Kyngdom Survival Guide
Sybill's Home~
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Sybill's Home~
Sybill's Home~
Here, you'll see a cave with grass and trees growing on its roof. Some roots dangle in front of the entrance. You can see the flickers of a small fire deeper into the cave, and there are voices coming from in the cave.
All around, as far as anyone can see, are woods. It's actually quite pretty. Not to far away from the cave is a small pond that glitters.
submitted by Sybill, age ????, Kyngdom
(December 19, 2017 - 4:14 pm)
(December 19, 2017 - 4:14 pm)
Rose~
Yin and Albero approach with their supplies. Sybill hesitantly allows them to attend her injuries. I kneel beside them and observe in silence the mysterious processes.
When they are all but finished, the dragon murmurs something into Sybill's ear. Her gaze is filled with distrust.
"I am deeply sorry for how I have been acting," she states flatly. "I think I'm going to rest."
Yin draws the final knot to its conclusion, and Sybill rises, walks uncertainly to her cave.
"I think there's something she won't tell us," Yin confides.
"I agree," Albero says.
"Perhaps she simply needed some rest," I defend, but the words have no heart. Yin exhales resignedly.
"I'm off to gather herbs. See you two in a bit."
I watch her leave. Albero shifts his wings uncomfortably.
"I think Sybill is becoming increasingly fearful."
I voice my assent. Her behavior has been odd, the way she sees terrors that are not there. I ponder the curiosity awhile in my rough chamber before drifting into uneasy dream.
The hour is just before dawn when I awaken. I rise and exit my quarters to find Sybill already up. We exchange soft greetings and find our way to a place where we may see the birds in their morning activity. I do not inquire as to how she slept.
Yin passes us with a quiet nod. Albero settles down nearby. I begin to think on breakfast. I wonder if the others are of like mind.
(February 7, 2018 - 1:13 pm)
Albero ~
"We should do something about breakfast." Yin says.
" I can do that, " I instantly reply.
Rose looks grateful, and Sybill likewise. I unfurl my wings and lift into the air, gliding slowly. I stop near a stream. I love this stream. I spend about a minute and catch a very large fish. After that I collect wild greens. As I head back to the caves, I stop at the pond and collect some katniss. Katniss is a very delicious green, in my opinion. I head into the caves. I use some flint and steel to start a small fire in the fireplace. I have had the greens and fish frying for a bit when Sybill walks in.
She makes special care to avoid the fire, but doesn't panic like before.
"What's been going on?" I ask her quietly.
Sybill looks at me. "I...I guess I'm just a tiny bit paranoid." She laughs a bit.
After a short while, we are all enjoying the fried fish and wild greens. We make small talk, but nothing truly exciting happens. It's an enjoyable morning, still.
~
(February 10, 2018 - 10:24 am)
Rose~
"We should do something about breakfast," Yin suggests, as though reading my mind.
Albero is quick to reply. "I can do that!"
I allow him a grudging half-smile, and he responds with a full toothed grin before winging away.
"It is pleasant of him to do the work for us, but I fear I cannot rest idle," I sigh, rising to my feet. "I'll be off to stretch. Howl if you have need of me."
"Sure," Sybill answers, and Yin adds her assent.
I begin a series of stretches in the nearest clearing. Not long after, I see the shadow of the dragon returning. I finish my routine and head back to the caves, just catching the end of a conversation.
"...guess I'm just a tiny bit paranoid," Sybill is finishing. She laughs, somewhat hollowly.
"Hello," I say, ducking through the entrance. "What have you got on the cook-fire?"
Throughout the meal, I cannot help but notice Sybill's gaze returning repeatedly to the fire. She does not relax her unwitting guard until I put it out.
The day is quiet. I return again to the glade I favor for practice and spend some time with kicks, low strikes and stances. To the front of my mind comes Lilly.
Step. Fore, fore, back. Is she all right? Who was that boy? Kick, no, not like that. Again. She has not again appeared to me. Is she upset? Does something keep her away? Step, balance. Back. What was it the boy said? Something about her visits' risk? Will I ever see her again?
~I'm thinking about having Rose start to hallucinate, too. Something like Lilly appearing again, except she won't have really visited and it'll only be her mind playing tricks. Something that feeds her paranoia. Maybe I'll start with nightmares, move on to sleep deprivation, have her see Lilly first at night or at dusk when she's feeling distraught. Claaws, this is making me feel evil.
