The Mists of Lobonus

     On this island next to Myrefall, there lived monsters from all sorts of mythologies, legends, and stories. They lived together in peace on a land called Lobonus. A girl named Kelly blew into a flute carved from bone, notes emanating throughout the plains. A shout came from the straw house. The girl rolled her stone wheelchair back to her home.
      "Hey, mom." Her mother sat on the ground, shadows dancing everywhere from the fire. A fresh goatskin lay on the floor nearby, and smoke rose through the hole in the ceiling.
      Her mother's gray, moist, smooth skin reflected the light as she glanced at her daughter. "Hello, sweetheart. How was your day?" Her tail flippers flicked. Two hunks of meat were stabbed onto metal stakes.
      Their olfactory senses activated, and saliva formed in their mouth. Her smile was as wide as the Ruby River. It was more than enough for her mother.
A centaur wielding an ax pushed aside the cloth door, smiling. He dropped the ax as he opened his arms. "How are my girls?" Both mother and daughter ran into his arms, warmth running through them. His strong arms embraced them, protecting them from harm. They broke from the hug, and his smile shifted. "Where's Diego?"
"I think he's still at the river." Her mom took the browned meat, and taking a knife, carved into them. "I can go get him."
Her father's smile was sad as he said, "That poor kid..." Kelly strolled all the way to the river, the stars twinkling. A boy with brown skin and dark brown hair stared into the ruby water rushing by. He glanced at her. "God, you look awful."
"Really?"
The young man chuckled. "Nah." He elbowed her, a smirk appearing on his face, and she got him back. They erupted into laughter as they entered their house. Her mother gave them a leg and a breast respectively, and they sat on the ground. "Thanks, Johanna." The old man's smile was back, and his jovial nature spread to everyone.
After everybody had eaten, Kelly approached the shrine with a piece of meat in hand, still standing. Her family chanted behind her as she said, "Oh great fairies, thank you for providing us with the land and the life we have. May you all receive this gift of gratitude, and continue to look after us." She laid the slab of meat on the table, and looked to the heavens.
Johanna laid the new skin upon Kelly, kissing her on the forehead before saying goodnight to Diego and Ben, her husband.
      The next morning, a fairy wearing a leather pouch delivered news of Natalie's mother's funeral taking place that evening. Diego thanked the fairy, and went out the door, joining both girls outside. Kelly and Johanna were searching for food outside, picking pink, teal, orange, and red berries and placing them into a bag. The teenager, Diego, ate the berries as he picked them, not thinking about the others.
      "Diego!" Kelly slapped a handful of berries out of his hand. Some of the bee fell on her lap, and she picked them up.
    "What? I'm hungry." She rolled her eyes while she rolled away from him towards the house. Her mom entered first, nudging her husband awake. Benjamin rose to full height, taking up the entire space of the house.
    "Breakfast is ready, sweetheart." Ben sat back down as Johanna divided the berries between her, Ben, Diego, and Kelly equally, and they dug in, the sweetness staining their tongues.
       After they finished, Ben belched. He grabbed a giant wooden club, and Diego took a spear out of the ground. They walked into the forest, the trees drowning them from view. "Are you liking our home, Diego?" Ben's voice boomed, and small animals skittered off.
"Yeah. Thanks for that." His eyes dropped, and a small smile appeared for a few seconds. "By the way, why did you take me?" Before the centaur could respond, a roar echoed through the trees, and animals scampered away from it. Both of them tensed. Ben's muscles enlarged as the creature emerged. It was a large, hairy being with ram horns, hoofed feet, a wolf's snout and teeth, and a cow's tail. Sharp teeth reflected the sun. Fire blazed in its eyes as it prepared to charge toward the men. Smoke bellowed out of its nose as it charged. Ben swung his club at the beast's face, causing several teeth to fall out, and the spear pierced the animal's skin. Blood soaked its fur as it stumbled to the ground.
"Good job, son!" Diego felt Ben's strength as he patted him on the back. A small smile materialized on the teen's face for a second as he murmured thanks. Ben's smile was wider than the entirety of the hamlet as he grabbed the body and carried it to the dirt house.
     Meanwhile, Kelly maneuvered to the river, dropping the metal bucket in and drawing it out before hurrying to the garden and splashing the soil. Johanna was in the barn, leaning forward, massaging the tits of the doe. White liquid expelled from its udders, filling up the other bucket. A bleat sounded behind her. Johanna released the doe's udders and petted the kid as he called for dinner. "All right, all right, little one. Just be patient." She carried the goat's milk to the house as Kelly finished up watering. As she exited, her daughter was waiting for her in front of the entrance. "How are you doing, Kelly?"
     She handed her the now-empty bucket. "Good, Mom. Do you need any help?"
