So The Stories are True? [Edreina]

[Uleru]

TBA 5th Bell There is a hollow sucking sound coming from the cliff face. Like a sad sigh pulled through the neck of a glass bottle. Uleru knows this sound, for it's the sound of wind and water trapped in small caves, but what bothers her is how much it sounds like rattling breaths. She peers superstitiously over her shoulder every now and then from where she sits on a rocky little outcrop off of Black Cliff. Which is pointless, admittedly, since she cant see the cave mouth from where she sits. But she cant seem to shake the niggling feeling she gets from that place. What do they call it? Black Beach cave? She sucks her teeth with an irritated popping sound and turns back to what she was studying; namely her reflection. Normally she cant see herself well in the water, even if she is garishly coloured, because she looks so similar to the ocean. But the water near Black Rock is different, where its sandy bottom is a very dense and dark colour that doesn't reflect much light. So if she can find a pool with still water, she can see her reflection with good clarity. The two fingers of the outcrop protect a shallow pool of seawater from the wind and most of the waves, making it ideal for her purpose. Which is almost unfortunate at this point, for she is not a very pretty sight right now. She is trying (privately and desperately) to emulate the colour of a human body. Her body is a surprisingly accurate shade of pale skin, but she has been experimenting with greater detail; giving herself straw-colored hair, pink lips, and blue eyes. But this is where it all goes wrong. The colours, for all her trying, wont stay still. To the point where her hair colour is bleeding into her back and the dark stain of her lips appear to be dissolving slowly across her cheek. She turns her head this way and that, forehead knitted in deep concentration, as she tries to corral the wayward colours into their respective positions. Only to scowl as her eyes colours starts to misalign. She presses both flesh-colored hands to her face as if to physically rearrange them, but she only sighs in defeat as she rubs the bridge of her nose. And its at this consuming moment that the cave belches out a loud, rattling gasp. There is a sudden exclamation from the tiny finger of rock as the Otani jumps to her feet and makes a sound of surprise and frustration that cant quite decide whether it's a swear or not. What the petch is wrong with that cave!? She has just decided to give up on her human body and put some distance between herself and that wretched cave when she spots the familiar white sails of the Goldengrotto off the coast. "Ah! Edreina!" she waves, only remembering at the last second to vanish the ridiculous human colours.

[Edreina]

Edreina had planned upon visiting the infamous Black Beach Cave for years but had been unable to overcome the superstitions around it. Finally, after so many years, she had worked up the courage while in the area. It had taken her a day to navigate along the coast, knowing only its look, not its location. But finally, the sand began to change as did the rocks until she came upon it. The instant she sighted it, her name flew across the wind. Gripping the tiller a little tighter than before, Edreina's eyes widened to ridiculous proportions. Just when she seemed keen upon turning tail and sailing as far away as possible, a familiar, liquid form caught her eye. "Uleru!" She called out, grinning widely. Thank the gods... I thought... She shook her head and in order to banish the traitorous, superstitious thought. After getting as close as she could, Edreina dropped anchor then ran and jumped off the side of her ship, into the cold, clear water. It was odd here, no coral or bright algae brought life to the black outcroppings that surrounded the cave. She swam quickly over to her friend, arm over arm as she sliced the water. Upon reaching her, Edreina grinned reached out to hug her friend, unsure as to whether or not it would work but willing to try nonetheless. "What are you doing here?" She wondered aloud, not having expected to see a friend so far from the Flotilla, let alone her fickle little Otani. Her grin was expansive, as if attempting to split her face with pure glee.

[Uleru]

Edreina dives gracefully off her Casinor and cuts expertly through the water to meet her. The black water does strange things to her body, making her pale skin glow with her hair trailing behind like a comet tail. She climbs atop the little outcrop and throws her arms around the Otani with a wide smile. Uleru returns the hug with a bit too much enthusiasm. For its really no secret how much she adores the solid warmth of a human body. And although her skin is a bit less resistant than the flesh-and-blood skin, its still a successful hug, much to her glee. "What are you doing here?" the Sevfra wonders absently. "What? Nothing! What by Laviku's scraggly beard are you doing here?" Uleru asks with a defensive tone that bring her earlier exclamation of 'nothing' into question. "Oh, its the cave isn't it?" she retracts with a glimmer of understanding. "Everyone knows your fondness for caves and crevices. But don't you think this one might be a bit... Off limits?" she hints, just as the cave gives another gasp. "Ghosts, Edreina! The Black Beach song! Maybe you should stick to things less... haunted", she shudders at some long lost memory. She shakes off the tremors and dives back into the water, moving out a few lengths until she can see the round black mouth of the cave. It looks inconspicuous enough, she has to concede. There is even a few burnt logs farther in that hint at recent camping. But still, ghosts! They are angry, insane beings. Usually both. And she has an awful habit of encounters with ghosts ending in them chasing her to the ocean floor. Not that she has ever been hurt by a ghost. She bubbles silently for a second and swims back to the little outcrop. "Have you ever met ghosts? I have. You're not going to listen if I say 'no', so if you're going I'm coming with you." despite herself she cant help a weak smile. This might turn into an adventure.

[Edreina]

"What? Nothing! What by Laviku's scraggly beard are you doing here?" Uleru's abrupt and defensive response causes Edreina to narrow her eyes playfully. What could be so bad as to cause Uleru shame? What could she be hiding? Then again, if the Otani were to attempt to explain her motives to the Svefra, it was quite likely that they would both walk away confused. "Oh, its the cave isn't it? Everyone knows your fondness for caves and crevices. But don't you think this one might be a bit... Off limits? Ghosts, Edreina! The Black Beach song! Maybe you should stick to things less... haunted." Edreina laughed but was unable to keep little bumps from rising upon her skin as the cave gave a sickly moan. "A superstitious Otani?" Edreina shook her hair in defiance of the cave itself. "Besides. How are we to know that the song is true? What if the cave is a perfectly lovely little cave and the song just keeps everyone away?" Edreina could not keep the hopeful curiosity from seeping into her voice. Despite her assurances, Uleru was quickly back in her natural habitat, bubbling in the water thoughtfully. After a few silent moments where the cave itself seemed to be waiting for Uleru's resolution with bated breath, the Otani came back to the outcropping. "Have you ever met ghosts? I have. You're not going to listen if I say 'no', so if you're going I'm coming with you." Edreina whooped and jumped, throwing a celebratory fist into the air. "I wouldn't have it any other way! Besides, I need someone to write a song about my heroic death if the ghosties get me." She hunched over and spidered her fingers about, making a creepy face before dissolving once more into giggles. "Well, there is no time to lose!" Grinning, Edreina reentered the water and began moving towards the cave's mouth. The black sand was coarse between her toes, rather odd, actually. Let's just hope that a bit of exploring is done before we both lose courage... Upon reaching the cave's mouth, the duo was hit by a gust of wind an an unearthly moan that had Edreina abruptly trembling. Attempting to keep face, she turned to her friend. "Just wind... see?" Her tone did a rotten job of convincing even her.

[Uleru]

Uleru laughs hardily with Edreina's attempt at a creepy face, and the woman seems quite full of pep despite the Otani's attempt at a dire warning. But the Otani are not known for their serious natures and Uleru cant help but be swept up in her excitement like a wave. "Oh, there will be a ballad. It will be titled 'Why the Ocean Knows Best' and will speak about the misfortune of a fiery girl who would not be calmed by water, so the air stole her away." she teases, playing with the nature of Sevfra, Otani and Ghosts. The two swim through the shallow water to the strange black shore, and they hardly peered through the opening when a strong gust of wind pushes at their backs like the cave is beckoning them in, followed by a dreadful moan like someone is dying on the floor deep inside. Uleru cant help the creeping shade of wine red blooming across her body in nervous dread. Why did it have to be ghosts? Not that Edreina is doing much better. Her comment about wind falls flat and Uleru cocks a red eyebrow at her incredulously. And to show that she is braver than her colour might suggest, she is the first to enter the cave. The stone walls are smooth with tool and tide, so she realizes it must be man-made. And she has to wonder where it leads that someone decided to build a tunnel that leads to the sea. The sun is just coming up, and a bright line of sunlight skirts over the water as syna begins to rise. But for some reason the light only reaches so far into the cave before being obscured by a blanketing darkness. Uleru only goes so far that her phosphorescence begins to glow with the lack of light. But the glow will only last an hour or two, since her skin hasn't had a chance to replenish since the night. "Are you coming?" she teases Edreina impishly, as her teeth glow with her smile.

[Edreina]

"I never knew that Otani could glow. I mean, I have heard stories but..." Ignoring the growing sense of trepidation, Edriena followed the human-shaped lantern. Grinning, she began to take in the cave, noting its oddly man-made perfection. She wondered in the hollow silence what could make a human want to dig such a hole into a cliffside. Once again, Edreina was astounded by the lack of growth in the dark cave; even the common scuffling of undercreatures was not heard bounding off of the cave walls. Suddenly, something was illuminated by Uleru's glowing. "What's that?" She muttered to herself, walking over to the wall. Wit her fingers, she was able to feel some sort of etching into the stone wall. "Mind bringing your light over here?" When Uleru moved closer, Edreina saw that the etching were obviously words of some sort though the language and meaning escaped her. "Can you read this?" Despite being unable to understand the crude marks in the stone, the look of them gave Edreina an eerie feeling. It was almost as if her soul sensed a warning in the words, telling her body to run, to leave the cave as her rapid heartbeat made it almost feel as if her chest were close to exploding. Curious, she looked over to her glowing friend, hoping that she was not alone in the feeling.

