It's night. You'r

Chatterbox: Pudding's Place

It's night. You'r

It's night. You're sitting in your bed, staring out the window, searching for something lost. But you can't remember what it is, or was. All you know is that it's out there...it's important...and it was once yours.

Perhaps you never used it, perhaps you did--once, maybe twice. Or more. But for some strange reason, you can't remember if you did or didn't. Or what effect it had on you. Or...where it is now.

As you awoke from a particularly bland and boring dream, the memory that you were missing this...thing slid into your head. As you sat in a haze between asleep and awake, you stared outside, scouring the landscape that, for one fleeting moment, was no longer the familiar world you saw every day.

So here you are, staring outside, searching.

And then you finish waking up.

And here you are, trying to remember what you were just doing.

Hm, you think, smacking your dry lips. The covers rustle as you reach for your water glass, which sits by your lamp on your nightstand like it does every night. That's really wierd...I can't remember my dream. It seemed important--almost real. Your hand meets cold glass and you close your fingers around it. You bring it to your lips for a satisfying sip, but you realize that it's empty.

"Darn," you whisper. You'll have to get out of bed to fill it up--but it's really cold, and you don't have socks on.

Eh, it's no big deal. You'll fill it up.

Throwing the covers to the side, you haul yourself out of bed. With every footstep towards the kitchen all memory of strange dreams and searches leaves you, and by the time you return to your comfy nest of blankets with your full cup of water, the night seems almost normal. That is, until you glance outside the window.

Something moves across the front of the moon, which is full and shines right through the middle of your window, lighting up your comforter. What could it have been? It seemed familiar...And perhaps it's the fact that you're still half asleep, half awake that you can sense it, but a powerful force beats from it. Calling you. Presenting opportunities that you absolutely cannot miss.

Without any hesitation you get back out of bed, but before you can even leave your bedroom you notice a puddle of water near your nightstand.

So that's where all my water went, you realize. I must've knocked it over. Upon closer inspection you realize that there's writing on the carpet, glowing faintly yellow from under the patch of wetness.

The writing is so interesting you don't even realize how strange it is that the puddle isn't soaking into the carpet, or wonder how the words got there. In fact, the words don't even seem scary to you, despite their suspicious nature.

Hello, person! You are one of the lucky few CBers to be chosen to go on a nice, relaxing, beautiful vacation over Lake Lelillo! (Lay-LIH-loh) If you do indeed come, and we absolutely hope you do decide to, you will be given a free getaway from work, school, and empty water glasses! Here at Lake Lelillo, you will have all-day access to the lake itself, the fun attractions, the ice cream stands, the hot dog stands, the hamburger stands, the steak stands, the spagghetti stands, and any other stand marked with a silver star. (Which is all of them, so please don't forget!) Your rooms will be huge and most of them will even overlook the lake! They will of course be inside our one and only Luxury Lake House, which you will live in until your stay comes to a close. Remember this is all completely free, free free! Please pack your things, bring an AE and/or CAPTCHA if you'd like, and wait with them by the nearest stream at sunrise tomorrow morning. As we always say: All inlets lead to Lelillo!

~Your Soon-to-be Chaperones, 

Cassy and Lily of Lake Lelillo 

How you read all that small print was beyond you. Will you go? It certainly seems relaxing enough. The choice is yours to make.

-------------------------

I'll tell you all when the spots are closed, so join while you still can!

Please note that this is my second ski lodge, and it's kind of linked to my first. In a sense, it's the next part. I don't know if I should call it a part two, or what, but some things might reference the first ski lodge. Don't worry--I'm not going to make things super confusing. I'll explain things as I go--and I really need new CBers to join in. But I also need some CBers from my previous ski lodge to come. ('Course, they don't have to join if they don't want to; I'll understand.)

Here's another clue (if you didn't catch the others...) for the CBers who were in my first ski lodge, or read it, and wanted to be in this one:

What do you get when you cross a scorpion and a sloth?

Hehe, my alias isn't going to last the day. :D

submitted by Your Chaperones, Cassy and Lily
(January 1, 2017 - 11:51 am)

I'm packing books, chocolate, and necessities. Can I still bring my AE and CAPTCHA?

submitted by September
(January 5, 2017 - 6:27 pm)

List (Continued):

Autumn Leaves
Saphira (AE)
Echosong (AE)
Luna (CAPTCHA)

Dragonrider
Turgon (AE)

Joan B. of Arc
Are you bringing any companions?