     "Sure." The bucket swung from her hand, full of barley, as Kelly rolled next to her. As they approached the barn, the kid brayed and pranced around, his excitement unbearable. The bucket was placed on the ground, and the goats gathered around, chewing it fully. Light shined through the windows as the sun began its descent in the sky. Ben and Diego returned to the house with the meat and, with a knife, Diego cut off all of the creature's long, shaggy fur before beginning the arduous task of skinning the beast. Ben took an ax and went back into the forest. The booms of falling trees echoed from the woods.
    As the sky turned pink, they gathered in the center of town by the eternal flame, a blue cloth covering the body. Black feathers poked out from underneath the cloth as it was lifted up by several young men and carried next to the fire. An old man with scraggly white hair and antlers sprouting from his head took cow's blood and anointed both of her two heads before she burnt. No smells emanated from the burning corpse. Kelly rolled around, glancing around. She caught sight of a black wing, and quickened her pace. A petite girl with black feathers sprouting from her arms turned around, her eyes darting around.
     Tears spilled out as her friend pounced on her. "Natalie..." Hearing her own name, tears quickened its pace. They stayed there like that for hours as the body turned to ash. The young men extinguished the fire while the elder picked up the ashes and blew them away, carrying them on the wind. "Hey, do you want to spend the night with us?" Kelly asked.
     Natalie shook her head, whispering, "My dad needs me..." A harpy with brown feathers covering his body was kneeling by the fire, tears streaming down his face. Kelly didn't respond, but tightened her hug, and she whispered her thanks to her friend. The kelpie released her, and the black-feathered harpy crouched next to her father, hugging his arm.
They went back home and ate. Instead of meat, Kelly offered a sunflower to the fairies, whispering, "Please aid Yuna's daughter and husband through their grief, and let Yuna reincarnate quickly in order to experience life anew."
     The next morning, they consumed food, and buzzing filled their ears. "It's the messenger!" Kelly ran to the door, her mermaid tail flapping in excitement. She returned, happiness beaming from her. "Mom, can I hang out with my friends today?" Johanna nodded gently as she hauled herself onto her wheelchair, her pitch-black hair swaying. Her daughter celebrated by spinning in a circle.
With the sun approaching its apex, Diego and Kelly stood in front of a door, waiting for their friend. "How long does it take for a naga to get ready?"
A high-pitched voice responded, "My scales require the upmost attention!" Several voice cracks decorated the last sentence, and both kids giggled. The cloth parted, revealing a prepubescent boy with the lower half of a snake. "Pardon my tardiness, comrades." He bowed to them.
"It's all right, Nathaniel. Let's go and cheer up Natalie!" Kelly pointed to Natalie's house, which was rather similar to all of the surrounding houses except for a black feather that hung above the door. "Natalie, are you home? We're here to cheer you up, girl!"
     Harry, the brown harpy from before, stood before the kids. His eye bags were deeper than the hole that housed the eternal flame, and red tinged the corners of his eyes. Without a word, he closed the curtain, and after a few seconds, a black blur sped out of the house. It stopped right in front of them. "Natalie!" The kids cheered as they embraced each other in a group hug.
"Thanks, guys." The young, scrawny girl tossed her bright blonde hair, the sun illuminating it even more. "So, what's the schedule for today?"
"Really? Just like that? Don't you need time to grieve, to process your feelings?" Kelly asked.
"Trust me, I had enough time to, considering that my dad stayed up all night crying. I want to do something. Thank the fairies you came, honestly." A few feathers detached, flying in the breeze as she ran off. The others glanced at each other before racing after her. They arrived at the edge of the forest, various animal noises sounding out of the darkened trees. Natalie leaned against a tree, a smug smile on her face. "I dare someone to go in there and climb the tallest tree. If you can do that, I'll give them this!" She pulled out a long, sharp tooth.
Nathaniel approached her, his eyes locked onto the tooth. "Where did you find that? What is it?" Before he could touch it, she retracted it into her pocket.
"You have to earn it first. Now go!" The kids sprinted into the woods. Diego took his time, jogging and stopping to look at every animal that crossed his sight. Nathaniel, on the other hand, was the fastest as he slid around on his belly, low to the ground. His mind traveled to a map he'd written thanks to the days he'd spent here with his friends, and he sprinted towards the tallest evergreen. He eased his way up, his tail grasping the humongous trunk. Above him sat Natalie, her smile a mischievous one. He grabbed the last branch, which couldn't support his weight and snapped. The nachtkrapp harpy snatched his hand and hauled him up to her level. "Good job, snake boy. Now, here's your prize."
