
“But, your parents???”
“Ahh yes, my parents. They’ll be fine.” Just then Elle’s family rushed up to her.
“Cinderelle.. What did I tell you about not coming to the ball? And why are you wearing my dress? And why are you making out with the princess??? The whole point is for her to find a respectable bachelor. Not a girl. You freak.” Cinderelle looked at her stepmother fiercely and then kissed the princess again. They walked off together hand in hand.

447 words

Part 4:
Once upon a time, in a land blessed by gentle breezes and whispering leaves, there lived a young girl named Ertha. She moved with a grace as effortless as a stream flowing over smooth stones, and her heart was as open and welcoming as a sunlit meadow. People were naturally drawn to her, finding a sense of hope in her presence. She was known to all as the girl who nurtured the earth, for wherever she walked, flowers would bloom in her footsteps, their petals showing off their vibrant colors as if to greet her personally. The rivers themselves acknowledged her gentle spirit, granting her more fish when she sat by their banks and read.
Ertha extended her kindness to all who sought it, offering a helping hand or a comforting word, and so she was called a friend by all. However, not everyone thought of her that way. In a realm shadowed by embers and soot, dwelled Fiera, the goddess of flames and destruction. Fiera harbored a wicked desire to turn the world into a scorched wasteland, an ambition thwarted at every turn by Ertha's ceaseless acts of healing and growth. This constant opposition ignited a fiery rage within Fiera, intensified by the knowledge that these two beings, so utterly opposite, were sisters by blood.
Their battles were legendary, clashes that stretched over countless years, often for periods longer than a generation, leaving their mark upon the very landscape of the world. Poor Ertha never wanted these fights but Fiera, driven by a desperate need for absolute power, sought only to conquer and destroy. Ertha, on the other hand, wished for nothing more than to mend the wounds inflicted upon the world and nurture it back to life.
One fateful day, as a particularly fierce battle raged between the sisters, the villagers, drawn by the terrifying spectacle, emerged from their homes. With courage in their hearts, they seized their humble weapons – farming tools and implements of daily life – and marched forth, determined to join the war. They knew in their hearts that Ertha was losing the battle, and they would not stand idly by and watch their world succumb to Fiera's fiery wrath.
The two sisters shot out equal parts fire and water, but Ertha’s water stream trickled out slower than Fiera’s flame. Ertha caught the villagers in the corner of her eye and stared at them peculiarly.
“What are you doing here?” Ertha cried out, her voice echoing across the battlefield, laced with concern for their safety. “You will be hurt!”
“If you fall, the earth will burn and we will all perish anyway!” declared a brave villager, raising his pitchfork. He started toward Ertha. “We must stand together and fight, for our home and for our future!”
“YEAH!” The other villagers cried in agreement, their energy filling the battlefield, their weapons raised.
With this declaration, they charged forward, a wave of courage and determination, ready to face the goddess of destruction alongside their beloved Ertha, whom they loved dearly.
502 words

Weekly #2 - 2,820 total words

Part 1 (223 words)
We all know the classic tale of Cinderella. Cinderella lives with her evil stepmother and stepsisters. She gets the help of her fairy godmother when her sisters rip her dress to shred. As well as her iconic glass slipper which helps her lover, the prince, find her again after she flees his royal ball at midnight.
Except, that’s only one version of the story; the version Disney popularized with their 1950s film of the same name. The film takes most of its inspiration from Charles Perrault’s version of the story. While there are some notable differences between the versions, they are fairly similar.
But, other countries portray this story very differently. For example, in the Chinese version of this tale the heroine, mistreated by her stepmother, is aided by a magical fish rather than a fairy godmother (which is in Disney’s version).
In the Egyptian version, a Greek slave girl who resides in Egypt gets her sandal taken by an eagle. Her sandal is then found by the Pharaoh, who returns the sandal to her. On the other hand, in Disney’s Version, Cinderella attends a royal ball, which is hosted by a prince, and loses her glass slipper as she flees at midnight.
Overall, Cinderella is a classic that has been told countless ways, with each version being unique in its own way.

