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The years passed slowly. At first, it was a struggle. I recall wondering every day if I was going to survive until the next. I had to get better.
So I did.
Every day, I took stock of my surroundings. I learned patterns of other, larger predators. I spent hours at a time studying them from afar, trying to figure out what their flaws were, how I could best them if I ever encountered them. Some, I knew I could run from. Others, I knew I could slip away from in dense underbrush. Yet others, I could climb away from.
It was all a mental game, and my survival depended on how quickly I thought, how much information I could take in at a glance. So, I trained myself, spent year after year picking apart every little detail of my world, and over time...it all started to come together.
A lizardboy. He favored his left side, very slightly, an almost imperceptible hobble. If I stayed to that side, his attempts to grab me would be just a half-second slower. All the time I needed to evade. An old wound? Who knew. Whatever the case, most would not pick it out. I did.
A dragoness. Easy to anger. Fast, tough, strong....but it was easy to cloud her judgement. I could wear her down mentally. It was merely a way of how she stood, how she acted...
I picked it all apart in the span of a second.
I had to. If I didn't, I'd die.
I'd been through starvation. I'd nearly frozen to death. I'd been cut, bashed, bitten, clawed, poisoned, thrown around, and I always managed to squeeze by, always managed to get away. I fought with tooth and claw, progressing one day to the next through sheer force of will. I didn't want to die. Despite it all, I wanted to live. I HAD to live. Everything I'd accomplished would be a waste if I didn't.
I learned. I watched others hunt and emulated it, then I figured out my own methods. I listened to the sounds of animals, the sounds of other beast-people, and I learned to mimic them almost flawlessly. I learned what the sounds MEANT, what their body language meant, what their thought patterns were.
I learned my world, not to exist in it...but to master it. To make it where I no longer had to be afraid. Where I didn't have to wonder if I'd be lucky enough to scrounge up a rabbit or a mouse or something to tide me over for another day or two. Where I didn't have to wonder if stepping out of my home-for-the-day meant I'd become lunch for some hungry beastperson.
I had to learn to be stealthy, to avoid those I didn't want to come into contact with, and to effectively hunt.
I didn't stop at 'learning'. I mastered it.
I had to be quick. Agile. Had to learn how to control my balance, be it from a fall, running along a branch, or how to twist my body when I needed to dodge.
So, I mastered it.
I had rules I followed.
Always have a backup plan. Always know escapes. Have traps. Know where terrain obstacles were. Know the local predators. Know how they hunted, where, when.
It kept me alive.
I thought everything through, every action, every day.
Well...almost every action. There were...'hiccups', especially when I encountered things I was not...familiar with. Still, each of those moments was a learning experience...even if I felt silly afterwards.
Every night, I gazed up into the star-filled sky, my heart filled with joy. Another day survived. Another day I learned and explored. Another day that I got *BETTER*.
Those days turned into months. Months into a year. A year into a half-dozen years.
With those years came experience. Size. Strength. Speed....
***************************************
Pretty sick now, so this writing has likely not come out...exceptionally well. x3
Still, I needed something to take my mind off of it, so...HAVE THE NEXT PAGE OF QUEEN OF HEARTS! :D
Hope you all enjoy! Ryla is growing up! >:3 Now, where will things go from here...?!
Also, yes...there has been a TON of 'tactful' covering of more private areas while Ryla was young, just cause...I don't wanna show that stuff, even if she doesn't know what clothing even is! x3
Now that she's older...well, bring on the boobles?! x3
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Posted by Gabriel0813 8 years ago Report
this girl will be known for eatting things bigger then her and a little snake draws the line XD
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Yep. xD Learning experience. Never eat a snake head-first without being prepared! Turns out, they're poisonous, and can TOTALLY bite the tongue!
