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Cunning and Captivating: Black Cat by Jade Gretz

Black Cat perched on the gargoyle overlooking Gotham's glittering skyline, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. Tonight's target – a gala hosted by the notoriously uptight Ambassador Volkov of a small Eastern European nation called Eldoria. Jewels, Volkov had a penchant for the most exquisitely cursed ones, and Black Cat had a penchant for taking them.

Slipping through the opulent ballroom, a vision in black silk that clung to her like a second skin, she navigated the sea of socialites with practiced ease. Her movements were a mesmerizing dance, a blend of grace and predatory intent. She zeroed in on Volkov, a portly man whose smile never quite reached his eyes, currently fawning over a diamond necklace that shimmered with an unsettling inner light.

"Ah, Madame…" Volkov's voice, a greasy whisper, sent a shiver down Black Cat's spine, even if it was anticipation, not revulsion. "Black Cat, I presume? You grace us with your presence."

"Ambassador Volkov," Black Cat purred, her emerald eyes sparkling. "Your collection is always so… enchanting."

Volkov preened. "Indeed. This necklace," hegestured towards the monstrosity around the socialite's neck, "The Heart of Eldoria. Legend whispers it grants unimaginable power."

Black Cat's interest piqued. Power, especially of the mystical variety, wasn't usually on her shopping list. But legends, whispers of the arcane, those were different. Still, business first. "Tell me about it, Ambassador. What makes this Heart so special?"

Volkov leaned in, a conspiratorial glint in his eye. "Eldoria, my dear, is not just a country. It's a land steeped in magic, protected for centuries by a secret society known as the Guardians. This necklace…" He lowered his voice to a barely audible rasp. "It belonged to their leader, a woman said to control shadows themselves."

Black Cat's smile sharpened. Shadows. Now that was her territory. "Intriguing. And why would you possess such a relic?"

Volkov's smile faltered. "Let's just say Eldoria's political climate… needs… influencing. And with the right… encouragement, the Guardians might be less inclined to meddle."

Black Cat, despite herself, felt a flicker of unease. This went beyond a simple jewel heist. This was meddling in ancient magic, a power play with potentially disastrous consequences. But Black Cat, ever the pragmatist, pushed those worries down. A thief never looked a gift horse in the mouth, even if it was neighing about ancient curses and shadow-wielding sorceresses.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted near the entrance. A figure, shrouded in a tattered cloak, staggered into the ballroom. It was an elderly woman, her eyes blazing with a feverish light. Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"Volkov!" she rasped, her voice cracking with exertion. "You have unleashed an evil beyond your comprehension! The veil weakens… the shadows stir…"

Before she could finish, a shadow, thick and unnatural, pulsed behind the woman. It solidified into a grotesque figure, its form writhing tendrils of darkness. The air crackled with a malevolent energy.

Panic, genuine panic, choked out the air of false gaiety. Screams ripped through the hall as the shadow creature lunged at the woman. With surprising agility, the woman sidestepped, pulling a vial filled with an ethereal blue liquid from her cloak.

"For Eldoria!" she cried, shattering the vial over the creature. The blue liquid splashed onto the shadow, causing it to shriek in a horrifying dissonance. The darkness writhed, dissolving back into a swirling vortex behind the woman.

Black Cat watched, mesmerized and terrified by the display. Magic, real, terrifying magic, unfolded before her eyes. This wasn't a cheap parlor trick, this was raw, unbridled power.

The woman turned towards the crowd, her gaze landing on Black Cat. A flicker of recognition sparked in the depths of her fiery eyes. "You… with the cat eyes…" she rasped. "You may yet play a role. Find the Obsidian Eye. It is our only hope."

Then, with a final gasp, the woman crumpled to the floor, her life force extinguished by the exertion. Volkov, his face contorted with a mixture of fear and fury, pushed his way through the crowd towards her fallen form.

Black Cat reacted instinctively. Before anyone could react, she was beside Volkov, a wicked glint in her emerald eyes. "Leaving so soon, Ambassador? You haven't paid your tab yet."

Volkov, his eyes wide with terror, stammered, "Forget the necklace! Let me go!"

Black Cat shoved the Heart of Eldoria into her purse with a nonchalant shrug. "Change of plans

tonight, Ambassador. You're leading me to the Guardians. We have a shadow problem to discuss."

