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Chatterbox: Pudding's Place
Ski lodge: WinterWonderland
A crisp envelope, the color of cream with a picture of a swan on the seal, was in your palm. How you found it, you don’t remember, but you think it had something to do with ravens. An inky black feather was in your other hand.
Hesitating slightly, you flip the envelope over to the address side, but nothing was written on it besides the words, Seasonal Greetings! You turn it back over, and break the seal. Sliding the letter out, you unfold it and read:
To whom it may concern,
That was a good start, you decided. The letter was for anyone.
To whom it may concern,
We are writing this letter to invite you (whoever you may be) to our ski lodge in WinterWonderland. You can be one of the ten guests we will be accepting! Our mansion is suited for company, and yet it is empty! So we invite you to come!
There is lots to do here. Sledding, ice skating, snowball fights, and of course, skiing. We hope you can make it! All you have to do is fill out the form below.
*Yours cordially,
Swan and Raven
*No OC’s, AE’s, CAPTCHA’S, or pets. CBers only please! And as said above, TEN guests! Let it be noted that we are not responsible for lost items, paper cuts, or deaths.
Well, just skip right over autumn, why don’t you?! But still, it sounds interesting… You search your pockets for a pen as you set the separate form on a flat rock so you can fill it out.
Form~
Name:
Pronouns:
Appearance:
Personality:
Roommate?:
Do you like snow?:
Hot chocolate or tea?:
Other:
Hey y’all! It’s me, Hawkstar. I know I’ve tried and failed with a couple ski lodges… I’m hoping that I will finish this one though. I have a pretty solid plot. Hope you join! This will start once I have the designated 10 CBers. Thanks! Byeee!
submitted by Swan and Raven
(November 18, 2023 - 10:20 am)
(November 18, 2023 - 10:20 am)
no way another part today!!?? :DD i loved this part so much! ice skating is so fun :D for a second there, i was worried i was going to die because it was in my pov AND i'd been suspected of being the murderer, but thankfully i was spared! can't say the same for amari, though :0 i really love how you conveyed the emotions in this part! the growing unease following Silver's murder and the subtle foreshadowing were so well written! and oh dear, i'm a suspect now. why is it always so fun to read about myself being accused of murder?? XD
love this ski lodge so much! i can't wait for the next part! :D
(December 12, 2023 - 6:47 pm)
o no not amari! Great story so far @Hawkstar! I love the detailed description of the lake.
(December 12, 2023 - 6:57 pm)
Oh no amari!! I feel like maybe Swan's in on it somehow. Pangolin doesn't seem suspicious to me, but you never know. Kinda strange how Gloomy and amari were out there on their own and amari was found murdered...
Great writing, can't wait to see what happens next :)
(December 12, 2023 - 10:08 pm)
(December 12, 2023 - 4:15 pm)
Oh, wow! This is so good. Sorry I haven't been commenting on the Ski Lodge very much, I'm out of town and not allowed to use my computer (only for a bit, of course--which is how I'm writing this).
I love your descriptions, Hawkstar! :>
My favorite part is when Celine lands on her feet.
(December 13, 2023 - 5:06 am)
So sorry I haven't posted, been busy but I have been reading.
This is amazing so far, I really like the descriptions and the way you write! It's so magical and vivid!
(December 13, 2023 - 6:47 pm)
Thank you all SO much!! You have NO idea how much your praise and comments mean to me. They want me to write more!!! I had lots of fun with this part- Enjoy! Thanks again!
Hesitantly, Parody lifted a finger and poked the black feather on the mantle. She drew back quickly, and wiped her finger on her pants. amari’s feather was still wet- it never seemed to dry!
It was the morning after the day of ice skating, and everyone seemed quiet today. Two people were gone already- and it was just now day three! They shook their head, and turned away from the warm fireplace.
“Still wet?” Celine was on the couch, fiddling with the edge of her sweater.
“Yeah,” Parody said. “She did drown, so I guess it’ll always be wet.”
“I suppose so,” Celine stretched her arms over her head. “I just wish we could be doing something today- everybody is just hanging around, giving each other suspicious looks!”
