[akame,]

feat. Whole party Aiko & Hikari [I'm sorry for the weird coding :"""D]

The grass suddenly falttened as paws made contact with it. Two kalons walked and just behind them was early dawn. Hikari yawned
[Hikari]
"And why did we wake up so early now?"
[Aiko]
"We got to keep going. If we wake up just at morning we won't have time to get there plus we need to re-stock on a lot of stuff. That stupid frog stole all our food. Besides, aren't you hungry?"
she gave a small yawn
[Hikari]
"kind of.."
putting a paw to his stomach
[Aiko]
"that's why we're doing this now, or else you'll faint. I know where we can get a quick snack and collect some food for later. Its just straight ahead."

[Hikari]
"Two birds with one stone"
[Aiko]
"exactly."
He yawned as he glanced around his surroundings, he heard a faint sound. Becoming more alert he looked around wary.
[Hikari]
"Do you hear that?"
[Aiko]
"Hear what?"
She turned around to look at hikari
[Hikari]
"That sound, like.. singing?"
Hikari started to walk into the wrong direction that they were supposed to be headed
[Aiko]
"Hey! Hikari! Where are you going? Were supposed to be going this way not that way! HIKARI!"
she yelled
[Hikari]
"Come! I promise we'll be back in a jiffy!"
Aiko rolled her eyes
[Aiko]
"Fine, but I'm eating first."
Hikari nodded and started to walk to the sound, Aiko trailing behind.
[Aiko]
"I can hear something else.."
Aiko said in a low whisper
[Hikari]
"What? The sound of death?"
[Aiko]
"No! It sounds like an instrument.. "
As they got closer the singing became louder and louder until Hikari was for sure that they were just behind a bush that was in front of them
[Aiko]
"Are we sure?"
she whispered
[Hikari]
"yes! I see them through these bushes!"
[Aiko]
"Fine than... on the count of three.. One.."
[Hikari]
"Two, Three!"
[Aiko]
"HUH?!"
Hikari took Aiko paw as they both launched out of the bushes
but what they saw, was unexpected..

what they saw, was unexpected.. five or more kits circled around a small pool. A kalon stood on a piece of land that was in the middle of the pool. The kalon played the flute as the kits sang to his tune; all of their eyes were closed as the kits savoured the beautiful music from the flute. Completely oblivious to the fact that Hikari and Aiko were looking at them. It wasn't too long before some of the kits noticed them and slowly started to stop one by one. The flautist suddenly noticed that his singers where stopping slowly finally opening one of his eyes to see what was going on. He gave a small grin before greeting them
[Flautist]
"Welcome! Welcome! what have brought you here?"
[Aiko]
"Oh. We're sorry, me and my stupid partner didn't mean to interrupt you"
[Flautist]
"oh no problem, but how did you find us?"
[Aiko]
"uhm... just the music and singing.. like I said we are sort to intrude we'll just pass by now-"
[Flautist]
"Let you pass by for free? no no no no no no no, mate! that's not what we do in these parts!"
wait ..what?

[Hikari]
"What do you mean we can't pass?"
[Flautist]
"Well... that would be BORING. IF i just let ya pass y'know? Oh don't even try to walk back, I've got my littl' friends to block those off for ya!"
Hikari and Aiko looked around to see loads of kits behind and behind the flautist blocking the path where they need to go. Hikari narrowed his eyes at the flute guy

"What the hell do we do to be able to pass?"


He chuckled [Flautist]
"Just a small riddle.. Guess the riddle right and you can pass.."

he sneered [Hikari]
"bring it on,"

The flute guy smiled [Flautist]
"Okay, Ready?"
The two nodded
[Flautist]
"When I'm first said, I'm quite mysterious but when I'm explained, I'm nothing serious. What am I?"