Chaos reigned in the ballroom. The remaining shadow tendrils writhed in the air, searching for a new host. Black Cat, ignoring the screams, grabbed Volkov by the arm, his blubbering protests muffled by his cravat. Using her exceptional agility, she navigated the panicked crowd, her mind already formulating a plan.

Volkov, under threat of a well-placed claw, explained the location of a hidden passage within the Eldorian Embassy. The entrance, guarded by an intricate magical lock, required a specific amulet to activate. The Guardians, Volkov confessed, possessed one.

Reaching the embassy, Black Cat tossed Volkov towards the hidden doorway, his frantic pleas echoing through the marble hallway. The amulet, a silver pendant carved with swirling runes, hung around his neck – a trophy of his attempted political manipulation.

With a practiced flick of her wrist, Black Cat activated the lock. An emerald glow pulsed around the doorway, and with a groan, the stone wall slid open, revealing a narrow passage that plunged into darkness.

Hesitation flickered in Black Cat's eyes. This wasn't a heist, it was a desperate gamble, diving headfirst into unknown dangers. But the woman's words echoed in her mind – "The Obsidian Eye. It is our only hope." Curiosity, that insatiable thief's itch, mingled with a strange sense of responsibility.

Taking a deep breath, Black Cat activated a small device on her wrist, a modified night-vision goggle that Batman had once grudgingly "loaned" her. With Volkov, whimpering like a scolded puppy, trailing behind her, she plunged into the darkness.

The passage was damp and claustrophobic, the air thick with the scent of mildew and forgotten magic. It led them deep beneath the city, the weight of the earth pressing down on them. After what felt like an eternity, they emerged into a vast cavern illuminated by an ethereal blue glow emanating from a colossal crystal floating in the center.

Around the crystal stood figures cloaked in shadow, their faces obscured. The air vibrated with an ancient, almost sentient energy. One figure, taller than the others, stepped forward, their cloak rippling around them. A woman, her voice strong and clear, spoke.

"Black Cat. An unexpected visitor."

Black Cat, despite her usual bravado, felt a lump form in her throat. She explained Volkov's machinations, the attack, the dying woman's plea. The Eldorian Guardian leader, her name revealed as Anya, listened intently.

"The veil is thinning," Anya confirmed, her voice laced with sorrow. "The creature you witnessed… a Shadow Eater, a harbinger of the encroaching darkness. The Obsidian Eye, an ancient artifact, holds the key to sealing the veil. But Volkov stole it, planning to use it for his own gain."

Black Cat, surprised by the woman's candor, felt a flicker of respect for this protector of secrets. "I can help you retrieve it. Volkov mentioned a pendant… where is it?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Anya's face. She glanced at Volkov, cowering in the corner, his once smug face contorted in fear. "The pendant is a key, not an amulet. It opens a hidden chamber within the embassy, where the Eye is kept."

An idea sparked in Black Cat's mind. "Then consider it a business proposition," she declared, her voice ringing with newfound resolve. "I'll get the Eye, and you deal with the Shadow Eaters and their dark master. A fair exchange, wouldn't you say?"

Anya studied Black Cat for a long moment, her eyes seeming to pierce through the darkness. A grudging smile played on her lips. "Very well, Black Cat. You have a deal. But be warned, the chamber holds more than you bargained for."

With Anya's guidance, they returned to the embassy. Using the amulet, Black Cat activated the hidden chamber, revealing a passage leading down into the building's very foundation. It reeked of something ancient and terrible, a palpable sense of wrongness that made even Black Cat shiver.

They descended into the chamber, the air growing colder and thicker with each step. The scent of decay mingled with the faint whisper of forgotten magic. In the center of the chamber stood a pedestal, on which rested a black orb that pulsed with a malevolent energy. The Obsidian Eye.

But as Black Cat reached for it, a chilling cackle echoed through the chamber. Shadows swirled around them, taking grotesque forms. Shadow Eaters, more malevolent and talent lay in agility and distraction. With a mischievous grin, she pulled out a smoke bomb from her ever-reliable utility belt. As the room filled with a thick, purple cloud, she snatched the Obsidian Eye and launched herself back through the passage, ignoring Volkov's desperate pleas for mercy.

