Her fingers are covered in dust and cobwebs

...further, her cold bones and freckled atoms s t a i n e d

with old broken ink scents

tell me, dear, how long were you wandering in these woods. Don’t you know? Stay too long and it will swallow your soul up (leave nothing for the wolves to feed on)

lost for so long, she forgot how to reach up for the stars - how to wonder, dream past this stream of sharp vivid realities

all she knows is nothing but constant movement of time and her, numb in the middle. she’s been here so long, she can’t remember anything else.

...Oh dear, what should we do then? It seems your already half-eaten, there’s barely any left of you. Only shadows of what you were once.

she stares up at him, she doesn’t understand. she only knows shadows and pools of numb-cold darkness - she doesn’t remember anything past that

Of course, you wouldn’t - he smiles tiredly but warm - you don’t even remember your name and everything has to have to a name to come here

now, now... what to do I can’t simply leave you like this - his blue eyes sharp into her eyes deeper past her atoms (into fractured memories ) - & catches a glimpse of fingers before he slips away and doesn't drown (you can look at the abyss but don’t stare too long or it will take you too)

oh, you were a writer - that makes a lot of sense now, easier I got just the potion for you!

so, listen up—

There’s a shuffle of sounds in the distant that interrupts him. Another traveller appears

this one seems different though... brighter. More alive. This woman has colours.

A familiar one -

she has never felt colours before and these press into her darkness and feels like... something. (the tip of her tongue ...familiar, song-like) like fire but less. like (stars, sunlight in the night sky tangled up in wishes) something she can’t put to words. but it stirs her, leaves her wrong-footed

“Oh, hey!” The Women grins up at the old man.

Hello, to you as well Katy. He answers, dryly. Haven’t I told you to go home?

“Yes, you did.” She nods, mischief glimmering in her dark eyes. but do I ever listen?

(there’s an old story here to be told)

(where there’s a child curled by the river, dreams stolen and a little rain, pouring sunlight, stubborn hands and a treasure of colours)

Sigh, you never change do you - he says fondly despite the wrinkles on his skin getting older

(this place is a dangerous place, outsiders do not belong soon or later, one way or another It will drive them out better run while you’re still in one piece)

“It would be boring otherwise, old man. ;) You need to make thing a little more interesting.”

No, no, nope. I do not everything up in flames, thank you very much.

“Haha, come on! Who doesn’t like a little spice of flames?”

he shakes his head at her but there’s already a smile blooming in the corner of his lips. Honestly, this girl...

“Besides, who’s the girl? Woooh - what’s wrong with her? She’s so transparent and just...” Katy squints. “Is that Ripples?!”

he grimaces at her Yeah, she’s a writer

Katy’s eyes widen at this, starting at the girl in sympathy she met a few writers before, but nothing like this!

But, no need for worries, luckily I do have just the thing

“You do?” Katy says, doubtful.

Yes, actually - mmh... He stares meaningfully at both Katy and the girl.

Wait. Hold on, this idea seems more wonderful (then hunting down for wolf hearts and poor will-o-wisps souls)

he smiles - how about you take her Katy? She could use some colours, you know some of your fairy dust she needs hunger, goals, stars - that would do good for her

but you can’t ever bring back her past she’ll have to fight the forest back for that

. you know how the rules go

-

Everything phases through her, nothing ever stays - she’s a ghost, cold skin and colder heart, she takes everything with strides constantly moving but still (time doesn’t exist in her blood)

But... this Woman - Katy pushes her rainbow-stained hands into hers and there’s a tingle, a wave of something that makes her ache. Right in her fingers, and for a moment, she is tangible again gripping onto something

With Katy, everything is becoming... different like she is looking at the world through new eyes

She still feels like there is a veil separating her and the outer world but the glass in-between is getting thinner, more fragile. The essence of the other world bleeding into her space slowly

(it feels like a part of her is coming closer) (that she lost long ago)

Katy calls this, ‘getting used to your body’ says it’s normal, something about syncing your mind to this world.

They are somewhere different now but this place looks all the same; green darkness of trees and thorned grass (you have tread here with care or you will leave a fresh trail of food for the wolves) with an over-head of a dark hush of blue and to not forget the bright silver full moon (eyes always watching you).

They’ve been walking more like gliding through, for her a while now when Katy decided to stop, ‘it’s not good to be out here at night’ she grimaced but what’s the difference, night and day all look the same dark and more darkness

(But oh don’t you know, dear? - darkness has its own colours and tones)

‘I know it doesn’t look like it’s night time but if you feel, the colours are different. Night has a tone of deeper layers, you know - teeth,’ Katy smirked, laughing quietly to herself like there was a joke she missed as Katy got out a large green tent (to blend with the surrounding) from her small bag.

