Episode 22 | Lonelyn

Before the windshell activates, the Echo-Væhar is heard, the voice slightly distorted.

Echo:     (playful) Aaah… Curious. A stray thread of wind… What does it do here? Hmmm…
The Echo- Væhar playfully plucks the aetherstring. It makes a noise similar to the windshells activation sound.

Echo:     Interesting. I wonder… if it was Garïyarla, who spun it…

Ferryce:  Leave it alone.

Echo:     Aah, Væron Ferryce, are you?

Ferryce:  (chuckles) I’m surprised you haven’t noticed me yet. I’ve been here since yesterday.

Echo:     I am not always near these parts of my cave. (curious) What are you doing here? This is not your domain.

Ferryce:  I am waiting for these mortals to stop being boring…

Echo:     Should I wake them?

Ferryce:  Hmm… (decisive) No. Let them have their rest.

Echo:     And what is it, that binds you to these mortals? An Oathbond?

Ferryce:  That, too. And… something else.

Echo:     Something else?

Ferryce:  It is none of your concern, little Væhar.

Echo:     Do you have a task by the fourteen, perhaps? Oh, how I envy you… Or… Surely, you are not bound by this thread of wind, are you?

Ferryce:  (scoffs) I am a Væron of Leaf and Stone, not wind. That thread is part of that puny little toy of these mortals.

Echo:     A toy?

Ferryce:  They call it a Windshell. A silly little invention, if you ask me. Though a Vær like you might quite enjoy it…

Echo:     Ah, indeed… It makes an amusing… sound when you pluck it. Do you hear? (chuckles playfully)
He plucks it again to demonstrate.
Windshell activates with more echo than usual.
The Trio is at the entrance of a cave. Outside, rain is pouring. Lyn is still asleep. Raka is sitting at the cave entrance, writing into her journal. Malaki is just laying on the ground, dozing.
Lyn smacks the windshell.

Lyn:      (groans, as she turns around for another round of snooze, then groggy) Shit, where’s the snooze-
Raka: Hm? Oh- you’re awake… (confused) Why did you smack the windshell?

Lyn:      (drowzy) Huh? Oh. (sitting up sleepily) Kinda thought it was my alarmclock… Where the hell are we?
Raka closes her journal, puts away her writing utensils and gets up. She walks slowly over to where Lyn was sleeping, then sits down across the small fireplace, which is just the heatsphere emitting light and heat.

Raka:     (sighs) I don’t know. Apparently Garïyarla dropped us off here… I didn’t want to go out to see if I can figure out where we are while you were asleep. All our things are here, though. And apparently she took care of the arrow, as she promised.

Lyn:      Woohoo, our foodstuffs!
Lyn grabs her backpack and rummages around in it.

Lyn:      Looks like everything’s still there.

Raka:     Yes. I checked my items, too. Everything’s still there.

Lyn:      Um… Well one thing’s missing.

Raka:     Hm?

Lyn:      (looking around) Where’s Malaki?

Raka:     (sighs) Well, here’s the exciting part…

Lyn:      Wait, he’s not… gone, is he?

Raka:     No… (sighs, then over her shoulder) Come on, get over here.
Malaki gets up from between various items. He has turned into a quadrupedal-creature that looks somewhat like a wolf with two rams horns. He wags his tail in excitement and trots over to the fireplace, his tongue hanging out.

Lyn:      (excited squeals) Oh my stuff, you got me a DOGGY! Aren’t you just the cutest? Yes you are!
She starts hugging and cuddling Wolfy-Malaki and he pants in excitement, wagging his tail. Then she scrubs him more roughly.

Lyn:      Oh gosh and you’re just a bit bigger than Snoopy! (singing) I love big dogs and I cannot lie! Oh you like that, huh? You like that! Grrrr!

Raka:     Well you seem to like that.

Lyn:      I love him, can we keep him? You’re a boy, right- oop, yes you are.

Raka:     Of course he is…

Lyn:      (excited) I love doggies! I used to… (more somber) I used to have one. Snoopy. He was my best buddy…

Raka:     You mentioned that name before. What happened to him?

Lyn:      He died. We were in a… a shelter. For homeless people. And… I’m not sure if it was an engine or a gas leak, all I know is… something exploded. We were on the floor it happened on. Everyone evacuated immediately, but I lost him in the panic… He was trapped on that floor, caught in the fire and…
(pause)
Malaki wheezes at Lyn.

Raka:     I understand.

Lyn:      Wait, why IS there a dog here?

Raka:     You… don’t recognize him?
(pause while Malaki pants in excitement)

Lyn:      Um…

Raka:     The horns?

Lyn:      Malaki?
Malaki yelps in excitement and wags his tail.

Lyn:      What the hell happened to you? Is this Garïyarla’s revenge for what you did to her sanctuary?
Malaki makes a bark-like sound and growls a little.

Raka:     Do you… not know what happened to him?

Lyn:      Um… no? Should I know about this?

