songerein | { a bit leafy }

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{ a bit leafy }

A BIT LEAFY

More details on everything can be found here.

I. LEAF STORM

II. INFESTATIONS

COMMENTS

I. LEAF STORM

During the first week of November, a storm of leaves will pass through town. It starts innocuous enough, with just a bluster of leaves carried in the wind that looks normal for the changing of the season. But as the days progress, there are large bursts even downpours of leaves that just fall all over town. And with this storm come strange things…

A. Leaf Monsters. As the leaves pile up and people attempt to rake and blow them away, there will be some strange movement...until it's revealed that oddly shifting pile of leaves suddenly rises up to try and attack, blasting sharp leaves and even trying to "engulf" the unexpecting, trapping them in piles of leaves. Time to deal with this sudden leaf invasion! (Note: the leaf monsters will be most active during the first week of the month and then taper off by the end of the second week. By mid-month, only a few will pop up here and there.)

🔥 Burn Burn Burn! Using any kind of wind will only disperse the leaf monster and make them split into more. They need to be destroyed completely, and the best way is through fire. Dreamotion fire especially.
🪤 Trapped. But be careful with that fire! There may be those trapped within the leaf monster itself, and burning it may hurt those inside. This is the one time using wind to disperse the leaves may be warranted, but maybe a "controlled blast" will help to keep the monster from spreading.
🐌 Animal Aid. While fire is the most effective, there are other methods—mainly through certain critters. The chickens around that statue from the Dream Board could probably help scratch and break them apart. Finding some special rainbow snails from the lake just south of town will also help as their glittery slime will not only trap the leaves, but also break them down quickly.

B. Leafever. The strange leaf storm and the leaf monsters are also bringing a strange cold-like disease, likely spread through the pollen or spores attached to the leaves. Those who get caught by the leaf monsters are most likely to catch it. Fortunately the effects are mild and only last a few days, week at most, but can be caught multiple times. There is also a cure, but it requires the same leaves that brought it.

🤧 Achoo! While having the leafever overall feels no different than a bad cold, some of the symptoms and side effects are a lot more…unusual with little consistency between individuals. Some may find themselves sneezing bubbles, others secreting slime as they sweat, and all dreamotion effects going haywire.
♨ Incense Burner. One way to help ease and lessen the effects of the leafever is to burn the leaves in a special incense burner infused with special dreamotion focused on healing and soothing emotions. A special stone must also be used, and it can only be found in the hot spring caves in Dragefjell, Dragon Island.
🍂 Leaf Sap. For the actual remedy, sap must be collected from the leaf monsters. How? Well—that's for everyone else to figure out, good luck. Maybe try squeezing the leaves? Or cook them?

C. Dryad. The most severe side effect of the leafever is the individual slowly turning more tree-like, some becoming similar to dryads. There are no serious side effects and will only last for about a day or two. In fact, those who "turn dryad" will feel healthier and livelier than usual. But it may be an interesting experience regardless.

🌲 A bit stiff. As the skin turns more bark-like and limbs become a bit more "wooden," those affected may find their movements a bit more limited at first. A bit of exercise and a gallon of water dumped on them will help loosen them up.
🌷 In tune to nature. While in this state, there will be an increased sense of awareness regarding all things plant. This includes the leaf monsters, allowing them to sense and pinpoint any that may be hiding or lurking around. There will also be a brief time where they can even control and call upon plants to do their bidding.
🍃 Big shed. When the symptom finally ends, all the leaves, branches, and bark will just fall completely off the individual and they will return completely normal without a single blemish. …And clothes. Hope this isn't happening out in public, ahem.

II. INFESTATIONS

With the changing of the seasons, all kinds of critters are either passing through on their migratory route…or burrowing in to start hibernation. Usually it's not a problem, but perhaps due to all the strange dreamotion energy flux over the past year, the creatures are behaving a little differently and getting in the way more than usual. The storm of leaves isn't helping matters, aiding in some of them to travel through. While some will appear during it, the majority will cause problems from around the second week onward.

