TWWM - Lost Events

Warm afternoon air swirled around him as he carefully trekked up and around the mountain. 40's gait seemed awkward at first, but in truth, the rhythmic swaying of his high branches could lul anyone who visited into a restful slumber. The walls upon his back creaked and groaned softly as he moved, shifting in place as his mismatched legs bent and swung over the cliffs. He was quite tall, but this mountain was taller. He was in an adventuring mood, and on his own today, he had traveled a great distance. When he came to difficult cliffs to climb, sometimes he gave in to his more spirited abilities, and floated gently over them. I'm sure it looked quite comical, such a tangle of branch and log, twig and root, fur and moss, floating carefully over the cliffs and peaks. He preferred being on solid ground however, ironically feeling more stable there, as he limped precariously on his many stilts. As he crested a large ridge-line, a beautiful view opened up to him below. Nestled between the mountains lie a deep valley, vibrant and green, with streams leading downward to a landlocked lake.

"How very beautiful." he thought to himself, moving forward thoughtlessly, headed towards the water.

The trees closed above him, shading him from the sun and lending themselves to a much cooler atmosphere below. He felt restful as he neared the water, lowering himself onto it's mossy banks when he arrived. The air was cool and clean here, he needn't breathe, but he could sense it's thin-ness as it listed effortlessly through his mossy tail. How delightful to have such a beautiful little lake so very high in the air. It seemed to him almost like a hidden treasure. Relaxing, he let his senses wander, feeling the energies of the water and the trees, and ... other esk? Yes, there was certainly one or two nearby. As the thought crossed his mind, a ripple drifted towards him across the water. From the green-blue depths of the little pool floated up a smaller esk, brown and tan, with an even smaller otter on his back. The little esk swam directly up to 40 and climbed ashore.

"Well ello ther, ye ar a mighty big ane aren't ye?" the little esk rumbled, his voice surprisingly deep and gravely in 40's mind. He laughed inwardly and replied.

"Greetings spirit friend! Have I stumbled quite into your home?" he nodded in a bow, hoping not to have disturbed the smaller spirit.

"Aye that ye hiv, but it warnt nae problem friend, ye hiv a peaceful spart, ye're nae trouble te me." he chuckled, dragging his water-soaked tail out of the water before shaking off like a dog. The young otter floated free of him at that, drifting quietly to sit by his feet. Now that he was out of the water, 40 could see he was a very curious esk indeed. He had no toes, like the fungus spirits he'd seen in his home forest, but he also seemed to sport several aquatic features. Some sort of seaweed looking plant drifted lazily off his back, surrounded by what looked like lillypads. As the esk dried off, sunlight caught the glint of beads that hung from their brown fur, glowing softly with a warm orange light. The light seemed to pool in on itself, breaking free to float around, tiny motes of sunlight drifting around. 40 directed his attention to the otter.

"They're quite cute," he said, motioning with a branch-like arm, "the otter. There are otters near my home too, but not like this one."

"Aye? this ere is otr, he's a special spart, sort o been wi me since afore, if ye ken what i mean." the esk said, patting the ghostly otter pup on the head, then suddenly bopped his own face with his nubby paw.

"Aeh gesh, ye ken, I forgot te introduce esslf! the nam's Kolbjorn, But ye can caa me bjorn if its easier on ye, an this ere corrie loch is my hame, little mountain tarn aa te esslf." he looked around proudly. It was indeed a lovely little home. Insects buzzed about, dipping to touch the water before zipping off into the trees once more. Beyond the tree line, they could see the mighty peaks and slopes of the continued mountain range. They gazed out across the view for a moment before 40 broke the silence to introduce himself as well.

"It is a pleasure to meet you Kolbjorn," he said, dipping his head again. "My name is Sir 40 of the Forest Biome, at your service!"

"Ye're a tangle o trees aren't ye nou?" Bjorn said, gingerly hopping towards the massive esk and pushing lightly on one limb. The branchlike leg crunched and bent as 40 shifted position.

"Indeed I am!" he chuckled. He meant to say something more, but movement behind Bjorn caught his eye.

"Oh, whats that?" he said, peering at the shore beyond. A patch of moss heaved up and then collapsed again before twitching excitedly.

Bjorn turned to look too, and for a moment they both sat frozen in curiosity, watching the moss shiver and quake. Suddenly it popped upward, launched skyward by two thin legs. A fuzzy rock seemed to be lodged beneath the moss, and as it teetered on it's stilts, the ground around it rumbled to life. Unaware of them, or simply ignoring them, the tiny rock-like esk teetered and hopped, walking with wide sweeping motions, as if it wanted each step to be unique. Behind it trailed a row of pebbles, different sizes as they bumped and rolled across the moss.

