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[npc-excolo.livejournal.com]

Time has little meaning here, though your body back home may disagree.

Dream.

A forest.

A forest of the oldest sort, thick with brambles, trees snarled with centuries of life. It stretches for miles, many of them very dark, because the trees grow so close that it is hard to see. From a high vantage point, on one of the hills of the forest, one may glimpse a tower at the heart of the forest, a great graceful column of grey stone. Here and there there are clearings, bright with sunlight, and streams running with clear water. But mostly there is dark.

In the distance, the howl of a wolf.

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[silence-excolo.livejournal.com]

Master Cat seems oddly quiet in front of this woman, which compared to his previous chattiness is odd indeed. I wonder if he does not trust her. Something in me tells that she can be, though. Trusted. But like Master Cat, the golden woman might be tricky.

I truly want her to travel with us. I don't really know why, but I feel she is... meant to. And when she agrees I smile. But still Master Cat says nothing, just looks to me when she asks if we would rest or ride. He does look tired & we have walked a long way. The river is clear & cool...

"I could do with a rest, if you don't mind," I offer, kneeling once more by the river. "I do not know about riding, however, as I've never ridden a horse before." Or if I have I do not remember (he remembers you).

I turn once more to the river & bend to drink. My hair slips forward again, but the water is sweet. I pull my face away & use my arms to sweep it back. The reflection in the water makes me pause - a pale, thin-faced woman with short, dark hair & intense eyes looks back at me. I raise my arm to touch it & she matches my movement with her hand. I blink & it's gone, my own reflection again... but she did look like me. Just a different me.

"I think I am forgetting someone," I whisper. The wind whistles it away.

Why do I head towards the tower? I am (pulled) making my own path, my own life, but why the tower? What truly draws me there? Just what am I meant to find?

I look to my companions, noticing their fine, sturdy clothing & their traveling gear. I have none of these. I have no preparation beyond myself. And yet I go into the woods because... because I know I am supposed to. I just don't know why.

Perhaps I shall find that 'why' at the tower?

I rise & walk back to Master Cat & kneel, resting on my heels. "I hope you do not mind, as I have not asked this of you yet, but I wish to know - why do you head for the tower?" Perhaps his 'why' will help me with mine.

[chester-excolo.livejournal.com]

My companion decides to rest and bends to the river for a drink. I think she may have seen something in the water as she pauses and stares for a bit but it does not seem to alarm her so I do not need to leap into action. She sits up and looks at both myself and the fae, then having reached some decision comes over to crouch beside me. I hope you do not mind, as I have not asked this of you yet, but I wish to know - why do you head for the tower? Ah so! This I should have expected. I do not want to give too much away so I shall only give her part of the answer. And look forward to hearing the stories of both of my companions of the road.

"Nah. I don't mind at that much, Doll. Just so long as you tell me as much when I'm done." I lay back and loosen my boots as we are having a rest break, it would be foolish not to take some advantage of it. "I'm travelling to Tower as part of my service to my Mistress. A lovely young woman, with brains as well as beauty but perhaps a bit short on cash. Though what nobility isn't?"

I pause to stretch out the kinks in my back from walking on my hind legs before I continue, "And well, there's something up in that Tower that she needs me to do for her." I look between the two of them noting how the fae is listening very intently to my story. She can tell that I'm leaving much space unfilled but so long as she doesn't challenge me on it we'll continue well enough.

"An' now it's some one else's turn. Why're you goin' to the Tower, Fair One?" I look right at the fae woman, Hope she decides to tell us something even if her story is as fulla holes as mine.

[danashee.livejournal.com]

Cat Man has an odd way of speaking but still I understand the words he says, and can guess at some of the ones he isn't. I would like to know more of what he means to do at the Tower but he didn't say and I get the impression that he would be very unhappy should I press him for it. He doesn't wish to tell and maybe his mistress would be unhappy if too many people knew what her business with the tower was.

I expect it when he asks me why I journey to that place and have already decided to share my purpose with them. I keep watch on both to gauge their reaction if I do not like what I see I shall escape under glamour but I do not think I shall need it.

"I go to rescue my sister, trapped behind those walls of bone and blood."

[silence-excolo.livejournal.com]

Master Cat stretches as he spins his tale; such a cat-like maneuver & he calls me 'Doll', which I find oddly endearing. A noble lady, smart & beautiful he calls her. But he never actually says what he is to do there. Well, I suppose I only asked him why, not what. The wording is important, after all. Noble, smart, beautiful... but not wealthy. So he does this for some other payment?

He then turns to the Golden Woman & prods her to tell her tale. He calls her 'Fair One', & suddenly I realize why I see her as I do - I can even feel it, briefly, like a shimmer - she is of the Fair Folk. And somehow Master Cat knew this.

And somehow I know this.

If she is aware of this, she does not show it, but draws herself up. She keeps us both in her steady gaze which has turned serious. "I go to rescue my sister, trapped behind those walls of bone and blood."

And my breath catches. Bone & blood (sacrifice). Out of old habit, my arms raise to bring my missing hands to my mouth. Trapped. Her sister. Sister- I was a- no, past is past & there it should stay. This is not my story.

But perhaps I am to play a part in theirs.

She does not elaborate, & they finally look to me to tell my tale. "I serve no mistress who is noble, fair & wise," I say to Master Cat. "Nor do I travel to save one trapped by lies," to the Fair One. "I have no great mission for the tower on high; I travel this path for to find my Why."

I stop, surprised at my own words. Can it really be that simple? And yet, it's not simple at all, is it?

Our rest is brief, & soon the Fair One is helping me onto her horse. She has me sit in front of her, so she might hold on to me & keep me from slipping. Master Cat chooses not to ride, claiming he is fast enough to keep up, but I think it is because of his sword; the metal must be dangerous to the Fair One.

Our paths, my path, the path; all roads lead... (http://community.livejournal.com/estdeus_innobis/405996.html)