“I know,” Raven said, coming into the living room, “I totally agree! While Silver’s and amari’s deaths were no doubt a tragedy, this IS a 5 star ski resort! Our guests are supposed to enjoy themselves, not worry about if they’ll be the next to go!”
“5 star ski resort?” Parody frowned. “But… I thought you said this was the first time inviting somebody here? How could it be rated if we’re the first to attend?”
“Oh…” Raven trailed off, looking slightly frazzled. “Well,” she finally said, changing the subject, “I suggest a sleigh ride! That’ll make for a nice time- I’ll go tell the others.” And she quickly left the room.
Parody raised her eyebrows at Celine, who nodded, having caught the slip as well. “We’ll discuss theories later,” she said. “Because a sleigh ride DOES sound very fun!”
Parody agreed and went to the entry hall with her roommate to wait.
The sleigh was out back, underneath a canopy to keep out the snow. It was painted white, with blue swirls on the sides, and silver runners. There were two rows of benches, one higher than the other, which was plenty of room for all of the group. "Pile in!" Raven invited, throwing a couple warm looking blankets onto the seats.
Parody hopped in the front seat, with Celine, pangolin, Wildsong, and Raven climbed in after her. The others, including the bouncing Hawk, went in the back.
“All ready?” Raven asked, once everyone was wrapped in blankets. Parody was on the far left side of the sleigh, with Celine next to her. Raven was in the middle, on the edge of the seat, holding a pair of silver reins. Then, Raven took a deep breath, and blew a loud, long whistle. The wind in front of the sleigh started to swirl the snow, and soon it turned into a small flurry in front of them. Parody’s eyes widened, and there, where the snow flurry had been, stood two elegant deer, with soft, white fur, intelligent eyes, and silver horns. They both snorted, kicked their hoofs, then started to trot into the woods.
“What’d you do?” Celine asked curiously.
“I harnessed the north wind,” came the casual reply. “He does me a favor from time to time.”
Parody raised her eyebrows at this, but was distracted as the forest in front of them opened up to reveal an area with hills and plains, dotted with trees. The deer picked up their pace, and soon the sleigh was racing through an unseen path, zipping and sliding. The solemn group on the sleigh lightened up, squealing and laughing as they went zooming down hillsides, and over frozen creeks. By the time lunch arrived and they were heading back, everyone had pink cheeks and red noses, windblown hair, and a smile on their faces.
Once the sleigh was back in position, the deer disappeared in a white wind. Everyone piled out, their spirits lifted, and went into the house. Raven made them all warm drinks, and everyone was in the living room, talking cheerily and getting pastries through the afternoon. Parody was content with her hot chocolate, but after a while, she grew a bit too warm and went out the front door, to the porch, to cool off. Only one pair of eyes followed her, and then followed her.
***
“Hello,” they said pleasantly to Parody as they stepped outside. “I got a bit too hot in there!” They pause, thinking. They were? To be honest, their ears were still hurting from the cold and their toes mind as well have been ice cubes.
Yes, you are very warm, came the thought, and you came out here to cool down.
Really? They wonder. They don’t think…
You aren’t supposed to think, the thought reprimed, you are a puppet.
Right, a puppet. They had forgotten.
Good, the thought said, don’t forget again. Continue.
Parody was staring at them, looking slightly concerned. “Didn’t you hear me?” she asked.
“Oh, sorry,” the puppeteer replied through the CBer’s mouth. “I was just lost in thought. Want some ice cream?”
From behind their back, they pulled a bowl, a spoon, and a small bottle of maple syrup. Where had those came from? Nevermind that, came the thought. Right. You remember. “I can make some!”
Parody tilted her head, slightly confused. Why did they just avoid the question? “Sure?”
They plodded out of the porch, went to a clean, untouched part of snow, and used the bowl to scoop some up. They turned back to the porch and set it on a small table, unscrewing the maple syrup as they did so. They then drizzled it on top, and presented Parody with the spoon. “You first!”
Parody looked understandably suspicious, but her tone was light as she said, “No, that’s fine! You go ahead.”
Yes, I suppose so, the thought came, I can make another.