Part 2 (360 words)
You all know the story of Aladdin, right? The one about that guy who found the Genie? Well, no one ever asks me what I thought of the whole ordeal, nor where I came from.
Who am I, you may be asking? I am the lamp. That’s right; the lamp, the one that the Genie was held in. No one knows my story. That changes today.
Where did I come from? That’s a great question. What I can recall is the forge that I think I was made in.
The blacksmith there was a middle-aged man. I think his name was Wyrmsteel, but I’m not sure. I was sold off shortly after I was forged.
The one who bought me was a sorceress; I know that for sure. She was the one who made me the vessel of the Genie. Her name was Emerald.
She had another lamp, which contained the Genie. But, that lamp was very old and destroyed. It had to have been around a few thousand years old. Maybe more, maybe less; I don’t know.
All she did was transfer the Genie from his old lamp to me without disturbing his slumber. It didn’t take long, and she discarded me shortly after. I’m not sure why she discarded me with the Genie, but that’s the choice she made.
Some thief found me sometime later. I don’t remember exactly what happened, but I do remember arriving in a cave filled with other treasures. I was perched on top of a large pile of treasures, with a light shining down on me.
Many, many, many years went by before anything was disturbed in the section of the cave I was in.
All was peaceful, until Aladdin showed up. He came in and attempted to grab me with ease. But, that little monkey companion of his touched a glowing red gem, causing the cave to turn into a lava death trap.
Aladdin manages to escape thanks to the aid of a flying carpet that was also in the cave. Then, he summons the Genie.
You know how it goes from there. At least you now know where I came from.