Raka:     Does this not happen to humans?

Lyn:      I… don’t think so? I’m not even sure WHAT happened to him. So this isn’t a curse?

Raka:     (uncertain) No… this happens naturally. He exhausted his magical potential. It’s… what happens when you use too many runes.

Lyn:      But he’s used a crapload of runes before, why does this only just happen now?

Raka:     Because it’s “day of the highest moon”, the day when the second moon Deni becomes full. How do you not know this?

Lyn:      (shrugs) Well, as I told you before, there was only one moon where I’m from. So is he like… a reversed werewolf?

Raka:     (confused) A what?

Lyn:      Uh… nevermind. What exactly is he now?

Raka:     (sighs) You see, every Rontar of Zäa has a… a true form. More primal, feral. Like this. It is called their Therion form.

Lyn:      You have one, too?

Raka:     Of course. But I know how to preserve my energy so I don’t change into it on this day. Speaking of that…
Raka stands up and squats in front of Malaki. He pants, expectantly. She grabs his cheeks and looks him straight in the eye.

Raka:     I told you if you mess up your chance, I would do this.
Malaki growls at her and tries to back away, but Raka holds him firmly by the scruff.

Raka:     (Fire Rune) Pafyrinrir!
(Water Rune) Lynar!
(Aether Rune) Þamrïa Malakiri wyv!
Malaki yelps, wheezes and whimpers. Raka lets him go and he immediately ducks behind Lyn, tail between his legs, trying to scratch at his left eye.

Lyn:      Awww… That was kinda mean.

Raka:     I TOLD him not to mess it up. Yet he upset Garïyarla and used too many runes. Again. The fact that he’s in that form now is proof of that.

Lyn:      How so?

Raka:     (sighs) People have a certain limit to how much magic they can use. Not over the course of a day, but over the course of a whole month.

Lyn:      Wait, I remember I asked this before but you never really gave me an answer- how many days does a month have?

Raka:     (suppressing her annoyance at the questions) 104 days. And before you ask, there are four months in a year.

Lyn:      Right. Like the seasons.

Raka:     Sure. Every 104th day is day of the highest moon. People who used more magic than is good for them between those days change into their Therion form for a day, so their magical potential can recharge more efficiently.

Lyn:      Daaaang. That’s cool!

Raka:     And unfortunate.

Lyn:      Why does that happen, though?

Raka:     (confused at the question) Why?

Lyn:      Yea? I mean, you used a few runes, don’t you need to recharge?

Raka:     I didn’t use too many, I don’t need to change to that form to recharge-

Lyn:      Then why the need for the change at all? Or does that just happen and you don’t know why but you accept it because- what can ya do? That time of the month again, right?

Raka:     (slightly at a loss) Because- (exasperated) simply put, small bodies recharge faster than big ones. And when they change back, the recharged energy scales with the body-size. That’s one theory anyway… another is that our true bodies are just better at recovering than… these ones.

Lyn:      Does the moon have anything to do with the recharging?

Raka:     (still slightly unsure) Sure… the moon is what recharges us. That’s why it is gone for the majority of the 104 days.
Lyn. Where does it go to?

Raka:     The Aetherweb, of course. To recharge itself.

Lyn:      So the moon is a lunar-charged battery? Daaaang! Now I kinda wish humans had that. I’d like to hang around in that form for- how long does that take, a day?

Raka:     Usually, yes. Though higher exhaustion can result in longer recharging periods, but three days at most.
Malaki makes a bark like sound then wheezes.

Raka:     I understand you even less today than usual. (sighs) Anyway, are you hungry? I… will have to go out and hunt. Even though it’s his turn.
Malaki lulls his tongue out at her and pants.

Raka:     Stop lulling at me so smug!

Lyn:      But its pouring outside!

Raka:     That’s also unfortunate.

Lyn:      You don’t have to go out, we’ve got plenty of supplies! Porridge, smoked meat and salamis, dried mushrooms, cereal bars, some jerkies Malaki made two days ago… We could mix that all up into something edible, right?
Malaki whimpers.

Raka:     (laughs) I actually understood that.

Lyn:      What did he say?

Raka:     He’s vocally shaking his head at your mediocre cooking skills.
Malaki makes a bark like sound in confirmation.

Lyn:      Hey, don’t fall on my back, bud!

Raka:     At any rate, I wanted to go out to check the area, see if I can find any landmarks that I can cross-reference on the map. And… (sighs) In that form he can’t digest much beside raw meat…

Lyn:      Booh, Malaki, you suck!
Malaki makes a bark-like noise, with a hint of a growl. He jumps up and down with his front paws.

Lyn:      What, you wana play?
Malaki pants and wags his tail.

Lyn:      Aww how can you be mad at that face! Who’s a good boy? Who’s a good lil Skurgi?
Raka heaves herself up with a groan, not yet fully recovered from the strains of the past day.
Raka: Right, seems like you know how to keep occupied. I’ll only take my bow and arrows. And the map.

