IBEX

How sweet! Gotta love the little tiger! You better continue this story - even for you it'd be hard to come up with something new to match this! Just saying...

Cliffie - baaaad! Story good! I feel with all the main characters - even with gramps, to some degree. Masterful

The frost cleared the fog.. .. I am happy-for now. 'Twas about bloody time!

Better now. Thank you. Having only now read ch six, I was getting angry.... wanted to ask you all to kindly look the other way, while I slap both boys for a bit. I am good at that, you know! But Marty won't be able to stay closeted much like longer, and it's a good thing he stood up for Nerdy! Pity the "Dark Eyed Boy" is not ready yet to be belted from the stage....but then, have we heard Marty sing?

Intense! (But I had to take all the kudos back I was going to awarding you for that BAD cliffhanger!)

Ah yes, now that it had been mentioned- the t-shirt thing..... the vivid details in describing places and chatacters make me want to pack my riding gear and a tux and join CJ's dads for some good times!

Sweet! Almost inconspicuous, the way Jian interacts with the toothy cat! He'll be great with the animals, making them feel much more at ease in their confines. And easily have them enjoy learning a few tricks which the audience will love to see! Oh, and Sasha - sacrilege! You let the boys miss a very important inhabitant!

A song I like - and so it was also the first greek song I tried to sing in my favorite Greek restaurant. There exists a much different version in english, more like a nonsense /fun kids song. Στίχοι: Νίκος Γκάτσος Μουσική: Μάνος Χατζιδάκις Πρώτη εκτέλεση: Αλίκη Καγιαλόγλου Άλλες ερμηνείες: Βασίλης Λέκκας Μάριος Φραγκούλης Μαρία Φαραντούρη Αλκίνοος Ιωαννίδης Μανώλης Μητσιάς Σαββίνα Γιαννάτου Ακούστε την ιστορία του Κεμάλ ενός νεαρού πρίγκιπα, της ανατολής απόγονου του Σεβάχ του θαλασσινού, που νόμισε ότι μπορεί να αλλάξει τον κόσμο. αλλά πικρές οι βουλές του Αλλάχ και σκοτεινές οι ψυχές των ανθρώπων. Στης Ανατολής τα μέρη μια φορά και ένα καιρό ήταν άδειο το κεμέρι, μουχλιασμένο το νερό στη Μοσσούλη, τη Βασσόρα, στην παλιά τη χουρμαδιά πικραμένα κλαίνε τώρα της ερήμου τα παιδιά. Κι ένας νέος από σόι και γενιά βασιλική αγροικάει το μοιρολόι και τραβάει κατά εκεί. τον κοιτάν οι Βεδουίνοι με ματιά λυπητερή κι όρκο στον Αλλάχ τους δίνει, πως θ’ αλλάξουν οι καιροί. Σαν ακούσαν οι αρχόντοι του παιδιού την αφοβιά ξεκινάν με λύκου δόντι και με λιονταριού προβιά απ’ τον Τίγρη στον Ευφράτη, απ’ τη γη στον ουρανό κυνηγάν τον αποστάτη να τον πιάσουν ζωντανό. Πέφτουν πάνω του τα στίφη, σαν ακράτητα σκυλιά και τον πάνε στο χαλίφη να του βάλει την θηλιά μαύρο μέλι μαύρο γάλα ήπιε εκείνο το πρωί πριν αφήσει στην κρεμάλα τη στερνή του την πνοή. Με δύο γέρικες καμήλες μ’ ένα κόκκινο φαρί στου παράδεισου τις πύλες ο προφήτης καρτερεί. πάνε τώρα χέρι χέρι κι είναι γύρω συννεφιά μα της Δαμασκού τ’ αστέρι τους κρατούσε συντροφιά. Σ’ ένα μήνα σ’ ένα χρόνο βλέπουν μπρος τους τον Αλλάχ που από τον ψηλό του θρόνο λέει στον άμυαλο Σεβάχ: «νικημένο μου ξεφτέρι δεν αλλάζουν οι καιροί, με φωτιά και με μαχαίρι πάντα ο κόσμος προχωρεί» Καληνύχτα Κεμάλ, αυτός ο κόσμος δε θα αλλάξει ποτέ Καληνύχτα... Lyrics: Nikos Ykatsos Music: Manos Hatzidakis First version: Aliki Kayialoylou Other versions: Vasilis Lekkas Marios Fraykoulis Maria Farantouri Alkinoos Ioannidis Manolis Mitsias Savvina Yiannatou Hark to the story of Kemal a young prince of the East descendant of Sinbad the Sailor who thought he could change the world. But bitter is the will of Allah and dark the souls of men. In the lands of the East once upon a time the purse was empty and the water stale. In Mosul* and Bushehr* on the old coconut tree the children of the desert now cry bitter tears. And a young man of an old and royal line hears the lament and grows near. the Bedouins** look at him sadly and he gives them an oath in Allah's name, that times will change. When the lords heard of the lad's fearlessness they set out with wolf's teeth and lion's skin from Tigris*** to Euphrates***, from the earth to the heavens they hunt for the deserter, to capture him alive. The horde descends upon him like rabid dogs and takes him to the Caliph to place the noose [on his neck] black honey and black milk he drank that morning before he breathed his last on the gallows. The Prophet**** awaits before the Gates of Heaven with two elderly camels and a red horse. They now go hand in hand and it's cloudy but the star of Damascus kept them company. In a month and a year they see Allah before them and from his high throne he says to the simple Sinbad: "my beaten smart-aleck, times do not change, the world always moves on by fire and blades" Goodnight Kemal, this world will never change. Goodnight...

