Vostiaye

(set: $name to (prompt: "What do they call you?", "Ezgi")) (set: $tension to 0) (set: $love to 0) (set: $wits to 0) (go-to: "hello")

The forest was dark. You knew it was past the elotted time for humans to be outside; past the curfiew of your village. There would be nobody to help you out at this hour. You were alone between the two cities, that stretch of land filled with dirt and trees and shadows; and, at night... all the creatures who fed on darkness and blood. [[I was afraid->I wasn't afraid]] [[I wasn't afraid->I was afraid]]

No mistaking it, the woods were a scary place, and you, a weak human. The night wasn't created for Un-Strange eyes, and as the sun dipped lower, farther away, you slowly lost that one sense you relied on most. See, that's what the humans such easy targets. They used sight as a crutch to ignore what they hear and smell and taste. They used sight to reassure them everything was fine, as what they couldn't see wasn't real. It was time to make a decision. Head farther and seek haven deep in the woods, or stay where you were, frozen and afraid. (if: $name is "Ezgi")[[[I knew the night]]] [[Stay and wait out the darkness]] [[Venture further into the night]]

(set: $tension to $tension + 1) (go-to: "I was afraid")

(set: $tension to $tension + 1) You felt cold in the small clearing, your limbs sivering as the cool shadows carresed your skin. Your heart thumped faster in your chest. It didn't feel safe here, although what were the odds it'd feel safer elsewhere, either? Your eyes could just barely make out the shapes in front of you as the very last remenents of sun sank away, completely dissapting in face of the vivid night. (if: $tension is 2)[ The tension was rising.] [[Begin to walk]] [[Continue to stay in your place->Exhale]]

(set: $wits to $wits + 1) It was smarter to keep moving, keep your feet on the ground and your scent in as many different spots as you could. You arrived to a clearing not unlike the one you had started from, large trees swaying oerhead, a single ring of night sky peering out from under their cloud of leaves and branches. You took in a breath. You were everywhere now, to the duller creatures. You were glad you didn't stay in the same spot. [[Exhale]]

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You closed and opened your eyes, attempting to clear your head of the dizzying night splayed in front of you. Mother used to say that the Amamari forst was filled with tricks and illusions. It never felt like this during the day. It didn't feel like there was much space to move, the darkness swelling in front of you and filling the air of the clearing. You took a few steps back, trying to make sense of your sensess. Everything was spiralling. Nothing good ever came from the darkness. [[Crouch down into a ball and block your ears]] [[Face the nightling head-on]]

After a few good minutes of walking, hiking up and through the thick forest, you arrived to a clearing not unlike the one you had started at. Large trees swaying overhead, a single ring of night sky peered out from under the cloud of leaves and branches. You took in a breath. You were everywhere now, to the duller creatures. You hoped you didn't make the decision too late. [[Exhale]]

The noise wasn't a noise, just the feeling of loud and aching pressure. Your hands relieved some of the strain. You didn't need to see, or feel, or be in this reality whatsoever. Maybe this was the end, and even then, you felt to need to confront the Strange things that crawled around the dark. (set: $tension to $tension + 1) //"There would be nobody to help you out at this hour. You were alone between the two cities, that stretch of land filled with dirt and trees and at night...// **//all the creatures who feed on darkness and blood."//** [[Cry]]

Whatever thing you faced, illusion or real, you wanted to see. To keep your eyes open in the face of everything. Tears streamed down your face as you watched, the darkness bending and twisting, something rumaging from nearby. (set: $wits to $wits + 1) As much as you wished to see, water blurred your vision, everything veiled by film made of welled-up fear and stray shadows. [[Cry]]

(if: $tension > 2)[(go-to: 'death')] He was not like you, even with his pale, human-esque face. The shadows sang and swam around him, more alive than the trees or the birds. More alive than you felt, in all of your human fear. Your silly human heart could barely keep up. [[Run]] [[Make eye contact]]

Every nerve in your body screamed //run,// although you couldn't seem to move. [[Scream]] [[Look at him->Make eye contact]]

"So small." He said, his voice sharp and destabilizing. The shadows whirled and swiped up the earth around you; as if you stood alone with him. Alone in the eye of a horrific black tornado. He was very tall. His hair and clothes were made of night, such pure and uninterupted black, your eyes had trouble interpreting it. As though his idea of black was a whole new colour to your brain. "I could just eat you all at once," He said. "Although, I'm afraid you'd hurt my teeth." His smile was undoing. [[Cower]]

You lungs heaved for breath, your throat numb and unable to hurl the blood-curdling noise you felt inside. You let out a whimper. You could've sworn the man cracked a smile. [[Give in->Make eye contact]]

His eyes were somehow darker than his hair; obisidian voids of endless nightmare and terror. "So, so small," He repeated. "Did you forget to heed their warnings, little lamb? Didn't think to believe the stories of horror they told?" You swallowed a frog. Every fibre of your being stood on edge, vibrating with a fear you didn't realize could exist. A fear so raw you ached in your skin. You want to speak. [[Attempt to talk with the creature]] [[It's too scary]]

"I-" The words don't come out f your mouth. The Nightling creature seemed to understand your intention to talk. His eyes became wide with delight. "My, I'd almost forgotten your kind could speak at all. What would you have to say? Could you sing for me, little thing? Sing of your fear and mortality, explain to me love and family and mercy. It has been so long since I've heard of those things. Sing, sing," You took a deep, steadying breath. It didn't help at all. The fear didn't leave. [["I'm lost."->Begin]]

(set: $tension to $tension + 4) You felt like prey in the eyes of an all-powerful predator. No way could you being yourself to speak. Perhaps, though, that made your situation worse. He closed in on you, dipping down to touch your human face. "I'm going to enjoy devouring your delicate bones, little one." His breath was colder than the wind, the night. You could not move and he spoke to the sensitive spot between your eyes. "Thank you for getting lost in my woods. I'd been growing hunrgy for a snack." [[You were entranced, immobile.]]

