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DarthFar — Volly Catches a Cow

Published: 2010-07-21 15:49:30 +0000 UTC; Views: 14339; Favourites: 319; Downloads: 131
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Description "Breakfast?" This question came in hopeful tones: little Volly, the courier, landed beside them. He had heard the noise and come looking, now he gazed about inquisitively. "Cow!" he squealed, seeing one loose, and immediately leaped after it: the animals began bellowing and ran away all over again.

"It is not really our fault," Maximus said, when they were once again alone, Volly and the animals already far distant. "The herders ought to have been here."

Temeraire closed his eyes and hid his head beneath his wing, curling his tail around himself; he hardly imagined how he was going to face Laurence.

From Feast or Famine by Naomi Novik.

TEMRER - COW!!!! [I wanted to title it that, but dA's title bar won't accept exclamation marks.]

Fanart for Naomi Novik's Temeraire series. Feast or Famine is actually a short story that takes place between His Majesty's Dragon and Throne of Jade, though the events chronicled in it are referred to in Catherine Harcourt's letter in ToJ. The story cracked me right up; when I got to Volly's bit, I knew I *had* to draw something.

All the British dragons are described by Sir Edward Howe as being "ridged", which is all well and good if they're the size of Regal Coppers (although... if their spiny columns are so dangerous to boarding parties, aren't their own crews - not to mention their captains!- in danger of being impaled? LOL), but how comfortable can it be riding a lightweight-class courier, especially on 14-hour flights? So Volly's ridges are raised plates instead. Call it artistic licence. Other than that, the dragons are as close as I could get to Novik's description of them. In case anyone's asking, the rivets on Volly's neck brace spell out "Volatilus".

One can't help but love Volly. Even if the average broken lightbulb is brighter than he is.

If you haven't read the books, you probably should. It's the Napoleonic War! With dragons!

[I'm still waiting for my shipment of books 4-6, so if you dare ruin it for me, I will set Iskierka on you.]

For Marguerite and MmeBahorel, because they got me started on the series.

NOTES

Temeraire is the property of Naomi Novik.
MisterEarlBT font from 1001fonts.com
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Comments: 138

KeizerHarm In reply to ??? [2014-08-03 20:22:24 +0000 UTC]

Kutuzov will be a major character, but he won't be riding dragons

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redapplecandie [2013-07-27 03:08:42 +0000 UTC]

His face... priceless!

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AmandaBarrow [2013-05-25 17:34:29 +0000 UTC]

I love your depiction of Volly. It made me smile, which I really needed today.

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Bealoreas [2013-03-28 07:58:03 +0000 UTC]

I haven't read one of those books in what feels like forever. Now I have the desire to find them and read them.

Love the image!!!

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DarthFar In reply to Bealoreas [2013-04-03 02:37:14 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, those books are fun - although I found the 6th book (Tongues of Serpents) to be a tad tedious.

Thanks!

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bitnotgood7437 [2013-03-05 15:17:48 +0000 UTC]

Ahh I love this! Volly, you darling thing

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Fumseck73 [2012-08-31 16:04:21 +0000 UTC]

*die from laughing*

I love it Volly is quite cute like that

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Eldarwen-Seregion [2012-06-15 19:42:08 +0000 UTC]

Awwwww!!! Volly!!!! He's not the brightest dragon in the covert, but we love him anyway....XD

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TheFeilineDragojn [2012-06-13 10:12:12 +0000 UTC]

LOL!

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LadyMordred [2011-07-15 01:25:02 +0000 UTC]

I love the huddled Temeraire in the background...

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LadyMordred In reply to LadyMordred [2011-07-15 01:25:49 +0000 UTC]

Please ignore this comment. DeviantArt decided to put it on your page rather than the one I was commenting on. I am muchly confused.

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Falcolf [2011-07-02 14:21:53 +0000 UTC]

I think I picked up one of these books and looked at the back and wanted to read it once, but I didn't have any money at the time. I'll have to go back and get it again. I could do with something awesome like a Dragons x Napoleonic Era story! That just sounds too badass!

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nuraydia [2011-05-26 12:19:02 +0000 UTC]

ohmygod volly looks so cute <3

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crystalpurity [2011-05-25 05:50:22 +0000 UTC]

I love Volly...so, so much XD
They're all so adorable! I love the facial expressions

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SamokWolf [2011-05-14 20:23:49 +0000 UTC]

yeah come on, Volly

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spiritlover92 [2011-04-04 23:24:41 +0000 UTC]

This is to cute! I adore the series and your picture is EPIC!

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DeVoutNumelran [2011-03-04 02:00:25 +0000 UTC]

Where can I find the side stories of Temeraire? I know of the main books, but what about the side stories?

Volly is AWESOME by the way. XD I wish he appears more often.

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DarthFar In reply to DeVoutNumelran [2011-03-04 03:34:32 +0000 UTC]

To my knowledge there's only *one* side story (if you don't count all the bite-sized drabbles and the stuff Novik is writing for her upcoming chapbook, which I don't think is available for preview anywhere anyhow), and you can find it on Novik's website here: [link] Check this place for the drabbles too: they're short but very entertaining.

Volly is one of my top favourite characters in the books.

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DeVoutNumelran In reply to DarthFar [2011-03-04 04:17:31 +0000 UTC]

XD just read it. XD Volly is My favorite also XD

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Poison-Stripes [2011-02-23 22:51:26 +0000 UTC]

Poor Tem. If he could he'd do an epic facepalm at Volly.

Volly here is just adorable!

And Maximus is right, too!

I'm plowing through book 4, myself

No, no Iskierka! Bad Kazilik!

