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@reveriewriter … and @everyone?
My little sister @this-is-not-an-alien set this up. It’s barely up at the moment, but it’s supposed to be this character castle continued. Well, rebooted, since we were doing that anyway. If you want to – no pressure!
When life knocks you down, wait 'til it passes over you and then attack it from behind.
I saw a suggestion in the comments of the announcement about having members of the forum moderate it instead of the site team. Maybe they’d consider doing that with enough feedback from all of us??
I mean maaaaaaybe.
I honestly don’t know. We don’t know how long they’ve been debating this decision. Or what the goal is. Or how many people are really needed to moderate.
Heck, I have not a clue how to moderate a forum! Or how much labor that takes. It sucks that this is going. And I don’t like it. But honestly it almost seemed inevitable? The more I think about it? They’ve been pushing more and more in a direction: it is time for them to drop something and refocus! But that is never a fun thing to do. I hope they don’t loose too many people from this.
Still, the engagement they are getting from Patreon might be what pushed this move: if there are enough people there and not enough people running Story Embers, I mean, logically speaking, the effort should be put where the money is. That is good business. On the other hand, the forum is a safe place for us and I feel like it should stay open. For free. Lots of people aren’t made of money and they are targeting young writers!
There are pros and cons and we just don’t have the information to properly weight it. I’m just bitter because I was only just getting comfortable being online like this. 😭
When life knocks you down, wait 'til it passes over you and then attack it from behind.
@abrielle, @ragnarok, @this-is-not-an-alien, @kimlikesart, @reveriewriter
Can I cuss now? In protest? Because I am very upset! 😠 😡 😭 😢
Okay, I won’t actually cuss ’cause I’m actually getting better (small wins) but what the heck?!?!?! Why?!?!?!?
When life knocks you down, wait 'til it passes over you and then attack it from behind.
I am down for restarting this baby! Especially with so many new people!
When life knocks you down, wait 'til it passes over you and then attack it from behind.
@abrielle and @reveriewriter
Sorry for the late response.(Especially to you @abrielle. And a frosty hello to time blindness, my old nemesis!)
Welcome to the chaos. We welcome more characters to interact with.
For the briefest rundown possible: there is a spider that the characters are running from: every time you kill it, it comes back bigger. We were going to lure it down into a creepy setting in my world, the Maze of Neophytes, but we got bored waiting and just zapped everybody into the Maze. We now have a creepy spider that may or may not chase us to the center of the Maze. Our main goal at the moment is to explore my world a bit while getting to watch our characters react to it because this is ultimately a character-building exercise. We are also trying to fight Amnesia a, I guess?, god that has been yanking our characters around. This quest has been sidelined by the spider but is probably going to pop back up again! 🙂
And @everyone, I promise to be more regular in my updating. I have no good excuses but the computers at work are finally working again, so I’m much happier. lol.
[And now, dear readers, for an update!]
BURN
I am … approximately 90 percent sure I managed to scratch that spider with my claws.
I am also about 90 percent sure that Search is the one who has be by the waist, screaming nearly every swear word I ever taught her.
Okay, she probably learned most of those words at her digs. Big whoop. I taught her how to properly use them.
Aaaaanyway, I am only 90 percent sure because we keep falling through holes! In! Reality!
Will it ever end?!!?!?
“I take it that didn’t turn out quite the way you wanted it to?”
Some. Stranger says.
Because I really needed to fail to keep track of another name!!!!
Search slowly releases me. “When is this going to stop?”
“I don’t know. Whenever fate or your g-d or whoever gets bored tormenting us.” I grumble.
And all my smoke is missing!
I pat myself over: oh look! I’m back in my gear. Umberuin!
I slam my hand to my back – which is unnecessary because I can feel the folded weight on my harness – and yank it free.
Yes!
I could dance a jig for joy!
If I knew how to dance. Which is never gonna happen.
The point remains.
As I unfold my staff, I sniff. And there is that tell-tale sweet smell of blue moss. And the ashy-bitter smell of fire vine. I can taste the moist, cloying air with each breathe.
The Maze. Brr.
