atheism

It is early summer in the year you turned twenty years old, and you are running away from home. Well, if pressed about it you probably wouldn't use that turn of phrase- maybe you're just stretching your wings a little, seeing what lies beyond the confines of your lifetime home. Getting out there. Experiencing the world. By all accounts, this is pretty normal. Everyone gets tired of the mundane every once in a while and needs to take a break, right? In any case, you've found yourself here- on a rather unassuming incline in the far south of the country, already at a higher elevation than you're used to. The air feels different here, thinner. You have not run into a single other person since you left the inn early this morning- this does not seem to be a very populated corner of the country. Then again, most of it isn't. It's been a good morning of walking, though. Peaceful, uninterrupted. At least, until now. In front of you, ruining the otherwise pristine alpine environment, is a wooden sign. Rather forbodingly, it reads: ''PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK. IN THE EVENT OF INJURY, NO HELP WILL COME FOR YOU.'' You feel an uncharacteristic twinge of nervousness in your chest. The sign is very old- its wood clearly worn from year after year of exposure to the elements, but someone must be maintaining it. Maybe you should stop and think about it- Why would someone put this up? > [[You seem to recall something...|remember]] > [[You have no idea.|be stupid]]

Realization hits you squarely in the gut- you check the compass you'd somehow remembered to grab. This is the Spine of the World, and you've flown so far south you've reached the very end of the world. This is the southern border of your country, and what lies beyond is has been unknown to your kind for as long as anyone can remember. These mountains, though beautiful from a distance, are out to kill- every year, the occasional reckless climber is killed on their slopes. Whispers of these events reach you quickly, being from the central canyons. People seem to think they die quickly- an avalanche out of nowhere, a rockslide, a lightning storm blowing in unnoticed. You feel uneasy. But, at the very least, those people had to venture pretty far up. Nothing is going to happen at such a comparatively low elevation- you notice a trail of footprints heading past the sign, and feel marginally reassured. Locals probably wander a little farther up all the time, and you figure you can chance it. > [[Continue.|continue up]]

Maybe paying attention in school would've been beneficial after all. It's too bad you had other things to worry about, like how hard you and your brother could ram your heads together without becoming concussed. You look past the sign and notice a trail of footsteps- though fainter than the path you're currently on, it looks like people definitely do keep going. You're not going to go far, anyway- just a little ways up the path, then you'll turn around. > [[Continue.|continue up]]

You walk for a short while. The day is so pleasant, you almost forget about the sign and everything else currently weighing on you- the sun is out, an array of alpine birds are flitting between the low bushes, you even see a deer in a distant meadow. Above you, the mountains rise in all their imposing glory- white-capped tops still so far away. The sight of them alone is enough to knock a little bit of sense back into you. You want to run away from it all, yes, but you certainly don't want to die. Not like this, anyway. Maybe you should turn back. You've stopped in the middle of a wide-open meadow, surrounded by nothing but grass and brush and boulders. It seems safe enough, but that doesn't seem to be calming your nerves. You look around- in the few moments since you've begun contemplating turning around, the meadow has gone silent. Birdsong and the incessant buzz of summer insects has quieted. The deer in the distance is gone. You dig your fingernails into the palms of your hands, a nervous habit. > [[Look around.|look around]] > [[//This feels unsafe. I need a way to get away quick if something bad happens..//|transform]]

You pause and scan the surrounding alpine landscape. Aside from the silence, nothing seems amiss. For some reason, this does not necessarily make you feel better- a new feeling is worming its way stubbornly into your mind. It makes the hair on the back of your neck stand on end. You feel watched. In a bit of a panic, you turn back to the upward path. Predictably, nothing is there- though you still feel on edge. After a moment, something catches your eye- movement. You notice a bird on the path ahead- solid white, too far away to make out any identifiable features. Perhaps your sister would be able to tell you something about it, were she here. She and your father go birdwatching on occasion- not that you would ever willingly tag along. Far too boring an activity for your overactive brain. As you watch, it hops toward you with a flap of its feathered wings. Are they feathered? They really look more like... unidentifiable shapes to you, but you have never met a bird without feathers. It is strangely hard to look at- too bright, almost. Like staring up at the sun even after having been told not to. You watch it for a few seconds, feeling uneasy. Something about it is changing, shifting. It dissipates- like mist, and not at all like a living bird- and then reforms into something much larger. About your height, with a defined head, neck, and a pair of wings. You feel your heart drop into your stomach. You have had enough. You close your eyes and let a familiar feeling wash over you. It's difficult to describe- if pressed, you might say it feels warm. It feels like being reborn, momentarily feeling your soft human flesh pulled back, laid bare, and then replaced with a protective coating of scales. It doesn't hurt, it never does, even if the sensation of wings erupting from your back feels a little odd. You reopen your eyes, now at a higher vantage point, to the remnants of magical smoke encircling you. The creature takes a step forward. > [[//What the fuck is this thing?//|inspect]] > [[Run.|run]]

You've had enough- perhaps having a quicker option of escape will make you feel better. You are, of course, a dragon. A shapeshifter who can take the form of an enormous beast at will (more or less, at your age)- and you figure this form might be safer. You close your eyes and let a familiar feeling wash over you. It's difficult to describe- if pressed, you might say it feels warm. It feels like being reborn, momentarily feeling your soft human flesh pulled back, laid bare, and then replaced with a protective coating of scales. It doesn't hurt, it never does, even if the sensation of wings erupting from your back feels a little odd. You reopen your eyes to the remnants of magical smoke encircling you, slowly dissipating as you blink from your newfound height. Does this make you feel better? > [[Yes.|yes]] > [[No.|no]]

