A/N
I'm back! I'm sorry about the long wait, so I wrote an extra long chapter for your benefit, hope you like it!
Spurn: to turn away
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"We must not go directly into the Field of Silent Flowers. All sound is muffled there, but that does not stop creatures from roaming it. It could be incredibly dangerous."
"Why isn't it called, like, the Silent Field or something?"
"That name was taken. Somewhere in the north I believe." Crepuscule flapped his wings a little, picking up a little lost altitude. The day was beautiful, or at least, what was soon to be left of it. The day had been full of fun. Enchanted forests, cities of metal, raging evil deserts.
I had to admit it. Even though I was in mortal danger some of the time, I was having a blast.
"The reason it is called the Field of Silent Flowers is because it is the flowers themselves that swallow all sound. The sound they swallow makes them one of the most beautiful, and deadly, wonders of the world."
"So we are passing them by."
"Yes. We will skirt the edge of the field until we come upon the Wolves' Forest. From there we must walk."
"Why?"
"The treetops are disconcerting to those that fly, making them lost."
"Is everything enchanted around here?"
"The Field and the Forest are not enchanted in the way you use the term. The reason I cannot fly above the forest is because forests all look the same from above. And should I become disoriented and forget which way I am going, not that there is a great chance of that happening, I could delay your journey. The Field is not enchanted either. The flowers, an exotic breed, actually gain nutrients not only from the ground like normal flowers, but also from the vibrations that spring from the sounds made by animals. The vibrations cause the plant to produce a new kind of vibration which help it produce nutrients it would not be able to unless those vibrations were present. The side effect of this new vibration is that it cancels out the sounds of the first vibration."
"Oh." I think I got all that. Makes sense in a way.
Sort of.
"There is the Field."
I looked over to the left as he flew. The grass had grown longer, and peppered amongst it were beautiful flowers of every shape and size. It made a dazzling spectacle.
"Wow. Hunh? Hey, if they swallow sound, why can I still hear myself?"
"We are at the very edge. The range of the flowers does not extend here. If we were to move inwards to the Field, then our voices would become muffled and eventually fade, as the flowers began to appear more in number."
"So this is like, a little tiny bit of the flowers?"
"Yes. This is the smallest fraction of the flowers. In the middle of the field the flowers are so numerous that grass does not show."
"Wow." I was struck with awe. So beautiful, yet so dangerous. This place was something else.
"We are almost to the forest."
I looked back to the front. There, almost a mile and a half ahead and rapidly approaching, was a very dark and forbidding looking forest. It was lively though. I could still hear animals in my head and they sounded pretty happy.
The last of the Field whipped past and Crepuscule landed easily and trotted into the forest. The sudden change of light was jarring as we left the beautiful day behind and walked into the forever night of the thick forest.
I stayed on his back as he walked forward, his graceful strides moving us along at a faster rate than I could have managed. It also would be better in the long run if something tried to jump us. I could warn him, and he could beat them up, as I was totally incapable of doing so.
I was feeling a little useless. I was back to square one, just like when I first came to the Institute. No real offensive power. Of course, I'm thinner and tougher, but that doesn't help a lot. And my hands hurt.
In some ways, this just hasn't been my week.
"My lady." Crepuscule stopped. I shook myself out of my daydream.
"What?"
"Look yonder."
"Yonder?"
"There, in the small clearing."
To my amazement, there was a small clearing. And in that clearing, a single beam of light pierced the treetops to fall upon a young girl in rich clothing.
I stared for a moment.
"I swear I've seen this movie before. Where's the big demon?"
"There is a demon?!" Crepuscule swung his neck around nervously.
"There isn't. At least, I hope not." I slid off his back and held onto the ropes until I got my legs in a position that I could catch myself when I dropped. Being six feet at the shoulder was great for him, but either I needed to grow taller or we needed a stool for me to get down.
"If My Lady asked, I would have bent down."
"Don't worry about it, I'm down." I brushed my hands off on my shorts, though gingerly. I walked over to the girl in the clearing. She was older than I was.
"Hi." I said, trying to start a conversation.