” ‘Kay Search, how many new people do we have?”
And … how much did we miss? Did we miss anything?
“Also, be on the lookout for mummy-creeps.”
[@reveriewriter – this is a good point to insert your character, if you so desire.]
When life knocks you down, wait 'til it passes over you and then attack it from behind.
Wow. It’s been a while. @sarafini @ragnarok @kimlikesart @this-is-not-an-alien
Is this just me and my siblings? Because BOOOO! I talk to them all day! I want a new
victimfriend to interact with?Hello
Anyone?
Helloooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Ah-hem.
Well dear listeners,
It would seem we are alone.
(Except for that dead mummy right there. At the crossroads. In creepy, moth-eaten robes. But we can ignore them [singular, one mummy thank-you very much. we have no need for more].)
Anyway, we’re free to get into mischief.
Like this wonderful maze!
The blue moss crusts the walls so thickly – it’s nice and squishy under bare toes. But it’s also poisonous, so don’t let any cuts or scabs touch it.
And see that fire-vine? Burning through the moss overhead, casting red tones over the blue lights.
And look, see the little aurea beetles? They look like newly minted gold coins, foraging in the blue moss. That one got a little too close to the fire-vine though: it’s in the red, sticky flower, slowly being devoured. I’d stay away from that plant honestly. The thorns are fierce, covering the whole ash-gray vine.
Hm. There’s the spider. Very foolish of you to bring it here. The spider I mean. There are things here that you don’t want to anger.
Very dangerous things.
Did you see the mummy move?
I did.
It was just a twitch.
But I swear I saw it.
Anyway, we should probably be moving.
There are things we should be doing: not just staring at the sights.
But I’d feel better if I went far away from the creepy mummy. Hopefully we won’t see another.
When life knocks you down, wait 'til it passes over you and then attack it from behind.
@kimlikesart [Ohel approaches the desk. Bookshelves line three off the walls and starting with the one to his right and stopping on the fourth wall only because there is a door. The rest of the fourth wall holds pictures, a nick-nack shelf, and one tall plant – a small tree – illuminated by a glowing mushroom-lamp.
The knick-knack shelf holds various items clearly made by a child – a wide variety. An ash-tray, a bead necklace, a bracelet… simple, clumsy items.
Ohel touches the books – one title catches his eye.
The Song of the Fell Wolf and the Canary
[Do you open it?] {yes} {no}
“…Are you going to jump out the window too…?”
Grimme turns to the … creepy, magic child who is entirely serious as he talks to the girl.
She tilts her head, closing her eyes.
Nathair.
Leana.
Interesting names.
First: What did he do to earn the name Snake?
Second: To twine around what? What did she twine around? Of course, it also means Sunray. Which is pretty.
Grimme shakes her head. Ignore the distractions.
“Please don’t.” Sage mutters in a small voice, “There’s always stairs.” He decided to add. “Right there.” He points.
Wise one. Prophet. Also an herb but unless Sage is a big deal in his culture, that was probably not why he earned that name.
[@kimlikesart, @this-is-not-an-alien, @ragnarok, @sarafini] [Do you take the stairs with Grimme?] {yes} + {no}
[If you take the stairs do you separate from Grimme and explore the Consul’s mansions?] {yes} + {no}
SEARCH
“OWWW!! HOW ARE YOU THIS HEAVY
“OHSHOOTIT’STHESPIDERRUNFORYOURLIVES!!!!!”
I shake my head, vaulting of another window-railing with the lightness of a pigmy tiger.
Though I’m probably nowhere near as fierce, murderous, or stubborn as one.
Burn though?
“I smell you!” Burn mutters. “I know you’re here. I smell you. I feel you. I will bite you.”
Yep. Burn is an oversized pigmy tiger.
Or a fell wolf.
The smoke-construct lands beside him on the pavement.
The handful of smoking politicians quietly disperse away from him. With some truly nasty statements of about his sanity.
“Hey you ableist …” I won’t bore you with what I actually called them while hurling dirt from a planter at them. But Mom was likely to find out and have some very nice things to say to me.
