hearthtales

[hearthtales]

hmmmmm feld has snake vibes so…. i think i will give it one (1) more main form. as a treat.

#|༄| ooc #(it can mimic other basic animal forms as well but there are certain forms it finds easiest) #(the ones that align the closest with its nature) #(anyway i added the snake form to its about page so it’s official now agsgdgdgdgdg)

[hearthtales]

Some guests woke. Some guests did not. The ones who woke were the ones whose dreams lost Feld’s interest. The ones who stayed asleep were the ones Feld decided to keep for itself. It collected them.

Bran felt certain Samhain belonged to the latter group, as much as he wished to believe otherwise. Their game of questions last night had convinced him. Samhain revealed he’d once wanted to save someone dear to him, a desire so strong that he’d made a fateful deal and lost his arms as a result. If this memory had ever haunted Samhain’s dreams, Bran had no doubt that Feld found it irresistible.

He had hoped Samhain’s barrier would protect him, but… he could no longer sense its presence. It had vanished. Part of Bran wondered what happened to it, but a stronger part reminded him the reason no longer mattered. Samhain was gone regardless.

A lump had formed in his throat. Bran drew his knees to his chest and rested his forehead against them, trying to make himself as small as possible, to vanish into himself. It was a trick he’d learned as a child before he met Maude. It hadn’t saved him then, but sometimes it made things more bearable.

‘Oh!’

With a gasp, Bran jerked his head up to see the girl in Samhain’s doorway. Oh no. His face burned with embarrassment. He rubbed his eyes with his sleeve and looked away. She asked if he was okay, her voice soft, and heaviness twisted around Bran’s heart. He didn’t deserve that sort of gentleness. Especially not from someone who had just lost her friend to Feld.

“He won’t wake up.” His words were shaky and hoarse. Bran swallowed hard and shook his head, unable to meet Nightshade’s gaze. “I— I know you’re trying, but he just… he won’t.” The sky outside the window had turned a darker grey; light rain began to patter on the roof. He wrapped his arms tighter around his legs and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

—

Then Samhain’s dream fragmented and fell apart.

—

The creature in the attic jolted in surprise and tumbled off the faded chair with a thump.

—

A shudder of breath and the rustle of bedsheets came from inside Samhain’s room.

Bran’s heart skipped a beat. Nightshade disappeared in an instant, and her excited squeal rang in the boy’s ears. A familiar voice gasped out a reply.

… what?

On unsteady legs, Bran pushed himself upright. He stepped to the entrance of Samhain’s room and looked inside at last. His eyes widened in disbelief. Samhain was awake. Seemingly alright aside from the fact his friend was nearly strangling him.

“I… I thought you’d left,” Bran heard himself say quietly. He stared at Samhain as though seeing a ghost, his face pale. “I thought you’d gotten away.” Dizziness swept over him, and he steadied himself against the doorframe, his other hand clutching the front of his sweater. Questions swirled in his mind and tumbled from his lips. “How’d you wake up? Why… why is the barrier around your room gone?”

This time Nightshade heard something, her ears perked and gaze snapping towards the sound. A bit of a shuffle and a soft 'thump' just outside Samhain's door. She looked back at her sleeping friend. He'd be okay for a few minutes right? He wasn't going anywhere.

She didn't sense any malicious energy so she was relaxed when she popped her head out into the hall to see who it was. "Oh!" It was the teen boy! Bran wasn't it? He looked frazzled, on the verge of tears even. She could sense a tumble of emotions building up in the young boy, a lot of frustration and anxieties and guilt. And that was cause for real concern in soft-hearted Nightshade.

"Heeey," she cooed, squatting low to the floor in the doorframe of Samhain's bedroom, the door opened just enough for her figure to stick out halfway. "You okay?"

—

“Let me go?”

Aah, he understood now. He understood everything. This place. These fantasies. Why wouldn't anyone want to leave? Everything felt so real here, so solid and warm. Just like her hand that was still enveloped in his. Like the sun shining right above them or the grass beneath their feet.

“I… I don’t understand, love.”

Neither could he. He couldn't believe an illusion could work so well, constructing itself from nothing but past memories and running emotions. Like a perfectly programmed script and the characters were just dolls being told how to act when they said their lines. But oh, how undeniably realistic this curated world was. The way her eyes darted in panic, how her voice wavered and her hand trembled in fear. And how utterly cruel.

“Have I done something wrong?”

"No, love, not at all," said Samhain and he closed the gap between them. He could feel the illusion slowly unraveling as he took hold of his own consciousness, his own thoughts and emotions. He could hear the sound of his heartbeat reverberating throughout the dreaming, like thunder rolling down the valleys. He kept the dream draught encased in his hand while he held Liore's face with the other. Their world was collapsing all around them and yet they only had eyes for each other. "You kept yer word after all."

"When we were ten summers old, your mathair took her own life. When we were thirteen, ah almost bled out in the snow," said Samhain suddenly, taking a lock of her hair and holding it to his lips. He spoke slowly and calmly, in his usual, soothing voice. But who was he comforting this time? Liore... or himself?

"When we were fifteen, we promised ourselves to each other. That after Granda passed, ah'd build us a boat an' we'd make it to the mainland. We'd travel an' see the world an' all its wonders. You'd make your remedies an' ah'd do whatever it took to provide.." The edges of the dreaming rippled, doing its best to keep itself together but it was no use. Samhain had taken control now.

In the illusion, they had created a whole life for themselves; living freely and far away from the village, flourishing in their young adulthood. "We never made it to our twentieth summer," he said flatly, though his eyes and chest weighed heavy with remorse. He plucked the aster and returned it to her, tucking it behind her ear again. "You said that you'd always be with me, but ah doubted you. After the first few hundred years, ah could barely remember what you looked like. Ah welcomed all my nightmares if it meant ah could see your face one more time. But you were right.. You kept your word. You've been here all along..."

He pulled the facsimile of Liore into his arms for one final embrace, whispering into her ear. "Safe, in my memories."

—

Samhain woke up with a jolt, his breath a-shudder before calming himself into a steady rhythm once more. Nightshade turned as soon as she heard him. "SAMMY!!" she pounced without a moment's notice, arms wringing around his neck into a tight hug and squealing. "Omigosh omigosh omigosh!! You're awake, thank Bast!!"

"(WHEEZE) It's.. (COUGH) nice to see you too, Nightie.. (GASP)"

#thesundowncrew #(!!!! GOOD JOB SAM!!!!!) #(i absolutely cried at everything he said to dream liore oh my god) #(MY HEART HURTS) #(meanwhile nightshade being thrilled and bran on the verge of hyperventilating AGDDGDGD) #(he’s glad sam is awake i promise!!! he’s just in shock!!!) #|༄| threads #|✧| bran #|✧| feldmire #|༄| ic #long post //

[hearthtales]

“Oyster Shell Ghosts” (liquid emulsion on shells) by Tina Rowe

“This work in the baldest terms comes from a series of negatives that were found at a car boot sale. I have printed them on oyster shells that were discarded into the Thames over many years. I like the literalness of printing a discarded thing on another discarded thing and the work that was needed to reveal the images from difficult negatives.”

#|༄| aesthetic #|༄| oak haven #|✧| feldmire

[hearthtales]

Feldmire listened to Nightshade’s story as well.

