Spring 1
Monday
Time:
5:00
Weather:
Cloudy
On the first day of spring, it was cloudy. Long, bleak clouds swarmed the supposed to be clear sky, casting Lily of the Valley into a state of darkness similar to night. The same brisk winter air still covered the valley as it did three days before, and the threat of icy rain or snow became ever more evident as the dark clouds swirls above in an ominous fashion and dampness coated the soft greens and pink of the half-blooming vegetation with beads of water and ice. It wasn't usually this cold on the first day of spring, at least, not around this particular valley. Not only was it cloudy and cold, though, it was also windy. Horrible, short bursts of air traveled across the land, smashing against windows, rattling doors. They happened in small, varied sections, but obviously there, and the wind's sudden harshness was enough to awake most of the valley's inhabitants. Those who had lived forever in the promising land exited their homes with stricken but not entirely worried faces. They held themselves tightly against the cold, covered in nightgowns and slippers and caps, muttering among themselves in a quiet harmony.
Perhaps it was just a left over storm from winter, they thought, nothing to fret about.
Peony Fields blew rapidly in the sudden wind, the half-grown golden grass moving in rapid waves similar to the ocean that churned with gray roughness just out of sight. The farms that had planted themselves securely on the fertile land creaked with each gust, and the soft sounds panicking animals formed from Sunflower Stables, to which their caretaker, Sally Root, responded by running awkwardly from her home to the barn, wearing nothing but a nightgown and robe while also carrying the weight of her pregnancy. Further on, Glowing Fern Forest shook against the storm. The soft greens and pinks and white of the newborn leaves and flowers shrunk back and wilted, too soft for the harsh winds which brutally pushed through them. Below, the river was gray and slow, with no actual water to push it quicker through the bed, and many branches floated on the surface, littering the ocean with the forest's wreckage.
The beach was constantly shifting, small sandstorms often swirled up and fell from the grainy white ground. The ocean lapped angrily at the shore, gray waves spilling, receding, and spilling periodically, towing in discarded branches and shells. Robbi Yung watched from his shop's dock, slanted eyes showing tiredness and worry as he traced the ocean until locking eyes with the town, which showed signs of restlessness. Lights gleamed from windows and sleepy faces peaked out from behind curtains. Wood houses creaked together in an awful harmony. Some eyes that were locked on the sky wandered towards the large mountain, which jutted so far up that it punctured the black clouds like a needle.
And then, the sky screamed. A loud, thunderous sound that rocked the land, stunning those who were awake to stillness and awakening those who were still sound asleep. All electronics throughout the valley began to flicker and buzz, white noise and static filling the ears of those inside. A flash of white skipped through the air, striking Mount Edelweiss' summit, and then with another crack of thunder the storm vanished, black clouds swirling into one large vortex before being cast out into nothingness. Silence fell over the valley, and after moments of stillness, people finally let out soft laughs and smiles, reassuring themselves that it was nothing. Those who were still tired turned back in, and the lights of the town began to vanish. The sun just barely peaked over the plains, and a new warmth was spreading throughout the land, perking up the flowers and trees and grass, calming the raging sea, as well as the towns folk. Everything was alright once more.
Eli was one of the many to be awaken by the violent bursts of wind. She had been curled up comfortably on her bought bed, covered by the thin sheets which came with the room and a few shirts and dresses to keep warm. Dream images swirled in her mind, flowers and grass and pastel colors and hands and tight dresses and wine and city lights and forests flashing like a kaleidoscope before her shut eyes. And then the banging started. Like a thousand doors shutting and closing, or as if something was banging against glass. Eli lurched forward, instantly pulled from her drowsiness by the loud noise that filled her room, and let out a small gasp. Her eyes, wide with fright, wandered across the small, well furnished inn room, hand slowly reached to her nightstand to rip an old-fashioned lamp up into her grip. Eventually, she found herself staring at the curtains that barely covered the single, wide framed window in front of her bed, and the idea of someone breaking into the inn became lost in a muddle of curious thoughts.
Why is it so windy? her eyes narrowed as she replaced the lamp and slowly stood up, stretching. The banging stopped for a movement, and Eli found herself approaching floral pattern fabric, and she gently pulled it away and awaited the harshness of the morning sun, but was instead met with darkness. She glared out at the clouds and the land below and her eyebrows arched in surprise when she saw many people glancing out in the exact same way. The apartment above the cafe across the way, Daisy Cafe, was lite brightly and the somewhat familiar face of the owner was down in front of her establishment, staring up at the sky with mouth a gap and eyes wide. Eli followed suit and stared profoundly at the swirling mass of clouds above which imitated the kinds of summer storms she would see back at home. Her hands began toying with the window's lock, and once she managed to pry the worn latch and force open the pane another gust of wind appeared, filling the room with sudden coldness and the smell of the sea. Eli tripped backwards at the pressure of the wind, blond hair spinning madly behind her head while her short night gown crushed against her body, and a small cry escaped her lips. Similar calls and curses sounded down below, but Eli could barely hear, instead her ears were filled with the sound of flapping fabric and roaring wind. The curtains wrapped around her limbs and lashed at her fiercely, leaving the sting of fabric on her arms, and Eli pulled back even more until she was sitting on the trunk in front of her bed.
