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Cast Aside

By Castafae
Created: 2023-07-15 22:04:13
Expiry: Never

  1. >Harsh noise.
  2. >Weightlessness.
  3. >Pain.
  4. >Your groggy mind slowly catches up with your aching body and you curl up on the unfamiliar ground.
  5. >The air is warm and the ground is rough, but not entirely unpleasant.
  6. >There is a buzzing noise, but it's not the buzzing noise you are used to.
  7. >It almost sounds natural.
  8. >Your eyes flicker open and you find yourself staring at a weird building.
  9. >You pick yourself up from your laying position and sit up.
  10. >As you look around, you realize you're nowhere familiar at all.
  11. >You're in the middle of a... parking lot?
  12. >And- and there are trees.
  13. >You're outside.
  14. >Y-you've never been outside before!
  15. >Are you... dreaming?
  16. >You pat the sides of your face.
  17. >You don't feel like you are.
  18. >You lift your head up and look up.
  19. >Little pinpricks of light fill the dark above.
  20. >Stars, just like in your dreams.
  21. >I-it's real.
  22. >There is a tugging in your chest.
  23. >You almost feel... happy.
  24. >Like when you first woke up.
  25. >It's been so long, you don't even remember how to be happy.
  26. >Instead, you just start to tear up.
  27. >It's the only response that you could muster.
  28. >You wish you could stay here for an eternity but... you hear something.
  29. >You turn to face the noise and see a figure standing by the building.
  30. >It hasn't seen you, and you can't see it very well, especially since your eyes were watery, but its presence makes your heart race.
  31. >What if it's one of them?
  32. >The thought brings fresh tears to your eyes.
  33. >Y-you don't want to go back!
  34. >You can't...
  35. >You felt safe here, you don't want to let go of that yet.
  36. >To your horror, it looks like it finally noticed you.
  37. >You quickly stand up and stare at it, your legs shaking.
  38. >Your eyes dart towards the dark forest around you.
  39. >For once...
  40. >You're not cornered.
  41. >It takes a step into the light.
  42. >For once...
  43. >You can run.
  44. >With all the energy you can manage, you bolt for the trees.
  45. >You're not used to running, so by the time you stop, your legs feel like jelly and you're on the verge of hyperventilation.
  46. >You listen out for a while, trying desperately not to collapse on the forest floor.
  47. >You don't think it's following you, so maybe it's just a normal person?
  48. >But... that doesn't mean you can relax.
  49. >You need to find somewhere to hide.
  50. >You won't calm down until you do...
  51. >You wobble your way further into the forest until you find some dense shrubbery.
  52. >This will do.
  53. >You hope.
  54. >You shimmy into the brush until you're nestled in the middle of it.
  55. >You plop down and sigh.
  56. >This is way better than concrete...
  57. >You roll onto your back and look up once more at the sky.
  58. >Even under all these trees, you can still see them.
  59. >Exhaustion overtakes you as you stare up at the stars through half-lidded eyes.
  60. >Maybe... maybe you can be a forest nymph.
  61. >Like in that one story you read.
  62. >Dancing in the moonlight and drinking from cups of stardust...
  63. >Laughing together with all her friends...
  64. >Maybe one day, you'll have friends too.
  65. >You... you wonder what that's like?
  66. >You'll find out soon enough.
  67.  
  68. - - - -
  69.  
  70. >The woods are... nice.
  71. >Much nicer than you're used to, anyway.
  72. >You slept quite soundly, aside from a minor fit.
  73. >Little splinters of loneliness always prick you at the most inconvenient times.
  74. >But you managed.
  75. >You could dare say you're almost... excited.
  76. >You're unrestricted.
  77. >Untethered.
  78. >Free.
  79. >Somewhere in your mind, you wonder 'Why?', but... It really didn't matter, right?
  80. >You should just worry about the now, for um, now.
  81. >Like what you're going to eat, for instance!
  82. >The frequency of your meals have always been... lacking.
  83. >But now you can find food whenever you want!
  84. >A wanderer among the pine~!
  85. >With vittles on her mind~!
  86. >Hehe... time to put those book-smarts to use!
  87. >Lets just hope you remember what is and isn't poisonous.
  88. >Hmph, let's just veto eating anything dubious for now, alright?
  89. >You're not *that* desperate.
  90. >You poke around the undergrowth for a while, but come up emptyhooved.