Part 3 (1,020 words)
This is a rewrite of The Frog Prince, in which I have included a same-gender relationship. I’m just putting this here in case it makes you uncomfortable :)
Prince Vincent was very dependent. His mother, Queen Fern, had doted upon him since he was a young boy. The staff of their castle both adored and despised the prince, due to his attitude towards them. Some appreciated his attention to detail, while others hated how he always made others do his work.
One lovely morning when Vincent was getting ready, he noticed that his beloved spear was missing. He quickly dressed himself in luxurious, pale blue chiffon attire that contrasted his perfectly tanned skin. He carefully messed up his chestnut brown hair, as he examined his reflection in the mirror with his ocean blue eyes.
With haste, he made his way down to the castle gardens, which were primarily filled with roses, the Queen’s favorite flower. There he found his silver spear, resting against a stump near one of the many ponds in the garden. Across the pond, there was a wooden target.
“That’s right. I was practicing spear-throwing yesterday,” Vincent told himself.
He picked up his spear and threw it at the target. Despite seeming like it would hit the target, the spear hit a rock and bounced back into the pond.
“Oh come on! “ Vincent complained. “Now I have to dive to get my spear back?”
“I can help, if you’d like,” a voice stated.
Vincent jumped in surprise. “Who’s there?”
“Down here!” the voice instructed.
Vincent looked down, only to find a frog looking up at him with wide emerald
green eyes.
“Before you ask any questions, yes I am a talking frog,” the frog informed him.
“I noticed. But the more important matter is that you offered to help me get my
spear back?
“Yes, if you’d like me to,” the frog replied.
“Please! That’d be wonderful,” Vincent stated.
“If I help you, you owe me in return,” the frog warned.
“I’ll do whatever, just get me my spear back,” Vincent told the frog absentmindedly.
With that, the frog dove into the pond. A few seconds later, it emerged, carrying the spear in its mouth. Vincent was greatly impressed by the frog’s strength.
“Thank you,” Vincent told the frog as he returned to the castle.
That evening, while Vincent and his mother were eating supper, there was a knock on the door.
“Vincent, dear, could you answer the door?” Queen Fern asked.
“Of course, Mother,” Vincent replied as he stood up and walked toward the door,
He opened it, but didn’t spot anyone.
“Look down!” a familiar voice called up.
Vincent looked down, spotted the frog, and immediately shut the door. He returned to the table.
“Who was there?” Queen Fern asked as the knocking began again.
Vincent begrudgingly told his mother, “A talking frog who helped me in the garden. He told me I would owe him something if he helped. I agreed to his terms without thinking.”
“Well, let him in and hold up your end of the bargain,” the queen told her son.
Annoyed, Vincent wordlessly returned to the door and let the frog in.
“Thank you!” the frog stated as the two returned to the table.
The three seated at the table made small talk. At one point, the frog reached to take a bite of food from Vincent’s plate. Vincent, despite wanting to slap the frog across the room, kept his mouth shut, knowing he needed to honor his promise.
After dinner, the frog followed Vincent back to bed.
“Don’t you have somewhere to be?” Vincent asked, very annoyed.
“I was planning on spending the night with you,” the frog answered nonchalantly.
“Oh, okay. Do you want me to bring you to one of the guest rooms?” Vincent inquired.
“I was hoping to spend the night in your bed,” the frog replied.
Vincent almost choked on nothing. “Erm, okay then. Follow me.”
Slightly uncomfortable, Vincent led the frog to his room. Vincent changed into his pajamas while the frog made itself comfortable on one of the bed’s pillows. It fell asleep almost immediately. Part of Vincent wanted to leave his room and sleep somewhere else, but he once again reminded himself that he needed to honor his end of the bargain. Begrudgingly, he collapsed on the other side of the bed and fell asleep.
The next two days went similarly. The frog stayed with Vincent all day, ate off his plate, and slept in his bed.
On the third night of this, Vincent inquired, “How much longer are you going to stay?”
“Well, something should happen overnight, and I’ll figure things out from there,” the frog replied sleepily.
“What’s going to happen?” Vincent asked, only to find that the frog had fallen asleep.
Worried, Vincent drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, Vincent woke up to the sun peaking through the blinds.
“Good morning,” someone stated.
Vincent looked up and backed away in surprise.
A tall, very toned man stood before him. He wore black pants, and a white button up shirt that was barely buttoned up, showing off his muscular light tan chest. Nervously, he ran a hand through his neat blonde hair.
“Hey, so, I’m not a frog anymore,” the man stated hesitantly.
Vincent found it hard to breathe; his heart fluttered furiously in his chest.
He stumbled over his words. “N-No you’re not. Who are you?”
“Dorian,” he tells Vincent. “I was cursed by a hag. The only way to break the curse was for me to eat off the plate of royalty, and sleep in royalty’s bed.”
“Oh, that’s awful. Well, I’m glad I could help you,” Vincent replies, finding himself eyeing Dorian’s lips.
Dorian noticed. He walked up to Vincent, forcing him to back into a wall.
“Looking at something?” he teased.
Vincent started to lean in, but he left a wisp of space. Dorian closed the gap
almost immediately.
The kiss was amazing. Vincent didn’t want it to end. The way their breaths fell in sync, the way Dorian’s lips felt; it was incredible. Painfully, Dorian pulled away, gently kissing Vincent’s forehead one more time.
“I liked that,” Vincent admitted.
“Me too,” Dorian agreed.
With that, they walked out of Vincent’s room, holding hands.