Boosky Owly
Are you bringing any companions?

submitted by Lily and Cassy, Your Chaperones
(January 5, 2017 - 7:09 pm)

May I bring Wordsy, my AE? She's outgoing and dramatic and loves trying to drag me into things. I'm also bringing my books!

submitted by Booksy Owly
(January 5, 2017 - 8:49 pm)

@September: Yep!

@Booksy: Sure!

submitted by Lily and Cassy, Your Chaperones
(January 6, 2017 - 8:14 am)

Me: Cinderpelt 

AE: Yellowfang
CAPTCHA: Jayfeather 
Hey "Farmers assistant the 2nd" I borrowed the 2nd Warriors series from your sister.
submitted by Cinderpelt, age Who knows, Med. Cat den
(January 6, 2017 - 4:47 pm)

Aha, hi there! Would you like to join?

submitted by Lily and Cassy, Your Chaperones
(January 6, 2017 - 5:47 pm)

1) Sorry this is kind of late!! I'm doing it though!!

2) here's my packing list:

-lightsaber (preferably blue)

-calligraphy pen and paper

-my earbuds and some sort of music-listening device

-Am I allowed to bring my flute and piccolo? (If not, that's cool, and if I am, then you can include those)

-a teddy bear :)

I think that's everything! Thanks for waiting! So sorry it was taking me so long! Your writing is so good and I can't wait!!

~Poetic Panda 

submitted by Poetic Panda
(January 6, 2017 - 9:15 pm)

Whoops! Sorry I haven't posted; and thanks for letting me join! 

Hmm, let me see, who should I bring... *Looks around room for my AEs*

Puck: *Sighs and shrugs* I might as well go. Who knows; it might be just as fun as the last one! 

Ariel: *Looks up from playing his pan pipes* Can I come? I noticed Saphira is coming along... *Blushes*  

Joan: *Nods* Galahad, what about you? Are you coming too?

Galahad: fpmp!

Joan: I'll take that as a yes. I will be packing my sword, 2 daggers, (one in each boot,) and my journal. 

Puck: I'm packing my prank bag, my journal, (and if anyone else besides me gets into it, you shall be haunted by pranks for the rest off your life! *Evil laughter* Anyways, you get the idea. *Smiles innocently*)

Joan: *Shrugs* I'm not gonna even ask.

Ariel: I'm packing my Saphire pendant,(the one I received from Saphira!) My ability to tease others, (can I even pack that?) And a bag filled with a little bit of each of the 4 winds: South wind, north wind, east wind, and west. 

Joan: Galahad will just be packing his sword. Oh, and a few more details: You already know Puck from the first Ski lodge, (which was AMAZING by the way,) but you probably don't know Ariel or Galahad. Here's a short introduction: Ariel is a male AE. He is twins with Puck, and is a spirit of the wind. He doesn't fly, but he hovers above ground most of the time. Curly/wavy brown hair with a couple blonde streaks entwined, and green eyes. Oh, and he has a MAJOR crush on Saphira, Autumn Leaves's AE. Galahad is my CAPTCHA, and looks like a small boy, (about 10-12.) Curly blonde hair, and he wears armor. Doesn't really talk much though, unless it's absolutely necessary. One more thing: I don't think I told you about this before, but one of Puck's abilities is to turn into a crow, because she has black raven wings on her back. 

Thanks for everything, and for letting me join! 

submitted by Joan B. of Arc, age 14, Camelot
(January 6, 2017 - 10:35 pm)

Thanks, Joan! The extra information on Sir Galahad and Ariel is really helpful!

submitted by Lily and Cassy, Your Chaperones
(January 8, 2017 - 9:34 am)

Great! Cortana, my AE, and Chester, my CAPTCHA are both coming!!

submitted by September
(January 6, 2017 - 10:46 pm)

Yes and sorry I messed up...

