[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

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[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

Post by HuniPi »

Despite the Winter Market wrapping up, there were still minor tasks that Forward by Choice had to ensure were handled. He took his duties seriously and didn't like leaving anything up to chance, which was why he was relieved Leaves You Breathless had agreed to experiencing travel through the obelisks first rather than leaving it for later when the Ache was at its strongest.

Once he finished giving his instructions, charting the route, and letting all relevant kin know of his whereabouts, the totoma set off to meet with Leaves You Breathless. Rather than the edge of the swamp, Forward had told her their meeting point would be in neutral territory, where the closest obelisk was. Normally almot a day's travel, if they pushed themselves they could get there within half a day but he would leave their pace up to the kio doe.

And if they saw game along the way, there was no harm in having fresher meat and saving the dried food Heart had prepared for them for their return trip instead.
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[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

Post by doomsayer »

When Forward By Choice explained to her that they would be meeting in neutral territory, her instincts told her that it was ridiculous to have to start their journey by going deeper into the swamp. But from what he and Heart and Home has told her about the obelisks, this has become routine now to those who seek to get further out into the edges of kin-populated lands.



Forward allowed her to set the pace as the trek deeper into the swamp would itself take a good part of the day. She opted to move slowly and keep an eye out for prey during their trip. It was best not to tire themselves out at the start of their journey and she would be leaving Duskprowler and Noon Pursuit behind when they entered the obelisk, so it was best to take advantage of their assistance in hunting while she still could.



It was dusk when they arrived at the area of the obelisk. Finally seeing the structure, she wonders how she had not seen it before. Rising out of the water, it was neither hidden nor small, like an angry bruise in the swamp, standing out stark and clean. Though she had prepared herself mentally for this moment, she found herself nervous at utilizing such a mysterious artifact.

She looks at Forward for a sign of how to approach.
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[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

Post by HuniPi »

Forward by Choice understood the initial apprehension upon first laying eyes on the strange structure. "It is strange but so is the MotherFather's ways and deeds. Calm your mind, having a good focus is necessary for when we go inside."

He waited for the spectral familiars the doe brought with her to settle in their surroundings before making his way towards the obelisk. "I will need you to believe me when I say to just walk into it." As absurd as the instructions are, there really was no other way to describe what actions one needed to take to enter. "Maybe focusing on wanting to go inside can help. I found it made entering less concerning. Once you're inside, stay on the path and do not stray off it. While I don't doubt your nerves, if you feel any urge to bolt from the strangeness of everything, fight it. I will stay as close by as I am able."

On his first journey with Heart, he'd used her glow as a beacon, her warmth and gentle presence anchoring him when he couldn't trust his senses. While he had no glowing markings nor brilliant halo, he hoped his size would suffice. He would keep close to Leaves You Breathless as much as he could and as near as she would allow.
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[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

Post by doomsayer »

His explanation was reasonable--as far as interacting with unexplained mystical objects could be described as reasonable--but it did not do anything to assuage her tension regarding the situation. But she's been in high tension, high stakes situations before. If all she had to do was focus, then that much she could manage.

"Alright then. Walk into it. Stay on the path. Focus."

She nods to Forward By Choice one last time before half-running headlong into the side of the obelisk. Immediately she finds herself in a dim world; not pitch black but a very dark grey, as though the surroundings were eating away at any light that existed in the space. Even through her own glowing halo, she can barely make out any shapes around her. Keeping her destination in mind, she takes a moment to look back to make sure that Forward really did follow her in.
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[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

Post by HuniPi »

It shouldn't have surprised Forward that Leaves dashed into the obelisk. Kiokote from what he'd heard were always built for speed and it would certainly bring one past the obelisk's threshold. The totoma followed after her with a more measured gait but he was still right behind her when he entered the in-between space.

He never could become accustomed to the disorientation. The lack of the familiar scents, sights, and sounds played merry havoc on his senses but he was prepared for it. And more importantly, he couldn't let Leaves You Breathless go through this on her own. He moved towards the light of her halo, its glow muted into a faint glimmer.

