Private Tales Sierra's Storytime

A private roleplay only for those invited by the first writer
"It was the moss from the trees. Neon blues and greens hung all around her. She blinked as her eyes adjusted and she began to see the shapes of the trees again. The tangle of roots and the glow of the light off the swampy water's reflection before her. Turning around she realized she was standing on a very small island above the swampy waters."

"Heart clenched in fear and confusion. She'd gotten here. How had...had the water just come in since she'd been standing still?"
 
"Daisy frowned and spun. Trying to find a clear swath of dry land that she could walk out of. And once again she found herself disoriented. Unsure of where she'd come. But she was determined that she'd figure it out. That she'd make it through. She just need to think."

"Neck craned as she looked around. Some larger ripples in the waters across the swamp. And a cold dread settled in the pit of her stomach. She had a feeling she didn't want to find out what was making those ripples."
 
"Beyond the glowing and hanging moss to her left, she spotted a bridge. Why hadn't she seen it before? It was a clear path across these wretched waters. And a way out of here. Feet shuffled forward until her boots hit the white slats. And then she heard music. The air shimmered ahead of her at the other end of the bridge. And there sat a tall, thin female with bone-white hair and pointed ears. Eyes as red as blood."

"A funny feeling began to grow in Daisy."
 
"Her feet stepped forward. All Daisy wanted to do was meet this female. She was beautiful. And everything about her drew her in. And the music! There was lovely music in the air. The female beckoned to her at the other end of the bridge with a smile on her face. Come dance with me, she called. Come, come. Come along child."

"And Daisy wanted nothing more to dance. To take this stranger's long-fingered hands in her own and dance with her at the other end of the bridge."
 
"Her booted feet eagerly walked forward but she slipped on one of the slats. Eye-contact broken with that female. Looking down, she focused on the white slats of the bridge, wondering what she'd tripped on. And that music screamed for her to look up. To keep coming. To cheerily go along and meet that female."

"But her brain was too focused on what she was seeing to move. Focused to much in unbelief."
 
"For the white-slats of the bridge were not wood or stone like she'd thought. They were polished and smooth human bones. So many human bones. A strangled sob left her throat as she looked up in horror. That female still beckoned her forward. The music seemed to pick up in tempo, grow louder. The voice of the female still said come but it was hurried now. shouted more like a command."

"COME."

"COME!"
 
"Just one dance with me and you might break my curse. JUST ONE DANCE. COME TO ME. Daisy froze even as she felt some strange sort of magic want her to move forward. To take that enchanting female's hand. The bone bridge clacked beneath her feet."

"Whhhhy are you stopping? Why are you resisting. COME my dearest dove. Come my darling. But Daisy didn't come. She remained frozen on the bridge. Unable to turn back but unwilling to move forward."
 
"Pssst. Pssst. Daisy heard a watery voice below the bridge. Her chin tilted downward and saw a rather large and proud looking toad sitting on a lillypad. Geh off tha bridge. The toad croaked to Daisy."

"I can't, Daisy explained. My feet feel frozen. Stuck. I-I can't move. In that moment, the terrifying female took a step forward. Then another. And Daisy looked up, noticing the female's smile from before looked more jagged and sharp with pointed teeth. Cruel lines set along the female's mouth."
 
"The toad croaked and flicked his tongue forward. It snapped and stuck against Daisy's boot. She felt a small tug on her limb backward. What are you doing? She hissed to the toad. The tongue retracted and the frog shifted on the lilypad. Funny. You look human but don't taste or completely smell like it."

"The female on the bridge was now halfway across. Come and follow me, the toad croaked and hopped the opposite direction. Daisy parted her mouth about to protect that she couldn't."
 
"But as she went to argue, she found that boot that the frog had touched was able to move again. One step back. Then another."

"The female in the middle of the bridge screeched a dreadful and loud sound. The night birds in the swamp took flight into the air. Daisy stepped back faster."
 
"Hurry, the toad hissed. Daisy pushed off and stumbled backward, tumbling and falling onto the moist ground. Her feet hitting the dirt and roots. The female screamed and rushed in a blur forward. Long-nailed hands reached forward, swiping through the air."

"Daisy tensed but watched. Her fingernails were just out of reach. The female screamed louder in a mournful cry. You could've been the one to break my curse! The one!"
 
"The toad croaked and hopped further away. Daisy shifted to her feet, never taking her eyes off the female as she followed the toad further into the swamp. Balancing and hopping on upturned roots and rocks. Hoping she was about to hop on a slumbering monster's back. And the glowing moss still lit her way plenty as she balanced and teetered after the toad."

"W-wait, she cried. Where are you going?"
 
"Back home, the toad called. The wife will be very upset that I've been gone too long. I'll be late for soup and she makes the best soup!"

"Daisy nearly fell in the swampy water as she followed after him. Please wait. I think I'm lost and I need help."

