140 PCW
I open my eyes to an overwhelming darkness. The water that filled my lungs is gone and the ocean where Merlene had trapped me has disappeared. I try to stand up, but I can’t move. I glance down and realize why- I’m encased in a red amber from the shoulders down.
“Right on cue!” An ethereal voice calls out, seemingly from in front of me. Despite the many people from all over the world I’ve met, I can’t place their accent. “Name?” They ask. Either my eyes adjust, or they get closer, but I see them more clearly. A pair of fairy-like wings glow on either side of a youthful figure. Their eyes are completely obscured by a pair of colorful sunglasses, but I can still feel them digging into me.
“I am Mercury-Merlene of the Astral Draena.” I respond. “Where am I?”
“Where are you from?” They ask again, completely ignoring my question.
“Ironwood City, though I was born in the mountains south of the Winding River.”
“What were you doing on ou-my land?” I’m surprised at their claim. Nobody owns the forestlands outside the city. It’s been forbidden territory since a thousand people vanished there over a century ago.
“I was looking for my daughter.” My heart pangs as I remember the wolves.
“Hmm, who do you work for?” They flap their wings, leaving behind slight
wisps of fire. They come slightly closer into view, green hair glowing in the light of their wings.
“Myself. I work as a lumberjack.” I step back as I realize what this person must be. “You’re a forest spirit!” They look confused.
“I’m Otter. How long have you been in the area?” I go along with their question despite them not giving me a clear answer.
“Five years and seven moons.” Otter smiles at me, and tilts their head. A large vine slithers into view, and wraps around me. Otter steps back, pushing back an iron door. The light from their wings also illuminates bars.
“Where am I?” I demand, to no answer. The vine lifts me up, and the amber falls away. It sets me down, now only wrapping around my chest and shoulders like a harness. I brace myself against a wall to maintain my balance.
“Let’s go for a walk, Merc.” Otter exclaims, dragging me into the hall with the vine. “Riri? Merly? What’s your pick, surfacer?” They seem to be trying to come up with a nickname for me, but the last one is just confusing.
“What do you mean? And why am I in a prison!?”
“Riri it is! Sorry about the whole prisoner thing, its protocol.” This is just raising more questions. Otter must sense my confusion, because they burst out laughing. They fly down the hall, which seems to be spiraling out from the direction we’re going in. I notice many empty cells, and a couple occupied ones.
“Who are they?” I ask, not expecting an answer.
“Couple voidlifes.” Yup, that doesn't explain anything.
We arrive at the middle, where a gold, obsidian, and iron box stands. A lone catfolk in a chef’s outfit is holding a plate of something that looks vaguely like food.
“Thanks, Kat!” Otter grabs the plate and hands it to me. “Eat up.” I don’t bother questioning it, and take a bite of one of the things on the plate. It tastes like carrots. Kat smiles, and heads back the way we came. Otter swings open what seems to be a door, and leads me into the chamber within. It’s almost blinding compared to the dim lights in the prison. I sit down on a gold bench as Otter scans something against the wall.
“Who was that?”
“Kat. She’s neat. Makes good cake.” Otter actually somewhat answers. I look around the room a bit more. The ceiling is some sort of light, but is oddly unnatural. It doesn’t look like fire, or any sort of bioluminescence. A pair of gold bars reach from corner to corner across the top, and the walls are all steel. Otter wraps the vine connected to me around the bars, and I feel the grip on the harness loosen.
“BRR-ING!” The doors slam shut. All of a sudden, I feel a strange sensation. It’s like Merlene is flying directly up, but in slow motion. I know I can’t be moving, because everything stays the same.
“Hehe, you’re making a funny face.” They chuckle.
“What is this sorcery!?” I exclaim, unamused
“Hydraulic elevators! Or, as I like to call ‘em, water-vators. Fancy, right?”
“What do hydras have to do with elevators?”
