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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 18, 2023 18:37:13 GMT -6
It felt as if they had arrived here but a few days ago, but somehow those days had managed to merge into a length of time that could only reasonably be measured in weeks. This was the first time Zenjesi felt they had caught their breath. As if to emphasize the point, they let out a sigh, watching their breath misting in the autumn evening air. A certain melancholy had settled over them. Perhaps they were simply tired - exhausted, really - overwhelmed... Any number of adjectives could apply. They were tired, in both body and mind. But now they were alone. Truly alone, for the first time since arriving at the Labs proper. No Houluh dancing around their heels, no Bulldozers nipping at them, no unfamiliar creatures performing unexpected magic tricks. It was just Zenjesi. They closed their eyes, willing themselves to somehow absorb the sound of the serenity.
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 18, 2023 18:43:48 GMT -6
They had managed to hitch a ride to the city walls. No surprise, they found themselves paying more credits than they really presumed the ride was worth. For a moment, they had considered walking in lieu of the ridiculous payment, but more than likely they were going to be walking home. Which was another funny thing, really, calling it home. Sleeping on the floor of their kennel space hardly qualified. They ached every morning, but they had no other place to rest. They supposed they could have put in more effort to find one, but that would mean being alone again. What is the difference between Good Alone and Bad Alone? they wondered to themselves. They were not sure. But this, now, was Good Alone. No, this was Necessary Alone. It was The Watch. How the time had gotten away from them... They could only hope they had not missed anything.
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 18, 2023 18:52:36 GMT -6
Their eyes turned from the city walls and the paved roads and up to the forest that lay beyond it all. Everything within the walls was curated, crafted, shaped specifically for some purpose, created with some intention. This was relatively wild land. Well, not so wild as to be dangerous, which Zenjesi frankly found a bit of a disappointment. But it was natural. Trees put down roots where they found fit, fostering shelter for undergrowth and whatever other creatures lurked and thrived along the forest floor. This wall stood barrier between the two worlds. Zenjesi belonged to both of them. Or... perhaps that was too bold to say. Zenjesi had existed in both spaces. Was either really home? They could not say they believed so. Home - or their best understanding of it - had left them years ago. But they felt a call, as they often did, and so tonight would be for The Watch.
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 18, 2023 19:00:16 GMT -6
The satyr began their walk ahead without a glance back. Their longer cloak swirled around the point their legs shifted from human to Other. Their pointed ears, also decidedly Other, were growing chilled already, but they did not want to pull their hood and risk missing a sign. Their eyes were affixed to the ground, surveying their hoof placement as they strayed from the path and approached tree cover. They were walking with intention and direction, though what was measuring those things, they could not say. Leaves whispered overhead in the light breeze. Those that had already fallen rustled underhoof. The forest swallowed them. Perhaps they should not have assumed they would be safe here. After all, what reason did they have to believe nothing had ever escaped the Labs? An uncontrollable beast left to wander the forest and scavenge to survive? Of course, Zenjesi had told no one they were here.
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 18, 2023 19:12:27 GMT -6
They had no one to tell. In fact, the thought of leaving word at all had only occurred to them now. What good would it do to inform anyone if they were consumed by the wilderness? Well, now they had a kennel to mind. Having the responsibility was foreign. They supposed they should have left a note. But it did not matter. Zenjesi trusted their instincts. They would be safe tonight. "I know you are here," Zenjesi whispered aloud. Somewhere. Logically, her being here would be incredibly unlikely. But there was nothing logical about her. There had never been anything logical in the situation, or their life on the whole. That was why carriage drivers demanded extra credits of Zenjesi. It was the cost of subjecting them to the satyr's presence; it was an Illogical Tax. But when so little made sense, the nonsense became comfort.