It had watched from the shadows as she arrived, hidden in dusty corners and crevices. Nightshade’s appearance was unlucky, but Feld didn’t worry too much — even when she stumbled upon the loophole in its deal with Maude, and even when Maude failed to stop her. What could this girl possibly do to ruin its success? How could she wake Samhain when Feld had entangled him in the dream so thoroughly?

Samhain’s dream had exceeded its expectations and eased the constant hunger that gnawed within the creature. It had replenished Feld’s energy, renewed its confidence. Feld floated in a sea of satisfaction.

It still followed the girl, its curiosity too strong to resist. It slipped behind a wall in Samhain’s room (it was so easy now, with that pesky barrier gone) and watched through a crack as Nightshade tried to wake him. When she placed a silly little pouch in his hands, the creature stifled a snort of derision. It had no idea what the pouch held or what purpose it served, but it seemed foolish to give a gift to someone who would never wake up. Why didn’t she keep it for herself?

The girl talked on and on. By the time she switched the topic to desserts, Feld’s interest had waned into boredom. So it left. It drifted lazily away, through the pipes and insulation, up into the attic. It curled itself on the seat of a tattered armchair, basking in a spot of sunshine like an especially unpleasant cat.

Surely the girl would give up soon. Maybe she’d take a nap before she left, and it would taste her dreams as well, but Feld didn’t find her presence nearly as appetizing as Samhain’s. It doubted her dreams carried the same delicious blend of melancholy.

For now, it savored its victory and amused itself by imagining what trinket it might turn Samhain into.

—

Nightshade described memories and rambled about desserts, and always, always, she spoke as though she were addressing someone. Someone important in all her stories. She wasn’t talking to herself, Bran realized, the truth slowly dawning on him and dread twisting its way into his throat. She was talking to…

Samhain.

He was still there. He’d never left; he was simply trapped asleep. Feld had gotten to him. Which meant Maude had lied to Bran when he’d found her that morning and asked if Samhain had left yet, because Maude always knew which guests Feld captured.

The unfairness of everything crashed down on Bran, heavy and overwhelming. Trembling, he slid down the wall to sit on the floor. His breathing wavered, so he pressed the back of his hand against his mouth to muffle it. His eyes stung, so he squeezed them shut.

He knew he was acting childish. He knew he should have expected this to happen. Why had he thought Samhain would be different? He needed to compose himself, enter the room, and gently tell the girl that her friend wouldn’t wake up, no matter how many stories she told him. He needed to apologize to her, because in the end, all the fault rested upon him.

He needed to get up, at least. But for some reason, he couldn’t. He stayed there instead, just outside Samhain’s door, and willed himself not to cry.

—

The dream went fuzzy around its edges. Leaves and flowers blurred together like watercolors.

Liore, the dream’s heartbeat, stayed strong for now. She clung to life even as other parts of the illusion faded. Nothing softened the immediate impact of Samhain’s words. Her breath faltered, and betrayal and confusion flitted vividly across her face.

“Let me go?” she echoed softly, her tone laced with hurt. “What do you…?” Her words trailed off, and she lowered her hand from his cheek, but she didn’t let go of his hand. “I… I don’t understand, love.” She was trying to understand, though — it showed in her faint frown, her creased brow, the way she searched his gaze desperately for clues. If she noticed the change in his eye color, she showed no sign of it. Her voice wavered slightly. “Have I done something wrong?”

Sam accepted the aster behind his ear with a soft hum, before taking her hand and kissing it with a smile. "Ah'm all right, love. Guess ah was just hearing things."

Upon Liore's suggestion, they took a break from gathering firewood and strolled leisurely through the wood; their hands always locked together like a promise. It was a beautiful spring day. Flowers were in full bloom, the bees and butterflies were a-fluttering in the green everywhere they turned. They took idle steps, one after another, as they chatted and laughed and reminisced under the timeless, blue sky. "Remember when ah was ill in bed an' Granda brought you over an' ye both cooked that hare stew for me?" Liore chortled, now comfortable with referring to Aed as her own family having taken care of her since her mathair passed.

"How could ah forget? Never thought ah'd get an earful just for choppin' carrots wrong," Sam groaned at the memory, which only made Liore laugh harder.

"Ah was just thinkin' o'how that was the tastiest stew ah ever had. When are you goin' to cook it for me again?"

"If you just wanted me to make you hare stew, ye just 'ad to ask, love," Sam chuckled back, pecking her on the forehead. "All right, ah'll make it. But you'll 'ave to make me apple crumble in return."

"Apple... crumble?"

A soft ripple could be felt all throughout the dreaming.

The two stopped in their tracks and in that moment, it also felt as if time had stopped with them. Sam turned to Liore in a lightheaded daze and she was still smiling sweetly when she asked "What's that, Sammy?"

"Ah, you know, it's like a pie but.. not? You've made it before, remember?" Sam tried to explain but Liore shook her head.

"No, ah don't even know what that is. Ah know apples.."

"Yes! You said the best apple crumbles were made with green apples, not red ones..! Remember? Because..! Because..." The words trailed off as Sam's expression hardened. The thunder was getting louder.

—

"—because red apples get waaaay too mushy after you bake them, but green apples are sturdier! They keep a bit of crunch even after they come outta the oven!" Nightshade had moved away from exploring recent memories to rambling about their favorite desserts together. She remembered Samhain really liked the crumble she made last time and unlike her, who loved it with vanilla ice-cream, Samhain preferred to eat his plain. "An' since ya don't like sweet things, green apples are perfect cus they're kinda sour an' less sweet than the red ones!"

Suddenly, Samhain's hand twitched and gripped the dream-draught tighter. Nightshade perked up at the reaction, wide-eyed and hopeful, since it'd been the first and only sign since she sat by his side. She still hadn't noticed the bedroom door was open nor the eavesdropping figure just beyond it.

"C'mon Sammy..! If you wake up, I'll make you an apple crumble when we get home.." she whispered, holding her hands together, praying she was getting through to him somehow. "Please, please, please wake up..!"

—

Sam looked down at his free hand and realized he'd been holding something very tightly - a little cotton pouch with rainbow-colored thread woven into the draw-strings. He recognized the craftsmanship. The scent of magick was familiar to him. He knew the contents within, what the charm was for. Mallow. Orange blossom. Rosemary...

"Sammy?" The voice broke him out of the trance. He turned to Liore again but this time, smiling sadly. Liore noticed the change in him and worry took over her, her other hand reaching out to cup his face. "..Sammy, what's wrong?"

"Ah'm sorry, love..." He shook his head, closing his eyes and leaning into her touch. He took a deep breath and exhaled, his body no longer tense like it was a few minutes ago. "..It's been wonderful but," When he opened his eyes again, they were a deep shade of green.

"..Ah have to let you go."

#thesundowncrew #(GOSH MY HEART AAAAAAA) #(this got so long i’m just agdgdgdg) #(yelling!!) #(feld is way too pleased with itself and very much underestimating nightshade and her dream draught!!) #(meanwhile bran is struggling…..) #(but yes like!! the apple crumble memory!! and sam realizing it’s a dream!! YELLS!!!!!) #(i’m going to cry agdgd) #|༄| threads #|✧| feldmire #|✧| bran #|༄| ic #long post //

[hearthtales]

!! completely forgot that yesterday was maude’s birthday-

#|༄| ooc #(she was born on may day and her family always made her birthday a big deal and she just agdgdg) #(was always so embarrassed…..)