  91. >After that, you rummage around a few bushes, but end up at the same disappointing conclusion.
  92. >You guess this is harder than it looked, or um... read.
  93. >How about... aha!
  94. >You pick up a nearby pinecone and hold it aloft in a triumphant manner.
  95. >You're pretty sure animals eat these all the time, so why not you?
  96. >You sit down and stare at your bounty.
  97. >So, do you just...?
  98. >You bite down on the unappetizing cone, which makes a rather unpleasant crunching sound.
  99. >You gnaw on it for a little longer before simply spitting it out.
  100. >That... sucked.
  101. >You guess your palate is rather 'person-like', eh?
  102. >Pinecones and bark just won't cut it.
  103. >Hmm...
  104. >How about grass?
  105. >You *are* a pony after all.
  106. >It might be worth a shot.
  107. >With renewed vigor, you make your way towards the weird building from last night.
  108. >There was quite a bit of grass in that clearing, so maybe you can sneak a few bites?
  109. >As you finally near the edge of the woods, your ears fold back at familiar sound.
  110. >You slink towards a nearby bush and poke your head out from behind it.
  111. >The parking lot had a smattering of vehicles resting in it now, as well as their talkative owners.
  112. >You didn't recognize any of them, but all these people made you anxious.
  113. >You're just about to turn back, but you see an odd tree near the back of the building.
  114. >A skinny tree that has some sort of fruit.
  115. >The sight makes your hunger much more apparent.
  116. >You glance around and notice that the coast is clear.
  117. >Here goes nothing...
  118. >You briskly make your way towards the tree, careful not to step into the daylight.
  119. >As you make it to a bush near the tree, you sigh.
  120. >There isn't anyone around so...
  121. >You make your move.
  122. >Each step is much shakier than the last, and by the time you make it to the tree's base, you're more or less a bundle of nerves.
  123. >Some of the rotund fruit is already on the ground, but most of it is still on the branch.
  124. >With how small it is, a little shaking will do wonders.
  125. >And you certainly know a thing or two about shaking!
  126. >H-haha...
  127. >Okay, relax now.
  128. >With a deep breath...
  129. >You start your heist.
  130.  
  131. >You are weary of every little noise, but nevertheless, you gather up as much fruit as you can carry in the crux of a foreleg.
  132. >Now all you need to do is quietly make your way out of sight.
  133. >With one last glance around, you submerge once more into the shade of trees.
  134. >You keep moving until the sound of cars and people are replaced with the gentle sway of leaves and birdsong.
  135. >You settle down in a sunny clearing and admire your haul.
  136. >A small mound of little apples that fit easily in the hoof.
  137. >You'll certainly take this over having to eat grass, that's for sure.
  138. >You weren't very enthusiastic about grass anyway...
  139. >Alright then, let's give this a whirl!
  140. >You pick one up and roll it around in your hoof.
  141. >With how small these are, you guess you could eat it whole, but lets just take it slow.
  142. >You take a bite and are mildly surprised.
  143. >It's tart, but not overwhelmingly so.
  144. >It will take a bit to get used to, but it's nice all things considered.
  145. >You're pretty sure these have a specific name, but it eludes you at the moment.
  146. >All that really mattered is that you knew it wouldn't make you sick, so it worked out.
  147. >After finishing off your apple banquet, you get up and stretch.
  148. >You guess you'll file this down as a success!
  149. >With your basic needs sated for the moment, you decide to think about your situation, which is always a fun thing to dwell on.
  150. >But if you don't let your mind go through the motions, it will just keep eating away at you, so you might as well get it over with, right?
  151. >You sigh and perch yourself up against a sturdy oak, watching the last bits of sunshine drain away.
  152. >This was a major improvement and you weren't scared anymore but... you're still alone.
  153. >Stuck in the middle of nowhere.
  154. >But why?
  155. >You feel like... like you shouldn't be here.
  156. >Why didn't they just scrap you?
  157. >They got what they wanted, why leave something behind?
  158. >Especially something that knew their faces by heart.
  159. >Maybe you just got lucky.
  160. >...
  161. >I-in a way, it was a little funny!
  162. >Like some dark comedy about a couple of roadside bandits.
  163. >Swiping rings and clutching pearls.
  164. >They take, and then leave without a trace.
  165. >Not before leaving a few scars of course, but you're still breathing.