(February 11, 2018 - 8:53 pm)
Sybill~
I relax by the pond. I think about Lilly.
My thoughts are interrupted when Albero emerges from the trees. "Hello," He purrs in his deep voice.
I nod respectfully. We sit there, quietly, for a few minutes.
"So...Anything interesting?" Albero asks, trying to make small talk.
" Mmph. Other than my newfound paranoia, you mean? " I reply.
"Well...,er, yes, you're right. I thought it might sound rude to act as if your paranoia meant nothing," Albero says truthfully.
" It is fine. I know that you would not mean to insult me. "
Albero lets a little relief escape into his face.
"Well, I suppose we really should do something other than sit around," I say.
" Ha, I suppose you're right, " Albero says casually. It is not long before Albero and Yin are desperately trying to teach me about different plants and their uses.
"No, Sybill, don't eat that! Goodness gracious!!" Yin eventually can't keep herself from yelling. Albero has been more patient .
Rose walks in.
"What are you doing, Sybill?" She asks with a suspicious glance at Albero.
" Oh! Yin and Albero are trying to teach me about plants and stuff...Apparently I just can't find plants interesting, " I reply. Yin laughs.
"It's more than that, honey. And for the last time, you cannot eat uncooked dandelionss!! Why do you think that you can eat them?" Yin blurts.
" I guess it must be something about the colors! "
I reply.
Yin sighs.
~
(February 12, 2018 - 5:29 pm)
Actually, raw dandelions are perfectly edible. Some other plants aren't, though. I don't know all of their names. Yin should.
Rose~
The thoughts press into my mind. Every memory, every worry, every hope. The flood begins to interfere with my practice, and so I cease.
Lilly, Lilly, Lilly. I pace, restless. Lilly, Lilly... Sybill. Yin. Where are they? How long has it been? I glance upwards. The sun sits high on the western side of its arch. I go down the path, sliping through trees, passing through golden green walls until they give way to the clearing of the caves.
Sybill is with Albero and Yin in the latter's chamber.
"What are you doing, Sybill?" I inquire. The dragon gives me a look of hurt innocence.
"Oh!" Sybill exclaims. "Yin and Albero are trying to teach me about plants and stuff... Apparently I just can't find plants interesting."
Yin laughs. "It's more than that. And for the last time, you cannot eat uncooked borage! Why do you think you can?"
"I guess it must be something about the colors!" Sybill defends.
"Well, don't blame me when you wind up with a prickled mouth," Yin retorts.
"Fine," Sybill assents.
"Ought I go?" I ask.
"You can stay if you like," the dragon tells me.
"I'm afraid the subject of herbs is impenetrable to me. Perhaps another time," I decline, and turn to leave.
"I'll come with you," Sybill offers, following.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
We wander away, watching birds and talking.
"Would you like to rest? Your ribs will surely take more than two days to heal."
~And I don't know what Sybill's response will be. Happy Valentine's Day, by the way!
(February 14, 2018 - 8:12 am)
Sybill~
"Yes. Thank you."
We rest. My ribs are better, but like Rose said, ribs don't heal in just two days. Yin has told me that they are only fractured, luckily.
Once we get up, my ribs feel better.
As we walk, I spot a new trail that I have never seen before. "Ah, let's go down here!" I say. Before I give Rose time to object, I am already going down the path. Rose has no choice but to follow me.
I have spotted a lovely red cardinal and two blue jays when I see it.
There is a magnificent and absolutely huge flower meadow.
"Oh, wow," I say.
"It is lovely," Rose says.
I begin to walk closer. The fragrant smell of the flowers is lovely. I inhale deeply.
What a lovely place. I can't help but want to stay forever.
~
(February 15, 2018 - 4:54 pm)
Rose~
"Yes, thank you."
I nod assent. We stop in a flat, shaded spot and sit in the green, entertaining pleasant discourse. Sybill goes better after the pause. So well, in fact, that she runs ahead of me and down a side trail.
"Let's go down here!"
"Don't harm yourself," I mutter, following.
She steps lightly, glancing up from the path to watch the motion of birds. The way takes a turn, and beyond it opens up a meadow of flowers.