I have to take Marty shopping for some hot rocker outfits! Waiting for a laid back bassist with a cool Alembic or fanned frets Dingwall, always coming up with the wittiest remarks. After all guitarists are the inborn adversaries of bass players! Trust me, I know!

Amazing! The story behind the exodus being supervised by Kellar's ancestor will be thrilling to learn. And it will shed much light on the history of shifters. Now that you seem to have the longerererer thing down pat, we need to collectively work on you for twice weekly postings. Monday is far too far away!

Waking up on a cold winter Sunday - the first news flash on my mobile tells me that Ringling Brod. Circus is shutting down after more than 100 years of operations. What a shame! I've never seen them, but I understand it IS a national heritage. In good times and in bad, bringing joy to not only kids but families, all of America. One needs to go back in time to really get thet feeling of" The Circus Is Coming Into Town" On Awesomedude.com Seth Newman gives us a glimpse into the world of circus and in particular the immense logistics involved in his tale "Leaving Flat Iron Creek". Back in the 20-30ies, when hundreds of horses were needed to move all the stuff from the special train to the showgrounds. When drivers had more than ten horses hitched to a single wagon to transport the massive poles and canvas bundles for the big tent. The Ringling Circus train is still the largest in the world. It's about a mile long, I think, and has more than 50 cars. Just watching them, from rolling into the railway yard and setting up for the show, is an amazing experience. You'll find plenty of stuff on youtube. But have a look, at the few old movie clips, from even before 1900..... and then go and watch their last show ever on earth- with tears in your eyes

Hmm...seeing that you are so kind to reply to any and all reviews puts me in a quandary! Each review takes valuable time off your writing hours.....maybe such a short, if thrilling chapter is your subtle punishment for us nosey readers? Always poking, inquiring, suggesting? speaking of which - flickering lights, hopes and brain waves are my specialty! It's good to know Logan's tumor is benign. Then it only compresses the healthy parts of the brain, not destroying any function permanently. Once the tumor is gone, full restoration of functions is the most likely outcome! So there's hope for a happy Tilly! love and peace

Yes! Everything is going too be awesome! In 2017 and beyond...... But if Xue wants to make it to the pole over ice, he'd better hurry. It's colder in CGN right now than in Nome, just saying

One has to adore young, budding rock stars! Lean, bodies sweat glistening under the colourful stage lights, sprayed on leather pants...and for contrast a nerd living on java, with a python in his lose fitting cargoes.....

