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 Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 2:26 pm
Palem felt it, a call. A task, much like the first two that the Goddesses had asked her to fulfill. Pulling herself from her growing self doubt, battling had been less than stellar after all, the shadow girl found herself at the Shrine where the statues resided, ready to do as was asked. Perhaps this would make her feel better.
Her dull eyes took notice of the empty space but she paid it no mind as she made her way over to the glowing beckoning one covered in wires and ready to give her purpose.
Parts, she was told. Gather parts with a bag and some scissors, her eyes were trained upon these tools as the Goddess explained further what she must do and she found her attention once again on the statue at the mention of one key ingredient. A heart? She found a hand reaching up to where he own core softly glowed, as in one of their own? Or was it metaphorical in nature, just the idea of a heart?
"I will do as you ask." She nodded, even as uncertain as she was. Palem held the items close as the Goddess smiled down upon her once more, turning to leave and enter the labs as she was told.
A heart....She needed to find a heart, but the girl found herself pondering the extent that was needed.
There didn't seem to much chance to back out on this, once she kept on her journey for the task. Not when she already had tools in hand and found herself in front of three thick and different doors. (And wouldn't she just hate herself from turning back). Palem stared at the three, each sending a different vibe as she got closer. Ambient, Unnerving, Malice. So different in feel, so different in look and she wondered what the symbols had to mean that they each possessed.
Palem found herself drawn oddly to the third door, even as it spread the worst of the feelings towards here. There was just something...
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 11:20 pm
There was no turning back now, not after she had passed through the arches of the heavy door with the vibrant looking tree. Darkness engulfed her, and her breathing hitched while she cradled the items that Goddess had given her to complete this task. There was no turning back, even in her worry.
She could do this.
She could do this, complete this task. Palem swallowed hard, trying not to think of the blackness of the room, escalated as the door shut behind her to complete her entrapment and her need to press on. Nor of the sound that echoed off the walls.
As she walked, the sound grew, marking her target as if telling her where to go while she fumbled in the pitch black.
Thud
It told her. This way.
Thud
The small grey girl almost ran into it, the crate. Her target. The source of this noise. So loud, rhythmic almost. Palem's hand slid across the side as it seemed to pulse from the noise within, so oddly shaped in there. But she didn't think about that, simply of the object her fingers found as they roamed. Her eyes fell on it, seeing finally that it was an arm. So soft yet so red and as she touched it and grabbed onto it the sound stopped.
A new one took its place as the girl reached inside, finding more of the soft squishy texture inside. But with it, the new sound.
Thump thump
The heart. So it was like that, a heart so true in its meaning. Palem almost pushed herself away, horrified at the thought but she couldn't. Because she needed this. She needed to get this heart that beat in her ears, competing with her own that pulsed in her chest. She needed to complete this task, needed to prove herself.
Thump thump
Palem almost didn't notice the other sound as she raised her scissors.
Maple
Thump thump
It was right there, right there. Just do it. Red. Beating. There. Palem closed her eyes, not that it would do much good with the darkness already present around her but it felt safe, comforting as she plunged them into the object in the box. Thankfully not hitting the heart itself.
Thump thump Thump thump
It quickened, as did her own. A gasp escaped her as she felt something grab her arm, digging deep with such sharp nails. MAPLE! It cried out, so cold. So horrifying, retched in its screams. Calling her, clawing her as she dug into its chest. But it didn't thrash, there was no room to. A perfect opening to make a perfect opening for extraction.
Tears welled in her eyes as she dug deep, a slick substance slipping out to coat her arms and the instrument of the deed. Cutting, snipping, ripping. Peeling after a time as the thing in the box kept calling out that word.
MAPLE
Thump thump Thump thump
Progress came, a hole enough for her hand to reach though. To feel the heart and what kept this thing calling her, screaming at her, terrifying her. It was warm though, so warm even from how cold this all felt. And she kept going, digging her scissors in deeper as the liquid gushed out while she made the opening wider for the heart to be fully exposed in its tangled heap. Cables and cords, pulsating and keeping her task beating. Palem snipped at cut, trying to work as fast as she could to get this done. She didn't want to think about it anymore, just worked. Worked through the tears.