[hearthtales]

Nightshade’s sparkling energy resurfaced all at once. Startled, Maude nearly toppled backward off her chair when the girl threw herself over the counter, but she couldn’t find the energy to resist. She could only stare in stunned silence as Nightshade shook both her hands in gratitude. What was happening? Her mind struggled to keep up with everything. With another rush of words and gestures that Maude barely processed, the girl bounced upstairs.

Then she was gone.

Alone, Maude exhaled. The weight of the last few minutes began to catch up with her. Should she have acted differently? Tried to stop Nightshade? What would happen now? Possible consequences swirled in her head, each one more terrible than the last.

Perhaps she ought to chase after the girl. Yes, that sounded best. But when Maude tried to stand, her legs wouldn’t support her. So, she stayed seated. She leaned her elbows on the desk, pressed her head into her palms, and closed her eyes, trying to steady her heartbeat and keep from imagining the worst.

—

Bran closed the back door quietly behind him.

He’d returned from the yard to fetch colored pencils from his room. Along the way, he’d passed Gruff and Nettie. Gruff was busy sniffing flowers, while Nettie was busy gathering the prettiest ones. “For a kitty crown!” she’d informed him brightly, and Gruff had barked in agreement. Bran had wished them luck.

Once inside the inn, the boy paused as a faint sound from upstairs caught his attention. An unfamiliar voice. Before he knew it, he had changed course. He padded up the stairs, slow and silent, and stopped before reaching Samhain’s room. Or… the room where Samhain had once stayed, he supposed.

Someone was inside the room. Samhain’s friend, maybe? The one Nettie had told him about?

Was she… talking to herself?

He didn’t mean to eavesdrop, but he couldn’t help himself. The story drew him in. He leaned against the wall beside Samhain’s open door, hidden from sight but close enough to hear the tale clearly, and closed his eyes as he listened. Colors and cheers and yells, a bustling market crowd. Walking on all four paws. Ah, so it must be Samhain’s kitty friend speaking.

He opened his eyes and looked out the window in the hall. Beyond the glass, grey clouds blanketed the sky.

—

In Samhain’s dream, the sky was clear.

Clover patches bloomed around them amidst flower clusters in shades of purple and blue. Liore plucked an aster blossom and tucked it behind her ear, then stooped to lift another piece of wood. A faint frown crossed her face at Sam’s reply. “Leaving?” She placed the wood in her basket and shook her head, looking even more puzzled. “I’d never leave you.”

The reassurance slipped out smoothly and sincerely, its meaning as certain as the passing of the seasons and the rising of the sun each morning. It promised they’d stay together. Exploring together, learning together, laughing together; safe and free to be themselves. Supporting each other, as always.

“I’d leave with you, though, if you’d like to take a break,” she went on, balancing the basket on her hip as she stepped closer to Sam. With a smile, the girl removed the flower from behind her ear and tucked it behind his ear instead. “Are you feeling alright?” She pressed the back of her hand against his forehead as though checking his temperature. Concern flickered in her eyes, her voice gentle. “Don’t work too hard.”

Nightshade had been struggling to get a read on Maude's face and emotions. Her feline sixth sense could tell her a storm was brewing inside Maude from scent alone but she had no idea what measures the innkeeper would take in the face of a stranger who'd figured out their secrets. It was a risk Nightshade was willing to take...

“Alright”

And the moment Maude said the word, relief flooded Nightshade's entire body. She let out a huge sigh.

“Be careful, will you?”

"Oh thank you thank you thank you thank you!!" squealed the young girl, nimbly throwing herself over the counter to reach for Maude's hands. She held them together in her brightly-manicured ones, shaking them gratefully - her eyes looked like they sparkled with starlight compared to a minute ago. "Thank you, Ms. Haven innkeeper lady, I will!!"

When she let Maude go, she was already hopping towards the stairs. "I know you didn't wanna upset Nettie - who can blame ya? She's such a cutie-patootie," she spun around, pressing a single finger to her lips. "So it'll be our lil' secret! If Nettie comes a-lookin', just tell her I'm taking a quick look around, or playing hide-and-seek~ An' don't worry about the door," Nightshade assured with a wink. "I've got it!"

Nightshade found Samhain's room immediately, following the trail of unmistakable spirit energy. The door was locked as Maude said but nothing a little spell couldn't fix. "Open-says-me!" With a snap of her fingers, the door opened itself to her and revealed the sleeping ghoul within.

"Sammy!" she gasped as she hurried to his side and inspected him closer. Physically, he looked fine. Peaceful even, Nightshade had to admit. More peaceful than he usually looked when he slept, even in the safety and comfort of Sundown. She brushed the hair from his face, her tone laden with affection. "Oh Sammy.."

Nightshade tried waking him up in all the usual ways, but Samhain showed no signs of stirring. She reached into her bag and pulled out a dream draught, biting her lip in thought. Dream draughts were supposed to help users have only good dreams and their particular brand even gave users an added ability of lucid dreaming. The problem was that the charm only worked if the user was conscious of using it before they went to sleep - so how was she going to let Samhain know he had it if he couldn't wake up?

Her brain rattled for alternatives but in the end tried acting out her gut-instinct first. She placed the dream draught in Samhain's hands and sat down by the bedside, her elbows propping her up by the ghoul's ears as she spoke. Maybe, just maybe... he could turn lucid once he realizes he's in a dream.

"Hey Sammy... Remember the first time you took me to the Goblin Market? It was when I was still a kitty-cat, remember that? Maybe you don't but I do~" She recounted the memory with a smile on her face, as if she were telling a child any other bedtime story. And since she had left the door carelessly ajar, anyone passing by could most probably hear it. "I saw all kinds a things that day! There were so many colors! So much music and cheering and laughter - and yelling! Oh my Bast, so much yelling," Nightshade giggled. "I was kinda scared but also just really, really excited! I was walkin' on all four paws at first but then as the crowd got bigger an' bigger, an' people started bumping into me left an' right, an' I was startin' to feel really scared again. I thought to myself 'Oh no! What if Lord Sow'in finds me troublesome? What if Lord Sow'in doesn't take me on his trips again after this?'" she acted out her lines, pressing her cheeks together with her hands. She laughed a little at herself, finding it so silly now she ever thought that in the first place.

"But what really scared me the most that day... was the thought of losing you in that crowd, an' never seeing you again," she whispered as she patted Samhain on the head, before suddenly raising her voice "So don't you go leaving me now, you got that buster??!"

—

An axe came down with a loud CRACK on the firewood. Sam looked up, his brow furrowed with unease. "Did you say somethin', love?" He thought he heard a soft rumble in the distance, like growing thunder, but the skies were so clear today.

"No? Ah dun' think ah did," quipped Liore, looking as puzzled as he did as she collected the firewood into her basket. "What did I say?"

"It sounded like ...you were leaving?"