They’ve been sitting inside the tent for a while now, Katy’s hand on hers as they listen... she doesn’t know what she's supposed to look for but she tries to copy Katy - violet eyes wide open, left-hand palm-up and stretched out and oh, she can feel something...

a sound?

Abruptly, she turns her head to Katy

and Katy looks back at her like she knows (maybe she does)

Katy smiles softly at her, warm-quiet red sunlight pulling up at her dimpled cheeks. “You feel it don’t you?” She says as her hands press tighter into hers.

yes, yes she feels something... (tell me, what is it?) feet tripping over the edge, a memory in the waters beneath... a touch before she is thrown back. she can’t get closer but finds she wants to

Want... that’s a new sensation (she doesn’t know what to think about that)

“Haha, yes - it’s always weird experiencing your first song of the Queen and her pack of wolves,” Katy says, laughing out loud again i don't understand, what’s the joke here?

”...But kind of amazing don’t you think? This place world is just beautiful, gorgeous once you know it's tricks wouldn’t you say?” Katy smiles at me, a tug of warm blue-green spilling deeper into the tips of my fingers.

″Oh,” Katy suddenly gasps at me. I shoot her a weird look - what is it now? “Your hand!” She points out, pressing tighter.

I look down and see ...colour?

Katy.

John smiles at me, how about you take her Katy? She could use some colours, you know some of your fairy dust she needs hunger, goals, stars - that would do good for her

And my first thought is that she’s going to be like all the writers, perhaps, much worse considering how much shadow she is (particularly nearly, a nyctobellua if you push it) - which is why I am hesitant to agree with John’s suggestion. But I owe him a lot, and besides, he wouldn’t put me into a sticky situation so I agree.

I take her with me, say goodbye to John and let her taste some of my fairy dust on her shadow-skin (rainbow-flavoured fairy dust of childhood, my own mix) as we get on to the road to my house and it doesn’t even stay on her hands, the darkness on her skin absorbs it like water - looks like I might need to dig my hands my stronger concoctions.

I crack my knuckles in anticipation (probably, with a slight mad expression on my face with the odd looks the girl sends me) (or that could be just how she looks).

Despite, this *situation*, I feel excitement buzz under my skin. It’s been a while since I have dug my attention to brewing and tried new recipes, there weren’t a lot of customers coming by lately so I had no sparks to ignite new ideas.

That’s one thing to look forward to now though. I smile ...mmh, maybe it won’t be so bad, it can be like getting a breather, a small adventure - it’s also been a long time since i came across a new Traveler (we are rare ones down here) ...even if she is a writer.

Oh! I can even give her first taste of the Night Song by our *dear* queenship. That would be cool and could shake (in theory) some of those Ripples out of her.

I hum, wondering about the cool stuff I can show her as we travel. The River Witch would be fun, and oh, not to forget! Our old pal, Kris. He has dealt with writers before with John and plus, it’s been a while since I have visited him.

I smile wider… yes, that sounds delightful.

few hours later

.

She’s just like a child, I think as I turn my attention to her staring at the sky. Attentive, head tilted and fingers almost twitching (...like she wants to reach out).

Which is way different than my initial thought.

She looks so young, though I doubt she’s hardly younger than me; perhaps... a year or two younger, 22 or 21 likely. Souls can be thousands of years old and look no older than a two-years-old. Her aura is dim because of the shadows so it’s hard to determine but I have a hunch. It doesn’t matter either way.

Time runs here differently to earth, I don’t bother with age and numbers, it doesn’t matter here only what’s here in front of you (perhaps why I adore this place as much) - I was never a maths person. I laugh at this, memories of my past life bleeding into my thoughts - My mother shouting to me Katy, did you rip up your school reports again! as I run away. Oh man, those were some times. My smile dims a little as I remember what I left behind but, I shake that thought away - I have a life now, a better one, and no matter what John thinks, this is my home.

Katy, this is where you belong.

“Hey!” I call for her and immediately, she turns, perhaps before I even call her (mmh... she’s very in tune with souls, that’s interesting) and uh, definitely need to find a name for her, I think, I can’t keep calling her ‘that girl’ ‘hey’ and ‘you’ all the time.

As she walks towards me - (more like grace towards me, I would say. She seems to not have a hold on this body yet but I wouldn’t worry, she will get there - she’s learning fast) - I wonder about whether we should head to my house, pick some Fairy dust the old man recommended, it would her much good, I can already see how my presence is affecting her. Or... should we go to the Well and find an identity for her since the Well is closer? But she hasn’t grasped onto reality yet so I don’t think that’s a great idea… decisions, decisions mmh, I will ponder on that after we sleep on it. It is getting late, now that I think of it. Better get some cover before dark.

I take her hand as she steps beside me and I feel her emotions, thoughts respond to me...

