BACK AWAY==>

You start to slowly walk away from Dianan, as she shrieks. She stays lying down for a bit, and then bolts upright. She stops shrieking and starts panting, breathing shallowly. You reverse your course and sprint toward her, kneeling down to help her.

YOU: Deen? Are you... are you okay?

Diana: Wren... Wren! It is... you! I-

She leaps up suddenly, eyes widening.

Diana: Is this another trick?! Is there an alien waiting here with a comically oversized video camera and an unplugged microphone chuckling to his nonexistent audience about how I have "really made a fool of myself this time?!"

YOU: What?! No!

Diana: Are you sure?

YOU: Yes! Look, you're okay. Okay?

She smiles. She nods and grabs your hand. 

Diana: Okay. Okay. How long was I asleep?

YOU: Ten minutes? Maybe?

Diana: ...

YOU: Fifteen minutes?

Diana starts to laugh. She laughs until tears start to roll down her face.

Diana: I thought... I thought I had been in there for hours! 

YOU: Are you okay?

Diana hugs you, very quickly, and stands up.

Diana: If I ever fall asleep again, kick me until I wake up.  Now please tell me what that giant monster is doing following us.

YOU: Oh, we're helping it meet its heir and likely usher in a new dark age.

Diana: Oh. That sounds... Bad.

YOU: Yeah. I don't really have a choice.

(now that diana is awake, you can play as her again, if you choose to do so.)

(play as wren, or diana?) 

REMAIN WREN==>

You're still Wren, although, of course, you're not aware that you're still Wren, the same way you're not aware of any of the forces directly manipulating you. From your perspective, you have always been Wren.

YOU: ...

Diana: Are you all right?

YOU: ...? Oh... Yeah. I just had this really confusing mess of thoughts. Weren't... Weren't you saying something about thinking things you generally wouldn't?

Diana: Yes. But I believe it has stopped, or at least died down somehow. The problem with figuring out all this supernatural stuff is that it is hard to distinguish between seperate phenomenon. There is just this.. general strangeness, and I cannot determine what happens as a result of what paranormal activity, you know?

YOU: Hmm. I guess so, That was kind of hard to follow.

Diana: Haha, sorry. Hm. The best thing about figuring out all this supernatural stuff...

She takes a gratituous pause, cocks her head to one side and grins up at you.

YOU: Yes?

Diana: ... is knowing I was right, all along! And I was not crazy, or paranoid! And you were wrong! Ha ha!

You roll your eyes and try to turn away so she doesn't see you smiling.

Diana: What good is your empirical evidence now, Wren? Now that we have a monster following behind us, through a seemingly endless forest, so that we can find a witch? 

You turn around, and see that, yes, the weird faceless creature is still following you. The thing really creeps you out. You look ahead, and see the steep hill the creek is just below. You're aware of the fact that Alex and that other person are down there, and it's unlikely that either of them will take well to the prescence of this horrible faceless woods monster. You should, at the very least, attempt a formal introduction, or warn them ahead of time.

What do you do? 

SEND DIANA ==>

YOU: Hmm... Deen?

Diana: Yes? 

YOU: It occurs to me that our friends down there might not exactly... Well, they might be a bit freaked out by the giant faceless thing behind us.

The creature hisses, as if in response. Well, it might actually be in response, come to think of it.

YOU: It'd be nice if you, y'know, went down there and explained the whole thing to them. 

Diana: Well... okay. But would Alex not be more likely to believe you? You are cousins, so-

You frown slightly.

YOU: I met him a couple days ago, Deen. You have as much of a connection with him as I do. 

Diana: Oh... 

YOU: Besides, I... I wouldn't feel comfortable leaving you here with the Woodsman. I feel confident in my ability to protect myself, but... I care about you. A lot.

Diana: Heh. That is good. It would be pretty awkward otherwise.

YOU: Yeah. Yeah. I need to keep you safe.

Diana: That is very sweet. But, I can take care of myself you know. I am older than you. 

YOU: Wha- By three months, maybe?!

Diana: Yes, but still. I am older, and thus, the coveted position of "responsible mature adult-person" in this relationship belongs to me.

YOU: Wha-

Diana: Sh sh sh! It is my birthright, by which I mean that it is my right, on account of my being born earlier than you.

YOU: By three months! 

Diana: Hmm, yes. Three months, yes. 

YOU:...

Diana: But yes. I will go talk to them. It is not a proplem, Wren.

You nod. She smiles. She then slides down the hill. You watch as she hits a rock sliding down, and proceeds to start bouncing and rolling. She is a goofball. 

It's hard to tell what she is saying to Ten and Alex, because you are fairly far away from them. Alex is nodding as Diana gesticulates frantically. Ten is staring blankly. You pick up Ten saying "lillie?" Diana nods at them, and Alex and Ten start to follow Diana Up the hill. As they approach, you can more acurrately hear them.