"Surely the soup is on the table by now. The toad harumphed and croaked. The toad hopped happily from lilypad to lilypad. We are almost there!"
 
"Daisy paused as she found herself coming up to a raised, grassy area. Rocks lined the perimeter from the water with several larger rocks in what appeared to be a small lawn area. The glowing moss hung down in the shape of a slanted roof. Woven leaves made up the sides of the walls and around small cutouts that were clearly windows. She stared in wonder at the structure."

"My wife, my wife, I'm home! The toad called as he hopped over the border of rocks and onto the grassy area."
 
"The leafy door swooshed open and a toad of similar size to the other hopped out. She wore bright purple-sparkly lipstick on her lips and a dark-green hat that was trapped under her chin onto her hat. You are finally home, she chided with her own deep-croak. Late and more late! The soup is nearly cold."

"The toad quickly hopped forward. Apologies, there was a wayward soul by the bridge."
 
"If Daisy knew that toads' eyes could widen, she saw it in this ones as her black-eyed gaze focused on her. A tut-tut along the toad's throat. Poor child near the witch fae's bridge. She's always hungry for her next snack. Even though she gorges herself too much. Come, come. You must join us for dinner."

"She makes the best soup, the original toad added in a voice that hummed in eager anticipation and love."
 
"Daisy slowly nodded. Come to think of it, she was hungry. And she was still lost. She didn't think it would hurt to sit down with them. Perhaps they could help her find her way. I'd like that, she said as she stepped onto the small grassy-lawn. The green-hat toad swept into the doorway followed by the one that had helped her. "

"The problem was Daisy was a lot larger than them and the door was very small. Frowning, she dropped to her hands and knees and crawled slowly forward."
 
"She crawled forward and wiggled her shoulders so she could fit mostly through the door. But then she realized she was stuck. Her lips and legs still outside. One shoulder and her arms and head inside. Um, she paused, looking quite embarrassed. It looks as though I'm stuck."

"Poor child, don't you worry, said the female toad."
 
"Blinking, Daisy focused less on her problem and took in the small space she was halfway into. Her chin could nearly reach the small table that was made from a red, white spotted mushroom. Small mushrooms made for little chairs around the larger one. Moss in small clumps that she assumed was carpet decorated the floors in various places. But unlike the moss outside, these didn't glow."

"Further back in the house it looked like a watery pool in the back with larger lilypads on top that looked like they were beds. These lilypads had bloomed and held beautiful white and yellow glazed flowers."
 
"And very soon the table beneath her nose was filling with thimble-sized bowels of a steamy-soupy broth. Daisy took a hesitant sniff and to her surprise it smelled good. There were no spoons or other utensils on the table and Daisy supposed frogs didn't need them. Even magical ones who could speak."

"One such small bowel made its way right beneath her nose. There, there, child. See? Not to worry. Soup for you and soup for him. Daisy smiled, warmly at the female. Thank you, she said. And for helping me back on the bridge."
 
"Now child, you should listen to Momma and Papa Hop. She set her gaze very seriously on Daisy. Tongue flicking in the air and then retracting back into her mouth in a sharp-snap. Be careful who you go around saying thank you to, she croaked."

"Folks in these woods take that as then you owe them something. Just say you are grateful. But be wary of the words 'thank you.' Lucky for you, Momma and Papa Hop aren't like that."
 
"No we are not, Papa Hop grunted in agreement and dipped his tongue into the soup bowl, sighing happily. The best, just like I said, he croaked happily. Momma Hop gave him a stern look and flicked his shoulder with his tongue. Before our guest has tried it? Of all the things to be rude of."

"Sometimes I wonder who I married. A roll of her black eyes as her attention returned to Daisy. Eat child, don't be shy. It is the best soup if I don't say so myself."
 
"Daisy took another sniff and slowly lowered her head. She managed to fit her tongue inside the small bowel and gave it a lick. Then a slrrrp. It reminded her of something her mother would make. But there was a taste that she couldn't quite identify. Something strange and new."

"Momma Hop looked on happily as Daisy enjoyed the stew and began drinking her own. Poppa Hop was already done and going back for seconds. What kind of soup is this, if you don't mind me asking? Daisy questioned."
 
"Oh no," Rose smacked her palm over her little face. "She shouldn't have asked. I bet she doesn't even want to know the answer! Why ask if it tastes good? Amateur."

Sierra couldn't contain her laughter as it spilled out into the night.

"Have you had this experience before, Rose? Have you tasted something only to find out it was something yo weren't expecting?"
 
"Well, yeah! Once when you were gone, the nanny made something called es-car-go. I didn't think it tasted that great and asked what it was. BIG MISTAKE, mom. It was SNAILS! Can you believe it?"

Sierra's laughter turned to something deeper. A belly-laugh that she hadn't had in a long time. Perhaps never since going to the Academy. "Well," she drawled, "I'm glad you still tried something new. That was very brave. And who knows? Something new down the line might end up being your favorite thing to eat."
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom