Duncan to stop the Twisted Way
Michael James Watson
Taking several steps several things happen at the same time. Outside the pattern spectators stand in horror. One though sits down and conjures a bottle of Oh Be Joyful for one hand and unconsciously does one hand card shuffles while intently watching. A dark cloud comes into being and a lightning bolt touches Duncan's head. It doesn't slow his walking but sends lightning shivers around him. The torrent of created animals stops and several hundred beasts fall to the ground to start fighting each other. A lightning nimbus from Thin Gerard surrounds the table and viewers, keeping the view of the pattern clear of the animal cacophony. Queen Deirdre and a disturbingly fat Benedict arrive looking surprised but take interest in the spectacle quickly. Xandra stares in horror. Karieeena watched emotionlessly. Hannah stands, turns and vomits, briefly distracting Queen Deirdre.
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex had jumped up from her seat as Duncan stepped on the pattern. Had she thought of walking it to see if it would help, yes, had she thought Duncan would do it.... yeah he would, in fact he IS walking that pattern. Alex her hands clench into fists. Staring at Duncan. Almost trying to focus for him. Though she had no idea how hard this would be. She had only walked the pattern once, even if it was the primal one. She can't take her eyes of the whole spectacle. and mostly from Duncan. that lightning.. what does it do to him. Hearing the vomit sounds from Hannah near her she doesn't look away but just holds a piece of cloth, Alex has usually with her to wipe her hands, to Hannah to wipe her mouth. It clearly takes alot of self control not to run towards the pattern. Or to shout to Duncan, but then what would she shout, idiot? she was planning to do the same thing. Be carefull...? bit to late for that isn't it? Don't die? yeah... i am sure he is very much trying not to. i love you.... well that might be the wrong time and place. So Alex just watches, intense look, mind focused on... purely on Duncan and what he is doing. Seeing his steps, seeing him as much as possible. Getting her breath under control and be ready to jump into action if he needs help.
Michael James Watson
Deirdre says to Thin Gerard," What does this mean?" He says, "The pattern zorched Erik and Corwyn. Its torched 695 others since. Its not killing him. He and that one there are higher order shades then us and our enraged pattern." Fat Men says,"Will this mollify it?". Thin Gerard shrugs.
Amber Bronkhorst
Without breaking her stare at Duncan's trail Alex tilts her head slightly as she answers. "If it is indeed part of the primal pattern and as close to it as our own pattern it should be doable for Duncan. Not pleasant. Clearly. I do doubt one walk might be enough to calm it down enough to be not enraged anymore. " Addressing the thin Gerard but without looking "You said only you can use magic here. Does that include trumps? If so i need to know now, if Duncan needs immediate medical attention i need to take him away to where they can help him the quickest. " Her voice sounds all the while very neutral, plain. As if she was planning a grocery trip. She is clearly in her tactical state of mind to have back up plan on back up plan. As noone knows here present what this might do to the shade, the pattern and Duncan. And by the unicorn she would not let her first mission as second warden end in a disaster.
Michael James Watson
As the lightning flashes around Duncan he continues to walk. Time is slow for him but the chamber starts filling. Practitioners of the 3 sigils arrive and activate them to send the battling beasts off down the funnel tunnel. The people of the holding fill the room watching someone finally walking the pattern. The effort is clearly far greater then for regular walks, though Alex has little to compare it to. After a bit Deirdre walks over and picks up a tea cup and sips. "Well, Gerry, what does this mean? Will it mollify it? " Gerard says, "One walking? Hardly. A thousand maybe. Maybe not. We walk a shade of the pattern that is calm. This is a shadow of the highest order pattern and it may take a lot of placating."
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex doesn't move from.her position to afraid to interfere with the things going on. As she is not answered Alex just flips with a half eye on her cards to make sure those she immediately would need are on top. Even if her face holds a neutral look her full body is tensed up and ready to jump into action to assist Duncan. Muttering between her teeth. "You big idiot you can do this..."
Michael James Watson
JAx says, "Over 600 dead Ardenites and its still testy? Had any of them gotten this far? " Gerard says, "No. Not a one. So he is its order or higher. " Jax asks, "You said it was a shadow of the highest pattern? You saying now he might be higher?" Gerard says,"I am saying whatever level this pattern is and that walker is, the pattern accepts him. Say what you like., " After that is quiet.. There is something surreal about watching someone walk the pattern and this is even more intense. When he reaches the senter their is a huge booming sound. The rush of animals returns as if it had never been off. In the far side of the room Duncan lays steaming and sparking electically. Coiled around him is a thin, baby green dragon just barely as big as he is. The two seems entertwined and they curl.
