Music, the language of the Soul
Once the pajamas get here, I swap my shirt for the pajama shirt. It feels extremely warm and comfortable.
“Manya?”
“Yes?”
“I’m getting sleepy.”
She brushes through my hair, “Then go to sleep.”
“But shouldn’t I try to put on the clothes fully before I do?”
“No it’s fine, we’ll handle it. Just go to sleep.”
Snuggling up to her, I notice something, “Hey manya?”
“Hmm?”
“You smell really strong. You should probably bathe.”
“Oh? Just me or Rayla too?”
“Yeah, both of you.”
“Alright, we’ll go take a bath, now go to sleep.”
“Okay…Nighty.”
—------------------------------------------------------------
Shortly after Rose falls asleep and turns back into her cursed form, Scarlet and Rayla finish dressing her then wrap her up in a blanket.
“Do I actually smell, Scarlet? I don’t smell it at all and I don’t think you smell either.”
“That’s because we don’t, she is probably starting her first imprint soon.”
“Imprint?”
“It’s an important developmental process. If I’m right, she’ll get really hungry soon then go asleep for a week or so. During that time, we have to be near her and not allow others to stay near her long.”
“Okay, why? What’s going to happen?”
“Essentially, she will take in our scent during that time and once she’s done will never forget it again throughout her entire life. It will make it so her body will always recognize our scent as family. Which is why it’s both important we’re here for her and that no one that is not going to stay with her her whole life is going to accidentally get imprinted on.”
“What happens if someone else gets imprinted on?”
“She’ll miss them for the rest of her life. It’s not good at all if that happens, children that imprint on someone that dies early or is not going to stay with them usually become depressed, which is why even grandparents avoid their grandchildren in that process sometimes.”
“You said first imprint, how many are there?”
“I’m not sure but there is usually one right after hatching which she probably skipped due to the circumstances of her birth and then once every year or so until she gets old enough to open her eyes. I think it differs from child to child though and it also has something to do with their environment changing but I’m by no means an expert.”
“I see, is there anything else we need to be aware of?”
“Not really, just don’t wear strong perfume or something similar during that time. Also try to avoid cleaning yourself more than you usually would. You don’t want to weaken your scent either.”
“Gotcha.”
—----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Waking up again, I find myself in what looks like a cafe, next to a fireplace, lying my head on ane’s lap.
“Good morning, Rose. Did you sleep well?” Scarlet asks me.
“Yeah.”
Sitting up I lean on Rayla and rub my cheek on hers.
“Good morning, oko.”
“Good morning.”
“I see you two are as close as ever,” Sher Aka chuckles from the other side of the table.
“Oh! I didn’t notice you there, Sher Aka.”
She waves at me, “It’s alright. Good afternoon, Rose.”
“Good afternoon. Where are we?”
“A cafe near our next destination. I asked to meet up here before we go to have some fun together.”
“Huh, where are we going?”
She puts her index finger over her mouth, “It’s a secret. But you’ll find out soon.”
“Sigh Are you guys trying to be mysterious again?”
“Nope, she didn’t even tell us, oko.”
“Huh…”
“Uhum, anyways… Like I said we will see it soon but you should probably change your form to your cut- I mean, male form again for that.”
“Oh, yeah sure!”
Closing my eyes, I imagine changing and when I open them again I’m in my small form. Looking at Sher Aka, she has a bit of a weird look on her face as if she’s trying to suppress her facial expression but just ends up looking constipated because of it.
“Would you be interested to sit on my lap for a bit, Rose?”
“Sure, why not?”
“Then don’t mind if I do!” Sher Aka says giddily as she picks me up and sits me down on her lap, “If I do anything you don’t like please tell me, Rose~”
“Uh…Sure?”
Having my consent, she begins to brush through my hair and carefully pinch my cheek.
“You’re so small and cute like this~”
“Thank you!” I say giddily before feeling a little drowsy, “Hey Sher Aka?”
“Yeah?”
“Have you always smelled so strongly?”
“What?”
“Annnnnnnnd that’s enough hugging with Sher Aka for today,” Scarlet says as she picks me up, “I’ll explain it to you later, Sher Aka.”
“Okay…? Uhum, let us go then. Now that Rose is awake I can show you the place, follow me.”
Following Sher Aka through the streets I can’t help but notice both Rayla’s and Scarlet’s scent piercing through the other smells of the street, “Hey, manya?”