Thump thump
It was all she was focused on, not even the other movements in the trunk. Just the heart as she cut the last bit away. The only thing left. She reached out, relieved with what she had done and grabbed hold of it.
She was so small. The little girl couldn't believe how small they were after being born from pumpkins. Had she been this small, with tiny horns and large eyes ready for the world? So innocent but with so much promise? She peered up at her parents, aglow at the new arrival while her older brothers frowned in their usual boyish ways.
She was excited to have a little sister, even though they were less than pleased. Now she wasn't out numbered, now she would have someone less rough to play, who wouldn't throw twigs in her hair or demanded to wrestle. She would have a little sister to go catch frogs with for spells and potions, who could be on her team when Linden and Douglas decided to strike up a war.
Maple was excited, they would have so much fun together. She would teach her everything she knew and what she was learning. And be there when her little sister would go through her summoning ceremony, so proud with her own familiar.
"Maple," her mother called, grabbing her attention. The older woman shifted as her father looked proud, holding the baby closer as if presenting her to the world. Her brothers stuck out their tongues. "This is your little sister, Hazel."
The heart pulsed one last time as Palem stared at it, her fingers tainted red with her deeds. Her thoughts clouded, the memory playing in her head like a broken record, trying to conceive what it had been. Was this the memory of this heart? Or her own?
It took some time before the shadow girl placed it in her bag to continue.
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Posted: Sun Aug 11, 2013 11:47 pm
A dead end. Palem almost wanted to cry as her slick had pressed against the wall. She was already so exhausted from the ordeal, mentally and physically, fighting what was in the box. The floor had been bad enough, making it hard to navigate with the traction disappearing. Now she was stuck.
Her head turned, a small gasp escaping when she heard the sloshing noise. But there was nothing there, just darkness and the continued maze that would finally reveal its end for her to complete this task for the Goddess. Nothing.
Palem kept her hand on the wall for as far as she could, continuing on an unknown path that only brought colder water that raised with each step she took. Which brought the sound again, a wet slap and a slosh that grew louder and louder. Getting closer and closer. She wanted to run, but the resistance in the water kept her from it.
"Please give it back." She heard. Yes, she wanted to run, very much so. And nothing was there when she turned again.
Nothing was there but the water, that raised - or was it just getting deeper? Now level to her neck, would she have to swim the rest of the way?
"Please give me back my-"
And nothing was there this time, two hands grabbing at her. Gripping her so tightly, hurting her and pushing her under. Palem thrashed and fought, but it was so much stronger than her. Down. Down. Holding her down. It was so hard to fight it, all she could manage was maneuvering herself to get a look at what was holding her down. The malice in those blank glassy eyes and those sunken teeth. That face.
That look of utmost satisfaction, given her way on purpose as the rest of the family huddled around in praise. Taunting her, crushing her further. Throwing it in her face. Maple wanted to run, to hide in her room. To leave. But she couldn't, she couldn't even cry because that would be uncouth. Her family would take no solace in her misery.
Her little sister had beaten her to the punch. And was mocking her for it.
That dream to stand proudly together, familiars together on such a glorious day wouldn't come to pass because she had been a failure in her own attempt. The only one with horns in her family now, a painful reminder of what she couldn't do. What she thought she could, but obviously not so. And now her younger sister had done what she couldn't, and she knew it.
Maple would never live this down, and she would have to pretend to be happy. Because that's what older sisters did, they were happy for their siblings even when they wanted to do nothing but simply cry.
"Congratulations!" She said, forcing such happiness with a smile when she joined the rest of the Ziege family around the newest potential witch. Who did so much better than her older sister. It was what they whispered, she all knew it even though they tried to go along in their hushed tones.
"Of course I could do it," Hazel retorted with a roll of her eyes, one hand on the beautiful antelope that would be with her forever.
Maple wanted to punch that look right off her face. But she couldn't, because that's not what older sisters did.
