//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: A Chronicle from a Time of Darkness // by PhycoKrusk //------------------------------// "Why ever did I agree to this?" It had taken a full half hour of trekking through Mei-shinrin before Opal had begun complaining. The forest was more than dark (although Gummy's lantern, as well as a few glowing orbs conjured by both Opal and Owlowiscious helped with that, a bit), but was also cold, muddy, littered with roots and rocks and other things that were easy to trip over in the dark, and was filled with all manner of yōkai that had yet to reveal themselves but would doubtlessly visit misfortune upon the party with malignant glee. In truth, no one had bothered to stop Opal from complaining because they were thinking similar thoughts themselves; the worst she'd received was a briefing scolding from Owlowiscious to 'stop giving them away.' She answered with a huff, but otherwise fell silent as she led the way. The path that led in from the outskirts had been quickly abandoned, which was why they had to trek through the mud and over tree roots. The only explanation the cat had provided for the change in course, and several subsequent changes was that it wasn't the right way, followed with a reminder that they needed to stay right behind her no matter what. It was an unfortunate turn of fate that the path she led them down also traversed past thorny bushes and low-hanging tree branches that seemed only too happy to hit heads that were too high from the ground. Finally, after losing count of how many branches had hit him in the nose, Tank could hold his opinions back no longer: “I hate trees.” If anyone agreed with him, they were not vocal about it. With a roll of his eyes, Owlowiscious set his lights to float around him at a distance, and resolved to address a question he’d had since they left Taiyō-sen. “I’ve been meaning to ask you, Opal,” he began, moving alongside of the cat, “There never really is a good time for it, although I would say this comes close, but do you practice any sorcery?” In response, Opal huffed in irritation. “Even now, you can’t stop being what you are?” she asked. “Aren’t there more important things at stake than what I do or don’t practice?” “Normally, what you do or don’t practice would be of the highest importance, but present circumstances are hardly ‘normal.’ Truthfully, I’m hoping you do at least dabble with it. Nearly any edge we can have right now would be welcome.” “Well, I…” Opal paused, although it wasn’t clear to Owlowiscious if it was to decide what she should say, or simply to make sure her words were palatable. His thoughts on the matter were momentarily interrupted when he nearly walked into a low-hanging branch. After he’d ducked under it and caught up again, Opal continued. “I suppose that is sensible. Unfortunately, my magic is all I can offer. I have no talent for sorcery, nor do I especially wish to learn.” “Beggin’ yer pardons.” Both Opal and Owlowiscious turned to find that Winona had stepped up and was walking alongside them now as well. A glance over his shoulder showed Owlowiscious that the remaining three in their group had likewise caught up, wearing expressions of interest (except possibly Gummy; it was still so hard to tell). “But, Ah keep hearin’ ya’ll talk ‘bout magic an’ sorcery. Ain’t those th’ same thing?” “Not quite, Winona,” Owlowiscious replied. “Think of it like-“ “Painting.” At once, all attention was focused on Opal. “Painting?” Owlowiscious asked. “Yes,” she replied, “Painting. Think of the world like a great canvas. The senses you have, your mind, muscles, organs, all of those are like a paintbrush. But most of that canvas is blank because your brush is short, and cannot reach very far. Magic is like a longer brush, allowing you to reach areas of the canvas you otherwise couldn’t. The greater your aptitude, the longer the brush. “Sorcery, on the other hand, is like painting outside that canvas. You’re still limited by the reach of your brush, but you aren’t limited by the canvas anymore. With magic, a Void Shaper can make wood as hard as steel. With sorcery, a Void Shaper can change wood into steel. ‘For a sorcerer, nothing is impossible,’ they say.” “That’s what they say, but what they say is incorrect,” Owlowiscious interjected, his tone dark. When Opal turned her attention to him, her expression was less annoyed than he might have expected, and more curious. “Haven’t any of you ever wondered why sorcery is treated the way it is? Why a Demon Queller is as interested in sorcerers as they are in yōkai? It’s because of that saying. ‘For the mortal, what is not permitted is what is not possible. For the sorcerer, all things become possible. When all things are possible, all things are permitted.’ When there are no constraints, no limits to what can be done, it makes it easy to justify irresponsible actions. Irresponsible actions make it easy to justify despicable actions, and despicable actions make it easy to justify impure actions. Without discipline, sorcery invariably leads to evil." "Invariably?" Tank asked. "Really? Just, always evil if there's no discipline?" "The same could be said of fencing," Angel interjected, "Or really, about anything that grants power beyond normal means. It's a facet of nature to exploit power for personal gain. Even the ōkami aren't safe from that particular trap." "And you wanted to teach this nonsense to me!" Opal said just quietly enough to avoid angering Owlowiscious. "Probably in the hopes I'd wear immodest clothing, tie you up and then order you around." Owlowiscious missed the sky smirk on her face. "I what?!" he exclaimed before clamping his wings over his beak. He hasn't meant to be quite that loud. Opal, Tank and Angel all had a chuckle at the owl's expense. It was a chuckle that came to a halt as suddenly as they did when Gummy darted in front of them and frantically gestured back the way they came. Looking over their shoulders revealed that Winona had stopped walking and was staring off to one side, her expression haunted. “It was here,” she said lightly, almost choking on the works. “He’s here!” And then, she took off running into the forest. "Winona, stop!" Opal shouted desperately as she sprung into pursuit. "You're chasing fox-fire!" "After her!" Owlowiscious was hot on Opal's heels, and the other three were not far behind. Branches whipped them in their faces and mud threatened to slip their feet out from under them even more than it had been, but they ran hard, not daring to lose sight of Winona as she sprinted headlong through the trees. Before long, they managed to catch her, after she came to a stop in a small clearing. Unlike the rest of the forest floor, covered in rocks and earth, the clearing was covered in soft grass that grew very short. Several small boulders were scattered here and there, but hardly in the density they had been. Compared to what they had been trudging through, the clearing was brightly lit by moonlight. Finding Winona had been a small matter, as she had stopped almost immediately after arriving, looking across the grass at something. When the others had caught up properly, not one of them had the time to say anything before their attention became firmly fixed where Winona’s was. Sitting across the clearing, watching them, was a fox far larger than any of them had ever seen, the nine tails resting on the ground next to it signifying that this was anything but an ordinary fox. The kitsune regarded the others for a moment, and then looked briefly to Winona before standing up and walking into the trees, disappearing from sight almost immediately. The spell it had worked over Winona was seemingly broken, and she made no move to follow it further. Rather, her attention was captured by the clearing itself. "Right, right here," she said, nearly choking on her words. She fell to her knees, and in an instant, her friends were around her. Try as they might have, however, they could see nothing else other than themselves. "What is, Winona?" Opal asked. She kneeled on the ground with Winona and placed an arm across her shoulders. Now that they were close, it was possible to see the beginnings of tears in her eyes. "What's right here?" "My husband." An uneasy silence passed over the group, not one of them certain how best to break it. Winona found her voice first. “Ah, married ‘im out east, an’ then we came here,” she continued. “He, he was a soldier, an’ marryin’ me, it didn’t sit well with ‘is family, so we came here. Ah was, ah was so, h-happy. He, he brought ‘is horses. Good, good horses, an’ we started trainin’ an’ breedin’ ‘em, an’ Ah was so happy.” Tears were freely flowing from Winona’s eyes now. “An’ then we were gonna have a baby an’, an’ Ah was so happy. An’ then he starts gettin’ weird, starts stayin’ out at night, an’ Ah get worried an’ I ask ‘im an’ he says I shouldn’t worry. He’s jus’ workin’ on a project, an’ it’s gonna be finished soon an’ he’s gonna show me, an’ I jus’ let ‘im do 'is thing. “An’ then one night, he wakes me up an’ says he’s finished, an’ he’s ready t’ show me. So Ah get up an’ follow ‘im, an’ he takes me, he takes me right here an’ he’s got this, shrine he built, but it’s all wrong. An’ he says he knows how we can always be happy an’ never worry ‘bout nothin’, us an’ th’ baby, an’ not even th’ Empress could take that away, an’ all we had t’ do was, was kill mama at th’ shrine he built. An’, an’….” Winona could say no more, and buried her face into Opal’s shoulder, sobbing. The cat simply held her, stroking her hair and gently shushing her. “Ah never told no one. That, that Demon Queller came an’ Ah was so scared o’ what could happen after, Ah never told no one. Ah’m so scared…." “We all have secrets, Winona,” Opal said softly, “Secrets we never want others to know. I….” She paused for a moment, and then held Winona more tightly and drew in a deep breath. “I never knew my parents. My sister raised me in a forest just like this one. Dark, and haunted. Yōkai and bakemono were my first playmates.” By then, Winona’s sobbing had quieted somewhat, now that she had something to occupy her mind. “I don’t like to tell my story, because most people immediately assume the worst about me. But I want you to know my story, so that you’ll know that you aren’t alone. Whatever challenges lie ahead of you, you never have to face them alone, if you’ll let me help you.” Winona did not respond verbally, but drew in a shaky breath and nodded into Opal’s shoulder. Owlowiscious glanced to his three companions who were still standing. Tank, although keeping quiet, seemed uncertain of how he should react. Angel did not look pleased with the situation they now found themselves in, but he too was keeping quiet. And Gummy…. Taking his attention from them, Owlowiscious turned back towards Opal and Winona and took a step towards them. “Opal.” She looked to Owlowiscious when addressed, and while she’d been ready to defend herself, he resumed speaking before she could say anything. “It won’t do any good to leave right away, with Winona in this state. Is it safe to rest here for a bit?” Opal considered the question for a moment, and then turned her head this way and that. Owlowiscious wondered, however briefly, how different the world must look to her eyes, having grown up in a place so strange to him. Finally, she looked back to him and nodded. “It should be, as long as we don’t stay past sunrise.” “Good.” Owlowiscious gave a nod to Angel, Tank and Gummy, and the three of them stepped a short distance away to begin setting up camp. Task given, Owlowiscious turned back to the two women and kneeled on the ground beside them. “Winona,” he said, laying a wingtip on her shoulder. A moment passed before she realized she’d been addressed and looked to him. “In the short time I’ve known you, you have demonstrated great strength of character and excellent moral fiber. Whatever you are, you are not your husband, and I trust you with my life.” Sniffling, Winona nodded and gave him a grateful smile. “Thank, Owlowiscious. You too, Opal.” She nodded to the cat, and then somewhat unsteady pushed herself back to her feet. “Ah’m, Ah think Ah’d like t’ rest a bit, if we could." “We’ll stay as long as we can, or as long as you need,” Owlowiscious replied. He turned and looked over to the rest of his friends, and then rubbed his eyes before looking a second time to make sure he hadn't imagine what he had seen. He hadn't. In the brief few moments that Owlowiscious hadn't been watching, Gummy had, with assistance, managed to dig a shallow pit in the ground, build a cook fire, and set a small kettle to boil over it. At that moment, he was busying himself stuffing buns into a bamboo basket to be steamed. As he had the previous day, Owlowiscious forced all questions regarding how this was possible from his mind. Particularly the question of where the water had come from. Provided they survived, there would be time for those questions later. With the exception of Gummy, not one of the six had ever considered how much something as simple as a hot, steamed bun was able to boost morale. A quick snack, a little tea, and they once again felt ready to face the challenges ahead. Then, the mist had appeared, barely a thin veil at first, but soon so thick that they were all forced to walk in a single row, using magical lights and the lantern Gummy had brought to keep from losing each other. Unable to see what might be hiding in the mists, they had resolved to travel in silence until the mist broke. Their self-imposed silence was itself suddenly broken with a shout of, "Waagh!" as Gummy's lantern dropped out of sight. That the cry came from the alligator was so jarring that a moment had passed before the rest had realized what had happened. But even before they could begin searching, the silence was broken again. “Everyone stand still!” Owlowiscious ordered. His wingtips glowed brilliantly with sky blue magic, and he gave his wings a single, forceful flap. The still air was suddenly stirred into action as a strong wind was called forth from nothing, and the mists swirled as they were pushed away. As they cleared, everyone saw immediately what had become of Gummy. They were on the edge of a ravine that they had not seen in the mist. “I hate ravines!” Tank exclaimed as he rushed to the edge. “Gummy!” Down below, well out of reach, was Gummy, clinging to an exposed tree root for all he had. The others looked over with a mixture of fear that he was in so precarious a position, and relief that he was not worse off. A moment later, everyone heard the ‘clang’ as Gummy’s skillet, having fallen free from his pack, hit the ground below. “Don’ move, Gummy,” Winona