She had checked, and double-checked, the shrine of slumber. She had even caught herself picking up tiny pebbles and looking underneath them in desperation. It was no use.
The girl and the old man were gone, and it was all because of that luscious two-layer fudgey piece of chocolate cake delight. She had been so busy eating it, and reveling in its tasty goodness, that she had been late for her temple duties.
Still... she thought to herself reasonably, Late or not, they shouldn't have escaped. They never have BEFORE! Her head was spinning. Never, in her entire twenty-nine years of being raised to watch over the shrine, had she considered the possibility that the inhabitants would get up and walk out someday.
She had to find them. She had to. Things had to be explained properly.
But first, she figured, a bit more cake couldn't hurt.
******
Lagrey chuckled to himself lecherously. He knew, somewhere deep down, that what he was about to do wasn't right. However, a voice inside him slightly closer to the surface was encouraging him to do it anyway.
Which was why the young Winger was creeping down the nigh-empty gangplanks of Duck Village in the early, early morning. He figured if he rose at this bleak hour, when no one else was around, he could go over to his neighbors' house, where the strange guests he and Donny had awoken were staying, and sit next to a window.
A window in which he would catch a glimpse of the gorgeous sleeping beauty who had haunted his every waking moment since he had laid eyes on her. He knew exactly how it would play out, too---he would sit at the windowsill and admire her perfect features until she awoke, once more, just like the first time. Rising from the bed in her gauzy, transluscent nightie, she would let the garment slip off her shoulders and float to the floor like liquid cloth. Turning, she would notice him, and become abashed, of course, but he would reassure her, tenderly, that he meant nothing but good will towards her. Weeping, his maiden beauty would nod, smiling, and fly into his waiting arms. He forced himself internally that he would not drool under any circumstances, lest she flee, thinking him some kind of pervert.
Trembling with joy, he reached the window in question. Sure enough, it was open, its curtains flapping in the breeze. Sneaking stealthily, his sweaty palms gripped the sill with anticipation that could scarcely be described. Screwing his eyes shut to savor the suspense for a moment, Lagrey went over in his mind various things he could say to the girl to declare his love to her. There was just something captivating about her that he wanted to grasp so badly.
The trouble was, he discovered as he opened his eyes, she was gone.
The Winger's anguished moans threatened to wake up half the neighborhood.
******
Sarah's head was spinning as she ran through the thick brush of the outskirts of Kuput Forest. It wasn't from dizziness or lack of breath. It was just that there were so many things on her mind.
The dreams had returned the previous night, as she had feared they might. Those eyes, never blinking. It made her shudder even in the waking light.
The light, of course, was still dim. She and Crowley had set out from Duck Village as early as they had dared. Which brought her to another matter plaguing her.
She didn't recognize the terrain at all, and it was beginning to worry her immensely. What had happened to she and Crowley? She only remembered bits and pieces, but it was slowly coming back to her.
"This could have been a bad plan." Crowley admitted to her as he walked beside her. She felt really bad, but she found herself trying to avoid looking at him. He looked fine, really, but she couldn't get the image of him as a wizened old man out of her brain. How shameful! Crowley had done nothing to deserve this. She made a firm resolution to stop her silly behavior at once, lest she hurt his feelings.
"W-what, why?" she asked him worriedly.
"Well, I don't think staying for breakfast would have hurt." he said with a wry smile. She returned his smile half-heartedly.
"I don't know if I could have eaten... not until we get to the bottom of this..." she said, her brow furrowing.
"Quit that," he chided. "You're gonna permanently squish up that pretty face of yours if you keep frowning like that." Crowley grinned mischeviously, but Sarah knew he had been frowning just as much, if not more. He wasn't one to come out and say that, though.
"Besides," Crowley continued, "It's gonna be a long while until we eat if that's the attitude you have. I don't even recognize this..." he said, taking on the look she had just had.
"It...it can't have been more than a few...a few months! At the most..." Sarah said, trying to be optimistic. "No, no, of course. We can't have been asleep long. We're just not...just not used to Duck Village, that's all. They must have taken us an odd way."
"We'll find Arana Cane any time now." Crowley agreed, not believing a word coming from his own mouth.
******
"I don't suppose one more piece of cake could hurt me," Naerie rationalized, seven pieces later. She sat in her favorite place in all of Alma Kinan--the bakery. She probably owed her recent weight gain to the baker, Laura, but she kept telling herself that she owed a great deal of enjoyment due to damn good cake to the woman, too.
Unfortunately, her internal debate was interrupted by the appearance of her mother, Yaerie, which was actually quite jarring. Her mother had been the last keeper of the Shrine of Slumber, and Naerie hadn't exactly told her about the loss of its patrons, yet. The pastry shelf had been far too enticing!
