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 Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 9:58 pm
As the cold morning mist struck her already dampening hair, Shinju let out a small sneeze. The noise echoed off the towering cliffside on the opposite side of the increasingly narrow valley, which scared a few cowardly birds from their treetops. Sniffling, she continued up what could be the highest distance she'd ever scaled. The prize at the top of this lush mountainside, however, was well worth the voracious climb. Drudgingly, she placed herself on a rock a few feet from where she was standing not a moment ago. Gazing out, she had realized how far she had come.
The sun was only just beginning to dip out and crawl lazily across the sky, leaving the clouds dyed a strange pinkish-orange color she so rarely saw. The air was crisp and brimming with the monotonous sound of birds calling to one another. The treetops were just below her, and Shinju felt as though if she jumped, the trees would undoubtedly catch her, like a pillow. The brown rock on the other side of the valley stared back at her dully, as though waiting for her to make a sudden move.
Sighing, she stood up and began her ascension up the mountain once again. It was scenic, really. A small twilif crawling up the side of a mountain in the early morning, as though in search of some divine inspiration. Her pearls calmly clinked together as she walked, and the small marbles and objects jingled softly in the small bag under her obi. Though one marble was currently missing, as Shinju was delicately moving it between her finger, partially as a relaxant, and partially as a forcive habit. The marble in her hand reflected a dreamy version of the small path that lie ahead of her. Truthfully, it was not a difficult time, merely a long one. There was the occasional large rock to scramble over, and the odd tree root here and there. There were even some spots where she had to jump to the next ledge, and then heave herself over, but it was nothing Shinju couldn't handle.
Regardless of how treacherous her climb was or not, she knew it would be well worth the effort. Her reason for attempting was due to a traveling merchant had recently visited her small, riverside village. He had many trinkets and other wonderful objects that had instantly hypnotized Shinju into a conversation with him. He soon began to talk of a small pool he had once visited on a mountainside. The way he described it entranced Shinju, compelling her to climb higher with each step. A squirrel quickly darted across her path, but Shinju payed it no mind, as she was climbing the hillside greedily now.
Letting her mind drift, she was once again reminded of the scene. He had told her that it was a small, shallow pool, not big enough for more than two or three twilif to fit in. It had soft grass around it, and strange glowing plants all around its base, where small bugs made their homes. The most interesting thing to Shinju however, was the color of the water... Yes, just picturing the image made her pick up her pace, so as to reach her victorious goal before the day ended.
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Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2010 10:52 pm
Dusk-colored clouds stretched lazily across the sky as Rhea took an easy pace along the winding mountain path. The Twilif smiled contentedly to herself, relishing in the feel of fragrant mist against her skin as she followed along the stream, passing in and out of sight to anyone above as she occasionally slipped under the protection of the rocky mountainside. Birds sang an early greeting, a sound that, though pleasant, still took some getting used to. Rhea was used to the ocean's song, always singing, sometimes a lament and other times a raging fury. When she'd left a few days earlier, the sea had been so lonely that it had nearly broken the Twilif's heart to leave, but she'd had to. The thought hadn't made the parting any easier, and in moments like this, when Rhea was alone and the world was still groggy with sleep, she entertained thoughts of her brother, wondering what he would be doing and imagining his day.
Her hand instinctively went to the choker around her neck, a soft velvet lined with a ribbon of silk and pearls. A smile crept across her face as she remembered receiving the trinket, so dear to her that she never took it off, especially when she went on her own to the villages and towns nearby to trade off some of their discarded treasures. Or, in this case, to find something just as special to give Rye in return. It was proving to be quite a difficult task, however, and the past couple days had been long. A momentary frown crossed her normally cheerful features at the idea of leaving her brother along for so long, and she secretly hoped no unsuspecting Moonfolk had wandered too near their home, or it might easily be the last thing they did.
Knowing it would do no good to dwell on the thought, Rhea let her mind drift and decided it would be nice to start running now, while it was still cool and the mist would offer her a small buffer to her agility. It wouldn't be the same as heavy rain or being submerged, but she wanted to run and it would be fun, anyway. Inhaling deeply, she took a moment to memorize the scents around her and then took off at an easy lope, her feet hitting the ground in a soft, steady rhythm that picked up as she let her breathing slow, then match her pace. Everything was in synch with each other, each beat of her heart countered by the thud of a footfall like a melody composed by her body. Naturally falling into the habit, it allowed her mind to wander, and Rhea considered the last couple days with a mixture of amusement and content. She would certainly have a tale or two to tell when she returned!
She felt the change in the ground beneath her and, having recently learned her lesson, allowed her thoughts to flow back to the present, slowing as she took in the scenery around her. The general green of the valleys were being interwoven with the browns and grays of rocky earth, including a steep looking overhang that overlooked several hills and even part of the stream, which disappeared beyond sight.
"I bet you can see for miles up there" she mused with a smile, an idea already forming in her mind. Imagine what the view must be like, to be so high above the world while everyone else scurried about their lives, oblivious to the impression they gave, like little fish in the sea. Unfortunately, there would be no diving off of this particular perch but, undaunted, Rhea started up the path, her bangles jingling softly as she moved up the path at her own unassuming leisure. She had the whole day to explore before beginning the trip home; a little sightseeing wouldn't hurt, surely.
