The forest was dark, the storm creating the illusion of night and the thick trees doing little to break it. The rain struck against him like hard pellets, the mud clung to his shoes, the branches of trees reaching out to him like witches’ fingers. The forest was dark, and there seemed to be no end to it.
Reed just pulled his yellow hoodie tighter around himself and ran forward, like an idiot.
He had seen some glowing thing flash through the trees a few minutes ago. It had to be her, right? She had seemed to be leading him this whole time.
A little too late, Reed started questioning his actions. How could it be her? It must have been a trick of his imagination. He really was an idiot, running after a glowing figure who may or may not be his sister’s soul.
A rumble of thunder in the distance. Reed sighed. Whatever the case, it was too late now. He had to get out of this rain or risk getting… pneumonia or whatever. Maybe there was a road up ahead, and one of those out-in-the-middle-of-nowhere gas stations on the side.
He continued onward, running like he was being chased. As expected, the land betrayed him, and he tripped on some unknowable object. He landed on the ground, a sharp pain shooting up his foot. He cried out, tears coming to his eyes.
After a second of trying not to let the pain get to him, he raised head, eyes still watery. He had reached a clearing, it seemed. Small houses and cottages clustered together many yards away. It was like a suburban neighborhood, except transported to the 1600s.
Reed took a deep breath, and got up. Walking forward, he let out a sigh. Thank goodness he didn’t twist his ankle. This was better than he hoped for. It was actual civilization before him, and not some old, dusty, forgotten road. He started running again, hoping to find some shelter.
Lucifer spotted movement in the distance. They had just came back from the silos, having made sure they were watertight, and were going back to his house to check on Eris. But they stopped all that, the second they saw the shape moving at the edge of the trees, running towards him at lightning fast speed. He sighed. So the forest had sent them another visitor. Hopefully, this one wouldn't stay permanently, but like all the others, Luci didn't have much hope. They shouted a greeting, and waved. "Over here, storm's terrible!" he said, voice supernaturally loud and capable of being heard through the rain even across the clearing. The rain began to pour harder, thunder beginning to crash and boom and lightning beginning to crackle across the sky. They then sought cover in their house, quickly running from lantern to lantern lighting them so that the place would be lit enough to see even through the thick downpour.
Hearing the thunder, Chikara jumped back through her open window, closing it on the way in. Realizing just how muddy she was, she headed to her bathroom and jumped in her small tub to wash it off and dry off. She'd heard Lucifer's call to what seemed like a new visitor, maybe she'd get to introduce herself when the storm was over. Or, better yet, maybe the newbie would bunk with her and she'd get right to it. There was only so much she could do in her house and a new resident would make it so much more interesting.
Deep in her thought, she closed all the windows so the rain wouldn't get in. It was good for her carpet, but too much would just make it unbearably damp. Her mind drifted to what the new resident could be; maybe it was someone she knew.
(I just imagine Reed coming across her house and just being like "Why on earth is there moss on the floor".)
It was soon clear that Reed had wildly underestimated how badly he hurt his foot. The pain escalated with each step as he ran, and he soon found himself muttering, “Ow, ow, ow, ow-“ while trying not to cry. He kept running though, blindly toward the voice he heard booming over the clearing, and spooked by the loud thunder and bright lightening.
Opening his eyes to see where he was going, he caught the lights and veered toward them. Soon he came up to the house the lights were coming from and crashed into the door. “Owww,” he moaned, finally letting the tears flow.
The sudden welcoming of thunder had deterred Kamilla from asking anyone to come splash puddles from her. In fact, she went to jump into this gigantic one, and it felt as if more rain came down the second after. Any trace of satisfaction or joy was gone as she stood there for a few moments.
Normally she would go back inside and watch the lightning from a window or sleep in her coffin. Although, the second Luci's voice roared through the land after a newcomer, she decided to stay on the porch at the very least.
A new visitor! Something, more like someone, exciting after all this bad weather! Yes, she is upset about how she is drenched already, but the fact that there is someone new is always a happy thing. She likes to believe it so.
Stepping up onto the porch, Kamilla took off the headscarf. She let it lay on the wooden floor while letting herself sit down besides it. Humming to herself, she looked around to see if this newcomer would pass by, but found her chin tilting up to the sky.