His hands scooped up the tooth, and he immediately began observing it. At the same time, Natalie beheld him, her eyes scanning his body. His lower half was detailed with gold and green scales that glittered in the light. The chest area was uncovered, due to his ability to transform into a snake, and Natalie couldn't be happier. His chin was chiseled, and had a notch in it. His eyes were green as the trees below them, and his skin was as brown as the branch they sat on. She sighed, and he asked, "Are you all right?"
At that, Natalie blushed. "Oh, uh, yes, of course I'm alright!" Her hand stuck a strand of her hair behind her ear as she stood up, taking off instantly with her wings to find her other friends. Black feathers trailed behind her as she scanned the area for her comrades. She tucked in her wings as she extended her legs into front of her, grasping the ground with her talons. "Sup, loser."
"Nothing much." Diego muttered, his eyes somewhere else. "Let me guess. Nathaniel won again. Am I right?"
     "Pretty much." She ruffled his hair even though he was taller than her. Diego shrugged, and they walked together to the edge of the forest before the crow harpy departed again. She caught sight of Kelly's stone chair, and dove in, landing right in front of the disabled girl. "Hey."
     "Oh hey." Her friend's face just communicated disappointment as she turned around.
     Natalie put a hand on her shoulder, saying, "Yeah, sorry about that."
     "It's okay." Kelly placed her own hand on top of her friend's. "I knew that we wouldn't win, considering that you make it so that Nathaniel has an advantage every time. It's fine."
     Natalie's eyebrows rose, and she made a hilarious face as she pushed her friend through the thick woods. "When have I done that?"
     "Well, there was that time with the monsters that couldn't be defeated except by strangulation, that race to pick one specific flower in a huge field, and the limbo game."
      "Okay, okay, okay, I admit, I may do that..." She glanced beside her, a faint pink brushing her pale face.
      Kelly had a huge smile pasted on her face. "Do you... have a crush on him?" The blush grew deeper, along with some laughs that indeed confirmed it for her kelpie friend. A mischievous glint shined in Kelly's sea green eyes as they continued in silence for a few minutes. "I'll keep it a secret for you."
An audible sigh released from Natalie's mouth as they approached the edge of the forest. The older guy was looking at his nails, trimming them occasionally with his teeth while Nathaniel was catching small animals and comparing his new tooth to their teeth. Kelly waved, and the other two turned around, smiles popping onto their faces. "So what now?" Diego asked as he leaned against the tree.
"It's time for research! Onward and yonward!" Nathaniel pointed to the sky as Kelly whispered a small "oh no" to herself. Natalie posed with him.
A few hours later, their shoulders slumped as the sun was departing from this world, their bodies sluggish. "Nathaniel, can we please stop now?"
     "Never! The world never ceases for research!" A glint of mania appeared in his eye.
      Kelly was apprehensive as they approached the border of the town, the fog surrounding the island. "We should really go. We shouldn't be here, and we both know that."
      Nathaniel shrugged his shoulders. He disappeared into the fog as he said, "Discovery has no need for boundaries!" Natalie gasped, and took off, searching in the air while scanning below for the naga.
      She landed, sweat pouring down her face, her eyebrows squeezed with worry. "I can't find him!" She crouched down, her hands grasping her head, tears falling on the ground. Diego reached down to her, his face bore a sympathetic gaze.
       "Don't worry, we'll find him. I promise you that." He rose, approaching the fog.
       Kelly grabbed his hand, crying, "Don't!" Diego tried to shake her off, but she held on.
      "All right, fine. Let's hurry and get an adult to help, then." Some movement within the fog caught his eye, and there emerged their friend, smiling from ear to ear. "What the hell, man!"
       "Don't you dare do that again!" Natalie cried, running up and hugging her friend. "We were so worried about you."
       "Why are you crying? I'm unharmed, Natalie." He lifted her chin, wiping a tear with his thumb as she stared into his eyes. Diego cleared his throat, and the two split up.
      "I think we should go home." The group nodded and they left. Behind them, a blue slug-like creature with large eyes and tentacles emerged from the fog.
     The sun rose again, signaling the start of the new day. A buzzing of wings was heard outside of the cloth door. Nathaniel's eyes opened, his brain still drowsy as he answered the messenger.
      "Hello there, sir. We have a message for your household. There will be a wedding held today between Nash the naga and Luna the wolf in the town center. We hope to see you there!" Nathaniel groaned as he closed the door, rubbing his eyes. He made himself look presentable before sitting at the pottery wheel, grabbing a slab of clay and shaping it with his hands. Eventually, a small pot came to life on the wheel. A fire roared right outside, and he placed the clay nearby to set it. His hands were filthy, so he cleaned them in the Red River before the wedding began.
