#airisu — Public Fediverse posts

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 63
#Wss366 Treble #TimeTravelAuthors 9/4 Whatever

Inside the passage hung a feline odor, strong enough to wilt feathers, and paw prints littered the dusty floor. We turned left in the direction most of them led.

“It’s walking on its hind feet,” Sumika said after a few meters and pointed to where the marks of the forepaws ceased, leaving only the rear ones.

“Indeed, that’s because it’s a nekomata. Be glad this passage is wood, not stone,” I replied.

“Why?”

“Because your ‘cute’ kitty can spit fireballs. I doubt it wants to burn its mistress’s home down.”

“Oh!”

“It could be worse. We might have run into a gotokuneko. They’re about #treble the strength.”

“Treble? What kind of word is that? Just say three times.”

“It’s a perfectly good word.”

“Whatever. And what about ‘gotokuneko?’ You’re not making that stuff up, are you?” Mistress asked.

“Moi? Me? Make stuff up? I’m wounded. No, I studied this kind of thing when I was a woman.”

“You know you’re a lot more human-like than when we first met. You almost talk normally, barring words like ‘treble.’”

“Awk, chicka, cawa! Pay attention, there are lights ahead,” I cawed, irratated.

“How could Glinda-chan say such a thing? Hmph! Just when I was thinking she had more than one brain cell, she says utter rubbish. But no, she’s nothing more than a three-toed sloth.”

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 63
#Wss366 Treble #TimeTravelAuthors 9/4 Whatever

Inside the passage hung a feline odor, strong enough to wilt feathers, and paw prints littered the dusty floor. We turned left in the direction most of them led.

“It’s walking on its hind feet,” Sumika said after a few meters and pointed to where the marks of the forepaws ceased, leaving only the rear ones.

“Indeed, that’s because it’s a nekomata. Be glad this passage is wood, not stone,” I replied.

“Why?”

“Because your ‘cute’ kitty can spit fireballs. I doubt it wants to burn its mistress’s home down.”

“Oh!”

“It could be worse. We might have run into a gotokuneko. They’re about #treble the strength.”

“Treble? What kind of word is that? Just say three times.”

“It’s a perfectly good word.”

“Whatever. And what about ‘gotokuneko?’ You’re not making that stuff up, are you?” Mistress asked.

“Moi? Me? Make stuff up? I’m wounded. No, I studied this kind of thing when I was a woman.”

“You know you’re a lot more human-like than when we first met. You almost talk normally, barring words like ‘treble.’”

“Awk, chicka, cawa! Pay attention, there are lights ahead,” I cawed, irratated.

“How could Glinda-chan say such a thing? Hmph! Just when I was thinking she had more than one brain cell, she says utter rubbish. But no, she’s nothing more than a three-toed sloth.”

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 63
#Wss366 Treble #TimeTravelAuthors 9/4 Whatever

Inside the passage hung a feline odor, strong enough to wilt feathers, and paw prints littered the dusty floor. We turned left in the direction most of them led.

“It’s walking on its hind feet,” Sumika said after a few meters and pointed to where the marks of the forepaws ceased, leaving only the rear ones.

“Indeed, that’s because it’s a nekomata. Be glad this passage is wood, not stone,” I replied.

“Why?”

“Because your ‘cute’ kitty can spit fireballs. I doubt it wants to burn its mistress’s home down.”

“Oh!”

“It could be worse. We might have run into a gotokuneko. They’re about #treble the strength.”

“Treble? What kind of word is that? Just say three times.”

“It’s a perfectly good word.”

“Whatever. And what about ‘gotokuneko?’ You’re not making that stuff up, are you?” Mistress asked.

“Moi? Me? Make stuff up? I’m wounded. No, I studied this kind of thing when I was a woman.”

“You know you’re a lot more human-like than when we first met. You almost talk normally, barring words like ‘treble.’”

“Awk, chicka, cawa! Pay attention, there are lights ahead,” I cawed, irratated.

“How could Glinda-chan say such a thing? Hmph! Just when I was thinking she had more than one brain cell, she says utter rubbish. But no, she’s nothing more than a three-toed sloth.”

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 63
#Wss366 Treble #TimeTravelAuthors 9/4 Whatever

Inside the passage hung a feline odor, strong enough to wilt feathers, and paw prints littered the dusty floor. We turned left in the direction most of them led.

“It’s walking on its hind feet,” Sumika said after a few meters and pointed to where the marks of the forepaws ceased, leaving only the rear ones.

