Hello all you people! Welcome to yet another new article! Every other week I'll be selecting a topic that I just can't stop reading and tell you all the things I love about it. Then, I'll interview one of the members of the topic and ask them a bunch of different questions about why they chose to write the things they did.

Joining me today for our VERY FIRST edition of talking about topics, I have Rafe Dawnstar, and Everly LaKulina, discussing their topic Beneath the Tangled Branches. It is quite a treat that we've managed to get both of them here today! I had so so so many questions while reading, so I'm excited to finally have some answers!

To kick us off, I'll give all you lovely people a summary of Rafe and Everly's BEAUTIFUL topic, just in case you haven't had the chance to read it yet: What began as a midnight escape into the forest turned into something neither Everly nor Rafe could have expected—a collision of danger, vulnerability, and confessions that neither of them knew they were ready for, but both needed more than anything. For Everly, the forbidden thrill of the forest was about more than just curiosity—it was a place to test boundaries, hers and his. For Rafe, the forest had always been a refuge, a space to be alone with his thoughts. But when they crossed paths under the canopy of webs and moonlight, it became the place where their walls came down. The initial teasing and rivalry that defined their relationship gave way to honesty, fear, and finally, an undeniable connection. Faced with a Thornback Hatchling and the slow, creeping fear that comes with true danger, they saw each other not just as classmates or combatants in snarky exchanges—but as something much more vital. Rafe's instinct was to protect. Everly's was to stand her ground. And in those moments, something shifted permanently. She saw that his strength wasn’t just physical—it was quiet, loyal, unwavering. He saw that her fire wasn’t just rebellion—it was heart, determination, and hidden courage that had been waiting for someone to see it without flinching. Together, they didn’t just fight off the beast—they burned through the tension that had built between them for months. Everly’s injury added another layer of vulnerability—one she rarely allowed herself to show. But Rafe never made her feel small. He lifted her, literally and emotionally, treating her with the tenderness she secretly longed for but never admitted. In his arms, the world felt quieter, safer, warmer. And for Rafe, who had braced himself for people to leave, for things to fall apart, that walk back to the castle felt like proof that maybe—just maybe—someone would choose to stay. Their return was met not with punishment but with an amused, if weary, acceptance from the school nurse. A little lie covered the truth, but the real secret wasn’t where they’d been—it was what had happened between them. The kisses, the promises, the shared breath under the moonlight. By the time Rafe had to leave her bedside, he didn’t feel like the boy who had snuck into the forest alone anymore. He felt like someone who had found something rare—someone who saw him, and let him see her too. And as Everly drifted off to sleep, his hand still warm from holding hers, both of them knew something had changed. Not just in their dynamic—but in who they were willing to be for each other. Not just rivals. Not just troublemakers. Something real.

Well guys, that wraps up our interview with Everly and Rafe! Thank you both so much for joining us today, and for letting me but your amazing topic under my microscope!
If any of you lovely readers ever see any topics you'd like to be featured here in this column, please feel free to send me the link in an owl with the headline "Talking About Topics - Topic Submission", and I will do my best to make it happen for you guys! See you next time with another great topic!