  166. >And they didn't even have the courtesy to tip their hats...
  167. >You look down at your hooves for a moment, watching them tremble.
  168. >The weight in your heart is telling you that you might be taking this too far.
  169. >H-how about... We just make up a story instead?
  170. >You can make anything you want, a-and it doesn't have to end like that, okay?
  171. >You curl up by the tree and take a deep breath.
  172. >Just think of something nice...
  173.  
  174. >A lone pony sits atop a stump, holding onto her windswept witch's hat.
  175. >The meadow around her was vast and calm as her robe billowed in the wind.
  176. >She watches as a small butterfly lands on a nearby flower.
  177. >"Can you help me find my friends, miss mage? They're late for tea!" It asked meekly.
  178. >The mare smiles. "Late for tea, you say? Let's make haste, dear sprite!"
  179.  
  180. - - - -
  181.  
  182. >You've always liked fantasy stories.
  183. >From knights taking on immovable foes, to simple romps through enchanted forests.
  184. >They could have been nonsensical at times, but they always had a happy ending.
  185. >Not every story has to have one, but...
  186. >You like it when they do.
  187. >There was this huge old book in the closet of the attic you were in.
  188. >It was dusty and in disrepair, but you loved it with all your heart.
  189. >It was an um... an anthology?
  190. >Yeah, that's the word.
  191. >You probably read through it over a dozen times before one of them caught you.
  192. >You thought that maybe he'd take it away but he... he wanted to know more.
  193. >He acted like he was interested.
  194. >Like he cared.
  195. >That was when you could still talk, and you ended up rambling on while he sat in that plastic chair in the attic.
  196. >He would occasionally crack jokes about the characters, and you always laughed at them.
  197. >He even brought you candy once.
  198. >Up until then, you didn't know how to feel about any of them.
  199. >They were so distant before, but for once, one of them was nice to you.
  200. >And he kept being nice to you.
  201. >You thought...
  202. >You thought he was your friend.
  203. >Your first friend.
  204. >But one day, there was yelling coming from down below, so you hid in the closet.
  205. >You couldn't make out what they were saying, but you recognized his voice.
  206. >He sounded... angry.
  207. >They all sounded angry.
  208. >They were arguing and you didn't know why.
  209. >After a while, it grew quiet, and then a door slammed.
  210. >It didn't take you long to figure out what happened.
  211. >He left.
  212. >And you didn't even know his name.
  213. >You were so devastated at first, you denied it.
  214. >He'd be back, I just know it!
  215. >Any day now...
  216. >M-maybe he's just sick? I hope he gets better...
  217. >You waited and waited, but it was just you again.
  218. >Well, you and them, technically.
  219. >But they didn't like you.
  220. >In fact, in time, they made it quite clear that they didn't want anything to do with you at all.
  221. >Every attempt you made to be friendly backfired into raised voices and harsh words.
  222. >When you first woke up in that attic, they were gathered around you, smiling.
  223. >You were so happy.
  224. >B-but...
  225. >They left you there and the only one who stayed and showed you any kindness was gone.
  226. >All you had left was a book and the fantasies in your head.
  227. >Quiet walks under a starlit sky.
  228. >Mundane jaunts through a magical village.
  229. >Chats with talkative woodland creatures.
  230. >They were never grandiose in nature, but you longed for them nevertheless.
  231. >And that's how you spent your days there.
  232. >Until one day, one of them walked up to you.
  233. >You hadn't had that happen for a really long time.
  234. >And she... patted your head.
  235. >They never touched you before so it made you freeze up.
  236. >"We're going to play doctor!" She said with a smile.
  237. >Her tone was so genuine that you... smiled with her.
  238. >You didn't know what a doctor was, but it sounded good.
  239. >And... and she took you downstairs.
  240. >You've never been downstairs before, so it was exciting.
  241. >There was a metal table set up.
  242. >And the room was cold.
  243.  
  244. >The lady sat you down by the table and told you to 'sit tight'.
  245. >You didn't know how to do that, but you knew how to sit still, so you did that instead.
  246. >She left the room and you could her hear talking with the others.
  247. >It was hard to make out, but you caught snippets every once in a while.
  248. >"...what it looks like?"
  249. >"...have to make a..."
  250. >"...entangled with the..."
  251. >"...the whole thing out..."
