Into the Heart: a Field Guide Rachel Greene Phillips

Into the Heart: A Field Guide

Rachel Greene Phillips

This scientific journal is the property of a researcher pursuing rare and unusual species. If found, please return to her immediately. This information is of a sensitive nature to those in the scientific community and other explorers of Emotion. The knowledge gathered and contained in this journal is research of the highest importance.

Crushes parva phantasiae Crushes are little creatures. They’re small and almost everywhere. I tend to carry a lot of them; many spilling from my pockets and a few sticking out of my socks and always one tucked behind my ear. They’re almost imperceivable, but now and then I’ll feel a tug on the sleeve of my shirt, a sudden tightening of a shoelace, or even a little pull on my hair. They’re imperceivable, but if I could see them, I’d imagine them as little pear-shaped things: soft and pink and squishy. Yesterday, I felt one in my jacket collar, but I didn’t bother with it, as it was doing me no harm. Later however, while I was talking to an associate of mine, the little creature yipped and tickled the back of my neck, which caused me to giggle in quite the inappropriate context.

Exes or colloq. “Loves Lost” perdidit amor Exes are found in the swampier regions of the Heart, located near Mixed Emotions. I have discovered only one in my travels, but others in my profession have come across many of these creatures. From what I’ve seen, they are generally of a disagreeable demeanor. Rather than openly pursue prey, this predator prefers to stalk its target from a short distance, until the prey is tired and vulnerable. Once the ex sees that the prey is weakened, it strikes. They feed off of your very lifeblood, so be cautious in your interactions. They may also vary greatly in size. The specimen I mentioned before has been stalking my camp over the past couple of weeks. This is a predictable behavior for an ex, which, if one stays vigilant, is nothing to be too alarmed over. However, I am still trying to limit my interaction with this creature as much as possible, as I know that the consequences for growing too close are dire. It is an adult specimen, which means the bite is far more lethal than that of its underdeveloped young.

Friends cognitus prope Friends are relatively common, although hard to track for long periods of time. This is due to their highly variable migratory patterns, since friends are a largely nomadic species. Some explorers encounter many of these creatures, while others encounter few. From what I gather, the more years you spend in the study, the more friends you’ll find. I’ve discovered many friends in the lands of Common Interest, but I hear that they’re also a prominent species in the valley of Proximity. Friends, like exes, vary widely in size. They tend to bond more quickly if they find you share similar traits.

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False Friends, colloq. “Frenemies” amico iniqua These creatures are the unpleasant masters of mimicry. They are easily mistaken for friends, despite the fact that they come from different taxonomic orders, because of their excellent camouflage. Frenemies will display all of the same bonding behaviors as a friend, then, once the target is close enough, proceed to sting their prey. I have been fortunate to encounter few false friends in my travels, or at least to only have a handful reveal themselves to sting.

Greater Friends (subspecies), colloq. “Kindred Spirits” similus enti Far less common than cognitus prope, these are rare and elusive creatures. It is not often one comes across these. I can count my own sightings of enti similus on one hand. They’re somewhat hard to see, as they can be easily mistaken for the lesser friend. I am still working on ways to differentiate between the species and subspecies, as my current identification method is subpar. Just last summer, I found one where I least expected to see it. While passing through unfamiliar territory, I spotted an enti similus engaging in a bonding exercise. It communicated briefly with me, expressing a knowledge of Common Interest. It was one of the most touching moments in my scientific career.

Loves, colloq. “Soulmates” verus amor The most rare of creatures; location undetermined. Even the best of the best of our scientists don’t usually run into more than one in a lifetime. These creatures are also the strangest of the beasts I have described to you thus far. They are the most amiable creatures, unwavering in their bonds. I have yet to correctly identify a member of this species, but I am currently watching a creature that has a resemblance to the descriptions I’ve heard tell of. Because of their shared possessive tendencies, explorers will often mistake exes for the verus amor, only to be unpleasantly surprised later. I can only hope, as I observe this creature before me, that I am not making the same mistake.

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