[Garden of No Return] On the Hedge of Sanity (Bones & Miro)

[Fallacy]

The Garden of No Return has long been the site for adventure and for the more daring who actually step into the maze it might prove to be a challenge to even the most skilled warriors. That is not to say the warriors skills are lacking rather than they just don’t have the right kind of skills. Those who get lost in this maze usually take days to get out if common sense is not used to the fullest, but it is said that those who know of flora have an edge in this hedge maze. The red flower bloom will mark the way out and the way in. This garden, although beautiful in many ways, may have a couple of secrets to share to those willing to accept their fate. Although playful the garden hardly ever claims lives. Its vines, moving passageways, and numerous fruit bearing trees alongside fountains of water keep the lost souls alive…

Whispers of such a place, both wonderful and foreboding, were mentioned many times to Miro when Kinneas would tell him stories of Alvadas. The Garden of No Return just being a bed time story told to the kid when his elder did not want him wandering off. One such story, one of questionable occurrence, told of a child, one of Miros age to be exact, running off into the maze when his guardian told him to go no further. Of course, the boy being the curious adventurer and thinking that he can handle himself, not exactly Kinneas’ words but this is how the story went. Anyways, the boy ran off deep into the garden thinking that he could handle himself. He thought that he would prove to his guardian just how capable he is, and he saw surviving the garden as the ultimate test. Needless to say, when Kinneas got tired of describing the challenges the kid went through all because he thought that he didn’t need the other he would end the story abruptly with the child never making it out, or never being found again. Something along those lines; Miro had heard the story too many times and each time seemed to have a different ending if he was paying attention.

To others the garden would have a majestic feel to it, maybe to a snake it would feel almost like home with the vines, trees, and the hedges… Well, the walls made of hedge would seem out of place but the canopy of treetops would not. In the ever shifting maze there would be sense of home, the trees reminding of the jungles of the south, but although not quite. They were different in their own way, as was all of Alvadas. It was unique and seemed always out of place, or to those more open it could seem like it appears just at the right moment, maybe when one is striving, actively looking, for adventure? Perhaps the city has an odd way of knowing what the people want, and perhaps it plays a key role, the puppeteer of the people in Alvadas, of the meeting of two people? Whatever the case may be it would seem that both Miro and Bones were drawn to the spot.

Though both stumbling upon this grand place, the entrance seems almost too welcoming, they would end up at different, if not totally opposite, entrance points. If they would stop to observe the scenery around them they would be greeted by walls of tall, green hedges that appeared to expand out in both directions as far as the eye could see. Of course, it really wasn’t that big, but it was rather another tick of the city, another illusion of the maze, and another warning to those who might be reading into this. If the place was as big as it seemed, why would someone go in there and expect to get out? Whatever their reasons for entering the maze the wind would cheer them on, playfully blowing at their backs. The maze was welcoming them in. Taking their first steps past the boundaries of green, and into the maze, it would shift, a slight trembling in the ground could be felt as this happened, but if they would look back the entrance would still be there as if patiently waiting for them to go further in before the door is shut.

[Ssafirsotibones]

22 Summer 511 Today was just an ordinary day... The city of Alvadas always led Bones around, and he did his best to listen, to not fight it... To go were it wanted... And so he found himself at a large entrance to a hedge maze. He had heard some tales of the place, and that those such as himself who knew of plants were better off... And he did know some basics of plants, having a bit of skill in herbalism... Though he would not be in a hurry to leave. Even if he could quickly find the way out, the city surely had led him here for a reason... And so he would go on, following it were it took him, long after he could have left. That was just in his nature. He had been around long enough to know not to fight the land, to simply let it do as it wished. And by doing so, he was usually better off than if he had fought it. Just last week, he had been walked into a hole full of freshly dead rats. He supposed most might have found that gross or disgusting, but he just found it to be lunch. So yes in a way the city provided for him, and kept care of him. It knew that he respected it, and took in the illusions as they were meant to be. And so he walked in without flinching, entering the maze of hedges. As he entered he felt the entire area shift, as he or the ground moved about as it pleased. It did give him a bit of an off feeling in his stomach as he was moved. He looked back, and saw the exit was still right behind him. But he had not come to leave so quickly. And so he moved off, walking down the long seemingly endless passageway. He did notice an odd taste on the air, as he darted his tongue out... A flower... He was not sure what... But it had quite the strong smell... He was pretty sure he had smelled it before... But he could not quite put his finger on it... But he would remember if he smelled it again. And it did not take long, there he walked again, tasting that same scent upon the air... It was almost regular, like the scent was spaced out? How odd, surely that could not just be by chance? He would mull it over slowly, and maybe he would eventually puzzle his way through it. For know he was content to simply enjoy nature, and to experience the life around him.

