You wander for what feels like ages. The swamp seeming more and more alive the further in you go. Shadows appear to follow on the fringes of your gaze. Fireflies glow brightly, winking in and out but never fully disappearing. Here and there a sound of rustling from the dense foliage can be heard, possibly a familiar but you are never able to see quite clearly enough to make certain. You try your best not to invent monsters. The plant life grows thicker here, more vibrant. The scent of earth is strong, filling your nostrils with each breath, but also a faint aroma that reminds you of spring flowers.
You suddenly feel anxious, wondering if you made a mistake in looking for them. You only heard rumors that this was the way to find them from other Kin who said they knew someone who had made the journey. It was trouble enough finding a Kin who knew what you were talking about when you asked in the first place. But here you are. They only appear at The Winter Market. Otherwise no-one really seems to know much else. Their reason for visiting the market each year isn’t clear either but their booth always seems to unnerve its participants to some degree and some Kin even leave a little ‘different’. No matter. You knew in your gut this was for you. That you had to find them. You’d been having weird dreams lately. Strange feelings out of nowhere. Even signs had begun to manifest, at least, as far as you could interpret. Maybe you were reading too much into things but, then again, it seemed even the swamp was urging you toward this unknown and it was finally too much. So here you were. Trudging through the wilderness. Suffering bug bites, scratching plants, and agitated Caiman, of which there were an alarming amount in this area.
Just as you begin to feel utterly lost the swamp opens up abruptly into a small clearing of sorts. The ground is hard and dry, free of any clutter or debris. Circling the small clearing are an assortment of old willow trees with long roots snaking in and out of the earth. Their tendril-like branches gently swaying as a soft breeze whispers its way through the territory. What strikes you at first is the utter silence, it's so peaceful here, so still. Not a creature stirs. You feel a strange pulse that overtakes your senses the longer you stand still, describing it is difficult. Power? Emotion? Influence? None of them feel incorrect. You realize you’re holding your breath and inhale deeply. The scent of aromatic woods and herbs fills the area. It’s intoxicating. It doesn't take you long to realize that it's the same scent from their booth each year. A pit at the center of the clearing catches your eye and you see the remnants of a fire, upon approaching it still feels warm. The embers sleeping lazily beneath charred wooden remains. The scent stronger here even with the fire fast asleep.
Looking up you notice, as if it appeared only when you stepped closer, the entrance to a cave adorned in wisteria. The flowers, lush and fragrant, attract an array of hummingbirds and bees. The stillness finally broken by wing beats and the hypnotic sound of buzzing. On either side of the entrance sit smooth, carved, hollowed out willow stumps. Each decorated with intricate symbols and shapes, strung with vines from which hang an assortment of objects (bones, feathers, etc). You feel the urge to peek in the tops of each but, before you are able, they begin to smoke. Thick plumes pour from their tops. That heavy incense disorienting you as you breathe it in. An array of images fill your vision and you shake your head to try and free yourself of their hold. Yet the feeling still lingers. Taking a deep breath, trying to clear your lungs, you enter the cave.
At first the darkness is hard to navigate and your eyes struggle to adjust. The cave is relatively dry but you can smell moisture from somewhere deeper. Something jagged stabs you in the shoulder as you bump into a wall. What in the..? That’s when you spot them. Crystals, varying in size, shape, and color, dot the sides and ceiling of the cave. You’ve never seen anything like them before and you can’t help but stare in awe. Absolutely beautiful. Suddenly a fire salamander erupts from a ledge in the cave. It’s eyes, like drops of oil, blinking thoughtfully at you. Its scales, bright as a summer sun, are bathed in a stunning blaze of golden flames. Perched next to a cluster the cave begins to dance as the light reflects off the stones and sends a flurry of color exploding throughout. Your eyes fill with wonder. The cave is full of these crystals. All shapes and sizes. Their beauty enhanced by the salamander’s light. Rainbow hues fill every nook, even the floor is a path of rainbow colors all dancing and swirling hypnotically. Mixing and separating. Churning in a sea of splendor.
“Welcome.” A soft voice calls from within. Close. Your ears perk, advancing deeper you finally see them. The three does from the market. Each as intimidating and alluring as the next. They stand around a second fire and watch you carefully. As you approach you notice the inner portion of the cave is filled with more crystals which protrude out of hanging ferns and a mixture of both climbing honeysuckle and fragrant jasmine. Wisteria lines the entrance here just as it did outside and you wonder how these plants grow so well with so little sunlight to feed them. Entranced you step forward. Called to them like a siren song. “We have been waiting. Are you ready to embrace your calling? It’s time to awaken..”