Hikari repeated the riddle quietly as Aiko panicked and paced around Hikari as the flautist smirked as the two thought hard
[Hikari]
"When I'm first said, I'm quite mysterious but when I'm explained, i'm nothing serious.. what am I? A quest?"
[Flautist]
"Huh, nice one, but its not."
[Aiko]
"responsibilities"
[Flute guy]
"responsibilities are not mysterious. At least I don't think." As the flute guy murmured to himself if they were or not."
A couple of minutes have passed and the flute guy was getting tired
[Flute guy]
"You now have 30 seconds for your answer, if it isn't correct, you can't pass. 1, 2.."
[Hikari]
"W-what?!"
[Aiko]
"Think of something fast!!"
[Hikari]
"Dreams?!"
[Flute guy]
"No, but close, 19, 20, 21, 22..."
[Hikari]
"I don't know, I don't know.. I don't know...!"
[Flute guy]
"23, 24, 25,"
[Aiko]
"Come on! Hikari! Think!"
[Hikari]
"I don't do good on a timer!"
[Flute guy]
"26, 27 28 ,29..... 3-"
[????]
"A riddle. Now let them pass."
The flutist expression of satisfaction erased from his face until he grinned at the kalon
[Flute guy]
"Awww, why did'ya help them out brother!~"
[Flute guy's bro]
"You're such a kid. Fooling travellers like that, you little-"
[Flute guy]
"amazing-flutist?"
[Flute guy's bro]
"yeah.. that, just let them pass,"
[Flute guy]
"you were there the whole time, why'dya stop it before?"
[Flute guy's bro]
".. wanted to see how it will go."
[Flute guy]
" fine than, you can go now. Shoo shoo you little kids."
[Hikari]
"Come on, before we get in more of a mess."

Aiko nodded as they went around the pool than behind the flautist.

[uηsρεcifiεd ¢ryҏtiɗ]

Prompt 7

Featuring Citlali, Lulo, and Artemis

[Kim Jongdae]

Prompt 7 | Jia-Ae | Roster Post | word count: 185
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────


Fᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴏᴜɴᴅ! (From deep in the forest you hear something that sounds like singing. You follow the sound to find a mysterious pool, and someone at the center. Are they malicious or benevolent? What do they want? How does your hero make it through this encounter?)



Jia-Ae takes careful steps as he hears singing from somewhere in the forest. He doesn't immediately rush in, however, and instead chooses to watch from afar. Somewhere hidden with the trees of the forest, somewhere off, the male comes across a figure standing in the center of a mysterious pool. Immediately, a curiousity itched at him to know what was happening, and who it was singing at this time in the center of some random pool. However, he doesn't make a move to make himself apparent. Instead, the male grabs his folded crossbow and arrow into his grasp and narrows his eyes.

Should he approach or step away? A part of him wondered why someone was singing at this time in the pool, and another wondered if he should even care. Curiousity itched at him to step forward, and yet, caution and fear kept him behind with his crossbow.

A part of him almost wants to throw something at the figure and see if it turns around or not...

Maybe thats what he will do. (Jia-Ae proceeds to toss a pebble at the unknown figure).

[found.]

{1,213 words}

username;; ❤ Rosette ❤
kalons being used;;
Ryean
Adeline

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It was dawn.
Soft, peachy morning rays drifted through the canopy, alighting the forest below in a beautiful pink glow. Morning birds were roused from their sleep and began an ongoing melody of singing, which Ryean could not ignore. He awoke soon after, quickly noticing that Adeline was still resting. He felt a pang of guilt, knowing she'd worked hard last night to bring them dinner.
He wouldn't disturb her sleep.

Ryean crept silently out of the tent, pleased at the brightness morning brought. A thin haze of fog had settled over the forest, creating an ethereal scene. Ryean sat, delighted, by a tree, and observed the world go round. He watched a nearby nest of baby birds be fed by their parents, and sat still as a lumbering badger passed on the outskirts of camp. A couple of butterflies fluttered by.
How serene. How lovely. Ryean leaned back onto the tree and smiled contentedly.
Adeline was right, there was no need to be scared. The forest held a myriad of astonishing and beautiful things.

Suddenly, Ryean sat straight up, electrified. He heard something at the fringe of his mind, a song, a melody. Something soft and powerful, pulsing with feeling. It sounded distant.

▶ Follow the song !!
▷ Ignore it

It was irresistible.
Ryean couldn't fight the desire. He stood, quietly, and left camp. He traversed the forest quickly, desperately tearing through the woods. He longed to hear more of that song. He had to. Longing thrummed in his throat, in his chest, his head. It was a longing so strong he couldn't think of anything else.

Suddenly, the forest broke away into a small clearing, with a small pond comprising most of the middle. Several broad, drooping willows bent over the water, their draping branches skimming the top. Cattails grew wild in and around the water.