Then the SPIDER whirls to face the poor men and one woman.
“You wanna get involved?” I ask with the sweet voice Mom taught me: the one where I’m supposed to sit pretty and only speak when spoken too.
“Time to go!” Crazy man runs off with Smol Child Alessio.
“Whoaa!” The boy flails. “Do we have a plan!?” He keeps babbling as the man runs fast as a murderous fell wolf after a pack of Colds.
BURN
Uuuuuuuuuuuh. Is that Alessio? And the playful conman?
Um.
sPiDeR wHeRe?
I sniff. I can still smell it – evil, putrid, not good, very bad, evil, poison
Focus. Find it.
I came down before me? Right?
RIGHT?
Stop.
Panicking.
I take a deep breath and release.
Okay. Think.
There’s the spider.
That’s … uh. That’s big. That’s really big.
I bare my teeth and have to remind myself that I am not thirteen and crazy and alone. I can hear Search here. Grimme is … somewhere.
Good.
Mission – if you choose to take it – lead spider to narrow trails seldom walked.
Uhg. It’s gonna take a while to lead it here. Is there a cage near here? Or something narrow that can trap it for, like, forever? Or until a solution can be found…
…
It might be a few months early.
Because apparently tumbling into realms is time-travel
But … I know where the opening to the Maze of Neophytes is. Well. Where one will be.
And hey, since the guy isn’t murdered, I might be able to lead him there! Without getting like arrested or accused or even really in trouble!
“Search! I have a plan!” I holler. “Get to Goldbeard’s apartments!”
“WHAT?! ARE YOU CRAZY?!?!”
“Nope!”
Okay. That’s step, like, four.
Step one is corralling the spider there.
Ugh. That’s gonna be fun.
“Hey you two! Wanna help corral a monstrous spider?”
[@this-is-not-an-alien, @ragnarok] [Do you help Burn and Search corral the creepy spider into Consul Goldbeard’s chambers, hoping that Burn is right about the opening to the Maze of Neophytes and that the spider is still small enough to fit inside?] {yes} + {no}
{yes – Bravely face the spider and lead it back into the Consul’s mansion.}
{no – Run. Run fast. And look for a cage big enough to fit the spider. REMEMBER: You will have to divert Burn and Search into helping you with your alternative plan.}
When life knocks you down, wait 'til it passes over you and then attack it from behind.
BURN
“Heyyy!!!! Get back here!!” The voice yells near the window. It stops a moment, has a conversation I can’t hear over my own stupid stupid stupid heartbeat.
Then I hear, “I’ll be right back!” A suspicious sound, like someone’s gone out the window? Twice in as many minutes? “Come back hereeeeee!!!”
That.
Is.
It.
I push Oscar away and shove my hand between the couch cushions. There.
I hide fire opals in any place I frequent.
“BURN!”
Don’t kill me Oscar.
I rip off the packaging, hit the smoking opal against the hard edge of the table beside the couch as hard as i can, and toss it into the air.
“BURN!”
He’s going to kill me.
As smoke floods the room, I grab it – feel it, the myriad of particles in the air.
And I pull.
“BURN! STOP THIS INSTANT!”
SEARCH
Well crap.
I watch as Burn pulls the smoke – Can’t help but watch because the room went from clear as a glass to thick, thick air.
“Burn we can’t see anything!” I cough. And then roll my eyes. “Nevermind.”
The room thins out a little…
…
“Not the fell wolf Burn!” I hack around the smoke. “Can we not go with the fell wolf?”
The shaggy-smoke animal stands on the couch, Burn commanding from his perilous perch on the couch back, hands outstretched, fingers splayed. It’s horns get thicker and the fire opal burns an eerie red in it’s mouth.
Objectively amazing, right?
Except for all the terrified kids. And the growing spider. And the defenestration. And …
We really don’t need more chaos.
“Burn!” Oscar roars, going to pull him off the couch. Why he though that was a good idea I will never know.
But, predictably, Oscar is the one landing on his butt while Burn with feline grace leaps and rolls onto the ground, fingers still splayed.
The fell-wolf appears to growl, mouth open so that the seething red, eyes equally bright red. It whips to face Oscar, who gives the most Tired Father groan I’ve ever heard.
“Burn the spider’s gone.”
Fell-wolf construct continues to roam, Burn continues to perch in improbable places.
BURN
I shake my head and ignore whatever Oscar’s saying. The faint glowing magic is tracing threads through out the room.
Out the window.
Ugh.
This isn’t going to be conspicuous at all.
I really, really, really, really, don’t want to chase the spider.
SEARCH
“BURN SO HELP ME IF YOU GO OUT THAT WINDOW!”
Aaaaaaand he’s already jumped out.
Because if the thing Burn is scared of runs…
I look down at myself.
I do not look suspicious at all. Ho no. Hospital shirts and squishy moving and shorty-shorts are the height of fashion in the Hives these days. Oh yes.
I really don’t wanna do this!
But we’re doing this.
Because if Burn can chase the thing that scares him out of his wits, I can chase Burn.
And shake him silly for being an idiot.
“Sonja! Don’t you dare follow him!”
I roll my eyes. “Oscar. Watch the kids. Someone’s gotta keep up with Burn. And you can’t.”
I jump.
When life knocks you down, wait 'til it passes over you and then attack it from behind.
@this-is-not-an-alien, @kimlikesart, @ragnarok, @sarafini
GRIMME
She looks down to see a child.
“Where can I use the restroom?” He is still tugging on her sleeve, eyes big, cheeks rosy.
She rubs the back of her neck. The kinky-coily hair rubs roughly against her hand.
This is … too many children. One, sure, she knew what to do. Three, pushed her limits. Um. How many where here? She’s afraid to count at this point because more might turn up.
“Down the hall. First door to the right.” She jerks her thumb behind her.
“Thank-you.” The small child says. Then runs off.
Grimme considers a long moment.
Eh.
Why not?
How bad could they really mess up?
Oscar glares at her. The “We are absolutely not and never again adopting a child” glare.
It didn’t work the first time. It didn’t work the twentieth time. Or the fiftieth. It wouldn’t work now: Burn was child 194.
[@kimlikesart] [Does Ohel peek into the bedrooms? Or explore Oscar’s office? Since we all know this isn’t going to be just a pitstop.]
SEARCH
Hades is slow to answer.
Which is why I realize that Alessio has wondered off. He’s with another couple children. Okay. He’s given himself something to do. Good.
Little Lizard is fidgeting with this hands and stammering. Did I come off too strong? Oh no. I have upset a small child! What am I supposed to do?!
“Uhhmmm… Sorry about that. I didn’t know…” Little Lizard is still playing with his hands. “Uhhh… Do you like butterflies?”
Then Little Lizard opens his hands, little orange flutteriest flying from his hands.
“Oh! Those are beautiful!” I try to catch one and it slips away. I need to get one for Burn. What are they and how do I get one. So pretty…
“What about flowers? Mother liked flowers.” Now there are white flowers in his hands.
“What an impressive talent!” I clap.
“THE SPIDER’S FREE!!!”
“SPIDER?!?!?!”
Crap. Burn.
Burn is rigid up against Oscar and then jumps on the couch. “Where?! Where is the spider?!” He is patting his non-existent pockets for weapons.
Um.
Help?
“GRIMME!”
She whips out her battle ax and nearly slices the spider in half. Nearly, but at least three legs are no longer attached.
Which doesn’t matter. Because the annoying man is still screaming – rivaling Burn’s panic and Grimme’s war cries.
“No… No! Stop!” Little Lizard screams. Because more notice is the solution. “Saga, you should probably stop shouting.”
The man is still running.
“I think the spider is following you because of the noise you’re making…”
He.
Jumped.
Out the window!!!!
I swear – as fluently as Burn and Steelfoot – and run to the window.
He’s … safe. And also has lizard scales. Cool.
Okay. Spider.
“Don’t!” yells Little Lizard.
But Grimme has already sliced the spider in half.
When life knocks you down, wait 'til it passes over you and then attack it from behind.