Part 4 ( 1,217 words)
Selene was stuck…in an arranged marriage. She hated her fiancé, Prince Mittsu, and how they’d ended up in this arrangement.
He’d seen her at the Winter Festival, danced with her, and had arranged for their wedding the next week. Just like that. In the span of a week, Selene had moved into Mittsu’s castle, been fitted for wedding dresses, and had to sit through multiple long lectures about how she should act as a princess.
She’d had enough. Mittsu’s personality was undesirable, which was a drastic understatement. He was snooty and very full of himself. The exact opposite of what Selene wanted.
“How are you doing today, my lovely lady?” Mittsu greeted when Selene came down the stairs to the breakfast table. His annoying hazel eyes met hers. Upon spotting her, he rested his chin on his light tan hand. Also, he was wearing an overly flashy white suit with gold embroidery.
Selene swallowed her annoyance, and politely replied, “Just fine.”
“Anything I can do to make you feel better?” Mittsu asked.
“I don’t believe I told you that I needed assistance. I’m doing fine, which is normal,” Selene informed him.
Her response caught Mittsu off guard. He did his best to remain composed, but he was clearly shaken by her mildly snarky response.
Proudly, Selene took her seat, opposite of Mittsu.
“I was planning on going for a ride today. You don’t need to worry about me. I’ll be sure to be back before supper,” Selene told Mittsu as she stood up from the table.
Mittsu opened his mouth to reply, but Selene walked off before he could tell her anything.
Selene went up to her room to change into riding gear. She donned black riding gear with silver accents, which contrasted . Examining her reflection in a mirror with her silvery blue eyes, she braided her flowing blonde hair.
Content with how she looked, Selene headed to the palace stable. There, she saddled up her loyal steed: a white horse with a braided cream-colored mane that she called Luna.
“Hi Luna,” Selene told her horse as she petted her nose. “We’re going to go for a ride, okay?”
Luna neighed in response, causing Selene to chuckle as she mounted her steed. She rode off quickly, desperate to leave the castle behind.
As she rode off, she knew she wasn’t going back. She didn’t care what Mittsu would do when she didn’t return; she was sick of him.
She rode for hours, eventually leaving full civilization and entering a dense forest. There was a cool breeze, which felt amazing to Selene.
Nothing could ruin her mood. At least that was what she thought before she heard the growls.
Out of nowhere, twisted, mushroom-like monsters began attacking her.
Luna reared, causing Selene to lose her grip on the bridle and fall to the ground. Selene threw her hands up, weaponless.
That was when she heard the slashing of a blade. The mushroom beasts let out screeches as they crumbled into dust. Lowering her hands, Selene looked up at the one who just saved her life.
She met deep lavender eyes, set in a chiseled tan face. The man that saved her extended a hand to help her up. He wore a simple white tunic that had some dirt stains on it, brown pants, and leather boots.
Selene accepted his hand, and let him help her up. After he helped her up, he ran a hand through his tousled light brown hair.
“You all right? It’s dangerous to travel in these woods without a weapon,” the man told her.
“I’m fine. Thank you for your aid,” Selene replied. “I don’t believe I got your name. Oh, I’m Selene.”
“Kieran. Pleasure to meet you. What are you doing in these parts?” he stated.
Selene hesitated for a moment before explaining, “I’m fleeing from my fiancé. He forced me into a marriage. I couldn’t stand him, so I left.”
“Oh, I’m sorry! Do you think he’ll start looking for you?” Kieran inquired.
“Probably,” Selene admitted.
“Do you want to stay with me? I can keep you hidden from him,” Kieran offered.
Selene didn’t know if she could trust him, but she had no other choice. So, she agreed to go with him.
Kieran led her to a little cottage in the forest, which was his home. For the next few weeks, Kieran kept Selene safe and hidden.
One day, a royal knight knocked on the door.
Kieran answered. “May I help you?”
“Have you seen a blonde-haired mistress? Likely wearing black riding gear? Named Selene?” the soldier interrogated.
Selene sucked in a breath. Mittsu had sent a search party for her.
“N-No, I haven’t,” Kieran hesitantly replied.
“Due to your hesitance, I’m afraid I must search the house,” the soldier stated as he barged in.
Kieran looked back at Selene and mouthed “to the kitchen”.
Selene raced into the kitchen, aggressively pulled off the engagement ring from Mittsu, and tried to stay out of sight of the soldier. Kieran appeared a few moments later, holding a different ring.
“Just in case the soldier finds you, tell him we’re engaged. It’ll just be until he leaves,” Kieran told Selene as he slipped a simple silver band around her finger.
Selene blushed, and replied, “Sounds good. I’ll stay here and try to appear busy.”
Kieran gave her a thumbs-up and left to check with the soldier.
After ten minutes, the soldier entered the kitchen.
“Lady Selene! What are you doing here? Are you being held captive? No, you are being held captive. This man lied! He claimed that he didn’t know you,” the soldier aggressively stated as he raced up to her.
Selene pushed the soldier away. “Sorry if my fiancé and I don’t want to be bothered,” she told him as she casually displayed her little ring.
The soldier clearly realized that the ring wasn’t the one Mittsu gave her.
“Did you and Mittsu call off your marriage?” the soldier inquired.
“Well, I never agreed to the marriage. So we’re technically not engaged,” Selene pointed out.
The soldier was left speechless. At that moment, Kieran walked in, wrapped his arm around Selene’s waist, and gently kissed her. Happily, she kissed him back. The soldier awkwardly averted his gaze. Selene pulled away and smiled cutely.
“What would you like me to tell Prince Mittsu?” the soldier asked.
“Tell him he can call the wedding off. Also tell him that Selene has a different fiancé,” Selene proudly told the soldier.
The soldier left to deliver Selene’s message to Mittsu.
Selene had never felt happier. She threw her arms around Kieran. “Thank you!”
He hugged her back. “Of course. You know, we don’t have to end our little engagement.”
Selene giggled. “What are you telling me?”
“Maybe I enjoyed that kiss a little more than I thought I would,” he admitted.
Selene blushed. “I think I did too.”
Kieran smiled softly and leaned in to kiss her again. Selene placed her hands on his chest as she closed the gap between them and kissed him. He wrapped one arm around her waist and placed a hand on her back.
The kiss was perfect. Selene pulled away after a few moments.
Completely happy, the two went back to their normal lives. But now, they were together.