"Give me back my heart." That same face was telling her, filled with malice and scorn instead of ridicule and disgust.
Hazel.... This was her little sister.
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 12:15 am
For a moment, there was serenity. The thought of just letting this happen, letting go for what she had gone. This unforgivable act. But her own heat seemed to pulse, pulling her back. Screaming No! into her very soul. Because she had been chosen as a candidate, she had a job to do. If those were truly memories, this was her job. Something she was chosen for and not her prodigal sister. She was going to receive blessings and rise up to be a Goddess. No longer in the shadows.
Palem found her fight again, bubbles rising to the surface as she let out a scream under water. Thrashing once again, fighting to go on. One hand grabbed onto her capture while the other flexed, making her realize the scissors were still in her grasp. Her grip tightened around them, her hand moving as a snail's pace under the water until she got it free and surfaced, plunging them deep into the opening she had made in her sister's chest.
Hazel screamed, letting go and allowing Palem to surface. Were these tears in her eyes as she dug in deeper? Or could she make herself believe it was simply the water that had almost taken her?
She could hold onto the latter because it felt better. It felt so much better to believe in that, gritting her teeth as the crippled form of her once sister gave once last shriek and then was gone, taking the water with her and leaving Palem heaving on steady ground. She was shaking heavily, convulsing. They were tears after all.
"I'm sorry." She whispered, letting the tears fall and wondering if she really was. She wanted to hate herself for what she had done but perhaps, deep down this was a horrifying wish come true. A secret desire buried so deep within those memories, malice and hatred that were pushed so far deep simply for what they were. Palem had felt it in that memory, the love and affection of a sibling slipping away.
Palem let the tears fall until there was nothing left, herself numb and tired. Hand groping for the bag that held what she had destroyed. She gripped it tightly even though she knew full well what was inside and made to leave. Her eyes turned one last time to the area, catching briefly what looked like a figure ... a figure with the scissors.
Of course. She thought. Just my luck. But her eyes narrowed, because if what she saw would true, it would not beat her. Not this time.
Palem left.
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 11:19 pm
[ b e g i n . d a y . t w o ]
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 11:35 pm
There were so many things she was afraid of in this world, she wondered which one the Goddess was referring to. Palem didn't like where these instructions were leading to and her eyes remained cast on the ground, as if being scolded for doing something wrong. She probably was, with how pitifully she was doing.
Take this. She was told, and soon found her hands holding a beautiful looking dagger. Nothing she deserved to hold. It would make her stronger? It would help her through this task? Even as the gleam of it rusted away.
She didn't feel ready. But she went.
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 11:46 pm
She hadn't remembered falling asleep anywhere. She remembered going through a door... and then. And then....
Now she was in a very white room. White walls, white floors, white ceiling and a white ambient glow. Palem didn't like it. It was also cold. It might have also been the table she was sitting on, made of metal and chilly to the touch. Or the room also.
But the room was empty, her only company a soft hum from the lights overhead that were painful when she turned her head a certain way. She didn't like it, she wanted to get away so she headed to the door that she could see upon the very white walls. It was unlocked, that was a good thing but it lead her to very white hallways. As stark as the room.
Palem bit her lip, worried, afraid. How was she supposed to do this? Maybe if she just ran down the hallway, just went. She took a few steps out and jumped at the sound of a slam. But looking behind her gave her no indication of where it came from. There was nothing, and there was nothing in the stark white room when she looked inside.
So she kept walking with her arms hugging her body close with with the dagger so close to her own skin. It was oddly comforting as she walked the endless halls and found nothing. So hollow, so empty. She really wanted to leave.
Thud
She jumped again, hearing a sound. Her head snapped behind her. Nothing. There was nothing. She walked a little faster, hearing the sound again. Her brows creased, she turned again and saw it.
Palem ran before any other thought hit her. She ran as fast as she could. There was an exit up ahead, there was an exit!
There was a door asking for a passcode. WHY.