Lyn:      You want to take the map out in the pouring rain?
Raka: I’ll try to keep it dry.

Lyn:      Hey- one of your Edgars is Water, right?
Raka: Hm? Yes.

Lyn:      Can’t you use a rune to keep the rain off… how about… UMBRELLA RUNE!
Raka: Umbrella Rune?… I don’t think there is one like that.
Malaki whimpers.

Lyn:      Really? Well dang, there should be one.
Raka: At any rate, I’ll leave the rest with you. Don’t touch the supplies, I know you thought of that.
She walks over to where her belongings are piled up against the cave wall, grabs her quiver and arranges it on her belt. Then she picks up her bow.

Lyn:      Boooh! Fine. I’ll just eat cereal bars until you get back.
Raka: Ration your supplies. You don’t know when you’ll get those things again.

Lyn:      (dismissive) I packed plenty, don’t worry!
Raka: Sure. Oh and remember to use a glove when you need to pick up the heatsphere. It’s in my backpack, over here.

Lyn:      Yes, mom!
Raka: Anyway, enjoy yourselves.

Lyn:      Baiii.
Raka exits the cave.

Lyn:      Now its just you and me, bud.
Malaki makes a sneezing sound. Outside, the rain increases in intensity.

Lyn:      Booh, poor Raka. (slightly shivering) Dang, it’s gotten chilly, hasn’t it?…
Malaki shakes.

Lyn:      You don’t think so? Yea of course, you have thick fur. You so fluffy, huh?
She scrubs Malaki around the neck.

Lyn:      Aww yea, come here- lay on my lap, warm me up, bud!
Malaki whimpers.

Lyn:      What? Don’t act like that, I basically took a full on bath yesterday when we went into the Lake!
Malaki yelps.

Lyn:      (gasps in realization) You know what? I actually got something against that!
Lyn grabs her backpack and opens a side zipper. Malaki sniffs the item she pulls out with interest.

Lyn:      See? With this you can’t complain about my smell anymore. And theeeeeeen you can come cuddle with me and warm me up, no complains.
While Lyn opens up the roll-on to apply it, the rain outside intensifies.

Lyn:      Meh… I wonder how long it’s been raining… Surely not for too long, right? I’d hate to go out into that with my flimsy- Oh wait, I got hiking shoes now!
Lyn grabs her backpack and rummages around in it until she finds her hiking boots. Malaki sniffs the backpack with interest.

Lyn:      Aww yes! So much yes! My blisters will be so happy. And Pants and Thermo-leggings- exactly what I need for this chilly weather! I’m so putting all this stuff on.
Lyn stands up and gets most of her clothes off. Malaki sits down on his haunches and watches, wagging his tail.
Lyn pauses.

Lyn:      What?… Dude, stop staring at me like that, turn around!
Malaki curls down on the floor, wheezing.

Lyn:      Good boy.
Lyn starts putting on all her new clothes.

Lyn:      Hey so, guessing by how many runes you use in a day, I’m guessing this happens to you just about every month, right?
Malaki makes a bark like sound, followed by a sneeze.

Lyn:      That wasn’t an invite to peak! … So, do you like to play games when you’re in that form?
Malaki makes a whimpering squeal, almost sounding like a question. Lyn sits down to put on her new socks and shoes.

Lyn:      (with overemphasized sad) Oh no, did no one play with you?
Malaki wheezes.

Lyn:      Awww, you poor thing! Hah, Perfect! These shoes fit like they were made for me! It’s usually really hard to find shoes my size, y’know. I have pretty small feet.
Lyn stands up and hops for a moment, testing out how everything fits.

Lyn:      Alright, I’m all set. You can look again. Now let’s see if we can find something you and I can play with.
Malaki lulls his tongue out, panting, while waging his tail. Lyn gets up and walks over to the entrance of the cave. The rain has increased slightly since the episode began.

Lyn:      Awesome, look! A bunch of logs, we can play with these!
Malaki makes a somewhat questioning yelp.

Lyn:      Okay, I hope you got enough self-control not to outright bite my face off. See this log? See it?
Lyn waves the log in front of Malaki’s face. Malaki pants in excitement and jumps up and down.

Lyn:      You want the stick? You want to bite it? Come on, try to catch it! Try to catch it!
Malaki makes a bite for the stick but Lyn moves it out of the way. Malaki growls playfully, as he tries to lunge for it again.

Lyn:      Oop, too slow bud! Aaah almost had it there-
Malaki manages to bite into the stick and his bite breaks it clean through the middle. He happily steps on the splintered off ending on the ground.

Lyn:      Jesus fuck, how strong is your jaw! You bit that clean through!
Malaki gnarls and taps his paw on the splintered off wood, indicating that it was dry and porous.

