Name:
Newt
Gender:
Male
Orientation:
Straight
Relationship:
Closed
Friendships:
Open
Companions:
Badger- Mix Breed Dog
Tier 1 Custom w/ Rare Add-on
Artist:
ABeardedDragon
Newt
Gender:
Male
Orientation:
Straight
Relationship:
Closed
Friendships:
Open
Companions:
Badger- Mix Breed Dog
Tier 1 Custom w/ Rare Add-on
Artist:
ABeardedDragon
Family:
No Biological Family Adoptive: Hades, Charon, Hermes- Uncles Aiakos- Cousin Mae, Fera, Linden, Swallow, Cel- Aunts |
Bio:
Outcast by his village after they found him speaking to the animals, he was bullied and tormented by them for years. Just trying to survive in the woods near the village was near impossible with the villagers destroying his camp and chasing him away every night. With the help of local animals, he was able to steal food from the fields and had at least some company in the dark woods. That was until he was found by Hades, who had come searching for a witch he had heard of in his travels. Hades was the only viscet who had ever shown him kindness and after a short time, urged Newt to come with him to a place where he would be safe. Hades brought Newt to the House of Angels and placed him in the care of the Gardeners there. After a few explosions and fires, they built him his own little cottage near the woods where he can safely study and learn from the animals he cares for. |
Traits
Lion mane- Uncommon
Mammal ears- Uncommon
Smooth horns- Uncommon
Major mane- Rare
Mammal ears- Uncommon
Smooth horns- Uncommon
Major mane- Rare
Stories
Hades had heard whispers and stories of a young witch who was haunting a village nearby and decided to learn more. Obviously he was drawn to things that sounded supernatural and this was certainly one of them, but there was also something else that made him want to check it out. He kept listening to the rumors as he sought out this child witch. “He can speak to beasts” “He summons them” “Controls monsters” “Can poison you with a look” “Sleeps in a tree” “Cannot speak” and “eats raw flesh” were all things that Hades encountered as he traveled and he could only imagine what the truth was.
Hades found the village that rumor said was cursed by this demonic child. Hades stepped into the inn and smiled at the innkeeper who offered him a cup of coffee, “What can I do for you traveler?”
Hades sat and gave a coin for the coffee, “Just passing through. A few people however cautioned me of coming here, something about a witch? This was the shortest route and I am running late for my meeting with my sister though so I figured I would chance it. Is there a witch around here?”
Hades feigned a nervous look around the inn as if there may be a witch behind him. He caught the fear in the innkeepers eyes and his suspicions were confirmed, something was going on here.
“Oh, there is. A wickedness lives out in those woods.” The innkeeper gave a shiver and Hades nodded, looking out at the woods through the window.
Once he had finished the coffee, he requested a room and followed the innkeeper to it. The keeper pushed open the window to let some air in and directed Hades to the sheets and water. Hades however was distracted by a cat who had jumped into the window, “Your barn cat I suppose?”
Hades went to pet the cat who meowed quietly at him but the innkeeper hurriedly shooed the cat away and shut the window, “No. Everyone in town has gotten rid of their animals in fear of the witch using them.”
“Using them how?” Hades watched the cat run off down the road and towards the woods. He watched it vanish and the innkeeper started setting up the bed.
“He speaks to them, the witch does. Orders them around and they do his bidding. Not safe to have em around with him out in those woods. Old Billy was mauled by his guard dog not a week ago cause the witch got control of it.” The innkeeper shook his head at the thought.
Hades thought on it and nodded at the innkeepers words. Once the innkeeper had left, Hades pushed the window open once more and waited to see if the cat came back. It was a few moments before the cat climbed back onto the sil and Hades coaxed it over to him. It climbed right onto his lap and he stroked it calmly. He fed it a few little snacks he had with him and once the cat was satisfied, he took the last snack and climbed back out the window. Hades smiled and slipped out the window, following the cat calmly.
The cat didn’t seem concerned and gladly showed Hades to the woods. Hades followed the feline through the trees until he saw a soft glow up ahead. He came across a shabby little tent set up with the barest fire. A cluster of animals were huddled in the small clearing and Hades watched the cat climb right into the tent.
After a moment, a small viscling peeked out, “Who are you?”