  252. >It didn't make much sense to you, so you wound up occupying yourself by looking around the room.
  253. >Most of the stuff in the room seemed old and it reminded you of a story you read about an elderly woman who lived in an oversized mushroom.
  254. >She had all sorts of fancy knickknacks, just like in this room!
  255. >But maybe not as dusty.
  256. >For some reason, all the dust made you feel... weird.
  257. >It was an odd twinge in your heart, but it was so fleeting that you couldn't describe the emotion.
  258. >You didn't have much time to dwell on it, as the lady came back with the others.
  259. >The others.
  260. >Besides taking turns bringing you the occasional meal, you didn't know anything about them.
  261. >You knew their physical features, of course, but that was about it.
  262. >The one with glasses sat down in a nearby chair and sighs.
  263. >"This manual is a wreck, but I think it'll pan out."
  264. >The burly one crosses his arms. "What about the-"
  265. > The lady cuts him off. "Not now! Later."
  266. >She then turns to you with yet another smile.
  267. >"Hey hey, you ready?"
  268. >You shuffle in place. "What's... What's a doctor?"
  269. >Glasses chuckles. "Really?"
  270. >Burly scoffs. "This would be way easier if *someone* knew how to turn it off."
  271. >Turn it off?
  272. >Does- does he mean... you?
  273. >Maybe you just misheard?
  274. >They wouldn't-
  275. >"I've read through this thing front and back, it doesn't. Abysmal design if you ask me."
  276. >"I didn't."
  277. >"Tch, whatever man."
  278. >They're talking about you.
  279. >And you don't like their tone.
  280. >You scoot a little closer to the wall behind you and look up at the lady, hoping to be consoled.
  281. >M-maybe you're just nervous?
  282. >She sighs. "I guess we might as well get this over with."
  283. >Her eyes fall on you. "Just relax, okay? We'll be done in no time."
  284. >Her voice almost sounds... empty.
  285. >B-but you thought... you thought things would be different.
  286. >That maybe they wanted to get to know you.
  287. >But they don't want to talk.
  288. >You watch as she brings her hands down towards you.
  289. >You don't understand.
  290. >Their conversation before, it... it was about you too, wasn't it?
  291. >Why would they want to turn you off?
  292. >You're in a daze as she starts to pick you up, your mind trying to rationalize what's happening.
  293. >But once you stop feeling the floor underneath your hooves, you snap out of it and start to panic.
  294. >You wriggle out of her grasp and scramble around the room in a circle.
  295. >There wasn't anywhere to hide, so you wind up backing yourself into a corner.
  296. >"I told you this would happen."
  297. >"Shut up and get ready, I'll grab it."
  298. >The burly one approaches and you shrink down.
  299. >The only resistance you can manage is a feeble "Please don't".
  300.  
  301. >There wasn't anything you could do to stop it.
  302. >No amount of pleading or struggling would dissuade them.
  303. >No savior or knight in shining armor to save you.
  304. >You... you were just an object to them.
  305. >Something to be taken apart at their leisure.
  306. >As you laid on that table, you thought about all the stories about humans you read.
  307. >Were they wrong?
  308. >These people were nothing like the ones in your stories.
  309. >Or maybe.. you were wrong.
  310. >You thought that under all that apathy might have been good people.
  311. >That you could get through to them.
  312. >That if you tried really really hard... you could be their friend.
  313. >And then everything would be okay.
  314. >But...
  315. >But they aren't people.
  316. >All you see now are wolves baring their teeth.
  317. >They don't want you.
  318. >They just want what's inside of you.
  319. >...
  320. >You... you don't want to think about it anymore.
  321. >Everything after that was a painful blur.
  322. >And you were awake for all of it.
  323. >Well... most of it, anyway.
  324. >Somewhere along the line, you must have fainted, because you don't remember them putting... whatever is in your neck now, in you.
  325. >You don't even know what it looks like, but you know it's hollow.
  326. >There's something inside, but you can't reach far enough to open it up.
  327. >Maybe you're a pinata now.
  328. >Just quietly waiting to be smacked.
  329. >You want to laugh at your pitiful state, but all you can muster is sniffling.
  330. >Since then, you've always been a little... out of sync.
  331. >Once in a while, your mind won't realize that your body is crying right away.
  332. >The weirdest part is that you don't even *feel* sad.
  333. >It's incredibly infrequent, so at least it's not something you need to fret over.