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chirigami rolled 1 4-sided dice:
4
Total: 4 (1-4)
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 11:46 pm
Why was there a door like this here?! Palem panicked, first wrapping a free hand around the handle in hopes that it was really unlocked like the last one but she had no suck luck.
Turning her head, she frantically looked around her to see if there was anything she could use. (The dagger didn't cross her mind really). There on the left, a piece of paper. Her hand let go of the door and grabbed for it. It was a cipher, but she didn't.. she didn't have the code!
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chirigami rolled 1 4-sided dice:
2
Total: 2 (1-4)
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 11:49 pm
There had to be a code somewhere. Closer, it was getting closer. Palem frantically looked around where she had found the first slip of paper, her hands searching until they came across another crisp sheet.
Something! Her eyes stared at it. Two parts of a puzzle, she quickly put the numbers into the door, barely letting it open before she squeezed herself through and out. Running as fast as she could.
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chirigami rolled 1 4-sided dice:
1
Total: 1 (1-4)
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Posted: Mon Aug 12, 2013 11:53 pm
Palem ran, her breath escaping in wheezing strides as she pushed herself through the trees. Every so often her hand had to grasp one to push her forward with the strength of the tree. Had to keep going. She didn't want to look back, but she knew it was still there, still coming after her with its weird sounds. The thuds and the shinks and the voice that called after her, childish but cold and harsh. Struggling as she was.
It was taunting her. Demanding its heart back, or hers would be fresh for the taking. She didn't want this. Why was it after her in the first place?
She just kept running and then came to a halt, inches from the first steps of the rickety bridge. It didn't look safe, that once she tried to cross she would fall to her death, one false move and it would be over. But she had to move, she told herself because that seemed so much worse. Being caught, having her heart taken and being over powered by something she didn't know.
But she had made the mistake of looking down, taking too long contemplating her next move. The howling wind, swaying the bridge covered any hint of its approach. She didn't even realize it was already on her until it was too late, the steady thuds were already so close before she could try to run again. Right there, holding scissors with a gleam in its dead eyes.
Palem wanted to scream, but it was so quick, grabbing hold of her head and causing the wind to be knocked out of her. She wanted to fight, but she was too frightened, losing in the task that she had been told to conquer. She wasn't going to win against her fear, it was going to overcome her in this sad pathetic state.
Tears simply rolled down her cheeks as she stared up at its empty face.
"Don't worry," coos the voice, "It only hurts once."
The first tear took the last remaining breath right out of her in a gurgled gasp. The pain sharp. The second simply released a fresh set of silent tears down her face. She couldn't even ask why. Simply fell on the ground below her, the last images flashing before her eyes as it held her beating blue heart in one hand and a pair of rusted scissors in the other.
Why
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 10:17 pm
[ b e g i n . d a y . t h r e e ] Tea Log
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Posted: Wed Aug 14, 2013 11:41 pm
She was smiling so brightly that Palem was a little hesitant to go up to her at first. So chipper, so friendly, like she was welcoming her with open arms and fresh baked cookies. She was also unsure about taking one of those, but she took one regardless and nibbled on it (it was good T__T).
Palem made no sound in response to what the Goddess was telling her, the opinions about the others. She didn't really have much of one, but she thought maybe it was distrust and hesitation given how much danger the other tasks had been. Love though, this was knew and she wondered how extreme it really was. Her cheeks still flushed though, it seemed a reflex.
Only when the Goddess gave her some ushering words did the girl look up, her flush growing deeper in embarrassment from not paying attention. She squeaked a little and headed to where she heard there would be... tea?
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Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 12:47 am
It was such... a happy room, much nicer than the others she had found herself in; which really given the other rooms anything could beat them by leaps and bounds. But this one, music filling the air and soft floating petals of white. It was inviting.
Palem moved towards the table where two jars waited for her. Without hesitation, she took the pink jar into her hands. She didn't want anything sad, she was tired of the doubt and the self loathing. Something happy to have was much more preferred. Careful with it in her hands, she looked it over wondering what she was meant to do.