A. Bugged Trees. Those living in treehouses are going to have a bit of a time as a number of insects will be looking to find a new place to chill during winter. Specifically, their home. Those who are under the dryad effect may want to be careful of any bugs that may be attracted to them.

🪲 Giant Beetles. Some may remember these fellows from previous years. The beetles are quite friendly, but they are quite large, large enough to ride on. They can also cause some rough damage on gardens and yards, their massive size creating large holes as they burrow into the ground. However, some are really useful with their pincers, capable of pruning unwanted branches. If not chasing them away, perhaps one could use them instead? (Especially against leaf monsters.)
🐞 Ladybugs. These ladybugs are average sized (thank goodness), but they have quite the attitude. Preferring colorful and well tended flowers, they will speak their mind should they find any that are wilting. They will also drop critiques on anyone with poor etiquette and living poorly. Those who have well kept homes will have an easier time with them…and also suffer large groups coming in hosting parties in the branches.
🦗 Crickets. The crickets are of the musical sort, ready to put on a performance to try and endear themselves to receive temporary lodging. Just for a few days! Their range of music is wide, from classical to punk rock to country to jazz to even rap. And while they try to be polite, well… Sometimes music jams happen whether they should or not. Like late at night. Crickets are nocturnal after all.

B. Migration Migraines. As if dealing with bugs wasn't enough, other critters are either migrating or looking to hibernate around town. One would think the Wildlands would have plenty to offer, but some may find the easy access to food in town a bit more enjoyable.

🦡 Honeycomb Badgers. These interesting looking badgers have a honeycomb for a back. While they will dig up gardens in search of tasty flowers, they need to "shed" their honeycomb and are deliberately going to people to offer it. They are not harmed and will just reveal normal fur beneath before a new honeycomb forms.
🦒 Flying Giraffes. A flock of large winged giraffes will be flying in and roosting on various tall buildings. They act a lot like Canadian geese, so…beware.
🐻 Cotton Bears. These cute little bears look like they could be living teddy bears with how small and plush they appear. And for winter, they are looking to sleep somewhere nice, soft, and warm. Like a bed. Now they don't really care if they are occupied or not, so maybe it would be better if some dens and beds could be made for them instead.

C. Field Foes. The farms situated around the outskirts of town are preparing to harvest their fields, but there's trouble. Unless it gets sorted quick, food might be harder to come by for the winter!

🌾 Scarecrow Rebellion. Something is wrong with the scarecrows, but no one is sure what. They're either sitting in the fields not trying to shoo away the numerous wildlife that have decided to come through, or actively waving their pitchforks at the very gardeners and farmers they're supposed to help. Perhaps they feel a bit underappreciated so some word of thanks could help them get back to work. In the meantime, some help clearing out the fields of unwanted visitors, especially the crows, will be needed.
🍄 Hopped Up Hares. Among the unwanted "vermin" are some hares that have somehow gotten into some…strange green mushrooms that have made them behave a bit erratic. They're digging up tunnels, wearing carrots on their heads, and stare blankly out into the distance. Catch them and drive them away! And maybe feed them some special pellets that will help cure them of their, uh, "ailment." It's not recommended to eat the mushrooms should they be found, but if one does…well, enjoy the same dizzying, heightened experience the hares did.
🍆 Oversized Veggies. Some young "genius" thought creating a special formula mixed with dreamotion would help the crops grow larger and faster. However, it only caused the vegetables to overgrow to as large as an adult person and are now rolling dangerously through the fields. Some even get into town! Pumpkins, carrots, lettuce, corn, potatoes, cabbages—all manner of vegetables are rolling around, so stop them before they cause too much destruction.

I. LEAF STORM

II. INFESTATIONS

COMMENTS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ hiyori now has to wrestle (heh) with the fact that yato knows what color her panties are. the guy who puts on her uniforms and does some other QUESTIONABLE things who doesn't need to know what color her underwear is, knows. she keeps trying to tug the jersey top down farther over her thighs. if she takes up the jersey, then her bra will be showing. if she doesn't cover her bottom, her underwear is showing!