Having the option to fly certainly makes you feel a little bit safer, but not a whole lot. At the very least, you might be able to outpace a surprise avalanche or something. You continue a little ways up the path, more carefully than before. It remains eerily quiet- just you, your footsteps, and the occasional whistling breeze. You try and ignore the tightness in your chest, the way your heart is pounding within the confines of your ribcage. Somewhere in the back of your mind, the distinct feeling of being watched is stirring. Whether this is a genuine feeling or a product of your silence-induced paranoia is hard to tell. You notice a bird on the path ahead- solid white, too far away to make out any identifiable features. Perhaps your sister would be able to tell you something about it, were she here. She and your father go birdwatching on occasion- not that you would ever willingly tag along. Far too boring an activity for your overactive brain. As you watch, it hops toward you with a flap of its feathered wings. Are they feathered? They really look more like... unidentifiable shapes to you, but you have never met a bird without feathers. It is strangely hard to look at- too bright, almost. Like staring up at the sun even after having been told not to. You stop in your tracks, yet again. Something about it is changing, shifting. It dissipates- like mist, and not at all like a living bird- and then reforms into something much larger. About your height, with a defined head, neck, and a pair of wings. You feel your heart drop into your stomach. > [[//What the fuck is this thing?//|inspect]] > [[Run.|run]]

At least you're bigger, and better equipped to fly away or potentially fight something off. But the unsettled feeling remains, you don't really feel any better. You continue a little ways up the path, more carefully than before. It remains eerily quiet- just you, your footsteps, and the occasional whistling breeze. You try and ignore the tightness in your chest, the way your heart is pounding within the confines of your ribcage. Somewhere in the back of your mind, the distinct feeling of being watched is stirring. Whether this is a genuine feeling or a product of your silence-induced paranoia is hard to tell. You notice a bird on the path ahead- solid white, too far away to make out any identifiable features. Perhaps your sister would be able to tell you something about it, were she here. She and your father go birdwatching on occasion- not that you would ever willingly tag along. Far too boring an activity for your overactive brain. As you watch, it hops toward you with a flap of its feathered wings. Are they feathered? They really look more like... unidentifiable shapes to you, but you have never met a bird without feathers. It is strangely hard to look at- too bright, almost. Like staring up at the sun even after having been told not to. You stop in your tracks, yet again. Something about it is changing, shifting. It dissipates- like mist, and not at all like a living bird- and then reforms into something much larger. About your height, with a defined head, neck, and a pair of wings. You feel your heart drop into your stomach. You don't think you should stay here any longer. > [[Run.|run]]

In a rare moment of level-headedness, you stand your ground. While draconic in shape, the creature does not appear to possess any teeth or claws- its face is a blank, featureless thing with only the suggestion of eye sockets or nostrils. And its surface is constantly shifting, as though made of smoke. It is oddly long, you think, and its wings are not very large for its body size. It would probably not be the fastest flier, should you have to outrun it. Then again, it does seem to be some kind of shapeshifter. So maybe it would have you beat after all. Regardless, you feel calmer for some reason. You stare at each other for a long, painfully silent moment. It tilts its head, regarding you curiously, and its long, serpentine tail swishes behind it. And then, it speaks- ''I AM IMPRESSED. YOU ARE A FUNNY CREATURE. '' Truthfully, you are not entirely sure if you heard it say this aloud. It was as though the words had simply manifested in your brain, loudly- accompanied by a strange fuzzy feeling, like you had just been hit over the head. You do not know what to say in return, and it seems to understand this. ''I WILL EXPLAIN. FOLLOW.'' > [[Follow it.|obey]] > [["Hold on. What are you?"|question it]]

There is no good reason to sit here and let this strange too-bright dragon(?) come any closer. You turn and break into a sprint, hoping to find a convenient ledge or cliff to launch yourself off of and fly as far as possible. Whatever this thing is, it does not seem to be on board with your plan- You make it ten feet or so before an uncomfortable, vaguely painful sensation manifests just behind your eyes. You slide to a stop, squeezing your eyes shut involuntarily. It subsides after a couple of horrifying seconds, though your brain still feels oddly fuzzy. Like someone filled it with cotton balls while you weren't looking. When you reopen your eyes, the creature has outpaced you- it stands expectantly in front of you. It is quite serpentine, for a dragon, and a bit smaller than you. It is also, quite confusingly, just as featureless as the bird was. It is deeply unpleasant to look at- the way its body shifts and roils like a being made entirely of smoke makes you want to avert your eyes entirely. You open your mouth to ask what it wants, or maybe demand it leave you alone, but it beats you to the punch. ''FOLLOW.'' Instead of speaking (it has no mouth, after all), the word simply appears in your head- for a few confusing moments, you can't decide if you'd actually heard it or not. It slips past you, moving a little ways back up the path toward the mountain. It stops after several feet, watching you expectantly. You turn to meet its eyeless gaze, marginally less terrified but now thoroughly confused. ''WELL?'' > [[//I need more information.//|question it]] >[["No way, I'm not an idiot."|refuse]] > [[Follow it.|obey]]