Posted by DissociatedChaos 8 years ago Report
Those sly snakes! They look like a tube of meat, perfectly shaped to go down super easy, but the second you try it, Poisoned! They are devilish little sneaks, those sneks. :P
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
THEY WILL GET THEIR COMEUPPANCE! Sneaky sneks is snakey snacks!
Posted by DissociatedChaos 8 years ago Report
Just got to get rid of those pesky fangs, or knock them out first, right? ^.^
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Exactly! Needless to say, she knows how to eat snakes now. However large or poisonous they might be! XD
Posted by DissociatedChaos 8 years ago Report
That, or feed them to someone else first, and then eat the snake-snack stuffed meal. :3
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
I....like this option best! XD
Posted by DissociatedChaos 8 years ago Report
:3 As do I!
Posted by Green_Glutton 8 years ago Report
I love her expression with the snake! LOL
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Me too...XD Silly!
Posted by ItsSongxing 8 years ago Report
What did the snek do to Ryla to make her go through a full art shift?
Ah well. Great to see that Ryla has learned to survive comfortably in this harsh world. Looks like Shinki may not have to adopt her after all~
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Bit her on the tongue! x3 After she made the mistake of trying to 'taste' it.
Posted by ItsSongxing 8 years ago Report
Well, I can't say I blame the snake. Ryla's lucky it wasn't venomous!
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Yeah! Not poisonous enough to matter! :3
Posted by CMvoreroom 8 years ago Report
Its great seeing a character grow over time, like a montarsh XP
Its also great to see her growing into what she'll become too.
Great page, I can't wait to see what happens in the next one.
Also sorry to hear you're not feeling well again XS Hopefully it wont last long. Get well soon Ryla ^u^
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
I'm glad you're liking it so much! :D Soooo much more to go! <3
Posted by SnipsChan 8 years ago Report
Lol couldn't handle the noodle x3
Little Ryla is growing up big and strong >:3
And... as nature takes it's course-
The tush and boob grow stronger with each passing page >:DD
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Yes, yes they do! XD And now, she knows the best way to deal with such scrumptious noodles!
Posted by Vale666 8 years ago Report
Dork lil fluffy stop try eating sneeeeks! Wooop wooop sneeek Power!
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Snakes is too delicious to not eat! Must eat mooooore!
Posted by Vale666 8 years ago Report
Tzzzzzz nooo hugs for you anymore!!!!!
Posted by IceSnack 8 years ago Report
Aren't like snakes very scaly and can hurt you pretty bad with its fangs. And Also aren't you and vale friends? But then again she is a lamia and that was a regular snake
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
We are, yes. x3
Posted by Kasra 8 years ago Report
Oh, that is an absurdly adorable lesson. Snake is not amused, got places to be, fox is just taking up valuable slithering time.
I'd say the writing is just fine! You do an excellent job with descriptions.
Feel better!
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
I appreciate the get well wishes and the compliment! <3 And yes...xD This is one of those adorable, silly mistakes that is still a learning experience. XD I love them!
Posted by DarkPinkie 8 years ago Report
Hey look it's the Nitsej blue snake thingy. Yay!
Posted by AmoraSilverspark 8 years ago Report
I realized the same exact thing! Always nice to see little cameos like that.
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Yep! X3 Random cameo!
Posted by Humbug 8 years ago Report
Yeah, your writing is certainly fine on this page. Full of character. You can almost hear the desperation changing to confidence. :3
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
I appreciate it a ton! Was something to pass the time, and I'm glad you felt it came out well! :D Hopefully I can maintain or when we get to the 'story' part!
Posted by martyr 8 years ago Report
Snakebit Ryla: "I'M SEDATED!"
xD
Posted by CMvoreroom 8 years ago Report
XD YES! YESSS XD LOL
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Best pic. X3
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Yes lol xD
Posted by Paradox 8 years ago Report
I'm surprised the snake didnt try eating Ryla.
Anyhow, teenish-confident/adventure-pose look makes me think she is one of those troublemaker types. Those that, if you follow her around (friend or not), you still get in hell lot of troubling situations XD
....