By the time the smoke cleared and the Shadow Eaters were subdued, Black Cat was long gone, the Eye tucked safely in her purse. She knew the Guardians would handle the creatures and the veil for now. Her job was done, albeit in an unorthodox way.

Back in her apartment, bathed in the soft glow of dawn, Black Cat examined the Obsidian Eye. It pulsed faintly, an unsettling coldness emanating from it. A pang of guilt gnawed at her. Stealing an artifact from those who needed it wasn't exactly her finest moment.

Just then, her phone buzzed. A message from a burner phone, a scrambled voice speaking in a familiar growl. "Cat, you messed with forces you don't understand. The Eye may be the key, but it also holds a secret – a power not meant for mortals. Be careful what you play with."

Black Cat recognized the voice – Batman, his usual cryptic warnings bordering on concern. He wouldn't care about an ambassador's stolen necklace, but an artifact that held the key to an interdimensional veil? That was another story.

Black Cat stared at the Obsidian Eye, a mix of fear and excitement bubbling within her. This wasn't just a simple jewel heist anymore. This was the beginning of a game she didn't fully understand, a game with stakes higher than anything she'd ever faced.

The life of a thief was thrilling, dangerous, but mostly predictable. But with the Obsidian Eye, Black Cat knew she had stumbled into something far more complex. This wasn't about acquiring riches, it was about facing a darkness she barely glimpsed, a darkness that threatened not just Gotham, but the very fabric of reality.

With a resolute sigh, Black Cat tucked the Eye away. This wasn't a heist anymore, it was a mission. A mission that would test her skills, her courage, and maybe, just maybe, reveal a hidden strength she never knew she possessed. Black Cat, the infamous jewel thief, was about to become something far more – a reluctant hero thrust into a battle against an ancient evil that lurked in the shadows. The game had just begun.

powerful than the one they witnessed before. Anya and the Guardians engaged them in a desperate battle, shadows clashing with magic-infused weaponry.

Black Cat knew she couldn't fight shadows. Her talent lay in agility and distraction. With a mischievous grin, she pulled out a smoke bomb from her ever-reliable utility belt. As the room filled with a thick, purple cloud, she snatched the Obsidian Eye and launched herself back through the passage, ignoring Volkov's desperate pleas for mercy.

By the time the smoke cleared and the Shadow Eaters were subdued, Black Cat was long gone, the Eye tucked safely in her purse. She knew the Guardians would handle the creatures and the veil for now. Her job was done, albeit in an unorthodox way.

Back in her apartment, bathed in the soft glow of dawn, Black Cat examined the Obsidian Eye. It pulsed faintly, an unsettling coldness emanating from it. A pang of guilt gnawed at her. Stealing an artifact from those who needed it wasn't exactly her finest moment.

Just then, her phone buzzed. A message from a burner phone, a scrambled voice speaking in a familiar growl. "Cat, you messed with forces you don't understand. The Eye may be the key, but it also holds a secret – a power not meant for mortals. Be careful what you play with."

Black Cat recognized the voice – Batman, his usual cryptic warnings bordering on concern. He wouldn't care about an ambassador's stolen necklace, but an artifact that held the key to an interdimensional veil? That was another story.

Black Cat stared at the Obsidian Eye, a mix of fear and excitement bubbling within her. This wasn't just a simple jewel heist anymore. This was the beginning of a game she didn't fully understand, a game with stakes higher than anything she'd ever faced.

The life of a thief was thrilling, dangerous, but mostly predictable. But with the Obsidian Eye, Black Cat knew she had stumbled into something far more complex. This wasn't about acquiring riches, it was about facing a darkness she barely glimpsed, a darkness that threatened not just Gotham, but the very fabric of reality.

With a resolute sigh, Black Cat tucked the Eye away. This wasn't a heist anymore, it was a mission. A mission that would test her skills, her courage, and maybe, just maybe, reveal a hidden strength she never knew she possessed. Black Cat, the infamous jewel thief, was about to become something far more – a reluctant hero thrust into a battle against an ancient evil that lurked in the shadows. The game had just begun.

