Hello again. Today I went somewhere I probably wasn't supposed to. Oh well.
After waking up at the base of a hill covered in dew I quickly tingled dry and once more set off. A spring in my step, excited to see if I can find anymore memories today.
Rather than climb up the hills again I wanderered through the small bushes and trees formed in the valleys between them. Eating any particularily tasty looking berries that rested on the bushes. Lots of big sweet dark berries and smaller red tart berries leave my hands, face, and poncho stained in their juices.
After eating my fill, and then some, I find I've ended up back at the river. I decided to wash myself off as the sweet juice was attracting bugs.
Keeping an eye out for my new buddy, Wrecker, I quickly wash off the offending stickies. Though they did leave a stain on my clothes.
As I was looking at the massive river once again I noticed something on the opposite bank. While most of the hills around here were misshapen and rugged, with exposed boulders and scrubby trees and covered in a variety of long grasses, there was on that was clearly different.
Smooth and symmetrical, and with a coating of vibrant green. This hill caught the eye in such a fashion that I was surprised I hadn't seen it before. Most interestingly was the shining gleam I spied at the base of the hill.
With another quick glance to make sure Wrecker wasn't about, I steam skated across the river. Bouncing from the slight swells and laughing uproariously all the while.
Upon reaching the other shore I was tempted to forgoe my exploration to do it again. And so I did.
I don't know how long I spent skidding across the river, but I know I only stopped when I saw my friend Wrecker coming to see what all the commotion was about.
Finally checking out the hill. I saw it was smaller than those around it, and tucked back amongst the others. making it hard to see unless you were parallel to it from the river side. Around the base of this hill ran a series of smooth white stones shaped as wings. Stylized feathers seemed to form organically along the smooth sungleamed surface.
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I will say I spent longer than necessary just enjoying the sensation of sunwarmed stone feathers beneath my hands. These magnificent wings were placed about two body lengths apart all along the base of the hill. They formed a clear dividing line upon the ground. For in front of them was the usual scrubby grass bushes and trees that grew here naturall, but behind them grew only short incredibly vibrant and bright green grass. It almost looked like it would glow in the dark so bright it was.
The hill was noticably steeper and shorter than those around it, almost appearing to be a cliff. Behind the wings and among the grass were stone steps. Massive slabs of the same white stone the wings were made of. They spiralled around the hill making a easy path to the top.
Atop the hill was mist. Surprising and unnatural it was at this point that I became cautious about this strange place. As I slowly headed into the mist, which come to thing of it I hadn't seen from across the river either, I walked farhter than shoud have been possible. Unless I was walking in circles I should have reached the other side of the hill by now.
Now thoroughly disturbed by this mysterious mist I did what comes naturally, and burned it. Or rather, I tried. This mist swallowed my flames and extinguished them with ease.
Now in a panic I ran blindly through the mist. I would have been screaming but I needed my breathe to run faster.
And so I ran directly into a wall and was knocked out.
Coming too in one piece but still in this mist I scrambled to my feet, cradling my aching head. Before me stood the cause of said headache. It wasnt a wall, but a huge gray stone standing upright. Scrawled all across its surface were spiralling designs that catch the eye and dull the mind. After a frankly sad amount of time I shook myself loose of the stones enchanting designs and glanced around.
The stone wasnt alone but one of many just like it. Arrayed in a circle of ten with one layed across the top of two others making an arch. These arches encompass an small stone hut. This hut is made of the white stone from the wings and steps but without the sun to make it shine it seems more like polished bone than stone.
Three sides and a roof made of this ghostly stone make a cube with an open side. The insides are dark. A hungry dark, it greedily swallows any fire I send in to light it up.
Naturally, I go inside.
Feeling my way inside, my feet find stairs. Trying to light my way once more my flames are again consumed by the dark before I can make anything out. Resigned to being in the dark again, I slowly feel my way down the stairs. I continue down, further and further, until I simply can't go on any more.
Sitting down I dug out my journal, thinking I may have to write while blind, but I find to my surprise the words I've written inside give off a glow. After thinking for a bit I try to write on the cold stone steps and sure enough the words from my pen glow with an inner light before they get swallowed by the stone.
So here I am. In a cold dark place once again, lit only by the words I've written and write now. I suppose its better than nothing.
Goodnight.