Lyn:      Oh! Yea you’re right that piece was much too dry. Lets look for another.
Lyn passes over to the place she found the other pieces of wood at. She picks up some of the logs and examines them. Those she deems unfit, she throws out the cave. Malaki taps around her, sniffing the logs as they are discarded.
Above her, a light rumble is heard which she doesn’t seem to pick up on.

Lyn:      Nope. Nope. Also nope. Hm. This one maybe?
Lyn picks one up a stick and taps it on the ground to test its consistency. Its also too dry.
Malaki starts moving up and down Lyn’s side, nervous. He wheezes.

Lyn:      Nah. Why are all these sticks so dry man?
Malaki starts poking Lyn’s side gently with his nose.

Lyn:      What’s up, Mal? Getting bored already? You want neckrubs?
Lyn starts scratching his cheeks and neck, but Malaki makes displeased yelps and wheezes.
The rumbling above gets louder.

Lyn:      What, no cuddles?
Malaki starts scratching at Lyn’s foot, then nips her pant and tugs on it.

Lyn:      Hey, stop biting my pants man, they’re new!
Malaki stops, yelps and tugs at her sleeve instead, dragging her.

Lyn:      Dude, just tell me what you want!
Malaki wheezes, rapidly dashes a circle around Lyn and jumps at her, knocking her over.

Malaki:   (reverb, worried anger) I said move!

Lyn:      Bro! What-
As Lyn is knocked over, the entrance of the tunnel collapses from a landslide.
For several seconds, rubble and wet soil pours down from the ceiling.
Once the ceiling is done collapsing, Lyn coughs and shifts to get up and see what happened.

Lyn:      (coughing) Shit- What the hell- Oh no… Seriously?! A landslide?!
Malaki gets up beside her, sneezes a few times, then shakes off the rubble that trickled on his fur.

Lyn:      Oh man, thanks bro. I didn’t see that coming… Geez, I thought landslides only ever happen in fiction!
Malaki wheezes at her and sneezes again, then trots over to the cave entrance and tries to dig at the rubble.

Lyn:      Do you think we can dig ourselves out of here? Oh, hold on, the Heatsphere is still lit up.
Lyn rushes over to the place the heatsphere has been sitting. She carelessly reaches for it and burns herself.

Lyn:      (in pain) Ah! Ah ow shit- Gloves! I forgot about that… where’d Raka put that it-
Lyn reaches for Raka’s backpack and grabs the glove. She hastily puts it on, then picks up the heatsphere and walks over to Malaki, who is still digging.

Lyn:      Aww shit… this looks bad. Mal, I don’t think its any use digging at the bottom. We have to look at the top of the pile and see if there’s a gap we can squeeze through.
Malaki yelps and wheezes then trots up the small hill. Lyn follows him through the sluggish slope.

Lyn:      Urg, the soil is all wet!
At the top, Malaki turns to her, lulling at her panting. He starts scratching at the soil and rock mixture. He whimpers, as the soil gets stuck on his paws.

Lyn:      (huffing from the climb) No luck? Dang. There’s a bit of a gap here though, think you can squeeze through that?
Malaki whimpers as he tries, but only ends up getting his flanks covered in mud. He shakes to get the unpleasant mud off his fur. Lyn tries to shield herself from the flying sprinkles.

Lyn:      Dude! (sighs) Great, now you covered me in mud too. Thanks a lot!
Malaki wheezes apologetically.

Lyn:      Yea, don’t sweat it. It’s just clothes I barely had on for 5 minutes. So no chance of squeezing through that?
Malaki sneezes.

Lyn:      (sighs) Dang. Well worth a shot… Do you think Raka will be able to dig us out?
Malaki snarls, then makes a bark-like sound.

Lyn:      (sighs) Yea, she’d probably just complain how useless her rune-elements would be in this situation, right?
Malaki sneezes, then pokes Lyn, turns around and starts licking a small stalactite above his head.

Lyn:      Hm? What’s that?
Lyn brings the heatsphere close, then touches the stalactite.

Lyn:      It’s wet… Why is the ceiling wet?
Malaki makes a bark-like sound.

Lyn:      Water? We got the Waterstreamer bro, we don’t have to worry about rationing water supplies.
Malaki snarls, then shakes.

Lyn:      (exasperated) Dude! How is your fur wet again, did you- (in realization) Oh- you were standing under that stalagthing and it dripped on you? Oh shit, is this all rainwater?
Malaki wags his tail.

Lyn:      Dangit… We’ll get flooded in here sooner or later, won’t we?
Malaki sneezes.

Lyn:      Hey, can you use runes in that form at all?
Malaki pants, then sits back on his haunches, throws his head in his neck and emits a low howl.

Lyn:      Is that a yes or a no?
Malaki quits his howl half-way through to make a gnarly sound.

Lyn:      I’ll just take that as a no. Yea, you’re supposed to be regaining your strength, it wouldn’t make sense if you could use runes in that form.
Malaki makes a subdued roaring-snarl, then starts descending the pile of landslide rubble. Lyn follows after a few seconds, then slips halfway through.