“Okay!” the puppeteer made them say, and their hand was shaking ever so slightly as they took a bite, with extra syrup on the snow. “Mmm! Good!”
Parody relaxed, took the spoon, and ate a bite as well. “Not bad! But… Why does the syrup taste so… strange? It’s not very sweet.”
“Probably,” they said, suddenly feeling a constricting feeling in their throat, “because it’s poison.” and they collapsed, choked. Only at the last minute the thought left, and they had time to choke out, “Sorry-” before everything was gone.
***
Celine walked out onto the porch, looking for Parody so they could discuss theories, but all she found was a bowl of syrup snow, and two mangled feathers.
“Oh NO!” she cried, and everyone came rushing out. Raven sighed when she saw the feathers, but she went and picked them up right away. “Who’s missing?” she asked.
Everyone looked around at each other. Finally, Celine listed out, “Parody, Gloomy, and-” she paused. “And pangolin.”
Dead:3 (Silver Crystal, amari, Endless Parodies)
Alive: 7 (Moon Wolf, pangolin (missing or dead?), Wildsong, Seadragon, GloomyBear (missing or dead?), CelineBurningBright, BookGirl)
(December 14, 2023 - 4:11 pm)
Woah! A death and two missing/dead in one part! Rip Parody! This part was really cool. And the part about being a five-star ski lodge but no one to rate it- The murders are going to bring the rating down lol
(December 14, 2023 - 5:25 pm)
SOOO GOOD!!!!!! So sorry I haven't had time to comment, eek this is awesome!!!!! And wow, this part was just, I mean... what is there to say? Eagerly will be waiting for more! And coming back with some theories when I have more time bc yes. And NOOO PARODY AND AMARI AND SILVER!!! WE WILL AVENGE YOU!!! Unless, oc, we don't. But still.
btw, an update on the irl raven Ophelia, she just got a friend!! Yay!! Which is also :( bc she lives at a place where creatures that can't return to the wild go... but at least she'll have another raven to keep her company now (though who knows how she'll like it after being alone for years... btw, I've known her since 1st grade! And got to feed her before! :D)
(December 14, 2023 - 6:33 pm)
THIS IS SO GOOD WHAT first of all, Raven dodging the question when Parody asked how it could be rated five stars is so suspicious--maybe there have been other people here? maybe another ski lodge took place here?? i don't know. but i DO know that you are so good at foreshadowing and building tension and suspense through small details and i am absolutely loving this ski lodge!! and yay, sleigh rides are so fun! i love the wintry mood of this part :D and oh my goodness is that some MIND CONTROL?? so cool!! >:0 i thought that was the murderer for a second and they were being mind controlled by some outside force that is making them kill--but i guess not? i guess it was just a CBer who's being controlled--perhaps by the murderer? or perhaps by an outside force? and oh DEAR i am missing/dead D: i hope i'm not dead! and I hope Gloomy's not dead either (but i'm sure at least one of us will be dead...)
anyway this is so good! love this ski lodge sm <3
(December 14, 2023 - 5:53 pm)
WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT???
(December 16, 2023 - 12:10 pm)
(December 14, 2023 - 4:11 pm)
Celine was determined to do research, now that Parody was gone. She went and gathered up a couple others who seemed to want the same thing. Raven disappeared almost right after she placed the feathers on the mantle, and Swan and took her place.
“Okay,” Celine said after she settled in her room, with Wildsong and Moon Wolf in front of her. “Let’s go over suspicious facts.”
“Well,” Moon Wolf said, “I have noticed that ever since Silver Crystal died, we haven’t seen Swan and Raven at the same time. It’s always one or the other.”
“Huh,” Celine leaned back on her chair, scratching her head, “It’s true! I hadn’t noticed that. What I noticed is that Swan and Raven get tense whenever Hawk is around, like he’s a bomb that’s seconds away from exploding.”
Wildsong and Moon Wolf nodded in agreement.
“And,” Celine added, “this morning, Raven said something about this being a 5 star ski lodge- but they said that this was their first time inviting someone here, remember? At the very beginning!”
