Setsuna-the-fallen

Vulcan blinked against the sudden violent patterns of the room that appeared around him. Where had he gone? How had he gotten here? His train of thought had been entirely derailed and then tossed haphazardly back on again which left him completely disoriented and more than a little cranky. Whatever this was, he wanted out. First the thread had dragged him along, then the road and now he was standing in some big, empty room with frames devoid of paintings hanging neatly on the walls. “Hello?” The haggard sounding word echoed around him and he clenched his jaw tightly with annoyance. He just wanted to go home. A tingling sensation spider walked up his spine and his eyes darted about the room as the feeling that he was being watched grew inside of him. While he could see nothing at this moment he knew he wasn’t alone. There was someone...or something...here with him and the uncertainty of what that was made his pulse quicken. Should he need to fight he would, but he would much

Vulcan felt hypnotized by the curves of the happy yellow road he followed, his feet moving even as his mind screamed and cried for them to stop. Though the sky was blue and the grass green there was still something entirely too unsettling about this place. If this were some kind of nightmare he wished with all of his might that he would wake but all he could do was continue to follow that merry, winding yellow road. He’d lost the ability to choose otherwise. He turned to see whether the ‘creatures’ he’d picked up along the road were still following and cringed a little upon discovering that they were. In comparison to him they fit well with this strange world around them. Entirely unphased by whatever loomed over the side of the road or whatever sounds could be heard in the distance. There was still no reason for them to be following him that he could think of, but rather than attempting to shoo them or run ahead he simply turned his eyes forward and attempted to ignore the

There was something eerily unsettling about the way the hole in the ground appeared to yawn open like a black maw in an expressionless, colorless face that made Vulcan’s stomach begin to churn and roil uncomfortably. The muscles in his legs seized up, his body adamantly protesting each step toward it but unable to truly stop him from moving forward. It was like being in a nightmare where no matter how much his thoughts were focused on fleeing some outside force was pulling him in against his will and all he could do was clutch the red thread that had guided him here. The edge crept nearer and nearer, the thread he was following both a source of comfort and dread as it vanished over the lip of the hole and he knew that he would follow it whether he wanted to or not. It wasn’t that he was afraid of heights or even of falling from them, it was that he could sense something from within that pit. It made the hairs on the back of his neck raise and a shudder roll down his spine.

Even though the tip of her spear sliced through the air with just as much speed and dexterity as it always had, Seren’s mind and heart were elsewhere. Normally training was a time for her to lose track of the world around her and to just focus on weidling her weapon with the greatest expertise however, on this particular day, she was having a difficult time concentrating. Corelia, the adorable bookwyrm who’d managed to turn her head, had sent her a rather vague missive requesting that they meet up in what seemed like a random and out of the way location. It also stated that it was a matter of urgency but that it was also important that she arrive at the exact time specified and not a moment sooner. The cryptic nature of the note had left her feeling uneasy, wondering if perhaps Corelia had gotten into some trouble or if she was trying to remain hidden from something while also calling for help. It wouldn’t be the first time something like that had happened which is why Seren had

The walls of the maze were stifling with their height and sameness and it took a bit of inner dialogue for Vulcan to calm himself enough to keep going. Already the sun had shifted so much overhead and he would soon be trapped here in the dark. How many right turns had he made now? This wall looked familiar but so did the one he passed a few minutes before. Very little gave him any clue as to where he was going or where he had been aside from a few ominous sounds and whispers that were enough to send a shiver up and down his spine. Fear gripped him like a cold, clawed hand and he pressed himself against one of the walls to catch his breath and steady his thoughts. He hated confining spaces like this and, even more, he hated the feeling of being lost and helpless. Turning back was not an option now even if he wished it to be because he could no longer tell from which direction he had come. “The only way out is forward.” He told himself tightly, the mantra on desperate repeat in

Gathering everything he had needed in order to complete the quests assigned to him in the VIP Tea Party lounge had been no easy feat, especially considering his size or lack thereof. He had nearly smashed one of the chairs while dragging it along in order to place it at the long, empty table, and having to figure out the math paired with the symbols on wall after wall of graffiti before even being allowed in the stores had made him wish he could breathe fire right about now. It had taken him forever and had forced him to take multiple trips down confusing alleyways filled with onlookers who would sooner chuckle than give any kind of direction. But, Vulcan had never been a quitter and he was not about to start now. And so he made note of all of the symbols and their respective numbers, he located all of the chairs and filled that table, and he collected items of all kinds from the stores he had finally managed to enter after solving the riddle. All of which led him to this pivotal

Mae had, surprisingly, been thoroughly drawn into the shopping portion of this whole affair. She had managed to tangle with the beast in the forest, and even bumped into it occasionally on her run through town, but nothing excited her more than seeing all of the unique little baubles that lined each and every shelf within view on either side of the walkway. Normally she would not give such things a second glance, however the uniqueness of all of it made it difficult to ignore. While she knew she should continue on to solve more puzzles and perhaps even slay a persistent pest, she found herself lingering. Pins of all different shapes and colors lined painted windows and stuffed animals of every order looked up at her with sappy, ‘adopt me’ eyes. It was amusing to say the least, how easily she was persuaded to buy a pin or to squeeze a plush before shaking her head and walking on. She knew if she was not careful she would walk out of here with absolutely no tokens at all, which

Adrastea had been a whirlwind of energy and spunk ever since making her way through the neon forest and deeper into the park. She was right at home with all of the color and strange plants, the eyes growing out of her own flowers occasionally meeting with those of an especially odd mushroom or tree. She was as much a part of this park as they were to her way of thinking and so very little bothered here, aside from the creature that would occasionally crop up and attempt to corner or kill her. For now that was all behind her though as she took in the sights and sounds of the amusement part of this amusement park. Smiling at those who walked past her and stopping to gawk at all of the treasures being peddled in the cute little stalls and stores. Had she the tokens for it all she may very well have bought out every one, but for now her main goal was to find the perfect ride. She had wandered past many and watched them go, giggling at the way those riding them would react, but none

The more time Vulcan spent in this theme park the more he began to realize that very little of it made any sense. Some walkways would lead him in one direction only to come to a dead end while others seemed to spiral and twist endlessly only to spit him out in an even more confusing location than the one he had left behind. Really it all made his head hurt and he had just started to wonder why he was putting himself through any of this when the brightly lit sphere of a ferris wheel shone above some of the strange rooftops. All white and twinkling like starlight it’s grandeur called to him and before he realized he was making his way straight toward it. Perhaps it was because he spent the bulk of his life being miniature and never being able to see over the crowd, or maybe he just yearned for the rush of uncertainty at looking over a new place. Whatever it was, it called him to the line of Stygians waiting for their turn to ride. Vulcan hardly noticed the wait, so wrapped up was

The park was abuzz with all manner of activity and, while Vulcan had enjoyed himself for a time, he was beginning to feel a little grumpy again. It didn’t help that the crowd seemed to be looking out for only themselves as he was jostled and bumped for what had to have been the hundredth time in less than thirty minutes. If not for the lingering joy of finding that adorable white rabbit plushie he may very well have gone off on someone. Which likely would have only served to upset him more since people often remarked on how cute he was when upset on account of his small stature. Giving a growl as he was once again lost to the shuffle he finally squeezed his eyes shut and barreled through the tight groupings until he felt the cool air of emptiness kissing his cheeks. Drinking in the freshness he gave himself a moment before opening his eyes and looking at where his pushing and shoving had gotten him. The multicolored awning of a shopfront loomed overhead, shading him in rainbows