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 Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2024 8:22 am
Quote: Under the Moonlight (12) : In an ever persistent desire to get people out of the city and into nature, Destiny City is hosting guided tours on the water at the Reservoir. Kayaks can be bought or rented, and a very generous sponsor has even covered the cost of several kayak rentals per day throughout the month. Away from the city lights, you can leave with a tour group at dusk or take a kayak out on your own. As you near the caves at the reservoir, you may even find that with each stroke of the paddle, the waters around the cave glow with bright, bioluminescent lights. If you’re lucky, the trip is peaceful, but you’re not so far out of Destiny City that you’re not at risk for at least some oddities. While you can be happy that there seem to be no mosquitoes biting, sometimes something large might bump under your kayak, or you may hear a strange, clacking wail from deep in the forests around you. Sometimes large trees rustle, and sometimes you see strange eyes just staring at you. No reports have come out about anyone being hurt or attacked, but the forest can be a scary place–especially if you’re not used to it. All kayaks must be returned by midnight or you risk being hunted by some very unhappy park rangers! So there were guided kayak tours on the reservoir and Abby decided to go. While whispers of things going on were what peaked her interest initially, she wasn’t completely adverse to the outdoor activity. But it was those quiet comments that had her enlisting the company of another friend. Cliff knew just how strange the city could get so it made the most sense to drag him into this particular moment of ‘crazy’. She also knew he would be able to handle himself if something went sideways, not something she could say for many of her friends. Although there were some who wanted to go if only to experience the ‘pretty lights’ that seemed to occur in the reservoir water. She waited for Cliff in her car in the lot by the kayak and canoe rental spot, tapping a random tune on her steering wheel, absently noting the light little chime that the crimson star charm’s little bell made each time she ‘tapped’ a bit too hard. When she was first given it she had no clue what to do with it so she added it to her key ring. Abby knew that she would eventually have to pull it off just so the pretty knotwork on it wouldn’t get messed up but for now she was amused by the little bell tinkling each time she jiggled the keys. It was mostly nervous fidgeting at this point. The idea about being on the water and technically vulnerable did make her skin prickle but she wouldn’t be a good senshi if she didn’t check it out. Besides she was going to write about this, and the other strange things that happened in the city during the Star Festival for her journalism class. Or at least prep for next semester’s class. Having first hand accounts and pictures would be for the best, hence a waterproof camera she was able to borrow. But just in case nothing came off this little trip she was also doing quite a bit of digging on the other ‘weird and wonderful’ stuff that was happening. Got to love the internet. People post their whole life stories on there, both good things and bad things. So it wasn’t hard to find some of the blogs that covered the crap that happened in the city. They were practically swamped with stuff right now. Everything from GMO fruits giving people strange star freckles to flowers that seemed to burst into fireless flames if messed with. Trees that had acid spitting bugs and even a strange construction site that seemed to be being built faster than anything else around. Abby knew some of it was magical BS, but not likely all of it, but it did make perfect fodder for the trash her one teacher loved. Might as well get some brownie points by pulling a Enquirer moment and feed into their conspiracy theory mindset if only a little. Besides lately Abby had taken an interest in how some stories that discussed ‘costumed terrorists’ seemed to be skewed quite heavily to one side. Was it just a civilian who didn’t understand or was the negaverse pulling some strings somewhere?
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Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2024 9:51 pm
Even after a year of being back, Destiny City and all its myriad of peculiar happenings still felt so surreal. As a kid he recalled his brief stint as a senshi and the shenanigans he got into, but all of that was more or less forgotten when he moved away before the start of middle school. Heartbreaking as it was at the time, there was a part of him that was grateful. He was able to focus on soccer and academics, and grew up more or less on the average side of normal. He even managed to snag a full ride to DCU thanks to soccer, which he sometimes wondered if he would have been able to do something like that if he had senshi things pulling at his attention.
He was a pretty rambunctious little kid, after all.
Cliff had calmed over the years, though. He was still a bit of a spitfire but he could focus it a little bit better, harness it as more of a motivating drive on the field or in his studies. He was still honest, and still to a fault, but could read the room a little better than before so he was able to make friends and maintain relationships of various kinds. Maturing had come a bit slow, as it did for most boys (or so he was told), and he was no doubt still growing into his adult self, but he thought he was handling life pretty well so far.
At least back in Seattle, he was. After uprooting himself for the second time in his life, though this time by his own choice rather than his parents’, things had gotten more challenging than he liked to admit. Which was why he was incredibly grateful for Abby, who helped to really keep him grounded. She reminded him that things could still have some semblance of normal despite everything that happened in this city.
So it was a no-brainer when she asked if he could go with her on one of those kayak tours. He wasn’t the greatest fan of the idea, but if she needed help he would never hesitate to give it if he was able.
He pulled up to the reservoir on his motorcycle–he took a page right out of his cousin’s book–and once he had his helmet and some extras tucked safely away he walked over and knocked on the driver’s side window of what he knew to be her car. Hopefully he remembered right. If not, they could have a laugh once he figured out exactly where she was.
“Hey, sorry I’m late,” he said, hopefully loud enough to be heard through the glass. “You ready?”
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Posted: Sat Jun 22, 2024 12:31 pm
The sound of a motorcycle had Abby glancing up from her phone, a dark brow rising when she saw the person pulling off the helmet revealing Cliff. She had no clue he could ride one, let alone that he owned one! When the young man knocked on her window she rolled it down and smiled, “No worries. Do you want to stick anything in the backseat before we go?” She had watched him tuck stuff away but it never hurt to ask. Abby returned her window to its upright position before opening her door and sliding out. “I’ve got a few towels and stuff back there,” A thumb indicated her trunk, “just in case. I don’t plan on taking an impromptu swim today if I can help it.”