"I'm here," he said once he was close enough the heat of his breath could touch the doe. "Time is different here so we needn't rush. How are you faring?"
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[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

Post by doomsayer »

She was glad to find him close behind her, as he promised he would be. She found herself moving closer to him than she would usually let herself get to other kin. She was out of her element and he was her anchor in this desolate space.

"I think I'm alright. I'm a little imbalanced by the lack of landmass to make a heading for or objects to measure depth or distance, but otherwise I don't feel anything wrong. How do I know where the path is?"

She looks around again, the shadows at the edge of the greyness swirling into shapes that are almost familiar, but never long enough to actually appear as something she could fully recognize.
Last edited by doomsayer on Wed Feb 21, 2024 1:40 am, edited 2 times in total. word count: 122
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[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

Post by HuniPi »

Forward by Choice pawed at the "ground" or whatever surface they were on with a very faint crunch. "This is is the path and moving forward is the path." While he could feel his hoof pull at loose dirt and soft ground, the actual "land" remained unchanged. He took in a breath of air, but it was neither stale nor fresh it was just enough.

"If you're up for it, let's continue on. Think of where you want to go, envision it in your mind's eye, and move forward." He looked off into the distance, despite there being nothing there, Forward stared intently at that point. "At some point, something will appear to try and lure us off the path. It happens three times. Sometimes it happens two at once or altogether in one go."
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[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

Post by doomsayer »

Leaves You Breathless tried her best to understand. This must be some sort of place that is not just physical, but inside the mind as well. She imagines border between the desert and the plains, an oasis where her mentor used to take her to rest after a long day of hunting. This is where she wanted to go, and with this in mind, she walks a steady pace.

Like Forward said, time seemed to work different here. She can't tell how long they have been walking, whether they had just entered or if they had been walking for a long time already. The lack of anything was incredibly disorienting, and even if she was warned that something would appear eventually, she was still caught off guard when it did.
5. The dark being made only of shadow, eyes glowing in the dark. He only laughs.
They eyes in the shadows seemed to follow her. They were the first thing she was actually able to discren without them disappearing into swirling shapes. They blinked and suddenly they were closer, like the edge of the dark and shadow was suddenly closing in. She had seen eyes in the night before, just a consequence of hunting in the dark. But never had she felt such malice in a gaze.

Her fur was already on end when the eyes appeared infront of them and, from nowhere and everywhere at the same time, a horrible echoing laughter surrounded them. This caused her to flinch and stand even closer to Forward until their manes were nearly touching.
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[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

Post by HuniPi »

Forward narrowed his eyes at the shadows, and when a pair of eyes met his gaze he snorted but quickly turned his attention away. Even when the shadowy figure tried to dart back into line of sight, he ignored it. He caught movement within his periphery and realized it was Leaves You Breathless. He kept close to her, pressing his side lightly against hers as reassurance that she wasn't alone.

"It's alright," he said, though he wasn't sure if she could hear him over the laughter. "I'm here," he spoke again, a little louder than before but not loud enough to be yelling. "Let's keep moving. It won't, can't touch you."
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[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

Post by doomsayer »

She barely hears him the first time he calls out because of the echoing laughter. It shook her from deep within. It was a long time ago since she was this scared of something. But hearing him say that he was there when he pressed gently against her side snapped her out of it.

Other kin take these paths all the time. Certainly it can't be dangerous. This is just a challenge of the mind--the will. She closes her eyes and takes in a couple of deep breaths to steel herself. When she open them, the eyes are still there and the laughter is still going on, but she has a hold of herself now.

She asks Forward By Choice as she walks at his pace, "Do we know what is it that is in here with us? What they want?"
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[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

Post by HuniPi »

Despite keeping his composure, Forward's ears flicked in agitation on instinct. The laughter was unnerving but as long as they stayed on the path, they will be fine. "I do not know specifically. I do not think anyone who makes it out does. They might be the kin who strayed, or were lured off the path and became lost-"
11 wrote:A strange mist that turns them into a foal version of themself.
"-here in the In-Between." His voice, normally gruff and deep came out as a higher pitch. The sharp difference startled him, had him turning to Leaves You Breathless and he froze. Rather than a kiokote doe who could dash gracefully at speed walked by him, it was a kiokote foal. Her halo had dimmed to nothing, only a faint glow outlined her head.