[Miro]

Miro had found himself, as usual wandering aimlessly. He decided to leave all of his possessions apart from the clothes on his back behind with any responsibility he might hold. Today seemed to be the perfect day to cause some grief for Kinneas and the gods seemed to aid his cause. While whistling and wandering with his hands behind his head he found himself just where one might hope to get lost. If Kinneas had known he were going into this forsaken maze, he would kill him before he had the chance to get lost. But he wouldn't know until it was all over. Walking through this place would not only prove that he was independent, but that for as long as he is treated like a child, he will act like one.

Nonchalantly wandering with a cocky smile, head tilted back, he just walked. No aim nor purpose in his step, walking for the sake of walking. He didn't know, perhaps it was to try to get lost, or maybe he felt that Kinneas had just said these things to scare him. Whatever the case he didn't care even the slightest. The journey would be satisfying, not for the excitement, nor the beauty of this place...but the fact that he would do what he wanted because he felt like it.

He felt on top of the world. He would turn a corner without hesitating nor stopping, expecting not to run into any sort of stop. The feeling of being lucky and independent intoxicated him, he felt unstoppable. It reminded him of his mothers warning of overgiving. The thought made him chuckle. These 'sweet whispers' were exactly as the name implied, sweet. Smelling the air he stopped in his tracks and let out a pleased sigh. He almost felt like just laying where he was and staring up at the sky, to take in the moment and bask in it for as long as possible. Instead, he decided to keep trotting on at a sluggish pace and enjoy the scenery. No looking back, no way out but through.

[Fallacy]

The garden seemed all too delighted to have two new visitors within its grasp, and with its excitement came a shudder. This shudder would be in the form of a breeze sweeping through the place, and the noise of rustling bushes, branching snapping, and trees swaying. The place seemed to come to life and wake up more and more as the two ventured into its depths. It would be as if each footstep, every little amount of force applied to the ground, acted as a slight nudge in waking the place up. Though if it was in a good mood or not was yet to be seen because as of yet the garden seemed to be in the awkward stage of waking up when ones mind was still clouded by the realm of dreams and the conflicting information of reality.

In Alvadas it would be wise to assume that nothing is ever by chance, and even when something does happen by chance then the event itself has a much deeper purpose than what can be revealed by thinking back on it. The events of the city would seem random, but in the long run they all make logical sense, or in the unreality that illusion existed in chaos and order was the same thing and the concepts should be accepted as such. Opposites were not so opposite, and the law of attraction rules, ones thoughts will become reality even if they didn’t know they were thinking such things.

The city has a complex way of running things, a complex way of ushering people around, having a bit of fun with them and then spitting back out to the place where they were supposed to go. It was mysterious, and in this situation one would have to wonder; if the city always lead people where they needed to go most then is the Garden of No Return just a way of playing with them or possibly it is the destination? What if it was neither and the journey itself has no real value? Then again, in the eyes of illusion everything was distorted to something it was not and the truth is covered in questions that must be answered until the truth is clear, and even then sometimes it still is not clear.

As Bones would travel further in the smells, if he would taste the air, would change. The strange scent of the flower at the entrance seemed to collide and mix and meld with the other entire flora about, and even the trees. They all had smells specific to them, and as if the maze did not want the snake to leave too soon it would playfully poke at his sense of smell by bombarding it with much information. The illusion seeming to give the smells even more of an overpowering odor, there was nothing wrong with stopping to smell the roses, right?

When the snake would continue to walk he would be confronted with a crossroad. One path was lined with purple flowers that seemed to come out of the hedges. The flowers would smell like peaches and they looked inviting enough. Another path was darkened by a canopy of trees, the branches outreaching forming a grand walkway as it seemed to go on for quite some way, but just how far could not be perceived as the shadows that light cast eventually would stop his vision down the path. The last path was more plain, green hedges just there, and it too seemed inviting, but not exciting; though as to make up for the lack of excitement a small, dull, roar of water could be heard in that direction.