@this-is-not-an-alien, @kimlikesart, @ragnarok, @sarafini
BURN
I twist my wrist free from Oscar. “Don’t touch me!”
Calm down. You’re overreacting. Just … breath.
Oscar very carefully puts his arms on my shoulders like I didn’t just tell him not to touch me. “It’s okay. You’re safe here.”
Grimme looks at my arm with brisk efficiency. I can feel her grow stiff. “Oscar, this looks just like…”
“I’m well aware.” He cuts through. Anyone who didn’t know them would think they were about to fight. But I’ve been around long enough to know that unique tone means they are actually about to get along.
Orb help whoever angered them!
SEARCH
Soooo. Grimme isn’t snapping back at Oscar. Instead they are doing that weird telepathic married-couple thing.
I wonder what it’s like. To know someone that deeply. That years later, when you – apparently – hate each other, you still know exactly what is on the other’s mind. Will I ever know someone that well?
Aaaaanyway. This isn’t getting me further away from the impending doom. Time to make sure everyone I remember is here. And see who else might have dropped in.
“Excuse me, Mrs. Search, can I speak with you for a moment?”
Mrs? “Yes?”
Alessio has already butted in, going to a poor little girl with a half-mask on. “Hi?” he whispers so gently.
Grimme? Are you sure this is what Burn used to be like?
“…may I hug you?”
Uh. Don’t. You’re on fire. You need to control your talent.
The girl just .. nods. She doesn’t return the hug, but lets it happen.
“And who might you be?”
Ah. The irritating man. At least he is away from Burn. I’m not sure anyone is ready to deal with that.
“Are you a non-human? Like my family?” Um. The boy with the reptile hand.
Wait. Wait. Hold up. What do you mean non-human? You are obviously human…
I grind my teeth. Kid was raised around a bunch of purists wasn’t he?
“Look. If you are able to make decisions – exercise free will – you are human. And any … jerk” Don’t teach him new words. “who tells you otherwise is wrong. Okay? Introduce them to me and Burn. We’ll take care of that.”
I turn to … the one who looks vaguely reminiscent of Hades. “Um. Yes. What do you want to tell me?” Ugh this is awkward. “Look. Half the … unfortunates we were with turned to kids. You are Hades? Right?”
When life knocks you down, wait 'til it passes over you and then attack it from behind.
LOL I’m gonna have to wait to tell until @this-is-not-an-alien gets to that episode. I already said my favorite character died! 😭😤
But for my top ten? Hughes. All of Team Mustang. The Elric brothers. Hohenheim. Ugh… The Armstrong siblings… Greed. Ling. Heheh. Help? I love almost all of them?!
How about this? I hate: Dwarf in the Flask, Lust, Gluttony, Envy. There. That’s a much easier list.
When life knocks you down, wait 'til it passes over you and then attack it from behind.
Hi @irishcelticredflowercrown!
I will make an educated guess on who your favorite character is! 🤔 LOL
When life knocks you down, wait 'til it passes over you and then attack it from behind.
hey @kimlikesart!
Basically same as Cathy but I will be reading fanfiction (what I gave up) where my favorite character doesn’t DIE!
(Watching Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood on an entirely “unrelated” note. Don’t spoiler Cathy! She’s just started!)
Maybe Poppi will come over though. That’d be nice. Nana and Papa are coming next weekend so we might do something more then.
What about you? 😁
When life knocks you down, wait 'til it passes over you and then attack it from behind.
@this-is-not-an-alien, @kimlikesart, @ragnarok, @sarafini
SEARCH
I watch Grimme nearly puke as Alessio lets the spider. Crawl. On. His. Hand.
What the Abyss is this kid made of?
I hold out the jar.
Except.
He.
Drops.
It.
“I’m sorry!” He backs into … ya’know what? That’s Nithel. And everybody here is getting a tiny trinket. This is ridiculous.
The brown-haired, brown-eyed boy flings his foot in sudden panic.
To my everlasting DeLiGhT, the spider flies through the air.
“Stand up! Get up, you baffoon. It might get me!”