       A large crowd of four hundred people gathered in the center of the hamlet, and chanted. Nathaniel noticed his own father sitting on top of a unicorn along with a woman with wolf ears, yellow eyes, a a fluffy gray tail. He crossed his arms? A look of distaste upon his face. It certainly was noticeable in a crowd of smiling faces.
      Suddenly, a man in white robes stood up on the boulder in the middle of town, swinging his arms to gain the attention of the crowds. Everyone's chanting ceased as they stared at him.
     "Brothers, sisters, and friends, I have seen them! The Ancient Ones are real. It blessed me by emerging from a hole on my land. My dear comrades, we are the chosen ones, and we must get to giving them thanks for our lands!"
      Kelly turned to Diego and Natalie as Nathaniel joined them. "The Ancient Ones aren't real, right? They're just myths from the past, and they're not real."
       "He could've seen something, though. After all, we don't exactly know what inhabits the fog, so it's entirely plausible that he witnessed one of them," Nathaniel replied.
Diego's thumb connected to his chin in thought. "But he could be lying about it. Not everyone's kind. Also, nobody else has seen one in the hundreds of years us monsters have inhabited this island. Why now? It just seems... strange."
        "Maybe it's just a coincidence..." Kelly muttered to herself. Thoughts spun in the citizens' minds as Kevin interrupted their thoughts.
       "Yes, it's true that we have forgotten the Ancient Ones for so long, but now they're willing to share their awesome power!"
      Ben stomped over and said, "What are you doing, you loon? The Ancient Ones are nothing more than fairytales from our grandparents, not actual ancient deities." He laughed, and it spread like wildfire. Everyone was chortling and pointing at the man on the boulder. Kevin ran off into the sunset. "That man won't be an issue anymore. Let's continue the festivities!" He grabbed some fallen branches and, using two rocks, ignited the branches, creating torches. After a few minutes, the entire town center was lit up like the sun. The chanting continued as the couple paraded through the lit streets, waving and accepting gifts of all sorts from their neighbors.
      A thin crescent moon ascended to the sky, and when it hit its highest point, the torches were extinguished and everyone went home, their voices hoarse and their spirits high but weary. All of the villagers found it easy to fall asleep.
      As Kelly and her family ate breakfast, questions about the Ancient Ones spouted from the children's mouths. "Dad, what stories do you remember from your grandparents?"
      "Honestly, not much." He belched.
     Johanna spoke up, her voice soft and silky. "I recall the reason why we avoid the fog from my grandma."
      "Really?" Kelly's eyes widened, her curiosity at its peak.
       She nodded. "According to her, the Ancient Ones are trapped there, and they're dangerous."
      "In what way?"
Her selkie mother shrugged. Kelly's shoulders slumped in disappointment as she grabbed the bucket and swiftly went out the door. Before she departed, Diego stopped her and whispered in her ear before following her into the light.
Natalie munched on a handful of berries as her father sipped some milk. His hair was like a bird's nest, which was fitting yet insulting as a harpy. "Hey, Dad, did you do any of the chores yesterday?" His head shook in a negative way, and he closed his eyes as tears began spilling from his tear ducts. The black harpy glanced at him, and in her sky-blue eyes, he saw his deceased wife. His tears flowed like a waterfall, and he felt his daughter's hand on his shoulder. He could barely see his lap as he heard the swish of the cloth door.
The kids sat down under a huge tree at the edge of the forest near Kelly's house. Diego was tossing berries into his mouth, Kelly's face was littered with wrinkles, and Natalie was fiddling with her hands. "Did any of you find anything out about the Ancient Ones?"
The kelpie nodded. "My mom remembered that those creatures inhabited the fog, and that's why we're not allowed there."
"Hmmm." His thumb found his chin. "Well, at least it's something. Sometimes, research starts small. Any information is necessary."
Diego swallowed, and spoke up. "I've been wondering. Did you see anything while you were in the fog?" Nathaniel shook his head. He resumed eating as the naga paced around, muttering to himself.
His eyes lit up like a fire, and his fist dropped into his opened hand. "That's it! My grandfather's scrolls might have the answers."
Kelly inherited his excitement, and Natalie rolled her eyes. "Mind telling us what you're talking about?" However, the naga was deaf to her request as he raced off towards his house. The others looked at each other and followed him.
Nathaniel lit a candle, illuminating the entire house. Ceramic plates lined the floor, each one decorated with snakes. They entered another room, where scrolls were stacked on a wooden table. Kelly opened one. Symbols stared at her, and nothing made sense to her as she turned the paper and her head, attempting to understand the language. The snake dude snatched the scroll from her. "You're not able to read it. Leave that to me!" A glimmer of pride pricked his eye as he laid out scroll after scroll, skimming through them. "My grandfather made up this written language. He intended to spread it to the others, but he died before he could. However, he did teach his children, and they taught their children."
