Nogay-Horde

The Moonlit Lure The moon hung low over the ocean, its light glittering off the gentle waves as Artemis and Kaidyn strolled along the empty beach. The air smelled of salt and seaweed, the kind of briny aroma Kaidyn had always found oddly soothing after a long shift flipping burgers at the fast food joint. Artemis, with her music box in hand, hummed a tune in time with the ocean’s rhythm. She didn’t talk much, but Kaidyn didn’t mind; her presence was calm and grounding. "Why’d we even come out here again?" Kaidyn asked, kicking at a stray seashell. "You needed it," Artemis replied, her voice as breezy as the wind that tousled their fur. "Late nights like this help you forget, right?" "Yeah, maybe." Kaidyn stuffed his hands into the pockets of his hoodie, glancing out at the inky water. A distant splash caught his ear, and he stopped. "Did you hear that?" "Hear what?" Artemis asked, adjusting her music box as it tinkled faintly in her hands. Kaidyn squinted, his sharp

A Girls’ Day to Remember The early morning sun peeked over the rooftops of Cardiff, spilling golden light onto the narrow cobblestone streets. Yanochka Ivanova, now a year into her life in the UK, stretched her arms high above her head, the crispness of the spring air invigorating her. She glanced at her phone, where a cheerful text from Camunda awaited her. “Ready for the ultimate girls’ day? 😘 See you in 20 mins!” Yanochka couldn’t help but smile. Though she had been reluctant at first to form friendships outside of her Ukrainian expat community, meeting Camunda through Harvey and Gwenyth had been a pleasant surprise. The laid-back lioness was the polar opposite of Yanochka’s disciplined and fiery personality, but their differences had made their bond all the more interesting. Camunda’s carefree, bohemian outlook often challenged Yanochka to loosen up and try new things—something she was still learning to do. Twenty minutes later, Camunda arrived in her colorful tie-dye crop top