"Naerie, is everything all right?" her mother asked. She was a tall, slim woman gracefully slipping into middle age. She wore a traditional Alma-Kinan style outfit, though perhaps one more suited to her age group, with a crest of their family upon it as well.
"Umm...not exactly." Naerie said. She figured she may as well get it out in the open. Lying would only get her killed.
"What do you mean? I saw you run into the village as if you'd seen a ghost or something." Yaerie asked, frowning.
"It was more like...didn't see." Naerie said vaguely, avoiding eye contact with her mother. She was a grown woman, and she still feared this interrogation! How pathetic I am, she thought.
"...what??"
Naerie launched into her explanation of the old man and girl's absence from the shrine. Luckily, her mother wasn't angry, but rather, surprised.
"What on earth do you mean? They're ...not there??" Yaerie gasped, stunned.
"Um, yes." Naerie said. "Perhaps they...left?"
Then came the anger. Ooops.
"LEFT?! Haven't you been taught anything, Naerie? If those two that we've been watching over suddenly disappeared, why on EARTH are you here, eating cake?! They need you now more than ever! Go find them! Now!!" Yaerie exploded.
"Y-yes, of course!" Naerie cried, running out of the bakery.
"That girl...." Yaerie sighed. "I certainly hope I taught her better than that. What does she think we've been doing all this time? It burns me up to think that..." She paused, glancing at the table. "I suppose someone should finish up this cake. It will go to waste just sitting here, and cake usually calms me down."
She picked up a fork.
Yes. That's the ticket.
******
"It's an absolute travesty, Donny!" Lagrey fumed, storming back and forth at the fringe of Duck Village. "Someone has abducted the Sleeping Beauty from her very bed! And I won't allow it!!" He held a defiant finger aloft.
"I think you're overreacting, quack." Donny replied calmly, "Maybe she and her friend just left early."
"That's not possible!" Lagrey said tearfully. "She wouldn't have left yet! She never said goodbye to ME!"
"She barely knows you, Grey..."
"Silence! I just know something bad happened!" the winger insisted stubbornly.
"I suppose you're going to drag me all over looking for her, right, quack?" Donny said with a face that calmly appeared to accept this coming abuse as commonplace.
"I love her, Donny! I don't even know her name, but I love her! Can't you see how devoted I am??" Lagrey said, a dramatic wind blowing in from across the lake.
"You're a stalker, quack." Donny muttered to himself, "And her name was Sarah. Short-term memory loss?"
"SWEET SARAH! I SHALL RESCUE YOU, I PROMISE!!!" The Winger proclaimed to the sky. Donny thought he was making a fool out of himself as usual, but followed him anyway as he left the village in a hurry.
The hunt was on.
******
Sarah's legs were starting to feel like lead. She knew she had been walking for quite a while, but something was terribly wrong.
Her whole body was beginning to feel lethargic. She found herself yawning more often than she should have.
"...Crowley...are you feeling, um...well?" she asked, fishing for a response. If he felt the same...
"I'm kinda...tired." he said quietly.
...They were in trouble.
"So am I. What's going on? We both got a good night's sleep!" Sarah reasoned aloud. Quite frankly, they had gotten more than enough sleep between them.
"I don't know." Crowley said, but didn't continue, which was standard for him. Not thinking about it made it go away as far as he was concerned, and aside from that, he was keeping his eyes peeled for familiar landmarks.
As luck would have it, they found one.
"Wait, look!" the young mage shouted, holding out his purple-clad arm to halt her. He pointed. Through the tall grass, the familiar marking meandered silently.
"That...river..." Sarah breathed. She remembered that river! They were close, now!
"It hasn't changed at all in..." Crowley began joyously, trailing off as he didn't want to dwell on how long that might have been.
"I'm...I'm not certain of the way from here, still," Sarah said, "But we have a better idea, now."
They stopped walking, merely watching the river for a few minutes. Sarah suddenly noticed a small bit of movement down by the bank of the water.
A happy little toad was hopping around, blissfully unaware of all the troubles in the world. But as soon as it saw them, its eyes grew to massively grave proportions. It seemed to have an important message, as if it yearned to speak to them.
That, or it had simply inhaled too much cigar smoke in recent weeks.
"Something tells me...we need to follow that toad..." Sarah murmured. She had a keen sense about these things. They had to follow it. Sure enough, once eye contact had been made, the toad dutifully hopped away, across the river, stone-to-stone. Sarah tugged on Crowley's robes, and they pursued the amphibian.
On they walked, the terrain becoming more memory-evoking as they went. On the toad hopped, leading them for reasons unknown. But Sarah trusted in it, with all her heart.
As they got closer to Arana Cane, they ran faster. Sarah's soul was bursting to know what had happened to everyone. The wind blew in their faces and though they got scratched or their clothes got a bit torn on branches of trees and other things growing in the tall grass outside the forest, they didn't care. They were almost home!