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 12:37 am
Once again, Shinju was forced to stop, and take a break. Her breath now came in ragged, irregular gasps, which turned into small, wispy clouds. As the altitude ascended, the temperature was quickly decreasing, and she was finding it harder and harder to breathe. Luckily it was only morning, and it was bound to get warmer, right? Shinju quickly placed the now freezing marble back into the hidden bag once again returning it to its fellow marbles and trinkets. Turning around, she looked for a place she could sit down, and luckily there was a set of trees that formed a perfect seat for her petite self. The base of the trees was flat, like a small chair, and towards the top it split into three smaller trunks, giving it an odd, pitchfork feeling. Strange, glowing mushrooms grew greedily leeching off of the tender bark, giving off a lush glow to Shinju's already obscured view. Realizing the plants matched the merchant's description, Shinju knew she must be getting close.
Slowly, oxygen returned to her, and she felt ready to continue along the crisp new path. As she stood up, she remembered the merchant's slow, crackling words as he described the trip to her through a tangled, unwashed beard. "My dear, sweet child," he cackled, "To reach the place you seek, you simply must ... climb." A strange glimmer crossed his eyes as he spoke softly, almost as if to himself. "Yes, a great treasure waits for you, though you may not find there is not only one individual when you reach the looking glass." With that, he gave a great yawn, heaved his bag of merchandise on his shoulder, and hobbled down the road to leave town.
No, Shinju was not afraid of what she would find, she was far too curious to avoid the rare chance at seeing untouched, unaltered water. But the last comment from the trader did stir something in her heart. What did he mean by there would be more than one individual at the top? Glancing around, Shinju was positive that she was alone at the moment. Nothing surrounded her but the noise of the birds, and the chatter of the animals that dared to venture this far up the mountain. She was definitely alone. Did that mean she was going to somehow split in two after seeing the water? Or was the merchant speaking in some metaphorical, philosophical tone, in that she would find a new person within herself and be transformed?
As she scratched her head, she cried out quietly, "This doesn't make any sense!" Squinting angrily, she stomped through the grass, and back onto the beaten path. Most would have given up by now, but Shinju's frustration merely fueled her tiny body farther up the hill. After walking up a few switchbacks, Shinju found the tiny pathway the merchant had referred to. Truthfully, she had almost walked past it, but as soon as she did, a strange feeling drew her back to it. It was a small crack really, just enough for one constellation to fit through, and no more. Although the rock was a dull grey, like the rest of the mountain, the rock that was deeper within the cave seemed to glow with a deep teal luster. This must be it! she thought excitedly.
She carefully looked back and forth before daintily setting a single foot within the mouth of the cave. Glancing around to make sure no one was there (although she heard a faint voice somewhere far off, Shinju was much too preoccupied to notice it) she took a whole leap into the cave, and was suddenly surrounded by rock. Seeing there was no harm to her, she carefully pulled a few bushes out of the way, and continued deeper into the cave. Soon, Shinju felt as though she was being eaten alive by the mountain, as though she was going to some private place the mountain didn't want her to be. As scared as she was for the moment, Shinju drudged on bravely, trying not to reveal her fears to some invisible foe.
"Just a bit farther now ... It can't be much longer..."
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 2:06 pm
The path Rhea was on started to increase its incline, forcing her to take her time as she followed the rickety, winding way past large boulders that threatened to tip over and crash to the ground below at the slightest touch. Once in a while, she'd stop and take a look at where she was, the scenery around her, and admire it before moving on. Now she was interested: if this was the view here, then what must it be like at the top?
Maybe it was just a trick of the wind, but Rhea was fairly certain she heard something up ahead. Her sea green eyes sparkled with interest and the Twilif carelessly hopped up the difficult part of the pass, scrambling on occasion to keep her grip. In her experience, the greatest treasures were sometimes buried the deepest, hidden by that which others would normally pass over as insignificant or too difficult. So naturally, there had to be something truly great at the top, and if there was something or someone up ahead...well, a little friendly competition never hurt, right? Besides, it could just be her imagination trying to make friends out of thin air. The air wasn't like the sea, though, with its rhythmic beat that echoed in her bones. No, the air was usually quite still unless a storm brewed, silent and secretive, watching without taking sides.
The air began to grow thinner, forcing her to breathe easily, more shallowly in order to prevent her head from spinning. It was surprisingly like when she was diving deep in the sea, the pressure nudging insistently at her temples in warning. Taking a few moments to readjust, Rhea started up the path again, certain she'd heard something now that had to be a voice. It had a peculiar lilt to it, soft and determined, but the words were indistinguishable from so far away. Her pace picked up with this certainty, but when she came to a bend in the path, there was nothing and no one there.
Nothing but a rich turquoise glow emanating from the rock. An almost wolfish, though still playful grin spread across Rhea's face, her fingers fairly twitching with the desire to delve deeper and know more. There was no one here, nothing but the half-hidden path that disappeared into the mountain and promised all sorts of glorious secrets.