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DarthFar In reply to Poison-Stripes [2011-02-24 16:21:02 +0000 UTC]

Is there something wrong with me, that I want a Kazilik? I just love Iskierka, that reprehensible creature. You know, she only gets worse in book 5. And 6.

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Poison-Stripes In reply to DarthFar [2011-02-24 21:02:52 +0000 UTC]

Nah. Oh, I think she was adorable and cute when she hatched in book 3. If the state of Granby's clothes are any indication, I'll keep that in mind.

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arysani [2011-01-22 20:34:51 +0000 UTC]

VOLLY! This short story is as far as I've gotten in the series - and I am a little bit in love with cute wee Volly. And that short story KILLED ME. Clearly Tem and Max are not permitted to ever be alone because clearly when they do there are SHENANIGANS.

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DarthFar In reply to arysani [2011-01-23 06:43:59 +0000 UTC]

The story is a killer, isn't it? If you liked it, you should really try the books. There isn't so much Volly in them, but Tem is incorrigible enough for several dragons.

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arysani In reply to DarthFar [2011-01-23 18:42:34 +0000 UTC]

I've read the first book - and part of my next paycheck is already earmarked for the next two...

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PyroPrincess00 [2010-12-02 03:01:02 +0000 UTC]

Now that I have finished the first book, one of the best series I have ever read, I now want to see Temeraire catching a Tunny. I adore Volly though, he's such a goof.

I also understand why all the Les Mis fans like them. I think, mayhaps, it is not the ABC that you guys love but Napoleon, lol.

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DarthFar In reply to PyroPrincess00 [2010-12-23 10:00:29 +0000 UTC]

Oh god, don't you just love Volly! Feast or Famine is pure genius.

Be glad you're not immersed in the LM fandom? it has recently transformed Napoleon into a vampire, who converted Baron Pontmercy, who converted... Marius.

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PyroPrincess00 In reply to DarthFar [2010-12-25 15:14:18 +0000 UTC]

Where did you read Feast or Famine? I only heard of that part happening in the letter Laurence received.

Do they sparkle? There's a bit too much romance in the LM fandom for me anyway, lol.

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DarthFar In reply to PyroPrincess00 [2010-12-25 16:53:19 +0000 UTC]

DOOF! There's a LINK TO IT in my COMMENTS section! go reread it!

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PyroPrincess00 In reply to DarthFar [2010-12-25 16:55:28 +0000 UTC]

I hate you...

[sulks off]

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DarthFar In reply to PyroPrincess00 [2010-12-25 18:09:22 +0000 UTC]

Not my fault you didn't have your glasses on when reading my comments!

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SilkenWinds [2010-11-30 21:05:47 +0000 UTC]

Volly is so lovable in his simple way. And you did his colors PERFECTLY, exactly how I imagined when reading his descriptions.

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DarthFar In reply to SilkenWinds [2010-12-01 12:51:38 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much! I have a soft spot for Volly too.

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tanabatablossom [2010-11-12 14:07:10 +0000 UTC]

So cute and funny! Though I'm a little disturbed ... please tell me the cow escaped! *whimpers*

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DarthFar In reply to tanabatablossom [2010-11-13 02:51:55 +0000 UTC]

I um, I don't know what happened to that particular cow that Volly threw himself after, but rather a lot of cows were probably eaten on the whole.

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tanabatablossom In reply to DarthFar [2010-11-13 04:21:24 +0000 UTC]

That depresses me.

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DarthFar In reply to tanabatablossom [2010-11-14 14:38:09 +0000 UTC]

It's a cow, Bats. Dragons like cows. Cows are delicious.

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tanabatablossom In reply to DarthFar [2010-11-14 22:32:28 +0000 UTC]

That cow was cute! Couldn't you have made the dragon eat fish? I heard fish is healthy

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Crystalitar [2010-10-23 17:16:04 +0000 UTC]

i love this art <3
better dragon structure then other ones and the expression on volly's face xD
and the look of young maximus is awesome^^

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EonOrteaShadowmaster [2010-10-14 19:12:01 +0000 UTC]

Is munch time!!!

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DarthFar In reply to EonOrteaShadowmaster [2010-10-16 07:16:44 +0000 UTC]

Lunch time!

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Tabon [2010-09-19 23:05:15 +0000 UTC]

It all looks very medieval, not just because of the setting and characters, but the wonderful style and brilliant choice of colours. Such a strong atmosphere. I love it!

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Innomadic [2010-08-28 15:12:17 +0000 UTC]

Volly is always hilarious...in any situation

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DarthFar In reply to Innomadic [2010-09-03 15:34:23 +0000 UTC]

Volly is just adorably funny.

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Khrests [2010-08-20 04:01:39 +0000 UTC]

I JUST finished the first book today, and I am so in love. :c

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DarthFar In reply to Khrests [2010-08-24 03:39:24 +0000 UTC]

The books are a lot of fun, aren't they?

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Khrests In reply to DarthFar [2010-08-24 03:47:34 +0000 UTC]

I love them. xD I got them originally just as a side thing, waiting for my other set of books to get in and now I think I like them more.

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Brambles-de-la-Fox [2010-08-17 12:41:15 +0000 UTC]

This is AMAZING. There's so much detail... *drools* And Volly is so cute. I love his obsession with cows. XD

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DarthFar In reply to Brambles-de-la-Fox [2010-08-24 03:41:48 +0000 UTC]

Thanks very much! Volly *is* such a scene stealer in that short story.

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Chimaera-Stormhawk [2010-08-14 20:24:49 +0000 UTC]

I love that series.
I've never realized it until I saw it for myself... Cows can run pretty fast! They're just lazy in general I suppose. No match for a dragon of course

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