"My Lady…" Crepuscule bumped his nose into my elbow, "Do not assume her to be anything, there are many enchantments that hide true forms."
"Are you hinting, beast, that my form is not what it ought to be?" She said haughtily. I looked at her, surprised.
She was just like a story book fairytale. She had long, blonde hair that reached the middle of her back, with a peerless face. Some of the girls at the Institute would kill for that face. No blemishes or pimples. Her eyes were green, and sparkling. Though, with happiness or hatred, I wasn't sure. Her clothes were everything a fairytale would describe, a long dress made of the finest cloth, with colors that accented her beauty. Deep red, beautiful green and sparkling white.
Creepy.
Crepuscule hid behind me, which was remarkable, for someone so big. "My apologies lady, I did not mean to offend."
"You should take better care to keep such beasts handled." She said to me. I glared back at her.
"He is not a beast. He is my friend."
"Technically, My Lady, I am a beast."
"Crepuscule, when I want you to be self destructive to my purposes, I will ask you. But when I'm trying to speak about you in a good way, I'd appreciate it if you'd keep your defeatist comments to yourself." I snapped.
"A thousand apologies, My Lady." His head drooped almost to the ground. I instantly felt bad.
"Aww, don't do that, I didn't mean it, really." I scratched his neck. "You make me feel like the most horrible person in the world."
"My apologies." His ears were drooping now, and I felt worse.
"Are you two done?" The girl rolled her eyes. I glared at her.
"What is your problem?"
"I am waiting for my fiancé to get through his trials and rescue me." She said primly.
"Trials?"
"I don't feel like explaining such things to a common child as you."
I glared at her. Crepuscule picked up his head and started talking into my ear.
"Some of the noble families will require that those that marry into the family to accomplish a quest, in a way to prove themselves worthy of joining. The quest may be as simple as fighting in a tournament, whether or not they lose, or going out to find some lost item. It can also be as hard as braving numerous deadly traps."
"Can I comment on how stupid that sounds?"
"You have, My Lady. Do they not have similar trials where you are from?"
"No…wait, one of my uncles had to be a bull roper before my aunt would look at him, and then he had to be accepted by the other aunts and uncles by getting a steady job."
"Would that be a simple or difficult trial?"
"Simple to everyone but him. He was kind of a bum. I don't even remember his name."
"I see."
"So," I started talking to the girl now, " how long have you been waiting?"
She pursed her lips and didn't answer. Then she mumbled something.
"What was that?"
"Three days."
"Three whole days? You've been sitting here for three whole days?"
Her shoulders slumped in defeat. Then she started to cry.
"What did I do to deserve this? I've always been good to my parents, then they try to saddle me with this weak, idiot merchant. A traveler is a great profession they said. Traveling peddlers, bah!"
I began to feel really uncomfortable. This was the second person I made feel bad in the last fifteen minutes, and it was beginning to have a depressing effect.
"And what now? He should have been here the first day, the way was not long, even if he had skirted the field, he had a horse or some beast he could ride. He could have asked some bird person for a lift! But he hasn't come and now I'll be trapped in this forest forever. That #$%@ Peddler!"
Whoa. That was never in the fairytales.
"I didn't want to marry him anyway." She dried her eyes and picked up her shoulders. "He wasn't my type, really. A stuffed shirt, even though he had no reason to be."
"Ah. Well, good riddance then?"
"Indeed." She smiled at me. I gave a small smile back. Crepuscule hid behind me. I think he was afraid that a woman with such violent words may take out her anger on something.
"And what is your purpose for being in this forest?"
"I'm going to find a friend of mine in the Rushing Marshes."
She nodded and looked away. I felt a wince growing at the edge of my face as I asked the next question.
"I don't suppose you want to come with us?" I asked, trying to keep my face from breaking into any emotion.
"No. I shall wait here. I, Laralla Rena Rematta Horun, shall wait here until a man truly worthy shows his face."
"Oh. Well, good luck."
"Thank you." She said curtly.
Crepuscule and I left and walked on down through the forest.
"Are most nobles like that?"
"I cannot say."
"Why?"
"Because I have met little nobles, and to make a generalization upon them with my limited experience would be rude."