“Indeed, that’s because it’s a nekomata. Be glad this passage is wood, not stone,” I replied.

“Why?”

“Because your ‘cute’ kitty can spit fireballs. I doubt it wants to burn its mistress’s home down.”

“Oh!”

“It could be worse. We might have run into a gotokuneko. They’re about #treble the strength.”

“Treble? What kind of word is that? Just say three times.”

“It’s a perfectly good word.”

“Whatever. And what about ‘gotokuneko?’ You’re not making that stuff up, are you?” Mistress asked.

“Moi? Me? Make stuff up? I’m wounded. No, I studied this kind of thing when I was a woman.”

“You know you’re a lot more human-like than when we first met. You almost talk normally, barring words like ‘treble.’”

“Awk, chicka, cawa! Pay attention, there are lights ahead,” I cawed, irratated.

“How could Glinda-chan say such a thing? Hmph! Just when I was thinking she had more than one brain cell, she says utter rubbish. But no, she’s nothing more than a three-toed sloth.”

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 63
#Wss366 Treble #TimeTravelAuthors 9/4 Whatever

Inside the passage hung a feline odor, strong enough to wilt feathers, and paw prints littered the dusty floor. We turned left in the direction most of them led.

“It’s walking on its hind feet,” Sumika said after a few meters and pointed to where the marks of the forepaws ceased, leaving only the rear ones.

“Indeed, that’s because it’s a nekomata. Be glad this passage is wood, not stone,” I replied.

“Why?”

“Because your ‘cute’ kitty can spit fireballs. I doubt it wants to burn its mistress’s home down.”

“Oh!”

“It could be worse. We might have run into a gotokuneko. They’re about #treble the strength.”

“Treble? What kind of word is that? Just say three times.”

“It’s a perfectly good word.”

“Whatever. And what about ‘gotokuneko?’ You’re not making that stuff up, are you?” Mistress asked.

“Moi? Me? Make stuff up? I’m wounded. No, I studied this kind of thing when I was a woman.”

“You know you’re a lot more human-like than when we first met. You almost talk normally, barring words like ‘treble.’”

“Awk, chicka, cawa! Pay attention, there are lights ahead,” I cawed, irratated.

“How could Glinda-chan say such a thing? Hmph! Just when I was thinking she had more than one brain cell, she says utter rubbish. But no, she’s nothing more than a three-toed sloth.”

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore

#WordWeavers 9/3: Share a line from your WIP that reveals more than the speaker intended.

“I’m impressed. My fledgling is growing up to be a wise crow like me. I knew joining your murder was a brilliant idea!”

#Airisu has lots of lines like that that reveal her ego and bias.

#NMWW #NMPrompts

#WordWeavers Sep 2
What would your MC notice first upon entering a crowded room?

Awk!!, Motion! Feet! Danger! Danger, Will Robinson!

#Airisu: The #Crow and the Witch.

#NMWW #NMPrompts

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 62
#Wss366 Mole #TimeTravelAuthors 9/2 Whatever

More seriously, we rounded the screen in time to see the cat cross the space beyond and disappear behind a triptych. An image painted on the edge panel caught my eye. It depicted a woman summoning a giant skeleton, with a dog-sized frog at her feet. “Takiyasha-hime,” I thought.

The portrait’s most interesting detail was the large, yellow tear-#mole below one of her eyes. That was no coincidence. The mark was an inauspicious one, and I suspected the painter had intended the figure to be recognized as ill-fated before the viewer ever noticed the skeleton.

It was easy to see how a place like this might acquire a sinister reputation, even becoming considered cursed. That would make it an ideal location to hide a secret entrance.

My supposition proved correct. When we slipped around the partition, we found an alcove draped with drab, dusty wall hangings, and concealed behind one of them was an opening to a narrow passageway.

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 61
#Wss366 Rock #ScribesAndMakers Share a Pun #TimeTravelAuthors 8/30 Whatever

“Hush!” Sumika responded as my laugh echoed in the room.

“What a spoilsport!” I griped mentally. “And where was the groan? Didn’t my pun deserve one? Alas, punsters always get pun-ish—Ack, I was #rocking it!”

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 60
#Wss366 slake #ScribesAndMakers Share a Pun #TimeTravelAuthors 8/28 Whatever

Some of the shaman’s advice was finally coming in handy. She had said, “From the fourth floor… Find your way into the walls as soon as you can.” With luck, the cat would reveal a secret passage.

