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Post by Masterweaver on May 27, 2012 19:03:49 GMT -5
Swish went the tail as its owner stared into the moon.
How the Shard Seeker had gotten atop one of the rocks, he never bothered to explain. All that he knew was that his thoughts had brought him here. And now... now he was observing the night queen and her court. The queen was cheering up these days, growing fuller. Her moods were predictable, though. The nobles, though... they would twinkle and dance in their strange ways.
That's what the stones were for, he thought. To see the court. Or perhaps, for the court to see those who lived on the ground.
"You know that I can hear you."
The Shard Seeker didn't even turn his head.
"It is a lovely night, isn't it?"
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Skye--
New Member
[M:0:0:]
Posts: 5
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Post by Skye-- on May 27, 2012 19:10:04 GMT -5
Having made his way from the brook up towards these odd stones, he froze with the ruby in his mouth and nearly swallowed it as the voice reached his ear. Gag reflex struck and he coughed the stone on the ground gasping quickly for air. He was only young, and inexperienced at this world. Inside his head, the voice growled "Slit his throat, now.' One of the more sinister orders and Skye whimpered back, "But I caaan't." The voice growled in the back of his head but did nothing more. It was in these situations that had Skye completely spooked. Without indication he could swap quickly between the voice and himself. Already he was having one of his internal quarrels and in front of a stranger was a bad time, placing his paw on the ruby he tried to block out the voice and take a few deep breaths.
That comment about the night only just reached some subconscious part of Skye's brain and he looked up. He'd never really appreciated the sky, although that was his name sake. In fact it was a night like this that was his name sake. Skye of the Night. Looking back over at the Shard Seeker, he squeaked, "Who are you?" On instinct he put himself between the Shard Seeker and the ruby.
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Post by Masterweaver on May 27, 2012 19:27:16 GMT -5
"What an interesting question. And yet everyone asks it."
The Shard Seeker flicked his tail, trying to find a good way to explain to the other fox what exactly he was. "Perhaps a demonstration. Yes, yes I believe that will work. An acorn would do nicely." Hopping down from the rock, he floated through the grass, snuffling for the nut. "This will take some time. Tell me, what are you? Not who. So many foxes think the name they have is their who, but they don't ever really think about it. Although a who might be of import in this situation. So then, who are you, and what do you define yourself as?" Yes, that should keep the fox occupied while he searched for the proper metaphor. The stone that the fox carried intrigued him, as foxes did not usually carry stones. Perhaps, then, this one was a thinker like the Shard Seeker himself.
He glanced up, assuring himself that the fox was still there, before wandering near the base of the westmost rock. "The squirrels tend to bury them here... aha." With a smile he began to dig. "This won't take a moment."
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Fireh--
New Member
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Dreaming Big~
Posts: 28
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Post by Fireh-- on May 27, 2012 20:05:02 GMT -5
It was hard for the teenage boy to absorb all of this and what this strange stranger was doing. Of course everyone asked that question, wasn't it like, protocol? When he leaped off the odd shaped rocks and proceeded to dig around for an acorn, he stood over his ruby and flattened his ears. One move towards him and he would take the voice's advice. Shard Seeker continued to talk and then asked him what he was. This question stunned Skye. He had no idea any more. He'd become so consumed by this voice and his possession of the ruby with little to no reaction to other foxes.
Oh yes he knew he was a fox, but not like other foxes. Differences were always present from one to another but he and the Shard Seeker were alike in the way that their differences set them outside that circle of regularity. So he decided better to just say the truth, "My name is Skye and I don't know what I am." His orange eyes continued to follow the Shard Seeker's steps as he dug up acorns.
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Post by Masterweaver on May 27, 2012 22:13:39 GMT -5
The Shard Seeker paused. "What an interesting response... Most foxes, at least, think they know what they are. They're usually wrong, but... Ah, here's a good one. Cracked."
He trotted over to the other fox, acorn dangling from his mouth, and sat in front of him. "You remember the sickness, yes? Oh, it doesn't matter if you do, just know a lot of foxes died from it. And it took me. See this acorn? Two parts, the cap and the shell." He held out the acorn in a paw for Skye to examine. "And you see it is already cracked, yes? That happens, sometimes. Normal acorns, ha, you have to cut through them. Squirrel teeth you understand, but let us say this acorn was me, and I was sick."
Without warning, he smashed the acorn on the ground.
"Now see? The shell is shattered. Irreparable. But the cap remains. That is what I am, you who takes the name Skye. I am a cap, without a shell. A mind without a memory. A soul without a heart... or perhaps I still have a heart, the metaphor isn't perfect. Being cleansed of myself, I seek for my true name, and the true name of all things, in the shards of the past. That is why those who speak to me call me the Seeker of Shards. The Shard Seeker."
He glanced at the other fox.
"...what was it that made you unsure of what you are, Skye?"
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Fireh--
New Member
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Dreaming Big~
Posts: 28
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Post by Fireh-- on May 28, 2012 2:34:47 GMT -5
It was the way that the fox trotted over to him that held him back from lunging. Not that it would help, he was a lot younger and more inexperienced than the Shard Seeker. Instead he too sat down, the ruby nestled neatly between his front black paws. Listening intently, he watched as he showed both the cap and the acorn, then a loud CRACK as he smashed the acorn into pieces made Skye jump up and backwards. Still, he seemed calm as he continued to talk
""Now see? The shell is shattered. Irreparable. But the cap remains. That is what I am, you who takes the name Skye. I am a cap, without a shell. A mind without a memory. A soul without a heart... or perhaps I still have a heart, the metaphor isn't perfect. Being cleansed of myself, I seek for my true name, and the true name of all things, in the shards of the past. That is why those who speak to me call me the Seeker of Shards. The Shard Seeker."
Those words stuck in Skye's head and placed fear into his own heart. What if that was what he was? A lost soul doomed to wander aimlessly in blackness until maybe he would find himself. The voice spoke, "Your not an empty soul, I am that soul." Not caring that the odd fox was standing front of him, he barked to himself, "No I will never let you be my soul! You can't take me!" Slightly it got shrill towards the end as though trying to pierce the voice with sharp words. Nothing happened though and only the chirruping of cicadas continued onwards. It felt like he had to carry a thousand boulders on his shoulders as he looked up at the Shard Seeker.
"The things inside me..."
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Post by Masterweaver on May 28, 2012 7:30:23 GMT -5
The Shard Seeker flicked an ear inquisitively. "Voices then? That can have many origins, Skye. I could say that it is a part of you that is tired of you ignoring it. Or perhaps it is a lesion, a tumor of guilt that preys on your mind. It might be something else entirely, a ghost." He shrugged, realizing how useless it was to speculate. "Perhaps you and these voices should converse on the meaning of life. That is to say, the goals that you would have. The legacy you wish to leave. That is an interesting tree over there...."
Sky forgotten, the Shard Seeker made his way over to a tree just outside the stones, its branches half filled with leaves. He looked up at it curiously.
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