[the wind... feels weird (cold but warmer) I look at Katy wondering if she can feel it too]

I smile, well I don’t think Ripples is as bad as I heard. Or as they look. Guess, sharp teeth sticking of shadow arms aren’t as... threatening as they look.

“Huh, the wind feels weird today, don’t you think?” I ask, whirling around and looking at her from the corner of my eyes. And like I expect, she blinks and there’s a quiet pleased feeling in her heart. I turn to the side to hide my blooming giddy smile, she’s too cute!

(Her voice is so vibrant and full of untouched potentials. I can hardly believe I ever thought she would become a nyctobellua.)

“Come on it’s getting late,” I say, pulling her towards the denser parts of the forest. “It’s not great to be here at night,” I grimace, reminded of a younger, naive version of me; too stubborn and hard-headed running away from the old man and ending up in a pinch. But now, I know better ... uh, sometimes.

You can’t break a habit that easily, okay you can stop looking at me like that now.

The girl breaks me out of my thoughts as I feel her confusion. “I know it doesn’t look like it’s night time but if you feel, the colours are different. Night has a tone of deeper layers, you know - teeth,” I clarify to her, smirking and chuckling towards the end... I wonder how our dear Charles is doing.

He always used to be scared of the dark, and I was no better acting like a monster in the dark, it was funny though - he was so gullible, honestly. Practically, an invitation. I couldn’t help it. Though John didn’t agree, he never approved of my ‘pranks’ and ‘adventures’ anyways which, fair - I did break some of his *precious* potions once and might have set his workplace on fire (I was just trying to make dinner as thank you!) and might have broken his protections once and got us in danger (again)

Ehh, I realise none of these is helping my case and give up.

*rolling eyes* Katy, honestly, when are you gonna stop putting yourself into corners in your head?

...and perhaps stop talking to yourself?

(never)

I laugh some more at my ridiculosity sometimes, I like to think I’m funny (though John and Charles would beg to differ, only, Kris could understand my wonderful humour)

“Here,” I say and we stop in an area dense with long trees. I let go of her hands, close my eyes and feel... mmh, the energy is great here, strong, good for cover. Opening my eyes, I take out some fairy dust (the silver ones) from my pocket, and sprinkle it into the air and my bag materialises. I smile and pull out a big tent, then put the bag away. The tent takes the appearance of our surroundings (which turns out to be of course a green colour). That should keep us hidden.

I grab the girl's hand again and pull her inside. The inside is spacious, comfortable for two people. We sit down on the soft, pillow ground and I watch her as she leans back on the tent, a little out of it.

Now, I think, it's going to be time for the Night Song any time soon.

"Hey, you want to see something amazing?" I whisper to her and this grabs her attention. She turns to me, eyes slightly wider, leaning forward. And I tell her to copy me; to peel her eyes open, stretch her left hand wide open (palm-up) and listen. I feel her confusion at this but ignore it as I listen for it too... and oh, a burst of soft-loud voices flow in.

This is my ‘nth’ time and yet still, it captures me off guard.

The girl abruptly turns to me, seeming to want to ask do you, do you - feel this too? but not finding the words to so I do it for her.

I smile at her softly and ask, "You feel it don’t you?” holding her hand tighter. And a stream of images hit me, a young girl with blond hair (wig) wearing an Elsa costume standing beside a sea; a face of an old lady with stern face and dark, dark clouds… before a big wave of tangled emotions of want/yearning/deep-sadness hit me.

My mind stumbles back a bit. Wow. That was the most emotion I felt from her, definitely a success.

(Note to self: save for those memories later to analyse.)

I laugh as I feel her wonder/confused-awe at her strong feelings, “Haha, yes - it’s always weird experiencing your first song of the Queen and her pack of wolves, ” (I can still remember my first so vividly)

I smile wide and laugh some more. ”...But kind of amazing don’t you think? This place world is just beautiful, gorgeous once you know it's tricks wouldn’t you say?” I say as my skin is drinks way too much of the song at once, getting drunk Ooh... woow, that was strong one

damn, will you ever learn to rein that in, Katy

.

Katy, taking a moment to recover, misses the change (the subtle shift of change in the girl) so when Katy re-focuses and sees skin, she thinks - what the hell, like that's actual bare dark-skin hands and not shadows, creepy darkness shaped as hands/arms -

I gasp, take back surprised, what...

Did those memories shake her that much?

“What is it now?” She says. And officially, I’m gone. What. This is my first time hearing/seeing this. No one has ever recovered this

much from a severe form of Ripples this fast.

“Your hand!” I blurt out and watch her closely as she tilts her head and looks down.

She blinks and looks slightly surprised, a huh... expression on her face.

This has been a 180 complete turn. Seriously,

Who the heck is this girl?

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