09-28-2015, 08:17 AM
One would think that it would be a simple and smart effort to build something substantial near the gate in order to have a better trade and security opportunities. Even with the now unobservable scouts they couldn't possibly keep their borders secure in any major way. A fort of observatory at least would have been ideal for alerting the residents to the presence of undesirables.
Then again could this place be so peaceful that advanced militarization was unnecessary? Far be it for her to change the status quo if that was the actual situation at hand. But that seemed unlikely. Human nature and her experiences with such vehemently made that clear. Plus there would have been significantly more civilization closer to the gate than there was.
But no, the changes in the landscape were non-existent; sure there were minors signs of humanity in the refuse on the roadside but beyond that nothing. The distances involved seemed to suggest something more, that holding any kind of permanent residency there was untenable at the least, suicide at worst.
So what was the catch?
What force was so great that it would keep whatever bit of sapience that inhabited this area far away from a gateway that was so obviously an access point to others? How much of a miracle was it that she had gone to this world?
Ururu shivered she had no idea what had lurked behind those other archways but the lack of cross-traffic between them was concerning.
A thought occurred to her suddenly, what if the lack of cross-traffic wasn't because people feared the Outside but rather people Outside feared the place she was in. Something about it maybe kept it clear of habitation?
Unfortunately this was all just idle speculation. Nothing at the moment could confirm or deny any of this until she found something conclusive. Hopefully by then it wouldn't be to late for her to escape or combat the problem.
“Could be w-” Hikaru began but Ururu's hand silenced her with a finger to her mouth. Or rather in it.
“Don't go handing fate lines like that.” Ururu said with a cringe.
Hikaru gave her a penetrating look before she lightly bit down on Ururu's finger as a warning which she took promptly.
“Superstitious much?” Her companion said once the offensive digit had been removed.
“A Mad God kidnapped us and reconstituted our matter into a material that as far as I know doesn't exist in nature.” Ururu said with a small amount of annoyance, “I think we have a fairly good reason to be suspicious of casual circumstance and coincidence.”
Hikaru shrugged as if this were something normal. Then again for her it arguably was or least similar enough not to bother her to any great deal.
They carried on quietly for some time after that, the silence only broken by their foot falls and birds talking incessantly. Most likely their conversation regarding the two idiots who would risk their lives walking so blatantly down Death's Driveway to ring his doorbell.
Ururu sighed and finally broke their mutualsilence, “Are our lives so skewed that this barely above normal?”
Hikaru chuckled, “We were never normal to begin. If you want to be technical about, up until recently I didn't even exist. How many people can say that with a straight face?”
Nodding, Ururu had to concede the point as true enough; as painful as it was. But then again the circumstances that put her in this place the ones that gave her Hikaru and the others... were ones she'd never change.
What do you call a life where imaginary friends had souls and bodies given to them in a moment of pain and grief?
Definitely not normal but not wrong either.
Nothing this good could ever be wrong even when they were cross with each others' perspective.
The road began to widen a bit as the trees themselves parted for once. Ururu noted at once this area was looking a bit more tread upon which itself was probably a good thing. And more importantly recently as well.
Then again it just occurred to her if this area and the path behind them wasn't used more than occasionally, much of the growth she had seen so far would have been working to reclaim it.
So probably thoroughly used in mass but not regularly. Just enough to ensure any new growth is reasonably and totally trampled. This bespoke of large organized unit movements rather than the regular scout patrols she had seen hinted at. Which meant this area about an hour's walk from the gate was a staging ground or close to one.
A staging ground meant that some form civilization had to be near by.
Both Ururu and Hikaru hoped that it was a friendly civilization. Or at least one oblivious enough to admit them long enough learn what the hell was going on around here.
Then again could this place be so peaceful that advanced militarization was unnecessary? Far be it for her to change the status quo if that was the actual situation at hand. But that seemed unlikely. Human nature and her experiences with such vehemently made that clear. Plus there would have been significantly more civilization closer to the gate than there was.
But no, the changes in the landscape were non-existent; sure there were minors signs of humanity in the refuse on the roadside but beyond that nothing. The distances involved seemed to suggest something more, that holding any kind of permanent residency there was untenable at the least, suicide at worst.
So what was the catch?
What force was so great that it would keep whatever bit of sapience that inhabited this area far away from a gateway that was so obviously an access point to others? How much of a miracle was it that she had gone to this world?
Ururu shivered she had no idea what had lurked behind those other archways but the lack of cross-traffic between them was concerning.
A thought occurred to her suddenly, what if the lack of cross-traffic wasn't because people feared the Outside but rather people Outside feared the place she was in. Something about it maybe kept it clear of habitation?
Unfortunately this was all just idle speculation. Nothing at the moment could confirm or deny any of this until she found something conclusive. Hopefully by then it wouldn't be to late for her to escape or combat the problem.
“Could be w-” Hikaru began but Ururu's hand silenced her with a finger to her mouth. Or rather in it.
“Don't go handing fate lines like that.” Ururu said with a cringe.
Hikaru gave her a penetrating look before she lightly bit down on Ururu's finger as a warning which she took promptly.
“Superstitious much?” Her companion said once the offensive digit had been removed.
“A Mad God kidnapped us and reconstituted our matter into a material that as far as I know doesn't exist in nature.” Ururu said with a small amount of annoyance, “I think we have a fairly good reason to be suspicious of casual circumstance and coincidence.”
Hikaru shrugged as if this were something normal. Then again for her it arguably was or least similar enough not to bother her to any great deal.
They carried on quietly for some time after that, the silence only broken by their foot falls and birds talking incessantly. Most likely their conversation regarding the two idiots who would risk their lives walking so blatantly down Death's Driveway to ring his doorbell.
Ururu sighed and finally broke their mutualsilence, “Are our lives so skewed that this barely above normal?”
Hikaru chuckled, “We were never normal to begin. If you want to be technical about, up until recently I didn't even exist. How many people can say that with a straight face?”
Nodding, Ururu had to concede the point as true enough; as painful as it was. But then again the circumstances that put her in this place the ones that gave her Hikaru and the others... were ones she'd never change.
What do you call a life where imaginary friends had souls and bodies given to them in a moment of pain and grief?
Definitely not normal but not wrong either.
Nothing this good could ever be wrong even when they were cross with each others' perspective.
The road began to widen a bit as the trees themselves parted for once. Ururu noted at once this area was looking a bit more tread upon which itself was probably a good thing. And more importantly recently as well.
Then again it just occurred to her if this area and the path behind them wasn't used more than occasionally, much of the growth she had seen so far would have been working to reclaim it.
So probably thoroughly used in mass but not regularly. Just enough to ensure any new growth is reasonably and totally trampled. This bespoke of large organized unit movements rather than the regular scout patrols she had seen hinted at. Which meant this area about an hour's walk from the gate was a staging ground or close to one.
A staging ground meant that some form civilization had to be near by.
Both Ururu and Hikaru hoped that it was a friendly civilization. Or at least one oblivious enough to admit them long enough learn what the hell was going on around here.