“Just a traveler boy, seemed like your cat was hungry and followed to make sure there weren’t other hungry creatures.” Hades claimed, offering some snacks to some of the other animals.
Suddenly all the animals went silent and the boy stood, “You are making them nervous. They are whispering things like Death and Black Angel….”
Hades looked at the boy surprised, “You speak to these creatures child?”
After a moment, some of the animals took the food from Hades and the child refused to look at him, “They call me a witch cause of it. You won’t hurt my creatures, will you?”
Hades looked at the young boy and frowned, “I promise not to harm any of your creatures. I have a creature of my own. She has been keeping her distance to this point but I think you might like to meet her.”
The boy looked at Hades curiously and then nodded a bit. Hades whistled and heard the scurrying through the woods as Arae leapt up to his shoulder. She chittered in his ear a bit and he smiled, “This is my companion Arae, she is a ramidreju.”
Arae bowed her head to the boy and he looked at her fascinated, “I have never heard of such a thing. She looks like a mustelid but with plant growth on her back and tail. She is beautiful.”
Arae bristled with the compliment and Hades smiled. The boy looked at Hades and tilted his head, “Why do the animals call you Death?”
“Well, I suppose I am. If not then I at least smell a lot like death since I live around it so much.” Hades watched the child look at him startled, “My name is Hades, I am Lord of the underworld”
The boy moved away from Hades and instantly Hades noticed an unsettled feeling spread through the creatures around him. One of the dogs growled softly and Hades looked at the boy, “Why are you here? To take me?”
“Child, please settle down. I already promised you I was not here to harm any of your creatures and I extend that to include you. You are in no danger here. I simply heard a rumor and decided to see if it was true.”
“A rumor of a witch…” The boy sighed and Hades shrugged.
“Yes, of a child witch who was causing problems in the town. However, I know that people use the word witch to describe anything they do not understand and so I came to see myself.”
“I don’t cause trouble in the town… They are the ones that come and ransack my camp every night. They chase the creatures and shoot at them. They chased me out of town cause I tried to save a little bird from a trap. They just don’t understand me.” The boy began to cry and a few of the animals crawled over to comfort him.
“So you did not set an animal on Old Billy? His own dog?” Hades asked and the boy shook his head.
“No. Old Billy was beating his poor dog and I had told him the day before to stop it. The dog was so scared and hurt that the moment Old Billy raised his hand, the dog attacked just to get him to stop. Oliver didn’t want to hurt anybody but he didn’t know what else to do….” The boy was looking at a dog that had obviously lived a hard life and Hades nodded.
“That's what I figured the truth of it was.” Hades spoke and the boy looked at him surprised.
“You believe me?” Hades nodded and the child moved closer, “You don’t think I am cursed?”
“You are one to suggest you are cursed dear child, you are speaking to the god of death here,” Hades chuckled a bit and saw the boys face relax into a smile. He reached a hand out to the boy, “Come with me. I know somewhere that you could live in peace.”
The child looked up at Hades shocked, “Somewhere that I wouldn’t be called a witch and chased away?”
Hades nodded and stood, “Mhm. A place for you to be free.”
The boy looked at the animals around him sadly and then began to hug each one goodbye. Hades watched the exchange, “They could come with you.”
The child shook his head, “No, this is their home. It would be selfish of me to ask them to come.”
Hades nodded and allowed the boy to continue his goodbyes. Once done, most of the animals scattered to go back to their respective homes and Hades smiled at the boy. He had tears in his eyes but he looked at Hades with a smile. He packed up his few belongings and Hades offered to carry them for him. With his tattered sack thrown onto Hades back, he requested they visit the town first. The boy hesitated but then agreed, feeling safe with this dark viscet to protect him.
Arae decided to curl up around the boy’s shoulders as an added level of comfort and he was certain she wouldn’t let anything happen to him. Hades took the boy into town and immediately heard the whispers start. He walked right to the town center and soon a crowd had formed.
“Good. You are all here. I have come to make a demand of you.” Hades began before people started yelling and screaming. Hades waited patiently, looking at the crowd and the child was shocked to see his grey eyes shifting to a reddish color.