#thesundowncrew #(!!!!! listen nightshade is absolutely wonderful and i appreciate her so much!!!) #(BUT ALSO AAAAAA) #(YELLS SOFTLY……..) #(sam having to say goodbye to the dream liore!! oh no….. my heart…………….) #|༄| threads #|✧| maude #|✧| bran #|✧| nettie #|✧| gruffudd #|༄| ic #long post //

[hearthtales]

Maude sensed she’d slipped up somewhere the moment Nightshade asked Nettie to find Gruff. She tensed, her face pale, but didn’t argue.

Nettie nodded, eager to do anything the girl asked. “Yeah! I’ll find him. He likes making new friends.”

“Take your time.” Maude’s voice came out quiet and hoarse. She cleared her throat and gave Nettie a faint but gentle smile. “Maybe you could make our guest a flower crown as well, yeah? Just as pretty as yours.”

The child’s smile brightened. She nodded again with a cheery hum before running off.

Once she heard the back door open and close, Maude’s gaze snapped back to Nightshade.

I lied.

The innkeeper’s breath caught in her throat. Fear flickered in her eyes. She forced her expression to stay neutral and listened as Nightshade went on. The more Nightshade revealed, and the more her bubbly demeanor faded to a serious confidence, the more Maude felt her facade beginning to unravel.

She had figured it out.

Aside from Samhain, Maude had never met someone who found out so much of the truth, let alone so quickly. True, it sounded like Nightshade didn’t know about the creature, but she knew Samhain was still there (she pointed upward, but Maude’s gaze stayed on her). She’d guessed he was trapped asleep.

The contract prevented Maude from speaking openly about the inn’s secrets to anyone unaware of them. It required her to stop people from discovering the sleeping guests. But it did not require her to stop someone who already knew the truth from waking a guest, as long as she knew they’d figured it out. This was a tiny loophole. Arthur could not wake a guest, nor Bran. Nettie did not know how. But someone else, unconnected to the deal, could manage it.

Please? Let me save him…

Lightheadedness washed over Maude. She had stood from the chair behind the desk while speaking to Nightshade, but now she had to sit heavily to keep from collapsing. “Alright,” she heard herself whisper. The contract ached in her throat, but it didn’t stop her. She took a shaky breath. “The door’s locked. I—” I can’t open it for you. The floor above them creaked, and Maude stiffened. Exhaustion lined her face when she met Nightshade’s gaze. “Be careful, will you?”

"Aaaw, okaaaay," Nightshade deflated with supposed defeat, her hands falling limp to her sides. She then laced her fingers together behind her as she rocked back and forth on her heels, turning to chat with Nettie instead.

"Hey! Don't you guys have a doggy? I heard he's a really good boy!" The sudden shift in conversation was probably noticeable to anyone but the young child. Even more so when Nightshade suggested "Do you think you could find 'em an' bring him here, sweetpea? I'd love to meet him!"

Without a second thought, Nettie was gone - off to look for Gruffud upon Nightshade's request - which left Maude alone with her and her unfaltering, feline grin. "Okay, I lied," she started, before the innkeeper could even think of what to say next and she knew Nettie was out of earshot.

"I know Sammy didn't leave anything behind cus he's way too meticulous for that," Nightshade added, having stopped rocking on the balls of her heels. Her voice was still sweet, though a lot less energetic than when she first entered. She looked Maude in the eyes, confident and self-assured. "And I know you lied about Sammy bein' gone to Nettie because I know he's still here. He didn't sign out," she said, green eyes glancing at the log-book on the counter.

"Plus I can feel his spirit energy. He's upstairs," she said, pointing upwards to the ceiling before putting her hands behind her back once more. Nightshade was still smiling but it was a polite kind of smile; the kind that left people guessing. Her eyes and the air about her still had warmth to them but her expression remained unreadable. "An' my guess is he's still asleep. I need ta give him something that'll help wake him up."

"You smell like a nice person - I know cus my nose always knows. An' Nettie trusts you an' Sammy admires you, so that's gotta count for somethin'. But what I really need to know is..." Out of Maude's sight, Nightshade's grip around her own wrist tightened, tensely anticipating all the possible reactions that might come next. "If I'm gonna go try help Sammy, are you gonna try an' stop me?"

Her feet now planted firmly on the ground, as if to say any hope of getting her out of this inn ought to be discarded. She looked a little remorseful. Nightshade wasn't a violent person; far from it. But she was determined to help her bestest-best friend and mentor no matter what and if that required her to force her way upstairs to get to him, she would not think twice. "...Please? Let me save him.." she finally uttered, her voice soft and pleading.

#thesundowncrew #(!!! HELLO I AM LOSING IT!!!) #(maude is also losing it oh my god agdgdgdgdgdg nightshade!!!!) #(her determination is incredibly valid and her honesty paid off!!!) #(i am going to cry agdgdgdgd) #(feld will stay hidden for now!! it is BITTER but it is also underestimating nightshade’s dream draught!!) #(it still thinks its trap will hold……) #|༄| threads #|✧| nettie #|✧| maude #|༄| ic

[hearthtales]

Usually, Feld chose victims with few friends. It made things easier when nobody would miss a guest if they vanished. Sometimes, though, it got greedy. Maude was the one forced to deal with the consequences. She could handle anyone who came looking — she reassured them, misled them, distracted them — but she always resented it. This time was no exception.

In fact, this time, even more bitterness boiled within her. Loved ones typically appeared in a week or so. A few days, at least. This gave Maude time to prepare herself — to bury her emotions, to repair any cracks in her composure. This person arrived in less than a day. Maude knew Nettie had quickened Nightshade’s arrival, but the innkeeper couldn’t stay frustrated with the child. Not after seeing her excitement.

Still, when the visitor knocked on the inn’s door before entering, Maude struggled to stay calm.

The strangeness only continued. Nightshade’s vibrant attire struck Maude next, then her wandering gaze and the way she spun around. Maude’s brow creased. She seemed so different from Samhain that Maude struggled to picture them as friends. Aside from the green eyes, which were so similar in shade to Samhain’s that a chill slithered up Maude’s spine.

What had Nettie called her again? A girl who could turn into a cat? Or… a cat who could turn into a girl? Maude couldn’t remember, but she decided it didn’t matter. Cat or girl, this visitor was a problem, and Maude wanted her gone as soon as possible.

Nettie, meanwhile, glowed with joy. She giggled at Nightshade’s compliment, then pressed closer to Maude’s side and clutched her long skirt as shyness overtook her. She still beamed up at the girl.

Maude’s stony expression softened as she glanced at Nettie. This softness vanished when Nightshade’s query drew her gaze. “I can’t allow that, I’m afraid,” she replied evenly, with no hesitation and only a hint of feigned remorse. “It’s against policy. But if you describe what you’re looking for, I can search his room for you while you wait here.” She closed the logbook with a dull thump and offered a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “I know these rooms and their hiding spots rather well. If it’s there, I’ll find it.”

It was difficult to explain the kinds of thoughts that went on in Nightshade's head at the rate that they ran through. Standing by the front door of the inn, she debated for a good five minutes if it was good manners to knock. 'Wait.. Isn't an inn the same as a hotel? People don't knock on hotel doors.. They usually have those rotatey doors or glass doors that automatically opened or a footman with the uniforms with lots a buttons and a little hat to open them for you!' In the end, she decided it was just overall good manners to knock on closed doors, no matter the establishment, and to announce one's arrival once arranged beforehand.