Lyn:      Yea you’re right, its no use sitting around here. We’ll need to figure something ooHHH- (in surprise as she slips) Oh pew! Thank shoes with grip, that could’ve easily turned into a Lynslide!
Reaching the bottom of the rubble, Malaki trots over to his furcoat, circles it and then lays down on it. Lyn does a last jump from a higher rock and lands down hard.

Lyn:      Ow- Shouldn’t have done that- Uh, we might have to find another way out. Do you think there is one?
Malaki sneezes at her.

Lyn:      How far in does this cave even go?
Malaki makes whimpering noises.

Lyn:      Well, only one way to find out, right?
Lyn picks up her backpack and shoulders it.

Lyn:      Oh gosh dangit… I’m gona have to carry both backpacks, don’t I? (sighs)
She stuffs whatever items she finds laying around into Raka’s backpack, straps it closed and shoulders it as well.

Lyn:      (strained from the weight) Holy moly, is she carrying bricks with her all the time? No wonder she never wanted to carry me on top of that, geez. Come on Mal, let’s go.
Malaki just pants at her.

Lyn:      Come boy, heel!
Malaki does a squeaky growl in displeasure at her.

Lyn:      What? Whats wrong? Did I forget something?
Malaki gets up from the furcoat and scratches it with a front paw, wheezing. He nips at an edge of the cloak and drags it a short distance.

Lyn:      Your furcoat? … (sighs) Dude, nu-uh. That thing is heavy. I’m already carrying two backpacks, I’m not carrying that too.
Malaki whimpers.

Lyn:      Come on, leave it. We can hunt you another fur like that, right?
Malaki growls at her.

Lyn:      I’m sorry, bro! I’m just not a hulk, like Raka! If we could find a way for you to carry it, though… (sighs) I could roll it up and secure it on your back with a belt, would that work?
Malaki barks in delight, wagging his tail and jumping up and down with his front paws.

Lyn:      Awww you’re such a good boy.
Lyn puts both backpacks on the ground and pulls a belt out of one of them. Then she picks up the furcoat and folds it.

Lyn:      Lets see, like this… nope, like this? Oh yea, I’ll put it on this way. Does that feel comfortable?
Malaki wags his tail.

Lyn:      Oh yea, wag that tail, baby. Mhh, you like that, don’t you?
Lyn straps the belt under Malaki’s belly and back to the top, then ties a nice knot on top.

Lyn:      Not quite a ribbon, but that’ll have to do for now.
Lyn picks both backpacks back up and shoulders them, then hops a bit to let them to settle.

Lyn:      Alright, got my backpacks on, got my Malaki saddled, I’m ready for this cave adventure! Let’s do this!
Lyn starts walking into the cave. Malaki trots beside her, keeping her pace. He occasionally veers off to the side to sniff the walls.

Lyn:      Any chance you can smell where the exit is?
Malaki yelps at her.

Lyn:      Yea, didn’t think so. At least it seems to be going in a straight line. Maybe we’ll come out at the other side of… this mountain or what ever the heck we are in? (sighs) I just hope Raka will be able to find us.
Malaki makes a bark like sounds.

Lyn:      Hm? Oh, yea, of course, she now has your Edgar again. If she doesn’t find us, then you’ll find her, right.
Malaki sneezes in agreement.

Lyn:      So… What do you usually do on days like these? I mean when its High Moon- highest moon? That thing Raka said earlier.
Malaki makes a wild array of sounds, as if he was trying to speak.

Lyn:      (faking understanding) Mhm, mhm, I get ya. (groans) It’s kinda weird to be the only one talking, even though I know you can speak when you’re not currently a dog. Talking to myself is sooooo boring.
Malaki yelps and makes another array of sounds like he was trying to say something.
Lyn: I appreciate the effort but I just don’t speak growlish… Well, I could just sing, I guess? (in a singsongy, almost sobby voice)
Malaki starts howling along.

Lyn:      (excited) Hey, now we can sing a duett! Let’s go!
(singing to the tune of Memory)
Miiiiidnight~ not a sound from the windshellll~
Has Raka lost her memory? She is hunting alone.
In the spherelight, her shed feathers collect at my feet.
And the wiiiiiind~ begins to bloooow~

Maaaaalaakiiiiii, all alone in the moonlight.
He can smile but that’s creepy
Where the fuck are you gooooing~
Malaki stops howling and dashes off ahead.

Lyn:      (calling out) Wait, come back, I was joking! Your smile isn’t THAT creepy! Buhuuuh! Mal? Mal! Heel, boy! Come on! You really want me to run after you with all this luggage? Urg-
Lyn starts running after Malaki, the backpacks jiggling on her back with every step. Lyn is huffing and out of breath within a few seconds and slows down.

Lyn:      (out of breath) Maaaaaal! Come on, wait up for your pack mate!
(pause)
Lyn huffs and slowly trots, dragging her feet. Her footsteps echoing against the cave walls.

