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furryportia.bsky.social
New story alert!

Interrupting the delivery of PoP14 to bring you a new, standalone #Halloween story in the #PairsofPumpkins universe.

#furry
#furrystories
jessfaulks.bsky.social Jess Faulks @jessfaulks.bsky.social · 4d
A new, standalone story, just in time for #Halloween

Meet teen witch Wendaline in "The Black Cat Coven!"

#darkfantasy #youngadult #fairytales #writingcommunity

archiveofourown.org/works/95633816
"The Black Cat Coven" is dark fantasy, comedic fairy tale, which introduces teenage Wendaline, a fox orphan who's found every way to not fit in with feline coven who raised her. She can't wait to grow up and find her tribe but she'll need out-witch her bullies if she's going to make it that long! "Pumpkin Patches" is a series of standalone stories in a common world. No previous experience is necessary.
October 29, 2026 at 3:19 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
Portia and her daughter, Titania find the villagers less than welcoming.

#pairsofpumpkins (Probably 15 but the names and numbers may shuffle.)

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips
The postures of the villagers had relaxed somewhat, but more had joined to witness the strangers, including some children. She casually scanned over them for a young arctic fox girl. “You’re a tracker?” The porcupine asked. “It’s not upon which I hinge my identity, but I can track.” “I’m surprised you can see what’s in front of your feet.” Portia’s eye roll was barely more than two blinks to interrupt her scanning. Titania huffed a laugh of disbelief, looking back to her mother.  “Still, the demon has eluded all of our attempts to find her so far. She’s known and wanted in Zlotz too and they have professionals. But if you think you can track better than them.”
November 2, 2026 at 6:19 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
From the #PairsOfPumpkins 14 Epilogue: two generations of misfits compare their childhood trauma.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips
“How does any parent know?” Anastasia replied. “Did Zarron do any worse to me than your mother did with you?” Portia sat back slowly, exhaling as she pushed her hands through her own hair. Zarron, the baby seller. Her mother Beatrice, the affectionless ice queen. Such illustrious company, in a comparison that was sadly well-deserved. She deflated with a slouch. Dishes rattled loudly nearby, and they all turned to the sound. Regina’s two youngest were now zipping around, bussing tables. “It should be up to the adults to decide what’s best for the children. Until they can make their own decisions,” Ana continued. “I think we need a place of our own, where we can be ourselves, look how we look, and do what we want.”
October 23, 2026 at 7:13 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
From #PairsOfPumpkins 1 (3rd edition!)

Portia meets the first defender of a mysterious and remote manor.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips
The door opened halfway, revealing an absolute brute of a stallion, chestnut-furred and thick in every proportion, his frame nearly filling the whole, nine-foot doorway. His dark mane was unkept and wild, even as somehow it didn’t react to the light breeze. Black eyes were fiery with annoyance and his right hand brandished a hatchet that would be a two-handed for most creatures to swing. Rare as they were here, she'd seen many stallions in her travels and they were larger creatures but this one was a brute among even them. A tree trunk neck rooted to massive, broad shoulders, down a powerful form, wrapped in leather armor that could barely hide his muscle.  Armor, in the middle of the night. This was the place.
October 21, 2026 at 7:11 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
Hunting for a succubus in puritan village, unconventional adventures Portia and Titania find judgement first. From #PairsOfPumpkins 15

