The Glade

'DARKVEX LOVED TIKAE BUT TIKAE LOVED VOPPI. DARKVEX SAW TIKAE CONFESS TO VOPPI AND NOT EVEN MILLIAE COULD MAKE HIM FEEL BETTER.'

"Aw..." Salinae huffed as she read the engravings on the tree. The markings were old and deep, clearly readable even after what must have been years.

The tall oak in the little clearing stood covered in markings, telling the tale of Darkvex, Tikae, Voppi and Milliae on their quest to stop an evil group of evildoers from destroying their home.

Salinae had only stopped to rest while on a job, amusing herself with the scribbles.

The writing was simple and childish, clearly carved by at least four different writers. Most likely children from the worker's village half a mile away.

Judging from the markings and the old overgrown treehouse, the little authors hadn't played here for decades.

Salinae leaned back, taking a sip of her canteen and reading off the final few lines.

'VOPPI SECRETLY LOVED MILLIAE BUT DIDN'T WANT TO HURT TIKAE'S FEELINGS. DARKVEX SAID VOPPI HAD TO LOVE TIKAE.

THEY WERE THE FATED LOVERS TO DEFEAT THE EVIL ONE!'

Salinae winced with a laugh.

'VOPPI WAS SAD BUT TIKAE WAS HAPPY. THEY RUSHED FROM THE GLADE TO THE EVIL ONE'S BASE AND'

Salinae leaned over, peeking around the tree to find where the story continued.

Nothing. Just bark all around. If there was any more, the tree had grown new bark over it.

"That's a shame." Salinae sighed with a smile and shake of her head. She ran a hand down the side of the tree, feeling the bumps of the old carvings. For a brief moment, she had let herself get wrapped up in the fun world of the four heroes.

But it was over now. The ending forever unwritten, the children who wrote it never to turn, long grown up. And likely never to know their make-believe adventures entertained a random traveler for a half-hour.

Salinae stood. Breaktime was over, it was time to continue her search.

Salinae pulled out her seer radio wave monitor, clicking it on, looking close at the oscilloscope of the thin device as it slowly grew brighter.

20.2 SW/s. Safe

Salinae reached in her pack, popping a Yaja pill to dull her mind to any hallucinations from excess seer radio waves.

The site she searched was less than half a mile from an old Seer Radio Equipment dumping site which likely meant exposed seer crystals giving off seer radio waves.

Salinae stepped over a rusted, rotting sheet of metal, likely pulled from the dump site by the kids long ago.

The canopy was thick here and so was the underbrush. Salinae kept her compass attached to her wrist to check, making sure she was continuing strictly north from the village.

She swept her SRW Monitor about, watching the wave closely for any spikes. Her rifled clacked on her back.

At the same time, she kept her eyes out for any signs of life, of bandits, kidnappers, anything. Any tracks or broken branches.

For what Salinae searched for was a person.

A man named Yarnio. She had checked the missing person's poster a dozen times. It was old, put up a few days ago by the village's Jatvsoe Steel co. Manager.

The Manager was unconvinced the steelworker could be retrieved but still offered a reward to anyone bringing him home.

Salinae, too, was rather unconvinced he could be retrieved. There'd been no search party organized, not even Asset Protection go involved. No wife or children to speak of, no friends, only co-workers.

The man had simply vanished into the night, last seen heading for the dumpsite.

But the dumpsite was old, with no kept up pathways leading to it. Getting there would be incredibly inconvenient, as Salinae was learning as she thrashed at branches and leaves blocking the way.

She checked the SRW Monitor.

43.1 SW/s. That was a bit of a jump...

Her boot crunched on another rusted piece of metal. Curious, she bent down, waving her SRW Monitor near the surface.

68.9 SW/s. The metal was giving off low-level Seer radio emissions.

With a grunt, Salinae continue forward. So far it all seemed like undisturbed brush.

The morning was slowly turning to afternoon, but the canopy made the light so dim, like an overcast day. All the while, the ambient Seer Radio Waves only climbed as she walked in the direction of the dump site.

51.2 SW/s

55.6 SW/s

59.0 SW/s

Salinae paused, frowning, staring at the SRW Monitor. It was getting closer and closer to the danger zone. The Yaja pill would stave off any ill-effects but she didn't want to get too close anyway.

She glanced around. The underbrush had thinned, leaving only a floor of leaves.

Trees surrounded her. Between the trunks she could see dilapidated wooden shacks, their roofs caved in. Planks of wood and sheets of metal littered the forest floor.