"Oh, wow," Sybill breathes.
"It is lovely."
Sybill steps closer. I hesitate. The meadow ripples green, pink, white and gold. How high do the flowers grow? Might not something lurk underneath?
Sybill walks into the meadow. I go so far as its edge. The heads of daisies and clover bob innocently, the same zephyr that moves them bringing their scent to me. The gentle fragrance invites.
"Sybill?" I call softly.
A waving line traces through the meadow top, but it is one of many. "Yes?"
"I cannot see you."
~Rose's paranoia is acting up again. But high meadows are suspicious, not to mention excellent places to get ticks. Do you think they have any repellent? I hear cedar oil works.
(February 16, 2018 - 1:09 pm)
Sybill ~
"Can you come here?" Rose asks after I lift my head so she can see me, I walk towards her.
" What? "
"Ticks? What about repellent ?"
" Oh, we can go get some from Yin, " I reply. I reluctantly follow Rose back to the caves, where Yin gets us some Tick repellent. I believe it is made from cedar oil or something along the lines of that.
After wards I head back to the meadow, Rose just slightly behind me. Rose stops at the edge of the flowers, I step into them.
When I walk through the meadow, I swear I hear voices. I can almost make out the words...
"Rose, come. I think I hear voices!"
" What! " Rose's response is alarmed.
"Come." I say.
~
(February 21, 2018 - 4:11 pm)
Rose~
Sybill's head emerges from the clustered flowers. She is far out, but quite close enough to be seen.
"Can you come here?" I entreat.
She obliges, and upon reaching me, inquires, "What?"
"Ticks. What of repellent?" The meadow is beautiful, but Mother cautioned us of this at home, often enough for it to become a habit.
"Oh, we can go get some from Yin," Sybill answers.
I motion the way back, and she plods along behind me to the caves. Yin fetches us an oil, and we return to the meadow with eager haste. I pause again at the edge as Sybill one more plunges in. This time, however, it is she who calls to me.
"Rose, come. I think I hear voices!"
"What?!" I hiss.
"Come," she repeats, and I go, stepping gingerly to leave as little a trail as possible. Still, I soon reach her, and duck below the flower heads to speak.
"Where are they coming from?" I whisper. Sybill listens.
"Ahead, a little to the right."
We pass a tense moment in quiet.
"I hear nothing. But your ears may be more sensitive."
"They're getting closer..."
I drop my tone to a breath. "How many?"
"Three... I think. Shh!"
She flattens to the ground. My mind runs through possibilities. Not Yin, she's back at the caves. Could it be the Resistance? Have they found me? The thunderbird flew off this morning and has not returned. Or perhaps, and even worse, mercenaries sent by Mother to bring me home.
I make my breathing so soft as not to be heard and open my senses, and try to relax. I can take anyone in a fight, but it is possible they will not find us if we only stay silent. I wonder if Sybill can tell what they're saying. I listen.
It may be my imagination, but I hear something faint, something more than wind and bees...
(February 22, 2018 - 11:40 am)
Sybill~
I strain my ears, and I can hear the voices. They are ever so soft.
"Come! Come!" They whisper in voices soft as the sky and as sweet as honey , weaving a melody as elegant as a flamingo.
"They say to come," I whisper to Rose.
" I don't think it's a good idea to go, Sybill, " Rose says.
"Neither do I. But I think we have to," I whisper in reply. Rose looks distraught, torn between her safety and the strange pulling feeling that is dragging me to the voices.
" Alright, " She whispers, "But let's be wary."
I lead her towards the voices. They are everywhere now, surrounding us. It would be impossible to not hear what they are saying.
"Closer, closer, closer..." They whisper.
"I don't like this at all," Rose whispers.
" neither do I, but I think we must listen. " Carefully, we go closer. The pulling feeling disappears, replaced by a feeling of having to stay.
"Good, good... Close your eyes...that's right...please do...," Rose and I close our eyes. I feel something softly touching me.
" So serene. So lovely, " The voices tell us.
I feel something probing at the edge of my mind. I don't like it, but I don't resist. What are these voices?
"Oh my, what's this? A slight touch of madness? How sorrowful!" The voices whisper.
The feeling in my mind vanishes, replaced by this lovely feeling of...peace?
"What are you? What did you do?" I ask.