No way in hell are you blindly following this thing. You want more information. You plant your feet in the path and stare it down, annoyed that it only stares quizzically, eyelessly at you in response. "No," you say, taking half a step backwards. "I want answers. Where are you taking me?" If it had eyes, you think it might roll them. It sits down, coiling its long tail around its forelegs. ''I HAVE SOMETHING IMPORTANT TO SHOW YOU. I MEAN NO HARM.'' You are not really satisfied by this answer, and you shake your head. "Why should I trust you? What even are you? A real freak, if you're asking me- I saw you shapeshift from that bird." It does not reply, but somehow it seems amused at your name-calling. The tip of its tail twitches. "I've heard the stories," you continue, emboldened. "People die up here. I was about to leave, I'm not letting you trick me into killing myself." At this, it stands back up- maybe it is offended at the accusation, you're not entirely sure. You resist the urge to look away. You stare at each other for a tense second, and then it replies. ''I DO NOT KILL ANYONE.'' "Bullshit." You say, without really thinking about it, and you regret it a little when the spines on its neck rise slightly. "How do they die, then?" ''I DO NOT KILL ANYONE //DIRECTLY//.'' It amends after a moment. Its tone in your head feels very defensive, and you do not feel reassured by its clarification in the slightest. Regardless of how, this is the force behind the deaths. Maybe you //should// just leave, while you still can- ''FORGIVE ME,'' it says after a beat of silence, its stance relaxing noticeably. ''I FEAR THAT I AM GOING ABOUT THIS WRONG. I HAVE NOT YET EXPLAINED ANYTHING TO YOU.'' //Yeah, no shit.// You do not say this aloud for fear of retaliation, and instead opt to dip your head in acknowledgement. It returns the gesture, a bit stiffly. ''PERHAPS I ASK TOO MUCH OF A STRANGER. BUT IF YOU FOLLOW ME, NO HARM WILL COME TO YOU.'' You are not really sure what other choice you have at this point- it is putting an awful lot of effort into convincing you, and to its credit has not yet done anything to harm you even if it definitely could. Your thoughts are going a mile a minute, and you aren't entirely sure why you comply and follow when it starts back up the mountain path. The two of you walk in the same pervasive silence as before- the thing hardly seems to make noise when it steps, which does not surprise you at this point. After a couple of uncomfortable minutes in which it walks wordlessly ahead of you and you try your best not to catastrophize about what life-ending situation it might be bringing you into, you notice it is making a beeline for a cave in the mountainside. "Wait." You say, just as it makes its way into the cave's mouth. It pauses and looks back at you curiously. "You want me to go in //there//?" It looks almost exasperated for a brief second. Then, again, it speaks in your head- ''YES. IT IS SAFE.'' It does not wait for you to react to this statement, and starts off down the path again. You notice that its brightness at least does illuminate the cave walls, and this makes you feel a little bit better. At least you aren't going to walk in darkness. > [[Follow it into the cave.|follow]]

At your response, the creature seems to bristle defensively. The spines along its back rise and its ears flatten against its head, much like a real dragon would react when upset. ''THIS IS NOT ABOUT YOUR INTELLIGENCE. THIS IS ABOUT SOMETHING MUCH BIGGER THAN YOURSELF.'' It rounds on you, stalking a few feet back down the path in your direction. You involuntarily scramble backwards, wings flapping. Maybe you ought to make a break for it, but the pit in your stomach implies you're not all that confident you'd make it very far. //Shit//. Your heart is pounding in your chest, so hard you're afraid it might be audible, when it unexpectedly shakes its head and looks away. Now you're just confused- is this not the avalanche-bringer, the killer of one too many overzealous explorers? What could it possibly be sad about? ''FORGIVE ME.'' It says after a moment, quieter somehow. ''I FEAR I AM GOING ABOUT THIS ALL WRONG.'' Now you just feel kind of awkward. You really don't know what to say, either, so you opt not to say anything at all. It turns away from you, tail dragging on the floor like a child feigning sadness when their mother wouldn't let them have a second lollipop. Its voice is in your head, again- ''YOU ARE FREE TO LEAVE, IF YOU WISH.'' It nods once at you, and then starts back up the mountain at a brisk trot. You stand in its wake feeling even more confused than before. This thing descends upon you, talks at length in your head, and then seemingly gets self conscious and runs away? //What the f-// Without really thinking about it, you start chasing. There is no way you're just going to let it leave. Your dragon form is not exactly made for running, and you feel kind of silly doing it, but you manage to catch up to it after a minute or two. It turns its head expectantly as you approach, but you sense surprise coming off of it in waves. It stares at you for a long couple of seconds, so you feel compelled to explain- "I'm coming. I want to see." ''YOU ARE COMING?'' It repeats this, sounding incredulous. //What is this thing?// The pathetic energy is off the charts- ''VERY WELL. FOLLOW.'' You listen, and follow it up the path for a while. Oddly, your anxiety is starting to fade. Perhaps seeing it falter like that made you feel better- made it seem more human and less like some kind of faceless murder entity. Not that it couldn't still be a faceless murder entity- it did fit the bill in several ways, after all- but you feel calm enough to not even question the situation as the creature leads you into the dark mouth of a cave, walls illuminated by its light. >[[Follow it into the cave.|follow]]

Your otherworldly companion turns and stalks back up the mountain path. It glances over its shoulder after a moment to make sure you're following, so you urge your unwilling limbs into motion. The two of you walk in the same pervasive silence as before- the thing hardly seems to make noise when it steps, which does not surprise you at this point. You start paying special attention to this, and eventually notice it doesn't even disturb the grass as it walks along. //Weird.// After a couple of uncomfortable minutes in which it walks wordlessly ahead of you and you try your best not to catastrophize about what life-ending situation it might be bringing you into, you notice it is making a beeline for a cave in the mountainside. "Wait." You say, just as it makes its way into the cave's mouth. It pauses and looks back at you curiously. "You want me to go in //there//?" It looks almost exasperated for a brief second. Then, again, it speaks in your head- ''YES. IT IS SAFE.'' It does not wait for you to react to this statement, and starts off down the path again. You notice that its brightness at least does illuminate the cave walls, and this makes you feel a little bit better. At least you aren't going to walk in darkness. > [[Follow it into the cave.|follow]] > [[Hesitate.|hesitate]]