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex just let them speak and guess about which order of shade they are. When Duncan reaches the center and then the boom happens Alex just starts to sprint. Towards where he now lays steaming and sparkling. At the point where Alex reaches Duncan she drops to her knees to help him but due to the coiled little dragon around him Alex doesn't immediately touch. "Duncan, are you there? Are you conscious?"
Michael James Watson
Duncan rolls his head back to look up at Alex. She notices his blue eyes are now light green. "Tired...but refreshed....joy... I can't keep my thoughts straight. What happened?"
Amber Bronkhorst
She places both hands on either side of his face and stares in his now green eyes. Then as the adrenaline subsides for herself she smiles again, and while still holding his head she plants a kiss on his lips. "Well we were all watching with various levels of worry and curiousity as you walked this enraged pattern. Lightning struck you but didn't seem to harm you. And when you were done you were thrown clear across the room. With this little fellow entangled with you. And you might want to check a mirror. ... doesn't look bad honestly." Seeing now Duncan is okey Alex puts her trump cards she had on speeddail away. Visible her muscles lose some of the tension she felt during Duncan's walk. " i do not think it mollified the enraged pattern enough but it absolutely had an effect." She now looks at the green baby dragon entangled with Duncan. Leaning a bit closer she whispers not knowing who is in hearing range. "Duncan they might have questions on how you were, so far the only one among hundreds who have tried to walk it. And they might want more to try now." Alex does a quick glance to her back. She already had heard Xandra was upset that she was perhaps of a higher order shade.... and she won't know what the rest might feel about this. If Duncan can walk it. So can Alex and so can Dalt who might return.
Michael James Watson
Duncan turns his head to regard the dragon. They look each other in the eye for a long moment before it untangles. Quick but clumsily it leaps into the torrent of Beasts edge, dragging a muscled silver tip free, feasting upon it. Alex looks up and catches Xandra's eye as she steps through a trump.b. Jax shakes his head, saying something to her then remains behind.
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex still on her knees next to Duncan ready to helping him up she smiles. "Seems you made a friend during your walk. " With amazement she watches the dragon feast regarding the strength and beauty of the creature. Finally looking up at Jax and seeing Xandra leave she frowns slightly but then again Xandra was not her worry, they worked together to get here. But if she wants not to deal with it further is up to her. "The stream of beasts hasn't stopped. You think it did help at least a bit? And are you physically alright? Do you need assistance? I can call someone."
Michael James Watson
He leans against her, "T'Sev....hungry.....tricky people here...No half measures.....Random...." He falls hard asleep.
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex catches Duncan she tries to shake him slightly. "Duncan, please wake up. " She groans then looks at the dragon. "Okey little guy i don't know if you understand me but i am sending Duncan to safety if you want to be with him you better come here. " Her heart is pounding... tricky people... no half measures. She had no clue what that meant but she cannot protect herself and a deep sleeping Duncan. Alex reaches back in her bag and pulls out the trump cards she had stored again the right ones should still lay on top. She looks at 3 of them she had picked. Vance, Brand, Arlo. Since she is not sure what his physical condition further is she decides on Vance. And if Duncan needs to contact Random that is a good enough line as well. Not waiting on the dragon's response Alex focusses on the trump of Vance.
Michael James Watson
The trump has a sticky sense and a light probe, then opens, "Alexandra Mira? To what do I owe the surpise contact? and what the galloping hell is that behind you!?!?!?!"
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex frowns at the strange sensation and reacts shocked at his reaction. She assumes he means the pattern and twisted way. In a hurried tone she says "Hey, sorry to disturb, we're at beasthold. Duncan walked the enraged pattern here and i hope he is merely exhausted but i don't know he needs help. " With that she pushes Duncan towards Vance giving herself time to look back at what made Vance give such a reaction. And in the hope to see where Karieeena and Hannah are.
Michael James Watson
Vance steps through, drawing a long thin blade with chilling pattern inscriptions.. Behind him steps Vander, his starfleet uniform suddenly replaced by black scale armor that Alex saw Arlo wearing, Eric's armor called Shatterbound. Vander kneels by Duncan. The green dragon turns and roars at Vander, taking several steps toward them. Duncan raises a hand and the dragon stops but rears in preparation to attack. Vance says, "An actual Enraged pattern...Ive only heard of them..and who the fuck..." Alex sees Queen Deirdre, Thin Gerard and Fat Benedict stepping through the torrent of beasts. Fat Benedict holds a large bore firearm. Gerard a wizard's staff. Queen Deirdre is now in battle armor with sword and shield. "What the hell have you gotten yourself into Alex??!?! Where the hell are we?"
