Day Four - Continued
Kit yawns when you gently prod him awake. In a sleepy haze, he blinks up at you in the gloom.
"Yeah, it's a bit early," you say to him. He doesn't protest as you pick him up. He falls back asleep almost instantly.
Downstairs, the ambient lighting creates an almost melancholy aura. Everything is painted over in grey, illuminated now and then by the strikes of lightining dancing outside. You shoulder your pack, trying as best you can not to disturb Kit in the process.
Your hand rests on the door, but a little worm in your mind keeps inputting images of the basement. That box of walkie talkies could be useful...
In a last-minute decision, you hurry downstairs, ignoring the big skull and grabbing two of the devices. The empty eye sockets of the skull watch blankly as you ascend, closing the door behind you. The map is still in the living room, so you quickly fold and stuff it into the pack as well. Satisfied you have everything you need, you walk out onto the deck.
The air is warm and heavy, and you are instantly pelted by raindrops. They're light, thankfully, and not painfully slashing. Almost a mist. In comparison to how hot the days have been, it's quite refreshing. The only thing you dislike is the wind; it makes such a terrible wailing sound when it blows through the trees and around the house. It reminds you too much of that terrible sound on that one tape.
The wooden stairs feel a little slippery under foot, so as carefully as you can, you make your way down and onto the pebbles. Down here, the lake looks more...turbulent, sinister, almost. Its surface is darkened, and the wind whips up small waves, throwing them against the rocks on the shore with surprising force.
You travel around it as far from the edge as possible, along the path hugging the tree line. At the halfway point, the path straightens and leads out into the woods. Looking back, you can see the house on the hill, smaller and drearier than ever before. In the vegetation above the house, the silhouette of a single Lupora stands against the tempestuous clouds. Tellus stands there for a moment or two, and then turns sharply, diving back into the wilds.
Feeling a little safer, knowing Tellus and her pack roam the area, you take the first steps down the path.
For the first few hours, the trail is easy. It's well-worn and even, cutting clearly through the trees. At one point, Kit awakens, and wriggles his way out of your arms. He follows at your heels, often bounding ahead to sniff at something interesting.
The clouds let loose more rain, which begins to seep through the thick canopy ahead. Kit doesn't seem to mind being soaked, but you sure do, especially when it's warm and everything seems sticky.
Breakfast is late and quick; a sandwich shared between Kit and yourself, and a little water.
As you continue onward, you pass several of those doors. They look completely harmless in person. You feel no forbidding aura rolling off them, no heaviness in the air. The doors are simply there. However, you do not let Kit stray too close to them. Though they appear to be just doors, you don't trust them. Certain things don't belong in forests.
A little past what you assume is noon (the clouds are still heavy and rolling with thunder), you come to a fork. The right slopes downward, the left connotes straight on. A small berry bush sits smack between them, which makes a small but delicious lunch.
You take out the map as Kit swallows another handful of berries. It looks like you'll be taking the right path. The map is placed back in the pack, and with a call to Kit, the walking resumes. This path is lined with beautiful blue stones, small but incredibly reflective. You wonder who placed them. Riv, perhaps? Tellus?
Kit seems enthralled by them, and happily selects one. He carries it in his mouth, and despite your best efforts, he refuses to put it down. So, it's his now. While you walk, you thread together several stray strings from the pack.
It takes some convincing, but he lets go long enough for you to weave the threads into a secure necklace of sorts, and slip it over his head. This excites him; he prances in proud circles, craning his neck downward to admire his new possession.
Within hours, the path ends at a little clearing. When you pull out the map, it reads 'Faelora Meadows.' It's late evening, and the clouds above have dissipated enough for you to be able to view a few twinkling stars. It seems to be a good place to camp for the night.
Kit 'helps' set up the tent by running away with the sleeping bag, just as you've finished setting everything up.
"Kit!" you call out, a little frustrated. "Bring that back!"
The clearing is quiet, only crickets chirping. Sighing, you root through your bag and grab the flashlight.
"C'mon, I need that!"
You follow the parted grasses, carefully scanning the ground with the flashlight.
"Kit?"
No answer. A little afraid, you follow his paw prints, wondering how he could've run away so quickly with that massive roll in his mouth.
You're so preoccupied searching the ground, that you don't see it until you nearly bump right into it.
Gasping, you stumble back, almost falling right over.
It's...a Faelora? Of a sort... It's dark, and eyes as bright as your flashlight illuminate the space in front of you. It just stands there, blinking at you. She doesn't seem hostile, but her appearance is chilling. You've never seen anything like her in a wild setting before.
=Shiner=
She takes a step toward you, as if to gently inquire, but you take a step back. Unfortunately, your foots entangles in something soft, and you fall into it. Your head throbbing, the last thing you remember are the shining eyes of the Faelora, and something wet on your face.
Player
Health Points: (10,000/10,000)
Effects: Unconscious
Location: Faelora Meadows
Pack Items: Two full water jugs, full can of predator repellent, tent, pocketknife, flint and steel, First Aid Kit (5 potions, 5 elixirs), flashlight, five sandwiches, Vulnyx-Fang Knife, two walkie talkies, Juriep Forest Map.
Kit
Health Points: (5,000/5,000)
Effects: None
Location: Faelora Meadows
Items: Moonstone
Abilities: Strong senses, danger detection |