Some of the villagers in the front noticed it as well and began yelling that Hades was a witch as well. Besides the yelling, the villagers kept their distance and were mostly behaved, until one threw a stone directly at the child. Arae moved in a fraction of a second, swatting it right from the air hissing. She stood on the boy’s shoulder, fur bristling and glared at the man who had thrown the stone. Driven by his example, more villagers picked up stones to throw at the boy and he looked at Hades nervously. Hades didn’t even move but continued to glare at all the villagers.
Once the first rock was thrown, Arae launched herself from the child’s shoulder and suddenly was the size of a Clydesdale horse in front of Hades and the boy. She batted the rocks away and snarled at them, threatening them so they all stepped back startled. Once the crowd had gone quiet, she shrank back to the size of a marten and lept back onto the boy’s shoulders, nuzzling his neck in comfort.
“Thank you,” Hades spoke, looking at the villagers who were now staring in terror, “Now, as I was saying, I have a demand to make of you. For those who do not know, my name is Hades, God of Death and Lord of the Underworld. Now that means I can pretty dangerous if you anger me so I suggest you listen. You will never harm an animal ever again. In this village, the animals are sacred. That includes everything in the woods down to the individual rat. If any of you ever lift your hand against an animal I will rain down the entire wrath of the underworld onto this village.” He looked at all the villagers with his red eyes and they all eagerly nodded, not wanting to invoke his anger. “Very well. Now me and the so called ‘Witch’ are leaving together but I will send spies to make sure you care for the animals so beware.”
He wrapped an arm around the child and moved forward, parting the crowd as he took the boy out of the village. With the village fading behind him, the boy looked at him, “Mister Hades?”
Hades looked at him, “Yes child?”
“Thank you.” He spoke softly and Hades scooped the child up, putting him on his back and smiled.
“Of course. It’s time you learned what kindness and family are. Now what would you like to be called?” Hades asked as the boy wrapped his arms around him.
“The creatures call me Newt.” The child spoke holding onto Hades tightly as he walked.
“Well Newt, let’s get you home.”
Hades found the village that rumor said was cursed by this demonic child. Hades stepped into the inn and smiled at the innkeeper who offered him a cup of coffee, “What can I do for you traveler?”
Hades sat and gave a coin for the coffee, “Just passing through. A few people however cautioned me of coming here, something about a witch? This was the shortest route and I am running late for my meeting with my sister though so I figured I would chance it. Is there a witch around here?”
Hades feigned a nervous look around the inn as if there may be a witch behind him. He caught the fear in the innkeepers eyes and his suspicions were confirmed, something was going on here.
“Oh, there is. A wickedness lives out in those woods.” The innkeeper gave a shiver and Hades nodded, looking out at the woods through the window.
Once he had finished the coffee, he requested a room and followed the innkeeper to it. The keeper pushed open the window to let some air in and directed Hades to the sheets and water. Hades however was distracted by a cat who had jumped into the window, “Your barn cat I suppose?”
Hades went to pet the cat who meowed quietly at him but the innkeeper hurriedly shooed the cat away and shut the window, “No. Everyone in town has gotten rid of their animals in fear of the witch using them.”
“Using them how?” Hades watched the cat run off down the road and towards the woods. He watched it vanish and the innkeeper started setting up the bed.
“He speaks to them, the witch does. Orders them around and they do his bidding. Not safe to have em around with him out in those woods. Old Billy was mauled by his guard dog not a week ago cause the witch got control of it.” The innkeeper shook his head at the thought.
Hades thought on it and nodded at the innkeepers words. Once the innkeeper had left, Hades pushed the window open once more and waited to see if the cat came back. It was a few moments before the cat climbed back onto the sil and Hades coaxed it over to him. It climbed right onto his lap and he stroked it calmly. He fed it a few little snacks he had with him and once the cat was satisfied, he took the last snack and climbed back out the window. Hades smiled and slipped out the window, following the cat calmly.
The cat didn’t seem concerned and gladly showed Hades to the woods. Hades followed the feline through the trees until he saw a soft glow up ahead. He came across a shabby little tent set up with the barest fire. A cluster of animals were huddled in the small clearing and Hades watched the cat climb right into the tent.
After a moment, a small viscling peeked out, “Who are you?”
“Just a traveler boy, seemed like your cat was hungry and followed to make sure there weren’t other hungry creatures.” Hades claimed, offering some snacks to some of the other animals.
Suddenly all the animals went silent and the boy stood, “You are making them nervous. They are whispering things like Death and Black Angel….”