No reply.
I don't like this at ALL.
~
(February 22, 2018 - 3:00 pm)
Speeding up Sybill's insanity.
Sybill~
I try to fight away from the voices when I realize something.
The third voice is gone.
And right on cue, a horrid howl rips through the air. The scream carries on.
The only one capable of making such a noise is Yin.
"YIN! YIN!" I scream, opening my eyes and running, ignoring the terrible pain in my ribs.
Fire is everywhere, trees falling, and then there she is, not Ciaran, but Yin.
I am too late, I can already tell. A bloody sword has been plunged straight through Yin. The third voice is laughing.
"Sybill? What happened?" Yin whimpers.
" Nothing, just a fright. You'll be fine. Perfectly fine.. " I whipser, desperately trying to help. I pull out the hideous sword, try to bandage Yin...
But it is too late. Her chest stops moving. Her last words are, "Don't blame you."
I don't understand her words. Of course it is my fault! If I have gotten here quicker, if..
But deep down I know she's right.
Rose is there, along with Albero. But all I feel is loss. A deep, dark pit of emptiness spreads within me. I do not cry, instead I stand there in a numb silencesilence, one word repeating itself over and over again.
Why?
~~
Yin~
I hear something odd. A voice. But I can only hear rainy fragments of it. It's laughing.
Then suddenly, pain. A great pain, I think someone is screaming. I am vaguely aware that it might be me.
Then they are all there, Sybill and Rose and Albero, I think I say something, Sybill replies, and then suddenly I can see.
I can see my body laying there, and Rose and Albero and Sybill standing in a numb trance. I whisper to Sybill, "Don't blame you."
and then I awake to darkness.
It appears I have died.
~~
(February 23, 2018 - 5:22 pm)
Rose~
Sybill lies still, ears and eyes forward. I follow her example and listen. There is something, I am certain of it.
"They say to come," she whispers.
"I do not think it's a wise idea to go, Sybill," I warn her.
"Neither do I, but I think we have to," she answers. I look at her undecided. I think I hear the voices, a beckoning tune of spun sugar.
"All right," I allow. "But let's be wary."
She rises slightly and moves through the meadow, towards the sound. I follow after her on hands and knees. The voices grow stronger. They brush at my ears, at my lips, gentle and ever so slightly sticky. A spiderweb. And there must be spiders.
"I don't like this at all," I inform Sybill.
"Neither do I, but I think we must listen," she replies, not slowing her pace.
The voices reach a crescendo, and my will to mistrust them falters. There is no one here. It is only a beautiful part of the meadow. I can make out the words being song-spoken so close by.
"Good, good. Close your eyes, that's right. Please do..."
My eyelids droop, fall. I keep my ears open, continue to listen, hold onto distrust by the back of its shirt. The spider silk comes so strongly now. So many strands. They nearly form shapes, like fingers, tracing my hair, my face, my armor...
My distrust spins around and comes charging back. I can hear the voices whispering, urging me no no stay still stay quiet safe you are safe yes stay. I want to. I want to do as they say, but I cannot. I stir, weakly--when did moving become so difficult?--and, with a great effort, open my eyes.
Dark, pale figures bend over Sybill and I, whispering and stroking and holding us down. I blink, squint, swat one away. No no stay okay you're okay stay close your eyes stay stay stay. Sybill frowns, fidgets, speaks mumbling and broken. "Who, you... What'd you do...?"
The flowers around us are dead.
I need to blink again. My eyelids drop accordingly, and when they again rise, a howl rips into the quiet air, cracked and desperate, a wolf's scream. The figures are suddenly frail and malicious and utterly unimportant. Sybill and I leap up, take off.
"Yin! Yin!" Sybill shouts. I spare a glance down. Her open wounds are angry and red, her bandages beginning to stain. The walls of trees arch cruelly placid, cruelly weak, cruelly heavy. The lights glimmer innocently, I shove the crowds out of the way and run for Lilly--
Yin.
My stride breaks and I come to a halt, though Sybill runs on, reaching her sister in time to exchange a few words, more than I had. The dragon crashes through the trees and into the clearing beside me.
"What--oh. Oh, my."
The caves look an awful lot like a collapsed wall from here.