The cave is dark, to say the very least. It's also vaguely wet- a kind of persistent dampness that permeates everything, getting worse the deeper you go. You can tell the path is at a slight decline, and this coupled with the sheer distance you seem to be traversing (not that you have been keeping track at all) makes you feel vaguely terrified all over again. The creature walks calmly but with purpose, its long tail dragging on the floor. It illuminates the walls and floor as the two of you walk along, and after several long minutes in more or less silent darkness you notice two things. There is a light ahead- pale green, or maybe blue. And there is also water. Water is running down the walls in much greater quantities now, heading in the same direction you are. You are not sure if that makes you feel better or worse. Perhaps it's going to drown you in some subterranean cistern. You were never all that great at swimming, after all- sometimes, at the lake, your brother would hold your head underwater. You would bite him. Nevertheless, you are grateful to hear something that isn't the creature or your own thoughts. And the closer you get, the more your fear morphs into curiosity- the light is getting stronger, brighter, until you finally round the corner in pursuit of your companion. The stranger pauses in the doorway and you almost bump into it in your rush to see what's inside. You are entering a sizable cavern, lit by the blue-green glow of a thousand little lights overhead. They hang from the ceiling in long strands among the stalactites, sort of like moss. If moss glowed, and all that. The sound of rushing water is louder here, though not unpleasant. A stream trickles down past you and winds its way around the room, getting progressively faster and deeper as it goes. "What are those?" You ask, thoroughly captivated by the lights overhead. In your distracted state, you do not realize your companion has continued on- you look down to see it hop up onto a flat stone in the very center of the room. It turns to look at you, and then follows your gaze upward. ''GLOW WORMS. NOW COME HERE.'' //Jeez//. Its tone is as flat as ever, but you still feel a little bit offended. Not that the answer even explained anything, really. God forbid having an ounce of joy and whimsy when you were being strung along by some freak. But you listen, crossing the room to join it- there is only room for one on its stupid little rock, so you sit a few feet away. Feeling a little impatient yourself (or maybe just residually annoyed), you ask, "Are you going to tell me why I'm here?" It takes a deep breath- oddly, its chest does expand, as though actually breathing- and then steps off of its perch toward you. ''YOU DO NOT YET UNDERSTAND THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION WE CURRENTLY FACE. I AM GOING TO SHOW YOU SOMETHING.'' It approaches and stares at you expectantly. You are not sure what it wants from you, but you resist the urge (again) to back away from it. It is shorter than you, perhaps around the height of your little sister- it has to look up from this angle. ''ARE YOU READY?'' A wave of nervousness twists your stomach into a knot, but you nod. "Sure." That is apparently all the confirmation it needs. It surges forward, up toward you, and presses its forehead against yours. You have no time to process the awkwardness of the gesture- typically reserved as a show of affection between family members or close friends- because an oppressive //cold// rushes through you, as if you've been dunked in freezing water. You close your eyes instinctively, unsure what to expect. >[[...|vision1]]

"Wait." You say again, not missing the look of exasperation that it manages to give off. "I'm not following you into a dark cave without an explanation. What's in there?" It is silent for a moment, as though considering your statement. ''I SUPPOSE THAT IS FAIR.'' It again speaks in your head, the words growing clearer and less fuzzy as time goes on. ''I AM NOT FORCING YOU. I HAVE SOMETHING TO SHOW YOU, BUT SHOULD YOU REFUSE I CAN WAIT FOR THE NEXT TRAVELER.'' The back of your mind is remembering the handful of people who die or go missing up here every year and wondering if maybe this is some kind of tactic this thing uses to lure people in- but you push the thought aside, now thoroughly curious. Perhaps, not for the first time, you think the best choice would be to leave. But you cannot possibly pass up an opportunity like this- "the next traveler"? You can't just leave and let someone else see whatever's on offer. "Okay." You say, slowly, taking a step forward. "I'll follow. But do anything suspicious, and I'm gone. Got it?" It dips its head in response. You get something like amusement rolling off of it as it again sets off into the cave. What a weird creature. > [[Follow it inside.|follow]]

notes my idea for their meeting is like ahh you look up at her and she is so > beautiful > perfect > attractive > i think i have a concussion and they all go to the same next step. you are gay idiot

The first thing you notice is the unmistakable feeling of wind rushing past your ears. You know that one, inside and out- and you blink your eyes open in surprise. You scramble backwards immediately, finding that you are somehow //standing// in midair. Nothing could have possibly prepared you for the sight in front of you. A landmass stretches out far, far below you- surrounded by ocean on either side. Forests in the north, grasslands in the south. You get the sinking feeling you know what you're looking at, but the fact that you seem to be in space is not sitting well with your brain. Standing in space, nonetheless. Breathing- you take a needlessly large breath, just to be sure- in space. ''CALM DOWN. THIS IS ONLY A VISION.'' You realize your friend is here, too- it is sitting a few feet away, watching you calmly. //Of course it is//. You repress the unnecessary anger that rises in your chest and focus on getting your heartrate back to normal. It gives you a respectful minute or so, then gestures at the scene below your feet with an amorphous hand. ''DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS IS?'' You assume it's the world, but you don't want to say something stupid- a real possibility, all things considered. Maybe it's another planet, or something insane like that. So you shake your head instead, opting to let it tell you. ''THIS IS YOUR WORLD - OUR WORLD - THREE THOUSAND YEARS AGO.'' It pauses, watching you as you scan the continent below. That tracks, you think- you've seen a map before- but something feels //off// about the whole thing. Slowly, it dawns on you. For starters, this place is much larger than any map you've ever seen. You recognize the northern half- the middle canyonlands, the coasts and their islands, Glacier's Nest, the great northern bay, Winter's Teeth- but the southern half is alien to you. The forests and grasslands in the center of the continent just... continue. Landmasses foreign to you reach south into painfully blue waters. You are confused. "Wait," you say, feeling a little dizzy, "where is it?" No response, but the creature is watching you. As always. You clarify, "The Spine. The Spine of the World, the mountains we're standing in." It nods once. You are irritated with how pleased it seems, but you keep the thought to yourself. It answers, ''THEY DO NOT YET EXIST. '' It wanders a short distance from you, turning its attention down on the continent as well. Its tail twitches idly and it glances back your way. The gears begin turning in your head, albeit slowly. To be fair, you have a lot to take in and virtually no time to process any of it. Perhaps some echo of a geology class ten years ago reaches your brain, because you gradually realize there is no way that statement could be true. Mountains are not made in a thousand years, or three. They come into being on a time scale no mortal being could imagine- millions and millions of years. Don't they? "N-no, there's no way that's true." You shake your head. "How would that be true?" ''THIS IS A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN THE HISTORY OF YOUR PEOPLE'', it turns back to face you. ''AND YET. YOU HAVE FORGOTTEN IT.'' //Well, no shit.// You think the birth of an entire mountain range would be a pretty significant event. Not that you're all too convinced this happened in the first place. Before you can voice these opinions, though, it asks a question. ''WHAT ARE YOU TAUGHT? ABOUT THE MOUNTAINS- ABOUT THE SPINE?'' > [["The Spine has always been there. It's an uncrossable border, and we're taught to stay away from its slopes."|recount]] > [["Some believe the Spine separates us from an old rival. That the fate of the dragons is to breach the mountains and take the southern country- but that's bullshit, and that gets you killed."|conspiracy]] >[[There are too many opinions on the subject. You shrug.|evade question]]