"Hi hi!" Nightshade bid as she entered the front, the bell ringing softly above her. Her eyes immediately caught Maude's and nodded when she assumed correctly. "Yep yep! I'm Nightshade! Youuuu must be Ms. Haven-" As she spoke, her eyes wandered everywhere and elsewhere, as if scanning all four corners of the room but with a more child-like whimsy than a scrutinizing person of interest.

She spun on her heels and her tippy-toes until she reached the counter and noticed someone else standing behind it. "Oh!! Hello there, sweetpea!" she practically squealed. Nightshade leaned her elbows on the counter, flashing a feline grin at Nettie's remarks. "Aww thank you! That's a neat crown you've got there! I think you're pretty too, an' cute like a lil' blueberry!" Her chipper voice was even sweeter in person and when she smiled wide like that, one could spot her little canines peeking out from under her painted lips. "Nice ta meetcha both! Sammy's told me about you too~"

She straightened herself up again to look up and speak to Maude, proper this time. "Hope ya don't mind! Sammy's work is super valuable so it's really, really important I make sure nothing gets left behind! Is it okay if I check out his room?" she asked, her eyes gleaming a familiar shade of green in the light. Then she raised both her hands, as if in surrender. "I promise I won't nick anything! You can come with me an' we'll check out the room together!"

#thesundowncrew #(maude said Absolutely Not) #(AGDGDGDG GOD) #(she is already so tired………..) #(she rlly does need high blood pressure meds agdgdgdg) #(listen tho i support nightshade wholeheartedly and her inner debate on whether to knock on the door was incredible AGDGHG) #|༄| threads #|✧| nettie #|✧| maude #|༄| ic

[hearthtales]

Thrilled she could help, Nettie nodded in agreement. “Mm-hm! I can do that!” The ‘boop’ to her nose earned another giggle, and Nettie grinned as she echoed the other’s words. “See you in a bit!”

First, time to get ready!

After clasping the locket closed, Nettie hurried down the stairs and rushed to her room. She brushed the tangles from her hair as best as she could. She put on her prettiest dress, embroidered with tiny vines and blue flowers. With a twirl in front of the mirror in her room, Nettie beamed at her reflection. Much better! Samhain’s flower crown — gifted back to Nettie and adorned with marigolds — hadn’t wilted yet, so she placed it on her head as the final touch.

Next, she raced through the inn until she found the innkeeper scrubbing dishes at the kitchen sink. Breathless, she informed Maude that Nightshade would arrive soon and shared everything she knew about the talented kitty friend — from her bright green eyes to the fact Nightshade wanted to retrieve something Samhain might’ve left behind.

By the time she finished, Maude looked rather pale. Nettie assumed the innkeeper’s surprise concealed her excitement. Who wouldn’t be excited?

She couldn’t resist running outside and telling Bran the news as well. If Arthur and Gruff hadn’t still been in the forest, she would’ve told them, too.

—

The bell above the door chimed softly as it opened.

Maude had been writing in the logbook. She lifted her head now, vigilant despite the shadows beneath her eyes. “Hello— ah. You must be Samhain’s friend.” A guess, but based on the visitor’s cat-paw-shaped bag alone, Maude doubted she was wrong. She set her pen on the counter and managed a thin smile for politeness. “Nettie’s told me all about you.”

As though on cue, Nettie’s flower-crowned head popped up beside Maude — she’d been waiting behind the desk so she could meet Nightshade as soon as she arrived. She stood on tiptoe to see over the counter. Her eyes widened, her voice soft with admiration. “Oh,” she breathed, hands resting on the desk. “You’re so pretty. You are like a kitty.”

"A'course ya can, sweetpea! Couldja please let Ms. Maude know that I'll be dropping by? I think it's only polite cus she's in charge~" Nightshade giggled, clasping her hands together; Nettie's excitement was infectious even through the mirror. "Hmm I think that's all for now. I gotta go get ready now so I'll see you in a bit, mkay?" Nightshade bid the child bye and ended the call, tapping Nettie's nose on the mirror's surface before she went. "Boop!"

First thing's first - shower!

Nightshade had always been light on her feet. And when she had a skip in her step, she was practically gliding across the floor. She darted up the stairs and pounced off the walls, her body at times looking like nothing but plumes of purple-pink smoke. She 'poofed' into her bedroom and rushed her morning routine (shower, facial care, make-up) before getting dressed for the day.

Today she was going for something baby-pink and cozy, complete with some mismatched, belted platforms and a plush bag the shape of a cat's paw. Her eye-shadow and lipstick matched the colors of her outfit, her nails even donning tiny, black paw-prints on lilac polish. She took a running start and slid down the banister with a "WEEEEEEE!" landing perfectly on her feet downstairs. She stuffed the dream draughts, and whatever else she thought she'd needed, into her bag before finally leaving their tree-house.

She took a big whiff of the crisp, morning air with a smile on her face. "Good morning, Sundown!" she bid, waving back at the large, twisted tree they called their home. There was no answer, save for the wind blowing through and rustling its black branches, but Nightshade knew the island had bid her back in its own special way. She heard it. And she could feel the isle's energy stirring within her, leading her in the right direction.

"All right Sunny! Take me to where Sammy is, pretty please," she said as she headed out into the clearing. For a few minutes, she was still trekking through the misty woodlands of Sundown. But soon colors and shapes began to shift and merge and split apart, transforming into a brand new landscape right before her eyes. When the world finally stopped moving, the air smelled entirely different and there was no mist in sight; it was then she knew she was near the Oak Haven inn.

#thesundowncrew #(!!! hello maude is already having a Time but this is still so cute AGDGDGDG) #(nightshade and nettie both preparing!! i love!!!) #(nettie zooming around telling everyone in oak haven she can find agdgdgd) #(also i adored seeing nightshade’s outfit!! it’s SUCH a vibe) #|༄| threads #|✧| nettie #|✧| maude #|༄| ic

[hearthtales]

Nature themed stained glass

#|༄| aesthetic #|༄| oak haven

[hearthtales]

Nightshade radiated warmth, bright and glittering and filled with reassurance. Her grin and her bouncy speech chased away the child’s worries. Nettie breathed a sigh of relief, her shoulders relaxing.

Everything would be okay. Samhain would return, and they’d make flower crowns and find the other cats outside the inn together. He and Maude would be friends again. Feld would stop making people sick. Bran wouldn’t get fevers anymore. Arthur would make lots of pretty carvings for everyone. Gruff would get plenty of treats and pets. Nightshade would visit and they’d chat more in person, and Nettie would learn how to turn into a kitty too.

(Maybe, just maybe, her parents would remember her as well. They would come find her and hug her at last. Her brother wouldn’t be mad at her anymore. They’d all be one big happy family together.)

When Nightshade said she would visit, excitement leapt in Nettie. Her dream was already starting to come true. She gave a happy hum in reply, unable to keep from smiling. “Okay!” Would Nightshade get along with the other cats at the inn? Would they all be friends? Nettie hoped so. Her fingers covered the mirror briefly as she scrambled to her feet, too eager to sit still any longer. “What should I do? Can I help?”

Hearing the girl excitedly recount her day out with Samhain and the other cats brought a smile to Nightshade's face, but it made it all the more obvious when her tone shifted and her cheery expression became not-so-cheery.

