Avagant

Life hopped down on the other side of the wall and read the map "Now this one seems rather...straight forward." Life chuckled a little "Was that a pun I just heard from you just now?" Tide laughed "Yes, I suppose it was." Life said looking over at Tide "I honestly didn't think you were the type. Huh, well I guess you really do learn something new every other day." Tide chuckled again, Shade rolled his eyes and began walking forward with his eyes closed. The other members did the same, The Hollow simply mimicking what it saw everyone else doing.

All was normal until the group touched the road. Everything went silent. No foot steps could be heard. No breathing. No heart beats. It smelled like nothing. The road hardly felt there at all. Suddenly the group felt the wet grass under their feet and at least, they could hear themselves again. Before the group was a long black fence, with an old archway leading into a dense fog bank. "Here be the threshold to Transyl. Place a coin on each eye, and with death as your guide, the living may enter, into a land in between."

Tide chuckled a little "A land inbetween eh?" he bumped Shade with his elbow "sounds familiar, doesnt it?" Shade looked at Tide for a moment before looking away. "place a coin on each eye...did Tanalitu give us coins?" Life looked at the others who shrugged "lets see..." Shade said as he inspected the box hed been carrying durring this trip. The group looked around for these "coins" that were needed, patting themselves down, The Hollow looked at them and began mimicking their movements while standing on their hind legs.

Giving credit where credit is due, Tanalitu did give them instructions how to get there. Blind as he is though, several coins could be found wedged into the bottom of the box. Perhaps Tanalitu thought this was the top at one point?

"Found 'em" Shade said as he picked up one of the coins from the box. "Huh...well that's weirdly convenient ain't it?" Tide said looking at the coins sticking out of the crate, "This whole trip as been rather bizarre yet convenient...and we have only just barley even made it where we were headed." Life replied, taking some of the coins and looking at them in his hand. "So I suppose we're supposed to put these on our faces then?" Life held one of the coins up inspecting it further, "That's what I'm gonna do!" Tide, who had already placed the coins on his eyes, gave a hardy thumbs up and a grin in the general direction of the rest of the group. Life chuckled and picked up the Hollow before doing the same for the both of them "Well, no sense feeling ridiculous if this is how it's supposed to be done." he laughed. Shade said nothing but followed suit and picking the package back up. The Hollow moved it's head around, wondering what exactly was going on as the group began hesitantly walking forward.

The group crosses the threshold, with a notable chill flashing over them. They had entered Transyl and found themselves in what could be a small plaza, in the center of which was a large tree. It was quite foggy, cold, and wet. No one was around and all the buildings were dark, with one exception. A building across the center had a glowing lantern hanging outside the door, which was slightly ajar, where a soft light also flowed from.

Having now removed the coins from off their eyes the group looked around "That was freaky." Tide said rubbing one of his eyes with the back of his hand "T-to what are you referring?" Life said as he set the Hollow down on the ground and removing the coins from it's face as well, "You didn't feel that? That flash freeze? I almost even felt a little sick going through it." Tide said handing Life the coins. Life took the coins and rubbed his arm looking a little uneasy "...Y-yes..." "No." The Hollow and Life spoke at the same time. Life blinked a couple times and looked down at the Hollow, as did Tide, "Look at this place..." Shade said looking around "It's so...dreary..." he adjusted his grip on the package "Does that map of yours give us an address or anything for where we're supposed to drop this off?" Tide said, though he kept his eyes on the Hollow. Life blinked a couple times before realizing what had just been asked, and he took another look at Tanalitu's map.

The map only describes delivering the package to the laboratory and that its the only house that's still open during the day. The map also has a small note at the bottom. "You do not have to acknowledge the being under the tree. It doesn't care if you do or if you don't. It won't speak anyway."

The group all looked at the note in silence for a moment before slowly looking up at the tree at the same time to see if they could see this "being" that was supposedly there.

And there indeed was something "sitting" at the base of the tree. Its face was featureless and slowly glanced towards them with its large, empty, white eyes. It had two long, spindly arms that each ended in three fingers. Its body was long, and from the way it was, it was slouching. It didn't make a sound and from simply looking at it, the group could tell this was never alive, nor dead, at any point.

Tide and Life looked over at each other for a moment before looking back at the "being" under the tree, Shade tilted his head slowly as he found some strange fascination in looking at this thing, though he wasn't entirely sure why. The Hollow blinked a few times before walking forward. The Hollow had walked over and stopped in front of where this thing was sitting, and it sniffed the air a couple times and looked up at this thing sitting beneath the shade of the tree. It stood still for a moment before sitting down in front of it, continuing to look up at this stranger with it's own empty expression. The rest of the members didn't seem to take notice at first, being preoccupied discussing something among themselves.

The thing shifted its attention to the Hollow and tilted its head ever so slightly.

The Hollow looked the creature up and down and then looked into it's eyes, it too tilted it's head almost mirroring the thing. It blinked and hunched it's back slightly "wena..." it muttered in a foreign language "ubuso bakho..." It continues, it slowly puts it's front right paw up and out, it's three claws gently suspended in the air pointing at this creature "bungikhumbuza...mina..." The Hollow looks the creature up and down again, it's paw still held out.

