the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes...

[goddessnanshe]

Morning of 21st June

It's still raining, though not as heavily as earlier, but I couldn't wait any longer to come out here and see what has happened. I was wakened in the early hours of Sunday by a strange feeling of pressure and brilliant light, but my cell was completely dark. I walked through the abbey, and all was still and shadowed. Anyone else

Comments

[chester_excolo]

what IS it with this town an' explosions a Power? So many in such a short span a time... bet no one gets what that does to the Otherworld an us inbetween folk. Gotta wait til things settle a bit before I c'n travel out to take a look.

Get there an find I ain't the only one's shown up. Glad I picked a nice quiet shadow under a tree beyond the radius of the destruction. I recognize the witch, seen her before in these woods, the other two I ain't sure of. Think I've seen the dame with the scarf somewhere in town, don't know 'er name, though somethin's ticklin' at my memory. Never laid eyes on the fella before. Wonder who he is an why he's interested.

I settle in under my tree to watch. Hunh. Seems like the dames know each other but not the guy. Though it looks like dame number two almost did. She thought he was somebody she knew. I take a second look. Nah. I don see whatever she did. i'm better off waitin' to see if they introduce 'emselves to each other.

[silence_excolo]

Laughing, fire, spinning in the chaos, spinning in my stomach, & my eyes burn as I wake, nauseous. My insides feel stiff, like my skin's too tight, & I'm slick with cold sweat. Something bright & strong, & the Pattern has been stretched. Burnt. But not broken?

I first think of going to see Syl, but I'm sure she already knows. So instead I head out on my own, in a wide circle, as I don't think I can come too near too quickly. The spinning of it is too much.

I see a familiar white tail under a tree. Voices tell me Syl is here, with others. I come up closer to Chester, trying to stay quiet but not wanting to startle him. My head is starting to pound. There is too much, too much darkness here. Madness.

"Hey," I whisper, letting him know I'm near.

[chester_excolo]

Introductions start and yet another person I don't recognize shows up. This thing is pullin' all sorts a folks outta the woodworks. I hear a noise behind me an' tilt an ear that way, catchin' Silence's voice as she whispers a greeting. I turn my head a bit so's I c'n see her but still keep an eye on the main gathering at the clearing.

"Hiya," I say quietly back, "Looks like we're a bit late to the party. You know any of the other guests?"

[silence_excolo]

I look towards the group gathering, but I can't seem to focus my eyes. So I close them & listen to the voices for a moment. I don't dare use my power, not here. The Pattern's too raw.

"No, just Syl," I answer Chester's question, opening my eyes. "And the tall sheriff," I add, seeing him approach. He gives us a bit of a nod but otherwise doesn't acknowledge us.

My head throbs again, but I try to focus on the group standing in the charred circle. Syl, a man in traveling clothes, two women in somewhat exotic attire, I guess. My eyes lose focus again & I swear I see... something. Just out of focus, as if it's a mirage, or an after-image...

"This place," I turn to Chester, blinking the rain from my eyes. "What do you feel?" He might have a better grasp on it than I, at least. "Definitely more than just fire..." And just for a second, I swear I hear laughter, cruel & wild. I shake my head & it's gone.

[chester_excolo]

Silence takes a moment to answer my question, says a name, the one the witch gave out. I see Deputy Hollow just before she mentions him and return his nod. 'Preciate how he doesn't call out or give any other indication of havin' seen us. I ain't sure yet if I wanna get noticed or not an' I don't think Silence wants to stick her nose out either

[al_shairan]

I move away from the groups in the circle, out toward the edge of the trees. Two small strange ripples of power here.

"Aweh," I say gravely, and nod at the spirit in feline form. "Been some time since I've seen a talking cat. You her familiar, my bru?" I say.

[silence_excolo]

Pyromancy. Telekinesis. Can't say I've heard those terms outside of a book in... well, in a while. Maybe that's why it left such an impression. Chester thinks it was an accident. "Uncontrolled," I mutter, but that's not quite right. More like it was brought under control. "You know who did this, then? Is she a danger?" My hand's on my head; pressure behind my eyes.

Should I try to fix the damage here? So much power in one spot, it may not be able to repair itself. And that still doesn't explain the darkness & madness. Like it's from different sources. "More than one, perhaps?" The darkness itself seems secondary, but the chaos under it all...

The traveler is talking, quite clear & loud now, about the pattern of the blasts, & it's clear he's a man of some scientific education. Guess I'm kinda impressed, because I'm watching him closely- something about him pulls at me. I hear him mention blood & Syl goes to check-

"Aweh," & I whip my head around. The slender, dark woman. I didn't hear her approach. My head throbs at the sudden

[chester_excolo]

Silence mutters some thing to her herself and then asks if Alice is a danger. I start to shake my head but then stop to think about it. This is a lotta destruction an' I don't gotta clue what set her off. Not really. I gotta talk to her bout it. Her an Hermia.

I look down at my feet, feelin' a little uncomfortable, "Yeah I know who it was. As for her bein' a danger...I ain't sure. B'fore this, I'd said no. Now...? Now...now I know I gotta talk to her, find out what happened."

I'm real glad when the tall, dark dame comes over to us. She nods to me an' says it' been awhile since she's seen a talking cat an I wonder where 'n when she saw another one. Asks if I'm Silence's familiar which's understandable. I catch the mage's snort at that but she don't say nothin' bout it. Leavin' it up to me I guess. Though her attention is more on Syl an the others. I keep an ear cocked that way but my attention is on the woman in fronta us.

"Yeah, I'm a familiar right enough. M'called Chester." I take couple steps over so's I c'n get a good sniff a

[al_shairan]

"Bakgat," I say thoughtfully. "But not her familiar," I add, nodding at the dark girl. "You roam away from your mistress? I guess a mistress. Maybe a master, but you look like a ladies' man." I grin, showing bright white teeth.

[silence_excolo]

The slender woman uses a word I'm not familiar with, but I understand it all the same. She seems amiable enough, & Chester doesn't seem too put off by her, but... I don't know. That edge is still there. She jokes with Chester, rightly guessing I'm not his, while I try to listen to the group. The educated traveler has backed away a bit & looks like he's sketching something. The others are in a clump around the center green patch.

"Do you think whatever happened here was bringing him back?" The shorter woman seems to be aware of who Syl means, & just as worried as she is about it. I knew Tez was more, far more than what he seemed, but to come back from death? True & final death. At least, that's what it was supposed to be, I gathered. Makes my teeth grind.

I suddenly realize that Chester's introduced himself to the strange woman but she has yet to do so. Odd. I look back to her over my shoulder, wondering if I should do so as well. Her smile is so very bright.