Also, seeing this artstyle really makes me urging to try getting back to Art. Such skill like the one in these pics is awesome.
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Snake is too small! And....you are absolutely right. X3 No time to spend on every single one of her antics, but needless to say...her teenage years, she pushed the limits on EVERYTHING. XD And you need to do arts, especially if this is inspiration to do so!
Posted by exploration 8 years ago Report
ha, i wonder what the fate of said dragoness will be
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
>:3 Eventually, fox food!
Posted by DimensionalKitty 8 years ago Report
Ryla is silly... If she wanted to eat snek then she should have depo8sned it
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Yes! XD This was...less eating it, and more just playing with it, figuring things out. And then.....THAT happens. XD
Posted by DimensionalKitty 8 years ago Report
surprisedvtheir hasnt been any lion king jokes
Posted by DimensionalKitty 8 years ago Report
surprisedvtheir hasnt been any lion king jokes
Posted by atreides213 8 years ago Report
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vK4gv11PTI8
Posted by IceSnack 8 years ago Report
Now she is a big "little" foxy that thought "well this looks edible".
Posted by IceSnack 8 years ago Report
About the snake
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Yep! Or that it looked like something fun to play with and amuse herself for a while! Snake had other ideas!
Posted by IceSnack 8 years ago Report
Yeah but she said she was smart and careful soooooo.....
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
And then she said 'almost always'. x3
Posted by IceSnack 8 years ago Report
True
Posted by IceSnack 8 years ago Report
XD
Posted by Apostolos 8 years ago Report
Nitsej snake?
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Yep!~
Posted by blobs65 8 years ago Report
Wow this is a nice page! o.o
Hope you feel better soon!
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Thanks alot! I appreciate it! :D
And I'm glad you like the page! Hopefully much more to come! <3
Posted by blobs65 8 years ago Report
I can't wait to see it! ^-^
Posted by Shady_Knight 8 years ago Report
You gotta give Ryla props. When she comes a daunting obstacle that at first seems insurmountable, she doesn't whine "It's too hard!", she says, "I gotta get good." And good she did get. People who complain that Dark Souls is too hard ought to follow her example.
Also, for someone who's been allegedly cut, bashed, bitten, clawed, poisoned, paralyzed, put to sleep, burned, frozen solid, confused, and thrown around, she looks remarkably clean as a whistle. Not a single scar to be found. I suspect some foul play at work.
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
There IS a surprising lack of scars on her! More about this will actually be explained in the comic! Unlike Felicity, who is a scarred mess....or, at least, much moreso!
And yeah....her total mentality is to fet better! Improve! More out of necessity!
Posted by RedNastyFox 8 years ago Report
Kawaii foxy! :3
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
:D!
Posted by neko1992 8 years ago Report
Ryla vs snake snake wins. Well at least you would not have messed with me back then since im apperntly so unintersting to most i can walk right infront of people and not be seen
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Snake wins...THIS TIME! Older, snake is noms! >:3
Posted by ClarAya 8 years ago Report
Soon, take out the wolves that took her family
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
I will put up a vote about it, I think! :3 See who wants to see what!
Posted by Sergit 8 years ago Report
Fox trying to eat snek. Almost worked, but the snek was too sneaky. Fox has to learn how to handle them coils and bitty fangs.
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Oh yes! >:3 She has the idea now!
Posted by Paradox 8 years ago Report
Lesson learned, eat snakes tail first. Keep the maw shut until swallowing head. Then keep snake maw shut with tongue and maw... no bite, just snack
Posted by CassyInko 8 years ago Report
Yep! D: Once in the throat/belly, those fangs are worthless. >:3
Posted by GassyBlossom31 6 years ago Report
I'm surprised the snake didn't eat you lol. Not to mention snakes have the best bulges. You would have made it look good
Posted by CassyInko 5 years ago Report
Snake is lucky I didn't eat it!