[TWWM] Those Connected by Fate

Location: France

The mansion fell into a deep silence, draped in shadow, broken only by the faint moonlight streaming in through the opening to the courtyard. The mask lie in the hall, hidden in shadow, frozen in time. It was dark here, lonely... cold. A breeze swirled in through the pillars, fluttering the feathers before once more leaving them in silence. A sense of longing hung over the mask, it was too quiet, too lonely. Nothing was here. Nothing...

Time seemed to stand still. With no sound, no movement at all, it was impossible to feel anything at all it seemed. Even the quiet window at the shoppe was better than this, at least there was movement out the window then... a cloud drifting by, a mouse creeping along the sidewalk...anything. Anything would be better than this dreadful quiet. Just when the mask felt like an eternity had passed, a soft glow welled into the hall...

---

Bell was a long time back, time travel was something esks could do if they wished, but being this far back felt strange and exciting to her. She'd been exploring for a while when she came upon the beautiful mansion. Curiosity led her inside, and the aura of something lost drove her deeper through the winding halls. Up and around the stairwells she floated, her mind focused on the strange feeling of intense loneliness she'd sensed. What is lost? Finally she came upon a beautiful ballroom, one wall was open to the nighttime air, a courtyard with a fountain bubbled in the distance. The aura drew her towards a shadowy hall nearby. She tiptoed silently across the smooth marble floor, slinking her way between the massive pillars.

---
A strange creature floated into the hall with the mask, wings of light illuminating the darkness. They were very soft, and pink. A lovely red collar hung about their neck, a ring of bells glistening in the light. Their tail flicked and curled behind them as they explored. Their rump had a wonderfully soft looking collection of moss, softening their appearance even more. The strange creature slid closer, peering into the shadows. There on the floor, in what seemed like the darkest shadow in the room, lie a discarded mask. The aura of being lost...lonely, it poured from the abandoned item, filling Bell with sadness.
"Oh, look how pretty!' she said, lifting the mask gently to her face and peering through. It was made of bronze, and had wide feathers jutting out both sides. "I wonder who left you here?" the loneliness the mask had been trapped in abated, maybe this strange creature would take her somewhere exciting? But...the feeling of worry took over now. What if the girl returned? What if she came back to get me? The thoughts and emotions were foggy and faint however, more of an aura that just rippled from the mask's surface.


"Ooo! You know what?" the creature said, eyes squinting upwards into a smile. She cradled the mask gently in her front arms, padding over into the moonlight that poured across the dance floor. "I know what to do with you."