awashlogs | Event Twenty-Six.

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Event Twenty-Six.

I am a Tree,
I serve the man for centuries.
I give you food,
I give you wood.
I give you shed,
I hold the soil under your feet.

t's a calm, quiet, peaceful morning. It's still dark, the birds are still not even singing... and creatures, slinking and furtive, sneak into Town to drag friends, loved ones, and enemies alike away.

Whether you're one who's been dragged deeply into the woods, or one who's been left behind...

Surely you can't let this be?

After all, you may never see them again if you allow them to stay out in the woods, frozen horribly into just another tree in the woods. Good luck!

Welcome to Awash's Twenty-sixth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to make your own logs and posts for this event!

If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Even those not skilled at tracking will easily find a trail of broken, colourless branches leading from Tonbokiri's room in Flavo into the forest -- and then it abruptly stops.

For such a murderer of trees the dryads did not go easy on this one, even with the fight he put up. They resorted to using a scarce poison to subdue him, and so Tonbokiri was literally dragged very deep into the forest, the dryads's forest lore allowing them to leave very little trace behind despite their burden.

To Tonbokiri, he is uncertain how much time had passed while poisoned. However, the full transformation to 'tree' is alarmingly near completion. He is aware of his situation, but frustratingly unable to do a thing about it. He'd been lying on his back when the transformation began, and since has planted roots everywhere he'd been touching the ground. He is now a long, amber-yellow, living log.
His hands had retained a death-grip on his spear, so even now it is with him. As the rest of him is scarcely recognizable as human, the spear is also becoming tree-like. Yet his spear, rising at a unnatural angle from the log and still retaining its obviously unnatural spearhead, is the surest sign of who this is...

If there were anyone to see it.

Keigo can't really complain about his rescuer. They came when he was convinced he was going to be stuck as a tree forever and saved him from a life of photosynthesis. And it made sense for them to go off to rescue other people once they were sure he was on the path back home without expecting him to tag along. As the recently rescued, it was his right to flee to safety instead of going deeper into the forest!

The problem is, he's still in the forest, no matter how close to town he may be. He's never been in the woods alone. He's always been accompanied by people with strength or special powers. Leaving him alone like this is just not good rescuer service.

Lost in thoughts like this, he doesn't notice someone else is approaching until they're very close. He wheels around at the first sound that registers, or maybe it's just their general presence he senses.

"Don't kill me! It's too soon!" He's thinking too soon after being rescued from certain death but the general sense of I'm too young to die! works, too.

Will either of these wandering souls see it? Only time will tell.

Arching an eyebrow, Berkut snorts. Unlike this skittish creature in front of him, he doesn't fear traversing the forest on his own. While he's left his horse behind for this particular trip, he still has his lance to deal with unwanted company.

"What would I gain by killing you?"

"I thought I was going to turn around and see a monster."

Keigo doesn't generally go around thinking his fellow Chroma residents are going to kill him. Generally. But he's not going to test that by voicing the petty complaint of what's what would I gain supposed to mean? He is totally worth killing!

"I don't like being alone out here with no one to protect me!"

How convenient that there's a guy with a lance here now.

Then perish here and let him reap the benefits.

"Hmph. The forest is no place for a coward like you. Go on, then." Berkut motions to the path—if it can be called that—behind him. "Let us see if you can make it back to town in one piece."

"I can't help being scared of the forest. I'm just a normal human!"

Okay, he's not entirely a normal human, but his one unusual skill of being able to see spirits doesn't do anything for him in the middle of danger. Except to maybe let him know there's danger from a ghost no one else can see. Then he's extra scared and about to die.

Keigo looks at the path. If this guy came from town, the places he's just tramped down are better than nothing, but it's not exactly a clear trail.

"Are you," and the spear, "coming with me?"

Oh? After numerous encounters with magical folk, how unusual it is to run into a so-called normal human. Not that it changes his mind in the slightest.

"No. Why must I turn back to accompany you?"

Berkut's only path is forward. The rigidity with which he holds himself indicates that he won't budge on this. Keigo is free to flee or stay and be mauled by a creature prowling the forest; it makes no different to Berkut.

That didn't go like he'd hoped. Berkut doesn't even look like he's thinking about it!

"Because I need help! Aren't guys like you supposed to help people in need?"

Keigo's idea of "guys like him" is nothing more specific than those with armor or weapons or even just the confidence to go off in the woods by themselves.