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips
“There isn’t much we can do about how we look but we don’t need to stay here.” “You can choose how modestly you dress,” the porcupine looked pointedly at Titania. “Right. These city kids and their provocative fashion.” “The village is on high alert, every night after dark. Everyone is especially nervous as the triplicate new moons are so near. And a succubus on the loose…” Portia and Titania exchanged looks. “We’re looking for the succubus.” The porcupine woman gave a breathy laugh. “A friend of yours? You match the description perfectly. You both do. Temptingly abominations, built for lives of sin and depavity. Yet somehow able to walk, move and evade capture.”
October 19, 2026 at 5:12 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
From a draft so early it's neither named nor numbered. But another #PairsOfPumpkins Anastasia solo rescue mission!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips
“Daughter of the Vasiljev clan!” a man’s voice shouted out from somewhere, amplified through a horn or conch. Strange that he would use her mother’s given name. That was supposed to be a secret. “We seek not confrontation nor quarrel with you. We only wish to talk.” Merideth squeezed her sister’s tail hard but said nothing. What could there possibly be to discuss with people who sewed her sister up in a padded body suit, year over year? Who had such a collection of disfigured corpses in their waste? She had to admit she was intensely curious of the motivations of her sister’s acquisition, the purpose of this place and these people, but not enough to jeopardize their lives. What was happening here would need to remain a mystery. Anastasia considered a whisper to explain to her sister, but that would risk more visible breath to reveal an invisible mouth. Merideth would just have to trust her.
October 17, 2026 at 5:50 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
I've done this for some of the more recent additions to the #PairsofPumpkins cast!

Anastasia is a 5: The Investigator! Teetering between Healthy and Average.

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #LitHodgepodge
Level 3: Attain skillful mastery of whatever interests them. Excited by knowledge: often become expert in some field. Innovative and inventive, producing extremely valuable, original works. Highly independent, idiosyncratic, and whimsical. Average Levels Level 4: Begin conceptualizing and fine-tuning everything before acting—working things out in their minds: model building, preparing, practicing, and gathering more resources. Studious, acquiring technique. Become specialized, and often “intellectual,” often challenging accepted ways of doing things.
October 15, 2026 at 6:05 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
From #PairsOfPumpkins 1 that I'm currently working on a third edition of!

Portia find no joy being on her home turf.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips
There was no nostalgia for her feet to be on native soil. She had not missed this place. The only signs of life were the shambling of sullen townsfolk minding their own business, lifeless eyes on the ground in front of them, not looking beyond their next step. The land was joyless, and she wouldn’t stay any longer than necessary. She ventured out of Samyi and through a well-groomed mountain pass to the central valley, an expanse of farmland carved between untouched forest. Spaced for a day’s travel through thick snow were inns or sometimes, very small villages.Often around the halfway point inbetween stood a small tavern or inn. For all the boredom and gloom of the Pale Lands, their infrastructure was superb, though the strongest ales they served would struggle to get a child drunk.
October 15, 2026 at 5:57 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
Posting this weeks' chapter of #PairsOfPumpkins 14 early, as the weekend is going to be pretty busy.

Chapter 6 of 9: Portia mingles with her adoring public, and one last piece of business.

#amwriting #writingfantasy

archiveofourown.org/works/924067...
www.furaffinity.net/view/66698209/
archiveofourown.org
October 14, 2026 at 5:45 PM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
Oooh, I've got this one!

From #PairsOfPumpkins 1, 3rd edition which is nearly done!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips
Pridemoon was a surname she adopted in her early days of adventuring, after running away: literally making a name for herself, probably before she’d earned it. As far as the Pale Lands were concerned, Portźa Vasiljev, first heiress to the throne, was dead. Surely a lie to cover up the embarassment of a runaway daughter, it was better for everyone there to believe it. On the continent, she was a foreigner with an exotic appearance, and unlike her family, she’d grown quite proud of the way she looked. To spot someone who looked so similar to her was unlikely. Which meant it could be someone of her bloodline, either a sister or a cousin. If they were out in public and not escorted by a very obvious, Royal security detail, they were in trouble.
October 11, 2026 at 5:40 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
Foxy Friday! A new #PairsOfPumpkins chapter is up!

Titania braves the after party by herself.

archiveofourown.org/works/924067...

www.furaffinity.net/view/66639705/

#amwriting
#furryfiction
Home | Archive of Our Own
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
October 9, 2026 at 5:29 PM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
A new and one of my favorite portraits of the #PairsOfPumpkins heroine, Portia!

By the wonderfully talented @fridrawx.bsky.social
furryportia.bsky.social Portia (Furry Artist & Writer) 🔞 @furryportia.bsky.social · 24d
I commissioned this amazing icon of Portia from @fridrawx.bsky.social who is running an incredible deal on icons. They're a new artist and deserve a lot more attention!