"Ah." We walked in silence for a few minutes. For fun, I let my mind expand and touch briefly across the minds in the large forest.
What I heard was very interesting.
"Let's go this way." I started walking in the direction the voices were chattering about.
"My Lady, it is not wise to stray off the path!"
"We weren't really following one." I pointed out as I kept walking.
"Where are we going?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know?" He sounded a little panicked. "This is not wise."
"Following voices only you can hear usually isn't." I commented as I neared the spot where the commotion was coming from. I pulled some branches out of the way…
And Rahne hit me hard and we went tumbling to the ground.
Rahne?!
"Rahne!"
"Dann?" She stared back at me, confused.
"Wait, my love! Return to me!"
Rahne left stripes of red down my arms as she clawed her way up and over me only to stop dead at the sight of Crepuscule's big, very dangerous looking form.
"Ah---Ah---AHHHHHHHHHH!" Rahne just started screaming. Crepuscule reared in surprise and bolted.
As if this wasn't bad, a giant wolf bounded out of the trees. "My love! What hideous beast has caused you to scream aloud?"
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Now she was screaming at him. I winced painfully. She could reach a pitch.
Rahne's suitor stood on his hind legs. That's when I realized that he was wearing clothes, a waistcoat and some tailored pants. And he could walk upright with absolutely no problem. He was, in a way, quite handsome, with a dark ruff and dark fur, which when I first saw him seemed to blend in with his clothes. His tail had been combed to perfection.
"AHHHHHHH!!!!"
And Rahne was still screaming.
"My love, what has afflicted you so?"
"I think it's you buddy."
He turned to face me, surprised. "Who are you?"
"Danny."
"Oh. Pleased to meet you." He bowed and offered me a hand up. I took it. Rahne had stopped screaming as soon as he helped me up. As soon as I was on my feet she leaped behind me, making me her shield.
This seems to be happening more and more often.
"What's going on?" I asked her. She looked at me widly.
"He willn't leave me alone!"
"I love you!"
"I don't!"
"Why must you say such things, love?"
"Make him stop!" She growled, digging her fingers into my shoulders. I winced.
"Geez, clip your nails!"
"Why do you spurn me? Is this not predestined? A human that can change into a wolf to marry a gentlewolf such as myself, it must be! It is tradition that love found in the forest of the Wolf is destined to live forever! It must therefore be destiny!"
"Your reasoning is creeping me out." I told him. He looked momentarily discouraged.
"I didn't even know what this forest was! And I can't help it that when I escaped that this was the closest place to go!"
"Escaped?" I looked over my shoulder. She nodded.
"I found myself being dragged around by this group of little hooded men, so I bit one of them, changed into a wolf and ran away. After a few days, I found these woods. They didn't follow me into here. Probably didn't want to be propositioned." She added the last bit with a little venom. I was a little surprised. Usually she was really nice. But I guess being chased around by an amorous wolf after being kidnapped must have made her temper grow short.
"I do not understand." The big wolf's ears flopped down sadly. He was a good foot taller than me, and he looked so pathetic that I began to feel bad again.
I must be on a roll today.
"Maybe you found the wrong girl," I said soothingly.
"All of my life, my parents and everyone told me that I would find true love in the Forest of the Wolf. That love would transcend every dream I had for my life. How can I find true love if every woman that enters is either taken, too young, too old, or runs screaming in fear of me? You," He looked right at Rahne, "were just like myself. But you are like the others as well. How may I find true love now?"
"Maybe you came on too strong?" I said. Rahne instantly began digging her fingers into my shoulders.
"Perhaps. But sometimes I am like that, I cannot help it!"
"I understand. Actually…" An idea struck me. "I know of someone that isn't too young or old."
He looked up hopefully.
"It isn't me or her," I said quickly before he got the wrong idea. "She's a beautiful noble, with blonde hair and green eyes."
"Truly? Is she that beautiful?"
"You'll have to answer that one yourself. You could have asked my friend, but Rahne scared him away. However, she is heartbroken over the fact that her fiancé has not come to find her, so you might not want to come on too strong."