My gaze slides down to Sybill hunched over Yin, as I must have been over Lilly. I feel dizzy seeing it. But Yin isn't Lilly. She's not crushed by a wall, she's impaled with... my sword?
What?
~Rose will be very ready to accuse Albero, calling him 'the dragon', but if Sybill tells her about the third voice she'll drop it. She left her sword behind when they went to the meadow, figuring she would be fine with her body or one of the daggers she never takes off. She killed Lilly's killer, and although Yin isn't Lilly, she'll be prepared to hunt down and obliterate Yin's killer as well.
(February 25, 2018 - 10:04 am)
Sybill~
I turn around to hear arguing. Rose has accused Albero of murdering Yin.
'"Rose! " I yell. She doesn't hear.
"ROSE!"
she turns around.
"It wasn't Albero." I say, voice cracking, " It was...It was...The--The voice. The third one. "
"What voices?" Albero asks.
"They were...They were from the meadow. I didnt... I didnt...," I can't bring myself to finish the sentence .
"You mean, the weird spider-spirit folk?" Albero asks.
" Yes...How did you know about them? " Rose says, suspiciously.
"I've seen them before. It's why I'm always catious. They tricked me once... When I finally escaped they had stolen every thing of mine...I had nothing left," Albero replies, a harsh and bitter anger in his voice I had never heard from him before.
"We should hunt down those voices," I growl.
"Oh, um, good luck. I dont really like violence... Besides, I have something I want to do for Yin." Albero says.
~
(February 25, 2018 - 2:21 pm)
Rose~
I left my sword behind when we went to the meadow. The dragon was not with us. Dragons are monsters. The dragon could have taken my sword and used it, stolen Yin away from us.
"You."
"What?" It says distractedly.
"You did it. You monster, you killed her!"
"Rose!" Sybill shouts.
The dragon looks at me alarmed as I drop into a stance.
"Rose!" she repeats, stronger, louder. I turn.
"It wasn't Albero. I-it was... It was... The, the voice. The third one."
"What voice?" the dragon asks.
"They were... They were from the meadow. Ididn't--" Her voice breaks.
"You mean the spider-spirit folk?" the dragon presses.
"Yes," I say. "How did you know of them?"
"I've seen them before. It's why I'm always cautious. They tricked me once. When I finally escaped, they had stolen everything of mine... I had nothing left." It is an easy explanation. It doesn't line up with the way he invited us three into his house. But his voice rings true, in a tone I haven't heard before.
"We should hunt down these voices," Sybill growls.
"Oh, um, good luck. I don't really like violence. Besides, I have something I want to do for Yin," the dragon says, and lumbers over to her body. Sybill steps reluctantly away, and I approach to keep her safe.
The dragon touches the sword hilt, grips it one way and another, trying to get a good hold. He hasn't used it, I'm sure now. He clumsily begins to pull, and Sybill winces beside me. I sweep in front of her and remove the sword, carrying it behind the nearest cave to clean.
(February 26, 2018 - 9:16 pm)
Albero~
I feel ashamed that I won't fight. And that I had difficulties with the...er....sword.
I am saddened, and I walk out of the caves in a sort of trance. I gently carry Yin to a forest clearing in between my hut and Sybill's caves. I bury her, grab a stone and carbs into it, 'Here lies Yin, sister of Sybill, and the kindest soul to walk upon Kyngdom.'
I carefully place it in the ground as Yin's gravestone. Then I get to work.
Once I am finsihed, I have made a tent of vines, and I have weaved in pieces of colored glass and flowers. The light shine many colors onto Yin's grave.
I head to my hut. I get to the back, and open a trapdoor in the floor. I exaggerated to Rose and Sybill. The spider things didn't take everything I owned...I had some stuff in the basement. But most of my stuff was gone.
I open a little chest and pull out my most prized possession, my accordion. I go back to Yin's grave, and play melodies for her.
This is how Rose finds me.
"Where's Sybill?" I ask, pausing my music briefly.
" Shes at the caves...something about her ribs hurting. "
I return to playing.
Rose whispers something. I don't know if she whispered it intentionally or if she felt a need to be quiet at Yin's grave, but she says, "It's really...beautiful. And...you're not bad at that accordion."
" Thank you, " I whisper back. And I play for a while longer, Rose quietly listening.
~
(February 27, 2018 - 4:30 pm)