You suddenly feel anxious, wondering if you made a mistake in looking for them. You only heard rumors that this was the way to find them from other Kin who said they knew someone who had made the journey. It was trouble enough finding a Kin who knew what you were talking about when you asked in the first place. But here you are. They only appear at The Winter Market. Otherwise no-one really seems to know much else. Their reason for visiting the market each year isn’t clear either but their booth always seems to unnerve its participants to some degree and some Kin even leave a little ‘different’. No matter. You knew in your gut this was for you. That you had to find them. You’d been having weird dreams lately. Strange feelings out of nowhere. Even signs had begun to manifest, at least, as far as you could interpret. Maybe you were reading too much into things but, then again, it seemed even the swamp was urging you toward this unknown and it was finally too much. So here you were. Trudging through the wilderness. Suffering bug bites, scratching plants, and agitated Caiman, of which there were an alarming amount in this area.
Just as you begin to feel utterly lost the swamp opens up abruptly into a small clearing of sorts. The ground is hard and dry, free of any clutter or debris. Circling the small clearing are an assortment of old willow trees with long roots snaking in and out of the earth. Their tendril-like branches gently swaying as a soft breeze whispers its way through the territory. What strikes you at first is the utter silence, it's so peaceful here, so still. Not a creature stirs. You feel a strange pulse that overtakes your senses the longer you stand still, describing it is difficult. Power? Emotion? Influence? None of them feel incorrect. You realize you’re holding your breath and inhale deeply. The scent of aromatic woods and herbs fills the area. It’s intoxicating. It doesn't take you long to realize that it's the same scent from their booth each year. A pit at the center of the clearing catches your eye and you see the remnants of a fire, upon approaching it still feels warm. The embers sleeping lazily beneath charred wooden remains. The scent stronger here even with the fire fast asleep.
Looking up you notice, as if it appeared only when you stepped closer, the entrance to a cave adorned in wisteria. The flowers, lush and fragrant, attract an array of hummingbirds and bees. The stillness finally broken by wing beats and the hypnotic sound of buzzing. On either side of the entrance sit smooth, carved, hollowed out willow stumps. Each decorated with intricate symbols and shapes, strung with vines from which hang an assortment of objects (bones, feathers, etc). You feel the urge to peek in the tops of each but, before you are able, they begin to smoke. Thick plumes pour from their tops. That heavy incense disorienting you as you breathe it in. An array of images fill your vision and you shake your head to try and free yourself of their hold. Yet the feeling still lingers. Taking a deep breath, trying to clear your lungs, you enter the cave.
At first the darkness is hard to navigate and your eyes struggle to adjust. The cave is relatively dry but you can smell moisture from somewhere deeper. Something jagged stabs you in the shoulder as you bump into a wall. What in the..? That’s when you spot them. Crystals, varying in size, shape, and color, dot the sides and ceiling of the cave. You’ve never seen anything like them before and you can’t help but stare in awe. Absolutely beautiful. Suddenly a fire salamander erupts from a ledge in the cave. It’s eyes, like drops of oil, blinking thoughtfully at you. Its scales, bright as a summer sun, are bathed in a stunning blaze of golden flames. Perched next to a cluster the cave begins to dance as the light reflects off the stones and sends a flurry of color exploding throughout. Your eyes fill with wonder. The cave is full of these crystals. All shapes and sizes. Their beauty enhanced by the salamander’s light. Rainbow hues fill every nook, even the floor is a path of rainbow colors all dancing and swirling hypnotically. Mixing and separating. Churning in a sea of splendor.
“Welcome.” A soft voice calls from within. Close. Your ears perk, advancing deeper you finally see them. The three does from the market. Each as intimidating and alluring as the next. They stand around a second fire and watch you carefully. As you approach you notice the inner portion of the cave is filled with more crystals which protrude out of hanging ferns and a mixture of both climbing honeysuckle and fragrant jasmine. Wisteria lines the entrance here just as it did outside and you wonder how these plants grow so well with so little sunlight to feed them. Entranced you step forward. Called to them like a siren song. “We have been waiting. Are you ready to embrace your calling? It’s time to awaken..”
[/align]