Diana: I am.. not certain that I have adequately prepared you for the thing you are about to see.

Alex: I dunno. I've seen some pretty weird things. 

Ten: It sounds exciting! 

Diana: I agree, random forest person!

Ten: My name is Ten.

Diana: I think you are cool, and I am sorry I splashe you with tainted river water.

Ten: Yeah, me too.

They reach they top of the hill, and reach your eye level. Both Ten and Alex look at the creature immediately. Ten's face breaks immediately into a giant grin. Alex turns to look at you, and then back at the creature. 

Alex: Hm. Okay. I'm. I don't. 

YOU: Yeah, I get that this is weird.

Alex: Well, I'd... Uh.

Huh, Alex's brain broke. What do you do? How do you deal with this? 

DISTRACT ALEX==>

Alex is still looking around in an exaggerated manner, and making panting noises. You turn to Diana and whisper in her general direction.

YOU: We should probably try and talk him down?

Diana: Okay, yeah.

YOU: Alex.

Alex: Hhhhh. Yeah?

YOU: Do you like bees?

Alex does a double take. 

Alex: Bees?

YOU: What are your feelings on bees.

Ten: I like bees! But I really like this thing! 

Ten points at the creature. They grin again. 

Ten: I mean, how does this even work, biologically? This is so exciting! 

Diana: Yes, I agree completely!

YOU: Guys! We... I was trying to distract Alex from the monster! And then you... Immediately brought his attention bak to the monster.

Ten: ... Oh. Okay, that makes sense. My bad, sorry.

Alex: Okay. So this is a real thing. This. The creature thing, it is real.

YOU: Yeah.

Alex: Okay. Cool. Hhhh. 

Alex seems to have calmed down, or at least  reached a slightly more put-together level of shock. You realize that you might actually be close to making progress. You need to get Ten and the Creature to interact, somehow. 

How will you do this? 

SEND TEN TO TALK TO THE CREATURE==>

YOU: Hey, uh... Ten?

Ten: Yyyyyeeeeesssss?

YOU: You and the.. thingy... I think you might be looking for the same person.

Ten looks very confused. 

Ten: A monster is looking for my girlfriend?

YOU: Maybe? Wait. Your girlfriend is named Lillie, right?

Ten: Yes.

YOU: Okay. Good. Because I just realized that we didn't actually know for certain. That would have been terrible, if we figured out right now that we were actually looking for different people right now.

Ten: Yeah...

Creature(?): human. let us smell you.

Alex: Uh... Gross-

Ten: Gladly!

Ten grins, and saunters up to the creature. It leans down in a rapid motion and.. inhales? 

Creature(?): yes. we have our heir's scent.

Ten: Ooh. Like a hound?

Creature:  yes. we can find her now. children of adam. you are no longer necessary to us.

Diana: Heh... What?

Creature: leave. now. or we will dispose of you.

Oh geez. What do you do? 

"LEAVE," BUT SECRETLY FOLLOW CREATURE==>

You nod at the creature, and turn to your friends, and also Ten. You beckon to them, and then point in the direction opposite to the creature. When the response is a blank stare from all three of them, you jab your still pointing hand in the opposite direction. They still just stare. Eventually, you realize they aren't getting the hint.

YOU: Look. Just... Come on. 

Ten: Away from-?

YOU: Yes, away from the thing that obviously has zero issues with the idea of causing us harm. Crazy, I know. We just need to get some distance between us, and... That thing.

Fortunately, the group decides to listen to you, which is good, because you have no idea what you'd do if they didn't. You and the others walk back down toward the steep hill. You glimpse behind yourself occasionally, and see that the creature is still looking at you. Of course, "Looking" is an inaccurate term. it doesn't really have eyes. Around the fourth time you look back, you see it has begun slowly making its way across the forest, meticulously taking wide steps, as if carefully following a trail.

Ten: Okay. You kids can go home now. I'm sorry you had to get caught up in... Whatever this is. You should go back to somewhere safe, and...

YOU: Actually... I was thinking we'd help you.

Alex: Uh... I think Ten raises some good points-

YOU: We should follow the creature. At a distance. We can help you find your girlfriend, and, let's jbe honest, if a thing like that monster can exist, who knows what else is around here? You need all the help you can get.

Alex: Okay. So, at risk of sounding like a bad person... What motivation do we have for doing any of this? I mean, we don't even know Ten! Uh, no offense. You seem alright. But, I do value my life a little bit.

YOU: Alex. I don't think you're a bad person for having self-preservation instincts. But... Well, when I woke up this morning, my life was pretty normal. And now, somehow, I'm living in a world where monsters just.. wander the forest in my backyard, and those same forests can just... be bigger inside than outside? And I think my girlfriend is having her memeories tampered with by a little alien in her brain? That's basically what's happening, right Deen?

Diana: Hm? Oh, yeah. That is a fair summation.

