Autumnal The Hollow Harvest

[jahdeen]

The bobbling flames came out from the stalks, two of them dancing around Echo and Sea, ushering them to their feet. "This way. This way."

"Yes, yes, this way."

Both flames danced around them once more before pulling open some stalks that opened another path. "This way." One giggled.

Are you ready? Came the whisper again, more amused. Continue if you dare.

The flames giggled.

Echo bristled unsteadily at the voices. He watched the little sparks sway and flutter, both transfixed by their motions and unnerved by their enthusiasm. Trust was already a fickle thing to him, and these faeries sounded more mischievous than trustworthy. The laughing, too, did nothing to ease his suspicion. What could possibly be so entertaining?

He leaned to his side to murmur to Amphi, intending to advise caution--

Amphitrite looked over at Echo. "You coming...? They might lead you to, well, whomever it is that you are looking for." She asked with a tilt of her head before stepping closer to the flames.

Echo opened his mouth to protest, but no sound emerged. Careless as she might be, the legged mermaid had a point. Realistically, Aisha probably wouldn't be in this corn maze in the first place--there was no sign of lightning or someone tripping with a yelp--but if there was indeed a way out, he could make his way back to Akardan sooner than later. Really, following these fire spirits would yield no different outcome than Echo following a random path on his own blind volition. Besides... fire was always his friend.

He chewed his lip, then exhaled. "Lead on," he conceded, giving Amphi a nod. "Just keep your wits about you."

 

[Flex]

Flex lifted one side of his confident brow as crows cawed in one direction. Then the other side lifted, equally as confident as he heard voices in the distance.

The singing had reached his ears far earlier, and now some unfortunate soul seemed to have collided with the screeching siren. Truly, she sounded like a wounded animal making its final plea to the gods.

He let out a soft stoic laugh.

One glance at the sky had him redoubling his efforts on completing this maze. It was night and his bedtime was 8pm.

Choosing the path untouched

Flex’s eyes closed, his nose lifting as if he could scent the beautiful voice that crept over his skin.

How curious.

He loosed an unconcerned breath. Curiosity killed the cat. But, nothing was said for a man with that dawg in him.

A growl came from somewhere that sent chills up his spine.

He liked that.

Flex gave a playful growl in response.

What will be left to walk it when you are gone?

An incredulous laugh escaped him. “I think I’m only interested in you, darling. To hell with whatever comes behind me.”

The voice cackled as the stalks shuddered around Flex. They felt weighted, heavy, as if turning to stone while still firmly being stalks. The more one pushed, the heavier they became.

Something shifted. Something intangible, yet—the stalks felt denser, heavier. Convenient, he thought. This voice of a goddess didn’t deserve him at his worst.

Deflated.

His last work out having occurred nearly half a day ago. She deserved him with a fresh pump and the stalks had changed their weight so he could appease this creature. Without a moment’s hesitation he began to perform rows with perfect form, his eyes concentrated on the peak of his biceps with each pull. He spoke to his muscles praising them when they succeeded, and commanding better when their strength faulted.

Set after set was conducted. Minutes turned to long moments, and a full workout later he realized that a path had opened.

He smirked, proud of himself, head nodding because he knew the goddess had watched. Perhaps she was the only being more impressed than he was with what he’d just accomplished in the maze.

Do you trust the little flame?

She was summoning him. He knew it in his heart. It wasn’t the flame he saw which she spoke of, but rather the flame of his desire that had begun to burn for her.

“Oh, love. I’m ready to be consumed by it.”

So, Flex ran down the path. Sprinted. Blindly headed towards that flame, towards her, the thing that made his blood rush.

He had never known love until now.

For what was love, if not something that made his heart race—faster than any double scoop of pre-workout.

 

[Crenna]

Either they set the fields up precisely next to each other without overlapping, or it isn't magnetism... Considering that she wasn't sure if the former was even possible, not to mention the fact that she felt that she was already lost, she sighed and, after looking down the other two paths, decided to continue following in the direction of the compass. Actually, she thought after a moment, I'm not lost. All I have to do is go 'South' to retrace my steps. At least, so long as the maze itself wasn't magically shifting around her, which she wouldn't be surprised if that were the case.

The First

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As you follow the compass, you soon start to feel eyes on you. Not hostile. You do not feel in danger or threatened. Just followed. Yet you do not hear or see anything. The best you see is a shadow in the stalks. BUt that could just be a trick of the light on your eyes. Your Neko senses are not helpful either. So all you can do is continue walking.

The compass leads you from path to path yet you always feel like you are going forward even if each intersection does not make sense. However, you finally come to a dead end yet the compass still points forward, directly into the corn stalks. Which as you recall is against the rules to enter.

"I'm surprised you followed the compass this entire time. Lots of people who are gifted it abandon it as broken and stop half way through to forge their own path."

Behind you sits a black housecat, its yellow eyes staring into yours. It almost looks out of place in the corn, sitting on the muddy path without a care in the world. It licks a paw and begins to wash its face. "I sensed that one of my own had come into the maze. And to be bestowed the compass. Whatever you did to impress the Mistresses must of worked. They do not give that compass to anyone." It flashes a tooth at your in a cheshire grin, "Though I suppose curiosity kills the cat." It looks past you, "So, what will you do sister? Enter the stalks to follow the compass or head back the way you came?"