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex turns fully now Vance and Vander had stepped through. Seeing Queen Deirdre, Thin Gerard and fat Benedict approaching bearing weapons she looks worried and slips her bow of her shoulder. "Well my first disaster of a mission to see what this Twisted Way is. Lead some rangers and elites here following a spike. This is a shade Beastkeep or Beasthold. This pattern, they can't walk but Duncan could, and just did, he made a new friend along the way." She says gesturing from the stream of beasts the pattern and then to the dragon. "I am not certain to why they have pulled weapons they seemed interested in Duncan walking the pattern. Though he is the first to succeed since its installation, or so i understand. So they might just be worried who you are, or not happy Duncan survived.... or something entirely different is going on." Standing she puts away her trumps and makes sure she has her bow attack ready. Her eyes do keep scan beyond the stream of beasts in the hope to spot Karieeena and Hannah. Looking worried back to Duncan she adds " we were trying to stop the stream of beasts being send into shadow and to us.... hence Duncan tried the pattern, but it doesn't seem to have changed."
Michael James Watson
Deirdre raises a hand behind to Gerard and Benedict. "Hold a moment.." "Son of Delwin...I assume you are not the Vance known in this realm or a thousand shadow veils on either side. I suggest we take a moment to clearify our situation before things get out of hand." Vance says, "I am not the one with a blade in my hand. Nor do I know a realm where Benedict is fat, Gerard is thin, or Deirdre is in command. So let us say whoever you know me to be is unlike the person I am. This Duncan is the Warden of Arden in the realm of Amber to which I owe fealty. Does that clarify things?" Deirdre sheathes her sword and sets her shield aside. "It does indeed. How fares your Duncan?"
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex again silently groans.... She looks to Queen Deirdre. "Could we please assume all the help i bring in... is from my version of Amber. Because, that i call upon their help they are most likely not bad people, unless of course you see me as a danger then anyone i would bring in could be a threat." She slings her bow around her shoulder again. Then turning again towards Duncan checking how he is. She looks at Vander with a questioning look as he had stayed with Duncan. Then to clarify to Queen Deirdre she explains "With the beasts starting up again and Duncan just slumping over in my arms i felt i needed help protecting my Warden. I hope you understand. But as i understand this is the first time someone surviving the walk of this enraged pattern so we do not know the effects on the survivor. And i know that if in dire need he would be in good hands with Vance. " She nods to Vance.
Michael James Watson
Deirdre and her companions come over, look to Duncan. Thin Gerard raises a sigil and looks through it. Vance raises the sign of Vulsara. TG says, "Well he bears the enraged imprint alright. For better or worse. As well as Amber imprints of a far more elegant, and powerful, design then our own. Calm ones." Vance says, "This imprint.... Duncan...Don't use the imprint of this pattern till you get someone up the food chain to look at it. Arloxedra, Fiona, Dworkin if he can be found. By that i mean don't use it to hang spells. But--- can you carefully see if you can raise it as a sigil?" Duncan lets Alex stand him up. He raises the sigil. It is angry looking and writhing. TG and Vance look carefully. Vance says, "It looks hung with spells already.. Face the wall...tap the spell in the 4th position" He does and a manticore leaps from the sigil. Looking around for someone to attack the 3 sigils glow and the manticore leaps into the rushing of beasts from the pattern into the funnel tunnel." Vance laughs, "That could be handy... Its not a spell thats hung...ITs a summoning point. There are some 30 of them." TG nods, "And that matches the 30 general forms of mass beast the pattern produces. Not including a couple dozen it summons rarely like dragons, Pegasus, hippocampus and platupus. " Fat Ben adds, "Not to mention those hellish endless hordes of hamsters, gerbils, scorpions, or snakes."
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex helps Duncan up allowing him to lean on her as long as he needs. She watches silently what the others are discussing. Feeling almost like the grown-ups are talking as she has no clue of some things. She does look surprised seeinf Duncan basically summon a manticore. She looks shocked between Duncan Vance and TG and Fat Ben. "So instead of stopping the stream.... Duncan can now summon them as well..... and uhm not to ask dumb questions but what is with the green little dragon over there?"
Michael James Watson
The locals look over at it. Deirdre says, "Well, Green dragons have been generated by the pattern before. But never youthful ones. " FB-"It seems fragile for a dragon. Maybe we should kill it now rather then wait tilll its a problem."