Hopefully enjoying the scenery Miro would walk observing the small flowers that did not seem to be there before, and trees that just seemed to be, and then not. It would be obvious to one who knew the nature of this place to see that it was shifting, and shifting rather fast as well. As he would walk the boy would remember in a bit more detail the stories that Kinne told him about the shifting gardens. The boy ever so right with himself walks in and soon gets turned around and lost… Then he would remember too that at first the boy would marvel at what was happening, at the flowers and the numerous other things that presented themselves to him, but eventually it all ended with him getting lost. If he thought about it Kinne had many twists and variations of the same tale that he used to tell him. In one such story…

All thought and reminisce would be cut off as Miro would hear the most lovely sound, a single voice that seemed to resonate through the hedges themselves. Something was calling him, and it seemed to direct him, lead him, through the maze, and as he walked he could hear the shifting of things behind him telling him that his only exit was cut off.

If he were to follow the singing he would come across an opening, a courtyard of sorts with a fountain in the middle spewing water in a grand display. The enchanting voice would stop, and upon further investigation of the area would provide it was a smaller space with just a fountain and a couple of benches to rest at. The fountain itself was simple in design, a simple dish, round and edgeless, made of a white stone, and from the middle came a spurt of water that seemed to constantly be flowing, but the fountain never overflowed.

Next to the fountain sat a black cat, its tail waving happily as its emerald green eyes watched Miro curiously.

[Ssafirsotibones]

As Bones calmly walked along, he smelled at the different flowers, trying to pick one apart from the other. So he was caught a bit off guard as the scent suddenly increased in power and potency. He had his tongue darting out, to taste at the air, just as it happened. He pulled it back in without thinking, and his eyes watered for a few moments at the intense smell rising and swirling into a crazy mix that could not be broken apart. Eventually it leveled out, and left with one overpowering concoction... This proved once more to Bones that the city was alive, and reacted to what they did... Not that it really changed anything for him, he had long been sure that that was true... To many things happened here for them to be considered just coincidences... So Bones went on, not worrying about this, simply walking on to see where it took him. And eventually he came to a crossroads. He noticed the first one, a path with purple flowers, which smelled like a fruit... However it looked like it was heading to back outside... Surely it did not want him to leave so soon? No, that was not the way he was meant to go... Next was a dull green path, which seemed to just go on with nothing... Though the sound of water could be heard from that direction... But he was not really thirsty... Maybe the next one? The other one he looked at... Was a bit darker.... It had a canopy of trees going overhead, casting a nice shade... It reminded him a bit of home... Of the forest were he had spent so much time... It formed a long walkway, which ended far past what he could see with his eyes... That one, the dark canopy, it seemed the most inviting to his thoughts... So he chose that direction, following it along to were it might lead... Though for all he knew his decision might not even matter. But sometimes it was just nice to seem to have a sense of control over what was going on around you. Some humans needed that, would go crazy without it... But Bones.. He did not really care... He was not like those illogical humans... He would go were it would take him... After all, it would not kill him, that would be to easy, to dull... Where would the fun be in that for the city? And besides, the journey was the fun part of the story... Not the destination... For he knew... The destination truly was the same for everyone, regardless of the route they took... But ah what a journey it could be...

[Miro]

As Miro walked through the maze he found it wanted to play a game with him. The scenery was changing constantly, just as he was warned it would. The speed and intensity of the changes surprised him though. He wondered if he could keep up with the changes. He picked up pace, starting to feel a bit panicked, like the was urgency around him.

He was nearly running now, for some reason he felt worried, like maybe this wasn't such a good idea. His thoughts were cut short by something, he stopped trying to figure out what it could be. It was a voice, a beautiful voice that resonated into his soul. He started walking again, a steady brisk pace, doing his best to follow it. He could feel he was getting closer, and there was a new sound. He walked into a clearing, a small courtyard with an amazing fountain stood before him. It was a marvelous sight. And...what is this? A KITTY! Miro ran up to the small creature and took it into his arms. He sat on the bench near the edge of the fountain and stroked the small creatures back gently. "Do you want to be my friend little guy? I think i might take you home with me. Kinneas wont mind! You can snuggle with me and ill teach you all sorts of cool tricks!" He continued to pet the creature gently, forgetting about the garden that surrounded him. This place was enjoyable and he was not eager to get thrust back into the diabolical garden that waited for him.

[Fallacy]

As Ssafirsotibones would choose the darker, more jungle-like of the paths the maze would shift, the ground would shake slightly as if the maze itself was calculating what it would do next from the choice the snake man took. If he would look behind him he would see that the other two choices presented to him would be gone, green hedges in their place, and it would seem that forest path got darker, as if more leaves were present further blocking out the light.