Lyn:      Buuuuh… (calling out) Maaaal! Can you hear me?
(pause)
Lyn halts.

Lyn:      (calling out) Maaaaaaal! I’m standing at an intersection… can’t you at least tell me which direction you went?
(pause)

Lyn:      Great…
Lyn throws the backpacks on the side and sits down on one.

Lyn:      (calling out) Maaaaaaaaal, please come baaaaack… Are you mad that I’m calling you Mal and disrespecting your Ki?… Will you come back if I call you Malaki? Maaaaaaalaaaakiiiiiiiiii… (singing) When I call your name, it’s like a little prayer! I’m down on my butt, I just wish you were here! Don’t leave me (singing) All by myseeeeeelf~ Don’t wana be all by myseeeeelf~
Her echo trails off along the cavewalls.

Lyn:      At least the acoustics here is great. (Singing) Mein kleiner Grüner Kaktus steht draussen am Balkon, Holleri, Holleri Hollero~
She listens to her echo.

Lyn:      (singing)(sighs) It’s not the same when no one’s listening… (singing) Lonelyn~ I’m so lonelyn~ I have nobodyn~ to call my oooooown~
Echo/Raka: Lyn, what are you doing?

Lyn:      Oh shit- Raka? What are you doing in here?
Echo/Raka: (exasperated) Looking for you, of course!

Lyn:      Where are you?
Echo/Raka: Where are YOU?

Lyn:      Over here!
Echo/Raka: Come to me. Malaki is here too.
A faint bark can be heard, but the sound is ever so slightly unnaturally stretched, like in a dream.

Lyn:      Uh… Okay, where’s “here”?
Echo/Raka: (sighs) Just follow my voice.

Lyn:      Okay…?
Lyn picks up both backpacks and starts walking.
Echo/Raka: Are you coming?

Lyn:      Calm down, you know I’m not very fast, and I have to carry both of our backpacks!
Echo/Raka: (sighs) Of course.
The faint bark can be heard again.

Lyn:      Is Mal okay?
Echo/Raka: He’s alright. I just scolded him.
The Echo that posed to be Raka comes into Lyn’s view. It becomes clear to her that this is NOT Raka.

Lyn:      Of course- wow.
Echo/Raka: There you are.

Lyn:      Who are you?
(pause)
Echo/Raka: I’m Raka, of course.

Lyn:      No. No you’re not. You’re a… a Vær?
(pause)
Echo/Raka: (with a slight malicious shift in her tone) How do you know this?

Lyn:      I can see you- both… “yous”. The make-shift copy of Raka and… that other thing that you are.
The voice of the Echo shifts to a hoarse, male voice (maybe Peter Lewis).

Echo:     (hoarse, impressed) Remarkable! You must be a special little mortal- Does a Vær inhibit you?… (considering) No. Do you have a bond with a Væron, perhaps?… Hmm, also no. Do you maybe have the favor of the fiyar’ta?

Lyn:      So what are you? A Væron?

Echo:     (hoarse, laughs) Oh no little mortal. Just a simple Væhar.

Lyn:      What do you want?

Echo:     (hoarse) What do YOU want?

Lyn:      What are you, an Echo?

Echo:     (chuckles) Very good, little mortal.

Lyn:      Did I guess right? You’re a Væhar that eats echoes?

Echo:     (hoarse) Precisely.

Lyn:      Alright, so what I want is to find my friend and get out of here.

Echo:     (hoarse giggles) And I want that lovely voice of yours.

Lyn:      My VOICE?

Echo:     (hoarse) Indeed. So smooth and well tuned. I wish to be able to sing, just like you.

Lyn:      (uncertain) Um… Okay? Wait, just so we’re clear, if you get my voice, can I still speak?

Echo:     (hoarse) Of course. But your speech will be voiceless-

Lyn:      Like yours.

Echo:     (hoarse) Yes, like mine.

Lyn:      And how long would you be keeping my voice?

Echo:     That depends on what you desire in exchange. Indefinitely would be my preference.

Lyn:      Can you get Mal and me out of here in return, maybe even bring us straight to where Raka’s at?

Echo:     (hoarse) You ask much for a little voice, Mortal.

Lyn:      Hey! Just because I’m small doesn’t mean my voice is! (bursting with self-confidence) My voice has been described as booming and thunderous, thank you very much.

Echo:     (hoarse, amused) Indeed, it is a good, pleasant voice. Well trained, well tuned, no doubt.

Lyn:      So, do we have a deal?

Echo:     (hoarse) Afraid not, little Mortal. Your desire far exceeds my capabilities. I can reunite you with your Therion friend, yes. But I can’t… transport you to the friend (shifting to Raka’s voice) who uses this voice.

Lyn:      Pah! If all you can do is bring me back together with Malaki, then you can have my voice for a week!

Echo:     (hoarse) A whole week?

Lyn:      7 days!

