WEEK 1

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 1

[The train wouldn't stop. Not until very early the next morning. The few who might have been awake would be able to exit the train, entering the cool twilight of the dawn. The star is dark, and few stars can be seen in the sky as a cold breeze begins to blow from the mountain beyond. You can see some chunks of rock floating idly nearby, far away from the station that it won't hit trains, but near enough that one can see they are larger than the train they just disembarked.

Lastly, laid out in front of them, the first port of call: Menahoven. The mountain: The Throat of the World.

But which world? Who knows. Not any of yours. Maybe it doesn't matter. Not when you are so far from home. Not when you have no way to get off this rock without the aid of the trains-and they will not let you pass.

It looks like you're stuck here until the Conductor decides to leave. In the meantime, everyone will need to get comfortable.


There are fifteen strangers left in this place.]

Comments

[katzenpfote]

I did figure that part out eventually, but it took longer than I'd like, so the tip is... ah... appreciated.

[A Bengal cat bounds over towards the pair and meows at Ris.]

Ah, Frumpkin. You are back. Good.

[higanbana]

[A tiny smile.] It can be difficult, to start with. I hold no judgement.

[But oh! A catte! Ris kneels down to put herself a little more on Frumpkin's level, offering her non-knife hand for sniffing.]

You have received a cat as well? There have been so many roaming the train now...

[katzenpfote]

[The catte sniffs her hand and nuzzles it, purring.]

He's my familiar. Someone else found him, but returned him to me. This is the form I usually have him in, unless we need him to be a bird or an octopus or something.

[higanbana]

Oh! So you knew him before you came here!

A creature that can change forms... how fascinating! [And she'll rub at Frumpkin's ear, with a smile.] And how friendly.

[katzenpfote]

I did. One of my first successful spells was summoning him from the Feywild in the form of my old cat from childhood. If I spend the resources to resummon him I can make him many different creatures. Our connection doesn't seem to work here like it used to, but he still listens to me.

[Purr, purr...]

[higanbana]

Ah... how sweet. [♥] I suppose your personal connection runs much deeper than any magical one.

He really is quite charming. You are lucky, to have such a friend by your side.

[katzenpfote]

I am. He's a very good cat. Here.

[Frumpkin jumps up into his arms, and he holds him out to Ris.]

It's all right to hold him, if you would like.

[higanbana]

Ah... are you sure?

[She seems surprised by the offer, but... she's extending her arms to take him, nonetheless.

Ris holding him is a little like someone awkwardly holding a baby for the first time. She's almost too ginger with him, like she's not sure what to do. But eventually, she figures out how to hold and pet him simultaneously.

Who's a good boy? Is it Frumpkin?]

[katzenpfote]

[Frumpkin doesn't move around much as she tries to figure out what to do with him, but when she settles he purrs, reaching up to drape over her shoulder and roll against that warm spot on her neck.]

[Caleb watches, suppressing the barest hints of a smile. She really doesn't know how to act around cats, huh?]

[higanbana]

[Ris can't help but giggle when he does, a breathless, airy little sound.]

Goodness! You really are friendly! So much for what the books say about cats...

[Ris doesn't have much of an idea how to act around anything, so.]

[katzenpfote]

It depends on the cat, but he's good around people who are nervous. Often he'll curl up around my neck after a difficult situation.

[higanbana]

[...]

Are you often nervous? If I may be so bold.

[katzenpfote]

... I h... have my moments, ja. It is... sometimes difficult to deal with the things my group and I encounter, and there are things I have been through that are not... pleasant. So it is a comfort to have him at times.

[higanbana]

[She offers him a sympathetic little smile, and then offers Frumpkin back.]

Then it does seem as though your beloved companion should stay with you. Thank you for allowing me to hold him, though. It was quite nice.

[katzenpfote]

[There's something tugging in the back of his brain, something he can't quite remember... ah, it must be nothing.]

[He takes Frumpkin back, the cat scarfing around his neck.]

You're quite welcome. ... You can visit him any time if you want. He doesn't mind most people.

Mrow!

[higanbana]

"Most." Ehehe, is he an evil-detecting fae kitty?

[katzenpfote]

No, just a good judge of people. Better than me, sometimes.

[higanbana]

[...]

Well, in the end, is that not the same thing?

[She's a little gentler with that, at least.]

[katzenpfote]

... It depends on your perspective. But he is... good. He is a very good cat. Helpful for many things, ja.

[higanbana]

Ehehe. I can imagine.

I am glad you have him by your side. He seems an invaluable ally.

[katzenpfote]

He is. I miss being able to see through his eyes, but just his presence makes things better.

[higanbana]

[Through his eyes?]

One of your magic spells?

[katzenpfote]

Part of our connection as wizard and familiar. We can communicate telepathically within a certain distance, and I can see out of his eyes wherever he goes.

But it does not work here.

Rrow.

[Scritch scritch.]

[higanbana]

Ah, I see... there is much to magic I have not even considered.

Well, some comfort is better than none. I suppose we must take what we can, given our circumstances.