“Dunno, ask Seamus, he came up with it.” I’m about to ask who Seamus is, but the door swings open before I get a chance. The vines unwrap from the bars, and I’m dragged into a gray room, the plate left behind on the bench. Otter picks up an orange disc, and drops it into a box. It clicks, and a strange tune fills the room. Otter bounces to the beat.
“Go ahead and explore, I'll be upstairs.” They disappear in a cloud of sparkles. I decide to take their advice. There is a small table in the middle, with a flowerpot. An allium that looks a little too perfect is inside. There’s also basalt tablets, with words carved into them. It’s too dim to read, and the script looks unfamiliar. It reminds me of old Common, but isn’t the same. A chalkboard hangs on the wall, with writing in the same script. I do manage to make out the name Juno, but that’s it. I try to get a closer look at the wood on the chairs, since it could give me a clue as to where I am, but I quickly realize that it is just painted stone. The complete lack of any wood is surprising. I wish there was even a bit more nature, since the allium, despite its vibrancy, feels like it hasn't seen the sun in ages. Neither have I, I realize. The moon in Merlene’s domain may be bright, but it sure isn’t welcoming. I feel him in the back of my head, waiting for an opportunity to take over my body again. I notice an open door in the front of the room, and head through it. Instantly, I’m met with grandeur. A large courtroom stands in front of me. There are at least a hundred seats, but instead of names, each bears a symbol surrounded by a laurel wreath. In the center are five desks, with a place a sixth could have been.
“Riri! Hi!” Otter shouts from behind me. I turn around, but see nobody. “Up here!” I look upwards, and see a large balcony. Otter is hanging upside down off the edge, supported by vines. They send out more, and pick me up too. I’m a tad terrified at how easy it looks. Otter leaps into the balcony, and pulls me in behind them. They’re sitting on a throne made of vines. On either side of them sits other forest sprites. To Otter’s right sits a younger looking sprite, who looks almost transparent. I shudder at the dragon skull atop his head, and his throne of bones. The person on their left has yellow-green hair that looks almost sharp, and is wearing an eyepatch. Their throne is made of sandstone, and has carvings that look like they’re moving.
“Hello, Mercury, my sister told us many things about you.” They say. Otter waves. I guess she’s a she then.
“Who are you?” I ask.
“I am known as Piximus Cakebot Sandius Wingel Cumulus Thunderhead Motharium Gloria Scorpio The Illustrious. Or just Pix. I’m his sibling.” They point to Otter, who seems to be both a she and he.
“I’m Lazer, or just Lazer. I’m their cousin.” He also points to Otter. So she’s not any gender, good to know.
“I'm Otter. You know that. Should we tell him about you know who?” He turns to Pix.
“Nah, too soon!” They respond.
“Are you talking about my daughter? What happened to her!” I exclaim. I must have hit the nail on the head, since they all look surprised. Otter starts explaining, but is interrupted by Lazer.
“Sorry, we can’t tell you. Protocol.”
“What protocol prevents me from knowing if she’s alive?” I yell.
“She’s alive and well, don’t worry.” Otter says.. I breathe a sigh of relief.
“We just can’t tell any more than that.” Pix mumbles. I’m disappointed, but at least she’s safe.
“Can I see her?” The forest sprites glance at each other.
“Sure, but you’ll have to go back to the cell first. It's not that we don’t trust you, it's just protocol.” Otter sighs.
“I’ll do anything to see her again.” I start to look for a way down, but Otter just picks me back up and places me on the ground. Pix and Lazer wave to me from the balcony. Without talking, they lead me back to the elevator. We head back in silence. Instead of going all the way back down the hall though, Otter stops me towards the front.
“Just head in.” I do as she says. I feel the vine harness fall away, and I notice Otter holding a flower. “Don’t worry, you’ll be fine.”
“What do you mean?” The flower opens, and pink spores float out. My head spins, and everything goes dark once again.
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