...for more supergirl, chun li, batgirl, tifa, lara croft, wonder woman, rogue, power girl, poison ivy and much more, please visit my page at www.deviantart.com/jadegretzai - Thanks for your support

Description
Cunning and Captivating: Black Cat by Jade Gretz

Black Cat perched on the gargoyle overlooking Gotham's glittering skyline, a mischievous grin playing on her lips. Tonight's target – a gala hosted by the notoriously uptight Ambassador Volkov of a small Eastern European nation called Eldoria. Jewels, Volkov had a penchant for the most exquisitely cursed ones, and Black Cat had a penchant for taking them.

Slipping through the opulent ballroom, a vision in black silk that clung to her like a second skin, she navigated the sea of socialites with practiced ease. Her movements were a mesmerizing dance, a blend of grace and predatory intent. She zeroed in on Volkov, a portly man whose smile never quite reached his eyes, currently fawning over a diamond necklace that shimmered with an unsettling inner light.

"Ah, Madame…" Volkov's voice, a greasy whisper, sent a shiver down Black Cat's spine, even if it was anticipation, not revulsion. "Black Cat, I presume? You grace us with your presence."

"Ambassador Volkov," Black Cat purred, her emerald eyes sparkling. "Your collection is always so… enchanting."

Volkov preened. "Indeed. This necklace," hegestured towards the monstrosity around the socialite's neck, "The Heart of Eldoria. Legend whispers it grants unimaginable power."

Black Cat's interest piqued. Power, especially of the mystical variety, wasn't usually on her shopping list. But legends, whispers of the arcane, those were different. Still, business first. "Tell me about it, Ambassador. What makes this Heart so special?"

Volkov leaned in, a conspiratorial glint in his eye. "Eldoria, my dear, is not just a country. It's a land steeped in magic, protected for centuries by a secret society known as the Guardians. This necklace…" He lowered his voice to a barely audible rasp. "It belonged to their leader, a woman said to control shadows themselves."

Black Cat's smile sharpened. Shadows. Now that was her territory. "Intriguing. And why would you possess such a relic?"

Volkov's smile faltered. "Let's just say Eldoria's political climate… needs… influencing. And with the right… encouragement, the Guardians might be less inclined to meddle."

Black Cat, despite herself, felt a flicker of unease. This went beyond a simple jewel heist. This was meddling in ancient magic, a power play with potentially disastrous consequences. But Black Cat, ever the pragmatist, pushed those worries down. A thief never looked a gift horse in the mouth, even if it was neighing about ancient curses and shadow-wielding sorceresses.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted near the entrance. A figure, shrouded in a tattered cloak, staggered into the ballroom. It was an elderly woman, her eyes blazing with a feverish light. Gasps rippled through the crowd.

"Volkov!" she rasped, her voice cracking with exertion. "You have unleashed an evil beyond your comprehension! The veil weakens… the shadows stir…"

Before she could finish, a shadow, thick and unnatural, pulsed behind the woman. It solidified into a grotesque figure, its form writhing tendrils of darkness. The air crackled with a malevolent energy.

Panic, genuine panic, choked out the air of false gaiety. Screams ripped through the hall as the shadow creature lunged at the woman. With surprising agility, the woman sidestepped, pulling a vial filled with an ethereal blue liquid from her cloak.

"For Eldoria!" she cried, shattering the vial over the creature. The blue liquid splashed onto the shadow, causing it to shriek in a horrifying dissonance. The darkness writhed, dissolving back into a swirling vortex behind the woman.

Black Cat watched, mesmerized and terrified by the display. Magic, real, terrifying magic, unfolded before her eyes. This wasn't a cheap parlor trick, this was raw, unbridled power.

The woman turned towards the crowd, her gaze landing on Black Cat. A flicker of recognition sparked in the depths of her fiery eyes. "You… with the cat eyes…" she rasped. "You may yet play a role. Find the Obsidian Eye. It is our only hope."

Then, with a final gasp, the woman crumpled to the floor, her life force extinguished by the exertion. Volkov, his face contorted with a mixture of fear and fury, pushed his way through the crowd towards her fallen form.

Black Cat reacted instinctively. Before anyone could react, she was beside Volkov, a wicked glint in her emerald eyes. "Leaving so soon, Ambassador? You haven't paid your tab yet."

Volkov, his eyes wide with terror, stammered, "Forget the necklace! Let me go!"

Black Cat shoved the Heart of Eldoria into her purse with a nonchalant shrug. "Change of plans

tonight, Ambassador. You're leading me to the Guardians. We have a shadow problem to discuss."