Wildsong frowned seriously. “Weird! Did… did she say anything else?”
“No!” said Celine. “She paused for a moment, then suggested the sleigh ride.”
“Hmmm,” was the reply.
The girls were quiet for a moment, then Moon Wolf said, “Maybe they already invited people here- but it didn’t work out? And they weren’t allowed to do it again, but they’re doing it anyway?”
“Maybe,” Celine said.
“Do you remember what Swan said? When we discovered Silver was gone? She said ‘When you- IF you die’. That slip… kinda sounded like she knows what’s going on. Like… our hostesses are the ones behind all this,” Wildsong pointed out.
“Ohhhh,” Celine leaned forward. “Yeahhhhh! And Hawk probably knows about it- but he’s holding back! But younger kids are generally terrible at keeping secrets, so Swan and Raven are afraid he’ll forget himself and spill the beans at any mhoment!” She sat up, feeling very accomplished.
They all sat there, pondering the new ideas.
“I know,” Moon Wolf said finally. “Let’s go up to the attic. Raven said that the attic wasn’t off limits, but advised us not to go up there. Doing that, she’s like, you can go to the attic, but I’d rather you not. And so people are less likely to go up there, because it isn’t off limits, so that doesn’t make it suspicious. But the ‘strongly advise you not to’ is the part that makes it appealing.”
“Oh ho, good one!” Celine leaped up. “Let’s go!”
The girls hurried to the door, opened it, and peered out. There wasn’t anyone there, and so they hurried out, turned right, and went to the stairs leading up. They climbed them, curving up and to the left. On the third landing, it was a long hall, like one below, only there were only two doors, halfway along the hall, opposite each other. The girls went down to the doors. Moon Wolf and Wildsong tried to open the one on the left, and Celine the one on the right. Celine’s door opened, and she smiled with pleasure. It was a library, with books everywhere, and desks and bean bag chairs. She closed the door, and promised to come back later.
“Library’ in there,” Celine told the other two, who were still struggling with the other door.
“Ugh, this one’s locked,” Wildsong threw up her hands. “Nevermind.”
The three then went to the end of the hall, where a metal, sharply twisting spiral staircase went up into the ceiling.
“Well, let’s go then,” Moon Wolf said, and took hold of the railing and started up. Wildsong went next, and Celine was about to follow when she saw a flash at the corner of her eye. She turned her head, but saw nobody. She frowned, hesitated a moment longer, and then started up the stairs. If she had waited a moment later, she might have seen a grinning face before it vanished into invisibility, and followed them up the stairs.
In the attic, Celine glanced around at the large room. It was dusty, full of boxes and old furniture, generally looking as all attics do.
“Nothing out of the ordinary,” Moon Wolf said, sounding disappointed.
“Not so fast,” Wildsong pointed at the floor. “Look.”
Where dust should’ve been thick on the floor, footprints that went back and forth, some covering up others and looking fresher, led over to a blank wall.
“Strange,” Celine said, tapping the wall. It didn’t sound like it was hollow, but this was only one section. The footprints were all over this wall, going directly over to this spot on the wall, then disappearing in the gloom, around other bins and boxes by the wall.
“Let’s spread out,” Celine suggested, and Wildsong and Moon Wolf went, disappearing into the boxes.
Celine then took to tapping different sections of the wall, looking for nooks in the wood that could be handles. With all her tapping, she didn’t hear silent footsteps behind her. Then, something hit her head, and everything went dark.
***
Moon Wolf was on the opposite side of the attic when she heard a thump, followed by a crash. With a gasp, she ran back across the attic, tripped over Wildsong’s body laying on the floor, hit her head on a corner of the box, and blackness ensued.
Dead:3 (Silver Crystal, amari, Endless Parodies)
Alive: 7 (Moon Wolf, pangolin (missing or dead?), Wildsong, Seadragon, GloomyBear (missing or dead?), CelineBurningBright, BookGirl)
(December 16, 2023 - 8:25 pm)
Ooo suspicions...
This is truly amazing so far!
(December 17, 2023 - 11:46 am)
(December 16, 2023 - 8:29 pm)