Hades looked at the boy surprised, “You speak to these creatures child?”
After a moment, some of the animals took the food from Hades and the child refused to look at him, “They call me a witch cause of it. You won’t hurt my creatures, will you?”
Hades looked at the young boy and frowned, “I promise not to harm any of your creatures. I have a creature of my own. She has been keeping her distance to this point but I think you might like to meet her.”
The boy looked at Hades curiously and then nodded a bit. Hades whistled and heard the scurrying through the woods as Arae leapt up to his shoulder. She chittered in his ear a bit and he smiled, “This is my companion Arae, she is a ramidreju.”
Arae bowed her head to the boy and he looked at her fascinated, “I have never heard of such a thing. She looks like a mustelid but with plant growth on her back and tail. She is beautiful.”
Arae bristled with the compliment and Hades smiled. The boy looked at Hades and tilted his head, “Why do the animals call you Death?”
“Well, I suppose I am. If not then I at least smell a lot like death since I live around it so much.” Hades watched the child look at him startled, “My name is Hades, I am Lord of the underworld”
The boy moved away from Hades and instantly Hades noticed an unsettled feeling spread through the creatures around him. One of the dogs growled softly and Hades looked at the boy, “Why are you here? To take me?”
“Child, please settle down. I already promised you I was not here to harm any of your creatures and I extend that to include you. You are in no danger here. I simply heard a rumor and decided to see if it was true.”
“A rumor of a witch…” The boy sighed and Hades shrugged.
“Yes, of a child witch who was causing problems in the town. However, I know that people use the word witch to describe anything they do not understand and so I came to see myself.”
“I don’t cause trouble in the town… They are the ones that come and ransack my camp every night. They chase the creatures and shoot at them. They chased me out of town cause I tried to save a little bird from a trap. They just don’t understand me.” The boy began to cry and a few of the animals crawled over to comfort him.
“So you did not set an animal on Old Billy? His own dog?” Hades asked and the boy shook his head.
“No. Old Billy was beating his poor dog and I had told him the day before to stop it. The dog was so scared and hurt that the moment Old Billy raised his hand, the dog attacked just to get him to stop. Oliver didn’t want to hurt anybody but he didn’t know what else to do….” The boy was looking at a dog that had obviously lived a hard life and Hades nodded.
“That's what I figured the truth of it was.” Hades spoke and the boy looked at him surprised.
“You believe me?” Hades nodded and the child moved closer, “You don’t think I am cursed?”
“You are one to suggest you are cursed dear child, you are speaking to the god of death here,” Hades chuckled a bit and saw the boys face relax into a smile. He reached a hand out to the boy, “Come with me. I know somewhere that you could live in peace.”
The child looked up at Hades shocked, “Somewhere that I wouldn’t be called a witch and chased away?”
Hades nodded and stood, “Mhm. A place for you to be free.”
The boy looked at the animals around him sadly and then began to hug each one goodbye. Hades watched the exchange, “They could come with you.”
The child shook his head, “No, this is their home. It would be selfish of me to ask them to come.”
Hades nodded and allowed the boy to continue his goodbyes. Once done, most of the animals scattered to go back to their respective homes and Hades smiled at the boy. He had tears in his eyes but he looked at Hades with a smile. He packed up his few belongings and Hades offered to carry them for him. With his tattered sack thrown onto Hades back, he requested they visit the town first. The boy hesitated but then agreed, feeling safe with this dark viscet to protect him.
Arae decided to curl up around the boy’s shoulders as an added level of comfort and he was certain she wouldn’t let anything happen to him. Hades took the boy into town and immediately heard the whispers start. He walked right to the town center and soon a crowd had formed.
“Good. You are all here. I have come to make a demand of you.” Hades began before people started yelling and screaming. Hades waited patiently, looking at the crowd and the child was shocked to see his grey eyes shifting to a reddish color.
Some of the villagers in the front noticed it as well and began yelling that Hades was a witch as well. Besides the yelling, the villagers kept their distance and were mostly behaved, until one threw a stone directly at the child. Arae moved in a fraction of a second, swatting it right from the air hissing. She stood on the boy’s shoulder, fur bristling and glared at the man who had thrown the stone. Driven by his example, more villagers picked up stones to throw at the boy and he looked at Hades nervously. Hades didn’t even move but continued to glare at all the villagers.