  334. >You dry your eyes and take a deep breath.
  335. >Relax, it's over now.
  336. >It's just you against the world, so uhm... time for more... survivalisting?
  337. >That- That's not a word!
  338. >At least you don't think it is?
  339. >You look up at the stars and let out a sigh.
  340. >It's getting late, maybe you should visit that tree again and swipe a few more apples?
  341. >You'll try eating grass uh... another time.
  342. >With a stretch, you get up.
  343. >Time for heist two!
  344. >Let's hope it goes as smoothly as the first one.
  345. >Hey, maybe you'll get to snoop around that weird building, too?
  346. >It always smells nice, so maybe there's more food around it.
  347. >With curiosity and hunger pushing you forward, you start to trek back to the parking lot, a silent rhyme in your head.
  348.  
  349. >There was a stillness in the air as you emerged from the undergrowth.
  350. >Without the noise and sights of the day, you were much more bold, standing once more under the orange lamplight.
  351. >You take your time as you make your way to the front of the weird building.
  352. >There was a sign out front that you wanted to check out.
  353. >Through the glass, you could see inside. But it didn't make much sense to you, with its checkered patterns and folksy imagery.
  354. >You squinted at the sign out front, which had an unfamiliar pony with a poofy mane proudly displaying a tray on her hoof.
  355. >She was well groomed and wore a playful smile.
  356. >You glance over at your reflection in the glass.
  357. >You try to imitate her smile, but the downtrodden mare you see before you doesn't budge.
  358. >Hmph, be that way!
  359. >You stick your tongue out at yourself, which makes you feel slightly better about it.
  360. >You bring your gaze down to the words resting on her tray.
  361. >'TODAY'S SPECIAL(S): [Caramel Apple Fritter] and [Bonanza's Surprise]
  362. >The second one was hastily crossed out with a frowny face next to it.
  363. >You guess this place serves food.
  364. >But what's a fritter?
  365. >Your tummy rumbles at the prospect, regardless.
  366. >Soon, I say! Just relax until I finishing reading thi-
  367. >"And the rain came down that day and it drained my soul away..."
  368. >H-huh?
  369. >Your ears perk up, trying to pinpoint that singing.
  370. >Y-you forgot about the person from last night!
  371. >"Bum de duh de dum..."
  372. >It's getting nearer, you need to move.
  373. >You slink around the building and once you see your target, the tree, you trot briskly towards it.
  374. >You spare no time in swiping a few of the small apples.
  375. >Once finished, you take a deep breath.
  376. >You don't hear anything, so... maybe the coast is clear?
  377. >"Hey there."
  378. >You jolt and in your panic, the apples fall from your clutches, scattering onto the grass.
  379. >Your mind is racing as it desperately attempts to plot an escape.
  380. >"Woah woah, take it easy, just... hold on."
  381. >You back away until you are brushing up against the bush by the tree.
  382. >"Just hear me out! I'm- I'm not going anywhere."
  383. >You hesitantly glance in the direction of the figure.
  384. >In the light, you realize that it's just a tired man with a concerned expression, his hands in clear view.
  385. >He slowly sits down by the building and after he clears his throat, he gestures to you.
  386. >"You know, I was betting on squirrels stripping that tree. I guess I didn't think a pony was in the cards!"
  387. >He rubs the back of his neck. "So, whaddya doing all the way out here, bud?"
  388. >You continue staring at him momentarily before lowering your eyes towards the morsels on the ground.
  389. >"Hungry?"
  390. >You nod slowly, not taking your eyes from the fruit.
  391. >"Hmm... How about this."
  392. >You shrink down as you realize that he was getting up.
  393. >He turns away and stretches. "Eat up. I won't bother you, okay?"
  394. >He glances back at you for a moment. "Just... try not to make a mess, I'd rather not do more work than I have to."
  395. >You watch him leave, utterly bewildered.
  396. >He... left?
  397.  
  398. >You at the very least expected to get yelled at, but instead, he's turning a blind eye?
  399. >M-maybe... maybe it's a trick? Like when you turn your back he'll-
  400. >NO!
  401. >T-this is a normal person! You can't- You can't expect the worst.
  402. >You shouldn't do that anymore.
  403. >Just... Just relax and eat, alright?
  404. >Despite wanting to calm down, you're still rather shaken up.