With each step the place grew darker and darker and the plants shifted from pleasant flowers to vines covering the hedges. The vines grew thicker and ticker and seemed to spread up the trees and even started to cover the ground. The lattice of vine wasn’t the only thing that changed, but something didn’t sit right in the air. A perfume of unknown origin filled the air as the snake walked deeper and deeper into the darkness. It was a welcoming scent, one that called to him, and that invited him to come even further in.

Following the path and its many twists and turns one could easily get turned around what direction they were headed, and the smell did not help one bit. Soon though the vine floor would get even thicker, the plants making footing hard found...

There was a story that Kinneas had told Miro about the city being able to do anything and have anyone. It could guide and test your mantle, your worth to yourself, but more importantly to the city. It has been rumored that city is alive and so is everything in it; that it enjoys expressing itself in multiple ways and to those who are more open to illusion, who can figure illusion, who can connect to the city, well those are truly blessed, and they find within the maze something others do not.

The story followed two girls, who open to illusion have gained the ability to communicate with the city. They were connected, so to say, and their powers were only rivaled to those of the city and of Ionu itself. They were the dubbed the Witches of the Wrong Way, for they appear to those who have gotten lost and need to be found again.

Soon after some walking, braving the vines, they would seem to thin out to a more steady place. Bones would find himself in an open area, stone marking the floor and vines skirting the boundaries of the area. In the center of the square place stood a stone table, with stone chairs, the table long and sturdy, can easily fit twenty four people, and the chairs backs seemed to tower above the heads of those who sat at them. Food of all sorts was placed on the table, steam rising from the cooked things, one could tell it was quite a feast but also it just got done cooking. At the head of the table sat a woman, black hair running down her back, and donning a red dress made from an elegant fabric, perhaps silk? The light seemed to almost reflect off of her as she sat looking so out of place at the stone table.

A smile pursed her lips as she noticed Bones coming into the clearing, trees surrounding them, and vines ever present. With a quick gesture she waved to him almost playfully, inviting him over to the table. The lost always need fed, and sometimes in more ways than one.

Though not all stories are true, some are rumors, wild tales spun out of bored minds with nothing else to do but daydream. Not all stories are true, but in Alvadas there was something to be said about the reality of the illusion there. Alvadas, a place where the mind can be free and anything can happen, if you are blessed that is. Others see the city as a hopping madhouse, a place where trade thrives and the crazies go to get even more so. In Alvadas is Illusion reality, or is reality just an illusion?

Having no time to respond before the boy on top of her, the cat couldn’t get away as it was scooped up into Miros arms. The cat tried to struggle a bit against the kids grasp but it was too much and soon they found themselves sitting on a bench; a hand stroking her she couldn’t help but let out a light purr and nuzzle her head into the kids hand.

As the cat was doing that a strange thought would enter Miros head one that was encouraging and told him that he was nice. Does a person usually think themselves nice? Though it would not stop there as he could see in his minds eye a quick flash of an image of the cat being petted even more, and soon he would even start to feel happy. There was nothing like sharing happiness, is there?

Looking up at him, emerald eyes locking onto his, another thought would enter his mind, a weirder one, a stranger one. In his own voice he would hear ”My name is Mally” The cats tail would flick playfully brushing up against Miros hand as they sat there on the bench.

[Ssafirsotibones]

As expected, once more the maze shifted around him, and Bonies walked deeper into it. Who knew what laid in store for him... What mysteries or anything really... Perhaps he would know soon... But could he truly trust anything he were to sense? It was hard to know in Alvadas. As he traveled, he noticed the vines spreading to cover more and more... And as he darted out his tongue... A odd scent... That was both delightful and enchanting.... Perhaps it was not real... Or maybe some type of magical fragrance that could even befuddle your mind.... But there was no way to know. And he had a feeling the city would not just poison him, that would be far to boring, and the city seemed to crave intrigue and excitement, and interaction... For it must be pretty boring to be a giant city, not being able to go anywhere... And so it let people in, and played with them, keeping them intrigued, and pulling them in till they did not want to go... Shaking his head, Bones tried to clear his thoughts to concentrate on the path before him, and to not get so lost in philosophical thoughts. Though once he got started, his mind seemed to race off on its own. Suddenly, he realized that the ground was clearing out before him, and widening into a large clearing, with much stone on the ground. And right in the middle sat a large stone table, with stone chairs. Bones saw food all over the table, and gave a small look of displeasure at it. There was quite a good bit there, but someone had gone and ruined it all by cooking it! Who would do such a thing? Surely it was a human, who thought food must be cooked and seasoned and altered. He would choose some raw meat, or even some freshly killed animals, any day over such things as this. Though on occasion he did have to settle for meat prepared by humans... Though he hated the way it tasted as it went down.... But in a city of humans, one had to settle at times for the local cuisine. Though he did not eat plants, his stomach simply could not, it got no value from it. If he had to eat plants, he would simply spit them back out later... Which was one skill he had gained from being a snake. He would have to check if there was any uncooked things on the table, and if there was meat. Not that stuff humans like... Human food... Food for prey... Not a predator... Seeing a woman, he walked over and joined her at the table. She seemed rather attractive, though a bit out of place... He would look her over, and meet her eyes, speaking in his slow sibilant speech. "Hello.... I am Ssafirsotibones... It isss a pleasssure to meet you.... And you are?" It was a bit odd... He was rather at ease... And he did not usually tell people his full name, usually just saying the part that humans called him by... Bones... But he felt he could trust the woman with his name.... But who was she? And was she even real? What was real? What made things real?

