The next few chapters are brought to you courtesy of Twallan's new mod The Traveler, which allows travel to any installed world.
I can't believe I actually did this. But, here I am, in what I'm quite positive is the site of 'Misty Waters', the place described in the oldest of my three journals. Of course, the settlement called 'Misty Waters' has disappeared in antiquity - the village is now called Hidden Springs, and to my chagrin, appears to be a carbon copy of every other little resort town in the world. How am I going to find any evidence of Misty Waters under all this commercialization?
I guess it can't hurt to check the records at the town hall. The clerk there was quite pleasant, but insisted she had no records before the founding of the resort town, less than a hundred years ago.
I was turning to leave in defeat, when she called after me.
"You might try asking around in Old Town. The natives there like to keep to themselves, though. They don't take too kindly to strangers."
I beat a hasty retreat from the town hall, hopped into my rental car, and headed down the highway. Soon I was cruising along under cool overhanging pines, leaving the town proper behind. An old stone sign at the intersection of a dusty dirt road marked the entrance to Old Town.
The first building I spotted was, of all things, a museum! There had to be some clues here as to the area's history. Sadly, there were none. It was a museum of natural history, and while the animal exhibits were interesting, they were not what I was looking for. I was standing there, staring aimlessly off into space, wondering what I should do next, when I was interrupted by an odd-looking gentleman.
"Excuse me, I'm the curator here. You look a little lost. Can I help you?"
'Um.. well... I don't know. I'm looking for information on the history of the area? Ancient ruins, artifacts, that sort of thing?"
"No, nothing like that around here, I assure you."
He paused, smiling, and I suddenly realized I was staring. He had the most unusual olive tinted complexion, and his hair - it wasn't quite as green as my own, but still, I'd never seen hair even close to mine anywhere but Riverview.
"Is there anything else I can help you with, young man?" he asked impatiently.
"Uh.. are you sure? I mean, is there anyone else that might know?"
"Know?" He barked sharply. "Know what?"
"Umm.. about the ruins?"
"Oh that." He replied dismissively. "Definitely not. Nope. No one."
"Okay," I mumbled resignedly. Such an odd man, I thought again to myself.
I did have the foresight to ask the curator if he knew of a good place to stay, as I didn't really feel comfortable staying at the resort in town. It so happened that he had a small cabin for rent, just around the corner from the museum. As soon as I saw it, I knew it would be perfect. I shook my new landlord's hand firmly, and boldly signed the six month lease.
I grinned as I walked through the door of my new home away from home. I loved the rough log walls and the slight smell of pine. I plopped down on the threadbare couch and sighed contentedly. Tomorrow my real work would begin. I didn't quite believe that no one knew anything about the history of the area. I would just have to dig deeper.
To my surprise, Louis Swete, my new landlord, followed me in, and sat down next to me.
So, young man, you mind telling me what really brings you here to Old Town?"
Everyone tells me how impassioned I get when I talk about my favorite subject, and this time was no different. Maybe I should have been more circumspect, but he seemed like a harmless old guy, and he was a good listener.
"Hmm.." I sat there staring for what seemed to be an eternity, while he appeared deep in thought.
"Hmm.. perhaps you should talk to Emmaline... Yes.. I'll tell her to expect you tomorrow afternoon."
The next morning I woke with nothing to do but explore, until my afternoon appointment. I wandered slowly down the narrow dirt road, just taking in the beauty of the mountains, until I found myself in a small wooded park. Immediately I noticed a girl, sitting despondently on a worn blanket, two small kittens scrambling playfully in and out of her lap.
When she saw me, she brightened a bit.
"Hey Mister! Come over here a minute!"
I hesitantly stepped closer, then stopped abruptly. I could hardly believe my eyes. She had to be the most beautiful creature I had ever laid eyes on. She also had to be no more than sixteen.
I would have turned and run right then, but she quickly closed the distance between us, and begged in the most pitiful voice imaginable, "Hey mister, you look like a nice guy. Do you want a kitten? Please? My granny says I can't keep them both, we have too many at home already."
"A.. a kitten? Me?" I was having hard time wrapping my mind around the idea.
"Please? At least come and look at them?" I couldn't resist the tears in her eyes. I reluctantly agreed to check out the kittens.
"You won't be sorry, I promise!" Her face lit up with the cutest smile.
Argh! Stop it, Cy. Just look at the kittens and leave, I thought to myself.
"Why me, though?" I asked again. It was a legitimate question. She obviously cared a great deal for those kittens. Why would she want to give one to a complete stranger?
She smiled knowingly. "Oh, I can always tell. I have a gift you know. My granny says so. Besides, who knows, you could be a long lost relative. I've never seen anyone with green hair before. Besides me. And my Uncle Louis. And cousin Emmaline. What's your name, anyway?
"Uh.. Cypress.. Greenbow." My head was spinning.
"Hi, Cypress. I'm Star. Now, which one do you want?"
"The black and white one is a girl. Her name is Pixie. The grey tabby's name is Magic. He's a little boy. So, what do you think? Who do you like best?" Star asked. She bit her lip nervously when I bent down to pet Pixie.
I could tell right off that Pixie was Star's favorite, so of course I chose Magic.
"Take good care of him, Cy. Goodbye little Magic. You be good for Cy now." The little tabby mewed almost as if he understood her. "Come on Pixie, Granny's waiting for us."
With that, she took off running. I stood there watching until she disappeared from view down the dirt road. It still hardly registered that I was now the proud owner of one tiny grey kitten.
Star had given me directions to the local pet supply store, so Magic and I walked the short distance from the park, to pick up some necessities.
"Let's see, I need a food dish, and a bag of food, and a litter box. What else would you recommend for this little guy?"
The clerk suggested a scratching post, so I ordered the best one they had - the triple decker.
I glanced over and saw Magic making himself at home in a giant turtle shell hideaway.
"Mmm.. I'll take one of those hidey things too."
When we arrived back at the cabin, I set the bag of cat food on the kitchen table and unloaded all my new supplies. As I unpacked them, I realized I had forgotten one essential thing - toys. I tore a page from yesterday's newspaper and crumpled it in a ball.
"Here you go, little guy! Get it!"
I playfully pushed the improvised ball toward Magic.
I laughed as he reared back fiercely and attacked it with his tiny paws.
After filling his bowl, and assembling the kitty condo, I patted him on the head.
"Be good while I'm gone. I have to go talk to Emmaline."
My heart pounded excitedly as I knocked on the door of Emmaline's cabin. I hoped she would be able to answer at least some of my questions. My face fell when she met me at the door. She had the same olive skin as Louis and Star, only her hair was darker - almost black, with a few green highlights showing through. But the expression on her face was sour. She obviously was not happy to see me.
"Who are you and what do you want?" she asked, annoyance emanating from every pore.
I was taken aback at her greeting. Had Louis not informed her I was coming?
"Um.. well.. I..." I nervously tried to form my thoughts.
"Spit it out already, I haven't got all day!"
"Uh.. okay.. did Louis tell you I was coming?"
This seemed to tick her off even more than before.
"Louis." She almost spat the name. "He had no right. Who does he thing he is, bringing in an outsider?"
"Wait, wait.." I exclaimed, trying to calm her down. "Will you at least let me explain?"
"I do not wish to hear any explanations of yours. Begone! And don't you show your face at my house again!"
She came at my, arms flailing, and I prudently backed up out the front door, as fast as I could.
"Okay, okay... I'm going. Sorry to have bothered you....."
Once back in my own cabin, I frowned in frustration. Why was everyone in Old Town so leery of strangers? And how was I supposed to finish my research if no one would talk to me?
No comments:
Post a Comment