"Strange, I wouldn't expect such a storm after that winter we just had..." Eli muttered to herself, thinking back to the first day she arrived, where the land had been covered in glistening white and the sky had been a crystal-clear blue almost everyday. In fact, it had been warm enough for plants to start growing just two days prior, why the sudden drop in temperature? The wind had ceased once more and Eli sat back, staring out the open window blankly as she tried to clear her ears of the buzzing sound and think of what to do. Her mind suggested checking the weather, and she half turned until she spotted her sling bag, which was then ripped apart as she dug for her small, some-what old fashioned radio. Eventually, she pulled out the small box and began fidgeting with the dials, clinking through channels of static and music until she heard a monotone voice drone from the speakers. Phrases of 'sunny' and 'warm' drifted from the radio and Eli scoffed, glaring at the box with sudden distaste,
"Yes, obviously it's sunny and warm." sarcasm and malice dripped from her voice, "Jesus, stupid-" before she could finish her thought, a crack of thunder rattled the inn, and Eli let out a loud and sharp yell. Her body clenched up tightly into a ball as shivers of fear made her tremble, and the radio slipped onto the floor by her feet, screaming out an electronic song of static, and the room flashed white once. Eli held herself tightly, arms wrapped around her knees as her face clenched tightly, tears threatening to spill as another boom of thunder rattled the room.
And then it was perfectly quiet.
The radio hummed a soft, Spanish song, but other then that, it was quiet. No sound from outside or below. Nothing at all. Eli lifted her head slowly, locking eyes on the open window, and her breath hitched when she realized there wasn't a sign of the storm left. The sight of the sun in the distance managed to calm her down enough to allow her to move, but not enough to stop shaking, and with slow steps she slowly approached the window and jammed it closed. A sigh, soft and haggard, escaped her lips and she jumped slightly when the radio changed stations one last time, to a man speaking about traffic in the city,
"It is currently six o'five and..."
Eli leaned down and clicked the dials until it was silent once more, then turned to her bag, lazily shifting through outfits, too frightened to fall asleep.
Monday
Time:
5:00
Weather:
Cloudy
On the first day of spring, it was cloudy. Long, bleak clouds swarmed the supposed to be clear sky, casting Lily of the Valley into a state of darkness similar to night. The same brisk winter air still covered the valley as it did three days before, and the threat of icy rain or snow became ever more evident as the dark clouds swirls above in an ominous fashion and dampness coated the soft greens and pink of the half-blooming vegetation with beads of water and ice. It wasn't usually this cold on the first day of spring, at least, not around this particular valley. Not only was it cloudy and cold, though, it was also windy. Horrible, short bursts of air traveled across the land, smashing against windows, rattling doors. They happened in small, varied sections, but obviously there, and the wind's sudden harshness was enough to awake most of the valley's inhabitants. Those who had lived forever in the promising land exited their homes with stricken but not entirely worried faces. They held themselves tightly against the cold, covered in nightgowns and slippers and caps, muttering among themselves in a quiet harmony.
Perhaps it was just a left over storm from winter, they thought, nothing to fret about.
Peony Fields blew rapidly in the sudden wind, the half-grown golden grass moving in rapid waves similar to the ocean that churned with gray roughness just out of sight. The farms that had planted themselves securely on the fertile land creaked with each gust, and the soft sounds panicking animals formed from Sunflower Stables, to which their caretaker, Sally Root, responded by running awkwardly from her home to the barn, wearing nothing but a nightgown and robe while also carrying the weight of her pregnancy. Further on, Glowing Fern Forest shook against the storm. The soft greens and pinks and white of the newborn leaves and flowers shrunk back and wilted, too soft for the harsh winds which brutally pushed through them. Below, the river was gray and slow, with no actual water to push it quicker through the bed, and many branches floated on the surface, littering the ocean with the forest's wreckage.
The beach was constantly shifting, small sandstorms often swirled up and fell from the grainy white ground. The ocean lapped angrily at the shore, gray waves spilling, receding, and spilling periodically, towing in discarded branches and shells. Robbi Yung watched from his shop's dock, slanted eyes showing tiredness and worry as he traced the ocean until locking eyes with the town, which showed signs of restlessness. Lights gleamed from windows and sleepy faces peaked out from behind curtains. Wood houses creaked together in an awful harmony. Some eyes that were locked on the sky wandered towards the large mountain, which jutted so far up that it punctured the black clouds like a needle.