The creature listens as you give a rather common-sense explanation. There is nothing inherently mystical about the Spine of the World. It is a mountain range, albeit a particularly dangerous one. Some dragons will tell you it was artifically created- put there to stop your enemies from wiping you out entirely. Some will tell you it was put there to stop you from claiming the whole continent for yourselves. Nobody can agree- is there land beyond the Spine? Is there a southern country? If there is, anyone who knows anything about it is long dead and buried. It's much more likely that there isn't- that fringe groups will be as conspiratorial as always. That they'll make shit up for their own gain. //Stop//. You don't want to think about this right now. ''I SEE.'' It speaks after a moment, inclining its head slightly. You feel like you've answered incorrectly. "How could a mountain- how could so many mountains spring out of nothing?" You press after a beat of silence, feeling a little unsatisfied with the answer it has given you. "That doesn't happen. And- and how would //you// even know?" ''I WAS THERE.'' It says simply, with a smugness you find really annoying. ''AND I CAN SHOW YOU, TOO.'' //Of course you were.// Despite your annoyance at the predictability of its answer, something strange stirs within your chest. Dragons do not have gods. You have not had gods since time immemorial- there are always whispers of a world before this was the case, sure, and there is some proof that perhaps you were once a religious people- and you do not have it in you to believe in a higher power. And yet, what is this all-knowing... thing? Claiming to be older than the rocks you stand on, rocks you know logically have to be incredibly old? //Hm. // What do you have to lose, anyway? You take a step closer to it, deliberately looking away from the dizzying sight below. "Alright," you say- it is already moving toward you again, breaking into a run- "Show me." It leaps forward, just to your left, wings unfurling, arms outstretched as if to grab hold of you and pull you along. And, unsurprisingly, it does just that- the second its hand meets your arm, everything spins into nothingness. You shut your eyes, and you feel cold. >[[...|vision2]]

The creature listens intently as you explain, growing increasingly agitated, the long-held superstition that //something//- an ancient rival, a "promised" land, unimaginable riches or horrors or whatever else- lies in wait just beyond the white peaks of the Spine. Most dragons do not give such beliefs much weight. It is far more likely that the Spine is nothing more than a mountain range- a very dangerous one, sure, but a mountain range nonetheless. But as of late, such fringe beliefs have become all too common. In greater society, yes, but also in the sanctity of your own home. You hate them, and you especially hate the fact that you may be proving them correct. Just under a year ago, your twin brother began taking special interest in the supposed land beyond the mountains. It consumed him, became his only waking thought. Ripped apart a relationship some twenty years in the making, one that'd begun before either of you were born. Took away your closest friend. Suddenly, you want to go home. //Stop. I don't want to think about this right now.// You blink back unexpected tears. Your companion listens to your needlessly passionate response and then tilts its head, curiosity evidently piqued. ''I SEE''. It says, slowly. ''MAYBE THIS TOUCHES A NERVE FOR YOU.'' An awkward beat of silence. You look away. The anger is fading, and now you just feel a little lame about your outburst. ''I CAN CLEAR IT ALL UP FOR YOU, IF YOU WOULD LIKE. I WAS THERE, WHEN THE MOUNTAINS WERE MADE.'' Despite your annoyance at the predictability of its answer, something strange stirs within your chest. Dragons do not have gods. You have not had gods since time immemorial- there are always whispers of a world before this was the case, sure, and there is some proof that perhaps you were once a religious people- and you do not have it in you to believe in a higher power. And yet, what is this all-knowing... thing? Claiming to be older than the rocks you stand on, rocks you know logically have to be incredibly old? //Hm. // What do you have to lose, anyway? You take a step closer to it, deliberately looking away from the dizzying sight below. "Alright," you say- it is already moving toward you again, breaking into a run- "Show me." It leaps forward, just to your left, wings unfurling, arms outstretched as if to grab hold of you and pull you along. And, unsurprisingly, it does just that- the second its hand meets your arm, everything spins into nothingness. You shut your eyes, and you feel cold. >[[...|vision2]]

You don't want to get into it right now, and you aren't sure what you'd say, anyway. There is a majority opinion, sure, but also a multitude of alternative viewpoints you really don't want to go down. The creature regards you curiously, still waiting for an answer you don't want to give. "I don't know." You say, deflecting. "Everybody believes something different. I don't know what to think." ''VERY WELL.'' It says after a moment, perhaps realizing you aren't going to give any ground. ''WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW THE TRUTH?'' You look down at the landscape below, at sprawling hills and valleys that no longer exist. It feels strange- you are not sure if you believe anything this thing has told you, but if it is true... perhaps you are looking down at a world that no longer exists. A bigger world than you have ever known. "How would you know?" You ask, tentative. It radiates a frankly annoying smugness, as if it was hoping you would ask this question. ''WELL. I WAS THERE.'' //Of course you were.// Despite your annoyance at the predictability of its answer, something strange stirs within your chest. You want to believe it. Dragons do not have gods. You have not had gods since time immemorial- there are always whispers of a world before this was the case, sure, and there is some proof that perhaps you were once a religious people- and you do not have it in you to believe in a higher power. And yet, what is this all-knowing... thing? Claiming to be older than the rocks you stand on, rocks you know logically have to be incredibly old? //Hm. // What do you have to lose, anyway? You take a step closer to it, deliberately looking up from the dizzying sight below. "Alright," you say- it is already moving toward you again, breaking into a run- "Show me." It leaps forward, just to your left, wings unfurling, arms outstretched as if to grab hold of you and pull you along. And, unsurprisingly, it does just that- the second its hand meets your arm, everything spins into nothingness. You shut your eyes, and you feel cold. >[[...|vision2]]