[Miro]

Miro delighted in the attention from the soft affectionate cat. Suddenly a thought came into his mind. "I'm...nice? I suppose what he was doing was nice, but he did not intend it to be so. Such a strange stray thought." He suddenly though of the cat, a sudden image. Petting it more and more. He started to affectionately stoke the cat firmly. As the cat purred louder, Miro started to feel quite happy himself. He thought of nothing but petting this small friend. He looked down, catching the cats gaze, when suddenly, another strange thought appeared in his mind. "My name is Mally" [/b]"It is?[/b] Miro found himself saying out loud. He wasn't sure whether he was questioning if he thought his name was, or if perhaps somebody had said it to him. He sat and looked down puzzled at the cat that continued to nuzzle his hand. "Is, this cat? Could it be? M...Mally?" He looked down puzzled at the creature.

[Fallacy]

There would be an awkward silence as Bones introduced himself to the woman and joined her at the table. Surely there was nothing wrong with this but she just looked at him funny as if she expected him to turn the other way as she waved to him. Strange, but there existed much stranger things in Alvadas than the blank stare she was now giving the snake-man. His accent giving away his race and she nodded at him after a minute, a slight pause to her, ”Welcome Ssafirsotibones. It’s a pleasure to meet you as well.” her voice was soft and held an elegance about it that made her words seem surreal. Was it hypnotism? No, it was a natural quality that the gods gifted her with. Another thing that would stick out is that she pronounced Bones name just like he had said it. Was she taking her time to get the accent down?

”Are you lost in this place as well?” she asked ignoring the question of her name completely, ”If you have some time why don’t you keep me a little company?” she asked her elbows placed on the tables as her hands supported her head as she leaned over to get a better look at him, ”Its awfully lonely wandering by yourself, don’t you think so?” she asked yet another question, a grin spreading over face as if she were already enjoying the company.

With that she would pick up her knife and sit back in her seat, but then she got up. Standing she looked over Bones again and smiled, ”You really are not one for cooked food are you?” she asked taking a step towards him, ”You like things more…” she paused, ”Raw.” she finished. ”Tell me, can you eat fruit?” she asked stepping towards a vine that wrapped itself around a tree near the edge of the opening. ”You think you can reach that?” she asked pointing up to the tippy top of the tree where it seemed an apple had grown. The apple itself had a golden appearance and looked quite comfy high up in the tree…

The cat continued to purr and rub against the hand petting it as she looked up at Miro before jumping off his lap and to the ground. Purring some more it began to walk away and towards the fountain where Miro had found the cat. Getting low to the ground the cat prepared itself for a jump and in one swift and almost elegant movement the cat landed on the edge of the fountain. With that it perched on the edge of the fountain and looked down into it, tail flicking behind it as it did the cats eyes and full attention seemed to be on whatever was in the fountain.

If Miro would look in the fountain he would see, at first, nothing, but then slowly the water would ripple and then he would see two fish swimming in it, one pink and the other red. Their scales reflected the light that the water failed to. If he would observe they would seem to be swimming in a pattern, a figure eight. Pink and red, pink and red, pink and red, pink and red swimming in a figure eight, faster and faster until it looked like they were not fish at all but streams of color flowing together.

It was then that Miro would feel a pair of arms around, wrapped around him and pulling him into an embrace, ”You are very nice” a voice whispered into his ear as the arms more firmly hugged him to the person. If Miro would look or try to move he would notice that it was a girl hugging him so closely to her. The girl would be about Miros age and have shoulder length blonde hair and blue eyes.