To say that the Horizon has been unstable lately is something of an understatement. The first time she accidentally wound up somewhere unfamiliar, she'd gotten trapped in a place that was definitely no one's domain, nor any part of the Horizon as they can usually access it. After that, one would assume she'd try to stay away, out of this realm while it's so unpredictable.
But Julie is missing. Not out in the real world, where her body is safe in bed, but here. Probably trapped in one of these unfamiliar new pockets that keep opening up. Despite her more logical judgement, Ciri can't bring herself to simply give up and stay away. She keeps thinking that maybe, if they keep trying, one of them will be able to reach Julie.
How long can her body last with her consciousness trapped somewhere in here?
And so, worried, Ciri makes her rounds. She hasn't actually explored much of the Horizon beyond the places she's already familiar with -- Kaer Morhen, the Roadhouse, Bleobheris, Julie's club -- so she has decided to explore to the areas she's hasn't bothered to look in for quite some time, if ever. The Horizon isn't endless, even if it looks that way. She wanders in and out of unfamiliar domains, even hesitantly goes near the crater housing the Singularity, though she pushes down the vague idea that she might try asking it about Julie. It's not like she can hear it. The idea unnerves her.
So she keeps going. At some point, she notices it: the black stone rising in the distance. And the distance itself, as always, is deceptive. Here, the span of apparent miles can be crossed in minutes.
As she approaches, the monolith fills her vision, taller the closer she gets, somehow catching the light so it appears smooth and shiny and yet giving the sense also of absorbing it, the sort of true black that drinks in everything.
"...what the fuck?" Ciri mutters to herself. When the ground begins to shake and Kelpie whinnies loudly, shaking her head, Ciri dismounts, letting her mare run away while she chooses to approach, cautious and uncertain. A low hum fills her ears, resonates in the space inside her chest, uncomfortably.
After a few moments' hesitation, Ciri reaches out to touch the stone.
horizon; for istredd.
But Julie is missing. Not out in the real world, where her body is safe in bed, but here. Probably trapped in one of these unfamiliar new pockets that keep opening up. Despite her more logical judgement, Ciri can't bring herself to simply give up and stay away. She keeps thinking that maybe, if they keep trying, one of them will be able to reach Julie.
How long can her body last with her consciousness trapped somewhere in here?
And so, worried, Ciri makes her rounds. She hasn't actually explored much of the Horizon beyond the places she's already familiar with -- Kaer Morhen, the Roadhouse, Bleobheris, Julie's club -- so she has decided to explore to the areas she's hasn't bothered to look in for quite some time, if ever. The Horizon isn't endless, even if it looks that way. She wanders in and out of unfamiliar domains, even hesitantly goes near the crater housing the Singularity, though she pushes down the vague idea that she might try asking it about Julie. It's not like she can hear it. The idea unnerves her.
So she keeps going. At some point, she notices it: the black stone rising in the distance. And the distance itself, as always, is deceptive. Here, the span of apparent miles can be crossed in minutes.
As she approaches, the monolith fills her vision, taller the closer she gets, somehow catching the light so it appears smooth and shiny and yet giving the sense also of absorbing it, the sort of true black that drinks in everything.
"...what the fuck?" Ciri mutters to herself. When the ground begins to shake and Kelpie whinnies loudly, shaking her head, Ciri dismounts, letting her mare run away while she chooses to approach, cautious and uncertain. A low hum fills her ears, resonates in the space inside her chest, uncomfortably.
After a few moments' hesitation, Ciri reaches out to touch the stone.