Thanks, Sasha for all the Yuletide goodies! I am enjoying the days under my decorated fir tree, with music of this year's deceased artists filtering through memories of all the Yule and Christmas trees of the past.....while reading your fine stories. So this one is not the one called "Daddy Issues"

Ah, good! You ARE making up to us! ( and stubborn bear to his little Tiger) BUt, we do deserve longererer chapters, as has been noted elsewhere! it seems there is already some indication of changes in the still-not-tiger happening! Curious what will happen after a few more couplings. The command being the first but not the only indicator...

Aw shucks....sweet little tiger always reminds me another week has passed. Reading the latest chapter always is a guilty pleasure- guilty of not having finished all the projects planned. But a pleasure nonetheless! Now is "obstinate" a word in bear language? Or does it just generically translate into 'bear'? I am chuffed to see Emm gave in - finally! Now on to adventures, the courting is on! A trip to the pole and a more challenging one to visit the strict and oh so traditional family of Jian. And just how will a polar bear survive/ enjoy Bondi beach?

Phewwww.....powerful! First I wanted to congratulate you on a new take on shifting, on the FIRST shift. Now that he werewolf genre has evolved from good humans against the most brutal and evil monsters to romantic (mostly) wolf only stories - that and a host of other shifter species. Have we seen were-fish yet? You gave the shifting a new twist for sure. Now this quick turnaround of a very dire situation might bring some romance still? A few members will want to leave, a few more will have to. What will the Goddards place be? I guess Dillon is safe from most.....Love Jamie! That boy is gold!

Ah, sweet, this one. I book this chapter nder "appeasement" Thanks for the dogs! I do wonder though - why were the dogs so easily taken by a big cat? Surely they should smell the different scent? There isva lot of Saturday left - can't we have one more chapter today? Waiting a week is killing me softly....

Ah, yes! I feel much better now than after the last chapter! Before warriors go into battle they need to eat, drink, sing, dance and make love.....that's what my forebears did hundreds of years ago. i can follow some of their reasoning. But still....feeling uneasy wih the boys unarmed in human form. No radio to call help, cannot even carry a first aid kit.... Do I worry too much? ( say 'yes', please!)

I have a thing for shifters.... so you got me hooked easily with this wonderful tale! If I only could talk to these guys! I would not let them out of my sight until they finish that joining! NO hunting hunters before... And no, it's not sound reasoning to face the threat alone. There is strength and safety in numbers. In particular for pack animals! Even if it's only for making the remains dissappear!

Oh Sasha, you can't possibly get any more country than..."and green eyes like a John Deere paint job"! You had me rolling..... ​Thanks for this romantic, yet powerful story! - ​More power to the ladies! I like them strong and confident. Would be nice to eventually meet them on the rodeo circuit....once the snow melts away. You know you have other tasks before that! Ha!

Greta minds....the second the life-like rose had been mentioned the image of Brick and the tenth sprung up - and their obsession with roses! I love those flowers like any others, but a tat of a rose for me is on par with an anchor, some past girlfriends name and a a heart pierced by an arrow....seen too many of those, poorly or well executed, does not matter! Guys - and gals for that - get more creative than a rose....please! Rant over - now Carlos that was another nice day of your biker's quest! While there will always be pricks around, we can only hope that the find less and less support for their un-enlightened views. That fob was nicely but in place by his peers and pals, our liked hero did not have to lift his voice, even less so a single finger. Again, we can only hope, that the recent changes in political discourse (hard to call the past 18 months that) and the future government does not wash up the less savory elements in society....

Hmmm....why do I feel awkward all of a sudden, when curling up on my favorite caribou pelt?

Gobble....gobble...gooble di gook.... Time to celebrate!