“Grimme.” I whisper as brown-eye continues howling. “Next time it flies, scatter it in here.”
“Stop, you’re scaring it-whoa!.”
“What if it gets bigger?” She mouths. If I didn’t know the story, it be funny that a little bug could scare this indomitable woman.
Unfortunately, I know the story. Held Burn through some of the nightmares. And now become a bit scared myself. Abyss-bound cults and their quests for immortality.
“Just …”
“It just wants to be friends! Sage says it’s not poisonous!!”
“Is there a transparent container we can use to hold him in?” The scale-handed one says. “I’d rather not shove him in a jar like this.”
“Lets contain him right now. We’ll get something better in a minute.” I say.
Grimme grits her teeth. “Darn it.”
“What is going on?!” Burn yells in agitation.
Oscar starts hushing him.
“Out of time Grimme.”
She swears – viscously and colorfully – then splinters into thousands of particles of neon-blue, glowing dust. In a gnat-like swarm she darts to the last known location.
BURN
Darn it stuff is happening and Oscar is a dirty lier who lies and why? Why do I always fall for this?!
“Come on punk! You can’t hide the … whatever it is going down on the other couch!”
My entire sentence is in fits and starts because sOmEoNe is yelling the entire time!
“Get off of him right now, and apologize to Nithel. Now.”
“It’s alright… It’s alright…”
“But he-!”
“Get up!”
“I don’t know if I can?!”
“Oscar! Are they murdering each other?!” I try to stand but Oscar pulls me back down on the couch. “What’s going on?”
“You looked buff enough, back in the other place. Like you could carry my adult-self. So move.”
“Your cowardice and insulting speech is becoming only to the knaves of Avonia. Get down right now so I can fight you in a fair dual!”
“Abyss yeah!” I do wriggle free then – mostly because the situation has escalated to it being appropriate to make judicious use of my ‘abnormally pointy’ elbows.
There is a thump of bodies hitting the floor – fortunately not as … slack as many of the bodies I’ve heard fall. Still very full of life! Which mean I lost my opportunity to interfere with a duel yet.
What? Didja think I was going to watch it? With what eyes?
Some tiny punk squeals with laughter – sounds like Vi when Drake accidentally hit his own foot with his war-hammer.
Something.
Splits.
I reel, grabbing my head.
“So good to see you, Hades Irving.”
What? Who … Punk-With-Voices-In-His-Head. Really creepy voices.
“Yes, I know your name.”
Ugh. I wonder if this is what the worshippers of Luna felt like.
“I know you have many questions, but I shall answer none of them. For one trial is yet to be completed,”
This is worse than when I accidentally joined the Apotheosis. I mean. It beat being brutally murder as some kinda human sacrifice. Especially before getting answers…
“Go, return to the group. Prepare for your Trial of Malice and Vengeance.”
Oh. That’s the Abyss-born monster that started this.
Great. Perfect. Wonderful.
“Hey Loony-Punk.” I grab my head. “’s fine. We’ll get him…”
Two splits.
Simultaneously.
Pretty sure Loony-Punk didn’t hear me. Which is find because he needs a better name anyway. Hm.
Ow. By the way. Just. Ow. Punk.
Oscar’s arms wrap tight around me. “Hey kid. Hey. Sh. It’s alright. Come on.”
“I’m a full-grown adult punk.” I grumble and try to get my feet under me.
“Search!” I call. Did someone fall through a hole in reality? “Do we have anymore guests?”
“Eh?” Oscar says.
SEARCH
I … stare at the glasses-person. Who just … appeared.
Poor. Poor punk.
…
I’ve spent too much time around Burn.
“Uh, hi. I’m Alixer.”
“Uhh…” Alessio gapes up at the strange man.
Grimme finally rematerializes beside me. “I’m going to be sick.” She mutters and deposits the spider in the jar.
I have never. In my entire life. Slammed a lid down faster.
“We-You-“ Nithel tosses Ohel’s legs off as he sat up. He sighs – reasonable reaction to the day. I will probably be introducing my head to a wall. Later. When Burn won’t see that unhealthy coping mechanism. “I am Nithel son of Father. And…what does your name mean? A substance that turns others into gold? A healing tonic? I…Something else?”
