I’m Done Putting Out The Fires You Start

The day was almost half over, or Marrah suspected it was. It was hard to tell with the thick cloud cover in this strange place that she had stumbled into. It was like a twisted maze of stones and trees, and though she had been wandering for hours it felt like she had no idea where she was. Surprisingly she didn’t mind. It was not as if her life had much direction these days, why not spend her time wandering around aimlessly?

The only thing that spooked her was a rustling sound, one that sounded eerily alien, nothing like she had ever experienced. Creeping around the next corner, ears pressed backwards in concern, amber eyes flit around restlessly. Her body froze when they landed on a strangely shiny, silver, half crumpled object caught in one of the cedarwood trees. It floated in the trees, scraping against the branches listlessly, taunting her.

She felt sorry for it, and scared of it. But she felt like she couldn’t leave whatever it was alone here either. It reminded her of herself somehow, and not just because she could see her distorted reflection in its foil.

When The Cranberry Vodkas Hit A Little Too Hard

I’m Done Putting Out The Fires You Start

The Maceio-Tainn teen was so wrapped up in staring at the rustling thing in the tree that she was taken by surprise when someone else joined her. She wasn’t even sure how long that he had been standing there, only realizing when the wind shifted and his scent was suddenly strong. Ears flipped backwards in surprise and Marrah sidestepped so she could see the man in her peripheral vision. But, he seemed to just be staring at the object too, with a sense of unease in the air.

Normally she would have just found a way to quietly slink away and not interact. But, she was so oddly intrigued by what she didn’t know was a balloon that she couldn’t help herself, ”Any idea what it is?” Surely it wasn’t alive, it didn’t really have a smell and didn’t move in a way that she expected from something that lived. Still, it did move, and it didn't look like a plant either. So what did that make it? She had no way of knowing that it was man made, or even what a man was and that they could make things. It was a relic from an unknown world come down to interrupt theirs.

When The Cranberry Vodkas Hit A Little Too Hard

I’m Back Between Villages

Marrah had been so distracted by the way that the silver shiny thing was moving that she did not even realize the wretched sound it was making until the man pointed it out. Curling her lip unhappily at the realization, she nodded once, ”It’s not the best.” And just like every time a sound gets pointed out to you that was previously just background noise, it was suddenly all that the yearling could hear. It made her want to cover her ears.

Almost out of exasperation she asked the stranger, ”Do you think we should get it down? At least so it will be quiet?” It was all she could think to do, and she turned to the clearly older man for his opinion. Partially because she wasn’t used to taking charge of things on her own, and partially because she really didn’t feel all that comfortable going near it.

The teen chewed on her lip thoughtfully for a moment, waiting for a response for the man before awkwardly adding, ”It kind of freaks me out a little.” Marrah was aware that she was being awkward, but standing here silently seemed even worse. Being a loner had not been good for her already awkward personality.

And Everything’s Still

I’m Back Between Villages

Marrah’s ears flicked backwards against his skill when he pointed out the obvious. She did not have a way to get up and back at all, let alone do it safely, so instead she just shook her head sadly. With her ears pressed against her skull it didn’t seem quite so bad and so she resigned herself that this was just not a good place to be.

Taking a step or two backwards she offered instead, ”Maybe we should just leave it alone, whatever it is.” If it were alive, which she had her doubts about it was obviously dying or else it wouldn’t sound like that. While an animal dying was normally meant for celebration as it meant dinner for the wolf, she had zero interest in eating the weird smelling, shiny thing that rattled on along the cedarwood twigs.

She had been just turning to leave when the sound suddenly changed. It sounded like tearing, and then a weird kind of pop, followed by a dull hissing. Hair along her spine stood up in fear, whites of her eyes showing as the silver creature began to descend down towards the earth. Now she really wanted nothing to do with it, tail tucked against her back legs.

And Everything’s Still

I’m Back Between Villages

Marrah was terrified, every single nerve was on fire as she stared at the silver thing floating down towards the ground. She was so focused she did not even register the man coming towards her until he had given her the gentle shove. It was not hard, but it had been so long since she had been touched and tension was already extremely high. It felt like fire rippled away from the shoulder that he had bumped.

Unexpectedly, the yearling let out a snarl that took even her by surprise. Dropping her ears and tail again, Marrah whimpered miserably before turning and running as far and fast as she could. She didn’t even look back to see if the man was okay or if the silver thing was pursuing. She just had to get out of there.

And Everything’s Still