  405. >In an attempt at keeping your nerves at bay, you decide to watch his movement.
  406. >He's picking up bags and throwing them in that bin out back.
  407. >Besides that, he's cleaning up the area around the weird food building.
  408. >Not long after, he's humming to himself again, doing some other random task.
  409. >He just works here! He's normal.
  410. >You fidget in place.
  411. >You... you hope you aren't being a nuisance.
  412. >Feeling... slightly at ease, you slowly start munching away at the apples.
  413. >As your hunger is sated, your nervousness subsides as well.
  414. >Soon enough, you find yourself getting comfortable, which has the unfortunate side effect of making you a tad sleepy.
  415. >After a rather eventful day by your standards, it made sense, but...
  416. >You listlessly glance up at the man, who was sitting on a concrete step at the back of the building, resting.
  417. >Before you go find your sleeping bush... You should say thanks, or at least as close to thanks as you can in your current state.
  418. >You know, for him not running you off.
  419. >You look down at the last remaining apple on the ground.
  420. >...
  421. >You pick it up by the stem and get up.
  422. >You... you got this.
  423. >You gingerly make your way over to him, slowing down when he notices you.
  424. >"Hey again. Do you... need something?"
  425. >You shake your head as you approach a little closer.
  426. >You stop quite a ways from him, but close enough that you can see the smile on his face.
  427. >You try to look him in the eye but you falter and end up staring at the ground.
  428. >As you take a deep breath, you try to think of something to do.
  429. >How... how about you just toss it over like a um... a gift!
  430. >Or maybe a snack?
  431. >W-whatever, just give it to him!
  432. >You get ready to lightly toss the apple, but put way to much force into it and accidentally launch it at him.
  433. >...And watch in horror as the little apple spikes off his forehead and tumbles to the ground.
  434. >The both of you stare at each other, with you slowly reddening.
  435. >He bends down and grabs the apple, tossing it lightly in his hand a few times.
  436. >He grins, despite the lump on his forehead. "Nice shot! Thanks for saving me one."
  437. >You decide that this would spark the end of today's outing.
  438. >You give him a quick nod before darting out of sight
  439. >"You'd be great at baseball!" You hear him yell as you depart.
  440. >You can almost hear the laughter in his voice, but it isn't... mocking.
  441. >He just seems happy.
  442. >You trot past the building windows on your way into the forest and see your face burning with embarrassment.
  443. >But not only that... you notice a smile as well.
  444. >It's incredibly awkward and more than a little dopey but.. it's there.
  445. >Huh, you guess you can do it after all.
  446.  
  447. - - - -
  448.  
  449. >After that, you found yourself visiting often during the night.
  450. >The parking lot had a nice clear view of the stars and seeing that most of the food you've eaten has come from around there, it made sense in your mind.
  451. >Oh! And you finally tried grass.
  452. >You uhm... didn't like it.
  453. >It tasted way worse than dandelions.
  454. >But at least you aren't hungry right now.
  455. >In all honesty, there's a lot less to eat than you first thought.
  456. >You guess you can't afford to be picky...
  457. >Maybe you can try pinecones again?
  458. >Hmm... let's put a pin in that for now.
  459. >Right now, you just want to relax a little.
  460. >You're currently sitting by the now bare apple tree.
  461. >You guess it's kind of your 'territory'.
  462. >By that you mean you can see a lot of the parking lot from here without feeling like you're out in the open, so you guess it's comfortable.
  463. >It's nice all things considered.
  464. >You've been 'people watching' as that man put it.
  465. >He mentioned it in passing, as he was lugging a rolliewheel bin.
  466. >You- You don't *actually* think they're called that, but that's what your mind came up with!
  467. >A-anyway... you guess he's right.
  468. >You've been finding yourself staring more often, be it him at night, or the building's patrons during the day from the bushes.
  469. >You've even seen a few ponies, too.
  470. >In a way... it made you feel a tad self-conscious.
  471. >How can they look so calm being around all those people?
  472. >You'd probably be terrified.
  473. >Well... you guess you kind of understand now.
  474. >Ever since that guy started talking to you. you haven't been as nervous.
  475. >You still panic when he gets a little too close and end up running away, but you always come back after you calm down.
  476. >Maybe it's a force of habit or something?
  477. >You've ruled him out of being one of the bad ones, but you guess your instincts just kind of kick in.