Luci didn't see the stranger's face, but he already knew something was off. They looked too… small, and evenly shaped, too human. Had a human found their way in…? Luci didn't know. But it looked injured. They could probably drive them back to the edge of the clearing in the morning, the sun was setting and soon it would be dark even if you couldn't see it with the rain. They walked over to where the stranger had stumbled in, closing and locking the door. They picked the human up, the moment they saw its face was the moment he knew their suspicions were correct.
Reed quickly wiped at his eyes, hearing the sound of footsteps. Quickly he got up and readjusted the backpack on his shoulders and took off his yellow hood. “Um, thanks for letting me-“ he was cut off as he felt large hands pick him up. Face to face with owner of those hands, he shrieked and squirmed in their grip.
“Oh my god! What-“ he managed to slip his backpack off of himself and hold it over his face like a shield.
Predictable. Human nature, to push against anything that revolted them without a word in edgewise. He immediately dropped the human, it was a long drop from how Luci was standing and to be honest, it wouldn't be a surprise if the human got the wind knocked out of it. They then went to the kitchen, where Eris was standing. "Dad? Did we get a visitor?" it asked, talking with her mouth full as she took another bite of some pastry Lucifer didn't remember making. "No. Go to your room." Luci said, but Eris pushed past them and ran to Reed. "Ooh, what manner of monster are you? Werewolf, it seems, or well, maybe vampire. No, not enough hair, and not pale and sickly enough." she said, examining Reed's face and opening his mouth to view his teeth.
Far too bored to stay, Chikara couldn't help but overhear (not really overhear though, she could just tell they were) talking in the distance. Taking the door this time, she went to visit Lucifer and maybe help with whatever was going on. She jumped onto the outer window sill and waved at them (y'all have windows, right?).
(Fun fact, a fox can hear a mouse squeak from 100ft away.)
Luci made frantic gestures for Chikara to leave, anything but more chaos right now. He closed the shutters, then went to lock the doors and shut down any chance of any other person getting in. When they were done with that, they returned to the entryway… only to find Eris and the human gone.
Eris dragged Reed up the stairs, dragging his arm (as well as, presumably, the rest of his body) along. "If not a werewolf or vampire, perhaps a satyr? I didn't see much of your legs, so it's hard to check." she rambled on.
Reed held his backpack to his chest now, stunned into silence after being dropped. His heart raced, and he scrambled up when he saw another person running toward him, the skull half of their face panicking him even more.
He cursed loudly as the person started dragging him along. “Ouch! Oh my god, oh my g-“ he needed to stop saying that. Trying not to put too much weight on his foot, he cried, “Are you okay?? You look like you need to go the hospital!”
Eris stopped. "Huh? No? Uh… what's a hospital?" it asked, looking confused. "Are you okay? Do you need to see my dad? They're a healer, y'know. Anything you need, he can fix." she then pulled Reed up the last few steps, and into its room. "Okay, we're alone now. So, what's the outside world like? Dad says nobody else can tell me, and they have to listen to Dad or they end up like Raoul. Kicked out." she said ominously. "Then, of course, they get torn to shreds by the trees." a much less ominous, much more graphic statement.
(Chikara is a being of pure chaotic energy stuffed in the mortal form of a fox, she's completely ready to break the law. Also, she owns a cell phone because it's useful even when you're highly cottagecore. I can delete this if it messes with the storyline.)
(It kinda does, sorry. No electricity on the Isle except in the tower, which only Luci can go into for ominous plot reasons.)
As chaotic as Chikara was, she knew not to get on Lucifer's bad side. Something about the situation still tugged on her soul, so to say, so she decided to hide behind the building instead of just leaving. She pressed her ear up against the back of their house and tried to listen in to what he said.
(She is still pure chaos stuffed in a mortal vessel and still owns a phone, it's just perpetually dead and in the drawer under her bed.)
Konrád stopped walking. He walked off the side of the path, watching the beginning of the scene unfold. Only thing he knew is that while he is curious, it would be best to stay away from things as far as possible. He felt Jarek's presence lingering within his mind. Its pulling led him to continue on his walk, but continued forward. Closer and closer onwards despite his hand tightly gripping the umbrella handle. His hair showing little streaks of dark red.
