Day 247 Patron Quest

[the_last]

[When Estelle arrives, she will experience sudden disorientation, as if suddenly unfamiliar with being inside her body, perhaps not even knowing why she is there or who she is. It lasts for but a moment and then slowly fades... The world around her seems unusually quiet and gray, as though the color were stolen but there remains just enough to suggest that things have been greatly subdued. Within the gray is an expansive forest of every tree imaginable and dry, brittle grass that extends to mid-calf. Here and there, one might even spot some faded prints left upon the ground. The sky is equally gray, although not one cloud can be seen.

And just in front of her, three thumb-sized seeds rest on a flat white rock.]

Comments

[the_last]

[After a moment, a tiny seedling appears and the area just around the hill fills with color, although it's more of a flickering sort of color.]

[fullmoonblooms]

...I hope that helps.

[time to continue moving forward then]

[the_last]

[As she goes, she might feel the faintest touch of warmth, sunlight, upon her. . .]

[fullmoonblooms]

[blinks and looks up...then smiles]

[the_last]

[Following the path will take her up a sharper incline, the foliage around her getting more gnarled and thorny as she goes. Perhaps part of a thicket. The grounds becomes much rockier. And somewhere, there is a low baying of several hounds.]

[fullmoonblooms]

[tensing up at the sound and kneeling down, trying to catch sight of whatever hounds may be out there]

[the_last]

[There actually is a hound. A very large hound. Just a few feet in front of her.

It does not look particularly nice.]

[fullmoonblooms]

[...BUT CAN IT SEE ME?]

[the_last]

[IT SURE CAN.

It's also snarling loudly and blocking her path. :E]

[fullmoonblooms]

[o-oh dear. slowly standing up, her shield now on hand]

Um...Can you please let me pass? I'm on an important quest.

[the_last]

[It bares its frightening teeth, the fur on its back rising in an unsettling manner.]

If you want safe passage, you must pay.

[fullmoonblooms]

...I have to pay? What price?

[the_last]

Give me what you have, then I'll decide if it's worth your life.

[fullmoonblooms]

[...holds up her shield. even if she's the only one here, she knows she can defend herself.]

[and she also knows that Fell wouldn't put her in danger if he didn't think she could handle it.]

I can't do that. I made a promise to complete my quest.

[the_last]

[Growls more menacingly and looks as if it's readying for a lunge.]

Are you sure you want to put your faith in such a creature's word?

[fullmoonblooms]

Of course, I'm sure. He's never done anything to help me, and he's only ever wanted to understand others.

I trust Fell.

[the_last]

[The hound gives one final snarl before throwing back its head in a fearsome howl...

And then promptly turning into a thick coil of rope.

Yep.]

[fullmoonblooms]

[ . . . W H A T ? ? ? ]

[picking the rope up...?]

[the_last]

[Just ahead of where the hound was is a quaint, little glade.]

[fullmoonblooms]

[...taking that rope and making her way to the glade]

[the_last]

[Guess what is glowing again?]

[fullmoonblooms]

...Oh!

[yes, lets find a spot to plant this seed!]

[the_last]

[There is now an adorable seedling! And the same minor colorization as before occurs around the area. But it stretches a little farther than last time. . .]

[fullmoonblooms]

[adding a little bit of water to help this time too, before moving on]

[the_last]

[It grows somewhat bigger!

Anyway, the steep path levels out a bit as she moves forward. As moves, there is a tiny echo of gentle singing, as though from a girl only slightly older than the one Estelle met at the start.]