"Wow, your grandfather was amazing." Awe filled Kelly's brown eyes.
Natalie said under her breath, "Yeah. Too bad he died with this knowledge."
"Aha!" Nathaniel exclaimed, pointing to a passage. "I've found something!" The others gathered around him, peering over his shoulder at the light brown paper. "It says 'The Ancient Ones' habitat is the fog. Nobody knows why, but it seems as though the fog is some sort of barrier. Us monsters can pass, but, as far as we can tell, the creatures that inhabit the fog cannot exit their foggy prison. Those who enter this place and survived report witnessing events and scenarios too much for the human mind, enough to make a person go mad."
"It just sounds like he knew just as much as we know now." Diego balanced a plate on his finger. "That was a waste of time. I'm gonna go home." The teenager exited the room, and after he left, everyone else other than Nathaniel departed.
    A few days passed without anything thrilling happening, aside from Kevin resuming his ramblings. He traveled throughout the hamlet, proclaiming the "Good news" to anyone who would listen. At first, he was chased off by his fellow man, but something changed after a week of his mission. People wore necklaces made out of the eyes of animals while their sockets sagged, their peepers gone. Kevin's followers built a new building out of wood, heating up sand to create humongous glass windows. They met once every seven days at the new establishment, their ceremonies a mystery to everyone outside of his followers.
     Clouds hung low in the sky, threatening to release their waters as the kids and Kelly's parents sat inside their house, the fire crackling. Johanna keeked at the black-feathered harpy with a concerned expression on her face. "How are you liking it here, dear?"
        "It's great! But I do wish I could have my dad back..." Her head hung as she remembered returning home after doing chores and seeing her father wearing a necklace of eyes. She sprinted out of the house and traveled to Kelly's home as quickly as she could, tears escaping from her eyes. "I just wish I knew why he joined them..." she whispered to herself.
       Kelly handed her a piece of meat with a smile as Diego responded. "Let's be honest, he was already vulnerable due to your mom's death, so it probably didn't take a lot of persuasion for him to convert." She squeezed her eyes shut.
"Diego!" The kelpie set her palm on her friend's shoulder, giving Natalie a caring beam. The grin spread to the harpy's face, and she dug into her meal. Everyone was beaming, even the usually callous emo boy. Their banter was so loud that nobody noticed the rustling from right outside the door.
The next day, Nathaniel came over and joined the crew as they did the chores, such as milking the goats and watering and tending the plants. He and Kelly were alone, milking the goats in the barn. "You know, I'm curious about those ceremonies that Kevin's followers conduct. I know it might be difficult for Natalie, but I can't help but wonder what differs from our traditions." Kelly nodded, her eyebrows knit together as a long stream of milk squirted out from the goat's tit. "All right then, it's decided. We'll visit there tomorrow!"
Diego's voice rang out from behind them. "Are you even sure it's their meeting day?"
"Of course! I'm not an idiot, after all!" He stood up, his thumb pointing at his chest as he flashed his teeth at them. Kelly's edgy adoptive brother rolled his eyes, grumbling as he leaned against the wall, chewing the cud.
Despite it being a new day, the clouds seemed determined to stay. The bells signaling the beginning of the ceremony rang out, and the four kids ran to the building, hoping to get inside in time. They burst through the wooden doors. Wooden benches lined both sides of an aisle, and standing in front of those pews were their neighbors, who were dressed in black robes. The women wore veils covering their hair. Kevin, still wearing white robes, proceeded through the aisle to the front. There stood an altar. They hurried to a free pew near the front as they met the judging eyes of the elders, shrinking from their sights, longing to disappear. Natalie had chewed her fingernails to stubs on the way, and was now scanning for her father. Kelly's eyes stared at her lap, occasionally glancing at her friends, her face lined with worry. Diego was cleaning his nails with a sharp rock from outside. Nathaniel was the only one focused on Kevin and the ceremony going on before their eyes.
The priest, Kevin, bowed to the people, raising his arms. "You are here because the spirit inside you longs for something, whether it be power, safety, companionship, or love. Let me welcome all of the newcomers to our ranks. The Ancient Ones will gladly give you all you seek! Now, let us sing." A few people were passing out books. Its cover was made out of an animal's hide, and shiny gold lettering peppered the front.
"I-I can't read this!" Nathaniel tore through the book, seeing if he could understand anything, but after a few seconds, slammed the tome closed, causing another round of embarrassment. Their neighbors sang out, but it was nothing like the chants they were used to. Instead, melodies sounded in perfect harmony, twisting into a haunting, eerie song that made the hairs on their arms stand on end.
