i reach out to my lifeline, the angels laugh in paradise
Alright, El had to face it: they were hopelessly lost. They had been heading west in an effort to come across some of the more interesting areas of King's End, perhaps find some rare herbs. So far, they had only seen lush green hills, not unpleasant, but quite boring after going on and on without change.
They should have appreciated the sun while they had it, because once they were far enough west, a thick mist began to cover most of the skyline, and the hills began to take on an unsettling shape. Instead of rising and falling like natural hills, they looked a bit more uniform, a bit lower to the ground, a bit like...burial mounds. El only realized this after many hours of wandering through the area, spotting something that looked like an iron door tucked into the side of one of the mounds. That confirmed it, and it only took the next unidentifiable rustle of long grass for El to bolt.
In the end it had only tired them out, running from what was likely (but not certainly!) a figment of El's paranoia. They took only a moment to rest before staggering on, knowing nothing but the need to continue forward.
At this point, they were unsure of how long they had been walking. They were hungry, but that was a familiar feeling. The real torture was the burn in their muscles and ache in their joints from walking such a long way. Still, they continued, losing all their senses while focusing on moving forward.
Suddenly, El was squinting; they didn't understand why for a moment, confused. Then they turned their face to the sky, and found the sun came down to meet them, and it was sublime. They could do nothing else but collapse down on their hands and knees, looking at the bright flowers on the ground before them, gratitude in their heart. Some animal instinct inside them understood that this place was safe, and the grip of fear eased. Finally, a respite.
They should have appreciated the sun while they had it, because once they were far enough west, a thick mist began to cover most of the skyline, and the hills began to take on an unsettling shape. Instead of rising and falling like natural hills, they looked a bit more uniform, a bit lower to the ground, a bit like...burial mounds. El only realized this after many hours of wandering through the area, spotting something that looked like an iron door tucked into the side of one of the mounds. That confirmed it, and it only took the next unidentifiable rustle of long grass for El to bolt.
In the end it had only tired them out, running from what was likely (but not certainly!) a figment of El's paranoia. They took only a moment to rest before staggering on, knowing nothing but the need to continue forward.
At this point, they were unsure of how long they had been walking. They were hungry, but that was a familiar feeling. The real torture was the burn in their muscles and ache in their joints from walking such a long way. Still, they continued, losing all their senses while focusing on moving forward.
Suddenly, El was squinting; they didn't understand why for a moment, confused. Then they turned their face to the sky, and found the sun came down to meet them, and it was sublime. They could do nothing else but collapse down on their hands and knees, looking at the bright flowers on the ground before them, gratitude in their heart. Some animal instinct inside them understood that this place was safe, and the grip of fear eased. Finally, a respite.
they say i am my own lifeline
ELEFTHERIA