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex looks at the green dragon and then at Duncan. Thinking of how they were curled up together when Duncan was tossed off the pattern. She looks up at Duncan. "You two have a bond together? It seems very protective over you, but also trusts you that it listens to you." She turns to FB and cocks an eyebrow. "Perhaps not needed, and babies and younglings do tend to look frigile and weak.... as they need to grow and gain strength. " Alex falls silent for a moment realizing she would never ever speak like that to her Benedict... but it was more and more clear these people are very different than the versions she knows and grew up to know. Turning to Vance she asks "I can contact Arlo, he is familiar with the mission i was on to find the origin of the iron spikes. Perhaps he can shine some light on this enraged pattern business as well. I had also my father in mind but he is not allowed to leave of course."
She falls a moment silence staring at the pattern, "i am curious though if it helped that Duncan walked it. Can a pattern from an enraged state be calmed enough or does that take so many walks on it that it would not even be a viable option?"
Michael James Watson
Thin Gerard goes and kneels beside the pattern. Raising his sigil he examines the place the pattern starts and the way the animals come out. "It doesn't seem changed. Of course this is the first time ive seen it walked and I wasn't around when this thing started doing this. I've only dealt with one damaged shade pattern so I am not expert. If you have an expert bring him in. Deirdre gives me authority when it comes to esoteric aspects of this thing."
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex looks at Vander Vance and Duncan. Especially the last. "Well one expert we all know would be Arlo right? Should we ask him to come i am sure he would be curious about this pattern as well." She already takes out her trumps though she only needs the first two one of them is Arlo and one Brand. She holds up Arlo his trump. "Anyone opposing? He is already informed of my mission to find the source of the beasts."
Michael James Watson
Arlo answers the trump. He is clearing sitting on a balcony of the library. Around him are what look like pulp science fiction/fantasy books. He has a number of maps out. He looks up as Alex contacts him. "Alex? How fare thee? Benedict tells me you and Duncan are both out of Amber. Is this an emergency?"
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex relieved to have an answer quick she straightens herself. And with a slight and awkward smile she says. "Well not as much an emergency as really a plea for information.... yiu know of my mission to find the source of the spikes... well... found it. We are there and it is an enraged pattern. Duncan just walked it and survived as the first who walked it after it has been installed.... We want to turn off the faucet which this pattern is.... any advice? Or do you feel curious enough to come and watch and assess an enraged pattern?"
Michael James Watson
He steps through, looking around, widening his eyes at Thin Gerard. "Damn.... thats a sight....ah... I assume you are Gerard. Well met., Prince Arloxedra, son of Eric in my shade. " TG bows his head slightly, "Highness. Titles out of the way, this is our source of interest. An enraged shadow of the primal pattern. It has been producing these creatures for thousands of years."
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex looks at Arlo as he steps through. After Gerard and Arlo introduce eachother. Alex quickly adds. Queen Deirdre and Prince Benedict are here as well of this realm." She gestures to where they went to. "So i hope you can provide us with more insight in this pattern and its workings Arlo. I was of a mind to walk it but then Duncan did and he got jolted off whne finished with that little green dragon and he curled up together. " She then finally takes the time to look at Duncan again she had been near him in case he still was to weak to stand prolonged times. She leans closer to Duncan. "Are you okey? Do you need anything?"
Michael James Watson
Duncan has moved over to cuddle the dragon, communing with it. Alex bows slightly as Deirdre as she comes over, only having met her a few times in his reality. Mostly during the interregnum. "My respects, Queen Deirdre. Do I have your permission to investigate?" She comes over, looking at him closely. "A son of Eric's....I would be interested in knowing when along the timeline you were born. Eric and Corwin are dead in this realm and left no children. I've often wondered what they would have been like as parents. As to the Font of Beasts, feel free to investigate. The three sigils on the wall control it and were created by Oberons, plural."
Arlo says, "My father died a hero. Beyond that his parenting style was stern and I don't recommend it. He wanted a warrior son and got a scholar. But he eventually got a warrior son and an argumentative one. Excuse me." He walks over to the wall and examines the sigil. HE steps to the pattern, kneels, resting his hand over it, avoiding the torrent of beasts. He walks around the room to examine each of the other two sigils. The third one he presses his hand to and energy envelops his hand. Queen Deirdre, TG, and FB, start to move to him but stop after a few steps, turn and talk to each other closely. "Well, shadow is full of the damnedest things.. And that is certainly one of them... Your Majesty, I had no idea this place existed and there are few in the Primal Amber who know the forces of the pattern better then I. Dworkin, Oberon, Finndo, Adrian, possibly Bleys, Fiona or Brand. Corwin now I suppose.. I have seen all the flavors of the pattern now i suppose until a new one is discovered. I think i know how to Calm this pattern.. But it might be dangerous and messy. I can't do it myself. I need to control certain forces and I can't do that while walking the pattern myself."