YOU: Right. Basically, the world is just, completely insane. And we, as human beings, are probably completely insignificant in the grand schemem of things. So, I mean, it's literally been one single day, and I'm starting to reconsider a lot of my priorities. But... I mean, one thing that is important to me is people loving each other. And I think we should probably try to protect that.

Alex: ... Huh. Can't really argue with that. Because I'd look like a jerk if I did. Okay, let's stalk a giant monster.

~~~

hey guys! no command are necessary today, because i'm writing a short interlude starring terrance zhu, that might be up tomorrow, if i work hard enough. thanks for continuing to play my stupid game, there's a lot more people willing to engage with this than i initally thought!

something i love about you guys as a player group is that you're willing to do ridiculously confrontational things, but you avoid direct conflict at all costs. (which is a good choice. the monsters are strong.) see you guys soon! 

INTERLUDE: BEGIN==>

The beat-up, almost colorless car that had, three or so hours earlier, carried Diana and Terrance Zhu up the high hill and to Hawthorne Manor was tracing that same path again. This time, it only carried Terrance. He was murmuring something, almost inaudibly, into a microcassette recorder he'd had for the past twenty years or so.  He's wearing a hawaiian shirt, which is, curiosly, the only kind of shirt he owns. He's also wearing sunglasses, even though it is very cloudy outside. He is a firm believer in dressing for the job you want. 

The car is traveling at a speed slightly higher than the legal limit. The forest around the roads and houses on the hill is dense, and dark, and, Terrance reminds himself with a shiver, teeming with life. Life of all kinds. Humans, animals, and... older things. 

When the car finally reaches Hawthorne Manor, Terrance experiences that special sort of discomfort you only really experience when you're fully aware that the person putting you in the situation that you truly want no part of is yourself. And you want to pull away, but that isn't a viable option.

Terrance: Huh. I... Don't think I've been inside this building since...

Terrance doesn't finish the sentence, not out loud. He remembers the last time he'd been in the building. He dwells on it for a second longer than he knows he should. And then he turns the key, and leaves his car. He walks to the iron gates, swings them open, and continues on his way to the front door. There's an iron knocker, which he knocks twice. And then, someone answers.

Alice: Oh, hey, who's the-

The person who had just swung open the door looks up, making eye contact with Terrance. She's older than the last time they'd met. Her hair is different, and she seems to be wearing an eyepatch? But, despite that, Terrance recognizes her.

Terrance: Alice? Is that really you? I thought you'd left town.

Alice: Who are- WAIT. 

She grins.

Alice: TERRY?! Oh wow, you have a BEARD?! It's like you're an adult or something!

Terrance: Heh, yeah. Hey, what are you even doing back in town?

Alice: Well, I know, I said I'd never be back, I'd never have to deal with my dad again, etcetera, buuut, he's getting really old, and he can't exactly take care of himself anymore, so bada bing, bada whatever. I moved Alex and myself over for the summer while we just... figure out what to do.

Terrance: And Alex is...

Alice: Oh, he's my kid! You have a kid too, right? She was over here the other day...

Terrance: She's here now too, I think. Have you seen her? 

Alice: No, sorry man. Heh, it's crazy that we both have kids now... weird. I haven't seen you since... Man, the last time I saw you was before the storm even hit, right? So, like, at least a couple decades. Jeez. 

Terrance: Huh. Danielle and the two of us ought to meet up soon. Catch up, or whatever?

Alice: Sure... WAIT, OH MY GOSH. You were just going to try and sneak that past me, weren't you?! You married Danielle, didn't you? DIDN'T YOU?!

Terrance: Yeah. It's pretty great. Like I said. We need to catch up. But first, I need to talk to your dad.

Alice: Heh. Why? 

Terrance: I'd rather not, trust me. But, well... You remember all those horrible things that happened when we were kids? With, you know, the horrible monsters, alternate realities, the... I dunno, Zonal Sciences or whatever? 

Alice: Yeah, I am familiar with my own past.

Terrance: I think.... Maybe some similar things are happening to my daughter. And, well, your dad knows more about this kind of thing than anyone else. So... I don't know. Maybe if he gives me a hand, I can help her out. Of course, uh, he'll probably refuse to help. Do you know where he is?

Alice: His study, probably? Although, who knows where that is. I forgot how insanely massive this house is. Just... Head in a direction I guess? Hopefully you'll run into him?

Terrance: I dunno man. Maybe I'd ought to look for Diana instead? You said you haven't seen them today, right?

Alice: Nah. Hey, they'll probably come around here for lunch? Maybe? Why don't you just wait around here? Unless you need to be at work or something.

Terrance: Hm. I'm a radio host. I basically work on my own time. I'll wait.

~~~

hey, i'll return to the main story, but i might continue this subplot later. if not, the main plotline will eventually collide with this. thanks for playing, folks! i might get another part out today? i'm trying to get more w8ork done, because i'll have to take a break for a little bit in a while. it's complicated! i'll elaborate once it's relevant.