"Well, only one way to find out," she chirped, taking in the massive face of the rock that loomed overhead. For a moment, she had a revered respect for the place, as though silently asking for permission to enter, knowing that she might or might not be intruding on something nature wanted to keep sacred. Then it was over and the Twilif was slipping into the slender crevice, keeping her footfalls as silent as she dared, watching everything for an indication of change or something hidden or disguised, her bangles jingling softly with her steps.
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 7:37 pm
Deeper and deeper Shinju descended, as the walls of the wolf grey mountain slowly changed from teal, to purple, then to a sort of purple-ish indigo that shimmered brilliantly. As she walked, a few of her pearls strayed from their beading, and slid against the wall, almost as though they were afraid of their surroundings. Quietly, she pulled them all back to their strands and gave a quiet, hushed Shhh. Her toes made a light tapping noise along that echoed off the inner walls, and could surely be heard from anywhere along the tunnel, as it was extremely narrow. However, she made no attempt to hide the noise, as no one else was around, and she was sure the mountain didn't mind.
Soon, even the ground and ceiling were covered in the odd purple-ish crystal, casting a reflection of herself from small mirrors everywhere within the tunnel. The crystals glowed and gave a slight hum, that made Shinju jump when she first heard them. The hum resounded loudly, and she was suprised she hadn't heard it on her way down. Her pearls shook slightly from the hum, as though they were reflecting her internal fear. The site of the creamy pearl mixing with the indigo glow was certainly a pretty color, however terrified Shinju was. Looking down, she quickly took a calming breath and closed her eyes. This is simply a mountain, and there is nothing to fear Shinju, snap out of it, she thought. Although she tried to convince herself of this, her eyes were twice as large when she opened them, and her heartbeat was still racing. Calmly she took a few more steps forward, but the room soon began to spin.
What's going on? I don't understand ... She shortly collapsed to the ground, and put her hands over her ears, and pleaded externally, "Why?! What's going on..." After squinting, her eyes once again grew large, while her hands were still on her ears. Slowly, her vision became clearer, and her head stopped ringing shortly afterwards. Finally understanding, Shinju carefully put one ear on the ground, and kept the other clasped with a firm hand, while her free hand untied her obi. Carefully, so as to not expose her ear on accident, she wrapped the obi around her head, and tied a bow near the part of her hair, as though she was trying to keep her jaw shut. She was sure the process would have looked strange to anyone who viewed the ritual, but luckily there didn't seem to be a single sign of life in this tunnel, save for the odd crystal rock.
Somehow ... the humming noise seemed to have caused a disturbance within my body's natural chemistry ... what a curious place this is indeed. Though the ringing and shaking had stopped, Shinju decided to take a small break within the cave. Out of her obi, she pulled out a set of rocks, one large and rounded, and the other narrower and pointed at the end. She then used this makeshift "chisel" to take a tiny, easily replaceable section of the crystal, for her own memories sake. Carefully, she wrapped it within a piece of cloth, and set it in her bag. Oddly enough, the crystal as a whole seemed to vibrate, but the moment she took the tiny piece out, it stopped shaking and lay still as a piece of furniture.
Shinju smiled a bit at her new trinket, and continued along the path. Suddenly she heard a voice from a far off place, though it was very muffled she could hear, "Well ... find ..." It sounded feminine, but from this far off, she really couldn't tell. Oh no you don't. This treasure, is mine, she thought. Hopefully the strange crystal would slow down the mysterious stranger, as it did Shinju, but one could only hope. Continuing down the dirt path, the crystals suddenly disappeared, and opened up to a small cavern. The moment she walked in, her jaw dropped completely to the floor.
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Posted: Wed Aug 11, 2010 10:10 pm
A multitude of color assaulted Rhea as she went further down into the cavern, certain now that she had heard a voice and perhaps even footstep. Her adrenaline started to kick in, heart picking up slightly as she realized that she was either alone or trapped in a wall of rock with forgotten spirits. Somehow, despite her whimsical nature, she fully believed in the former.
The walls and floor shook, rumbling with a deep, grating rage that vibrated her very bones as the Twilif entered a cavern covered entirely in purple crystal. There, in the middle of the floor, was a pale Twilif with a mass of jet black hair, curled up in a bal with her hands clamped over her ears and whimpering as though some mysterious monster were lurking over her, or perhaps as though in pain.
Whatever was afflicting the stranger soon stopped as she kept her ears covered and somehow managed to chisel off a piece of crystal with a pointy rock. Rhea frowned, wondering at the worth of a crystal that could be broken by a mere weak piece of slate, but brushed it aside. Perhaps this Twilif knew what lay ahead.
"Don't suppose you need any help with that?" Rhea called cheerfully to the figure as it stood and started to go towards the other end of the cave and settle down to rest. She had been watching what had happened, sharp eyes taking note of how to move and what had and hadn't worked, as well as what the effects had been. If nothing else, by having someone else go first, she could at least know what to expect. There had to indeed be a great treasure here, if it was guarded so well.
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