After the tune ended, everyone sat down and Kevin cleared his throat. "Dear friends, we are gathered here today in celebration of making it here to this day together, in mind and in body. There is something more out there than our little humdrum lives, and we must find it! Why, you may ask. Well, my dears, the Ancient Ones will grant us whatever we desire, be it authority, love, safety, or even death. The only way to find them, though, is to worship them, for uncovering them before they're ready is not advised. These beings are insanely powerful, and doing anything to make them angry is sure to go south for anyone. I am an exception, of course, for I am their messenger. May this please you, my gods!" He kissed his thumb and bowed.
"That sounds like a load of bull, honestly. How does anyone buy this?" Diego whispered to Kelly as he leaned back in his seat. The handicapped girl shrugged, glancing at her best friend.
"Now will the chosen one please stand up?" An older man with a few gray stripes running through his brown hair stood up, slithering on his snake tail.
     "Dad?!" Nathaniel blurted out. He slapped his hands over his mouth, sinking back down. Nash approached the altar, bowing. Kevin retrieved a knife that was resting on the altar as well as a golden chalice, intricately detailed with other gems. It sparkled as it was set underneath the naga's outstretched arm. The priest slit his wrist sideways, and blood dripped into the clean chalice, staining it crimson. It seemed to take forever, but finally, the cup was filled with the blood of Nash.
       "Here, my friends, is the blood of one of you, so that we may be forever harmonious!" Kevin took a sip as the first rows of people stood up and queued up to receive the blood of Nathaniel's father.
      "Are they really drinking... blood?" The blood drained from Diego's face, making him look even more like a ghost. Nathaniel swallowed spit, Natalie's eyes leaked tears, and Kelly's face turned green as people proceeded to the altar, Kevin giving them a sip from the cup. Automatically, without thinking, their bodies moved in their own, forcing these kids towards the altar. Gasps and rebellion expelled from their small vocal cords.
     Sweet, intoxicating liquid entered her lips and sloshed around her mouth before running down her esophagus, warmth spreading through her body. Her mind felt clear. As she sat down, visions of sparkles, sandy beaches, gems, and beauty invaded her thoughts. She shook her head and everything disappeared, replacing the pleasantness with an infinitesimal headache. Her eyes met her friends'. Somehow, she knew they had experienced the same thing without a word. They left early, sneaking off while the rest of the cultists said a departing line of "Thanks be to the Ancient Ones."
Ten days later, thunder reverberated throughout the hamlet. Everyone except Kelly, Natalie, Nathaniel, and Diego wore necklaces of eyes, empty sockets staring at them everywhere as they walked through the hamlet. Crows cawed overhead. The crowds were thinner than ever, as only two people were out in their yards, tending the goats and singing a haunted tune. The air chilled their skin, turning it into goosebumps. The handicapped kelpie wrapped her arms around herself, trying to keep the cold out. Her wheels flattened the vibrant grass below her as her horse ears flicked, picking up birdsong from the forest. Braying was the only sound coming from the house. She sped up, casting off the cloth door. The smell of rotten meat assaulted her nose, flies buzzing everywhere. Darkness enveloped the small hut. It was empty. She rushed to the barn, but the goats greeted her, with no signs of her mother having done anything. The bucket was still by the door, unmoved. She forces her tears back as she sped across the village, heading straight to her friend's home.
"What happened?" Natalie asked as she ate a red fruit, the juices dripping down her chin. Her friend flung herself out of her chair, wrapping her arms around her best friend, tears streaming down her face. The nachtkrapp embraced her, stroking Kelly's black hair as the girl cried. Tears escaped from her own eyes, as the memory of her father leaving haunted her yet again. "We'll find them, I promise you that," she whispered.
The cloth door opened, a sweaty naga in the doorway. His emerald eyes were filled with tears, but he forced them down. "My dad is gone!"
"Where do you think they went?" Natalie asked, setting Kelly back into her wheelchair.
       Misty, unfocused brown eyes stared at them as Kelly said, "They went into the fog..."
       "Oh no... Are they..." Their kelpie friend nodded slowly as the mist faded from her eyes. Dried tears caked her face, and her hair was disheveled.
        Her hands transformed into fists, and she sat up. "Let's go and save everyone."
       Nathaniel cut her off with his arm in front of her. "Shouldn't we get Diego?" The other two kids nodded as they set off to the red rushing river.
      Unsurprisingly, Diego stood on the banks, staring into his blemished reflection. The bags under his eyes were deeper than ever. His eyes were like gray clouds as he looked at the others and sighed, his shoulders sagging. "Hey, guys."
      "What's wrong?" Kelly asked, reticence present in her voice.
      His head turned to watch a frog hop by, breaking eye contact. "Nothing..."
      "I don't think this is nothing. Spit it out right now." Natalie insisted as the others nodded.