Echo:     (hoarse) That is too short, little mortal. Let’s say, until Deni rises again.

Lyn:      Who is Deni?

Echo:     (hoarse) The second moon, of course.

Lyn:      So… Until my friend turns into a Therion again?

Echo:     (hoarse) Precisely.

Lyn:      Hm. Alright fine, deal. But I don’t know how to make one of those fancy summoning circles-

Echo:     (now with Lyn’s voice) No need, little Mortal- the deal is done!

Lyn:      (croaking) What?! How- Shit, my voice! Wait, but where’s Malaki?
The Echo-Spirit vanishes.
Echo/Lyn: (in a singsong voice) Follow me. Follow my voice.

Lyn:      (croaking) What?! Shit-
Lyn runs off after the Væhar.
Echo/Lyn: (singing) Over here! Come come~ I’m right here, follow meeee~

Lyn:      (croaking, breathles) Wait!
Echo/Lyn: (singing) This way this way little mortal~

Lyn:      Where did you go? Wait for me!
Suddenly, a growling Dog-Malaki jumps out from behind a rock.
(VA Note Malaki: He is still in this Therion form, what Lyn hears is more telepathic than his physical voice. I imagine him sounding more gruff than usual, him still being a wolfy)

Malaki:   (worried anger) Don’t speak!

Lyn:      (croaking, shocked) WOA!- Mal! You scared the shit out of me!
Malaki gnarls.

Malaki:   Don’t speak when you don’t know if anyone one can hear you!

Lyn:      (croaking) Um… What?
Malaki makes a bark-like sound.

Malaki:   Unheard words linger and grow!

Lyn:      (croaking) What does that even mean?! Wait hold on, how can I suddenly hear what you’re saying?
Malaki licks his nose.

Malaki:   You… hear me.

Lyn:      (croaking) Um… yea. Weird… What does that sentence even mean, “unheard words linger and grow”? I’m sure I heard you say that before…

Malaki:   When you speak when no one can hear your words, they turn into runes. They linger and grow in power.

Lyn:      (croaking) Huh. That explains why you never talk to yourself.

Malaki:   Never speak, if only you can hear it.

Lyn:      (croaking) Yea, I get it.
Malaki wheezes.

Malaki:   Your voice… changed.

Lyn:      (croaking) Um… yea, about that…
The singing of the Væhar slightly distorts the audio of the windshell.
Echo/Lyn: (singing, off tune)
Words unheard, linger and grow,
grow into runes, grow into tunes, grow into vines, aether-confines,
words that combine magic with rhyme, vessels that glow, glitter like snow, sing them with pride, don’t follow but guide!
Sing them with flame, the fourth to reclaim,
of journeys you travel’d, when it lays unravel’d,
the shell to coil of wind, wet and soil,
sing it like thunder, for weave tore asunder~

Malaki:   Your voice… isn’t yours.

Lyn:      (croaking, conversational) Um. Yea, so I met this Væhar after you ran off…
Malaki growls.

Malaki:   Væhar!

Lyn:      (croaking) Hey, calm down!
Malaki snarls, then sneezes and sits on his haunches.

Malaki:   Speak more.

Lyn:      (croaking) I had no clue where you went and was stuck at an intersection. I was singing and then suddenly the Væhar appeared and offered to trade my voice in exchange for finding you.

Malaki:   You accepted.

Lyn:      (croaking) Well I didn’t know what else to do! You were gone and I had no way of finding you!

Malaki:   You set terms for how long the Væhar has your voice.

Lyn:      (croaking) Yup, we agreed on a month- until you turn into a Therion again.

Malaki:   (croaking) A month! Too long. Too long for what you pledge. But… you drew a summoning circle. On your own?

Lyn:      (croaking) Uhm… No. The Væhar said we could do it without-
Malaki snarls and growls.

Malaki:   Stupid! Never do trades with Vær without a circle! Deceptive!

Lyn:      (croaking) Are they? I thought Raka said Vær are very strict about fulfilling both ends of a trade.

Malaki:   When the trade is sealed by a circle-
The singing of the Væhar slightly distorts the audio.
Echo/Lyn: (laughing, singing off tune)
Bound by seal – fulfill the deal
for Circlebound is Vær renowned,
But oaths without a circle struck
might find your pledge in limbo stuck! (laughs)

Lyn:      (croaking) Oh my stuff that’s horrible…
Malaki growls.

Malaki:   Horrible mistake.

Lyn:      (croaking, calling out) That singing was horrible! You should give my voice back just so you won’t embarrass yourself anymore!
Malaki growls.

Malaki:   Without a circle, the Væhar isn’t bound to return your voice!
Echo/Lyn: And I wont! (laughs)

Lyn:      (croaking) What?!
The singing of the Væhar slightly distorts the audio.
Echo/Lyn: (singing)
I have a voice to be heard,
pledged and transferred,
through the deal that we made
thus now ends our trade! (laughs and fades)
Pause, as the Væhar’s echo fades off. Lyn stands speechless.