“He left” she said. Wait, that's not right. Samhain didn't mention anything last night and it was unlike him to leave anything half-done. Something felt way too off.

But she didn't want Nettie to worry. So even though Nightshade had a puzzled look on her face, she brushed it off as casually as she could. "Oh? That's strange! I thought for sure he said he'd be there this morning." She smiled wide, assuring the girl that she did nothing wrong. "No need to say sorry, sweetpea. I'm sure there's been a misunderstanding somewhere~ We'll sort it out, dontcha worry!"

The child asked a question of her own this time. “—I’ve been good, so— so maybe he’ll come back soon?”

"Well if Sammy said so, then I'm sure it's true!" Nightshade giggled. And when she said it the way she did - with her feline grin and unshakable, upbeat attitude - she really made it feel as if anything was possible. While Samhain's warmth was like that of a calm, hearth fire, Nightshade's was like a burst of sparklers that could ignite any bit of hope no matter how dark it seemed.

But now what to do about Sammy...

No two-ways about it. Nightshade had a baaaad feeling and her guts had never led her astray. She decided it was time to check things out herself.

"Nettie sweetie, I was thinkin'," she started, choosing her words carefully. "I'm afraid if Sammy left in a hurry, he might've left something behind by accident. So I'm gonna drop by for a quick visit in a bit, okay?"

#thesundowncrew #(!!! nettie is absolutely thrilled to meet nightshade in person!!!) #(maude may be a little overwhelmed in more ways than one tho u are so correct agdgdggd) #(but yes samhain needs a stern kitty talk!!) #(i am also highkey excited!!!) #|༄| threads #|✧| nettie #|༄| ic

[hearthtales]

Samhain had told Nightshade about her. Sparkling warmth filled Nettie from the tips of her toes to the roots of her curly hair. Beaming, she nodded, words tumbling out with more confidence now. “We do, yeah! There’s Snowbell and Biscuit and Chester and— and Sam played outside with me yesterday, and we saw some together. Chester followed us around.”

She watched curiously as Nightshade stepped back from the mirror as though she were about to perform a marvelous show. And then… cat ears! Whiskers! And a tail! A kitty-girl! A gasp escaped Nettie before she burst into delighted giggles. The locket slipped in her excitement, and when she regained her grasp on it, her smile shone brighter than ever.

At the mention of Samhain, her smile faltered.

She bit her lip and shook her head. “He’s, um… he’s not here anymore. He left.” A pang went through her heart, both at the reminder Samhain was gone and the thought of disappointing someone as wonderful as Nightshade. “I’m sorry,” she added, softer.

Part of her wanted to ask how Nightshade would have passed something to her anyway — could she send things through the mirror? Before she could say this, a thought struck her. Fragile hope stirred within the child and brightened her eyes. “But he said we might meet again someday if I’m good, and I’ve been good, so— so maybe he’ll come back soon?”

The child was shy and sweet, and so very cute! She really did remind Nightshade of a blueberry as she first proclaimed. As to why that was the case, she had no real explanation for it and Samhain gave up trying to understand some of her logic. Sometimes things just were, like how some people were as pretty as string-lights and others reminded her of the beauty of seashells. And to Nightshade, Nettie was a blueberry.

She listened patiently as the girl explained what she was doing, scrying her out of nowhere. "Hee-hee, how sweet! Well, not-emergencies are the best kinds of occasions if I do say so myself!" she tittered, feeling flattered that Nettie just wanted to have a little chat. "Sammy told me a bit about you~ He said you liked kitties an' makin' flower crowns~ I heard you have a bunch of kitties where you live too!"

"Ooh! Wait, get this! You've seen a kitty and you've seen a girl," she said, taking a few steps back from the mirror with the performative charm of a magician about to stun an audience with an act! "But have you ever seen.... a kitty-girl??" With a wave of her hands in front of her face, suddenly a pair of cat ears appeared on her head and her cheeks now adorned with long, white whiskers. With a twirl, Nettie could also spot a tail swishing back and forth from her backside. "Ta-daaaa!"

"Thank you, thank you~ You're too kind~" Nightshade took her bows, her feline features and appendages disappearing one by one in puffs of purple smoke.

Once that the theatrics were over and done with, Nightshade hopped towards the mirror, suddenly remembering her arrangement with Samhain that morning. "Oh! I almost forgot! Is Sammy around? I need to pass him something so maybe ya could give it to him since you're already here~?"

#thesundowncrew #(!!! hello thank u for being so understanding abt the length agdgd the same always goes for u as well!! <3) #(i support nightshade’s theatrics!!) #(her thinking of nettie as a blueberry is super cute as well omg) #(she does have blueberry vibes….) #(nettie LOVED her kitty girl trick) #(she is so sad to disappoint her tho :((( she would’ve loved to help…….) #(but also oooooo the secrets are starting to come out!!) #|༄| threads #|✧| nettie #|༄| ic

[hearthtales]

Jongleur by Janle and Equilibre by Gaillard

#|༄| aesthetic #|༄| oak haven

[hearthtales]

At first, nothing happened.

Nettie couldn’t help fidgeting. She shifted on the floor to sit cross-legged, her back leaned against the wall. She held her breath as she focused on the mirror’s surface, waiting for something to change. Her reflection looked both eager and uncertain. Hints of sorrow remained — a faint blotchiness to her freckled cheeks, blue eyes still a bit watery.

At last, her reflection rippled and disappeared, and someone else appeared instead. Someone with hair as black as night, sparkling green eyes, and a bright smile to chase away the dark. Though her cheery greeting didn’t include her name, Nettie instantly knew this must be Samhain’s kitty friend.

She exhaled a breath of wonder. Jittery excitement rushed through her and sent her sadness scurrying away. She listened, starry-eyed, as Nightshade spoke; and when Nightshade guessed her name correctly, the child’s face lit up with delight.

A touch of starstruck shyness stole into her smile and tinted her cheeks pink. When the time came to reply, she nodded, fumbling to remember the reason she’d called in the first place. “Sam, um— he said I could use this for not-emergencies, too, and he told me about you, and I wanted to talk to you. I’ve, um…” Her voice grew quieter, hushed with awe. “I’ve never met someone who can turn into a kitty before.”

“Close your eyes… and listen very closely..”

A little embarrassed that he had failed, and in front of Liore at that, Sam was determined to try again and get actual results. He closed his eyes, acutely aware of Liore's hand on his - her voice slipping into his ears and settling down into his chest, into the pits of his stomach. Her words fell over the aching like a salve, numbing it almost. And just as the gnawing was about to fight back one last time, the dream rippled.

He took a deep breath and let out a huge sigh of relief. His heart returned to normal, no longer panicked by unseen shadows or voices. His head felt lighter and he felt calmer for it. Sam finally felt at peace.

He opened his eyes to Liore, staring back at him with anticipation with eyes glittering in the morning light. Yes, those were the eyes he remembered. “Well?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper. “What did it say..?”

Sam smiled warmly as he answered "..It said 'welcome home'."

—

Throughout the night, Nightshade hoped and prayed that nothing too serious befell her mentor and friend. She was still in perfect health, which was a good sign in itself. But now the clock was ticking and she rushed to get the dream draughts done without jeopardizing their quality. She was in a hurry but knew how important it was to stay meticulous, when even the slightest detail could mean disaster for the user of the charm or potion. And if these were meant for Samhain, she'd make sure to take extra care in their creation.