And, in the middle, atop a smooth boulder in the water, sat the most stunning creature Ryean had ever seen in his life.
She was lovely, with long, cascading brown curls growing from her head and a set of the most blue-green eyes imaginable. Her face was finely featured and beautiful, as if Aphrodite herself had blessed her.

She had a most attractive figure, with a woven garment that covered her bust and flowed over her frame, eventually drooping into the water below, which was very clear and shimmered in the morning light.
And, with great shock, Ryean noticed that she had a long, fish-like tail from the lower waist-down. Her scales were iridescent green and aqua, smudged a bit with dirt from the pond.

Ryean stood, surprised and immensely flustered, staring intently at this creature. She met his gaze with a kindhearted smile, which was dazzling beyond comprehension, and bashfully glanced away. Ryean yearned to see that smile again.
Then, before Ryean could react, she daintily brushed a lock of damp hair from her fact, opened her mouth, and began to sing.

Her voice was incredible. Ryean felt a buzzing from within, and that same inextinguishable desire flared up again. He could not ignore it.

▷ Walk away
▶ Approach her
▷ Converse from afar

Ryean waded into the water, immediately sinking into the pond's bed, which was made entirely of soft mud. Eventually he began to swim, coming closer and closer to her magnificent song. Only a few more strokes and he would be right there. His pulse throbbed in his throat at the thought.

And, just as he was hoisting himself up onto her perch, and just as the mermaid was turning her head to meet his eager gaze, he heard a great commotion from behind. Ryean whipped around to see Adeline charging through the clearing, holding something tightly. Ryean realized, with a sudden jolt, that it was a bow. He noticed a quiver slung around her back and instantly felt a deep spurt of rage. What was she doing?

The mermaid's song did not falter, but Ryean could sense her sudden fear. She slid back behind the boulder, her lower half dipping into the water. Thankfully, though, she did not swim away.

Adeline now stood at the edge of the pond, glaring intensely at Ryean. "Get back over here," she commanded, her voice stern and strained with emotion. Ryean trembled in anger. He could not leave this lovely creature alone, defenseless. He still felt the need to talk to her, listen closely to her song, to touch her dewy skin. Ignoring Adeline's order, Ryean climbed up onto the top of the boulder and peered down at the mermaid. She was so lovely.

"Ryean," she said again, beginning to sound desperate. "Please. She's-"

Before Ryean even had the chance to listen to the rest of Adeline's pleading, the mermaid's hand was grabbing his arm, dragging him into the water. He plunged in once more, his lungs immediately beginning to fill with liquid. Choking, Ryean struggled to the surface. For a long moment he floated, coughing violently, and eventually noticed that the creature was gone.

Except, she wasn't. He felt her hand again, so soft and nice, seizing his leg. He was pulled underwater once more.

Adeline, back on the shore, felt a sense of emergency. She kicked off her shoes and tugged off her jacket, and with that, she dove into the water. After a minute of panic-inducing silence, Adeline had reached the boulder. She climbed atop it and instantly noticed a flurry of motion underneath the water. A lump formed in her throat.
Adeline readied her bow.

Ryean didn't really know what was happening. He felt his lungs spasm painfully, filling with water, and knew he couldn't breathe.
He didn't like that.
But he could feel the mermaid's hands on him, could feel some muffled melody in his head. She drew him closer and clutched at him tightly.
He did like that. Quite a lot.
Ryean's head swam with euphoria and pain. He felt his head slam against an underwater stone and immediately saw stars.

Suddenly, as Ryean was recovering from that blow, his love was swimming away. He could sense her writhing in agony. What had happened?
Ryean drifted, confused, his vision blurring at the edges.
It wasn't like he could see too much, anyway, with the pond's bed all stirred up like it was.

Suddenly he felt another set of hands tugging at him, similarly urgent. He was pulled up to the surface and instantly exploded in coughing. He wheezed and hacked, desperate for some oxygen. He was dragged onto a pebbly bank, where he promptly vomited. Afterward, Ryean collapsed onto the ground, still gasping for air.
"Oh my God, Ohh no, Oh God," came a worried, concerned voice. "Ryean, can you hear me? Are you okay?"