Once the first rock was thrown, Arae launched herself from the child’s shoulder and suddenly was the size of a Clydesdale horse in front of Hades and the boy. She batted the rocks away and snarled at them, threatening them so they all stepped back startled. Once the crowd had gone quiet, she shrank back to the size of a marten and lept back onto the boy’s shoulders, nuzzling his neck in comfort.
“Thank you,” Hades spoke, looking at the villagers who were now staring in terror, “Now, as I was saying, I have a demand to make of you. For those who do not know, my name is Hades, God of Death and Lord of the Underworld. Now that means I can pretty dangerous if you anger me so I suggest you listen. You will never harm an animal ever again. In this village, the animals are sacred. That includes everything in the woods down to the individual rat. If any of you ever lift your hand against an animal I will rain down the entire wrath of the underworld onto this village.” He looked at all the villagers with his red eyes and they all eagerly nodded, not wanting to invoke his anger. “Very well. Now me and the so called ‘Witch’ are leaving together but I will send spies to make sure you care for the animals so beware.”
He wrapped an arm around the child and moved forward, parting the crowd as he took the boy out of the village. With the village fading behind him, the boy looked at him, “Mister Hades?”
Hades looked at him, “Yes child?”
“Thank you.” He spoke softly and Hades scooped the child up, putting him on his back and smiled.
“Of course. It’s time you learned what kindness and family are. Now what would you like to be called?” Hades asked as the boy wrapped his arms around him.
“The creatures call me Newt.” The child spoke holding onto Hades tightly as he walked.
“Well Newt, let’s get you home.”
By Strudel
(Featuring their viscet Makenna)
"Come on Badger! Come here, boy!" Newt whistled at the pup as he raced on. He was far too excited to stop and let the dog catch up-- he knew Badger would be able to follow after him.
It had been a long time since Newt had ventured out far from the House of Angels and the forest nearby, but this was for a special reason. Being far from his original home, and with the borrowed Arae on his shoulder, Newt was pretty secure in his safety regardless. He slipped past an unusual tree that he knew he would have to study, later on, only to stumble into a large, thorny bush. He smacked the ground with some serious force, and his coat ripped as it snagged on one of the thorns.
"Oh, ow..." Newt sat up, and Badger slipped up beside him, nudging him with his nose.
"What are you doing on the ground, Newt?" Badger questioned, tilting his head "Those thorns look nasty, you should probably get out of the bush."
"Or out of the forest." an unfamiliar voice called out.
Newt looked around, fear in his eyes as he couldn't pinpoint where the voice was coming from. Was this someone who would hurt him? Or hurt Badger?
"Well, come on. Get up out of that bush before you hurt yourself. That's poisonous, you know." The voice was female, and while not soft it had almost a... bell-like quality to it.
Newt heard a slightly exasperated sigh as the female finally came into view.
His eyes grew wide. She's like... some kind of fantastic creature. Like something from a fairy tale. he had seen many a strange and fantastical beast in the underworld now. Hades had shown Newt much kindness in encouraging his work and curiosity by bringing him so many beautiful creatures. But this female was something else, he could feel it. Not quite a creature, but not really a viscet either. Even if she appeared to be one for the most part.
She was tall, thin, and had this almost... shimmery quality about her. At her elbows were thin membrane-like wings. They looked lepidoptera in nature. She wore extravagant, silver jewelry that was somehow soundless as she approached. Her eyes caught his attention after a moment of studying her-- they had a beautiful and yet unnatural shape to them for a viscet, and were a vibrant pink.
"You're just lucky that the fae that owns this particular forest is in counsel with the queen right now. She would not be so kind as I, finding you here."
Fae? Queen? Newt thought, unsure what exactly all this meant. Were there fae in this forest? Were they in other places besides the House of Angels? "Excuse me, miss, but what exactly are you?" he asked, the curiosity in his eyes apparent.
The girl rolled her eyes as she held out a paw to him "Come on, stand up already as I said. Before something comes along and eats you." she sighed "And, just so you know, that's a pretty rude question to ask a young lady. Seriously? What girl wants to be asked what she is? Did your parents not teach you any tact at all?"