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex keeps a curious eye on Arlo seeing what he does but staying out of his way of course. She watches Duncan now and then who is busy with his baby dragon. As long as he is awake and active she worries less. A slight chuckle escapes her hearing Brand could have been called as well. Since that were her three choices then, Vance, Arlo, Brand. Ah well. Finally hearing Arlo has a solution she steps towards him even if this is far above and beyond her. She kind of did start this mission and does like to complete it. Or have the idea she did help to complete it. "What do you need Arlo? Do i need to call someone else? Do i need to get something for you? "
Michael James Watson
Arlo looks at her, then Duncan, then Deirdre, Gerard, and Ben in order. Glancing at Jax. "Well, I need a guinea pig. " He raises his hand and the Jewel of Judgment is in it. Shock appears on Gerard's face. "I need someone to walk the pattern holding that. Wearing it, but not attuning themself to it. I need to control, call them soothing, forces to see if this pattern can even be calmed. I would do it myself but i need to manipulate the jewel till i find the right version of this pattern and see what needs to be done to calm this thing down."
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex nods "So someone able to walk this pattern without dying." She looks back to where Vance and Vander are then to Arlo. "I offer myself as guinnea pig. Knowing full well that if something happens to me, more capable people are here to make sure Duncan and i have a good chance to be fine. " She looks serious at Arlo. "Do you think i can do it? Or would you rather have someone else?"
Michael James Watson
Arlo smiles wickedly," Are you suggesting that in a highly dangerous experimental magical ritual involving the jewel of Judgment and an enraged pattern that we risk the King of Vulsar or the Commander of Star Fleet?"
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex laughs. "That is why i am suggesting myself... less footing jn the workings of Shadow and Amber... Dad might be dissapointed... but yes i am willing to help out. And you do not have to worry me attuning to the jewel. Last thing i want to do is get the King angry at me or worse... dissapointed... and i feel he already is..." She sighs "Anyway, what do you need of me to do and when should i start? "
Michael James Watson
Arlo leads her yo the first sigil, not the one he touched. "Touch that". Queen Deirdre looks agitated. " Is that nesesary? We have people attuned yo them already. " Arlo says," Good, ill need them to control the beasts. Vance, go at tune yourself to that one. Vander, this one with Alexandra. Your majesty, have your people focus. When this starts the animals might get loose. 🐅🐆🐴🐎🐕🐶🐩🐺🐱🦄🐈🐮🐏🐮🐃 🐇🐪🐫🐘🐻🐿🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐘🐤🐭🐁🐀🐦🐦🐧🐧🐧🐠🐠🐬🐍🐍🐍🐲🐲🐉🐉🐉🐉🐉🐳🐳🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊🐊. I'll have enough trouble with greasing them all myself. " He puts the heavy gold chain around Alex's neck. "Just focus on walking."
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex just follows Arlo's instructions. She is good in listening to instructions, that gives her strangely enough less anxiety in a dangerous situation. Might be the soldier inside her. She feels the heavy gold chain resting on her neck it has some added weight but that is just psychological, as she knows what this jewel is and stands for. Alex moves to the beginning of the pattern. This will be her second pattern ever she will walk and again under not fully voluntary circumstances. A deep inhale and of breath letting go of all the unnecessary thoughts. A deep breath to bring her mind to the here and now. And with that she looks at Arlo when he indicates that Alex should start, she will start walking the pattern. Purely focussed on walking and not thinking about the jewel around her neck.