Chaos reigned in the ballroom. The remaining shadow tendrils writhed in the air, searching for a new host. Black Cat, ignoring the screams, grabbed Volkov by the arm, his blubbering protests muffled by his cravat. Using her exceptional agility, she navigated the panicked crowd, her mind already formulating a plan.

Volkov, under threat of a well-placed claw, explained the location of a hidden passage within the Eldorian Embassy. The entrance, guarded by an intricate magical lock, required a specific amulet to activate. The Guardians, Volkov confessed, possessed one.

Reaching the embassy, Black Cat tossed Volkov towards the hidden doorway, his frantic pleas echoing through the marble hallway. The amulet, a silver pendant carved with swirling runes, hung around his neck – a trophy of his attempted political manipulation.

With a practiced flick of her wrist, Black Cat activated the lock. An emerald glow pulsed around the doorway, and with a groan, the stone wall slid open, revealing a narrow passage that plunged into darkness.

Hesitation flickered in Black Cat's eyes. This wasn't a heist, it was a desperate gamble, diving headfirst into unknown dangers. But the woman's words echoed in her mind – "The Obsidian Eye. It is our only hope." Curiosity, that insatiable thief's itch, mingled with a strange sense of responsibility.

Taking a deep breath, Black Cat activated a small device on her wrist, a modified night-vision goggle that Batman had once grudgingly "loaned" her. With Volkov, whimpering like a scolded puppy, trailing behind her, she plunged into the darkness.

The passage was damp and claustrophobic, the air thick with the scent of mildew and forgotten magic. It led them deep beneath the city, the weight of the earth pressing down on them. After what felt like an eternity, they emerged into a vast cavern illuminated by an ethereal blue glow emanating from a colossal crystal floating in the center.

Around the crystal stood figures cloaked in shadow, their faces obscured. The air vibrated with an ancient, almost sentient energy. One figure, taller than the others, stepped forward, their cloak rippling around them. A woman, her voice strong and clear, spoke.

"Black Cat. An unexpected visitor."

Black Cat, despite her usual bravado, felt a lump form in her throat. She explained Volkov's machinations, the attack, the dying woman's plea. The Eldorian Guardian leader, her name revealed as Anya, listened intently.

"The veil is thinning," Anya confirmed, her voice laced with sorrow. "The creature you witnessed… a Shadow Eater, a harbinger of the encroaching darkness. The Obsidian Eye, an ancient artifact, holds the key to sealing the veil. But Volkov stole it, planning to use it for his own gain."

Black Cat, surprised by the woman's candor, felt a flicker of respect for this protector of secrets. "I can help you retrieve it. Volkov mentioned a pendant… where is it?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Anya's face. She glanced at Volkov, cowering in the corner, his once smug face contorted in fear. "The pendant is a key, not an amulet. It opens a hidden chamber within the embassy, where the Eye is kept."

An idea sparked in Black Cat's mind. "Then consider it a business proposition," she declared, her voice ringing with newfound resolve. "I'll get the Eye, and you deal with the Shadow Eaters and their dark master. A fair exchange, wouldn't you say?"

Anya studied Black Cat for a long moment, her eyes seeming to pierce through the darkness. A grudging smile played on her lips. "Very well, Black Cat. You have a deal. But be warned, the chamber holds more than you bargained for."

With Anya's guidance, they returned to the embassy. Using the amulet, Black Cat activated the hidden chamber, revealing a passage leading down into the building's very foundation. It reeked of something ancient and terrible, a palpable sense of wrongness that made even Black Cat shiver.

They descended into the chamber, the air growing colder and thicker with each step. The scent of decay mingled with the faint whisper of forgotten magic. In the center of the chamber stood a pedestal, on which rested a black orb that pulsed with a malevolent energy. The Obsidian Eye.

But as Black Cat reached for it, a chilling cackle echoed through the chamber. Shadows swirled around them, taking grotesque forms. Shadow Eaters, more malevolent and talent lay in agility and distraction. With a mischievous grin, she pulled out a smoke bomb from her ever-reliable utility belt. As the room filled with a thick, purple cloud, she snatched the Obsidian Eye and launched herself back through the passage, ignoring Volkov's desperate pleas for mercy.