July 14 Daily
266 words

The Gemini. The constellation had been making its way through the sky, twins dutifully holding hands as they wheeled around the earth. Well, technically Earth wheeled around them, and they didn't move and technically everything was the same and would be always and forever.

But he didn't want to stay in the same place and always watch the earth move around him. He didn't want to be like them, stuck with his infernal, no that was impolite, his unreasonable partner. The twins were two people in a vast sea of stars. That girl and him? Maybe they were two people in the midst of all the world, but they were two people on an island in the midst of a dark, angry sea. The linking of their lives might have happened for a reason unbenowest to him, but he would not let them become like the Gemini.

With that thought, he was tempted to stew in a ridiculous animosity towards the constellation. But he remembered another story about the twins. The Greeks called them Castor and Pollux. They sailed on the Argo.  More importantly, they saved sailors and those who were shipwrecked. For a moment, he imagined the brothers coming down from the heavens to aid him, like they did in the stories.

He watched the stars, picking out those that made up the constellation. He didn't believe in myths. Somehow that made everything seem worse. If they were true, then he may have hoped for a quick escape from the island. He had a feeling he wasn't going to get off so easily.

•┈๑⋅⋯ ꒰ ꒱ ⋯⋅๑┈•

i. “the sculptor and the sculpted, forever entwined for an eternity of displeasure.”

⋆˚✿ day 14
constellations . sci-fi . 268

The Sculptor, creative in his workplace and evidently practiced in his craft. The Sculpted, molded and bent, transformed into a being of his creator’s choosing. The Sculptor finds peace in the serenity of his studio where he can bring his art to life. The Sculpted finds peace in the quietness of nothing, a void of abyss in which is only air, freed of manipulative matters.
The Sculptor dreams of permanence—beauty carved from chaos, order etched in marble. He works by lamplight, hands rough with effort, heart full of intent. In his eyes, there is nothing more enticing than the finality of something pleasurably beautiful. He views not a figure but a soul trapped in stone, begging for release.
The Sculpted waits, still and silent, bound by shape and pressure. With every detail, refined and pristine, a piece of its previous self is chipped away. The outer shell is elegant and beautiful in a way that is completely unnatural. And yet, all the people see is the supposed perfection. But within? There lies a stillness. An ache. A yearning not to be admired, but to exist freely—unwatched, unshaped.
Within his art, the Sculptor remains forever unable to achieve his view of perfection balanced with realism. Within his cage, the Sculpted remains trapped by the standards placed upon him, the neverending cycle of a perspective not quite perfect.
Both are unhappy within the pressures they bow against. Neither can rest while the other is joyous, and neither will find peace in the bouts they strike against one another. The Sculptor and the Sculpted, forever entwined for an eternity of displeasure.

daily hopefully before my power goes out lmao
257 words

My parents named me Cassi - not because they thought it was a cute name. They're both astronomers. I was born at 11:45 pm. When they looked out at the night sky, they said the cassiopeia constellation was shining brighter than all the other stars. They thought it was magical and poetic - I thought it was okay. I mean, at least I don't have some lame backstory like being named after a boring dead relative. And I'm kind of glad it was cassi, becuase, well, I could've been named after the Bootes constellation instead. That would've been a nightmare. The constellation itself was named after a vain queen from greek mythology, though. Apparently she took too much pride in her beauty, and was punished by being stuck in the stars. Honestly though? It sounds kinda cool to me to be immortalized in the night sky. There's nothing super special about the cassi constellation itself, it's just a couple of lines to me, but I guess someone thought it was important enough to make a constellation out of it. They're known for being really bright stars - if only I was the bright star my parents hoped I would be. Well, that's a story for another time, I guess. There's some other nice names in the constellations, like Lyra, but most of them would just sound plain weird to name a girl. It's cool, I've never met anyone else with a constellation name before. I wonder what I would've been named after if my parents weren't such astrology nerds.