Ryean nodded, shaking violently. "Where is she, where did she go?" He asked, desperate. The song in his head had stopped.
Adeline gave him a firm hug, choking back tears of distress. "She was a Siren," she replied, not really acknowledging his questions. "You're so lucky I was able to track you down. You're doubly lucky I was even able to drive away the thing. Maybe she was inexperienced in the art of drowning..."

Ryean, at that point, stopped listening. He curled into a loose, sad ball and promptly fell unconscious.

[neon.]

Prompt 7 [WC : 298]

It was like a trance- a sort of lure that had no target in mind, instead sweeping over whoever it touched. It drew you in, haunting and melodious. There was no lyrics to this- no discernible words, at least. Nothing you could understand. Step after step, the noise became louder and louder, clearer and clearer until you could tell that it belonged to someone- that it was a voice, and not just some call.

You found your feet stopped at the edge of a pool, but still the voice beckoned. No words, but you could understand it. Come to me, it said. You must, I need you. And slowly, it began to change. High notes dropped, sinking lower and lower down the scale until the voice was haunting in its deepness. It reverberated through your bones, settling underneath your skin. Come to me, it had said, but now it was a command to listen. And listen, you did. There was no other choice, not with the power of this voice- not when there was an edge of hopelessness to it, a buried request for help.

And then it was a true song. The tale of the forest, of how it’d grown and changed, of how the plague was poisoning it, rotting the trees and letting the weeds choke out the flowers. Time passed, but you could not feel it. The song only let you feel certain things- only the emotions it asked of you. And then, as soon as it had started, it was gone. The song ended, breaking the trance. Apollyon and Lacroix freed themselves, exchanging a glance. The song had been a history, a plea, a request. The siren wanted someone to save the forest, and it had asked in the only way it knew how.

[Guest]

prompt seven: with shiloh auber & valley

a voice that clenches nostalgia between it's teeth; desperate for good times to stay. desperate because it knows nothing lasts forever. despite this, it's a pleasant one, because someone listening couldn't hear the bittersweet tones, only a memory.

shiloh & valley had braided a place in the forest to sleep that night. shiloh twisted a pleasantly growing grass into a nest which seemed to keep in warmth, valley, had found flowers to make the place seem nicer. typical for him & not very helpful, but really, it had helped him to sleep. shiloh didn't get a blink of sleep though, rather tired eyes & listening. listening to a voice signing from a nearby pool.

he felt there was some investigating to do, maybe it was just because he was tired, bored, but the voice wasn't coming from the pool the multi-coloured fish they were traveling with had stopped in to rest, so it was none of them. he'd taken a walk down the forest. good to note: things seemed more alive here, healthier. things hadn't hit here, at least not enough to be affecting it badly yet, so it would make sense for, perhaps stubborn, creatures to live here.

by rippling water surrounding a cave, trees growing aside it, the voice was apparent. shiloh felt achieved ! he'd figured it out ! who was in there though, could they help him & valley ? would it stop their journey because of it turning out to being a chaotic creature ? he wanted to find out, but the problem there was that the water was much too deep, & it blocked too much of the entrance to get in. the cave was probably filled with water anyways ( ─ & scary things like bats . . ! which shiloh was admittedly quite afraid of. ). so the last possible option was to speak with whatever was inside, or at least try to.

when speaking back to the whatever-it-was in the water of the cave, it seemed shocked. it's voice quickly stopped, & quickly it swam outside looking from here to there. it was a bird-like creature, white & yellow feathers & about the size of a heron. " do you know where my flock is ? " without opening it's beak, it seemed to talk, oddly worried & feathers falling out in a stress. shiloh felt bad almost, like he'd taken the poor surrealistic bird out of an important trance. it's flock ? where it went ? maybe there weren't as many things living in this part of the forest as he thought, they must have all left. except for this bird.
" ah, no, i'm sorry. " it slipped off stale from his tongue as he spoke sympathetically.

though, perhaps they'd flown off to the mountainous areas where the fish had been heading ? it wasn't too far either, the bird could probably catch up . . . & it was an idea he shared with the bird, who responded by hopping onto the top of the cave & looking towards where shiloh had been explaining. lucky for shiloh, who preferred not to speak much, they didn't have much conversation; & lucky for the bird, it flew off with a certain assurance in it's wings & lovely voice, singing away into the clouds & moonlight.

not a nuisance or quite really a help, but shiloh felt well after helping the lost bird, & could finally sleep okay.
he slept in front of the glowing & glimmering pool that night, waking up to an angry but relieved valley who scolded him for leaving him alone that night & making him get lost during a search for him.