An earth-shattering //''BANG''// jolts you back to your senses this time- decidedly less pleasant than the last. You look around, your heart pounding in your chest- the creature is there, of course- and you realize something. You are looking up at it now. You are standing on two legs. "Hey," you say, rounding on it, fists clenched by your sides, "I didn't shapeshift. What did you do to me?" ''CALM DOWN.'' It sounds exasperated. ''THIS IS A VISION. I CAN TURN YOU INTO WHATEVER I WANT. IT HAS NO BEARING ON YOUR REAL BODY.'' You bristle and part of you wants to say something worse, but you settle. "Why?" And you do not get an answer. ''LOOK AROUND. WHAT DO YOU SEE?'' You feel like an unwilling participant on the world's shittiest field trip. With a teacher you hate. But you comply, because you don't really have anything else to do- the surrounding landscape is vaguely forested with thin, scraggly-looking trees. Some of them look as though they've recently survived a fire. It's humid and warm in a gross, sticky-hot sort of way. Water is rushing nearby, and the ground is strangely wet underfoot. "A swamp." You say, begrudgingly. Correct answer, seemingly. It nods. "What was that noise?" You press, still feeling vaguely nervous. "And why won't you let me fly? Are you going to walk me somewhere?" It gives you a look that suggests it finds your questions terribly bothersome and simply drops one of its wings, motioning for you to climb atop its back. //No way.// ''GET ON. I WILL SHOW YOU.'' "Come on." You feel like a child. Maybe you should stomp your foot for emphasis. "I can fly myself-" ''NO''. It beams this into your skull with such force it actually kind of hurts''. YOU NEED TO BE PUT IN THEIR SHOES. YOU NEED TO SEE IT FROM ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE.'' Now it's just spouting nonsense. You hesitate. "What- whose shoes?" ''GET ON.'' Unfortunately for you, this makes you very curious. So you swallow your pride and reach out to grab the back of its neck- you half expect your hand to fall right through it, but it doesn't (it feels oddly cold)- and pull yourself up, swinging one leg over its back. This is all vaguely humiliating to you, personally, but it's not like you have an alternative. It waits for you to get situated, then unfurls both wings and launches into the air without much of a warning- you kick it rather pointedly in the shoulder once it levels off, but it doesn't seem bothered. It flies with a strange, unpracticed stiffness- as if it doesn't do this often- and you find the whole sensation deeply unpleasant. The both of you had indeed been in a swamp- or a wetland, or whatever you wanted to call it- and a huge one at that. The river meanders ahead of you, leaving the cover of the trees and winding on into an endless expanse of grassland and hills. The sun is setting, bathing the land in a golden light. In the distance, something- a collection of man-made buildings, maybe a city- looms on a hill taller than the rest. Its sillhouette is unlike that of any place you remember seeing. Several rather pleasant moments pass by in silence. Small towns are becoming more common as you move along. You watch the landscape pass by below and the city on the hill approach, and nothing much seems amiss- //except// for the occasional black stain, as though a patch of grass had once caught fire. These are increasing in frequency, actually. You tap the side of the creature's neck and it turns its head slightly. "What made th-" Before you can finish your question, it is answered. There is a familiar whistling somewhere above and behind you, and then a rush of wind as a pair of gargantuan wings flap just over your head. A huge black dragon, easily as large as your mother or father, passes the two of you by at an impressive clip. You shrink back, feeling very small all of a sudden. It angles its wings down and you realize it's made a beeline for a cluster of small houses far below you, surrounded by man-made fields. //Oh.// As you watch, it glides low and opens its jaws to bathe the village in white-hot flame. It does the same to the surrounding farm, and you can hear someone screaming, the sound fading into the distance as the creature continues onward. Ahead of you, the city on the hill rises- and it is immediately evident something is wrong. Here, smoke billows from the ruins of a destroyed tower, and you are dismayed to see several more of our kind swarming over the hillside, torching it indiscriminantly. You swallow the knot in your throat. > [[//Why are they doing this?//|them]]

Your companion has brought you just before what appears to be the city's outer walls. The both of you have a good vantage point from here- not that you really want to see the action, though. Maybe this is just something it's making up to prove a point to you. Maybe. You watch, unable to look away, as an armored dragon folds its wings into a dive and makes for a cluster of humanoid figures standing atop the wall. Dread collects in your chest, in your stomach, as it hurtles toward them- but the expected outcome does not come to pass. At the last second, one of them drops to the floor and a dome of light erupts from the ground around the group. The dragon collides with this... conjuration with an audible //CLANG//, its metal armor evidently ruined, and struggles to stay aloft for a few moments, shaking its head as though dazed. It attempts to bite at the shield, jaws snapping shut in vain, and then lets loose a jet of fire- again, to no avail. Frustrated, it bellows something in a language you are surprised to vaguely understand- perhaps you are in a time where more than three people spoke Old Draconic, though the thought of this makes you strangely uncomfortable- and attempts to flee. You watch its human opponents curiously now, fixing your full attention on them for the first time. There is something odd about their silhouettes, you think, but they are far too small for you to make out any details. One of them- the same one who conjured the dome, seemingly- retracts their shield and winds an arm back as though preparing to throw something. And they do, sending a glowing bullet of blinding light whistling through the air in pursuit of their assailant. It strikes the dragon between the wings and it falters mid-flight, flapping frantically but ultimately crashing to the ground below. ''THIS IS BUT ONE EVENT IN A SERIES OF WARS YOUR KIND FOUGHT AGAINST THE SOUTHERN COUNTRY.'' The creature finally speaks again, giving you a reason to look away. ''THEY SPANNED CENTURIES WITHOUT END.'' "What are they fighting about?" You ask, though the question feels a little juvenile. Another series of bangs erupts below the two of you, and you flinch. ''CONTROL OF THE CONTINENT.'' It sounds somber, the voice in your head. Regretful, as though it had a personal stake in this. You lean forward a little, curious. It turns its head away, staring at the destruction below the two of you for a moment. Another tower is ablaze, higher up the hill. Every few seconds, light erupts from the city streets far below. A struggle with no end, it seems. ''I THINK YOU HAVE SEEN ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND.'' Without any further warning, you are plunged into cold water for the third time in a very short time. Only this time, it feels like you've resurfaced on the other side. > [[...|woman]]

