A whole new world

[aestrix]

There is a forest that likes to pretend that it's ordinary. It isn't, it's quite bizarre. Every night, in fact, zombies and other horrible monsters swarm this place, looking for people to kill. Not that they've found anyone, the forest itself is quite empty of residents. But they search anyway, during the night, shambling and groaning and occasionally leaving body parts lying around. Those disappear pretty quickly, but it still happens. Then the day comes, and they depart to who knows where, swearing (if mindless monsters could think, or in fact swear to anything in particular) that they'l be back the next night. Repeat ad nauseum.

It's currently in the day portion of this cycle of directionless attempts at violence. Maybe this day will be different from all of the others.

But then, probably not, it's a very boring island without anyone here.

Comments

[greatestgift]

Sable cracks up.

[aestrix]

Dylan smirks.

[greatestgift]

Giggle.

[aestrix]

With gravity, as if he's imparting critically important information: "If you see a pot, be sure to smash it open. They contain all sorts of useful supplies."

[greatestgift]

"My mama taught me not to break other people's things," she says primly.

[aestrix]

"You can smash them with a pickaxe."

[greatestgift]

Snicker.

[aestrix]

"I am here to give you advice on what to do next. You can smash them with a pickaxe."

[greatestgift]

"If you insist. But if my mother shows up asking why I've been going around smashing things, I'm blaming you."

[aestrix]

Shrug. Dylan doesn't seem to mind.

[greatestgift]

"I see you've never met my mother."

[aestrix]

"You should prove yourself by defeating a strong monster."

[greatestgift]

"My mother's killed two malices. She doesn't have a problem with strong monsters."

[aestrix]

.... Head tilt? Confused head tilt, questioning look.

[greatestgift]

"Ah, so you don't know everything," says Sable. "In the world I came from, there are creatures called malices that come up out of the ground and try to destroy everything they can reach. People have to kill them, or the ones we didn't get would just grow and grow until they ate the world. My father's killed seven or eight of them, and my mother's killed two, but it's more impressive coming from her because she doesn't have any magic."

[aestrix]

Somewhat confused: "If you gather 5 fallen stars, they can be combined to create an item that will increase your magic capacity."

[greatestgift]

"It's a different kind of magic. Have you seen how I kill the walking corpses? Can your star magic do that?"

[aestrix]

Dylan haltingly shakes his head.

[greatestgift]

"Didn't think so."

[aestrix]

"Stars fall all over the world at night. They can be used for all sorts of useful things," defends Dylan.

[greatestgift]

"Well, I'll try it and see if it's as good as mine."

[aestrix]

Nod.

[greatestgift]

"I don't suppose you can tell me what it does."

[aestrix]

Head shake. Dylan lacks the words.

[greatestgift]

"Oh, well. It'll be an adventure."