"Leaves You Breathless?" he asked, again his words were spoken by a foal-like voice.
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[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

Post by doomsayer »

Leaves looks to the totoma beside her, now diminutive compared to how she saw him just a moment ago. She hears the disquiet quality of his younger voice as he calls her name and stops in his tracks. She looks down at her own body, although she already felt the imbalance in her gait that comes with having the underdeveloped legs of a foal. Her legs are thin and her core is small. They've both somehow turned back into younger versions of themselves. The thought of going back through the mist crosses her mind; that maybe doing so would undo their current predicament. But Forward did say that they should stay on the path. She had already steeled herself--turning back was not an option.

She keeps her breath steady and stays with Forward By Choice. Now that they are in their younger forms, she finds herself a head taller than him--typical of totoma to develop bulk rather than height in their early stages. She stretches her neck above his head and gently sets her chin down on top of his neck. She can feel the speed of his heartbeat. This is the first time she has seen him show any sign of distress.

"It's alright. I'm here for you now. You said it yourself: we stay on the path, we focus, we get to where we need to get. This is all just in our mind. Just this place trying us. We won't let it win. Taking deep breaths helps calm me down, you can try that. We can move forward again when you're ready."
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[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

Post by HuniPi »

The effect of returning to his younger years should not have had such an effect on him. He'd moved forward, he was no longer tied to his past mistakes and failures. But in this form, it all felt too fresh. As if he was doomed to repeat his mistakes all over again but with a new kin who would end up paying dearly for his short-comings.

He almost stumbled back, barely able to resist the urge to sharply turn on his heels to seek out the mist that turned them into this form.

Almost.

But despite the In-Between leeching color and sound and messing with his senses, the physical warmth of another kin brought him back to himself. While she sounded younger there was still that strength and determination undertoning her voice. And the racing of his heartbeat began to slow. He did as instructed, slowly breathing in deep and focusing on feeling his chest swell from the air.

Time moved differently here. It could have been the blink of an eye or an eon before he finally managed to steady himself.

"Thank you." He said, trying to peer up at the taller foal, but only managing to look up at the edge of her muzzle.
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[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

Post by doomsayer »

It did not matter to her how much time they took for him to settle down. She took comfort in his presence hopefully as much as he is taking comfort from hers. She observed the still not yet fully formed patterns of white lines on the red of his torso and the tuft on the back of his neck and shoulders that would eventually become his mane. She had to admit to herself that was quite cute as a foal.

When he thanked her she simply responded,"You did the same for me. We're in this together. And we're going to get out of here together."

Slow and steady they start to walk again. She isn't sure if it's just her eyes adjusting further in the darkness, but the greyness of the place looks to be getting brighter. She turns her head to tell Forward by Choice, but instead sees a different kin walking beside her. Someone she had not seen for a very, very long time.
1. A kin who has passed away, back from the dead.
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[PRP] Laying the Groundwork (Forward by Choice x Leaves You Breathless)

Post by HuniPi »

Eventually, Forward by Choice's nerves calmed down enough that they could continue their journey. But at some point, he no longer could sense her presence. He whirled around to see what had happened, unsure of what to expect but what he saw still unnerved him.
18 wrote:A hideous row of dead trees, each pulsing with a heartbeat.
The pulsating heartbeat seemed to burrow into his ears, taking root beneath his skin as if it was trying to cause his own blood to thrum in time. He barely managed to stop himself from approaching on instinct. But why shouldn't he get closer for a better look? The distance between the totoma and these trees wasn't vast by any stretch of the imagination.

But then he noticed a small voice within him was trying to get his attention. At first it was so faint he had to strain to listen. With this distraction, the heartbeat seemed to dull and he was able to focus on the voice.
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