What in the world was Yarnio doing out here? The radio emissions were nearly dangerous this close to the dumpsite.

A rustle.

Salinae nearly jumped out of her skin, dropping the SRW Monitor. She whipped her head around...and saw nothing.

She quickly bent down and picked the device back up. 63.8 SW/s. Had to have been an auditory hallucination.

Another rustle. A wave of  fear washed over Salinae. She knew it was just the Seer waves, surely. She had to keep an even temperament and a clear mind.

Yet, she couldn't help herself.

By instinct, her rifle was in her hand, SRW Monitor on her hip belt.

She need only turn around and go back out the way she came. It was a pity, but she had to leave Yarnio. She couldn't afford to keep going and get her brain fried by exposed Seer Crystals.

A laugh. High pitched.

Her hands gripped the rifle tight.

She turned, walking away from the large clearing, back to the underbrush she had come from, rifle lifted, ready to fire as her paranoia skyrocketed.

A rustle. Giggling.

Her boots crunched in the leaves. A cold gust billowed through the rustling leaves.

Why did it seem to take longer to walk to the edge of the clearing than it did to walk from it??

Where was her path? Salinae stared in horror at the underbrush. She'd been breaking branches and flattening high grass all the way here, she should have been seeing her path.

She turned her head. Her brain felt hazy. The angle...it wasn't right. The shacks, the litter. They'd moved? No, she was just on the other side of the clearing.

She'd...completely lost her sense of direction. Short term memory failing her.

Salinae reached for her SWR Monitor.

Her hand felt nothing.

Was it gone?!

No, just on the other side of her hip. She...she forgot.

Her head was throbbing. Vision blurring. More rustles surrounded her. She couldn't think straight. She let out a shuddering breath, heart racing.

There was another rustle. To her left.

The paranoia won out. She didn't grab her monitor, instead swinging the rifle around, pointing it straight at a bush.

It moved...it moved!

"OI!" Salinae barked, widening her stance, finger brushing the trigger. "Come out!!"

There was a gasp. Salinae grit her teeth as the bush rustled again.

"Quit screwin' with me, do you hear me?!" Salinae shouted. "I'm armed!"

Her mind was an animalistic haze. It was so...simple. She was freaked out, so she made threats. Thumped her chest.

The bush rustled again...and a figure stood.

Salinae furrowed her brow at what she was looking at.

The person...the creature that stood from the bush was small, seeming as though it'd come up to waist, if that.

But it wasn't a child.

No, this creature had a massive head and stubby limbs. Its eyes were enormous, wide pupils staring at her. Salinae could see a pair of round ears and what looked to be some kind of tied handkerchief around its neck. A bushy tail swished behind it.

Salinae slowly lowered her rifle, baffled at the creature she was looking at.

She was even more baffled when it *spoke*.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing?!" The creature cried out, looking...angry.

"What...me?!" Salinae shouted back, lowering her rifle more.

"That's right! Have you come to stir up trouble?!" The creature said, its voice high pitched and squeaky.

Salinae was flabbergasted. She looked over her shoulder. Her eyes widened as she noticed another, similar creature, like a rabbit with long hair and a cape.

Nearby was another, looking like a fox. Her eyes lifted, seeing another small rabbit creature in the branches of a tree.

Slowly, Salinae realized: she was utterly surrounded by these things.

"Well?! Say something!" The mouse shouted, grabbing Salinae's attention again.

"What *are* you things...?" Salinae said, lowering her rifle, trying to de-escalate.

"Oh no, I'll ask the questions!" The mouse squeaked. "What's your name? Are you one of the Evil one's cronies?!"

Salinae's heart leapt in her chest. Her rifle dropped, pointed to the ground.

"The Evil One...?" Salinae muttered in disbelief. Her eyes scanned the surrounding area. Slowly...she realized where she was.

She saw the bright houses. The colorful sunbeams shining through the leaves. The many villagers.

She was at The Glade. The Glade...! Her!

"U-um...!" Salinae recovered, looking to the mouse again. She tried to gather her thoughts.

"This weird tall girl is weird..." A voice from behind said. Salinae gulped, trying to recover her abysmal first impression.

"My name is Salinae...!" She said, putting on a smile.

"Salinae?" The mouse cocked its head to the side, looking the lizard woman over. "Well...you're weird but you don't look like one of those bad guys."

"ARE you?!" The rabbit behind Salinae asked.

"No...! No!" Salinae assured. "I'm just lost is all...and I got scared."