Somehow Kamilla decided to ignore the fact that her dress and headscarf were damp. Though wrapping the wet thing around her head, she bit down on her bottom lip in order to focus her attention on something else.
She dashed over to see what was going on. She wanted to know who the new monster was. She wondered if they would like to stomp in rain puddles or make flower crowns. Kamilla hoped they weren't a vampire only because her being one is probably enough for everyone, including herself.
Kamilla walked around until noticing Chikara behind the building, she stopped. An odd iron scent came from inside; Kamilla shook her head at the observation. Trying to not get a lot of mud on her dress, she picked up her skirts then slowly came over. "Is everything alright?" She whispered. Pressing the side of her head against the building, she then asked, "Do we have a new friend?"
Eris stopped. "Huh? No? Uh… what's a hospital?" it asked, looking confused. "Are you okay? Do you need to see my dad? They're a healer, y'know. Anything you need, he can fix." she then pulled Reed up the last few steps, and into its room. "Okay, we're alone now. So, what's the outside world like? Dad says nobody else can tell me, and they have to listen to Dad or they end up like Raoul. Kicked out." she said ominously. "Then, of course, they get torn to shreds by the trees." a much less ominous, much more graphic statement.
Reed chuckled nervously. “Oh. Um, yeah, I hurt my foot pretty bad, I guess.” Once the skull person took him into the room, he took some time to get a good look at its face, trying come to terms with the fact that it was actually speaking to him and he wasn’t dreaming.
He blinked. “What do you mean, ‘outside world’? I don’t even know where I am.” Then he cocked his head. Torn to shreds by the trees…? “Sounds like that’s what happened to my foot. Also, I’m not a satyr or werewolf or any of that stuff. I’m just a dude. What are you?”
"Uh… I'm Eris. Named by my father after the Goddess of Discord. Not much for chaos myself, but I do like a little bit of fun every once in a while. What's a dude, then? I've never heard of that one before." she said, it sounded like it disapproved somehow, or at least was waiting for approval. "Uh… I could probably help your foot if you'd like." she said, suddenly something huge slithered out from underneath its bed. "Buddy, no! Go away, stinky-butt, I'm trying to talk to this thing! Ugh, sorry, that's Buddy." it said, pointing to the 22-foot-long albino zombie
burmese python that was currently curling around Reed for warmth.
She looked back at Kamila. "I don't know," she said, "Lucifer seemed panicked, so I'm trying to listen in and figure out what's going on." She pressed her ear against the building once more, hearing some of what was said. She'd recognized the voice of Eris, but she couldn't recognize the other voice. "I think Eris is talking to the new resident? They sound masculine."
"Eris's room has a window," she said to Kamila, "right? Could you get us up there and see if she'll fill us in?"
(Hey Knight, do mind if Endra joins Jarek once he like, transforms?)
Drawing in a breath, Kamilla then quickly moved her chin up and down. There really is no need for her to be pressing the left side of her head against the wall, but there is always fun in doing simple things that she doesn't need to do; like sighing or using pillows.
She did hear Eris, but then she did hear an unknown voice. Then there's that iron smell coming from inside. But of course, her mind fixated on another oddity? "Dude?" Kamilla tilted her head. The word sounded funny on her tongue. "What is a dude? Is it some kind folkloric creature?"
Tilting her chin up at the window, her headscarf fell back, revealing her hair. She didn't even notice this. Her fingers curled up against the building's wall. "I am not so sure…" She murmured. "It is already not good that we are doing this…"
Frowning at herself, she stood away from the wall. "Maybe we can knock on the door!" Kamilla suggested. Her eyes lit up as the idea had come to her. "And then we can see Eris and the new friend and maybe help Luci since they seem stressed! What do you think?"
"Uh… I'm Eris. Named by my father after the Goddess of Discord. Not much for chaos myself, but I do like a little bit of fun every once in a while. What's a dude, then? I've never heard of that one before." she said, it sounded like it disapproved somehow, or at least was waiting for approval. "Uh… I could probably help your foot if you'd like." she said, suddenly something huge slithered out from underneath its bed. "Buddy, no! Go away, stinky-butt, I'm trying to talk to this thing! Ugh, sorry, that's Buddy." it said, pointing to the 22-foot-long albino zombie
burmese python that was currently curling around Reed for warmth.