  478. >You let out a sigh and lay down, resting your head on the grass.
  479. >But regardless of your anxieties... it's nice here.
  480. >You stifle a yawn.
  481. >The noisy bugs and warm breeze make your eyelids feel heavy...
  482. >And the grass is almost... fluffy.
  483. >The night's still young, but... maybe you can take a little nap?
  484. >That... that would be nice.
  485. >Really.... nice.
  486. >As you close your eyes, your ears focus on some nearby crickets.
  487. >Like a little band, lulling you to sleep.
  488. >Playing their miniature instruments.
  489. >Hehe, you bet they fashion them out of acorns...
  490. >You... you wonder what kind of fun antics they get themselves into...
  491. >For the first time in ages, you fall asleep in the presence of a human.
  492. >Your dreams filled with adventurous stories of friendship between bugs.
  493. >Maybe one day you can have your own adventures.
  494. >Your own friends.
  495. >And maybe even your own stories.
  496. >That would be nice.
  497. >Heh.
  498. >You've been saying that a lot lately, huh?
  499. >But you mean it.
  500. >Every word of it.
  501. >You feel... content.
  502.  
  503. - - - -
  504.  
  505. >Your ears perk up at the sound of something in the middle distance.
  506. >"...shift is over...up and at 'em..."
  507. >You don't catch most of it, but you're pretty sure that's your cue to make your exit.
  508. >You open your eyes and groggily lull you head towards the familiar voice.
  509. >Through your sleepy haze, you can make out the shape of the man, sitting on the steps of the back of the food building like usual.
  510. >You wonder how long you were asleep? You still feel really tired...
  511. >"Sorry for waking you, but I don't want to leave while you're conked out."
  512. >You sit up and rub your eyes, half wondering what a 'conk' is.
  513. >After you feel awake enough to stand, you get up and yawn.
  514. >"Things open really early today, so you might not want to linger."
  515. >Today?
  516. >Well, you guess now you know that it's at least after midnight.
  517. >You turn to the man and give him a nod, not really sure how else to show your gratitude for the warning.
  518. >He gets up with a stretch and lets out a sigh.
  519. >"Have a good night and try to get some proper rest. I'll see you round' like a donut."
  520. >You wave him off, somewhat perplexed by his last statement.
  521. >Now alone once more, you drag your tired body back into the forest after lazily munching on a nearby dandelion.
  522. >As you trot, you realize how calm you felt.
  523. >Usually your encounters with him made you feel jittery, even if you knew he was nice.
  524. >As if your body was always on the defensive, ready to bolt at a moment's notice.
  525. >But something changed.
  526. >You almost feel like... like you're starting to trust him.
  527. >Trust.
  528. >The word was heavy in your mind.
  529. >Dirty.
  530. >Tarnished.
  531. >Everyone you started to trust either hurt you, or left.
  532. >Your mind may want to move on, but your body remembers.
  533. >Each time you look at someone, you can feel that scared little part of you start to rise again.
  534. >Almost like another you, cowering in a corner of your head.
  535. >All she knows is that contact can spiral into searing pain and abandonment, so every person is seen as a potential threat.
  536. >Even the gentlest hand terrifies her.
  537. >Maybe...
  538. >Maybe over time, you can slowly mend her scars.
  539. >One day, she might feel truly safe again.
  540. >Maybe it's already getting better.
  541. >Her shaking is less intense now.
  542. >Just like your own.
  543. >It's... odd, isn't it?
  544. >Thinking about yourself like this.
  545. >Your lack of sleep might be making you weirdly introspective.
  546. >Not to mention talking about yourself in the third person...
  547. >You finally stop in front of your designated sleeping bush and give it a weary smile.
  548. >Hidden in the large shrub was a shabby little den of sorts that you've come to call home.
  549. >It wasn't the most comfortable piece of greenery, but you've grown a little attached to it.
  550. >Did you miss me? I missed you.
  551. >It welcomes you with open... branches?
  552. >Yeah, you'll just go with that.
  553. >You make yourself at home and lay down with a sigh.
  554. >Tonight has been... pleasant.
  555. >Even if you're still rather hesitant inside, you feel like there has been some progress, however small.

Testament

by Castafae

Letters for Gray Garden

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Novel Pursuits with Radio Star

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Fae Green Archive

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Fae's Party Adventure

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