[~Static~]

Author's note: I have several regrets with this piece.
word count: 279

Ada cut through the twigs. Wow, that sure was some singing she heard. As she pulled a leafy branch out of the way, she saw Caia sittin' on an island in the middle of a lake, which had a glowing mist floating up from it (like wow that was some misty mist alright). The whole lake looked really blue (like, blue as heck), and even the grass on the island was tinted teal. There was a trail of large stones going from the edge of the water to the island, just big enough to do some hopping on to get across. Squinting her eyes, Ada saw that Caia was holding a fledgling bird, which had probably fallen from a large oak next to her on the island. She was singing to it, and it seemed to calm the bird down. Her singing was, after all, pretty lit, fam.

Ada slowly stepped out onto the first rock, proceeding to do some hoppin' across the makeshift bridge. Caia looked up when Ada got to the island, breaking off her song. The bird tweeted at her in confusion, but then fell silent. "Caia, I think I see the nest... Would you trust me to take it back up?" Ada asked.

Caia hesitated, but then slowly nodded. "be careful. If anything happens, you're dead..." she grumbled, gently handing the bird to Ada.

Ada did some #lit climbin' up the tree, careful to keep the bird secured in one hand. When she reached the nest, she gently placed it in.

Caia looked up, nervous, and Ada grinned back down with a thumbs up as she descended from the tree. All was lit once more.

[Flowerlily]

PROMPT 7
Fᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴏᴜɴᴅ!

❝ From deep in the forest you hear something that sounds like singing. You follow the sound to find a mysterious pool, and someone at the center. Are they malicious or benevolent? What do they want?
How does your hero make it through this encounter? ❞

xxxxA murmur like a song woke Marilee, Eda Cassidy, and Fauna from their light sleep. They looked at one another questioningly ask they all emerged from their tired state. Packing up their stuff from the fiasco last night, they saved what was remaining after the attack. It seemed that some of their food and supplies has been taken by the creatures that had attacked them. Fauna gathered up the protection crystals she had set out the previous night in hopes of perhaps using them again.

xxxxThe singing they heard did not stop through this entire time light they had expected it to. Perhaps it wasn't just another traveller passing through like they had suspected.

xxxx"I think we should check it out," Fauna said, "We might be able to get some directions from the person."

xxxx"I disagree," Eda Cassidy mused, "It could be dangerous or a trap set out to lure out curious travellers."

xxxxMarilee pondered both options.

》Keep Traveling
》Investigate the singing

"I think that we should check it out," Marilee said, "But at the first sign of danger, we get out by any means necessary."

xxxxFauna and Eda Cassidy nodded.

---•●•---

xxxxThe group travelled towards the song. It got louder and louder, and more discernable as they approached whatever was singing.

xxxxEventually, they came across a cloaked figure sitting at the middle poole lf water on a raised ston. The form seemed to be the thing that was singing. It was in a language that none of the three queens could understand.

xxxxWhen the three got closer to the pool, the person stopped singing.

》Question the robed figure
》Turn back

xxxx"Who are you and what is this place, stranger?" Marilee questioned the cloaked person firmly.

xxxx"Do not worry, My Queen, I mean you no harm," The figure replied in an eerie voice.

xxxxMy Queen? Marilee was taken aback. No person in this land has referred to her as such yet -- they knew not her title.

xxxx"That does not answer my question," Marilee stated, resolute.

xxxx"I am only a lowly peasant, My Queen," They replied, "And this is where visions of the past, present, and future are seen."

xxxx"Is this how you knew who I am?" Marilee questioned.

xxxx"It is indeed," They answered, "In fact, I have a vision to show you."