“Oh, hi Eris. That’s a cool name. I’m Reed.” Then he blinked, looking around the room awkwardly. “Uhhh, it’s nothing, I mean to say I’m… I’m a person? I’m human.” He ran a hand through his curly blue hair. “Um, that would be—“ his eyes bulged, seeing the long thing slithering towards him. He cursed again, seeing rotten flesh and bones poking out of it. At first he tried to get away from it, but he remembered from his experiences with other animals and pets that it was better to just keep still and let it sus you out, so that’s what he did. “O— oh, hi Buddy. Nice to— nice to meet you.”
Eris stumbled back at the word "human", tearing the blankets off its bed and shielding herself with them. "No… you can't be! You're too nice, and humans are evil!" she said, peeking from behind the blankets and staring in awe. This "Reed" person didn't seem to be lying, so Eris scooted back a little and hid. Meanwhile, Luci was trying to open the door to their daughter's room, hoping to keep her safe from the human, however it'd managed to get in here.
"Alright," she said smiling at Kamila, "we'll try alright." She trotted over to the front door, looking back and beckoning her to follow every once in a while. Chikara wasn't completely sure Lucifer would let them in, especially with the implications of what they heard. Most of the citizens here had no idea what that meant, but she was young and had been outside up until about a decade ago.
Reed just quirked an awkward smile. “Well uh, I’m as human as they come. But yeah, I can’t disagree with you there. Humans are kind of evil. I don’t even really think I’m a ‘nice’ person, but thanks for saying so. So I’m guessing you’re not human?”
He really wasn’t dreaming, right? He didn’t hit his head when he tripped? Speaking of which, his foot still hurt a lot. Maybe that proved he wasn’t dreaming. Maybe if he was, he wouldn’t be in pain. Reed glanced at the door, hearing sounds on the other side. Oh great, it was probably that large person with the weird eyes.
"And try we must!" Kamilla exclaimed. Clenching her fists, she shook them with an eager grin. So many possibilities of what could happened passed through her mind. She would be a bit disappointed if they can't go in to see the new one, but at the same time, she understands; it's probably a lot for Luci. New things are exciting, yet you never know what will truly happen.
Turning around, she picked up her skirts then zipped over to Chikara's side. Still having happy fists, they lightly bounced and hit her sides. "Whoever they are, they smell….odd," She whispered, mostly to herself. "It's a good smell, but at the same time….I am not sure."
After hurling over, clenching his side in pain, Konrád was no more, but Jarek was here! Getting back up, he rolled his head around, hearing the satisfying sounds of his neck cracking.
"Stupid idiot…" He muttered while looking down at the suit. Going over to the nearest home, he took off the glasses, jacket, and vest. Jarek had forgotten about the umbrella, but who cares? Clearly he would be the last person to do so.
Everything looks terribly boring. From the sky down to the ground, absolutely fucking boring. Not to mention, it was quiet from where he stood. Jarek rolled his black eyes at the sight of it all.
Reed just quirked an awkward smile. “Well uh, I’m as human as they come. But yeah, I can’t disagree with you there. Humans are kind of evil. I don’t even really think I’m a ‘nice’ person, but thanks for saying so. So I’m guessing you’re not human?”
He really wasn’t dreaming, right? He didn’t hit his head when he tripped? Speaking of which, his foot still hurt a lot. Maybe that proved he wasn’t dreaming. Maybe if he was, he wouldn’t be in pain. Reed glanced at the door, hearing sounds on the other side. Oh great, it was probably that large person with the weird eyes.
Eris didn't respond. Luci managed to pick the lock, and with that they were able to enter, massive frame just barely squeezing through the doorway. They closed the door, and Eris quickly ran to him. "Dad, how did a human get in here? They aren't supposed to even know about this place!" it said, hiding behind Lucifer. They looked Reed up and down, he seemed harmless but overall, probably would run screaming to the other humans if he was turned loose.