STOP STARING.

if hiyori were a little more depraved, she would agree that something is indeed fucked up. she's so busy stretching out this jersey that she doesn't catch the chirrup that yato does. nor does she have godcat ears, though.

with humiliated tears in her ears, she looks up and over yato's shoulder at the glowing eyes and forgets about her half-naked problems. ]

Ah! There it is! [ that has to be what's stealing her clothes!!

SHE'S MARCHING OVER. pink stripe panty-clad ass hanging out. ]

HEY. Stop stealing all our clothes, you thief!!

[For what little it's worth, Yato tries to physically block himself from watching those striped hips as Hiyori moves about, even though he finds himself peeking now and then under the pretext of keeping a watchful eye on her. They don't know what these thieving culprits are capable of, after all.

HE'S TRYING, REALLY HE IS.

His ears flick at her shout and he tries to reach out to catch her but misses by inches, stumbling over another pile of clothes. What she's greeted with once close enough is one of the most innocent-looking, cute hybrid creatures they've yet seen in Songerein: the dreaded catfish. Its whiskers twitch as light shines upon it, and it chirrups again, flippers aiding it in backing up a few paces at Hiyori's angry approach. It fixes her with a gaze of big old round eyes.]

Ah-- Hiyori! Be careful! You don't know what it's capable of...!

[His warning comes just a tad too late as the catfish turns its cute eyes on her and... spits a stream of water at her!]

[ IS HE?????? TRYING??????? not that she's helping. put on some pants, hiyori. ]

I'll just teach it a lesson with this new move I've wanted to try out for a long time, Jungle Cra--!!

[ upon seeing the creature and it's big, round eyes hiyori stops dead in her tracks. conflict rises in her. ]

[ it's so cute!!!!!!! waaaaa~

THIS is what has been causing all the trouble? this adorable, strange creature? no way! reverein is really just full of these pokemon sorts of animals, huh! it's like she's in real-life pokemon-- ]

[ and like pokemon, she's getting water gun'd. ]

AABBFFGH?!

[ it nails her right in the face, making her sputter and stumble back in shock. her heel catches on some wayward clothes and she falls backward.

right into yato. ]

[HE'S TRYING!!! Though it is true that those stripes aren't helping any...

In fact, his eyes are still sort trained on them when the catfish lets loose with its stream of water, sending Hiyori staggering backwards over the pile of clothes. Though even with his gaze where it doesn't belong, he's instantly diving to try and catch her, leading to them crashing into one another and stumbling backwards in a heap.

They tip over yet another pile, practically going ass over teacup. But for whatever it's worth, he gets a solid hold on her around the waist, keeping her from taking the brunt of the impact as his back hits the cavern floor with a loud grunted swear word.

At least his landing was sorta padded...]

[ it's a mess of awkward tangled limbs and, honestly, not enough layers between them. when hiyori feels any kind of bare skin against hers her ears start to feel very, VERY hot. that borrowed sports jacket? yep, that is now gone too in the havoc. where did it go? who knows. wherever the catfish put it.

sprawling over him, hands planted on the ground to lift her face, hiyori decides that this is absolutely NOT what she signed up for when yato asked her for help today. another shot of water misses just shy of her ear and she yelps, ducking her head, before glaring over her shoulder at the creature. cute or not, she's beginning to get annoyed. ]

Quit it!! I don't want to knock some sense into you, but I will!

[The sheer lack of layers is enough to practically short-circuit Yato's poor little brain, especially once he gets a face full of the matching bra down Hiyori's shirt as she pushes herself up to direct her ire at their opponent. He tries to look anywhere else, but they're just too close for his gaze to be on anything but her.

Had anyone stumbled upon them in this instant, it'd quite look like a scene out of a romance story, with Hiyori pinning him to the floor in a compromising position. Thankfully their only spectator is fuzzy and more concerned with repelling the invaders than the hijinks they're getting up to.

Squirming a bit to try wriggling out from beneath her, gives up after a moment and lets his head hit the fabric beneath them.]

I don't think it understands us, Hiyori...

[The catfish innocently blows a bubble before taking another potshot at them, this time nailing him in the bare legs, sending him flailing.]