"There is no helping cowards," he says in a clipped tone.

Nor does he intend to waste any more time on one. Without waiting for a response, Berkut begins taking long strides farther into the forest.

Keigo finds himself without much time to choose. Going back to town with the help of a slightly more defined path sounds nice. Of course, that path won't do anything to save him from the dangerous creatures he's been lucky not to face so far.

On the other hand, there's a spear.

He goes for the plan that gives him some protection, no matter how reluctant, and hurries after Berkut.

"I'm Keigo, by the way, not that you seem to care."

Why is Keigo following him? Berkut doesn't recall allowing this. He makes it a point to keep going at his regular pace. It's no skin off his nose if Keigo lags behind for any reason.

"I am Berkut, nephew to His Majesty the Emperor of Rigel. I've more important matters to attend to than the likes of an inexperienced peasant."

Keigo has fine running away legs, so he can keep up with Berkut. It's just not an enjoyable pace. For once, he has the sense not to complain about that, though.

He can complain about something else instead.

"So you're some kind of royalty? Doesn't that mean you should be watching over peasants and taking care of them?"

Halfway through flinging his head back in exasperation, Keigo stops. Is there a bit of color off in the distance?

Inwardly, he rankles at being called "some kind of" royalty. Ignorant clod, there's no question about the royal blood that courses through his veins.

"The Empire values strength. Even those of common birth know this."

But then the footfalls dogging his come to a sudden stop, abruptly enough that it turns Berkut's head. He squints. Though the color is striking, what piques his interest is something else entirely. Wordlessly, he makes for that spot in the distance, where his gaze falls on the familiar spearhead.

"This is . . . "

All complaining is actually set aside as Keigo follows until they can get a better look at the yellow tree.

"That's Tonbokiri's spear, isn't it?" Tonbokiri doesn't talk on the forums a lot, but Keigo thinks when he does his color is something like that shade of yellow. This has to be his tree! Well, him as a tree, to be more specific. Him as a tree, still holding his spear.

And maybe it's the stress of the whole situation or Keigo might say he's just able to look on the bright side and find something fun in any situation, but out of nowhere he's struck by the thought that there's something really hilarious about him still holding on to his spear. He's a tree, and it's just sticking out there!

A laugh threatens to bubble up, and Keigo tries to hold it in. Berkut was already ready to leave him to die in the forest, and he's way too serious to approve of laughing at a time like this.

"Don't worry! We'll get you out!" He looks to Berkut, ready to let him take the lead in saving the day, while the corners of his mouth twitch.

Berkut glances at Keigo. A part of him is surprised that the latter recognizes the spear, but he knows that he shouldn't be. Chroma is a small town where everyone at least walks by each other at some point.

While Keigo reins in inappropriate laughter, Berkut scowls and gestures at the . . . log.

"Out? Look at him." The markings on Tonbokiri's chest can be seen on the transformed tree. "Unless you wish to skin him, there is no getting out."

Berkut is right; Keigo felt it himself as his legs became a tree trunk. It won't be a matter of simply breaking away an outer shell.

"You know what I meant! We're going to figure out a way to un...tree him!"

He didn't have to say it like that, either! Skinning him. Gross!

But after a second of being horrified by the thought of peeling actual skin away from Tonbokiri, out of nowhere comes the idea of peeling the bark back like he's a giant banana.

There's no helping it now. Keigo's laughing, still holding it in at first so just his shoulders shake.

"Peeling!" With that outburst, he's truly laughing, long and loud. Almost like he can't stop himself. Maybe it's because he tried to hold back when he first noticed the spear.

"His spear!" Or maybe the stress of the situation is making him go crazy.

"Am- Am I losing it?"

Tonbokiri had been aware when the two men approached him, and could hear their conversation. So he does not know why 'peeling' and 'his spear' had set Keigo-dono to laughing so hard, but at the sound Tonbokiri feels more able to breathe than he has in what feels like a long time.

(Hopefully Keigo will not think he's losing it for sure when he sees the log start to look distinctly more human-like.)

Cautiously, still stiff from both the lingering magic and from not moving for so long, Tonbokiri opens his eyes and tries to move his fingers. He can tell, he is slowly returning to being flesh again...

Which brings the memory rushing back: when the tree creatures had captured him, he had been sleeping naked.
...
...
Honestly, the fact that he was captured at all is more embarrassing than being found like this. (A little.) But fortunately it is two men who have come.