You blink in confusion for a few seconds, half expecting to open your eyes and find yourself at the bottom of the ocean or something similarly insane. Instead, you are back in the cave. You look down and are greeted with the familiar sight of red scales and four legs, and inexplicably feel relieved- it wasn't real, then. Good. The creature it again sitting atop the raised rock in the center of the room, front legs crossed. It stands up as you approach, the tip of its tail twitching. ''SO, YOU SEE. I MADE THE SPINE TO PUT AN END TO THE FIGHTING. PULLED IT OUT OF NOTHING. IT TOOK A GREAT DEAL FROM ME.'' As it says this, it begins glowing. Its features blur and you realize, belatedly, that it is changing shape again. You take a nervous half-step back, blinking in the harsh light, but it is over before you have a chance to really react. This form is very different. Your companion stares back at you with a white-eyed gaze set in a startlingly human face- a human woman, some six feet tall. She is wearing a floor-length dress fashioned from a terrifyingly golden fabric that seems to ripple and move as though alive. It runs up over one shoulder, tied at the waist a chain made of solid gold. Her ears are pierced no less than four times each, along with her nose, and an array of necklaces and bracelets catch the light in impossible ways, clattering together when she moves. Tattoos cover her shoulders and the top of her chest, white as the creature has been in contrast with her dark skin. But perhaps most impressive are the solid white wings that erupt from her back, feathered and looking for all the world like they'd been ripped straight off of a swan. Rays of light pool behind her, changing and shifting. She is the sun condensed and made human. She is so beautiful, you think you might understand why people believe in something divine- you find it hard to stop staring. ''YOUR KIND AND THEIRS WERE BOTH ONCE MY CHILDREN.'' She says this in the flat, monotone voice of the creature, seemingly unbothered by your slack-jawed stare. She gestures with a hand and something like sand follows her fingers, coalescing in a symbol that resembles a stylized sun. ''THIS IS THE FORM IN WHICH I APPEARED TO THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM. TO THEM, I WAS THE GODDESS OF THE SUN.'' She brushes the symbol aside and the sand obeys her, reforming into an image of a crescent moon. ''LONG AGO, YOUR PEOPLE KNEW ME AS THE GODDESS OF THE MOON. YOU WERE TWIN CHILDREN TO ME, AND I LOVED YOU EACH IN TURN.'' Her brow furrows- you find it a little surprising that it seems to show emotion in this form- and she brushes this symbol aside, too. Golden sand falls to her feet. ''MY GIFTS- OF MAGIC AND FLIGHT, AND OF THE DRACONIC FORM- PROVED DISASTROUS. YOU FOUGHT AND I COULD NOT BEAR TO WATCH IT ANY LONGER, SO I CREATED THE SPINE.'' You are beginning to understand, if a little reluctantly. You never thought you'd be put in a position where your atheism was proven wrong, but here you are. If this woman- this thing, the creature- is God, or a god, you'd still be hard pressed to show her any kind of reverence. But perhaps you get it, now. Before you say anything, she continues. ''BUT THINGS ARE CHANGING.'' She fixes you with a hard, white-eyed stare. ''I LET A TEMPORARY SOLUTION BECOME PERMANENT. TOO LONG I HAVE BEEN AVOIDING THE PROBLEM I CREATED.'' It surprises you that God could have made such a grave error. Perhaps the pious few dragons still alive are wrong about that part. For your part, you find it almost a little pathetic- the most powerful being in the world, hiding in the mountains it created rather than solving the problem it caused in the first place? "So... what do I have to do with this?" You ask, and she seems pleased with your question. She raises a hand and points at the far wall- the rock there seems to buckle and crack, and a passage forms in a matter of seconds. When you look back at your companion, the woman is gone. Instead, a featureless white bird sits in her place. The first form it met you in, back outside. It takes flight, circling you a couple of times, and leads you to the new tunnel. You think you know where this is going. It flies a short distance in and looks back at you expectantly, hovering in midair. ''COME.'' > [[Go.|outside]] > [[Roll your eyes- //this again?//- but follow.|reluctant]]

The two of you traverse the remainder of the tunnel in a flash, and soon you find yourself back outside. Blinding sunlight greets you as you crest a particularly steep slope and emerge onto a treeless, nearly grassless outcrop. The air is thin. The gravity of it all has finally started to properly hit you. The wind up here is cold- looking just up the slope, you can see snow on the ground. You are near the summit. You are at the very top of the world. Before you can understandably freak out about this, your companion turns to you. ''HERE, I LEAVE YOU.'' It extends one small wing out, as if gesturing to the horizon before both of you. You don't say anything for a moment. You know what you are apparently meant to do- or you think you do- but can't help but feel like a little more guidance is warranted. "Is that it?" You ask, taking a step toward it. "Not going to give me any, like, quests? Tasks? Things to look out for?" It tilts its head at you, like it hadn't even considered this. ''NO.'' It says after a moment, rather decisively. ''I HAVE MEDDLED ENOUGH. WHATEVER COMES TO PASS SHOULD BE IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE.'' Part of you wants to laugh. This seems like an on-brand answer for this thing, even if you admittedly never would have expected God to be so afraid of taking any kind of action. A beat of silence follows, and then it seems to amend, ''BUT IF YOU NEED A STARTING POINT, I SUPPOSE YOU MAY WANT TO HEAD SOUTHWEST.'' //There you go.// You nod, following its pointed feather out to the horizon line. The land stretches out before the both of you, impossibly vast. And entirely alien to you. A river glitters far below, blue as it snakes through grassland and forest on its southbound path. A river you don't even know the name of, in a country untouched by your kind for millennia. Something like nervousness momentarily twists through your gut, but you aren't given any time to dwell on the feeling. There is no turning back- not yet, anyway. And even if it's a fool's errand, there is something pulling you... > [[Prepare to take flight.|leave]] > [[Say goodbye.|goodbye]]