Drink, it clearly said on the tag, so she did. The girl staggered a moment, the happiness exploding within her the instant it touched her tongue. It was so overwhelming, different than what she normally experienced (was this real happiness?)
In her confusion and haze, the table gave a little dance and a spin, settling itself with an assortment of treats. They all looked delicious, when she finally got a look at them. She took a cookie, having had a good experience with the last one after all, she didn't want to chance the cake suddenly making her morph into a hideous beast or something when she was caught off guard. Then again, the cookie could have done that as well. But, she found it didn't, it simply seemed to level her and transform the table once again to display three different tea cups of various colors.
The pink jar so far hadn't lead her astray so she chose the pink cup and sipped.
She sat on the wooden chair a little awkwardly, her feet danging a little as her toes barely touched the floor. She was idly tapping at the tea cup in her hands, the drink left untouched as she listened to her aunt. "You haven't read it yet?"
She shook her head, locks dancing as she moved her head from side to side, "M-mother h-has b-been d-drilling m-me on spells.." her tone taking a turn for the worst as she bit her lower lip.
Oh I heard about that little incident, I wish I could see what Laurel's hair looks like," Rose laughed full hearted, nearly tipping over in her seat.
"It.. w-wasn't v-very f-funny," Maple replied in a sheepish tone. Her aunt would most likely simply laugh a little more at her rebuttal, though she honestly didn't mind. She was used to it by now, it had been something that had taken her a while for her to get used to. Aunt Rose was the one that the rest of the family had always whispered behind closed doors that she was a little off. She still possessed her horns after all, heavily favored the old traditional broom for spells and owned a cat. She had fallen into opinions as well, swayed by the others. They had stories for a reason.
But those stories had changed the day she actually found herself getting to know her aunt out of random acts of circumstances. Having left the house one day and got beckoned in, Maple had no idea what the two of them could talk about until she found Rose's collection of Grimothy Zahn books.
From then, it was like they were kindred spirits, meeting every few weeks to discuss their favorite author and Maple's favorite subject; books. These days, it was probably the only happy times she could recollect since her practicing got more serious with her summoning ceremony looming over head. No heartache, no failing. Just talking about books and tales of heroes and fantasy.
"Well, I don't want to spoil it," her aunt went on, "but what he has Cecil do... oh wow, you're going to go nuts! I know how you complained about stuff in the last book but.. just to wait."
Best of all, there never seemed to be false words of encouragement, not like what her immediate family was beginning to try feeding her. Just conversation, no spells, daily talks of mundane stupid things. Like Maple could actually smile without feeling it was false. She liked these days despite the looming dread that would be coming up soon enough.
This was her's, she could feel it. The doubt her memory self held, definitely her's. But she didn't mind because it was the good feeling that shone through it all, that kindness in the smile her aunt had given her. A good feeling that made her feel happy.
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Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 1:31 am
Tea Guest Log Colour of Tea Tasted: Seafoam Description: Peaceful. A rather mundane flavor, but with a taste like...comfort food. Comfort drink? Your commentary on its flavour: Sarviur drank, and thought, and marveled at the quiet gossip, the discussion of a mutually adored topic. It was a nice thing, to hear and be heard. Peace, a lack of pressing duties. Sarviur thought he might have liked it, except of course he would have worried about seeking approval anyway. Whoever had brewed the tea seemed like someone he wouldn't mind the company of. She liked words, too, after all, if different ones than he did.
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Posted: Thu Aug 15, 2013 2:38 am
Tea Guest Log Colour of Tea Tasted: Pale Green Description: Comforting, relaxed, happy. Your commentary on its flavour: A good memory. It was a simple one but she felt acceptance through out. Like one unafraid to show their true selves without fear of being judged. The older woman had a twinkle in her eye and a laughter that was almost infectious. The girl seemed a bit emberassed and perhaps a bit upset about things, but the more and more time she was around the older one the more she came out of her shell. This was a place of safety. To just let loose and not be afraid. Ralifa could tell that this space was what the older woman used just for that. She could understand what the younger girl was going through and empathize. And the girl cherished every moment of it. No one liked to be stressed out.
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