01-14-2020, 10:32 PM
[font=trebuchet ms]Rain drummed softly on the stone, the steady drops sinking into Rin's frame.
The echoes of the rain's beat were oddly calming, a low white noise to fill the night. Loneliness was easily the least of Rin's problems, but she had to admit having background noise kept her from thinking about how alone she truly was. Most of that isolation was self-inflicted, sure, but that didn't make it any more pleasant.
She was almost certain that something bad had happened to her while it was raining, at least once, but her memories remained quiet for the moment. She ought to appreciate that while she could. Any escape she could find from the past, even if temporary, was welcome.
Every step was accompanied by a splash, the light shower having formed puddles that would remain through the night. The sunrise would evaporate any remnants of the moisture by noon tomorrow, if not sooner, but for now the water was here. Rin wasn't bothered by the splashing; it was better than sitting in one place all night. Apparently it was common for children to romp around in puddles, but she wouldn't really know.
It occurred to her briefly that perhaps she ought to practice her archery in weather like this, in case a god ever decided to attack in the middle of a rainstorm- the lower visibility might pose an issue, as well as the winds. Actually, while she was thinking about it, she still wasn't sure what sort of power she had gained from the Ferryman, if any. It was possible his death simply hadn't brought about any new abilities, since the Torchbearer's death hadn't either. It was also possible that since she hadn't been the only one responsible for killing him, she wouldn't be the one to receive the "reward".
Still, she had to wonder... and an idea began to form in her head.
Focusing on the space ahead of her, she took a deep breath, and reached out with her mind to view the other side of the fog.
And there were more of them on the other side- figures born of a jet-black mist, venomous eyes set in their skulls, claws gleaming white. Each one solidified into its native shape, twisted facsimiles of those she had once known. Their gazes met hers, words spilling from their maws to form violent threats, promises of revenge, summons for her to come join them.
Every turn of her head, every blink of her horrified eyes, they loomed over her. The bodies rose up in a wave, crashing down-
Rin staggered back, slipping on the cobblestone and falling onto her side. Wheezing, she jerked her head, her eyes sweeping her surroundings. The street was empty. She was alone.
Why had she done that? She knew it was pointless, stupid even, to try and see the other side. What did she think, that the others would celebrate her arrival like some sort of hero? Like she was one of them, instead of a worthless outsider who had done nothing but hurt them?
With a hiss, Rin clutched at her forehead with both paws. Selfish. "Stop," she murmured, her eyes squeezing shut. She needed a distraction again. Goldenluxury wasn't here with tea. Valerian was probably asleep. Who would be awake?
So you're going to burden someone else with your pain? Again?
"Shut up," she growled, forcing herself to get up and stumble back towards her house. Yes, she was going to burden someone else. Pointing it out wasn't going to soften the blow. Stepping into the house, Rin shut the door- more forcefully than she'd intended to- and glanced around. If she had to force someone else to help her, it might as well be the one other person here who had witnessed everything she'd gone through.
...or at least, that was the impression Rin got. "Nemhain," Rin said, forcing a straight face. Really, she didn't have to burden the fenghuang. A distraction would be enough. "Can we talk?"
[member=9480]nemhain.[/member]
The echoes of the rain's beat were oddly calming, a low white noise to fill the night. Loneliness was easily the least of Rin's problems, but she had to admit having background noise kept her from thinking about how alone she truly was. Most of that isolation was self-inflicted, sure, but that didn't make it any more pleasant.
She was almost certain that something bad had happened to her while it was raining, at least once, but her memories remained quiet for the moment. She ought to appreciate that while she could. Any escape she could find from the past, even if temporary, was welcome.
Every step was accompanied by a splash, the light shower having formed puddles that would remain through the night. The sunrise would evaporate any remnants of the moisture by noon tomorrow, if not sooner, but for now the water was here. Rin wasn't bothered by the splashing; it was better than sitting in one place all night. Apparently it was common for children to romp around in puddles, but she wouldn't really know.
It occurred to her briefly that perhaps she ought to practice her archery in weather like this, in case a god ever decided to attack in the middle of a rainstorm- the lower visibility might pose an issue, as well as the winds. Actually, while she was thinking about it, she still wasn't sure what sort of power she had gained from the Ferryman, if any. It was possible his death simply hadn't brought about any new abilities, since the Torchbearer's death hadn't either. It was also possible that since she hadn't been the only one responsible for killing him, she wouldn't be the one to receive the "reward".
Still, she had to wonder... and an idea began to form in her head.
Focusing on the space ahead of her, she took a deep breath, and reached out with her mind to view the other side of the fog.
And there were more of them on the other side- figures born of a jet-black mist, venomous eyes set in their skulls, claws gleaming white. Each one solidified into its native shape, twisted facsimiles of those she had once known. Their gazes met hers, words spilling from their maws to form violent threats, promises of revenge, summons for her to come join them.
Every turn of her head, every blink of her horrified eyes, they loomed over her. The bodies rose up in a wave, crashing down-
Rin staggered back, slipping on the cobblestone and falling onto her side. Wheezing, she jerked her head, her eyes sweeping her surroundings. The street was empty. She was alone.
Why had she done that? She knew it was pointless, stupid even, to try and see the other side. What did she think, that the others would celebrate her arrival like some sort of hero? Like she was one of them, instead of a worthless outsider who had done nothing but hurt them?
With a hiss, Rin clutched at her forehead with both paws. Selfish. "Stop," she murmured, her eyes squeezing shut. She needed a distraction again. Goldenluxury wasn't here with tea. Valerian was probably asleep. Who would be awake?
So you're going to burden someone else with your pain? Again?
"Shut up," she growled, forcing herself to get up and stumble back towards her house. Yes, she was going to burden someone else. Pointing it out wasn't going to soften the blow. Stepping into the house, Rin shut the door- more forcefully than she'd intended to- and glanced around. If she had to force someone else to help her, it might as well be the one other person here who had witnessed everything she'd gone through.
...or at least, that was the impression Rin got. "Nemhain," Rin said, forcing a straight face. Really, she didn't have to burden the fenghuang. A distraction would be enough. "Can we talk?"
[member=9480]nemhain.[/member]
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