Alessio stares at the stranger, and then peeks at Brown-Eye glaring daggers at Nithel.
“Oh, uhh, Alessio!” He suddenly bows. “Long life to you and your kin.” Her goes bright red then ducks behind Nithel.
Then he turns to Brown-Eyes with an impish smile. “We can be friends now!”
“Aw.” Grimme beams. “He’s just like Burn when I first found him.”
“WE!” Oscar thunders. “ARE NOT ADOPTING ANOTHER KID!”
Grimme shrugs. “I’ve heard that before.”
Speaking of Burn…
“Yeah. Someone just appeared out of thin air.” I hand the jar to Scale-Hand. “Don’t open it. I promise well find something better later.” I squint at Burn. “Hey? You okay?”
Uh. Newcomer. “Hey. Sorry for being rude. Name’s Search.” I wave as I pass him and help Oscar get Burn back on the couch. “Now. Can everyone. Stop. Yelling. For more than five minutes? Please?”
“That would be nice.” Grimme dusts her arms. Powder – no. Actual dust that she must have picked up during her … swarming? Scattering? – puffs to the ground. “So.” She straightens, assuming that authoritative air that puts Mom to shame. “Welcome to the Woodwall residence. You may call me Grimme. This is my husband who you may call Mr. Woodwall.”
Oscar stands and nods formally, striking his chest with his right fist. “Prosperity to you sir.”
But not long life or happiness. Hm. He must be very irritated. Can’t tell if it’s because of the chaos, the uninvited guests, or Grimme forcing formal mode.
Burn slumps against the couch and clutches his head. “And the other punk?” he says. “Who we talked to by the creepy pool?”
Um. I scratch my head. Oooooh. Yeah. So much has happened and we only talked for all of five minutes. “Hade? Hades? I think?”
“Yeah. Where is he?” Burn rubs his scalp. “Agh. Stupid creepy disembodied voices with creepy trials and evil pools.” He holds out his arm. “And I still have the creepy hearts.” He rubs his chest.
Oscar freezes.
Then swears and grabs Burn’s wrist.
“Anyone else have these markings?” He holds up Burn’s arm.
I hide my arm behind my back.
When life knocks you down, wait 'til it passes over you and then attack it from behind.
SEARCH
“He didn’t do anything!” the child chases after Oscar. “Uh, he, uhhh…” “
Does he think Oscar is going to hurt Burn? I mean. No but … no. Oscar would never…
“Oh! We got lost and Burn’s going to help us …until we…get back home…”
Would he?
I chew my lip and …
…
Wait.
Why are there so many children?
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” The child – Alessio even more a child than before? somehow? bows. “We’re extremely grateful that you’ve allowed us to infringe on your hospitality this long, the grounds are exquisite and it was a pleasure to be graced with your presence.”
“What the Abyss punk?” Burn says. “And what happened to your voice? It actually got squeakier?” he pluts Oscar’s sleeve. “Hey. I need smoke.”
“Who are you? What are you?”
Who dat?
Another child glaring at Oscar.
Grimme chuckles. “He’s sure popular.” She whispers.
“He meant no disrespect!” Alessio squeaks, pushing himself in front of … the new child… where did these children come from?
Nithel? I think? He’s all glowy and young now? And looks unsteady? “We are terribly lost, I’m afraid. All of us.”
Oh no. when Burn realizes how many kids replaced our companions …
Alessio ducks behind Nithel, finally acting his age… his current age… and pulling at Nithel’l shining hair.
“Do you know where my parents are?”
Burn looks towards the voice. “WHO’S THAT?” Oscar shushes him and pushes him into the couch.
“What happened to you? Really Burn. You look like you’ve seen a ghost… um.”
“Is that a spider?”
Grimme stops before the words finish leaving the other stranger-child’s mouth.
Seriously. Where did the children … wait. What if…? No way. Unless?
Alessio makes a hurt-pup sound.
Grimme wipes her foot on the carpet wrinkling her nose. “Ew. All gushy.”