"Aww, scared?" The fox called out. Salinae let out a deep breath in relief, her rifle held in one hand as the three approached her, looking her over curiously.

"Well...ok..." The mouse said, nodding its head. "If you say you're not bad then we'll believe you."

"But if you try anything funny then the glorious four will MESS YOU UP!" The rabbit cheered, punching at the air to make its point. Salinae nodded.

"The...glorious four...?" Salinae's eyes widened. "You don't mean..."

The three posed impressively.

"I'm Tikae...!" The fox said, give Salinae a warm smile.

"My name is VOPPI and DON'T FORGET IT." The rabbit said, punching the air.

"And my name is Milliae." The mouse said, extending a stubby paw for Salinae the shake. The Lizard's fingers totally eclipsed the tiny paw.

Salinae...couldn't believe it. She was in The Glade and the glorious four were talking to her...!

"Sorry that our leader, Darkvex, couldn't be here." Milliae sighed. "He's off on a very important mission right now."

"That's okay...! I am, too!" Salinae said.

"Oh wow...a mission?" Tikae asked. Her voice was so soft and shy, just like how Salinae imagined it'd be. "Is that why you're in The Glade Miss Salinae?"

"Yes! Well, no..." Salinae laughed. "I'm looking for someone and just happened to stumble here. Sorry for the scare."

"Hey it's NO TROUBLE, big person!" Voppi shouted, nudging Salinae. "It's not like we were SCARED."

"Voppi you nearly cried when she started shouting." Tikae said plainly, making the rabbit deflate.

"Aw, dude..." He sighed. Salinae chuckled at that, following them as they walked.

"But who are you looking for, Salinae?" Tikae asked, the fox tilting her head, tail swishing behind her.

"I'm looking for a man named Yarnio." Salinae explained. "Everyone is really worried about him and wants him to come home."

A lie, obviously. The trio crossed their arms.

"Ummm...what does he look like?"

"I don't know any Yarnio, sorry..."

"Nope! Not ringing any bells, dude!"

Salinae sighed with a frown.

"So nobody strange has come this way?" Salinae asked. "Should be as tall as me, a black cat man, broad shoulders...?"

The three shook their heads, apologetic looks on their faces.

"Sorry, no. You're the first stranger we've seen." Milliae admitted. "But maybe we can ask around. Maybe someone else has seen this Yarnio person."

"Hey YEAH, good idea, Milli!" Voppi cheered, patting her on the back.

Tikae perked up, seeing Voppi pat Milli on the back. She quickly walked over, wrapping her arm around his, pressing herself close.

The fox girl made a little squeak as she hugged Voppi close. The rabbit, meanwhile, seemed to only sigh as he hugged her back.

"C'mon, team! We can still help people without the leader, right?" Milliae said, running ahead. Salinae could see it, Voppi reaching out toward Milliae as she ran off, a wanting look in his eye that the blissful Tikae didn't notice.

Salinae exhaled a sigh, muttering an "oh dear".

Salinae followed the pair of 'lovers', Voppi holding Tikae's hand as he led Salinae through the glade. Their idea of helping was to just call Yarnio's name as they walked through the bustling village.

Meanwhile, Salinae could see many of the villagers staring at her curiously.

"Aw...poor Yarnio...I don't like the thought of someone all by themselves and alone..." Tikae sighed, still holding tight to Voppi's hand, even when he tried to pull away.

"Yeah..." He sighed, looking...both annoyed and guilty at once.

"Well, don't get your hopes up." Salinae said, looking about. "It's been days, he could be long gone by now..."

"Aw...but that's so sad..." Tikae whipped around, looking up at Salinae with tears in her eyes. "You wouldn't just give up on him, would you?!"

"What? No. I mean..." Salinae grit her teeth, looking away nervously. The fox girl's wide eyes stared her down as though she'd just said something terribly offensive. "If he's gone he's gone..."

"No...! That's horrible!" Tikae said, surprising Salinae. "He's your friend!"

"Friend? No, no, he's just someone missing-"

"You're looking for him but don't consider him a friend?" Voppi asked, tilting his head. "How's that make any sense?"

Salinae blinked, feeling confused herself. Tikae stepped in again, hiccuping.

"We can't ever give up! We won't!"

"Look I appreciate it, but-"

"No! Don't say such cruel things, Salinae. Nobody deserves to be alone..." Tikae said, starting to cry. Salinae cocked an eyebrow as the fox girl hiccuped.

"I...woah, calm down, girl..." Salinae said, feeling uncomfortable as she was bombarded.