       "Fine." He grabbed a branch and absentmindedly doodled in the dirt. "As you know, I lost both my mother and my sister in this river. I don't know what happened exactly, but Mom went crazy, raving about how my awful father cheated on her. She drowned along with my sister." He took a breath, continuing. "I was jealous of you guys with your awesome families. Then, a year ago, Benjamin offered me a home. I... I never understood why they did that at all, but I'm grateful. I just wish I could've expressed my gratitude properly."
      "It's because you're a good person, and you deserve the best!" The kelpie hugged him. After a few moments, Natalie and Nathaniel joined in for a hug.
A tear escaped from his duct. "Thanks, dudes."
"No problem, dude. You're our friend! We couldn't just abandon you!" Natalie placed her hands on her hips, her confidence peaking.
Diego's eyebrow raised. "What do you mean?"
"We were planning to enter the fog because it's possible that our people are seeking an Ancient One, and we need to free everyone."
"Every...one?" Nathaniel firmly nodded, his eyes filled with fire. Diego's eyes trailed to the ground. "But what if we can't save them? What if this is a suicide mission?"
Natalie grabbed his shoulders. "Look at me. Look, we can't have that attitude. We will save them. We cannot fail. Got it?" His expression was devoid of hope as buzzing filled their ears.
"What's that? Is it... a messenger?"
A trail of sparkles descended from the sky, and a small humanoid with big, bug-like eyes, pointy ears, and translucent wings appeared before them. "Hello there, villagers! Sorry for our absence, but we feared the worship of the Ancient Ones."
"Why?"
The fairy's eyes transformed into pools of pure darkness as her voice altered into a monotone intonation. "The Ancient Ones are powerful, ancient beings who existed before us, and who will exist after us. We sealed them long ago in order to keep the world safe. You must not go in, children, for your fates have been sealed." She shook her head and flew off towards the clouds.
"What was that about?" The others shrugged, walking all the way to the border between the hamlet and whatever lies beyond.
The fog reached for them, its long fingers trailing towards the group as Kelly took a deep breath and entered. Mist engulfed them. Eyes snapped open, and red footprints appeared on the grass. The sky turned a blinding white while clouds shifted to blue. The grass shriveled up to a sickly yellow, and the trees were clothed even though the leaves were dead.
Nathaniel brought up the rear, eyes constantly scanning the area. Sticks and bones littered the ground. He glanced back for a second, and his friends disappeared into the unknown. He took a deep breath, pacing in circles. A hoot echoed nearby, and out of the fog came a lizard with an owl's beak filled with human teeth. The naga backed up m, then remembering his parents, stood his ground. His head felt like it was splitting in two just looking at this... chimera. His mother's pale corpse hung before him, her dead blue eyes staring into his own. A sharp intake of breath followed, tears rolling down his face. A smile appeared on her otherwise lifeless countenance.
    She reached out her arms, saying, "Come here, my son. Let Mama make you feel better."
     "No..." Even though he knew it was an illusion, his body moved on its own. His own warm flesh touched the cold. Blood streamed from his eyes.
      After the separation, Diego fell, scraping his knee. As he got up, he heard the snapping of bones. His eyeballs scanned all over, but nothing was there. Tension swam through his veins, the silence getting to him. As he continued walking, ravens with snake fangs watched him, flying and following him. The flapping of their wings was the only other sound other than his footfalls. Rushing water reached his ears, and he quickened his pace. Rupturing the monotony of the fog were two skeletons, one of a child and the other an adult. Nothing remained of their skin, yet Diego's stomach sank at the sight of them. A small, leather shoe bubbled to the surface of the water. A shrill scream rang out from Diego's body, and he dove in. His skin erupted into chicken skin as he flailed around, water filling his lungs. Darkness dotted his vision as his body was battered on rocks as the current carried him on its way, uncaring. His stomach flipped, his head a spinning top, and his lungs screamed. A peace washed over him.
      In the fog, Natalie's mind raced as she stood still, not moving an inch. Cold wind blew over her, clearing the fog for a second. Was that... Nathaniel's finger? She forced herself to move to towards it, bloody talon prints being left behind her, and picked up Nathaniel's long, delicate finger. Shock exploded on her face, and she scrambled around, looking under stones, in trees, anywhere she could. Rushing water filled her ears, and she quickened her pace. The river was strangely clear, and she could see right to the bottom. Three bodies were on shore. Two were skeletons, and one was recently deceased. His neck was bruised, but otherwise, he looked like he could wake up at any time. A gasp escaped her mouth and she backed up, her hand over her mouth. A bead of sweat raced down her face as the realization hit her. She turned around, expecting more fog, and was met with milky white eyes. She stumbled to the ground, and saw her lover. But... it wasn't quite him. He opened his mouth stiffly, like a ventriloquist's puppet.
