This is a commission for tminussomeone debuting a new character, Aster Major. This wood-dwelling bear is a joint creation by Tminus and myself, combining our ideas into an exciting new character who is a welcome addition to both our respective stables ^_^
And while I've been hard at work drawing this lovely lady, Tminus has put together an introductory narrative for you all to enjoy. All credit to him for his story contribution.
Your feet give a small crunch against the pine chips beneath your hiking boots; a faded red trail studded with numbered stakes in bright, but chipped, paint that shows you the way through a small portion of this nature preserve.
You pause and look about you, and you realize it’s so…
Boring.
You didn’t come out here to be handheld through this wide, reaching expanse and read plaques about the scientific names of strategically placed tree species. You came here for the majesty of nature! The vast and untrodden paths of the wild! To feel one with mother earth as you reconnect with the explorer that you know sleeps within you!
At least, that was the plan.
You glance about. No one else here. The only “ranger” you think you had seen was the one at the gate entrance, who had looked like they wanted to be anywhere but there. That little voice in your head starts to become louder, and for once, you decide to listen. It gives a cheer as you take a less crunchy step off the wood chips and onto the firm, untouched soil of the forest beyond.
And so you set off, and it’s far more invigorating than you had ever hoped! Actual sheer faces that needed climbing! A vast variety of flora that no one could see from the trails! And hilltop vistas that would make any photographer or painter question their ability at the craft. You even see some animals along the way! A flock of ducks in a nearby pond. Squirrels galore in the treetops. Oh, look! Is that a deer… carcass?
Uh oh.
The sudden remembrance of what “wilderness” actually implies comes crashing down on you. You chastise that little voice in your head, who immediately plays dumb and scurries off saying it was your idea in the first place.
Find the trail. Yeah. That sounds like a good idea.
And as you wander… and wander… and search… searching a little bit faster now. Faster still. Yes. Speed is imperative. Worry turns to concern, concern to fear, fear to panic. Were you sweating this much before? Suddenly, you’re aware of how drenched you are. And where was that TRAIL?!
You feel like the world begins to spin around you.
SNAP!
And now the world really *is* spinning as you feel yourself whipped about, something grabbing you by the ankle.
NO! THIS IS IT! IT’S GOT YOU! YOU’RE DONE FOR! THE PREDATOR HAS YOU BY THE… by the…
…wait.
You blink. You’re not being torn asunder by anything. You’re just hanging there. Upside down. In a net. Not even a harsh net; in fact, it’s rather loose. Loose, but sturdy. Enough that you can move around without injury or tangling, but big enough and tight enough that you definitely won’t be able to get out on your own.
“Well, this is a first.”
Who said that?
You glance about you, and as the net spins about with the momentum of your movement, you manage to catch sight of a tall… no… VERY tall figure walking in your direction. She’s not a ranger, but she’s not dressed like any casual hiker either. Especially with the bag of equipment slung across her shoulder.
“First question,” she says with a chuckle. “Are you hurt?”
Her voice has an air of command to it that makes you feel like you should stay quiet. No anger or malice, but definitely confidence. You shake your head no.
“Good,” she says. At which point she starts laughing out loud. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to make fun, but I’ve never had a tourist find their way into one of my traps before.”
She takes a seat on a nearby stump, and leans back casually. It’s then that your eyes catch sight of the cable holding up your net… sitting right next to her foot. She gives it a nudge at which point the net begins to slowly lower… and then stops before touching the ground and granting you any semblance of freedom. But it’s now put you at eye level with her.
“Oh, you’re not getting off that easy,” she grins. “We’re going to sit here a while so you can think about how dumb it was for you to wander away from the designated trails.”
And that’s just what you do. Though as there’s not much else to look at, you find yourself looking her over more than once. And at some point… or maybe she noticed from the start… her grin widens, and she perks an eyebrow at you.
“My name’s Aster, by the way,” she says after a few more moments of silence. “How about you tell me yours, cutie?”
What a pleasure it was breathing life into Aster! We've been bouncing ideas for her back and forth for a little while, so to finally make her solid and real is a great feeling. She came together quite smoothly for the most part - barring one hair-pullingly frustrating day when I forgot how to draw braids, but we don't talk about that... ^^' That said, I think she's turned out quite fantastically and I'm so pleased with the finished article. I really hope you all like her too!
