Venatori children are much like children ones if they have a loving family. When I was five my favorite toy was my stuffed Mushu dragon. He went everywhere with me. He was my own personal dragon guardian just like in the movie Mulan. He helped me cope with the woes of a 5-year old which at the time were mild to none.

I’ve never been much of a daydreamer. I’m not much of a looking towards the future or wondering what my life would be like if X were to happen to me. Day dreams are great as long as you don’t sit around wishing and you are acting upon those dreams.

Trapped in a situation you can’t get out of? It sucks. My first year in the Academy I was trapped in that type of situation. My mentor was abusing me. I will admit this now to a few people – mainly myself but still I admit it now.

I love food. Granted I’m rather picky about what I eat, but food is a great thing. And I prefer to make my own food. I’ve been cooking since I was about 10 mostly because it was a comfort. Now because it puts me in the right frame of mind.

I’ve never been a big flower guy. I don’t see the point in reality. Flowers die unless they are those silk ones you can buy in the store. I’m not big on romance either I guess having never actually dated anyone seriously.

Every year as a child and teenager we took a trip upstate New York to the woods and learned how to survive in the wilderness. It was a two week long trip at every level.

I am neither Venatori nor Human. I am neither straight nor gay. I knew neither my mother nor my father. I could probably go on, but you get the idea.

The greatest influences in my life have been women. Despite my feelings about my mother she greatly influenced the man I became today. And Both Dae’lin and Margo have helped me heal.

I’ve had a lot of time to refine my theories. I believe those who can see the patterns, whether it is something learned, or natural can touch them and eventually with enough training manipulate them.

I don’t think I’ll retire – I don’t think I’ll live long enough to get old and gray and hobble around on a cane and retire from my job. Most Venatori hunters do not.

My father can see the future. It’s a rare talent even among the Venatori. I’m glad my vision is limited. At least in knowing what can happen next.

The age old question of kids. Do I want any? Hell, yes!

The idea of random photo prompts is difficult when you get a generally same picture as you had recently. And as I write I come up with a topic so yay me! Are you a follower or a leader?

Catch!

Playing catch other than in the vague sense wasn’t ever part of my curriculum at the Academy. Venatori fathers don’t play catch in the backyard with their sons. They don’t teach them how to swing a baseball bat to hit the ball. We aren’t taught to shoot hops nor are we taught to throw the long field spiral or kick a soccer ball. We are taught one thing – to fight.

I have my best friend. I have my job, they keep me happy but it’s lonely out in the real world among the humans who know nothing of us. My life is a lie to them. I can’t tell them what I do. I can’t tell them what I am. The world is empty without family, without a home.

I’m a risk taker, well not really. I take risks when it benefits me. Not as in it makes me money or advances my career. I take risks to get better. Risks are a part of life. You either do or you don’t.

Let’s follow the yellow brick road through the creepy forest and through the poppy field that puts you to sleep that sounds like the most wonderful plan. I don’t follow the yellow brick road to the Emerald City, I find my own way.

What I wouldn’t give for a night of pure serenity. A sleep so deep and uneventful that I wake up completely refreshed after the sun has. I don’t remember a night I haven’t woken up in the middle of the night sweating bullets and breathing hard.

This isn’t the picture from the photo prompt – sadly I couldn’t think of anything that would work for the green evergreen branch except of how much green it had inspired the favorite color topic. So I found a branch that actually has my favorite color on it – orange.