Yeegh! Cold!!

[ sorry, yato, going to short-circuit your brain a liiiittttle more.

~~it's a love story baby just say yes~~

this is extremely compromising. made even more scandalizing with all the clothes that have been taken from them. ]

It'll understand me when I talk with my fis-- [ too late, hiyori spots another stream of water flying at them. she doesn't get the warning out before it splashes his legs and, in the collateral of being in the splash zone, gets the back of her thighs. instinctively, she jolts forward to get away.

a lot happens at once.

1. yato's nose skims along her torso
2. hiyori realizes she's only in her underthings now
3. yes, this is very compromising position with yato
4. everything is getting out of control and she needs to take it back

first thing is first, ]

J... JUST PRETEND I'M IN A BATHING SUIT, OKAY?! THIS ENTIRE TIME. IT'S A BATHING SUIT. [ she cries at the god beneath her, beet red, and scrambles onto her feet to just

book it over to the catfish. with no plan. just determination. ]

DO NOT RESIST!!

[asdfghj He doesn't know how much more of this he can take--!! He's being good, he's been a gentleman all (most) of this time, so why are the heavens continuing to test his resolve even further?!]

Don't you usually use your feet--? [His pedantic commentary just barely makes it clear of his lips when they get drenched yet again and he ends up with a face full of... well, lets just say he now is certain what size she is, and what type of body wash she uses. Sputtering as though the water had gotten him in the face rather than the legs, he scrunches his eyes shut and nods rapidly, eager to adhere to whatever demands she may make of him in order to avoid getting pummeled.]

Bathing suit, bathing suit, bathing suit...! [If he says it enough times, it'll be true, right??

Once he feels her extricate herself from him, he peeks out of one eye to watch her haul striped ass towards the catfish.

The thing seems as dumbfounded as him as she barrels across the cavern room, hopping once and then flailing its little flippers in a desperate attempt to gain traction so it can get out of the way of her underwear-clad wrath. Sadly it doesn't seem to make any progress. Go get 'em, Hiyori!!]

[ because it's funny.

hiyori doesn't find it funny, though. not yato being fussy about her word choice or that she's doing this all in her underwear, I mean, bathing suit.

it's too late to escape her now, brigand. not a chance. this time, you're getting got. ] No, you don't--!

[ the last bit of distance is crossed with a dive forward. she gets her hands on the cute little bugger and holds it to her chest tightly as she lands in stolen clothes and dirt alike. there's desperate, frantic wriggling in her arms she has to fight against but!! ]

I-I got them!!

[ wow that actually worked?? ]

[Okay, fair enough.

By the time Yato's scrambled to his feet, Hiyori's already made her citizen's arrest, capturing the little squirming bugger. He lets out a whoop, pumping a fist into the air as he makes his way over, glancing through the piles of clothes as he does so.]

That's it, way to go, Hiyori! Nice tackle!

[Snatching up a scarf from one of the clothing stacks, he hurriedly ties it around the fish's tail as a makeshift leash of sorts while she's got it pinned.]

There we go~ Let's see you escape now, you punk! Time to grill this guy! [Though what form of grill he means remains to be seen...]

[ despite herself, she beams at the praise. it was a good tackle! she still can't believe it worked. all that trouble for it to end like this.

the tail wiggles as it's tied, trying to dodge yato's knots, but hiyori is holding on fast. ]

G-grill? [ LIKE. COOK?! HUH???

look, yato she knows you have a bottomless stomach and there isn't much you wouldn't eat but... draw a line somewhere?

and this guy is still cute, even if he's a pain in the neck. ]

[It was a damn good effort; even Yato himself is genuinely impressed by how smoothly it was executed. She really is getting better at her martial arts.

Thankfully with Hiyori hanging on and his almost lightning fast hands, they've got the little flipper secured in no time, allowing him to tie the other end to his own wrist so it won't be able to slip loose.]

Damn right! I'm gonna roast this thing until it squeals! [Rolling up his sleeves, he starts winding up the leash in one hand.