I repeated, “Follow the cat, or we’ll lose it. No #slacking, girl! Mush!”

Sumika started after the pussy, and we were just in time to see it disappear behind a lacquered screen.

“Hurry, hurry!” I urged. “It’ll be a cat-o-strophe if we lose it! Ack, ack, ack.”

My laughter echoed, surely inspiring further ghost stories.

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 59
#Wss366 Sloth #TimeTravelAuthors 8/26 Whatever

“One of Osakabe-hime’s retainers,” I cooed softly, not wanting to scare any more maids with ghostly presences.

“Where?” Mistress asked.

“The cat. See its eyes and look closely at the tail. There are two of them, hidden by an illusion.”

“But it’s so cute!”

“Agh! #Slothful creatures! No doubt it will report us to the Lady,” I said.

“Quick, it’s moving! Follow it,” I said, as it slunk out of the room. “It’ll show us the way.”

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 58
#Wss366 Bun #ScribesAndMakers Salient #TimeTravelAuthors 23. Animals in your story

“What?” Sumika stopped in her tracks at the top of the stairs, panic written on her face as she scanned the room. Unlike the utilitarian expanses of the lower floors, the space before us was filled with fine-quality furniture, tapestries, screens, and accoutrema, items made by Japanese craftspeople and Chinese artisans. Even a Persian carpet adorned the area in front of us.

My cry couldn’t have been more ill-timed. A frightened servant carrying a tray of #buns looked for the source of my cry.

Sumika froze, waiting for the maid to scurry out of sight behind a fine screen showing a willow tree, and then presumably she fled as far from the ghostly voices as possible.

Rather than watching the woman, my gaze rested on a luxurious, sleek, gray cat lying on a Chinese bureau. The #salient feature from my point of view was not its pampered condition, but its violet eyes, which watched our every move.

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 57
#Wss366 Tang #TimeTravelAuthors 8/22 Whatever

Armed with the map of the fortress and its grounds, we continued toward the citadel. The parade of passages, gates, and courtyards along the way was bewildering. I had forgotten just how bad it was to be a ground-hugger. If only I could take off and fly, I would be at the castle within minutes.

The evening chill had set in by the time we passed through the last gate and entered the main building.

The Spartan interior took me by surprise. I’d been expecting opulence. The #tang of oil rather than incense flavored the air. Instead of tapestries and painted screens, stacks of supplies and siege equipment dominated the room. It was so cavernous I could have flown around unhindered.

On climbing to the next floor, we found the same thing. It was largely an open space with arrow slits in the walls. Guards were resting in small clumps, chatting. Their voices echoed eerily.

I imagined what the scene would have been like during wartime, with soldiers milling about. The air would have been filled with battle cries and the sound of flying arrows. Just the idea of their hectic motion made me want to seek shelter in the rafters.

Fortunately, the guards at the stairs and checkpoints were casual, and we reached the fourth floor without issue.

Of course, as the mountain shaman had warned, that’s where the problems began.

As we entered, I cawed, “We’ve been seen!”

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore

#WordWeavers 22. Which character would make the worst roommate?

#Airisu by far. Loud, rude, egotistical, demanding

#nmww #NMPrompts

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 56
#Wss366 Welcome #TimeTravelAuthors 8/16 Whatever

Beyond the archway stood a body of water, several paths, and a passage in the wall. One of my friends, a big bill, was enjoying the pool. I hoped he got leprosy.

Mistress looked around and said, “Hum?”

What did the mountain shaman mean by saying it would be easy to climb to the fourth floor of the fortress? It would be a major feat to even reach the castle, which loomed ahead, off to our right.

My opinion of Sumika’s prior incarnation plummeted. No wonder Glinda-chan was such a pigeon.

While I stewed, she moved into an alcove where no one would overhear us and reached into her robe.

“A map,” she said, pulling out a printed sheet and waving it in front of me. “And you thought I was a silly starling!”

“I’m impressed. My fledgling is growing up to be a wise crow like me. I knew joining your murder was a brilliant idea!”

“First, I am not yours! But thank you. That is the first nice thing you’ve said to me, even if you’re confused about who’s mistress here.”

“You’re #welcome, Mistress.” I suppressed my laugh as too noisy for our current situation.