Aster Major belongs to tminussomeone and ponyecho
And while I've been hard at work drawing this lovely lady, Tminus has put together an introductory narrative for you all to enjoy. All credit to him for his story contribution.
Your feet give a small crunch against the pine chips beneath your hiking boots; a faded red trail studded with numbered stakes in bright, but chipped, paint that shows you the way through a small portion of this nature preserve.
You pause and look about you, and you realize it’s so…
Boring.
You didn’t come out here to be handheld through this wide, reaching expanse and read plaques about the scientific names of strategically placed tree species. You came here for the majesty of nature! The vast and untrodden paths of the wild! To feel one with mother earth as you reconnect with the explorer that you know sleeps within you!
At least, that was the plan.
You glance about. No one else here. The only “ranger” you think you had seen was the one at the gate entrance, who had looked like they wanted to be anywhere but there. That little voice in your head starts to become louder, and for once, you decide to listen. It gives a cheer as you take a less crunchy step off the wood chips and onto the firm, untouched soil of the forest beyond.
And so you set off, and it’s far more invigorating than you had ever hoped! Actual sheer faces that needed climbing! A vast variety of flora that no one could see from the trails! And hilltop vistas that would make any photographer or painter question their ability at the craft. You even see some animals along the way! A flock of ducks in a nearby pond. Squirrels galore in the treetops. Oh, look! Is that a deer… carcass?
Uh oh.
The sudden remembrance of what “wilderness” actually implies comes crashing down on you. You chastise that little voice in your head, who immediately plays dumb and scurries off saying it was your idea in the first place.
Find the trail. Yeah. That sounds like a good idea.
And as you wander… and wander… and search… searching a little bit faster now. Faster still. Yes. Speed is imperative. Worry turns to concern, concern to fear, fear to panic. Were you sweating this much before? Suddenly, you’re aware of how drenched you are. And where was that TRAIL?!
You feel like the world begins to spin around you.
SNAP!
And now the world really *is* spinning as you feel yourself whipped about, something grabbing you by the ankle.
NO! THIS IS IT! IT’S GOT YOU! YOU’RE DONE FOR! THE PREDATOR HAS YOU BY THE… by the…
…wait.
You blink. You’re not being torn asunder by anything. You’re just hanging there. Upside down. In a net. Not even a harsh net; in fact, it’s rather loose. Loose, but sturdy. Enough that you can move around without injury or tangling, but big enough and tight enough that you definitely won’t be able to get out on your own.
“Well, this is a first.”
Who said that?
You glance about you, and as the net spins about with the momentum of your movement, you manage to catch sight of a tall… no… VERY tall figure walking in your direction. She’s not a ranger, but she’s not dressed like any casual hiker either. Especially with the bag of equipment slung across her shoulder.
“First question,” she says with a chuckle. “Are you hurt?”
Her voice has an air of command to it that makes you feel like you should stay quiet. No anger or malice, but definitely confidence. You shake your head no.
“Good,” she says. At which point she starts laughing out loud. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to make fun, but I’ve never had a tourist find their way into one of my traps before.”
She takes a seat on a nearby stump, and leans back casually. It’s then that your eyes catch sight of the cable holding up your net… sitting right next to her foot. She gives it a nudge at which point the net begins to slowly lower… and then stops before touching the ground and granting you any semblance of freedom. But it’s now put you at eye level with her.
“Oh, you’re not getting off that easy,” she grins. “We’re going to sit here a while so you can think about how dumb it was for you to wander away from the designated trails.”
And that’s just what you do. Though as there’s not much else to look at, you find yourself looking her over more than once. And at some point… or maybe she noticed from the start… her grin widens, and she perks an eyebrow at you.
“My name’s Aster, by the way,” she says after a few more moments of silence. “How about you tell me yours, cutie?”
What a pleasure it was breathing life into Aster! We've been bouncing ideas for her back and forth for a little while, so to finally make her solid and real is a great feeling. She came together quite smoothly for the most part - barring one hair-pullingly frustrating day when I forgot how to draw braids, but we don't talk about that... ^^' That said, I think she's turned out quite fantastically and I'm so pleased with the finished article. I really hope you all like her too!
Aster Major belongs to tminussomeone and ponyecho
Category All / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Gender Any
Size 1173 x 1280px
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!! I LOVE THIS!!! I love the story and the picture combo! SO cute and fun!
Haha, I'm thrilled you like it so much ^_^ All credit for the story goes to the commissioner, but I'm so happy you enjoyed the finished product.
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