Bjorn and 40 exchanged a look, then continued to watch the tiny esk.

Seemingly aimless, the esk wandered around the edge of the pond for a moment, hopping and stopping sporadically to stare intently at invisible things. Was it mad? Circling back, it zeroed in on a small lump. Hopping, its stones bounced against eachother, rolling into a circle around the mound. It stared intently at it for a moment, before standing as tall as it could, and stared directly at the two larger esk.

"MMMMMMMMMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" it's sudden shriek startled them, Bjorn stumbled backwards in shock, nearly falling into the lake again. 40 laughed hard, his branches rattling together as he shook with joy.

"THE WEE BABE ES SO LAUD!" Bjorn cackled, tiptoing towards the little esk.

"MMMMM" it hummed again, less piercing this time.

40 rattled to his feet and lumbered over towards the tiny creature. "What is it small one?" he said, lowering his head to peer at the mossy rock spirit.

"I find a thing." it said quietly, shyness overcoming them. They dropped to the ground in an instant, shielding themselves with moss again.

40 watched in amazement as the little esk cocooned itself in massive amounts of moss, thick enough to nearly hide its spiritual presence completely.

"So thats why I didn't sense you easily before. Don't worry little one, We won't hurt you!" he said, before giving Bjorn a look. "WE wont, will we?"

Bjorn chuckled again, "Ye, i we'ant arm a sool. Nae worries."

Otr crept close to the mossy esk and poked at them softly, an eye appearing through the heaps. Slowly and cautiously, the esk reemerged, shuffling away most of the moss, and standing up again. They were small and cute, a mop of grass, moss and stones perched on their head. If not for the fur covering their body, they might be mistaken for an actual stone. The tiny esk peered up at them for a moment before speaking. Their voice felt tiny and soft, and reminded 40 of a little stream, bouncing over rocks and stones in a riverbed.

"Me Zen. I find thing! Look!" she hopped towards them, landing on the little heap. Her stone elemental swirled on the ground around them, spinning across the moss like enchanted totems. She scraped her bird-like feet along the moss, revealing what was below.

Dark and smooth, a stone not much larger than she was lie hidden beneath the top layer. As she revealed it, a plume of steam rose from it's surface.

"Steam?" 40 said, looking closer. Bjorn reached forward and pulled the stone from its nest in the ground. It was large and heavy, and weighed on him, so 40 intervened. Reaching a bent and crooked arm down, he scooped the rock up and held it near his chest. It seemed to weigh more than it should for it's size, and he was surprised by the warmth. Rubbing it gently, he tried to dry the damp surface, but it seemed perpetually wet, as if moistened by the very steam it exuded.

"How strange, is this yours Bjor..." 40's question was cut short as a dark and sinister sounding voice intruded their minds all at once.

"IT IS STOLEN. BRING IT BACK."

Eyes wide with shock, they could tell it had spoken to them all. Zen's legs quaked a bit and she threatened to hide again, just catching herself before she did.

"Mine? Nae." Bjorn said quietly, peering at the stone. "I've niver seen it ther, I hiv nae idea what it is."

40 felt the weight of the stone, and a pull started to form towards the edge of the pond. "I feel like it is leading me...Should I... follow it?"

Bjorn sat back on his haunches, Otr lingering close, seeking pets from idle paws. Bjorn obliged without thought as he mulled over the situation. "That voice seemed strange. I'm aamaist afraid te learn where this cam frae ye ken?"

"Hmm, I know what you mean." 40 said, deep in thought. The stone was nearly warm enough to burn, but he clutched it carefully in a gnarled hand.

Zen leapt into action, hopping excitedly up one of 40's branches and nestling between the stones on his back, her little trail of pebbles following dutifully.

"Zen find. Zen help. Give back rock. Rock lost."

40 could hear the shy fear in her voice, but she knew the importance a lost rock could bring, and so she pushed her fears aside.

Suprised by the tiny esk's determination, Bjorn climbed to his feet again. "Well if she's gaun, i'll gae tae. I'm no ane te turn doun a guid adventure efter aa."

Otr jumped to ride on his back, and Bjorn stepped towards 40. "Well then? What ar we waiting fir? Lets gae!"