Me: Cinderpelt 

AE: Jayfeather 

AE: SpottedLeaf

AE: Yellowfang 

CAPTCHA: Cinderheart

I don't know what to take... Except herbs XD 

 

 

 

 

submitted by Cinderpelt, age Who knows, Med. Cat den
(January 7, 2017 - 7:48 am)

@Cinderpelt--

There are already over 35 characters in the story; could you possibly bring one AE and one CAPTCHA? I'm sorry; it's just going to be hard to keep track of all these characters.

P.S.--I'm about to post part one! 

submitted by Lily and Cassy
(January 7, 2017 - 5:52 pm)

Ooops! Forgot the title!

Day 1--Part 1: 

submitted by Lily and Cassy, Your Chaperones
(January 7, 2017 - 7:18 pm)

Ya, I will just bring Jayfeather (AE) and Cinderheart (CAPTCHA)

submitted by Cinderpelt, age Who knows, Med. Cat den
(January 8, 2017 - 1:11 pm)
Canoes had been present to pick up the Chatterboxers. Whether their 'stream' was a drainage system, a wide river, or a creek, a man had appeared wearing business attire and dark sunglasses, manning a sleek canoe with as many seats as each CBer needed.
Many CBers wondered how they would all reach the same place. They hadn't really believed the gimmick from the letter, after all. But they were all soon proved wrong when they discovered an extra bend in the river that hadn't been there before, or a small stream leading from what they thought was just a retaining pond.
Some CBers passed through cities; some through rural landscapes, but exactly one hour after they began their journey, the CBers' boats all met up in one enormous river.
Each CBer, AE, and CAPTCHA quickly busied themselves with seeing all who was there. They quickly lost count, however, when more and more canoes entered the mainstream.
About half an hour later, the river emptied into a huge lake. A very huge lake.
And a very unique lake.
The water was as clear as a tropical beach's, and in fact some of the shores were so white and sandy the CBers could just imagine that they were at the beach, minus the salty scent.
The most intriguing thing about the lake was that it seemed to be modeled after a tropical resort, but instead of palm trees and hibiscus flowers, majestic oaks and irises grew. Cobbled pathways surrounded the entire body of water, and beyond them grew manicured gardens, carefully trimmed forests, and (well, this didn't grow) a water park off in the distance.
The canoes formated into a diamond pattern and they glided towards the right shore. From there they were propelled onwards, allowing the CBers to marvel over the beauty of the landscape.
After a while, an enormous mansion came into view. As the CBers grew closer to the lake house, they saw more and more food stands populating increasingly more tourist-friendly beaches, which had volleyball nets, totes full of floaties and blow-up alligators, and slip 'n slides.
The canoes turned left, crossed the middle of the lake, and headed for a triangular cove that ended in the backyard of the house.
Instead of floating right to the backyard, however, the CBers' boats were brought into an enormous boat house, with small docks for each boat.
Metal walls loomed overhead, and the only light came from the opening the CBers had just passed through. Ridged tin roofing twanged in the heat, and the noises echoed across the water.
Rippling patterns laced the wooden docks, dancing across the Chatterboxers' feet as they disembarked.
Just as the last AE clambered off the last canoe, a door opened on the side of the boat house, letting more light in. Two young ladies walked through, wearing 'Lake Lelillo' shirts and huge smiles.
"Welcome to Lake Lelillo!" said one of them, her voice echoing slightly. "I'm Lily, and this is Cassy!"
Cassy waved.
The two women looked the exact same, except for their hair colors. Lily's hair was blond, and Cassy's had a brownish tint to it. Other than that, everything about them was the same--even their voices, as the CBers discovered when Cassy finally spoke.
"We're so glad to have you here," she said happily. "Unfortunately, there's quite a few more of you than we'd expected, so you may have to wait in the waiting room for a while before you can get to your rooms."
A pleased murmur spread through the crowd like the ripples decorating the roof. The CBers were glad to have a chance to chat before settling into their rooms.
"Please, step outside; it's much safer on the deck than in here on this old wooden bridge," Lily said, stamping her foot on the dock as an example. The entire structure shuddered. The AEs smiled; they were starting to like this Lily person.
The CBers didn't hesitate to make their way through the tiny door.
Outside was a large deck that hung over the water, complete with safe new railing and a bin full of fishing poles.
Lily pulled a chair to the general vicinity of the front of the jumbled crowd.