I ordered two initially and I love them so much, I having them do icons for the whole #PairsOfPumpkins cast.

#furry
#furryart
A grinning vixen adventuress!
October 9, 2026 at 4:11 AM
furryportia.bsky.social
I commissioned this amazing icon of Portia from @fridrawx.bsky.social who is running an incredible deal on icons. They're a new artist and deserve a lot more attention!

I ordered two initially and I love them so much, I having them do icons for the whole #PairsOfPumpkins cast.

#furry
#furryart
A grinning vixen adventuress!
October 9, 2026 at 3:49 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
From #PairsOfPumpkins 15, Portia finds her daughter in a bit of a mess.
With her daughter’s head held resting on her arm in an awkward hug, Portia surveyed the cave-turned-home. It was sparse but for an unruly stack of books and by the fire, the remnants of bread, cooked meat, and produce. The footprints in the village must have her been raiding the commissary for food.  It wasn’t just food either: Alena had stolen quite a lot of wine. Many empty bottles sat in the furthest corner and a few fruit flies circled about those but near the food, several stood full. One was open and near her bed. It wasn’t even noon. She would ask another time.
October 9, 2026 at 7:58 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
Portia interrogates a handsome and apparently quite sheltered houseboy to get to the bottom of what's happening in a mysterious manor.

From #PairsOfPumpkins 1, which I am revising as a third edition.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips
He shook where he stood, obvious in his conflict. “You’re asking a lot of questions. Master Zarron doesn’t like me to talk unless I’m spoken to.” “I’m speaking to you.” “By him. Or my sisters.” “That doesn’t sound very nice of him. Do you work here?” “Yes.” “Does he pay you?” He paused. “No, but everything is provided for me. What would I do with money?” “Could you leave if you wanted? Could your sisters?” He froze before slowly shaking his head. “Where would we go? I’ve barely been outside these walls. It’s dangerous. Even when they leave, I stay and keep up the place.”
October 5, 2026 at 5:24 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
#PairsOfPumpkins 14, chapter 4 of 9 is live! It's a short one this week.

archiveofourown.org/works/924067...
www.furaffinity.net/view/66557950/
Pairs of Pumpkins 14: Hasty Seems and Inbetweens - Chapter 4 - JessFaulks - Multifandom [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
October 2, 2026 at 6:09 PM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
I have a lot of "guards" in my drafts than anything of the last few days. Here's one from one of the un-numbered #PairsOfPumpkins drafts.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips
September 30, 2026 at 6:57 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
Another sneak peak of #PairsOfPumpkins 15!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips
Portia tensed her jaw and looked back to her daughter. “Once we have appraised for ourselves that she is a predatory demon, we will slay her. If this is just a misunderstanding…” “There is no misunderstanding.” Portia’s knuckles tensed in her gloves, creaking leather until they found their limits of tension, reminding her of the metal spikes that reinforced her backhand. “I understand how you might think that, looking like a succubi yourselves. But they are known in this region’s history. This isn’t the first one we’ve had and it won’t be the last.” “Well, you’ll forgive us for not just taking your word on who to kill but if we do find a demon that preys upon the innocent, we will destroy it.”
September 29, 2026 at 7:50 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
#PairsOfPumpkins 15! Portia and daughter arrive in a less-than-friendly town

#WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WriteSky #WIPSnips
“Does every traveler and trader who passes through your village on their way to Zlotz get such a warm reception?” The porcupine squinted and cracked a smile. “Have you been Zlotz, dear? It’s a medium-sized town at best. They get most of their goods from the ocean. What’s north of here worth trading by land with? Kjall? Brummel? They have the same natural resources further north as we do.” The other gathered people stood in their places, not closing in. The porcupine seemed to have some authority over them. The young crowd behind her parted again and a red fox male in the same robes as her, stepped out and onto the stairs. The average red fox in town she’d seen was short but this one might have been the shortest of them, with a thick build and almost stumpy limbs. For the moment he only observed. “You don’t get many travelers, so it’s customary to intimidate them?” The porcupine shifted her weight. “We don’t get many travelers that look like you.”
September 26, 2026 at 7:55 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
#PairsOfPumpkins 15 sees Portia and Titania tracking a potentially dangerous and elusive quarry.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts
“I think the new place in Brummel is going turn out really nice once the whole family is helping out. But I think any normal family is probably better than our gang of misfits.” Titania was silent, as usual and it let Portia hear moving water up ahead. She pushed through a trail of brush that had not only been found but tread more than a few times and came to a stream, barely ten feet wide.  Portia followed the prints right up to the water and Titania came up beside her. “Well, that explains why they haven’t found her. We can split up and…” Titania waved in front of her then shook her head. Exaggerating, she sniffed the air. With a click of her tongue, she pointed her thumb left.  “Riiiiight. I forgot about your super nose. Lead the way.” Titania winked and waded into the water, her mother following close behind.
September 21, 2026 at 5:59 AM
furryportia.bsky.social
Another #furry sketch from El Gallo, this one of the busty, sorceress vixen Anastasia, who plays a much more prominent role in #PairsOfPumpkins Season 2.

#anthropomorphicstories #furryfiction
A busty wizard vixen
September 20, 2026 at 8:30 PM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
Today I'm editing a 3rd edition of the first #PairsOfPumpkins story, "Family Ties."

Portia and a young man she just met, have to move a body she incapacitated!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips
They both pulled, planting feet firmly in the floorboards and tugging with their whole bodies. The limp horse moved slightly within his clothes and armor until the friction caught against the floor, and he would no longer budge. They tugged harder still at the resistance, muscles flexing and teeth gritting in strain, but the horse proved all but immovable by this method. Joseph’s added strength didn’t help much at all, as much as he tried. He wasn’t quite a runt but short and lanky for his age. The unconscious horse was easily two or three times their combined weight and by the time they gave up, they’d both broken out in a sweat. For her, it was from the dramatic change in temperature from the freezing outside to the balmy interior and being quite overdressed but for him, it was entirely from the effort. They both stepped back to reconsider but Joseph went straight to shrugging off his robe and tossing it aside, revealing the long, purple nightshirt he wore beneath. Another vanity item forbidden in The Pale Lands were dyed textiles that served no practical function. Perhaps the wizard was some kind of smuggler but what were the value of clothes one couldn’t risk wearing outside?
September 17, 2026 at 5:24 AM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
Technically a draft but also a third-edition, "Family Ties" is the first story in the #PairsOfPumpkins series.

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips
September 15, 2026 at 4:29 PM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
"#PairsofPumpkins 14: Hasty Seems and Inbetweens" is no longer a draft!

Portia and Ana returns to Brummel, with her two brigand daughters in tow. Even if she can reform them, can she redeem them in the public eye?

Chapter 1 available now
archiveofourown.org/works/924067...

#fantasy #amwriting
Pairs of Pumpkins 14: Hasty Seems and Inbetweens - Chapter 1 - JessFaulks - Multifandom [Archive of Our Own]
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
archiveofourown.org
September 11, 2026 at 7:04 PM
jessfaulks.bsky.social
From #PairsofPumpkins 15, Portia and Titania have to sit through church!

#WriteSky #WritingCommunity #WritingPrompts #WIPSnips
More than an hour passed of preaching, broken up by terribly-written songs sung with grace and serenity by the congregation. It was obvious enough that tonight’s session was a just for older children and teenagers. She hadn’t seen any in the streets and this was likely the whole village’s worth. Through the sermon, Portia kept her attention on the girl that was almost certainly her daughter, studying her mannerisms to familiarize herself but also to tune out the eye-rolling, teeth-clenching, auditory poison that was the zealotry of the strictest interpretations of the God of Justice’s doctrine. It was all too familiar from her own youth and she’d managed to avoid most of it in the decades since. Titania was less skilled at sitting still and advertised her boredom by shifting her posture, tapping her leg or sighing every other breath. Portia stopped herself from verbalizing her gratitude that Titania couldn’t speak to complain but she had the thought more than once.
September 10, 2026 at 4:12 PM