You hesitate for a few seconds, vaguely annoyed with this thing's apparent return to form, and it seems to take notice. It lands and hops a few steps closer. ''SHOULD YOU NOT WANT TO, I SUPPOSE I CAN RETURN YOU TO THE OTHER SIDE...'' It trails off, as if waiting for you to interject. You pause, unsure. "The other side" implies that this tunnel is going to take you beyond the Spine. Much as you wanted to run away, you aren't quite sure if you wanted to go //that// far. The thought of never seeing your mother and father again is not exactly appealing. But on the other hand... Remembering the vision- the fire, the destruction, the strange city and the people on the other side- you feel impossibly curious. And if you are being given a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see it, how could you say no? "Will I ever be able to come back?" You ask. You feel small in the mouth of the new tunnel, and the question only amplifies this feeling. As a bird, it is significantly less expressive (not that it really was in its other forms, but still)- but you still get something like amusement coming from it. ''YES. '' It says, after a beat of silence. ''YOU WILL HAVE SAFE PASSAGE WHENEVER YOU WISH IT. BUT YOU ALONE, AND NO ONE ELSE.'' You feel relieved- like a weight has been lifted from your chest and you can breathe again. In that case, you have no problem going- and perhaps this is a naive feeling. Those magic users in the vision seemed pretty powerful. But you aren't even considering this right now, bounding up the tunnel in pursuit of the white bird. It's a shorter distance than you expected, especially for how long the descent felt- but you aren't going to question it. > [[You leave the cave.|outside]]

You don't think there is anything left to say. The creature seems to agree. It inclines its chin at you, tucks its little wings back in. And then it's disappearing again, right before your eyes- fading into a mist that dissipates into the surrounding sparse grass with a rush of cold air. //Huh.// Perhaps you should have said goodbye, or something- even if a large part of you knows you'll probably end up seeing it again. It's time to leave. You spread both wings- the wind rushes under them instantly, blowing up fast from the cliff face below. It is oddly warm. Perhaps you ought to have given it a second thought- now, or a multitude of other times today. But that wouldn't really be like you, would it? You crouch, exhale, and leap forward with a practiced downward flap. A new beginning in the mundane (for you) action of taking flight- a single shuffled step forward on the arduous journey toward peace. High on the mountainside above you, the creature watches, unseen by you. A clawed hand curls nervously in on itself, it coils its serpentine tail around in knots. For better or for worse- this is in your hands now. > [[Back to start.|start]] [[...|glimpse]]

"Okay," you say, trying to fight the anxious feeling rising in your chest, "I guess I'm off." You aren't sure what else to say, but you've always hated an awkward silence, so you add- "I'll see you. Or not, I guess. But I have a feeling you'll be watching whether I like it or not." Your companion- the creature, God, what have you- dips its little head and then, perhaps predictably... ''THINGS ARE CHANGING.'' Another cryptic statement, even as its edges blur with the surrounding near-white of the sky, the clouds, the patches of snow on the ground. In a heartbeat, it is gone- though you still hear: ''IT IS ABOUT TIME. GOOD LUCK.'' Silence follows. Your ears feel a little clearer, strangely- had the wind always been so loud? No matter. You shake your head and spread both wings- the wind rushes under them instantly, blowing up fast from the cliff face below. It is oddly warm. Perhaps you ought to have given it a second thought- now, or a multitude of other times today. But that wouldn't really be like you, would it? You crouch, exhale, and leap forward with a practiced downward flap. A new beginning in the mundane (for you) action of taking flight- a single shuffled step forward on the arduous journey toward peace. High on the mountainside above you, the creature watches, unseen by you. A clawed hand curls nervously in on itself, it coils its serpentine tail around in knots. For better or for worse- this is in your hands now. > [[Back to start.|start]] [[...|glimpse]]

It is the top of a painfully ordinary summer morning, yet another graced by the warm rays of the titular patron deity of the City of the Sun. It is a little too warm, if anyone's being honest- perhaps she could stand to turn it down a bit. Cool it off. But life went on, as it always did, accompanied by the occasional much-appreciated wayward breeze and the incessant rattling of a ceiling fan that really needed to be put out of its misery. In her study on the billionth floor of an impressive stone castle- or palace, or whatever you wanted to call it- one vaguely overworked High Princess sets down the pen she's been wearing out for the past several days. It is out of ink, and her notes are only half done- why she bothers taking them at all is anyone's guess, given that she knows all of this already- but refilling it would require going downstairs. One of those aforementioned godsent cool breezes blows in through the open window behind her- one of many, perhaps one million, as is customary in this country- and she turns her chair to look outside. The city stretches out below, a metropolis of winding roads bisected by the insistent southward course of the river. Something catches her eye, just off to the left- a pair of falcons seems to have made a nest high atop the castle walls, in a crack nobody had thought to patch. One of the parents glides easily past her window with nothing more than a cursory flap, disappearing around the bend. Probably heading for the gardens in search of a mouse or two for its mate, or perhaps newborn chicks. She didn't get a good enough look at it- though all Aurelian falcons begin nesting in mid-spring, some of the eggs take longer to hatch than others. No telling what species it'd been. Disappointing. She turns back to her work, less motivated than ever. It's been a minute since she found the time to venture outside. She rolls the pen between her fingers, indecisive for a half-second, and then tosses it back onto the desk and pulls open a stubborn drawer to reveal a pair of slightly dusty binoculars. Without much of a second thought, she reaches for the well-loved leather strap and pulls them free. Perhaps it's a good day to slack off- just the once. The sun is warm, the wind is calling. And you never know what you might find out there, after all. > [[This is a bonus page. Click to head back to start.||start]]