[Uleru]

Edreina beckons her over and Uleru is quick to comply, lest she lose her friend in the dark. She brings her palm up to better shed light on the symbols. "No, I cant read", she explains with a whisper. "A lad in Zelvita tried to teach me once, about a century ago. I should have paid better attention." She doesn't actually mean that. There is something about those words that says they want to be read. Straining against the language barrier in an attempt to make her understand. But what it actually says, she feels, can only be something dark. Her light gives a weak shimmer as she trembles. They can still see the water from where they stand, like a little peephole cut from the skin of the world. But she has never been so far from the water before. It's only ever been a few feet away over the railing of a boat or dock. Now she is almost seven meters away from the lapping shore, and that scares her more than anything. "Lets keep moving", she breaths, grabbing her Sevfra by the hand and leading the way with the other hand held in front like a candle. Its not long before Uleru kicks something with an disquieting loud clinking noise. A bottle of wine topples over and the sourly dated contents soak into the earth with the permeating smell of stale liquor. Uleru lifts her foot to examine the little hoard they've stumbled upon. Offerings of sweet wine and shells litter the floor, along with decaying parchment letters. What could that possibly be for? Do people leave things for the ghost? Keeping Edreina's hand stubbornly in hers, she kneels down to sift through the assorted offerings. "Oooh, whats this?" she coos, pulling up a sweet little flute. The thing is curved slightly and no thicker than her finger, only two inches long. Its colour is a glossy, beach white and carved with a design that might be waves. It looks disturbingly like human bone. Unable to help her collecting habit, she closes her fist around it and doesn't put it back. Next she holds up a small pendent with a single pink shell. It catches the light from her hand as it spins with the eddies of wind. "I thought the ghost was suppose to be an old man. Why is most of this stuff for a girl?"

[Edreina]

"Lets keep moving..." Edreina allowed her hand to be taken by her Otani friend, relaxing slightly in the comforting gesture. Despite the fact that there was no warmth, it was comforting to know that she was not alone. Together the two continued into the cave, eyeing everything warily. When Uleru broke the tense silence by kicking a wine bottle, Edreina jumped and let out a yelp. The smell of old wine caused Edreina's nose to twitch in distaste as she looked around, spotting more little bottles and various trinkets. Remaining attached to Edreina, Uleru crouched and began to sift through things. After a moment of thought, the Svefra joined the Otani. "Oooh, whats this?" Edreina looked up from her own sifting to see Uleru holding a tiny little flute aloft. It was so small Edreina wondered if it had been meant for a child. Or made of a child... The thought led Edreina to shudder and go back to sifting through things. She found a little, rusted mirror and a silver - at one point in time - comb. "I thought the ghost was suppose to be an old man. Why is most of this stuff for a girl?" Edreina had just been wondering the same thing. "Perhaps the old man isn't the only ghost here..." Despite whispering it herself, Edreina shivered with the eerie thought. From the pile, she lifted up a little compact that was shaped like a shell and had a mirror in each side though one was cracked. It was oddly pretty and she had the urge to take it for herself. But, this was a tribute to some spirit. It would not do to take it. Replacing the compact, Edreina rose and was shortly followed by Uleru. The two ventured tentatively into the cave, ever deeper into the darkness. As they walked further, the sense of trepidation nearly became tangible. Suddenly, there was an earth-shattering, bone-chilling, hair-raising scream. Edreina yelped and huddled close to Uleru, eyes wide and a fine tremble racking her frame. "What... was... that?" The words were whispered, as if saying it any louder would bring the voice back and summon its wrath.

[Uleru]