By the time the smoke cleared and the Shadow Eaters were subdued, Black Cat was long gone, the Eye tucked safely in her purse. She knew the Guardians would handle the creatures and the veil for now. Her job was done, albeit in an unorthodox way.

Back in her apartment, bathed in the soft glow of dawn, Black Cat examined the Obsidian Eye. It pulsed faintly, an unsettling coldness emanating from it. A pang of guilt gnawed at her. Stealing an artifact from those who needed it wasn't exactly her finest moment.

Just then, her phone buzzed. A message from a burner phone, a scrambled voice speaking in a familiar growl. "Cat, you messed with forces you don't understand. The Eye may be the key, but it also holds a secret – a power not meant for mortals. Be careful what you play with."

Black Cat recognized the voice – Batman, his usual cryptic warnings bordering on concern. He wouldn't care about an ambassador's stolen necklace, but an artifact that held the key to an interdimensional veil? That was another story.

Black Cat stared at the Obsidian Eye, a mix of fear and excitement bubbling within her. This wasn't just a simple jewel heist anymore. This was the beginning of a game she didn't fully understand, a game with stakes higher than anything she'd ever faced.

The life of a thief was thrilling, dangerous, but mostly predictable. But with the Obsidian Eye, Black Cat knew she had stumbled into something far more complex. This wasn't about acquiring riches, it was about facing a darkness she barely glimpsed, a darkness that threatened not just Gotham, but the very fabric of reality.

With a resolute sigh, Black Cat tucked the Eye away. This wasn't a heist anymore, it was a mission. A mission that would test her skills, her courage, and maybe, just maybe, reveal a hidden strength she never knew she possessed. Black Cat, the infamous jewel thief, was about to become something far more – a reluctant hero thrust into a battle against an ancient evil that lurked in the shadows. The game had just begun.

powerful than the one they witnessed before. Anya and the Guardians engaged them in a desperate battle, shadows clashing with magic-infused weaponry.

Black Cat knew she couldn't fight shadows. Her talent lay in agility and distraction. With a mischievous grin, she pulled out a smoke bomb from her ever-reliable utility belt. As the room filled with a thick, purple cloud, she snatched the Obsidian Eye and launched herself back through the passage, ignoring Volkov's desperate pleas for mercy.

By the time the smoke cleared and the Shadow Eaters were subdued, Black Cat was long gone, the Eye tucked safely in her purse. She knew the Guardians would handle the creatures and the veil for now. Her job was done, albeit in an unorthodox way.

Back in her apartment, bathed in the soft glow of dawn, Black Cat examined the Obsidian Eye. It pulsed faintly, an unsettling coldness emanating from it. A pang of guilt gnawed at her. Stealing an artifact from those who needed it wasn't exactly her finest moment.

Just then, her phone buzzed. A message from a burner phone, a scrambled voice speaking in a familiar growl. "Cat, you messed with forces you don't understand. The Eye may be the key, but it also holds a secret – a power not meant for mortals. Be careful what you play with."

Black Cat recognized the voice – Batman, his usual cryptic warnings bordering on concern. He wouldn't care about an ambassador's stolen necklace, but an artifact that held the key to an interdimensional veil? That was another story.

Black Cat stared at the Obsidian Eye, a mix of fear and excitement bubbling within her. This wasn't just a simple jewel heist anymore. This was the beginning of a game she didn't fully understand, a game with stakes higher than anything she'd ever faced.

The life of a thief was thrilling, dangerous, but mostly predictable. But with the Obsidian Eye, Black Cat knew she had stumbled into something far more complex. This wasn't about acquiring riches, it was about facing a darkness she barely glimpsed, a darkness that threatened not just Gotham, but the very fabric of reality.

With a resolute sigh, Black Cat tucked the Eye away. This wasn't a heist anymore, it was a mission. A mission that would test her skills, her courage, and maybe, just maybe, reveal a hidden strength she never knew she possessed. Black Cat, the infamous jewel thief, was about to become something far more – a reluctant hero thrust into a battle against an ancient evil that lurked in the shadows. The game had just begun.

...for more supergirl, chun li, batgirl, tifa, lara croft, wonder woman, rogue, power girl, poison ivy and much more, please visit my page at www.deviantart.com/jadegretzai - Thanks for your support