HE HAS NO BOUNDARIES WITHOUT YUKINE

Once there's only inches between them, he gives the catfish a solid poke.]

Alright, you. Why're you stealing our clothes? C'mon! Out with it! I bet you can understand us!!

[ yato is impressed with her tackle, hiyori is impressed with how quickly he ties those knots. ]

That's terrible! Don't do that!! [ THEY WILL MAKE BOUNDARIES.

now hiyori feels like she's holding the catfish to protect it from yato?!

the poke only gets a squeak out of the creature. like a squeaky sneaker on a basketball court. ]

Maybe it was... just... looking for attention!

[ well, it definitely got it from yato and hiyori. ]

Then what the hell did we come all this way for?! [He gives her an exasperated look, then returns to giving their captive the stink-eye.

A squeak, huh? Trying to pull the wool-- er, fur over his eyes, huh?? Yeah, well that's not gonna fly!

He prods it again, more solidly this time. Fess up, you fink!]

So it resorted to stealing clothes? C'mon, Hiyori. Get a grip. It clearly does it because it enjoys being a criminal! Don'tcha?

[pokepokepoke]

[ to turn it in?! to stop it from stealing!! criminals don't get ROASTED as soon as they're caught. (or they shouldn't) and, I mean, look at it!! it's an animal, not some kind of evil person! nobody got hurt. sure, yeah, it stole all her clothes and most of yato's but that's more of a prank than evil.

another squeak for the prodding.

hiyori scowls up at yato, turning her body away so he can't poke anymore. ]

Stop it! It, it might've not known any better! Maybe it thought it was a game!

[But look at the sheer volume of clothes it filched!! That goes well above petty theft and into racketeering almost! Besides, it's got "guilty" written all over it's cute, clothing-grubbing face. Divine punishment is what it needs, not coddling!

He will concede that it doesn't seem capable of speech, so there is that point in her favor.

Still, Yato stubbornly folds his arms across his chest with a disgruntled scowl.]

A game where we're the losers and it wins all our clothes! Besides, there's no way one of these things could've done this all on its own. It must've had help.

[He starts peering around the piles in search of any sign of other catfish creatures.]

[ okay, so it DID steal a lot of clothes. this isn't coddling, though! hiyori knows that stealing is wrong! what it did was wrong, but instead of ROASTING or doing anything else that's terrible, can't they just

take it to some catfish reserve?! DOES SOMETHING LIKE THAT EXIST. it could be lonely!

it doesn't look like hiyori is budging, either, but she's looking around for any sign that there are accomplices. ]

I haven't heard anything since we caught this one... [ her arms tighten around the catfish. ]

Yato. Please. Let's just take it with us and we can tell everyone about this tunnel. I'm not happy about... losing all my clothes either but we can settle this the right way. And we'll still find your jersey.

[ jersey... ]

Eh, w-wait. Hold on, I was wearing a jersey earlier. Was that--?? Your jersey?!

["A lot" is an understatement. "A lot" would've been a roomful. Instead it's commandeered a whole cavern's worth of clothing spires!

And who's heard of a literal catfish reserve?! It sure won't be lonely where he's planning on sending it--

For his part, Yato's muttering "here fishie, fishie, fishie..." as he pokes around the room one last time.]

Maybe this is its nest then and there's others further in. [He goes to roll up his sleeves but stops, being bare-armed. Dammit...!] So you wanna just march back into town in our skivvies, huh? Without accomplishing anything but catching one fish thing?

[He goes still at the mention of his jersey, then whirls around on her, pointing an accusing finger that shakes with indignation.]

If that was my jersey and we were looking for it the whole time, then I swear I'm gonna--!! [Trip over his own two bare feet because now his boots are gone.] ARRRGHHH!!

[ YATO NO. YUKINE WOULDN'T LET HIM DO ANYTHING TO THE CATFISH EITHER

no, she doesn't want to march back into town in her skivvies! there are plenty of clothes around for her to choose from! and they accomplished more than one thing. they found where all the clothes were and who is the culprit. the only thing they haven't done is locate his jersey.