“Yeah?”
“I feel dizzy.”
“Dizzy? Do you know why?”
“Yeah, your scents are so strong…”
“I see…Are you feeling hungry too?”
“No.”
“Good, so it hasn’t started yet…Either way you’ll probably be fine, Rose. It’s probably just going to last for a bit but if it gets any worse or you feel anything else please tell me.”
“Okay…”
Things are a bit of a blur afterwards, I don’t pass out but it feels like time is just flying by and then slowing down again for a while. It is only when I hear music that I snap out of it again. Looking around we seem to be in a room with many Elven children and a few children of other more common races like humans and wolf-beastkin.
“Manya, where are we?”
She smiles at me, “Oh are you okay again? How are you feeling?”
“Tired but fine.”
“That’s great. We’re at a music workshop for children that Sher Aka got recommended by an acquaintance. You can try out some instruments here if you want or just listen to the others play.”
“Hmm…I think I’ll just listen for now.”
“Alright.”
I then listen to the kids badly play some instruments for a bit while an Elven man named Ramul Adar teaches them some simple tunes to try. He seems really excited in teaching the kids.
After a while, Sher Aka goes towards him and whispers something to him, causing him to approach me and with a deep, smooth and somewhat familiar sounding voice, says, “Hey there, Rose. Would you like to try some instruments too?”
“Uhm, I’m not sure I have never played an instrument before. Also I can’t lift anything heavy right now…”
“That’s completely fine, we have lighter instruments too and everyone here is trying things out for the first time so there is no need to feel apprehensive. But if you want I can also just play some tunes for you for a bit if you don’t feel well enough to play.”
“Hmm…I’ll try something then.”
“Great!” He then quickly gets a box and puts some flutes, small drums and other light instruments inside for me, “Feel free to try any of these, with the drums you’ll just need to hold the drumstick I’ll hold the drums for you.”
“Okay.” Looking around at the box my eye catches a wooden flute, “Can I try that one?”
“Of course! Would you like me to show you some tunes to try?”
“Sure, that sounds good.”
With a warm smile Ramul Adar picks up the flute and shows me a small simple happy sounding tune then hands the flute over to me.
I pick it up and after some tries get the tune down pretty quickly.
“Very good! You might have a talent for music, Rose.”
“Really?”
“Yes, how about you try improvising a little. You know the sounds it makes now so all you need to do is play a sound that resonates with your heart.”
“A sound that resonates with my heart…Okay I’ll try it.”
Closing my eyes I try to think about a melody.
—---------------------------------------------------
With her eyes closed, Rose then begins to play an intricate somber tune at a skill level way above what she just showed, leaving everyone around her surprised and speechless. The tune is both chilling and very sad, with a calm and sad base melody that occasionally gets interrupted by violent sounding quick intermissions.
Once she’s done, Ramul Adar excitedly says, “That was amazing, Rose! Does this song have a name or did you really improvise it? I have never heard it before.”
“I came up with it a long time ago. Its name is ‘Death by a Thousand Needles’.”
“What a…Unique name. Is there a reason why it’s in Elvish?”
“What other language would be in? It’s the only one I- AGHHHHH My head.”
“Rose? What’s wrong!? Are you in pain?” Scarlet asks somewhat panicked while brushing through her hair causing Rose to slap her hand away.
With a completely panicked expression she looks at Scarlet then says, “It’s you! Unhand me you monster!”.
“What? Why are you saying this, Rose? What’s wrong!?”
“It’s probably her old self surfacing. The music must have triggered something.” Sher Aka interjects, “Try putting her down, give her some space. She’ll probably pass out and go back to normal soon.”
“I can’t just leave her alone on the ground like this!”
Putting her hand on Scarlet's shoulder Rayla adds, “Just do it. Look at her, you're causing her more harm by holding her.”
Looking at Rose, she’s desperately wiggling around with a terrified expression trying to get out of Scarlet’s grip.
After hesitating a bit Scarlet puts Rose on the ground and watches her try to crawl away with her frail body but not getting far at all before she starts to cough and wheeze from over exertion, begins to cry and finally passes out turning back to her cursed form. Thankfully staying covered by the blanket around her and the shirt she was wearing but still causing the children and parents present to freak out.
“What was that!? What happened to her!?”
“I'll explain later, let’s get her back first.” Rayla answers as she picks up Rose and quickly leaves.