"Don't have any biological family." Newt replied, "I raised myself, mostly." he took the offered paw and stood up, quickly releasing her paw so he could dust himself off "And I'm afraid Hades hasn't taken the time to rectify my social awkwardness. Say, what kind of girl wanders the forest alone, anyway, if she isn't a magical creature."
"Never said I wasn't magic." The female replied "But I am no creature, sir. My name is Makenna and I'm the p--" she frowned as she considered her words more carefully "I am but a humble fae myself." she finally managed to say. "Not weak, but not the strongest of my kind. Nothing particularly special." it was a lie, Makenna was more than'just a humble fae' but she wasn't about to tell a stranger, not when she was still on the run from her mother.
"Oh, so you're a fae?" Newt walked around her, studying her a moment "Huh, didn't know that creatures-- excuse me beings-- like fae could live here with the mortals. Do your kind here usually show themselves to mortals?"
"No, of course not!" Makenna scoffed "No self-respecting fae would reveal themselves to a normal mortal. But you are not a normal mortal. You have a pet ramidreju, just like they say Hades has. And you can talk to animals. Obviously, you are no normal mortal. Don't insult me by trying to pretend otherwise."
Newt raised his hands "You've got me there, I'm not exactly normal." he motioned toward her wings as if to ask if they were alright to touch. Makenna rolled her eyes but nodded, and immediately Newt started to feel of them "Oh, my, these are just like butterfly wings. Just a tad bit thicker, and definitely more sturdy to stand up to wear but... just like them. I didn't know fae could have wings such as these."
"Fae come in all kinds of varieties. Just as mortal viscets do. There are just less of us." she shook her head "Now, sir, are you going to leave the forest before you get the both of us caught?"
"Sir? Oh, right you don't know my name. My name's Newt. And no, I'm not quite ready to leave the forest. There's supposed to be a kumiho in this forest. That someone released from it's painting. I need to find it, and bring it back with me. Both to study, and to keep mortals safe from it before it leaves the forest."
"Look, Newt, if there was a kumiho in this forest, I would know it. Besides, they're just myths. I've never seen one."
"Oh, like fae are just myths?" Newt raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. No. I mean..." Makenna groaned "Oh, fine. I will help you look for this kumiho. Just in case. But if it's not here, you've got to leave. The owner of this forest is not going to be very happy if she finds you here."
Newt looked around for a moment, unsure of whether he should take her up on her offer. For one, she obviously didn't believe there was a kumiho there. For two, he wasn't used to company. And also because... she made him a little nervous.
"Oh for the love of--" Makenna sighed and grabbed a hold of his hand, leaning her forward "If you didn't know where to go, you could have just asked, you know. There are plenty of creatures here that would tell you where something like that would be." She stopped him in front of a tree, and still gripped his hand so she could drag him elsewhere if the creature above them didn't know. "Ask him." she said, pointing to a squirrel that was looking down to them curiously "Well, go on!"
"Ah, sure." Newt looked up to the squirrel, and asked him about a little white fox, and if he had seen one. The squirrel pointed north, further into the forest, and warned Newt that the fox was looking for mortals.
"Thank you for the warning." Newt replied "I'll be sure to be careful. Thank you again." he removed his paw from Makenna's and started walking north.
Makenna, not sure what else to do for the time walked along. It felt like they walked for hours while Newt searched for signs of the fox-like creature. In reality, it might have been one hour at the most before Newt broke the silence by calling for Badger again and sliding through the forest at a breakneck pace.
At least, until he slid to a stop in front of the fox. It was small, no bigger than a housecat right now. But it flicked its multiple tails in agitation as it looked to them with bright red eyes.
"I, ah... I'm Newt. Please, I'd love for you to come with me, kumiho."
Needless to say, the creature was not going to come willingly. When it jumped at Newt, aiming for his liver, Makenna jumped in the way and pushed it aside, striking it down with magic to pin it to the ground and subdue it.
"Real smart, Newt. Tell the mortal-eating creature you want to take it home with you." Makenna shook her head and took one of her jewelry chains off to tie the creature's legs together "Oh, don't give me that sour look. At least it can't kill you on your way home. After you get home... well... just don't let it roam free. Otherwise you just might find out."
Newt grimaced at the thought, and carefully picked up the creature. "Thank you, for your help Makenna. This was very kind of you. Hardly tricky, as a fae is supposed to be."