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 55
#Wss366 return #TimeTravelAuthors 8/14 What ever

I’d pictured that once we entered the castle’s gate, we would cross a yard and enter the main citadel, much like a European castle. There was indeed a large courtyard, but I already saw things would be more complicated than I’d assumed. Ahead rose buildings, walls, and sprawling paths. Above us, my nosy, big-billed cousins circled, so I couldn’t even scout.

Sumika unhesitantly followed one of the broad avenues that led around a vast green. I hoped it was the right way.

As if reading my mind, Mistress said, “I visited Himeji when I was a kid. This part’s easy, but it turns into a maze later. I got lost on the #return trip; what a nightmare! Someone found me crying in a dead-end courtyard. So embarrassing.”

I managed a soft coo. “Ohooo oh.” I could picture it. Even though I hated kids, it touched my heart.

“There’s another gate ahead,” she said after walking a good way and navigating two more intersections.

We slipped through this barrier as well, then stopped.

“This is where it starts getting complicated,” Sumika said.

“Starts,” I thought. “I’m already lost.”

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore

#WordWeavers AU 12: If your main character had a comfort food, what would it be?

#Airisu: Chicken nugs!
Sumika: No, they aren't good for you.

#NMPrompts #NMWW

#WordWeavers 2026.07.29 — What’s your MC’s least favorite mode of transportation?

#Airisu: An ambulance. A car is bad enough without that siren and flashing lights. Ack, ack, ack. An ambulance, get it?

#NMWW #NMPrompts

#WordWeavers 7.25 — What wrong assumption do people make about your MC?

Bijou the #TimeTravelingGhost: That she is wacked-out, superstitious, academic. Fact is, she is right.
Emily Pan: That she is a lonely, unhappy spinster. Actually, she is proud of being an independent woman.

#Airisu: She is just a silly bird brain. "Contraywise, I am a brilliant bird brain."
Sumika: She is a bubblehead. She is quite intelligent, only she has learned to hide it as unlady-like.

#NMWW #NMPrompts

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Himeji Castle (Airisu POV): Post 54
#Wss366 Steer #TimeTravelAuthors 7/24 What ever

The servants we were tailing gossiped about events in the castle. One woman was talking about something that happened by the well, and the others tried to #steer her away from the subject, especially as we drew near the guards at the gate.

Sumika edged closer to them, trying to eavesdrop, but all we could make out was, “Well, I wouldn’t have turned the Lord down! What did she expect?” This may or may not have had anything to do with Okiku, but it sounded ominous.

One good thing came of the discussion, though. The other ladies looked at the young gossip with distaste and tried to draw away from her. However, she was oblivious and followed them, so they ended up milling just outside the gates.

The guards seemed more interested in watching the show than doing their duty, and we slipped into the fortress.

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore

#Airisu: The Crow and the Witch

Okiku Part II (Airisu POV): Post 50
#Wss366 Warp #TimeTravelAuthors Whatever

“Hurry,” Sumika said, holding out the basket. “Lady Osakabe’s crows are coming.”

I looked towards the castle and saw black dots growing larger by the second. It was too late to escape, so I did the only thing possible: I hopped into the basket.

“Clicky, clack, crolark.” It was cramped and smelled nasty in there. The only saving grace was that I could peer through the #warped weave.

Mistress draped a kimono sleeve over the basket, and my panic swelled. I had to use the human portion of my brain to force it down, reminding myself that if I struggled, I would damage my wings and feathers.

“Ack!!!” I cawed.

“Quiet! They’ll hear you!”

This was hard. I considered sticking my head out. That would make things much better. Then I heard a jumble of large-bills cawing.

“I don’t recognise her,” cawed the first voice.

“She's an outsider,” responded a second voice.

“I sense magic. Has a kitsune possessed her?” asked a third jungle crow.

“We must tell the Lady,” the second large-billed cawed.

“Clicktoo, look for a kitsune,” a commanding voice said. “The rest of you fly to the Lady and inform her a spirit summoner lurks in the town. I’ll watch her and come later.”

There was the sound of wings and then silence.

“Ha ha,” I thought. “My mistress is so smart! We showed those stupid spawn of a cowbird.”

I peeked out between the willow lathes and saw we were moving down the road. That explained the basket’s rocking. Up and down, I bounced, knocking against the sides. It was all I could do not to swear or say, “Stop that, you lumbering ox!”

#TootFic #NMFic #Crows #Otherkin #Fantasy #UrbanFantasy #TimeTravel #Serial #SlowBurn #Sapphic #Folklore #Yokai