And then, the sky screamed. A loud, thunderous sound that rocked the land, stunning those who were awake to stillness and awakening those who were still sound asleep. All electronics throughout the valley began to flicker and buzz, white noise and static filling the ears of those inside. A flash of white skipped through the air, striking Mount Edelweiss' summit, and then with another crack of thunder the storm vanished, black clouds swirling into one large vortex before being cast out into nothingness. Silence fell over the valley, and after moments of stillness, people finally let out soft laughs and smiles, reassuring themselves that it was nothing. Those who were still tired turned back in, and the lights of the town began to vanish. The sun just barely peaked over the plains, and a new warmth was spreading throughout the land, perking up the flowers and trees and grass, calming the raging sea, as well as the towns folk. Everything was alright once more.
Eli was one of the many to be awaken by the violent bursts of wind. She had been curled up comfortably on her bought bed, covered by the thin sheets which came with the room and a few shirts and dresses to keep warm. Dream images swirled in her mind, flowers and grass and pastel colors and hands and tight dresses and wine and city lights and forests flashing like a kaleidoscope before her shut eyes. And then the banging started. Like a thousand doors shutting and closing, or as if something was banging against glass. Eli lurched forward, instantly pulled from her drowsiness by the loud noise that filled her room, and let out a small gasp. Her eyes, wide with fright, wandered across the small, well furnished inn room, hand slowly reached to her nightstand to rip an old-fashioned lamp up into her grip. Eventually, she found herself staring at the curtains that barely covered the single, wide framed window in front of her bed, and the idea of someone breaking into the inn became lost in a muddle of curious thoughts.
Why is it so windy? her eyes narrowed as she replaced the lamp and slowly stood up, stretching. The banging stopped for a movement, and Eli found herself approaching floral pattern fabric, and she gently pulled it away and awaited the harshness of the morning sun, but was instead met with darkness. She glared out at the clouds and the land below and her eyebrows arched in surprise when she saw many people glancing out in the exact same way. The apartment above the cafe across the way, Daisy Cafe, was lite brightly and the somewhat familiar face of the owner was down in front of her establishment, staring up at the sky with mouth a gap and eyes wide. Eli followed suit and stared profoundly at the swirling mass of clouds above which imitated the kinds of summer storms she would see back at home. Her hands began toying with the window's lock, and once she managed to pry the worn latch and force open the pane another gust of wind appeared, filling the room with sudden coldness and the smell of the sea. Eli tripped backwards at the pressure of the wind, blond hair spinning madly behind her head while her short night gown crushed against her body, and a small cry escaped her lips. Similar calls and curses sounded down below, but Eli could barely hear, instead her ears were filled with the sound of flapping fabric and roaring wind. The curtains wrapped around her limbs and lashed at her fiercely, leaving the sting of fabric on her arms, and Eli pulled back even more until she was sitting on the trunk in front of her bed.
"Strange, I wouldn't expect such a storm after that winter we just had..." Eli muttered to herself, thinking back to the first day she arrived, where the land had been covered in glistening white and the sky had been a crystal-clear blue almost everyday. In fact, it had been warm enough for plants to start growing just two days prior, why the sudden drop in temperature? The wind had ceased once more and Eli sat back, staring out the open window blankly as she tried to clear her ears of the buzzing sound and think of what to do. Her mind suggested checking the weather, and she half turned until she spotted her sling bag, which was then ripped apart as she dug for her small, some-what old fashioned radio. Eventually, she pulled out the small box and began fidgeting with the dials, clinking through channels of static and music until she heard a monotone voice drone from the speakers. Phrases of 'sunny' and 'warm' drifted from the radio and Eli scoffed, glaring at the box with sudden distaste,
"Yes, obviously it's sunny and warm." sarcasm and malice dripped from her voice, "Jesus, stupid-" before she could finish her thought, a crack of thunder rattled the inn, and Eli let out a loud and sharp yell. Her body clenched up tightly into a ball as shivers of fear made her tremble, and the radio slipped onto the floor by her feet, screaming out an electronic song of static, and the room flashed white once. Eli held herself tightly, arms wrapped around her knees as her face clenched tightly, tears threatening to spill as another boom of thunder rattled the room.
And then it was perfectly quiet.
The radio hummed a soft, Spanish song, but other then that, it was quiet. No sound from outside or below. Nothing at all. Eli lifted her head slowly, locking eyes on the open window, and her breath hitched when she realized there wasn't a sign of the storm left. The sight of the sun in the distance managed to calm her down enough to allow her to move, but not enough to stop shaking, and with slow steps she slowly approached the window and jammed it closed. A sigh, soft and haggard, escaped her lips and she jumped slightly when the radio changed stations one last time, to a man speaking about traffic in the city,
"It is currently six o'five and..."
Eli leaned down and clicked the dials until it was silent once more, then turned to her bag, lazily shifting through outfits, too frightened to fall asleep.