"Oh thank you! Perhaps true love is not too out of reach, this woman is afflicted with the same problem as I. Goodbye, wise girl and Once-love, I hope your journey brings you much joy."
He shot off into the bushes. I sighed with relief and Rahne unattached herself from my shoulders.
"What are you doin—ACK!" She squeaked as the wolf burst from the trees again.
"Which way is my love?"
"Umm, If you outskirt the right of the Silent Flower Field thing, you come across a clearing as soon as you walk into the forest with some light shining through."
"Thankyou!" He burst back through the trees.
"You know…" I said after a moment, "There are some really creepy coincidences here."
"What?"
"That woman I was talking about had this big long name, and the initials were really interesting."
"So?"
"And that was a wolf."
"Don't remind me."
"Has the young lady stopped screaming?"
"Yeah, you can come back out, Crepuscule."
He came out, hesitatating with every step. I was surprised. He ran off after Rahne started screaming? Then again, she scared me too.
"Rahne, this is Crepuscule. He's my friend. Crepuscule, this is one of my friends, her name is Rahne."
"You aren't going to ask Mr. Logan if you can keep it, are you? He may go bonkers."
"Don't be silly. Crepuscule is his own person. Right?"
"Whatever you wish My Lady."
Rahne stifled a giggle.
"I swear we are going to work on that."
"As you wish."
Rahne was about to go into a fit of laughter. I glared at both of them.
"My Lady, shall we move towards the Rushing Marshes?"
"Okay. C'mon Rahne." I gestured her over to where Crepuscule was standing. He gracefully leaned down until his chest touched the ground. I got on and held my hand out to her. She looked scared for a moment.
She was wearing her jeans and one of her purple shirts. She must have changed before coming here, however she did it.
She then came forward and grabbed my hand, hoisting herself up behind me. Crepuscule then got up and started walking. Rahne clung to me, still afraid of the big creature beneath her.
"It's okay. He won't drop us or eat us, will you Crepuscule?"
"I have not to this date fed upon the flesh of humans or mutants, and will make no changes to do so now. I cannot promise that you will not fall, but I will not allow you to fall intentionally."
"Great." I patted his neck. He seemed to preen a little.
Rahne relaxed after the first few miles, and was eager to hear about what I had gone through, especially where I got my clothes. So I began telling her everything.
It was good to find one of my friends after so long. I was afraid I wouldn't find them. And now, if my assumption was correct, we'd find Jean in the Rushing Marshes.
I wonder why it's called the Rushing Marshes?
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Well, that's one mutant down, a whole group more to go.
Raliena: Heh, yeah, I can relate too, though actually I'm a little scared of heights. Especially if the only way to get down is a bunch of stairs. But that is neither here nor there, I'm glad you like the story!
Laureate: Herman would like that. It'll give him a place to go if the other animals bother him. Heh, you do? I was trying to make him interesting and likeable, without turning him into a teletubby, if you will pardon the expression. I'm glad you like him!
Asteria: Thank you, the fashion designers took a little work, I'm glad they came out good.
Chrissy: Well, I figured since they weren't staying very long in that city, I might as well not go into strict detail. But I tried to give a basic picture, and I'm glad it worked, and thank you! Lots of people seem to be warming to Crepuscule, and that's good, I'd hate to have a main character people hated. Herman thanks you for the hammock!
Anon(girl) :Lots of people seem to like Crepuscule for that. Herman thanks you for the jungle gym! …Heh, thank you very much, I'm glad you like my stories. You make me embarrassed! But thank you.
Dragonet: Don't worry, even I fall behind on reviews. Actually, I'm notorious for it, really. Thank you, Crepuscule seems to be getting a small fan base. And Herman thanks you for the toys! Sorry about the acolytes.
PrincessofWildfire: I'm just glad that you like them, I don't really mind which one you like best. Hope your hard drive doesn't give you too much trouble! Glad you like the story!
Arin Ross/Arain Rowan/Anee: Thank you very much…Hm, maybe she should lay off the sugar, I heard that starts problems. As for Twi-Twi…I suppose it's close enough. As long as you all are enjoying the story. Hope you enjoy this chapter!
Herman will take the reviews, and thanks you all for the gifts he got!