He would apologize at least, but it will be a little longer until he can move and speak.

Yes, thinks Berkut, this man is out of his mind.

Before he can reproach Keigo for the absurd outburst, something in his periphery shifts. He snaps his head toward Tonbokiri, who, to his complete and utter surprise, has begun to change back into a humanoid. Surprise gives way to shock when he sees just how naked the Great Spear is.

For the first time in a long time, Berkut is rendered speechless. His outrage takes over and he looks away with a huff.

"Indecency doesn't suit you."

When Keigo emerged from the bark, he was still wearing the scavenged old-fashioned clothes he uses to sleep in. That is not the case for Tonbokiri. Did the transformation eat his clothes? Does he sleep naked?

It only makes the situation more hilarious.

Nothing quite like seeing a naked sword spirit to make him feel like doing a few sit-ups, though. And think about getting chest implants.

But the funniest thing is Berkut's uptight reaction.

"You're acting like you've never seen a naked man before! They must not have baths where you're from."

He has to catch his breath.

"Or mirrors!

Keigo laughs and laughs, completing the transformation without even realizing he's the force behind it.

Tonbokiri's lips twitch up in a smile for a moment. Although Asano-dono is laughing a bit much, he's amused at the reaction between the two men.

Fully released from the magic, Tonbokiri shifts so that he's sitting seiza, lays his spear before him, and bows towards his (unwitting?) saviours.

"Apologies for this one's immodest appearance." As he speaks, he pulls his long ponytail around to at least cover himself a little. "Asano-dono is correct in that there is nothing to be ashamed of, however it is inappropriate to be thus outside the proper context.

"But more than that, my deepest thanks for freeing me from that curse. I had wondered if I would be like that forever."

This peasant is not going to last the forest, and it won't be because of the monsters roaming the grounds. The obnoxious laughter is starting to give him a headache.

"Silence, or you'll be wanting for a new tongue," he snaps at Keigo.

Turning to face Tonbokiri, Berkut pauses. He doesn't recall doing anything that would have equated to a cure for the curse. The only thing that happened between spotting Tonbokiri and seeing him now is . . .

"Don't tell me that's what it took to undo the curse."

Keigo settles down into a few final chuckles. He's too curious about what Berkut is talking about.

"What is what it took to undo the curse?"

He really isn't bothered by the nudity, but if Tonbokiri wants to cover himself (and he probably shouldn't walk back into town like that anyway) maybe he can help with that. It's not like any part of his clothes would fit him if he tries to share, so he'll need to improvise. There's a moment of hesitation as he remembers wondering if the tree people kidnapped him because he once damaged trees, but then he snaps off a small branch with a cluster of leaves.

"Here." Keigo offers it to Tonbokiri.

He blinks at the offered leafy branch, surprised that that's what Asano-dono is offering him, and worried over another injury against the forest. But it is true that the young man's clothes would not fit him, so he takes the branch and lays it in his lap.

"Thank you." He then answers, "I felt like I could move again when I heard you laughing, Asano-dono." He turns to Berkut-dono with a patient smile. "However, it is difficult to tell what the forest required to break this curse. Your designated colours are blue and red, are they not? Perhaps that has something to do with it, too." He rubs the back of his head and sighs. "I would like to know for certain, should there be others in my condition. Given how this place works, I doubt I was the only one thus abducted."

His expression becoming grave he asks Berkut-dono, "What is the situation?"

A bold one, isn't he, to deface a tree at a time like this.

If Tonbokiri regained mobility after hearing Keigo's laughter, then that's the cure. What is there to wonder? Berkut nearly snorts from the absurdity of it all when Tonbokiri draws his attention to the broader picture. He brings a hand up to perch on his waist.

"There are more who share your previous predicament. As for how many, I do not know. It seems that the creatures of the forest are most displeased with the townspeople's treatment of their habitat."

"I saved Tonbokiri?" It sounds impossible, but it checks out. The change started as soon as he started laughing. He saved him. Yes, Tonbokiri is bringing up other theories, but Keigo wants to focus on that part.

"You're right. My color is blue. It took crying to turn me back, which is kind of blue. So laughing could be yellow because it's happy!"

Keigo has the decency to look sheepish about his recent branch murder when Berkut mentions "treatment of their habitat." He was just trying to help and a single leaf wasn't going to be enough!

(closed - Berkut and Keigo)

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