"Not all fae are textbook." Makenna replied before turning away from him "Now get out of here, like you promised. And for pete's sake, please do not let that thing kill you." before Newt could even say goodbye, Makenna vanished into thin air.
Guessing that Makenna hadn't quite left yet, and just had stopped making herself visible, Newt said one anyway "Thanks again, and have a lovely day."
With that, Newt headed home, trying to speak with the kumiho the entire time, who simply seemed to ignore him. It was a little disheartening, but Newt knew he would get through to the little guy. He never gave up on a creature, not really. He didn't believe they were evil, just misunderstood. Maybe scared. This would be another creature it would just take time to learn, understand, and become friends with.
That was alright. Newt was up for a new challenge.
(Featuring their viscet Makenna)
"Come on Badger! Come here, boy!" Newt whistled at the pup as he raced on. He was far too excited to stop and let the dog catch up-- he knew Badger would be able to follow after him.
It had been a long time since Newt had ventured out far from the House of Angels and the forest nearby, but this was for a special reason. Being far from his original home, and with the borrowed Arae on his shoulder, Newt was pretty secure in his safety regardless. He slipped past an unusual tree that he knew he would have to study, later on, only to stumble into a large, thorny bush. He smacked the ground with some serious force, and his coat ripped as it snagged on one of the thorns.
"Oh, ow..." Newt sat up, and Badger slipped up beside him, nudging him with his nose.
"What are you doing on the ground, Newt?" Badger questioned, tilting his head "Those thorns look nasty, you should probably get out of the bush."
"Or out of the forest." an unfamiliar voice called out.
Newt looked around, fear in his eyes as he couldn't pinpoint where the voice was coming from. Was this someone who would hurt him? Or hurt Badger?
"Well, come on. Get up out of that bush before you hurt yourself. That's poisonous, you know." The voice was female, and while not soft it had almost a... bell-like quality to it.
Newt heard a slightly exasperated sigh as the female finally came into view.
His eyes grew wide. She's like... some kind of fantastic creature. Like something from a fairy tale. he had seen many a strange and fantastical beast in the underworld now. Hades had shown Newt much kindness in encouraging his work and curiosity by bringing him so many beautiful creatures. But this female was something else, he could feel it. Not quite a creature, but not really a viscet either. Even if she appeared to be one for the most part.
She was tall, thin, and had this almost... shimmery quality about her. At her elbows were thin membrane-like wings. They looked lepidoptera in nature. She wore extravagant, silver jewelry that was somehow soundless as she approached. Her eyes caught his attention after a moment of studying her-- they had a beautiful and yet unnatural shape to them for a viscet, and were a vibrant pink.
"You're just lucky that the fae that owns this particular forest is in counsel with the queen right now. She would not be so kind as I, finding you here."
Fae? Queen? Newt thought, unsure what exactly all this meant. Were there fae in this forest? Were they in other places besides the House of Angels? "Excuse me, miss, but what exactly are you?" he asked, the curiosity in his eyes apparent.
The girl rolled her eyes as she held out a paw to him "Come on, stand up already as I said. Before something comes along and eats you." she sighed "And, just so you know, that's a pretty rude question to ask a young lady. Seriously? What girl wants to be asked what she is? Did your parents not teach you any tact at all?"
"Don't have any biological family." Newt replied, "I raised myself, mostly." he took the offered paw and stood up, quickly releasing her paw so he could dust himself off "And I'm afraid Hades hasn't taken the time to rectify my social awkwardness. Say, what kind of girl wanders the forest alone, anyway, if she isn't a magical creature."
"Never said I wasn't magic." The female replied "But I am no creature, sir. My name is Makenna and I'm the p--" she frowned as she considered her words more carefully "I am but a humble fae myself." she finally managed to say. "Not weak, but not the strongest of my kind. Nothing particularly special." it was a lie, Makenna was more than'just a humble fae' but she wasn't about to tell a stranger, not when she was still on the run from her mother.
"Oh, so you're a fae?" Newt walked around her, studying her a moment "Huh, didn't know that creatures-- excuse me beings-- like fae could live here with the mortals. Do your kind here usually show themselves to mortals?"
"No, of course not!" Makenna scoffed "No self-respecting fae would reveal themselves to a normal mortal. But you are not a normal mortal. You have a pet ramidreju, just like they say Hades has. And you can talk to animals. Obviously, you are no normal mortal. Don't insult me by trying to pretend otherwise."