"Hey...don't be mean to Tikae." Voppi stepped in, looking serious. Salinae felt gobsmack.

"What? I'd never, I just..." Salinae shrunk back, feeling towered over despite being twice Voppie's height. "I try not to get my hopes up."

"Well, your friends are her now. There's no need to be so pessimistic, dude...!" Voppi said, bumping a fist on Salinae's leg, making her perk up.

"Friends...?"

"Yeah...we're friends! Like you and that Yarnio!" Voppi said

"And friends never give up on each other." Tikae sniffed.

Salinae sighed, rubbing the back of her head.

"...alright...I guess you're right." Salinae said, following after the two. Voppi soothed Tikae's hurt feelings, wiping away her tears and cooing softly.

It melted Salinae's heart, she had to admit.

After another moment of walking through the glade, Milliae returned, running up, panting. Voppi perked up, seeing her, a blush crossing his cheeks.

This time, Tikae noticed, her brow furrowing. Salinae felt a pang of worry but suppressed it as Milliae spoke.

"Sorry, I searched all around, asked everyone in the glade." Milliae said, folding her arms. "There's nobody around her by the name of Yarnio..."

Voppi's ears folded back. Tikae...only continued to stare at the rabbit. Milliae looked up at Salinae.

"Which way did he go...?"

"Yarnio?" Salinae asked, tapping her chin. "Gosh...I dunno...it's been so long."

She could have sworn she had known. Milliae nodded looking around.

"Guys, we might have to head out of the village, over the Zonzar mountains and ask at the next village."

Salinae folded her arms.

"Which way is that...?" She asked. Milliae stepped to the side, pointing toward a stone path.

"It's up that road, to the north."

North...north...that sounded familiar.

"Come on, guys, let's go!" Milliae said, waving her hand.

"No...you two go."

Tikae had spoken, standing in place as Voppie moved to follow Milliae. The pair looked back at her, the mouse cocking her eyebrow.

Meanwhile, Salinae stood deep in thought. Why was north familiar? What was north...?

"What do you mean, Tikae...?" Voppi asked.

"I'm not going!"

"Why not?!" Voppi asked. Tikae scowled, tears running down her face.

"Why should...I get between you two?!"

A pain shot through Salinae's heart, seeing the heartbreak. Voppi looked shock, his own eyes welling with tears. Milliae looked confused and shocked.

"You like her, don't you?" Tikae said in a shuddering voice. "Don't you?!"

"Tikae..."

North...what was north...

"I loved you so much, Voppi..." Tikae hiccuped, body shaking. "Did you just...lead me on all this time...?"

"Tikae what are you talking about?" Milliae asked.

What was north? Was Yarnio going north???

"He likes you! I see it in his eyes!" Tikae shouted. "He never blushes when I hug him, only when he sees you!"

"You...Voppi...?" Milliae said in a low voice. Voppi looked like his heart was breaking.

North was...was...

"I...it's not like that!"

was....

"Yes it is! I never mattered to you, did I?!"

Salinae's eyes widened.

"You did! Do! I never wanted to make you sad!"

The Seer Radio Dump sight. Seer radio. The Seer Radio Wave Monitor.

"Why did you never tell me...?" Milliae said.

Salinae's hands were shaking. Her breathing haggard.

"Tikae...when you came to me...I couldn't make you upset..."

Salinae's hand grasped at her SWR Monitor on her belt. Fumbled with the strap.

"So it was all lies?! All of it?!"

She pulled it free. It was off. Why was it off?

"No...! That's not true! You're my friend and always have been!"

Salinae flicked it on. Her wide eyes watched as the screen brightened.

"But I wanted so much more...!"

There was no wave of the oscilloscope. It was a solid bar.

"But I don't!"

1000 SW/s.

"Please!"

Maxed out.

Salinae was hyperventilating. The trio was shouting at one another. Sobbing. Crying. Salinae's head throbbed. Heart pounding.

"No...no no no, holy sh-"

An explosion rocked the trees. Every small and wide-eyed villager yelped, dust cascading over the empty clearing.

"It's the Evil One's cronies!"

"Bad guys!"

Salinae's boots crunched in the leaves looking across the barren clearing.

There, on the other end of the colorful village, a group of shadowy goo monsters emerged from the black of the overgrown thicket.

Salinae stared at the monsters, completely alone with the villagers. She dropped the monitor, the screen shattering on a sheet of rusted metal.

Tikae, Voppi and Milliae put aside their bickering at once, getting at the ready to fight the hoard of monsters.