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Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2024 12:50 am
He couldn’t deny the small relief that he’d spotted her car correctly, and he offered her a smile in return when she offered her backseat. “Nah, I think I’m good,” he said, gesturing at the small water bag he had on him. One could never be too prepared, after all. “I’ve got my essentials, and everything else fits okay in my bike. Thanks, though.”
Cliff stepped back when she moved to open her door, and glanced toward the trunk when she jabbed her thumb toward it. “One-upped me on preparedness,” he chuckled. That rarely happened with his old friends, now that he thought about it. He’d always been more of the boy scout between the lot of them, so this was a nice change, even if it was just a small thing. “The towels are a good call. Just in case.”
His eyes moved to the small crowd forming just past the edge of the parking lot. “Were you planning on going with the guided one or just going on our own? I’m good either way.”
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Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2024 1:18 pm
“It’s not exactly like I want to be dunked.” Abby just smiled and quickly closed up her car. “I am just hoping that the rumors are wrong,” Her smile had faded and she became a bit more serious even as she eyed the crowd. “Let's stick with the guided tour at first. We can always break off if something catches either of our eye’s.” With that decided it wasn’t long before everyone, them included, were on the water, life vests and all. Dusk was quickly approaching but that was the point of this tour. It was billed as a special view of the caves and the waters surrounding it. But it was the whispers of strange things that had her out there on the water. “Are you doing ok?” She called over to Cliff in his own kayak, she wasn’t seeing anything off but maybe he did. Honestly the tree line was more or less making the hair stand up on the back of her neck more than anything that might be in the water. A few of those large trees rustled and moved in strange ways, at least to her inexperienced eyes. It wasn’t just wind… she would bet on it. Even worse was the feeling of being watched and even sometimes there seemed like there were actual eyes just staring at them. But there wasn’t anything there other than trees every time Abby turned to really look. Spotting something out of the corner of her eye didn’t count as real observation. But it didn’t stop the goosebumps that formed on her arms every time she thought she saw it.
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Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2024 1:29 am
Cliff was probably having more fun kayaking around than he should have been given the relatively serious nature of their task. Not that he wasn’t taking it seriously, but he was enjoying himself all the while. Sporty activities had a tendency to bring out a more carefree, fun-loving side to him.
Despite appearances though, he was on alert.
It was hard not to be, actually. Once the sun set and they’d gone further toward the caves and forest past the shores of the reservoir, he couldn’t shake the unmistakable, eerie feeling of being watched. The soundtrack accompanying it certainly didn’t help–rustling trees and clacking wails. Once, so far at least, he felt something bump his kayak from under the water, and it was around that time that Abby called out to him.
“Mostly fine,” he called back, trying to keep the surprise and the nerves out of his voice. His attempt at a smile might have given it away, though.
Cliff looked in her direction and tried to gauge how she was doing before adding, “Did that article mention anything about something being in the water?”
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Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2024 10:55 am
its_ p a o I would say your next post should wrap it cleanly ^_^ Abby made a face and nodded slightly, “A few blogs mentioned shadows and one talked about a big fish or something.” She had hoped, it was a silly hope really, that it really was just a large fish. The lake was big, big enough to have a decent sized beach and everything, so large aquatic life was par for the course. But most animals avoided loud humans, and this crowd of tourists was not quiet that was for sure. Sore and a bit out of breath the young woman rested and let the kayak just float, keeping her eyes on the group that was still powering on ahead. “I didn’t think it was this strenuous. I’ll have to mix up my gym routine, that's for sure.” It was just a random comment that tried to lighten the mood. A mood that took a decidedly darker turn when a large shadow ascended from the depths. At first she thought it was just that, but when it became clear that it was getting closer she scrambled to get her kayak moving. With a belated scream Abby felt her kayak rock as something slapped the underside. Her heart was going a mile a minute and with more fear then she would ever admit she looked over to Cliff. “I think it would be better to get out of the water.” Her British accent was thick, a clear indication of her emotional turmoil. “‘Keep calm and carry on,’ my a**,” She muttered as she tried to get her racing heart back under control. Right now all Abby wanted to do was get off the damn water. Damn her paper. Damn her blog. Damn her new fear. Damn it all to the depths of this creepy a** lake!
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Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2024 6:52 pm
”Kayaking? Yeah, it’s one of those–” he started to reply with a grin, though that was quickly wiped right off of his face when he, too, saw the shadow coming up from somewhere deep in the water. Abby was off before he could fully process, though by the time he did he could hardly blame her. Whatever it was knocked on his kayak, too, so within seconds he was right on her tail.
It wasn’t too long before the whole group was well on its way back to the shore, and between the lot of them it seemed as though only he and Abby had seen or experienced anything during the tour. It made him wonder what about them had drawn its attention…
In any case, there was no way in hell he’d ever come back here to go swimming or anything of the sort. At least, not as a civilian. While he may not have developed a new fear, he wasn’t going to pretend like there wasn’t something out here. Hopefully someone would find out what and maybe figure out a way to get rid of it. Hopefully sometime soon, so he had a nice beach-type place to go to for the hot, summer months.
No matter how much he wanted that, though, that someone was just not going to be him.
Nope, definitely not him.
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