GONNA WHAT?? HUH?? hiyori's stubborn scowl at yato's finger breaks into surprise as he trips. once again, however, he lands in a pile of clothes and his yell practically shakes the cavern. actually, um, bits of pebble and rock fall from the ceiling and the entire space rumbles. the catfish squeaks again but seems to burrow into hiyori's arms in fright.

yato is having a tantrum over his lost jersey and it's affecting the area with his emotions.

narrowing her eyes, she tucks the catfish under one arm and stands up to march over to him. ]

Yato! You're upset about it, but being upset isn't going to suddenly bring your jersey back!

[ taking a deep breath, she bends down to hook her hand under his arm to haul him back up onto his feet. ] You wanted me to help you and I will, but I'm--

[ suddenly, a lot of itty bitty squeaking interrupts hiyori. with his godcat ears, he should hear it well. in all the piles of clothes, small heads poke out of the fabric. so yato was right.

this is

a nest.

for a catfish family. ]

Ah...

[BECAUSE THEY'RE BOTH SPOILSPORTS

They also still have yet to figure out a way of getting all the clothes back to town. Though he supposes there's always the option of letting everyone retrieve their own stuff, he was hoping to fulfill this wish himself. And they need to get back their entire outfits.

Well, he was gonna pitch a fit, which he ends up doing anyway, bare feet flailing in the air as he kicks up a (thankfully not literal) storm, yelling in frustration until a piece of the ceiling comes loose and nails him square in the stomach, causing his tail to puff up.]

Urk--!

[By the time he recovers, Hiyori is standing above, berating him. He deserves it, he knows, but it still doesn't help the fact his precious jersey remains missing among hundreds of articles of clothing. It's one of the few things he has from home and it's not like he can waltz out and just get a perfect replacement.

With tears in his eyes, he glances up at her, pout firmly in place. He lets her help haul him to his feet as he brushes off the chunk of rock dirt that fell on him, ears perking at the sudden squeaking noise.] I know, I'm not trying to be ungrateful or anything, it's just...

[His tail swishes in interest at the tiny sounds, ears swiveling in the direction they're coming from. And when he sees those little heads pop out, a lot of the fight in him drains away.]

...great. So there is a whole lot of them. [Just not the kind he thought.] What do we do now?

[ THAT'S NOT BEING A SPOILSPORT THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE

but, yeah, hiyori's idea on THAT is a mass anonymous announcement like a public tweet on the journal about the missing clothes being at this location. bring a light because it's dark. etc, etc. yato can still fulfill the wish if he hangs around and helps people look for their clothes. introduce himself. make friends.

speaking of, she's very aware of just how much yato loves his jersey. it's important to him. they have to find it.

his tearful expression and pout don't get her to give in, though. it's yato acknowledging that his tantrum won't bring his jersey back. it's yato telling her he's not ungrateful. she doesn't hear the rest of the reasoning with the bunch of tiny intrusions. ]

I-I'm not really sure, to be honest. [ while she holds one of the parents (?) in her arms, one of the braver young catfish squeaks their way over to yato and bats a paw at this foot with its small tail wagging.

hiyori, after watching this, slowly looks over at yato with big eyes and her pout. it's seriously so cute............. ]

I-I think it likes you.

[SPOILSPORT

That's not a bad idea all things considered, although to him it'd feel like only half finishing the task, and he's loathe to leave anything unfinished, especially a job he's taken on. But still... it'd be better than giving up entirely!

Which he gets close to doing when it comes down to his hissy fit as the baby catfish makes its way out of the nest and over to him, attacking or playing with his toes, which he wiggles at the thing. The motion makes it suddenly jump, before it continues to paw at him with little squeaks in between.

Sighing heavily, he crouches down to pet it, allowing it to lick his fingers as it slaps the ground with its tiny tail.]

Foolish thing doesn't know enough to be properly scared of an irate god.

[Not that he's very angry anymore. Just a bit frustrated at not knowing what to do. How can they hold the parent catfish accountable for building a nest for its young? Although the amount of clothes it took to do so does seem excessive...]

Guess you can untie the one you've got there. [Yes, he's letting it go. Shut up.]

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