As the toad made its final leap, and the grasses parted, revealing the end of the road, it was a moment not to be forgotten. A moment where any traveler, having reached their destination, would be hard-pressed not to gasp in surprise or sigh in relief.
Unfortunately for the moment, Sarah and Crowley had suddenly collapsed and snored peacefully in the tall grass, asleep.
******
Sarah and Crowley's tracks weren't hard to identify. They had taken the most inconvenient path through the fringe tall grass around Kuput, as someone who had lost their way might have done. Lagrey was ecstatic, as now he knew nothing could keep him from finding her.
"Grey," Donny said less ecstatically, his eyes widening, "You know what territory we're entering, right?? This is bad, quack!"
"Don't worry, Donny." Grey replied reassuringly. "I'm just taking a shortcut, or, rather, following this path. Which isn't short at all."
"I lost you, there." the duck replied, huffing and puffing as he changed his axe to the other hand for a while.
"I'm blinded by love!" Lagrey explained, explaining nothing.
"Lagrey!" Donny chided severely, "There is scarcely a Clan in Grassland whose turf rules are stricter than THEM! They'll eat us alive!"
"Technically they're not a 'Clan'..." Lagrey replied casually, continuing to run madly through the grass. The duck sighed. He couldn't win this, but they were likely to have their bodies badly broken if he didn't.
Suddenly the duck noticed the grass rustling beside them. Too late! They were doomed.
"Run, Grey, they're here! They're heeeere, quaaack!" he wailed, waddling as fast as he could.
"The Whorde's kung-fu hooker assassins!" The Winger gasped, as they all simultaneously leapt from their hiding spots through the air onto the trail, barring the way.
To most of the rest of the world, the Prostitute Syndicate, or as the urban legends called them, the 'Whorde', was purely a myth. Grasslanders near Arana Cane Clan knew better than that. They existed, and in the worst way. And they were very territorial.
All clad in animal skins and growling with a primal rage as they clutched their spears and poles possessively, the Whorde attacked...with a vengeance! Indeed, this branch of the organization was said to be the most vicious.
"It's the Winger!" the cry went up. Oh, did I mention they knew Lagrey, and not in a happy, loving way?
"Can't we just be friends, you guys? Let's let bygones be--ack!" Grey feebly protested, ducking a swipe from one of the kung-fu hookers.
Lagrey frantically tried to remember the last encounter he had had with these women---what had he done to escape?? Ah, yes. In tune with nature, the kung-fu hookers had vowed to unleash the power of their inner 'chi'---some horrid move that involved the spreading of legs and a white-hot fireball of energy bursting forth---and had spent so much time powering up that he had been able to slip away in the confusion. Somehow, he doubted that would work as well a second time.
"So, how 'bout that chi, eh?" he tried anyway.
"Yes! The inner chi!" a hooker with tiger stripes painted all over her skin cried just as he had hoped.
"No, wait!" another shouted, halting her. "This is a trick! He will just escape like last time!"
Dang! Time for...PLAN B.
"Ladies! I have for you... a tasty duck for feasting!" Lagrey announced. A sharp cry of protest arose from Donny. Lagrey held up his hand to silence his friend. "However! If we are to roast it properly, I need a bonfire! Bring me kindling, and let us make...peace!" He exhaled, breathing heavily, crossing his fingers.
"...Yes! Kindling!" the hookers shouted after a pause. "Get kindling!"
In all honestly, kung-fu hookers were not the brightest people in Grassland. As they scattered to find some kindling, Lagrey grinned widely, and grabbed Donny's sleeve, dragging the duck onward down the trail.
******
Sarah's eyes fluttered open. She was being cradled in someone's arms---who? She looked up, drowsy. Her father's face gazed down at her, smiling. She sighed in relief. She was okay! She was home.
Suddenly, her father was cut down by---she screamed. The eyes, the eyes! Would their incessant stare never go away!? She struggled to get away, shrieking. The eyes were replaced by a new set. They were different---like sparkling jewels. Pretty, but still cold as ice. The owner of the new eyes laughed a cruel, mocking laugh. Sarah just wanted to run... run away...
"Sarah, Sarah! It's okay... it's just me!" said the Winger who was cradling her in his arms, gently. She blinked, looking up at him. The sun was shining. The eyes were gone, and the terror who wore them had vanished as well.
"W-where...what happened? Where's my father??" Sarah asked, looking around desperately. Lagrey shook his head, his eyes filled with kindness, and maybe just a bit of lust. If you looked in the right light. Really, he wasn't lusting. He was being kind!
"I think you just had a bad dream, Sarah. That's all." Lagrey replied. Donny's nasal voice floated over from somewhere beside her.