//"Lost?"// His eyes gleamed with a kind of malice you could feel in the marrow of your spine. Some kind of primal fear you'd know just by the weight of his gaze. His hands reached down for your human face, caressing your cheeks with icy, pale fingers. His breath was colder than the wind, the night. You could not move as he spoke to the sensitive spot between your eyes. "Thank you for getting lost in my woods, delicate one." You tore your eyes away from him, feeling breathless and so full of strange, dark magick. [["If you eat me, I'll put a curse on you."]] You said, summoning up any level of calmness you could.

(if: $tension > 3)[(go-to: "Death")] (if: $tension is 3 or $tension < 3)[(go-to: "Begin")]

Oops, look like you've died! What did you do, get eaten? Thrown off the edge? Whatever it was, you're dead. [[Click here to restart->hello]]

You take a deep breath in, a deep breath out. (set: $tension to $tension - 1) You feel a little better, a little lighter in all the darkness. [[Continue->]]

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"Hm," He purred, lifting up your chin, turning your head left and right, hungry eyes devouring the smooth and pulsating skin of your neck. "A curse? What would that make you... Some kind of little witch? A duller sort of fae?" He threw your head back to meet his gaze, all harsh movements and a painful grip. Somehow, though, the closer he got to you the more your courage grew. Once the creature wasn't so unknown, you felt the slightest bit more confident. Only the slightest, though. "Or perhaps," He continueed, bringing his lips right next to your rounded ear, "Just a little lying human?" You frowned. [["I'm not lying."]]

"Show me then." He responded. "Put a curse on me, free yourself. See if your 'magick' may outdo //mine."// "I can't," You replied. "Oh, surely any witch would know how to curse before making bold threats? Did you know the Unseelie Things can't lie, human?" You took a deep breath. Of course you knew that, everybody knew that the strange creatures born from magic and not mother had a different set of laws. They couldn't lie, or feel emotion, or ever be tamed... Although, there must've been exceptions to the rule. After all, you were an exception to the magick-lacking human rule. "My curses don't work like that," You said. "My magick is different, [["Even more powerful than yours."]]

The nightling creature howled, his head arching back to support some kind of cackling laughter. "Well, how can I see this magick then, tiny one? I'm older than the atoms themselves, I know of every type in existance. Go on. Curse me, human." His voice dipped an octave, dangerous tones echoing in and out of your ears. **"I'll make your death less painful if you do."** "I need the light," You said. "And I need my tools. Bring me home, maybe I'll reveal my secrets." The shadow tsked. "Where's the fun in that? My meal will just run away, as they always seem to do." You grimaced, heart thundering louder with every word you were so bold to speak. [["You always play with your food?"]]

The shadows responded to that comment, bristling louder and sharper in the hurricane which surrounded you. It seemed as though they were an extension of the creature. The man stood up straight again, taking in the pathetic sight of you. You wondered if he could feel the absesnse of magick on your skin. "I haven't taken a bite of human flesh in years. Forgive me for wanting to have my fun." He put a long, thoughtful finger against his chin. "Although, that human tougue of yours has me curious, little one. Maybe we should //play// a little longer." A rock lodged itself in your throat. "What do you mean?" "I've always wanted a //pet."// His fingers curled on both your wrists, cold plunging its way into your veins. You winced as it got harder to breathe. "Let's play, small one. I'll show you what it means to //play.// Prove to me your strange magick, and I'll let you go free, no false intentions. But, fail to prove your word, and I'll eat you fingernail by fingernail, hair my hair, until you exist only in my stomach as fragments of the little liar you used to be. [["Let's play,"]] You responded.

Everything went dark, save for the smile that formed along his lips. You fell asleep in the lulling shadows, wondering if perhaps, that would be the last time you were ever alive. [[Sleep]]

//Chapter 2// The thing about the woods is that the paths weren't made for human journies. The roads were narrow and sharp, made for creatures with claws, flight, and everything Strange. You couldn't breathe very well. A night spent sleeping on the cold ground left your body sore and stiff. Your ribs felt tight, straining against every breath. [[I was afraid->Scared1]] [[I wasn't afraid->Notscared]]

Of course you were. The conditions should have left you dead where you woke up. You sure felt like a corpse as you sat up, though. Little creaks and pops squeaked out of your bones. You were in the forest; delicately lain underneath a halo of trees. Flower petals, bright red leaves, and sweet grass flitted off your body. Somebody had covered you in decorations. The night before was foggy. [[Explore]] [[Sit]]

Maybe you should have been, but the fear didn't come. You sat You sure felt like a corpse as you sat up, though. Little creaks and pops squeaked out of your bones. You were in the forest; delicately lain underneath a halo of trees. Flower petals, bright red leaves, and sweet grass flitted off your body. Somebody had covered you in decorations. The night before was foggy. [[Explore]] [[Sit]]

You stood up and brushed off the debris. Your clothing was covered in stray beige dirt and splinters. You looked back at the spot where you awoke. Small pebbles, one after the other, each one round and clean. They perfectly traced the outline of your body, little pebbles dipping in as detailed as tracing along the outsides of your fingers, and hair, legs. You had seen similiar outlines, as though you were a dead body on a crime scene. Sun streamed in through the leaves above, dimming the light in the thicketed forest. The shadows ebbed on the ground, an underwater kind of light that made everything move as one. You weren't sure what to feel. [[Keep Exploring]]

The clearing was small in diametre. Beyond the little space was a dense maze of trees. Every which way looked the same. Where do you start? [[Left->left1]] [[Right->right1]]

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