said to him, “We’ll getcha.” “How?” Opal asked, “How are we going to reach him?” “We’ll, we’ll think o’ somethin’,” Winona replied moments before all discussion devolved into panic. “Don’t let go, Gummy.” “Can he climb up? Can you climb?” “It’s too flat! He can’t grab anythin’!" “Rope! Did we bring rope?” “Gummy has it!” “What do we-“ All semblance of discussion ended suddenly, and the five panicking adventurers looked over the edge of the ravine, down at the alligator holding onto a tree root for his life. “Are, are you sure, Gummy?” Owlowiscious asked. “I don’t know if….” Gummy’s only response was to briefly remove one of his hands from the tree root. Thumbs-up. “If…” Struggling to find some support, Owlowiscious looked to his other companions, but they were at as much of a loss as he was. What else could they do? “Okay, Gummy. If you’re sure. On three, then.” Taking in a deep breath, the owl removed his satchel and passed it to Angel for safekeeping. "One.“ Owlowiscious stepped to the edge of the ravine. “Two.“ Gummy braced his feet against the stone cliff face, and then Owlowiscious jumped down after him. “Three!” Gummy released his grip and pushed away from the side of the ravine. An instant later Owlowiscious slammed into his chest and the alligator grabbed onto the owl's waist. Owlowiscious' wings spread wide and he flapped them furiously, but carrying his own weight, plus one alligator and whatever improbable amount of equipment said alligator was carrying himself, was something they were not quite up to task for. They didn’t fall, but their rocky, half-gliding descent was anything but graceful, a mess of flailing limbs and curses that ended abruptly when they collided with the boughs of a cedar tree. At the top of the ridge, the rest of their friends cringed at the collision that sounded like it was anything but gentle, and waited in silence for several moments, breath bated. Finally, the silence was broken. “Gummy?” Tanked called down at the tree. “Hoots? Are you dead?” “Stop calling me that!” came the shouted reply. “Oh, good, they’re fine,” Tank concluded with a nod. The others were less certain of that. “We found the path down, Owlowiscious!” Angel called next. “We’ll meet you as soon as we can!” Whether they waited for him to reply or not, Owlowiscious was uncertain; he was too busy disentangling himself from the branches that had broken his fall (and, if the pain in his chest was any indication, perhaps a rib as well). “Gummy?” he asked shakily. The response came as a series of ‘thumps’ from lower on the tree, and when he looked down, Owlowiscious saw his rescued friend, standing on the ground some twenty shaku below, and not looking at all like he had just extracted himself from a cedar tree after crash landing into it. Gummy waved up at the owl gaily. Owlowscious scowled, resolved that he would figured out how Gummy had managed such a feat later, and then leapt sideways, out of the tree. When his wings spread this time, they had no trouble carrying him to the ground gracefully, even if they ached in protest. Keeping his left wing at full extension, however, proved to be a terrible idea; the pain that burned in his chest grew to a bonfire. Landing roughly and collapsing to his knees right then, he felt comforting and concerned hands on his shoulders almost immediately. “I’m alright,” he choked out, “I’m hurt, but I’ll be alright. Just, give me a moment.” Taking a few moments to calm his breathing and steady his mind, he focused, and the air around him began to shimmer. It was no small task to stay focused as he felt bones in his chest grinding together as they were forced back into position and bonded. After several seconds of agony, the spell ended, and Owlowiscious heaved a heavy sigh of relief. Forcing the body to heal correctly was draining and had created a powerful throbbing in his head, but already the pain in his chest had subsided into a dull ache, and while it would take several days at least to heal completely, at least he could function again. Rising back to his feet with Gummy’s assistance, he turned back towards his friend and was promptly greeted with a small piece of mochi in his face. Already pushed past his initial irritation at the alligator trivializing their earlier crash, Owlowiscious pinched the candy between his primaries, popped it into his mouth, and chewed. “Mmm!” he decided with a smile, “Red bean!” Gummy nodded happily, even if it was a bit difficult to tell since his expression still never seemed to change, and then pointed off in the distance, through the trees in the ravine. Owlowiscious looked, and then rubbed his eyes before looking again. The mist still hung in the air around them, even if it was not nearly as heavy as it had been when Gummy fell, but in spite of it, Owlowscious was certain that he knew what he saw. In the distance, through the mists of Mei-sinrin, was a village.