"He's just waking up here, too, Grey..." he said. Sarah sat up, and looked over. The duck was standing over Crowley, waiting as the young man left the land of dreams.
"We're here, though, aren't we?" Sarah wondered aloud. "We're home! In Arana Cane Village..."
"I don't know what that is, but if it's here, I don't see anything..." the Winger replied. Sarah stood up, using her staff to help her to her feet. She looked around.
This is it! I know it! she told herself. But then...why couldn't she see anything? Instead of houses, there was nothing. Bits and pieces of leftover rubble sat in the grass, which was terribly overgrown. Everything was.
"C-Crowley...?" she stammered, trembling. He looked around, his eyes wide.
"Sarah, I..." But he had nothing to say. He was speechless.
The silence was interrupted by the croaking sound of a toad. Sarah turned and saw the toad who had led them there, sitting on top of some kind of stone slab that was covered in dust and weeds. Silently, she walked over to the slab, which was jutting out of the ground at a crooked angle. Something was carved into it.
On this day, I find myself praying for the souls of the lost. Such destruction I have never seen. Let this marker stand forever in memory for the people of Arana Cane Clan. Never forget.
Laerie, Alma Kinan Clan.
"What is it, Sarah?" Crowley's voice came from behind her. She barely heard him. Her entire body had gone numb.
Sarah didn't understand it. She had seen her father! Why wasn't he here, to greet her? What was this marker from, and why did it looked so old? It wasn't fair! She wanted to know so badly. Everything was on the tip of her memories, out of reach.
Crowley came over and read the marker.
"This...this...this thing isn't true! Someone's playing a joke on us, Sarah!" Crowley said in a weird voice. He laughed, but it was a horrible laugh. "Someone's...playing a joke..." he repeated.
"Lagrey, this ain't good." the duck whispered, intending not to be heard, but he was loud enough Sarah heard him anyway. "These things here look like grave markers..."
"Oh my goodness! I found you at last...!" a voice called across the field of rubble and weeds. They all turned to see a woman running at them like something very important depended on it. She was somewhat heavyset, and wore what they all recognized as traditional tribal garb of the Alma Kinan Clan. She had brown hair that she wore in a long braid, and a kind, soft face. Her chocolate eyes were wide with excitement, and she carried a notebook.
"I'm sorry?" Lagrey said. He didn't appear to know the woman, but Sarah certainly didn't either.
"Y-you two!" the woman said, in awe for some reason. She indicated Sarah and Crowley. She kept running towards them. Something...something jarred in Sarah's mind as she ran.
"L-look out, there's a nasty dip in the land right---" she called. Sure enough, the woman tripped and took an awful spill on the ground.
The exact memories flooded back to her. Arrow...Arrow...he had tripped...he had tripped right there, on...that day...
Overwhelmed, Sarah fell to her knees. Alarmed, Crowley and Lagrey jumped her aid while Donny helped up the woman.
"Gracious..." she muttered, climbing to her feet. "I..." she paused to catch her breath. "I have to tell you everything..."
"Do you know what happened to us? What do you know? This is some kind of joke, isn't it?!" Crowley demanded, grabbing her by the collar and shaking her.
"S-stop! That won't solve anything..." Sarah cried. He released the poor woman, who sighed.
"Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Naerie, from the Clan of Alma Kinan. I'm sure you have lots of question....s....I can't believe I'm talking to you two!" she blurted out. "This is unbelievable..."
"You spelled your name wrong on that thing." Crowley noted. Instead of being annoyed at the correction, Naerie took on a look of pity.
"N-no. I...no." she murmured. "That was my great-great-grandmother, Laerie."
"Did you say...g-great...great..?" Crowley gasped.
"You may want to sit down." Naerie said gently. The young mage did so, as well as the duck and the winger. They formed a circle.
"What's going on here?" Sarah asked, tears in her eyes.
"You've been in an enchanted sleep for...ah...one-hundred years, according to this journal..." Naerie said, cringing as if an explosion was about to go off. It didn't, so she continued. "My great-great-grandmother found you both asleep in the shrine at the center of this village," she read, "And enshrined you in a safe place in case you would ever awaken. It..seems...you did."
"This...this is bogus..." Lagrey muttered, his eyes wide.
"I still don't understand all of this..." Sarah said. "But...but...perhaps we can sort things out. I remember now, what happened to us, exactly..."
"That was a terrible day." Crowley said numbly.
"Perhaps you should tell me what happened to you. Laerie never fully understood the circumstances. She wandered into the village after it was over..." Naerie said of her ancestor. "Then I can tell you my side."
Sarah wiped away a tear. She had to stay strong and get through this, or she would never know why she had ended up alive 100 years after her village was attacked.
"...C-Crowley?"
"It started out like any other day." he said angrily, clenching his fists. "Then---"
"I ...I remember his eyes. Like it was yesterday..." Sarah began...
