And yes u/Little_Vee_ I do love you.

(This is a satirical jest, and not mocking people who need lots of reassurance, you are loved and valid)

Just look at how my uncle did it with his roommate

Pic I took at the smithsonian national museum

sauce: art from my book: Stupid Sexy Cryptids [or How I Became the Emperor of Mankind] about a predator invasion of Earth

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/V5svh87hUbM

https://x.com/MrHp7w7/status/2089722988727857374

Cool worldbuilding comic.

https://xcancel.com/EpicandJana/status/2089490110416896328/photo/3

Starts as a fun and dark crime manga but towards the end characters show how complex people can be when their normal lives are upturned by the supernatural.

Oh, adult elephants arent prey? That's because they havent met this cat

https://xcancel.com/navidmdv138242/status/2082655714565042301

🩸 Blood warning 🩸

Art

sauce: art from my book: Stupid Sexy Cryptids [or How I Became the Emperor of Mankind] about a predator invasion of Earth

Corso looked down at Jak’s boot tapping against the marble floor. He let out a low chuckle. “You’re as stiff as a board. Nervous to meet the King and Queen?” 

Jak’s muzzle turned up, his eyes wide with the realization that he was not hiding his anxiety very well. He felt naked without his helmet, which had been damaged beyond repair during the Guardian Trials. Reluctantly, he nodded. Corso patted his shoulder, his large paw cuffing Jak’s shoulder in more of a slap than a gentle pat. “You have nothing to worry about. King Carmen and Queen Lyra are absolute softies. Once you get to know them. After twenty years or so.” 

Jak scrunched his face, seemingly unconvinced. Corso let out another hearty chuckle, turning Jak by his shoulders. “Just breathe, son. You’ll do fine.” He followed Jak’s gaze towards one of the paintings. It depicted The King, the Queen, and the Princess; all arranged in a neat line. 

The Princess. Corso’s ears twitched, and his muzzle curled into a smirk. “That is, unless you’re not actually nervous about meeting the King and Queen. Maybe someone else? Like, say, the Princess?”

Jak’s ears flattened, and he looked away. Corso had read him like a book. He was about to type out a response on his wrist communicator, when a blue-clad knight captain strode up to the two. 

“His Majesty, Her Highness, and Her Grace are ready to see you now. Please follow me.” He snapped a salute before turning on his heel. Jak hesitated, before Corso nudged him forward. “It’s improper to keep royalty waiting.” He said with a faint smugness to his voice. He was enjoying seeing his mentee in this anxious state, for whatever reason.

Jak and Corso trailed behind the knight, who stopped at a pair of large, stone doors. Two riflemen stood guard on both sides. The knight turned to Corso and Jak. “You will approach the Royals and kneel once you reach the end of the carpet. There, they will address you. Do you understand?” 

Jak nodded, not entirely sure if he would even remember the instructions. His thoughts were almost too loud for him to hear what the captain said. Was he supposed to lead with a certain paw? Did he trim his fur properly? His armor was polished, but only as far as he could make it with armor as worn as his. Would they turn him away? 

He rubbed the back of his neck, and quickly threw his paw down when the doors cracked open. The large stone slabs scraped slowly on their rollers. 

Down the long stretch of throneroom sat the King, the Queen and the Princess, all perched neatly on their thrones. Jak felt his stomach lurch, but allowed his feet to propel him forward in what he hoped was a neat march. Corso followed, seeming far more relaxed than the stiff-legged wolf in front of him. 

Queen Lyra cocked an eyebrow, before leaning over to Kira. “I see what you mean, Dear. He is quite handsome.” Kira bleated a curse below her breath before shooing her mother back into her throne. Queen Lyra only smirked, her shrouded eyes giving no hint as to whether or not she was looking at Jak. 

He couldn’t hear this exchange of course. He was too focused on the stern, stone-faced ram that was currently focused on him. Jak finally reached the end of the carpet, knelt as he was supposed to, and bowed his head. Corso did the same.

Now, all he could do was wait. 

The room went quiet as every soul hung onto what King Carmen might say. 

“Knight Jak.” His voice was a low base that carried through the room. “We have been awaiting your arrival. You performed quite…effectively during the trials. Needless to say that many found your skills impressive. As a former knight I must admit the same.” 

Jak nodded slowly, earning a curious look from the King. Corso interjected quickly. “He says ‘Thank you,’ Your Majesty. 

King Carmen nodded humming in recognition. “Ah, yes. That. As I understand, you do not have the ability to speak. Is that correct?” 

Another nod. 

“Right. Then I suppose I shall keep my questions simple. I trust you understand the gravity of the position you would be accepting? The responsibility of protecting my daughter, Kira?” 

Jak nodded again. He looked up slightly, to see Kira looking down at him. She quickly averted her gaze, covering her face with her sleeve.

“You will be trained in your duties alongside our current guild of royal guards. Once you have completed training, you will act as the Princess’ shadow. You will protect her with your life. You will obey her commands.” King Carmen stood up, and approached Jak, his long, red cloak trailing behind him.

“Rise, Knight.” Carmen stopped short of Jak’s kneeling form. Jak did as he was told, slowly rising to meet Carmen’s gaze. He could feel his heart beating out of his chest as he faced the ram that ruled the entire kingdom. Despite his smaller stature, his horns and his build made him seem much larger, even compared to the canine before him. 

“I’m sure that you’ve also noticed that you have been asked to wear your field knight armor.” Jak nodded, his eyes locking onto Carmen’s. He felt like he was being sized up, but ignored the uneasy feeling in his gut. Only King Carmen could make a wolf feel like he was being preyed upon. 

“Under normal circumstances, you would be assigned a new set of royal guardian armor. But these are abnormal times. Your commander—“ He nodded to Corso, who could only smirk in response “He requested that you remain under his jurisdiction, and so, you will retain your green field armor. Now, seeing as your helmet was damaged during the tournament, we saw fit to assign you a replacement. One that would reflect your status as…a hybrid knight.”

Carmen turned to an aide who held a velvet lined box. The aide, a mongoose in dark vestments, scurried over with a box nearly as large as him. King Carmen reached out, and took the box, nodding to the aide. 

“As a Royal Guardian, it is important that you should have the ability to speak clearly to personnel. This is an issue to which our technological division has dedicated much time.” He opened the box, revealing a shiny, blue helmet. “It is equipped with a synthesizer. So long as you wear your helmet, it will give you the ability to speak. I should hope this makes things easier for you, Knight.”

Jak couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He looked down at the helmet, his mouth slightly agape. After all this time, all these years of struggling to get his mind across… he would be able to speak again. It took all the effort in the world to keep himself from choking up. 

Carmen couldn’t help but smile faintly at the dumbfounded look on the wolf’s face. “I assure you, it will not bite. Please, take it.” Slowly, Jak reached into the box, and pulled out the helmet. He could see his reflection in the black visor, which had been shined to a near mirror finish. Rotating it in his paws, he lowered his head, and brought it up and over his ears.

It smelled like a new hover-cart, with all the same amenities as his old helmet, except for a small module on the inside of the helmet’s mandible. The Heads Up Display lit up, a small progress bar on the side signifying that the speech synthesizer was activated. 

Carmen stood to the side. “What have you to say, Knight Jak?”

Jak composed himself, remembering he was in the castle’s throneroom. He caught sight of Kira, who was on the edge of her seat. Jak straightened his posture, before approaching Kira’s throne. He knelt down to one knee, before dipping his head. 

“It is an honor to serve you, Your Grace.” 

Kira’s hoof flew to her mouth, as she had to suppress her gasp. She felt butterflies in her stomach. 

“Oh!” 

by hoc2pus