This consumed my mind for a few days, itching to get out of my mind. Been writing this as I listened to one song over and over again. Might be a bit rough at the moment so I appreciate any feedback you have on this.
Oh and if you want to know how some of them look like, Ping's been drawing up designs for them.
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Forest of Stars
You find yourselves precisely in front of the Forest of Stars, little Eve. God knows why you are drawn to it, drawn to the chilling wind which bites your skin and soaks through your cloak. The crisp, dead crackle of you walking on dry leaves echoes through the forest, it is the only sound you can hear as the sun sinks deeper and deeper into the earth. Then all that accompanies your footsteps are the hisses and snarls of the night. You touch the blackened trees as if you believe them to be your guardian unknown, as if unaware of the fact they are all dead or dying, and run your fingers against the white marks from age old adventures.
Why are you not scared, little Eve?
You hum a song too old for humans to understand and I scream in fear for you when you walk up to the gallows of Libra. The corpse hung from the elder tree with nothing more than a thin strip of skin to hold it up. Its body mutilated and decayed to the point you can no longer distinguish its features. It lifted its lopsided head with a sickening crack, and from its slackened jaw it asked you, in its wheezing, hissing voice.
“Be ye saint or sin?”
You look so calm, I know not why, perhaps because you know it can do you no harm. For you knew its answer and gave it to it so easily, it allowed you to pas.s and you walk down the night consumed road. You can smell the cold, wild scent of the forest; earthy like all forests but not the same earth: strange, foreign and not from this world. It smells of mirages.
In the forest night, you can hear the thudding gallop of Sagittarius, the melancholy wail of Alphard, the low bray of Capricorn as it surfaces from the Lake. You can hear the twin howls of Sirius and Procyon, her voice hesitant and feeble compared to the mighty call of Sirius. Then you hear the thunder of their footsteps and you see the two dogs, as black as night but with eyes so bright, so white, in the dead and dying forest. Sirius stands with a proud, untamable wildness in his eyes and weak Procyon hides behind his mas.sive form, submissive and small.
You scrunitised the small one scornfully before you leap onto the back of Sirius, the great dog lifte his head and emitted another mighty howl before he runs through the forest. You ride the great beast as he chases the soaring fowls, chases the wind that carries them. You run, past the black trees of the forest, past the shimmering lake, up to the cliffs. Run and climb higher and higher; he is strong but you are stronger. You press him on with a force that he could not disobey and he keeps going and going until
you are there.
You stand at the top of the peak of the ledge, the wind nipping even more fiercely at your skin. Sirius lowers you down and you slip off his back and look over the ledge. Over the forest wrapped in the murk of night. You see the prowling bears and the phoenix, old and blind with age. You see the Hydra who watches, with a trace of interest, at the mournful Alphard. The lake emits its elusive glow and everything is still but for the ripples that emerged on the surface. You see Procyon held in the grasp of Leo, who nuzzles and licks her gently. She does not relax; Leo then licks at her ear and opens his jaws. A sharp crack and she dies. But you smile; because you know she would be back tomorrow night. You see everything as it should be and you feel at eased.
Dawn comes.
You find yourself staring at the sky, at the night-shattering sun; too bright and glaring. Too mocking. You look at your feet, your eyes dull and emotionless, and at the dew-stained gras.s. The field is clear of trees and there is no lake in sight. The hisses and snarls are no more and now comes the sickening chorus of the songbirds. You take a step forward, slightly shaken, and start to walk slowly and reluctantly back home. You will come back tonight; it is there even if you cannot see it. You will come back again.
But why, little Eve?
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