Newt raised his hands "You've got me there, I'm not exactly normal." he motioned toward her wings as if to ask if they were alright to touch. Makenna rolled her eyes but nodded, and immediately Newt started to feel of them "Oh, my, these are just like butterfly wings. Just a tad bit thicker, and definitely more sturdy to stand up to wear but... just like them. I didn't know fae could have wings such as these."
"Fae come in all kinds of varieties. Just as mortal viscets do. There are just less of us." she shook her head "Now, sir, are you going to leave the forest before you get the both of us caught?"
"Sir? Oh, right you don't know my name. My name's Newt. And no, I'm not quite ready to leave the forest. There's supposed to be a kumiho in this forest. That someone released from it's painting. I need to find it, and bring it back with me. Both to study, and to keep mortals safe from it before it leaves the forest."
"Look, Newt, if there was a kumiho in this forest, I would know it. Besides, they're just myths. I've never seen one."
"Oh, like fae are just myths?" Newt raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. No. I mean..." Makenna groaned "Oh, fine. I will help you look for this kumiho. Just in case. But if it's not here, you've got to leave. The owner of this forest is not going to be very happy if she finds you here."
Newt looked around for a moment, unsure of whether he should take her up on her offer. For one, she obviously didn't believe there was a kumiho there. For two, he wasn't used to company. And also because... she made him a little nervous.
"Oh for the love of--" Makenna sighed and grabbed a hold of his hand, leaning her forward "If you didn't know where to go, you could have just asked, you know. There are plenty of creatures here that would tell you where something like that would be." She stopped him in front of a tree, and still gripped his hand so she could drag him elsewhere if the creature above them didn't know. "Ask him." she said, pointing to a squirrel that was looking down to them curiously "Well, go on!"
"Ah, sure." Newt looked up to the squirrel, and asked him about a little white fox, and if he had seen one. The squirrel pointed north, further into the forest, and warned Newt that the fox was looking for mortals.
"Thank you for the warning." Newt replied "I'll be sure to be careful. Thank you again." he removed his paw from Makenna's and started walking north.
Makenna, not sure what else to do for the time walked along. It felt like they walked for hours while Newt searched for signs of the fox-like creature. In reality, it might have been one hour at the most before Newt broke the silence by calling for Badger again and sliding through the forest at a breakneck pace.
At least, until he slid to a stop in front of the fox. It was small, no bigger than a housecat right now. But it flicked its multiple tails in agitation as it looked to them with bright red eyes.
"I, ah... I'm Newt. Please, I'd love for you to come with me, kumiho."
Needless to say, the creature was not going to come willingly. When it jumped at Newt, aiming for his liver, Makenna jumped in the way and pushed it aside, striking it down with magic to pin it to the ground and subdue it.
"Real smart, Newt. Tell the mortal-eating creature you want to take it home with you." Makenna shook her head and took one of her jewelry chains off to tie the creature's legs together "Oh, don't give me that sour look. At least it can't kill you on your way home. After you get home... well... just don't let it roam free. Otherwise you just might find out."
Newt grimaced at the thought, and carefully picked up the creature. "Thank you, for your help Makenna. This was very kind of you. Hardly tricky, as a fae is supposed to be."
"Not all fae are textbook." Makenna replied before turning away from him "Now get out of here, like you promised. And for pete's sake, please do not let that thing kill you." before Newt could even say goodbye, Makenna vanished into thin air.
Guessing that Makenna hadn't quite left yet, and just had stopped making herself visible, Newt said one anyway "Thanks again, and have a lovely day."
With that, Newt headed home, trying to speak with the kumiho the entire time, who simply seemed to ignore him. It was a little disheartening, but Newt knew he would get through to the little guy. He never gave up on a creature, not really. He didn't believe they were evil, just misunderstood. Maybe scared. This would be another creature it would just take time to learn, understand, and become friends with.
That was alright. Newt was up for a new challenge.
Badger
Badger was found by Hades as a stray puppy and given to Newt to nurse back to health. After a few weeks, Newt truly fell in love with the goofy little pup and so he named him Badger and kept him around. As part of a gift for Newt's birthday, Hades granted the dog the ability to live an extremely long life and so it will live long past the time most dogs would.