By the time the draughts were done - little sachets of concentrated, floral and magickal concoction charmed and secured with tie-strings laced with unicorn hair - it was nearly dawn. Nightshade practically collapsed into the mess of blankets and cushions of their den to catch up on a few hours of sleep. She knew she'd feel better tackling the day refreshed and energized, but still couldn't help worrying over Samhain. Her last thought before dozing off was that she hoped he was okay.

Time passed and her dream of eating blueberry and maple syrup-covered pancakes were interrupted by a loud humming. The humming droned on and on before Nightshade realized it was the large scrying mirror hanging on the wall of their den, where they received general calls and invocations.

Nightshade forced herself out of the cozy nest, scurrying off to the nearest sink to wash her face. First impressions are important, Samhain always said. She picked and preened, made sure her hair was in order and straightened our her shirt (Good thing people couldn't smell you over the mirror - she'd shower later). Once she felt she looked presentable, she answered the mirror with her best smile. "Hallows residence! What can we do you for?"

It only took her a second to recognize the girl, based on Samhain's description of her. "Oh! HeeEEeeyyy I think I know youuu~" said Nightshade, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Wait, wait, no let me think," she closed her eyes, tapping a manicured nail on the tip of her nose as she tried to remember the girl's name. "It's Nettie, am I right?! Nice to meetcha! You rang~?"

#thesundowncrew #(!! GOSH IT RLLY DOES HURT) #(also hello i am so sorry this is shorter agdgdgd i promise nettie is thrilled!!!) #(let me know if u need more to work with!! <3) #(nettie is usually very outgoing but she is also a little bit starstruck this time….) #(nightshade guessed her name and nettie was like !!!!!!) #(meeting the kitty friend at last…….) #(love the description of the dream draughts!!) #(also u are incredibly valid for getting whiplash switching from samhain to nightshade agdgd i love her vibe tho!!) #|༄| threads #|✧| nettie #|༄| ic

[hearthtales]

“Why is it called Sundown?” A voice that had no place there — a strand of another memory slipping into the dream. Feld sensed Samhain’s subconscious struggling against the illusion, fighting to remember reality. Thrill shivered through the creature. It had been so long since someone fought so much.

But… it was too late.

Feld shoved the stray memory back down, into the depths of forgetfulness where it belonged. It secured the final barrier around the dream, closing the last few gaps through which Samhain could’ve escaped slumber and awakened back in his bed.

Now, the time had arrived for the creature to take its leave and return to the inn to savor the feast.

—

“We’ve got all the time in the world,” the girl reassured Sam with a smile. “Maybe, you could try one more time now…” She brought his hand to the tree trunk again, her own hand staying against his. Her voice hushed as though sharing a secret meant only for the two of them. “Close your eyes… and listen very closely, so you can feel it speak…”

This time, when Sam closed his eyes, a slight shudder passed through the dream. A shift, as Feld vanished and Samhain’s mind filled the empty space beside him purely with the Liore from his memory.

When he opened his eyes and met her gaze, he’d find that her eyes were as green as he remembered them.

The dream continued onward.

—

Night passed. The sun rose. At the dining table laden with breakfast foods, Nettie sat alone.

The moment she’d seen Maude that morning, Nettie had flooded her with questions about Samhain, her eyes bright with hopefulness. Had he stayed the night? Was he still packing? Could she say goodbye one more time before he left? Could they maybe make one more flower crown together?

“He’s already gone,” the innkeeper had told her quietly, her expression unreadable. “I’m sorry.”

And the child’s hope had fled.

Now, she sat at the table, taking small, sad bites of toast with jam. Each swallow ached past the lump in her throat. Samhain’s instructions lingered in her mind — when the child finished her breakfast, she made sure to wipe her sticky fingers carefully on her napkin to keep from staining any books.

Maude was busy with chores. Bran was sketching in the yard, and Nettie knew he preferred being alone for this. Arthur had gone into the forest with Gruff.

So, Nettie wandered through the inn, aimless and alone, trailing her fingers over walls and books on shelves, humming faintly to keep herself company in the stillness. Eventually, she plopped down on the floor outside Samhain’s room and stared at the closed door. Part of her expected it to open any second to reveal Samhain hadn’t left at all. Simply another magic trick. The cold silence weighed on her. Nettie swallowed and rubbed her stinging eyes.

Oh, if only Samhain’s kitty friend were here. Surely she could brighten the day with kitty stories.

Samhain’s kitty friend.

With a gasp, Nettie fumbled at the chain around her neck. The tiny daisies clinked together softly as she opened the locket and stared at the scrying mirror in anticipation. What did she need to say? “Kitty,” she whispered. No, that wasn’t right. Ah, her name! She took a breath to steady the excitement bubbling up inside her, and tentatively said, “Nightshade?”

“It’s alright,” Liore cooed, her voice cutting through all sound and muddled thought. “Don’t worry...” Liore never needed to do much to calm him down. Maybe it was her gentleness soothing him to the core, or maybe she was trying a bit of magick as he felt something trickle from her fingertips through to his skin. Whatever it was, it was working. He tried hard to focus on her words, one after the other, in between deep, steady breaths.

“—We can rest there, yeah? I’m sure you’ll feel like yourself again soon.”

"A-aye.. All right.." said Sam, smiling weakly. But seeing Liore smile back at him gave him a little strength, enough to keep going at least. She led him by the hand and slowly but surely, they reached the giant, twisted tree.

When her hand slipped out of his, Sam wasn't as desperate to reach for her again. Instead, he watched with amusement as she ran and and laughed and twirled, her black, wavy, tresses swaying and bouncing as she did so. They were deep in their own, private neck of the woods where no one else dared ventured. Here, they were safe to be themselves; to be together. Here, they were free.

He watched her, content to see her so happy and without worry. He watched as the gnawing ache resurfaced and clawed at his insides. “Sammy!” she called out to him. “Come listen with me!”

He could ignore the gnawing for a little longer.

—

"So... how do I do this?"

She giggled, standing behind him and guiding his outstretched hand with hers. “First, close yer eyes. An' then focus on everything that you're feeling with your body an' settle it down. You're not goin' to hear with your ears or see with your eyes. You have to sense the tree with your heart. Your spirit. Shut it all out, an' focus on the quiet.”

He did as he was told. Slowly but surely, he pinpointed his focus on the energy of the tree in front of him. He shut everything else out. The birdsong; the rustling leaves; even Liore's own voice. He focused until he could hear nothing but his own heartbeat. And when Liore pressed his hand onto the bark—

"Why is it called Sundown?" asked a chipper voice, with sparkling eyes as green as a summer meadow and fur as black as night.

"W-wha-" Sam exclaimed, eyes shooting open and turning to Liore beside him. "W-what did you say?"

“Ah didn't say anything, Sammy.” At first she looked puzzled but then gasped with sudden realization. “Maybe you did hear it! The tree! You must've heard its voice! Mathair always did say yer affinity was strong! Why? What did you hear?”

"Ah.." He wanted to say something but the words escaped him now. What did it say? It was there a moment ago, and somehow it felt very important. He was upset that he lost it so easily. "Ah.. don't remember. Ah'm sorry, Liore.."