》See the vision
》Scoff and turn back

xxxxMarilee nodded.

xxxxThe robed figure began to sing again and images began to flash in the pool of water. Marilee began to recognize some of the sights. Some were of the next crystal they were seeking, but many were of her and her fellow queen's country. In danger.

xxxx"Are these visions to come or..." Marilee trailed off, worried.

xxxx"I cannot always tell, My Queen."

xxxxMarilee looked to her lovers.

xxxx"My Queen, perhaps you and your consorts should return to your kingdom," The robed figure suggested.

xxxxMarilee thought this cloaked person was now overstepping, "Do you believe that my guards cannot defend my kingdom in my stead?"

xxxx"Perhaps they had a conflict of interest."

xxxxMarilee squinted, notching an arrow, "I tire of your riddles stranger, reveal yourself."

xxxxThe figure laughed as it pulled back it's hood, revealing a shadowy creature underneath that hissed at her as it began to stand.

xxxxMarilee readied her weapon.

xxxx"T̮͔͉̙̥̱̜͟u̜͘r̩ͅn̖̗̳̫̯͕͘ͅ ̲̘̗͚b̛̩̗̣͇a̭̻̲̻c̹̖͉ķ̮͍̜̺̻͉̜ ̠̮̬̦̜o̮ͅr ͈̩̲̦I̠̩̪̱͎͇̖͞ ̬w͙͇͔͔͍i̗̤̕l̳͉͍͓̙ͅl̝̱͚̱͉̕ ̘̻̫̤m͠a̩͙̲̼̹͙̯k͈̖̣̳e ̰t̯͉͙h͍̻̦e̷̘ ͉̲̲͔̞͜e̪͚̖͎͡ve͔̭̞̝̣̥̘n̨̟ͅt͎̰͙̘̠͔ͅs͏͕͇̣̩͉ ̩͈̦̰̭̟̩y̻̱̳̲̖̣̘ǫ͈̯̲̜͕u̖͚̝͕͙͡ ̷h̳͇̣̬͍̣̟a̷̫͓͇̲̘v̨̝̺ẹ̬̪ ͕͕͝s̛̜̫̼̠̼̝e̵͖͕͔͚͚̤e̻̯̣̟̻̩͔n͉͎͟ ͉̟͕̯̥c̬̳͍̞o͙̳̺m҉͎̮͕̤̣̲̰e҉̬͎ ̬̳͙̞̱̞t̡r̻͚̙̥̳u̯̹̹̭̼͉̹e͖̜̟̥̯̥̺."

xxxxMarilee let loose her arrow, striking the creature in the head. It collasped lifeless into the pool.

》Check the body
》Turn back

xxxx"Come on Fauna. Eda. Let's keep going," Marilee said, "That thing showed us where the next crystal is."

[ruse]

PROMPT 7: two idiots and a bunny
PARTY: RILEY, YUZURU


yuzuru closed his eyes. he felt the wind thumbing its way through his hair, kissing the flowers embedded in it with its fingers. and heard it, singing; voice soft like its touch, sweet and vulnerable, no; not vulnerable, it's breaking? pausing sloppily, and picking up with tossing tempo. it reminded him of him at one time, when he felt the darkness in him eating him away and how he let it. long-legged boy broke from his stroll; riley let his head roll to catch a glimpse of yuzuru trampling leaves and fallen branches, readying a clever remark he'd been keeping at the ceiling of his mouth for (at least two [2]) hours.
"what's up, yu? you-" riley was cut off immediately, via the large (yaoi) hand of yuzuru covering his open mouth. "riley, do you hear that? it sounds like-" yuzuru quieted, furrowing his brows and trying to come up with a synonym for someone dying but not really dying, just feels like it but would feel better dead.
"my heart breaking," riley muttered, the ends of his mouth dropping slightly. he tried to kick a small pebble but missed. another tragedy: sequel to riley moreau's earlier tragedy.
"what? did you say someth- oh, i remember. it sounds like crying."
"crying? here? yuzuru, i don't know if i can trust you anymore."
"just because of the bunny? riley, come on-"
"their name is aggie."
"how do you know its gender?"
"aggie can be whatever they want. and, i won't let you trip on their happiness this time."
"that was one (1) time!"
"yuzu, how'd you do that."
"what?"
"use parentheses in actual speech."
"(what do you mean?)"
"okay, you don't have to be an ass about it. me and aggie are leaving."
"riley, wait!"

yuzuru jogged after them, parking his chin in the curve of riley's small but defined shoulder. they began to start another agrument, this time of chin-parking privileges. it does not occur to them that because they too eagerly engaged in their daily back-and-forth conversation, the two had forgotten about the lost and weeping princess.