"We're all very glad you came here," Lily began from the top of the wire seat, reciting the speech she and Cassy had planned the night before. "This is the first time Lelillo has been open to the public. It was previously a large vacation home for a rich man named Tom Noodle."
The AEs sniggered.
"When Noodle died, his lake home and the surrounding land was donated to our small little band of vacation-loving staff. We've been working hard to make it welcoming for other vacation-loving people! Now it's finally open! You'll have plenty of time to explore our terrestrial and aquatic gardens alike, roam the pearly beaches, enjoy our newly built water park, and get lost in a world of ethereal beauty! Oh, and also food."
Cassy picked up the remainder of the speech. "You'll have access to every part of the property! Our staff is always tending to the foliage, so you won't have to worry about getting lost. But just in case, we have four towers that transmit a signal across the resort. Each one of you, including CAPTCHAs, will be given a little device (whether it's a walkie talkie or something else is your choice) to use in case you need to contact us."
Lily held up a walkie talkie for everyone to see.
"These walkie talkies will always be on, and will always be on," Cassy continued.
She was met with blank stares. Well, the statement had seemed catchy in her head...
"I mean, they'll always be near us and they'll always be turned on," she amended, turning slightly pink.
The group nodded comprehensively. Lily decided it would be best if she finished up, mentally reminding herself not to use the other two 'catchy phrases' she'd put in the rest of speech.
"The grounds will be open for the rest of the day, but you should always be in the lake house before twelve o'clock am. The grounds open back up at six o'clock am, for you early birds' benefit.
"Sometimes, there will be events going on, and you'll know about them via the notice board, which we'll be updating every day. We'll show it to you when we get into the house."
Lily and Cassy tossed the chair aside and it banged into the wall of the boat house, winning yet more affection from the crazier AEs.
"Well," Cassy finished, "I think that's all for now. Let's get going for the house so you can start exploring it. Don't forget any of your luggage!"
Lily and Cassy set off up a slight incline and led the group down a cobbestone path that weaved through a flower garden. The AEs couldn't resist uprooting a few of the blooms on their way by.
The pathway followed the remainder of the cove, where it turned and went around the mansion. As the CBers passed by, they saw in the backyard water slides and more fun things, including a tall obstacle course in the middle of the water.
The front of the mansion had many more cobblestone paths leading to it, and the CBers followed their own path to the elaborate front door.
Cassy held it open, and the CBers entered into a very, very, very large and airy reception room.
Antique cotton carpet dyed orange covered the floor. Wallpaper (thankfully not tacky wallpaper) covered the walls, and a very shiny reception desk sat in the middle of the back of the room, in front of a fountain mounted on the wall. Two large wooden stair cases swept across the right and left walls in classic old-fashioned mansion style. They both led up to the same balcony, where old busts and antique picture frames stood, only looking slightly tacky.
There were more doors on the left and right walls, and even some under the staircases on the left and right sides of the reception desk.
There was a fireplace complete with a roaring fire set into the left wall, so there weren't as many doors there, and mushy old-fashioned sofas faced it, looking very tacky.
There was another sitting area on the left side of the room, with a dark wooden coffee table and some more modern sofas made to look old. There were a few magazines on the table, and there was also a smaller fireplace. Above it hung a highly NON old-fashioned curved plasma screen TV, which was currently turned off.
"We tried to keep most of the old decor in here, but Cassy and I were in charge of adding and taking away unnecessary furniature for the slight remodeling that had to be done, so some of the stuff here isn't as antique."
Adding unnecessary furniature? wondered the CBers, bewildered. 
The AEs had already figured this out; no one was better at sighting vulnerable valuables than they were.
"Well, this is where we have to leave you," Lily sighed. "Cassy and I need to help set up the extra rooms for you all. Feel free to make yourselves cozy!"
With that, the two left, waving to the busy receptionist as they went through a door to her left.
-----------------------------------
Not much introduction to the characters here, but don't worry; there will be more time for individual characters in the next few posts. It's hard to manipulate such a large group at first, but I'll get used to it soon; don't worry!
submitted by Your Chaperones, Cassy and Lily
(January 7, 2017 - 7:13 pm)