Following the pull of the stone, 40 led them out of the little clearing and away from the pond. They walked along a little stream that wound down the side of the mountain. Higher and higher they climbed, up past the lush green, into the rocky and barren swath of elevation, and yet even higher they pushed. 40 climbing precariously over cliffs and rises, Zen nestled safely within his cabin, and Bjorn following, floating and climbing eagerly up the mountain. As the stream narrowed to a trickle, and at times, only a thin thread of water seeping down the rocky face, Bjorn began to tire. Otr flickered in and out of view, along with the crests of fungi along his neck, and the floating green plants. His beads faded away for now, leaving his braids to be tousled by the mountain winds.

"Ey, mind if I climb aboard tae friend?" he asked wearily after a bit.

"Of course, make yourself at home!" 40 said, undaunted by the steep cliffs. He lowered himself and the smaller esk climbed up and curled into a little ball of fur within the drafty cabin walls.

"Aeh this is sae nice, ye've gat quite a set up ere ye ken!" he chuckled, shivering lightly.

40 smiled in his heart, glad to be able to help, and turned his attention back towards the summit. It was getting colder, and soon enough snowflakes whipped along with the wind, whistling through the boughs and branches on his back. Still higher they climbed. Sheets of ice lie along the ground here, and as they neared the top of a ridge-line, 40 could see where it was coming from. Thin streams of water rolled down the face of a rocky outcropping, freezing as it left the safety of a unseen warmth beyond.

"I think we're almost there." he said, feeling the warmth of the rock begin to swell. They came over the top of the wall and were amazed to find a large hot-spring carved out of the rocky walls surrounding it. Massive stone overhangs protected this place from the frigid wind, steam rising in huge billows to caress the stone above, collecting into pools, then icicles, only to melt once more and return to the pool below.

"Aeh wad ye look at that! its a hot spring!" Bjorn said, reinvigorated by their proximity to the freshwater. Otr in tow, he floated eagerly towards the warm water, submerging himself fully in the steamy water.

Zen perked up, hopping down excitedly to try the spring as well.

The stone pulled at 40, and so he too entered the hot spring. The water bubbled and fizzed against his creaking dry legs, it felt so nice, the warmth soothing his joints and fizzing through his fur. He sank into the water, feeling ultimate relaxation seeping into him. The stone thrummed with heat, and he held it aloft to view.

"It feels like we're...here? But the stone..."

Suddenly, the steam seemed to coalesce into a tight sphere, energy zapping and crackling from its core. Two piercing white eyes hissed open within the ball of mist, burning with negative energy and spite. Without warning, the spirit of mist surged forward, diving into the stone. "Wh...!" 40 reeled from the impact, catching himself from toppling backwards. "OH!" he said, realizing that the stone was suddenly searing hot. "Its burning!" he fought to hold on, knowing full well that the heat couldn't actually hurt him, but the stone seethed with more than heat, it was vile, hatred and anger coiled within it, and he could no longer hold it. Letting go quickly, the stone plunged deep into the hot-spring, hissing and screaming as the water around it began to meet it's temperature.

"No! Hot!" Zen cried, floating upwards quickly as the pool beneath her frothed and hissed. Bjorn scrambled ashore as well, eyes wide at the intense change it had undergone. "This is som cursed water aye?" he said, gasping as he backed away from the rolls of steam that surged upward. The trio backed away, silenced by both fear and curiosity, but feeling very concerned for this place. The steam built, thicker and thicker, and slowly, began to coalesce once again. 40 shuddered, startled that he felt fear now. "Its coming again." he whispered. Zen retreated to his cabin, hiding under her moss. One, two, no seven...no...more...countless forms began to rise from the steam, piercing white eyes etched into their ghostly visages. The air was thick with hatred, darkness and spite. 40 could no longer stand to be near this place, and turning, he decided to give the steam spirits their space. "They do not want us here. The stone is returned, lets leave." he said decidedly. Bjorn had no argument there, backing away for a while, regarding the spirits with both reverence and wonder. "I wonder who cuid o made thaim sae angry." he wondered quietly, floating at last to rest in the cabin once more, as 40 began the trek back down the mountain. They traveled in silence for quite some time, speaking only once Bjorn's tarn came back into view.

"Ther she is, hame sweet hame. Might no be as warm as a spring, but its no trying te kill us either!" he joked, laughing.

"True, true." 40 said, rousing himself from the deep ponderance he'd found himself in for the journey down. Zen shuffled free from the moss and jumped from his back, landing in the tarn with a satisfying *plunk*. Bjorn laughed and joined her, and 40 returned to his seat by the edge, resigned to rest for a while.

Gazing back towards the mountain, it's peak hidden by clouds, he wondered what, or who those spirits were, and what could of happened there to have created such a deep wound. One could only wonder he thought, perhaps some mysteries are better left undisturbed.