The creature hesitates at first, but slowly reaches out with a hand and gently pokes the Hollow's claw with a finger of its own. It seems... pleased.

It's hard to tell, but the Hollow seems...happy and puts it's paw back down. It nods slowly and turns it's head to look at the group. The three others had stopped their conversation at some point and had been watching the Hollow and this creature "It's okay." The Hollow said with a gentle tone "It is friend!" The Hollow said turning to look back at this stranger under the tree where, strangely enough, it almost looked like it was...smiling?
Life looked at the Hollow in wonder and fascination before glancing up to the thing under the tree, a smile slowly widening across his face.

The thing under the tree was still watching the Hollow, but was not smiling. This is not because it was sad or happy or anything like that. It didn't have a mouth to use for a smile.

Shade looked the thing up and down and picked the box back up. He kept watching the two as he passed by towards the building with the lights on, Life was still looking at the two of them "I know my doubts have long since faded...but something about this moment...it just feels..." Life shook his head slowly and chuckled "...good." Tide looked over at Life with a sweet smile and placed a hand on Life's shoulder "C'mon...we better catch up with Shade before he takes all the credit." he put a hand on his hips and the other dropped to his side "Be sure to grab your buddy here before you do." Tide began following Shade, he glanced over at the Hollow and chuckled before muttering something in another language. Life walked over to the Hollow and the stranger "I'm glad you're making new friends. but we best be on our way. We don't want to keep our host waiting." Life patted the Hollow on the head "Whenever you're ready though...we'll be inside. no need to rush yourself." He said before walking a little ways towards the building, stopping half way to watch the Hollow. The Hollow looked over at Life and back to the being, "
sixhunywe phakade yi-void." It said slowly bowing it's head "Futhi ngenxa yalokho, sizophinde sihlangane." It stood up on it's feet again "Goodnight." it said before making a small waving gesture.

The building architecture looked old but a little more scientific than the rest. Its large wooden door was open slightly and a deep voice could be heard. It seemed to be talking to someone, but that someone wasn't responding.

Life looked around the frame of the door "do you suppose theres a bell we should ring or...perhaps we should knock?" Life asked the others. Tide glanced at Life "here, let me try something." he replied as he walked up to the door. Tide rested his hand on the door and pushed it open, peeking inside as he pushed, "Helloooooo!" he announced to the room, Life jumped a little in surprise,"your door is ajar!" Tide continued. Shade rubbed his forehead and sighed a little "very professional." he said sarcastically "why, thanks!" Tide replied, looking proud of himself with a smug grin.

At once, something sprang upon them, gnashing and clawing at them. Or at least, it very nearly did so. A feral, deranged human was attempting to dispatch the intruders, but something large was grabbing his shredded lab coat the second being set down a story book and adjusted its glasses. It seemed to be stitched and sewn together. Some kind of amalgamation of stuffed animals shaped into a vague humanoid shape. "You must be here with the delivery. Please come in. Frank, these are our guests." The "human" known as Frank growled, but did stop and went limp, still watching the group. The stuffed animal opened the door fully and backed up into a chair, resting Frank on its lap a bit like how someone would rest a cat on a lap.

The group looked at each other in confusion and concern "im starting to think that this place is a never ending collection of weirder and weirder." Tide muttered quietly. "uh...y-yes, we are indeed here for the delivery. I hope you havent been waiting long." Life said throwing an occasional glance over at the human.

Inside the house was most scientific, with beakers and test tubes and all sorts of wacky equipment neatly organized. A spiral staircase led up to a second story, but most striking about the house was on the wall. There was a veil. Not some curtain, nor some cloth. A veil with striking resemblance to the entrance to Hyrax's gauntlet, except this time, composed of lines of code. "Just set the box by the fireplace if you'd be so kind. I'll get your payment." The stuffed animal rises up, causing Frank to scurry up the staircase a few steps and glare at the animal, which was now bumbling its way over to a nightstand.

Shade stepped over to the fireplace slowly "Be careful. The fireplace might try and eat ya." Tide said reaching out to Shade, who rolled his eyes "Right. Thanks." He said as he placed the box a by the fireplace. The Hollow began sniffing around at the beakers and tubes. Life looked at the Veil in curiosity "Interesting...I wonder what this is about then." He said putting a hand up to his chin.

"Confound it all!" The giant stuffed animal was having difficulty opening the nightstand with its massive hands, as the knob was too small. Life could feel a power flow from the veil.

The Hollow stopped it's sniffing and looked over at the stuffed animal to see what it was doing. It walked over to it and looked at the nightstand as Tide strutted over "perhaps you could use a pair of smaller hands?" he said raising up his hands and wiggling his fingers "Which I do believe I have a pair right here, if you'd like me to use them." He gestured to the drawer. Life stepped closer to the veil but did not touch it, instead he waved a hand slowly near it making sure not to make contact with it as he continued to inspect it.