Username+ Usernumber: arctuurus + 428287
Name: Waka
Prompt: The Legend of the Midnight Oracle
"Have I told you the story of your ancestor, little one?"
You peer up at your grandfather from your spot beneath him, nestled comfortably against his chest with a warm fire blazing a few feet away, and scrunch your nose up in thought.
"My ancestor? No, I don't think I've heard that one yet..." You sit up abruptly, an excited twinkle in your eye. "Who were they? Were they cool? Did they - !"
A rumbling laughter startles you to the point of stopping your questioning.
"Hush, darling. I'm certain that you'll find all of the answers you're looking for if you just let me tell the story." He nuzzles you back down to the ground and waits until you're settled before he speaks again.
"Now then. This is the story of your ancestor; the Legend of the Midnight Oracle."
~~
"Long, long ago, the beautiful city of Leyene was suffering at the hands of fate. Once a month, on the night of the full moon, a great misfortune would befall the city. Be it a sickness that swept through the whole town or the death of a single innocent kit, Leyene could not escape the cold grasp of karma."
"Wait wait wait, what? Karma? What crime could an entire town have committed to be punished as severely as that? That's crazy, why would everyone be punished every month?!" you lamented.
"Little one! I've only just started. If you are so intent on interrupting me at every small detail, I'm afraid it will take all night to tell you this tale. I'm going to need you to be extra quiet, listen very closely, and surely any questions you have will be answered along the way.
Let's continue."
"The Leyene citizens were seemingly an innocent group, but their dark past said otherwise.
Once a month, on the night of the full moon - sound familiar? - the townsfolk would come together to vote on and haphazardly cast one member out of the town and bar them from ever returning. Said it was to control the population, and the town officials always tried to explain away any sporadic protests of it being an immoral tradition.
After years of exiling blameless citizens, one of the officials passed unexpectedly during a full moon. Then the next month, also while the moon was full and shining brightly in the sky, an entire field of crops withered away before the townspeople's eyes.
And this trend continued month after month, eventually preventing the prior 'banishing ceremonies' from occuring once everyone started to realize that they were being punished on the exact dates when they used to do their exiling.
Once the connection was made, the townspeople did everything they could to change their obviously twisted and damaged fate. But no matter how hard they tried, no amount of good deeds could let them be forgiven and put an end to their monthly misery...
Until one night, when the so-called Midnight Oracle appeared.
Though the Oracle mostly kept to the shadows, hiding beneath his extravagant cloak as well as the cloak of darkness itself, he was immediately noticed by the town. In fact, adults and kits alike feared this new addition to their home and stayed as far away from him as they possibly could.
It wasn't long before questions began to swirl around this newcomer's sudden appearance. Why would someone want to join such a town; one where its people only ever experienced immense sadness and suffering? Where did this stranger come from? Did he want something from the townsfolk?
Their questions sat unanswered, only serving as more kindle to fuel the fire of their constant anxiety. Their fear heightened as the day of their monthly misfortune grew near - they could only sit and wonder what the Oracle would do in response to the event that occurred.
A couple days before said event, the Oracle disappeared as quickly and quietly as he had appeared. Everyone assumed he must have heard of the terrible misfortunes and fleed before they could affect him as well, but the next night he came slinking into town with a roughed-up kit trailing not far behind him. He, of course, vanished back into the shadows, but not before gently nudging the kit closer to the gathering crowd.
All eyes were on the poor, frail thing as he shook and whimpered, looking unsure of what to do in this odd situation. Suddenly he fell to the ground and the medic of the town pushed past the people and rushed to the kit's side, calling for help and guiding them to the clinic for some much needed medical attention. Other townsfolk finally began moving around and rounding things up to help the kit. Some brought herbs and other supplies, while others brought toys and snacks to cheer the kit up.
The clinic staff and the rest of the town worked tirelessly through the night to care for the kit, not even realizing that it was now the most feared day of the month: the day of the full moon. But when someone finally pointed it out, everyone was puzzled. Why hadn't anything happened? All townspeople were accounted for, no items were gone, the crops were all as lively as ever... Were they missing something?
They cautiously continued on as if it were a normal day. Nothing mysterious happened. The next day went fine as well, and the next, until almost a month had passed without any problems.
The Midnight Oracle, as illusive as ever, had been stalking around until leaving abruptly and then returning the night before the cursed full moon. Again, he brought someone with. This time it was an elder who happened to be a past member of the town and had been exiled for no reason at all. He was met with tears of joy and everyone huddled around him to apologize and welcome him back home.
That next day turned into one of happiness and celebration, and just like last time, no misfortune occurred. The months went on like this, with the Oracle bringing new people to the town, a celebration being held, and nothing bad would happen on the previously horrible day of the month. When the townspeople caught on to this pattern, they took over the Oracle's job and went out to find unfortunate, wounded, or lost people once a month and lead them to the town to be helped and then join in the festivities.
A year passed without any incidents and the town was forever thankful to the Midnight Oracle for helping them overcome their curse. Rather then steering clear of the dark figure in the shadows, they would greet him and give him gifts often to show their appreciation.
One night, when the Oracle deemed his work at this town was finished, he shook his cloak off his head and walked to the entrance of the town. He turned around, bowed deeply to the townsfolk, and then silently walked into the night.
Those who were there to witness this moment couldn't believe they had finally fully seen the Midnight Oracle; the one who had helped them through such difficult times. Whispers throughout the town revealed that he was a fascinating sight to behold. A long, dark mane -"
You smile at the gorgeous brown locks cascading down your grandfather's back.
"A flank that held the entire night sky in all of its whispy darkness; the stars, moon, and all -"
You sigh happily as you trace the patterns of the constellations on his side with your paw.
"Two curling, pointy horns atop his broad head -"
The smile on your face falters. Your eyes trail upward to the horns that you've always enjoyed gnawing on and playing with since you were but a wee kit. You blink in stunned confusion.
"And the most striking thing about him was his eyes. Dark, cat-like pupils framed by piercing red irises."
A loud gasp erupts from your throat and you bolt upright, facing your grandfather. A pair of dark eyes with uncanny red irises stares back at you fondly. You shout in both excitement and dismay, "Grandpa, you're the Midnight Oracle?!"
He chuckles and taps you on the head with one of his horns.
"Looks like I've been found out! That's right, your old grandfather is the one and only Midnight Oracle. Hard to believe an old man like me was once the savior of a little town, huh?"
You can't help but beam with pride as you think about him helping a group of people he didn't even know, for seemingly no reason at all.
"Someday, I wanna save a bunch of people just like you did. I'll be the next Midnight Oracle, just you wait and see!"