Michael James Watson
Stepping on the pattern is a profound experience at best. This one lets it know it hates you the moment the foot lands. It rises the slay on the second when a sudden shudder of recognition occurs. It feels like it only dislikes her and has disdain for Alex. The visions in her last passage cam slow and slippery, as if part of a light show. These come like part of dental surgery without painkillers. The visions are of horrors across shadow. A set of infinity has infinite horrors. It show in her mind the great sadness and woe across shadow in all its forms. There is a sense of the pattern telling Alex that the existence of the royal family is to blame for the horrors, and they are their responsibilities. It is merely a magical construct and didn't ask for any of it. Alex sees, amid the horrorshow of shadow as if she is walking through an abattoir. Like ever moment not filled with the rising electricity around her or with the horror visions of shadow is filled with walking through the interiors of animals. After the first arc the pattern seems to abandon visions. A glow of red covers the abattoir visions. Visions of softer things. Alex feels Arloxdra's presence strongly. Visions come and the animal stew is gone to allow them. She feels them directed at the pattern and her seeing them is like watching a movie through an open window across a street with binoculars. She sees a thin boy of 4 or 5 being attacked by first teens then adults, all using cudgels. The boy defends himself, taking a cudgel away and quickly beating the attackers with it. At 4 the child appears stronger then any of the adults and the great beating he had taken, leaving him bruised and bloody, didn't slow him down. Then a bruised boy is seen reading. In a hovel filled with books, alchemetical equipment, jars and cages, he sits in a corner reading. A small werelight over the book providing light to read. There is a sense the boy is starving but his reading distracts him from the neglect. The next has a boy of 9 looking up at a great smiling face topped with black hair and ringed with beard and mustache. He reaches down and picks the boy up onehanded and walks out of a crude village, something appropriate for a siberian hamlet in the 1800s. Next come scenes where the man is training the boy to fight. Eventually taking him to be a squire in a land of knights and armor and horses and fair ladies. Jousting, tourney fields. There is a sense that the boy is a poor student but is massively stronger then the natives so he does well despite disinterest. There are memories of Eric finding him with a book in his hand when he should be training or tending horses. He always seems to find books no matter what he is supposed to be doing. There is an overwhelming sense of Eric's great disappointment that even having trained a champion warrior, tourney winner, jousting expert, that he can't stop him from finding time to read. He is chased away from several wizards who see other potential in him. Alex realizes Arlo is showing the pattern that it can be its own creature, not an angry warrior. Repetitions of this theme fill Alex as Arlo shows the pattern many other people across shadow that grow and change beyond their origins. It show pictures of comraderliness. Friendship across shadow. It shows many other patterns. Thousands of them. As if the patterns were a race, not mere reflections. Arlo shows it Amber. The people under Random. The Jeweled Road. In the images she sees the many reletives of hers and sees herself shown in the montage.
Amber Bronkhorst
Alex foccuses on walking as she had promissed, even if it becomes grueling hard for her with the pain she has to endure. But whatever she can take over from burden only helps Arlo complete his task. She accepts the visions of horrors and pain. Although she does allow herself to shed a tear. if it comes from the pain she feels or the horrors she witnesses or the sheer strain on her being of walking. Who is to say it could very well be all three. But all three hit her like a ton of bricks. And she feels no shame in showing it. When the visions change and she starts to see the boy she soon enough realizes it is Arlo. Young Arlo. Arlo who apparently always followed that which he loved to do. Arlo who she sees as a friend because he is who he is. She reminds herself of the relaxing evenings reading with a bunch in the library. Now and then a word but being in the presence of eachother reading was enough. Sharing enjoyments with friends is a great pastime. Smiling would be impossible to do but she does see the beauty in the comparison Arlo makes to the pattern. It indeed does not need to be angry, enraged, boiling with hatred. It can be what it wants to be. It can make its will known she had heard something like that from Arlo. Those were the visions you could see during a walk. We are here to help you... it is a though in her mind. She doesn't try to alter what Arlo does. Not that she could. But it does motivate her to keep on going, through the pain. Focussing back on her feet on her steps. She remains fully focussed till she reaches the end and hopes that the pattern will see that next to these horrors it konws beauty can be found.
Michael James Watson
Time passes slowly. The red stone takes notice of her but it is the pattern it speaks with. She feels a spinning top inside the stone. Like a pattern writhing and turning till it suddenly clicks and the pattern as this shadow is supposed to be meets. There is an acceptance feeling in the pattern.. The animals stop though Alex feels its just a pause. She sees a vision of Arlo surrounded with light, colors, smoke. Arms outstretched. Strong physique erased of the tension and knots so common in him. Gone is the look of being worried about being followed, the look of unkeptness he usually has. Clean and strong. Connected to the Primal Pattern, like an avatar, a chosen servent of the pattern loyal to Amber but devoted to the pattern like its companion. Alex feels as if Arlo is the pattern's Elite. The Beasthold pattern shudders and Alex feels exhaustion as she reaches the end. As she steps to the black spot she knows she should have the power to transport but instead everything goes black. She feels transport occur at the very last moment of consciousnesses.