The scream rattles through the moulding like a physical thing, and she notices with a rising panic that her light is quietly fading, already less substantial since they entered the cave. "What... was... that?" Edreina clutches the much smaller Otani, and she can feel the Sevfra's breasts concaving her shoulder with the force of her clinging. "I dont know! I dont know!" she hisses back between her grey teeth, as her body rapidly melts into a muted non-color. And as she pulls in another breath she makes a dry, wheezing sound that has nothing to do with nerves. The water! Where is the water, she thinks in panic, spinning on the spot and sucking in another rapid breath with the strange similarity of a drowning person. The twists and turns of the tunnel has long since obscured the entrance from view with smooth walls and a penetrating darkness. Uleru makes a pathetic little whimper before remembering her Reimancy. She can make her own water! It takes an agonizing second for her to pull Res from her body. The thick gel spreads itself across her like a pearly sheen from head to foot, and she takes extra care with the gills located on her ribs. Once she is completely covered she converts the res to water, The water cascades to her feet, soaking herself and most of the Sevfra, who she refuses to let go of. Her body pulls in a clean breath, thrown by the strangely hollow taste of water free of all minerals and salt, but clean none the less. The voice has been silent through this quick development, and Uleru doesn't like to think why. But body restored and wits recovered, she has a terrible impulse to find out why. The pair continue along the passage at a more rapid pace. Taking the turns of the tunnel with a wary caution, but eager to reach the end. But rounding another smooth curve, Uleru makes an involuntary gasp. There is light around the next bend, and its not anything like hers. The glow is warm in color and steady on the wall. It makes her think of lanterns like the Sevfra use to guard against the constant wind. They creepy along as silently as they can, pulled by a curiosity at what dark things someone must do in the depths of a cave. Peering around the corner, Uleru sees something she cant quite understand. A circle of lanterns are arranged on the floor to cast a pale light on the proceedings. And in the centre a series of circles have been drawn on the floor in chalk. In the outer circle a woman with wiry hair and strangely grey skin sobs silently into her hands, her fingers digging into her skin to form tiny, jewel sized drops of blood. In the second circle a dark haired child lays on her back. Her hands and knees have been tied, her mouth open in a silent scream and her throat raggedly cut into a short, gaping hole. The third contains an automaton. Lovingly constructed of highly polished wood, wearing a pretty blue dress and a blonde wig, Its face expertly drawn. The thing is moving, but its in a disjointed, stumbling way. Its head lolls and its mouth makes unintelligible, mechanical clicks as it tries to speak. Whatever has just happened, it was horrible. Uleru's eyes travel from the mad woman to the dead child, and finally to the horribly lifeless doll. She steps back slowly with the intention of turning and running back to the sea when a voice makes her body stop dead. "Who's there!" screeches the woman, her eyes open and bloodshot. The irises narrowed to tiny pricks as she stares at the patch of wall thats reflecting a muted grey light.

[Edreina]

Still clinging to one another, Svefra and Otani spun in a tight circle, both breathing a little more quickly as adrenaline surged through their... Edreina's veins. The Otani's fear was entirely mentally produced, since she could not get the sour rush of adrenaline humans could. Edreina vaguely noticed the gel spreading across her friend, but it did not entirely register until they were both soaked. All was silent. Edreina's mind was reeling. What had created that sound? Where had it come from? Who was in here with them? Despite her nearly crippling fear, Edreina had the even more overpowering urge to find out what in the hell was going on. When Uleru began to lead her deeper into the cave, it did not take much to get Edreina to follow. The two navigated slowly down the tunnel, Edreina gently guiding Uleru every once in awhile when she could see a dead end before the Otani. The silence was utterly eerie. The sound had left just as quickly as it had ripped through them. Any time that either of them made a sound as they walked, both cringed and moved a bit more quickly for a moment or two. After an eternity in Uleru's waning light, the edges of the stone became gilded as something lit them ever so gently. As they approached, the light became stronger. It was unflickering which led Edreina to rule out a bonfire, or campfire. The next logical guess was some sort of oil lamp or perhaps a glass-shielded lantern. What they stumbled upon utterly baffled Edreina. It seemed as if some sort of ritual had just concluded. But what the ritual was escaped Edreina. Strange shapes and runes had been drawn upon the cave's floor, illuminated by a dozen or so lanterns. But, more disturbing than the circles themselves, was what filled them. The first thing that Edreina's eyes fell upon was an old woman who sobbed in silence despite the fact that her own nails seemed to be biting her flesh to the point of drawing blood. Was she so distraught that she did not notice the pain? What the hell is that? Edreina had never seen such a construction in her short life so the lovingly crafted thing-a-ma-jig with blond hair and a painted face confused her utterly. It was... humanoid... but not. It moved as if tugged at by hidden strings and spoke no words, choosing instead - Did it have will of its own to choose? Or was there a hidden conductor? - to make odd wizzes and clicks. It reminded Edreina of a human's grotesque death rattles... Then there was the child. Edreina's stomach churned at the sight of it and she had to turn around, hissing in quick breaths through her teeth. It was all that she could do to keep from screaming and fleeing the scene. Even with how she tensed, remembering that she could not leave her friend, her legs trembled, begging her to use them in an escape. Gods... What have we stumbled upon? "Who's there!" The woman's foul screech sent chills up Edreina's spine, quickening her heart to the point that it attempted to flutter out of her mouth. Without turning, Edreina mumbled, "Edr-... Edreina W- Whitewave ma- ma'am. And th- the Otani U- Uleru." Gods even her voice was shaking. There was a quiet, thoughtful sigh from the woman. "An Otani, eh?" Her voice was so suddenly calm that Edreina's shakes redoubled and her need to escape became tangible. "Magical creatures, Otani." There was something sick in the woman's reflective tone. Suddenly, there was a huff and a scuffle behind Edreina but she was yet unable to bring herself to turn to investigate. She just wanted to run, to hide, to pretend that this adventure had never happened.