daily - july 14
341 words … last updates 07.14.2025

»»————-　⚜　————-««

The couple sat on the cliff overlooking the sea, staring into each other's eyes full of love, as the sun began to go down. “I wish…we could stay like this forever.” The one on the left mumbled quietly, gently playing with the latter's hair. “Me too…” The response came, both wistfully thinking about the future of them together. But they knew it wouldn't be possible, after all, they still had different lives to attend to. Their parents had already decided that they were against this pairing. The two didn't like it, but it wasn't like they could do anything. At least not for now.

The forbidden partners were rolling down on the hills. Clothes were dirty, and footwear was dirty. It was just after sunset, dusk covering the sky. But they didn't care, they were having so much fun together. “Hey, I found a way for us to be together!” One excitedly said, while the other one just stared in disbelief. “No, really! I heard there's a witch somewhere in the forest by town. Maybe she can help us!” The first continued on, and at those words, the partner smiled happily, but still worried. “That's great, but-” The response came, but was soon interrupted. “What do you mean? This is our only chance for us to be together forever.” And so, they decided it was worth the risks.

The two had decided a time and date to meet. It was now nighttime. The owls were out, and the village was fast asleep. “Hurry up!” The faster one whispered at the other. Soon a small hut in the middle of the forest appeared. Knocking on the door, the scared one hiding behind the braver, it slowly creaked open. “Hello there.” A voice croaked, revealing an old woman holding a light. “Come inside…I'll make some tea.” And so they did. The three of them chatted, and the witch finally concluded that she has a way to make them live together without disturbance. Without hesitating or thinking through, they instantly agreed.

It was now midnight, and the trio were standing underneath the full moon. The witch began to shout incantations in an unknown language, and the couple stood there, holding hands. They have been waiting for this moment forever, and they squeezed each other's hands tightly, excited for what was yet to come. When the woman finished, the partners were no longer there. Rather, they were in the sky. Forever swimming in different directions, but still being held together by a rope. They were forever bound together, yet were stuck in one place, never fully looking at each other. They received their wish, but to what cost?

»»————-　⚜　————-««

446 words

◆◇◆◇◆ EVIDENCE 14: CONSTELLATION ◆◇◆◇◆

Are there any night lights that pique your curiosity? Any sky maps that have you wondering? Well now’s your chance to tell a tale of the stars in the classic Constellation Daily!! Choose a constellation, and write a story of 250 words. Your story could be about anything, any aspect of the constellation. It will earn you 200 points, and you can claim another 100 for sharing your masterpiece. Bring the skies to life, and we can’t wait to see what you write!!

Leo was a boy with a strong mind and thick skin.

He got in fights with people, throwing hands with anyone who messed with his friends. Unfortunately, that was the part of him that overshadowed the rest of his person. He was known for his fierce personality, and that was what he was associated with. When people saw him, they thought of him as a violent and fierce person.

What they didn’t know was the part of him that shone the brightest, his heart. Though he was rough around the edges, he had an undying loyalty to his friends, and a strong moral compass. Most people only saw him as a fighter, but he fought those he thought were undeserving of sympathy, he fought people as he believed it to be ‘karma’.

Something else not many people knew was that his vocal cords were busted. His throat was tight, it felt as if something was wrapped around his neck. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t speak. He had no words to express himself, and those feelings went to his fists.

People didn’t know who he was, only watering him down to violence. They didn’t know about how he loved summer days, about how he’d be willing to do anything for his friends without a second thought, how he’s able to lead a crowd even without his voice.

Leo was only known for being strong, for being fierce. Somehow, they didn’t notice the fact that his heart shone the brightest out of all of his features. He is known for one thing, and nothing else.

♖ | 266 words