[mars]

Chapter VII:
Fᴏʟʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴏᴜɴᴅ!

The children were walking when suddenly a faint noise - one that was barely audible - made the rabbit in Minji's arms squirm away and jump into the bushes. The young girl immediately darted after Tokki, following him around the trees despite Sadie calling out for her to stop. She wasn't about to lose her newfound friend, even if she might face danger to get him back to safety!

The sound grew louder the further she ran until she realized that it was something that resembled singing. Birds fluttering overhead were following it; the animals in the nearby forest seemed to all be making their way towards it. It was like a siren, drawing in sailors relentlessly, and the closer Minji got the more her head felt dizzy.

Sadie and Iseul began to follow the girl into the woods when they heard an ominous screech from her.
"Stay back! It's...it's..." Minji began, her words beginning to jumble and slur. "Don't...near...ears...plug..." Her eyes soon glazed over, her thoughts no longer free as she walked towards the sound in a daze, her body seemingly moving by itself. The other two stood back, terrified by what was going on.

Minji began to approach the lake. There was a woman standing on the water in the very center, her toes gracefully set on top of the water as if she was standing on glass. Her hands were in an odd placement, one that allowed her to channel her magic through her chest and out through her voice. Was she a spirit or a witch? Minji couldn't quite tell, her thoughts jumbled and amiss. She began to step onto the lake, but her feet fell through, dragging her body under the water as it began to swirl and spin relentlessly around her. Was she drowning? Flying? Maybe she was sailing through space.

Sadie stood protectively in front of Iseul, blocking him from watching his sister as she wondered what Minji had meant. She could hear the faint singing, but it was so far away that it had no effect...yet. It was then that she realized what was going on, and immediately turned to the little boy beside him.
"Iseul, do you still have your teddy bear?"

Creeping forward with the bear's inner stuffing packed in her ears, Sadie approached Minji. The younger girl stood a few feet from the edge of the water, seemingly in a daze, her eyes grayed and her body lifeless! She worked quickly to stuff her ears as well until the girl reanimated, realizing that she had been hallucinating. The creature on the water glanced over at them, a sinister look in her eyes as she punched the sound even louder! The stuffing only helped so much, and the two began to feel a little bit dizzy again.

Yet suddenly, the singing stopped. Looking up, the two saw little Iseul with the party's supplies bag latched onto the woman's back, holding a piece of duct tape over her mouth! He had seen his chance to save them, crawling out onto the seemingly solid water while the woman was distracted. Unfortunately the water began to fall from under their feet as the creature sank back to where it had come from, pulling Iseul down with it.

The two girls immediately dove in after him, swimming down to grab his outstretched hand and pull him back up from the dark, deep depths. Bubbles hurled out of his mouth and he could feel his lungs burn, but they reached the surface just in time. Taking a deep gasp of air, Iseul coughed and sputtered as they swum back to shore. The boy was tough for the two girls to carry while swimming, and their heads continued to bob underwater as they struggled to make their way back to land, but somehow they did it. Dragging the boy onto the dirt, all three coughed and gasped.

"What was that thing?" Minji finally was able to sputter under her breath, exhausted from her swim. She wasn't a strong swimmer by any means like Sadie was!
"I have no idea," Sadie responded before turning her attention to the boy beside them. "Iseul, are you okay? That was so brave of you! I can't believe it, you saved us!"
"And you saved me," he replied gratefully. "I think I'm okay,,,is Teddy okay, at least?" It had been a tough choice for the boy to tear a hole in his stuffed bear in order to save his sister, but he loved her more than anything - even despite her constant teasing - and would hate to see her hurt. Sadie nodded, handing him the soaking wet bear, and he hugged it thankfully.
"I'll sew his hole shut after we get back, okay?" Iseul seemed excited at the offer, nodding happily.

It was then that the trio noticed a small, white ball of fluff hopping off in the bushes nearby.
"Tokki!" Minji called out, running over to the rabbit and scooping him up. "Thank goodness you're okay!" As she brought him back to the group, all three laughed, gathering their things quickly.
"Let's get out of here before that thing comes back!" Sadie said, a tone of worry and relief in her voice. "We've had enough scares with monsters to last us a lifetime...we don't need a repeat."