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 28, 2023 18:25:26 GMT -6
And this was comfort today: a calm, solitary place, flavored with the lightest edge of hope and fear. Someday there would have to be a sign, would there not? The hope and the fear thrived on the premise that today could be that day. Or perhaps yesterday had been, and they had not been here when it called. Or... perhaps tomorrow yet would be, and they ought to plan nothing else but The Watch until the end of time.
Zenjesi shuddered. Their hooves paused, they raised their head. It was dark; they had brought a lantern but it hung unlit at their hip. There was a breathless moment where the wind held still. But something moved. Zenjesi's head turned instinctively - something white? - but there was nothing. Nothing but darkness and trees. "I am here," Zenjesi called, but of course their voice could only reach a whisper. "Are you?"
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Post by Zenjesi on Oct 30, 2023 9:36:21 GMT -6
They let out a slow, trembling breath. A trick of the light? What light? A trick of their mind? Impossible. There had been something there. The question was only if it had lingered. They hesitated just a moment; what did instinct say? Instinct was curious, though not urging. They took their current position amongst the trees to heart, then unhooked the lantern and slowly set it between their hooves. It was left there as a marker as they stepped off in pursuit of the apparition. "I am here," they repeated, though they knew their voice could not be heard over the rustling of the leaves. Silently, they cursed it. What if they had been able to call for her, to raise their voice, to give her something familiar to follow...? "I am here." Closer, and closer... over this crest... Their mind was willing her desperately into existence, they were so certain they could feel her presence that they began to ignore instinct.
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Post by Zenjesi on Nov 4, 2023 19:38:58 GMT -6
It became so bold that they found their eyes closing as they were reaching the top. If they did not look, they would not need to know. No, do not be prey of emotion, Zenjesi all but pleaded with themselves. That is where the madness plants its seed. They ought to rely on reason. For example, if she was truly there when they dared to open their eyes, it could be that she would be weak, relying on Zenjesi to stand or walk, or perhaps even in need of medical assistance. None of that could be accomplished with closed eyes. They stood there, feeling their hooves planted atop the crest. Still, they did not open their eyes. She could be simply hungry and thirsty, or... she could have a broken leg. What would they do then? They would have to return to the City, bring back more help, and -- Open your eyes. The satyr shuddered, and then, finally, did.
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Post by Zenjesi on Nov 4, 2023 20:05:27 GMT -6
There was nothing. They let out a trembling breath that hung as mist in the air for a long, painful moment. The ground, where she would be seated, leaning against this tree, nursing her injury... it was bare. She was not here, nor was anyone else. Not even a vicious beast, luring Zenjesi into the shadows to consume them and put them out of their misery in this dreadful moment. But then something moved again. Their heart double stepped and breath caught. It was so dark and their eyes, though adjusted as much as they could, were not designed for vision in the night. They moved without a second thought, eyes straining, their neck craning as they twisted up -- it was in a tree? It was... a ribbon. Pale in color, tied to a low branch. Every few breaths, it fluttered in the late autumn breeze. Zenjesi turned on their hooves, no one else in sight. 9
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Post by Zenjesi on Nov 8, 2023 14:14:43 GMT -6
Slowly, they approached. The ribbon was tied low enough that they could easily reach it without stretching. Their fingers grasped the cloth, beginning to work at the knot. It was loose enough that it easily slipped free at their touch, but not so loose that the wind had done so. Their brow furrowed. This seemed inexplicably deliberate. A small scrap of paper slipped from the folds of the ribbon, twisting in the air like a falling leaf before landing on the ground. They stooped, narrowing their eyes in the dim moonlight. Something was written upon it. Grasping it and the ribbon close, they took off at a quick trot towards their lantern. Even in the night, their navigational sense was accurate, and they soon spied the dark shape against the earth. They dropped to their knees, scrambling with a match, lighting the wick, holding out the paper to catch the little light the sputtering flame offered.
For You, it read. It was written in their own handwriting. Zenjesi sat back, held the ribbon to their face, and closed their eyes. In this moment, they were not alone. 10
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