“It's all right, Sammy, there's no need t'be upset,” she assured, standing in front of him now and cupping his face so that he could look up and into her eyes and encouraging smile. “We can always try again. We've got all the time in the world~”

#thesundowncrew #(!!! oh i loved the part with nightshade’s voice slipping into the dream!!! it makes a lot of sense since sam was fighting so hard!!!) #(feld is SO pleased with itself for succeeding in the end) #(AWFUL) #(MAUDE RLLY DOES NEED A HUG) #(so does nettie tbh agdgdg she is…. so sad……..) #(time for kitty friend to the rescue tho!! <3) #|༄| threads #|✧| feldmire #|✧| nettie #|༄| ic #long post //

[hearthtales]

Sam hugged her tightly. The girl stiffened — just for a moment, just for a heartbeat — before relaxing into his arms. Concern shone in her gaze when he pulled away. She touched his hand on her shoulder, her slim fingers ice cold. “It’s alright,” she murmured, in a voice as soft as dove’s feathers. “Don’t worry...”

Gently, she took both his hands in her own and gave them a reassuring squeeze. “We’ve only got a bit farther to go ‘til we reach the tree. We can rest there, yeah? I’m sure you’ll feel like yourself again soon.”

She smiled at him, encouraging, and led him onward through the forest, hand-in-hand once more.

—

Spiders wrapped their prey in silk to prevent escape. Likewise, after catching prey in a dream, Feld stayed in the dream long enough to strengthen the illusion and ensure they wouldn’t awaken. It would be a shame to weave such an excellent dreamscape only for the ungrateful dreamer to escape it.

Feld just needed a bit more time to finish Samhain’s dream before it slipped back to the waking world. Once it left, Samhain’s mind would spin its own version of Liore to inhabit the fantasy. The dream would continue unfurling on its own, weaving itself from pleasant memories, vivid enough to feel real (until it faded, but Feld didn’t dwell on that).

And Samhain would never wake up.

—

Leaving Samhain a blanket and a mug of chamomile tea hadn’t sufficed to ease Maude’s guilt, and her worries refused to settle. So, at half-past midnight, the innkeeper found herself standing outside his door with another quilt tucked beneath her arm.

This close, she could feel it. The barrier was gone.

A shiver crawled up her spine, and dread twisted in her stomach. Why was the barrier gone? Had Sam dropped it himself? Or had Feld broken it somehow?

Maude swallowed hard, assuming the worst. At the same time, a sharp voice in the back of her mind whispered, why do you care what happens to him? He’s just another unlucky guest. He wouldn’t be the first one to fall victim to Feld, nor would he be the last. You can’t save any of them and you’ve only got yourself to blame. You haven’t gone soft, have you?

Without thinking, the innkeeper raised her hand to knock, then faltered. The rules of her contract with Feld twisted through her wrist and froze her muscles in place. Do not disturb sleeping guests. Her hand lowered, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave.

Coward, hissed the voice in her mind. Maude didn’t argue with it. She pressed her forehead to the door and closed her eyes, clutching the quilt to her chest.

—

They reached the clearing with the ancient tree.

The girl’s hand slipped free from Sam’s again as she ran toward the tree. She twirled beneath its gnarled boughs, beaming, as though delighting in a song only she could hear. Her hair and dress spun around with her, settling as she slowed to a stop.

With a breathless laugh, she steadied herself against the tree trunk and tucked a dark curl behind her ear again. “Sammy!” She reached her hand toward him, beckoning him to join her. Sunlight danced in the deep amber of her eyes. “Come listen with me!”

“I was very polite-”

Of course you were Sam thought. She was the sweetest girl he'd ever met. Kind. Gracious. Ever-so-thoughtful. And no matter what, she'd never raise her voice or say a hurtful word even to those who Sam thought more than well deserved it - like those bastards from the village.

“-I think the tree only speaks when it knows you’re truly listening.” But he didn't want to think about the village. Or his ma or da who no longer cared if he came home at night. Or his granda who seemed fit as a fiddle one day and then ailing the next. Today, he wanted to focus on Liore and the beautiful day they were having. He wanted to treasure this moment for as long as it lasted.

"What did the tree say?" he asked, genuinely curious. According to Liore's mathair, the large, blackened tree was the oldest thing on the isle. And it was not dead. In fact, its deep, dark bark was the sign of health and its leaves changed with the seasons just like any other tree. Still, it was a sight to behold as it stood tall, proud and twisted in a clearing that seemed to have been made for it. There were no other trees like it, Sam and Liore knew; they checked at least twice.

“It doesn't speak with words,” she tried explaining with a hum, their hands locked together and swaying lightly. “It's more like... a feeling.”

"Huh," Sam nodded along, sure he didn't understand it now but he knew he would soon enough. "An' what did you feel this time?" he asked again, but all he earned was a mischievous smile as if telling him to be patient. He humored her, as he always did. After maneuvering around a snail, he gave her hand a gentle squeeze telling her that he understood.

“The tree must be wise after living so long-” Their hands only parted for a moment when they had to climb over the root, but the moment was long enough for him to ache for her.

To have her hand back in his. To be close to her; as close as physically possible and not let go. It was as if this need had suddenly awoken was now gnawing at him from the inside-out. (Let go)

“Maybe, if we visit it often enough, we can hear all its stories together.”

Sam had deftly climbed over the root, joining Liore on the other side. The moment they were together again, he couldn't help himself. He pulled her in for a tight hug. (Let go Let go Let go Let go)

To feel the warmth of her skin, of her breath. Her honeyed voice in his ears. Her scent on his clothes. He wanted to encase her. Protect her, keep her hidden. Keep her safe. Engulf her like a flame until there was nothing left.

(Let go Let go Let go Let go Let go Let go Let go Let go Let go Let go Let go Let go Let go Let go Let go Let go)

“Sammy? Sam, what's wrong??”

He suddenly snaps out of it, feeling a sweat roll down his brow. Sam finally pulls away from Liore, his head suddenly feeling foggy. Heavy yet weightless at the same time, as if his mind could drift away at any second. "Ah..! Ah'm sorry, Liore... Ah'm not feelin' myself today.." he said, hiding his face with one hand while still holding onto her shoulder with the other.

There was that surging pain in his chest again. It was nothing like he'd ever felt before, not even when he battled that deathly fever as a child. It was as if his own body was fighting against him. But why?

What could possibly be wrong?

#thesundowncrew #(!!! SAM FIGHTING HIMSELF!!! I’M AAAAAA!!!) #(CRYING) #(help him!!!!) #(let me know if this is confusing!! i know i’m bouncing back and forth between perspectives a bit agdgdgd) #(but yes feld’s patience and disguise are thinning!!) #(it’s trying to distract sam from his doubts and that feeling of Wrongness) #(it usually just hides in a dream while it finishes the trap but its pride in its ability to mimic someone got the better of it!!) #(it is still confident it can trap him permanently…..) #(as long as sam doesn’t realize the trick and wake himself up in time………) #|༄| threads #|✧| maude #|✧| feldmire #|༄| ic #long post //

[hearthtales]

#|༄| aesthetic #|༄| creatures foul and fair #|༄| oak haven #|༄| musings