      "I've always loved you, Natalie. You were always on my mind. You were my soul, my life, and I couldn't live without you. You're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. Your hair, your eyes, your skin... I want to study you completely and wholly, and know everything about you. Come, we can be together... forever." The last word echoed in her mind. His arms were open, like a pair of scissors ready to close.
      "I... no..." Natalie's mind was racing as she took a step back. She had always imagined his confession to her, but this... this was wrong. Drops of blood fell from his chin, staining the grass below. It glistened as her talons pounded the grass.
     Her hand rested on a tree as she caught her breath. Tears streamed down her face as she curled up on the ground. She shouted until her throat hurt, pounding the ground so much that red flowers stained her hands.
     Time went on, and after hours upon hours of crying, bleeding, and shouting, she stood up, brushed herself off, and continued on, her heart feeling like a lump of lead. Darkness shrouded her vision as she walked on, talking to a small stick that was bent like a finger.
     A triumphant melody rang out from her neighbors as the fog lifted. Wooden seats lined the aisle as Kelly approached the sacred god of worship, Kevin wore long, white robes, brandishing a knife. A goat laid upon the altar, rope holding it in place.
       Before the priest could pierce the hide, she exclaimed, "Kevin!"
      "Ahh, Kelly, I see you've decided to join us, eh?" He made an extravagant gesture, and Kelly finally noticed the creature behind him. It was slimy, with too many limbs to count. Feathers sprouted from its joints, and no face could be seen. Its bones were exposed to the cool air by a gaping cavity, and this cavity happened to be the closest thing to a mouth this creature had. It was impossible to tell where it ended and where it began. Fear filled her brain, and her mind felt like it was going to explode. "Behold Dokugai! Now do you believe in the Ancient Ones, my dear?" She nodded, unable to speak. His eyes darted around as he turned around and performed the sacrifice. "And now for the grand finale! You came for your parents? Well, here they are!" He lifted his arms as Johanna and Benjamin strolled on stage. Their eyes were white, and they joined in with the end hymn. Necklaces of eyes laid upon their necks.
     Kelly saw all of this, and she yelled, "Mom! Dad! It's me!" Nothing worked, no matter how much or how loud she yelled. Her parents stared at the Ancient One, silence permeating the area. Rows and rows of familiar faces watched on as they produced knives.
      "My darling, it's time for us to go to the Great Beyond. It's for the greater good of all," Benjamin said as he slit his wrist, the knife running down the length of his arm. The audience clapped, their eyes shining brilliantly.
      "We won't go anywhere. Remember? The Ancient Ones will allow us to live forever if we sacrifice ourselves to them." The knife rose above her and struck her in her bosom. Blood flowed over the breasts that used to feed Kelly when she was nothing but a shriveled-up parasite. Kelly fell to her knees, dark spots appearing on the crunchy, yellow grass. The congregation filed out, not one of them caring about the child on the ground.
     After crying for who knows how long, Kelly ascended to the altar, where the corpses of her parents lie. She wrapped her arms around them, weeping.
     The stars twinkled as their eyes were closed forever, and Kelly dragged their bodies to the rocky edge of Lobonus, setting them on the water. Their lifeless bodies drifted away on the sea, their hands forever intertwined. One last tear made its way out of Kelly's eye as she returned to the place of divine worship. Kevin was sleeping on a nearby rock, his pure white robes still filthy from the blossoms of red. The goat had been removed, probably being used for food. Her stomach rumbled, but her mind didn't listen. She grabbed the sacrificial knife. Engravings in an unknown language decorated the hilt, and skulls bedazzled the blade. Kelly took a breath, and pierced the true monster's chest. Laughs filled the air as the illusion ripped away, leaving Natalie's father in his place. Kevin entered from behind the altar as Natalie emerged from the shadows. Kelly ran towards her, but stopped in her tracks.
      Natalie's eyes were empty. Nothing stared out from the void. The knife fell from her grasp, her mouth agape as a scream erupted from her mouth. Fistfuls of hair were pulled from their roots, adding to the pain already there. She convulsed, bile spilling out as her headache got much, much stronger. It felt like someone was literally pulling her brain apart. Without seeing anything, she was able to find the knife. She felt the clang against her molars as she reached for the pink muscle in her mouth with her other hand, cutting it. Liquid flooded her mouth, and her tongue flopped to the ground. She followed suit, bleeding out as Kevin paraded her around like a float. Before everything went white, the monster looked at the priest, lifted him off of the ground, and bit off his head. His body was flung to the ground, blood pouring from his neck. Her eyes closed, and the pain stopped.