Lyn:      (croaking) Shit. I didn’t expect it to go like that.

Malaki:   You shouldn’t have agreed.

Lyn:      (croaking) Well then YOU shouldn’t have run away! Why did you even dash off like that?
Malaki pants and yelps.

Malaki:   I smelled this.
He trots over to the walls and scratches at it with one paw.

Lyn:      (croaking, curious) What’s that?
Lyn breaks off a small piece of the cave wall with her fingers. It crushes and crumbles easily.

Lyn:      (croaking) Chalk?

Malaki:   Salt.

Lyn:      (croaking) Um… okay? But you always carry plenty of salt with you, you don’t really need a refill THAT badly to run off the way you did.

Malaki:   Many Rontar want salt.

Lyn:      (croaking) So what, you planned to establish a trade-route right through this tunnel?

Malaki:   No. Those that know where to find salt keep it secret. Someone that knows of this wall will know their way in and out. If someone came here for the salt, I could trace them.
Malaki sneezes, then licks his nose to demonstrate.

Lyn:      (croaking) Oh. Oooh. Okay, now I get you. Well, any luck?

Malaki:   No. No fresh traces, only old. Very old, years. Scratches of their nails on the floor, scraped off salt. No smells.

Lyn:      (croaking) Dang. So… back to tile one.
In the distance, the Echo-Væhar is singing in a very flat tone.
Echo/Lyn: In your dreams, do you recall?
Lays hidden deep your one true soul.
You lost it in the labyrinth
lays sheltered in the hyacinth
rejuvenates them, I was told
she fills the cracks with seed and gold.

Lyn:      (croaking) Well… there’s also that thing… Dang that Væhar is not putting my voice to good use.

Malaki:   We will have to make a circle.

Lyn:      (croaking) Oh… Hey, could we maybe repel the spirit with all this salt?

Malaki:   (confused) With Salt. That doesn’t make sense. Elaborate.

Lyn:      I heard demons and evil spirits can be banished with salt? Is that not a thing?

Malaki:   Vær… don’t react to salt.
The singing of the Væhar slightly distorts the audio.
Echo/Lyn: (singing) What is salt?
Will it bring a halt
to Væhar at large
or will it discharge
the powers they wield,
in a circular field?

Lyn:      (calling out, croaking) SHUT UP, VÆHAR, YOUR SINGING SUCKS!
Echo/Lyn: (laughing) As you wish, mortal.
With an unusually distorted sound that is still faintly reminiscent of the original, the

The voice of the Væhar speaks distortedly through the deactivation.
Echo/Lyn: Ah, what a delightful little toy. Maybe I should’ve bargained for this, instead? (laughs)
Credits
INT. AURILS STUDY – DAY
Yosha is alone in Auril’s study. The last sentence of the Vaehar shifts from focal to being a background noise Yosha hears. She puts down her pen.

Yosha:    (nervous) Oh no… What was that? It… sounded like… like that spirit was perhaps messing with the recording?… Fiyar’ta, why is Akasar so late?… well, I better make him a list of things to do when he comes back… Let’s see, was it… this one?
She pulls out a book from Auril’s stack of books and flips through it.

Yosha:    (mumblin to self) To-do… To-do… ah here.
She stops at a page and puts the book down in front of her and starts writing.

Yosha:    (dictating to herself) Review the recording from… what day is it… ah, Aisanuka, beginning and end in particular. Seems a Spirit tried to… Hm… what words would he use… “interfere”? Yes, a Spirit tried to interfere with the “transmission”.
She puts the pen down and lifts the book out of the way to let the ink dry. Then she shuffles through multiple stacks of paper to find a calendar.

Yosha:    And noooow… ah yes, references. Date of recording was the Aisanuka, 1st day of Kukolon’kos – Oh damn, is it winter already? Bækkos passed so quickly… I better get a thicker coat tomorrow… Um… Oh, 5th year of the Vær in the 101st generation. Aaand… Vocal enchantments…
She shuffles through some paper and pulls out some papers at random.

Yosha:    (sighs exasperated) How does he find anything in this mess? Hm, well this list says “Vocal Enchantments”, but… not sure if it’s… nevermind, I’ll just go with this one, he’ll have to correct it if its wrong. Vocal enchantments were woven by Kessir Riliniki, Eyþór Viðarsson, Carollyn Monterola, Peter J Lewis, and… who else… Ah, Hem Brewster, of course.
I think the Music-Shells were provided by Fuimadane, Audio-Enhancements were woven by Sarah Buchynski Written and Produced by Kessir Riliniki.
Yes, I think I got it all. But I better leave Akasar a note to check these… (sighs) I wonder when he’ll be back…
In the background, the Windshell activates again.

Yosha:    (excited) Oh, another one! Well, perhaps Akasar will be back by the time this one ends, I don’t think he will mind if I go ahead and start with the transcript already…