“More detail than I need…”
It.
It just.
Pops back up.
Grimme opens her mouth.
“Sh!” Burn doesn’t know. Burn doesn’t need to know.
The … um. Child with a scaly hand? Weird mutation but Burn has claws soooo. – picks up the spider. Gently. Like it’s a cracking egg. “Can I keep him?”
Alessio peeps out again and then tip-toes closer, tugging Nithel – floods I hope it’s him – behind. “What is it? What’s it eat? Can I hold it?”
“Jar.” I whisper to Grimme.
She nods and slips back out of the room.
“No. And it doesn’t matter!” The … I need to get their names – growls and desperately scrambled for a large book. “It could be poisonous and kill us.”
Grimme comes back with the jar. I take it. “Is it poisonous?”
She shrugs. “How should I know? I’m not a bug scientist.”
“Cool!” Alessio oohs. “Is that why you shifted your hand when you picked it up!? I’m immune to most poisons I could pick it up!”
Nithel shakes his head, holding up his free hand, and pointing at younger Ohel. “But if you smash it, it may just come back again. Larger.”
He gives Alessio and the other boy an equally pointed look. “Do not test that. Don’t.”
“Is it hated in your world because it’s different too?” Alessio asked, staring up at him with wide, inquiring dark eyes.
“Not because it’s different…” Nithel says, “Different helps us grow. But their bites kill people. My father-in-law… almost died, because of a bite. He lost a leg. I don’t want any of us to get hurt.”
Great. Just great. I nervously hold the jar.
The book-holding child glowers. “If you’re not affected by poisons, throw it out the window! Because some of us are.”
“Not out the window!” Grimme thunders.
“I have a jar! And it has a lid.” I hold it out. “You can put it inside with some … leaves from the fountain.” Yeah. Good. Enrichment and stuff. “Inside this jar. Now.” Before Burn takes notice.
BURN
“Okay. Just ignore them. All of them. And tell me what’s happened.” Oscar says soothingly.
“I … But… Smoke. Can I have some smoke?”
I feel a hard rod in my hands.
“Staff.” Oscar says. “There’s too many kids for smoke.”
“There should be two kids.” I say.
Silence.
Well. Not silence, everyone is still yelling.
“Alright then. Just … start from the beginning.”
Crap. I need to remember what I was doing today, in the past, so that he doesn’t know I come from the future because he made me listen to that story and I am not wrecking my life that much…
…
“You do remember how this started? Right?”
“Um…”
“Burn. Are you having another memory lapse?”
“Um…”
How did this all start? Actually?
I was … “I was scouting… I was in… I was near …”
No. nononononono not again…
“Hey. Calm down. Just tell me what you do remember and we can fill in the gaps later. Okay?”
“Um. Tripped. I think.” Can’t tell him about the hole in reality. “Yeah. Shifting Lands. Fell into a bit of a nomad caravan.” Believable. But … what actually happened. “Um. Cave in?” pretty sure there was … “I…”
What happened next? When did I even meet everyone?
“Hey. Stay with me. It’s okay. You’re safe. It’s all over.”
“No it’s not! He said something about trials and …”
“Who.”
“I don’t know! He was just a creepy voice and I never saw him. But then things happened … and Nithel died but he came back and now he’s weird and …”
“Hey. Hey.” Oscar wraps his arms around me and I want to push free. But I also want to stay here until my thoughts get clear.
“Just keep going. Okay? Anything you remember.”
“’Kay Oscar. Wait, where’s Grimme?”
“Um… handling your guests?”
“Why is that a question?”
Silence.
I push against Oscar’s chest. “Why is that a question?”
“Just a small disagreement. She’s handling it. Ms. Sonja is helping.”
“Well. If Search is helping. I guess…”
Oscar hums, pulling a blanket off the couch and around my shoulders. “I’m not a baby!”
“I’m well aware.”
And now he’s messing up my hair. Not that I’m good at keeping it tidy.
“So. Ready to try remembering again?”
When life knocks you down, wait 'til it passes over you and then attack it from behind.