Salinae had to run. Why did she have to run again. She looked down at the broken monitor...what was that again? What was anything? Who was she?

Another explosion rocked the village. A roar bellowed, black slime blasting out as all the monsters were destroyed.

Salinae flinched, covering her face in terror as black slime cascaded all over the village. Tikae, Milliae and Voppi looked on in amazement.

Salinae uncovered her face, looking at the site where the monsters once stood.

But now...no monsters stood. There stood only one other.

The creature stood, holding a glowing sword in hand. He was the same size as the others. He was the same size as Salinae. His limbs were stubby like their and long like hers. His black fur billowed in the wind, his yellow eyes piercing through her.

Salinae had seen the face before. She had never seen the face before in her life.

It was him...

"Darkvex..." Tikae said wistfully.

"Yo, Darkvex!"

"Leader!"

It was Yarnio.

Darkvex pulled his sword from the ground, wiping the slime from his body.

"Who's the outsider?" He called. His voice was deep, different from the others. A flowing red cape billowed behind him as he walked towards them.

"Her name is Salinae! She's come to visit looking for someone!"

Darkvex's eyes lifted up toward Salinae, his brow furrowed, scowling.

"Get out." Darkvex command, lifting his sword up to point at Salinae. "Before I make you get out."

"Woah, Dark, no need to be so harsh, dude!" Voppi said, coming to Salinae's defense. Salinae couldn't help but cower...why was she so...scared?

"She doesn't belong here." Darkvex said, staring harshly. Salinae felt a terror that she'd be...kicked out.

She didn't want to go.

She wanted to stay in The Glade. She was friends with Tikae. With Voppi. With Milliae.

She wanted to be Darkvex's friend, too.

"But...I can...I can help...with the Evil One." Salinae said, meekly. What was going on? Where did this come from?

"I thought you were supposed to be looking for someone." Darkvex prodded, tilting his head with a sneer. "Who?"

"Yes,  tell him, Salinae." Milliae encouraged.

Salinae gulped, slow to answer, but finally forcing it out.

"Y-Yarnio..." She said. "I came...looking for Yarnio."

Darkvex's eyes widened, his scowl turning to a deep, terrified frown.

"You came to The Glade...looking for that guy?"

Salinae nodded. Darkvex lowered his sword, burying the point into the ground. He looked down at the trio, his friends.

"Guys, leave Salinae to me." Darkvex said. "I'll show her to Yarnio."

"Woooah, you know where he is?!" Voppi asked.

"That's our leader!" Milliae said, nodding.

"Do...you want us to come with you...?" Tikae asked. Darkvex shook his head.

"No, I can do it myself. You guys keep the village safe from The Evil One." Darkvex commanded, the others nodding and running off.

Salinae's heart shattered as they left.

"N-no..."

The pang of longing burned in her chest as she moved to go after them, after Tikae or Voppi or Milliae, but was stopped by Darkvex's sword blocking her.

"Come on." The black cat said, looking at her seriously. "You need to get out of here, Salinae."

"But...but I have to know how it ends..." Salinae sobbed, clutching her chest. "What...what happens to them...?"

"That's something for only us to know, not you." Darkvex said, taking Salinae's hand, leading her away. Salinae could feel tears in her eyes.

Slowly, she was led from the Glade, back into the thicket. The throbbing in her head was steady.

"It's funny." She heard Darkvex speak. "I've never seen them take to an outsider so quickly."

Salinae sniffed, nodding.

"Am I not allowed to play anymore...?"

He nodded his head.

Soon, they cleared the thicket. Darkvex stood by, letting go of Salinae's hand as Salinae felt the haze slowly dissipate.

What was she doing...?

She was...she was going north...

She reached for her SRW monitor. Oh...it was left behind. Broken...

She held her head, spitting, tasting copper in her mouth. What did she come here to do...it was...looking for someone. She was...

"Yarnio...!" Salinae gasped, turning around.

The black cat stood there. Yarnio.

The black cat was taller than she was, broad shouldered. He wore ratty overalls and a dirtied white shirt. His face was gaunt, bags under his eyes.

He looked like he was starving.

"I see you found where my friends and I used to play." Yarnio said, his eyes scanning the clearing.

"What...was all that...?" Salinae heaved a sigh, massaging her forehead. Yarnio only stared, shaking his head.

"The Glade of Everlasting Memories." He said, hands in his pockets. "It's just like I remember. All my friends are still here. Voppi, Tikae..."

"Milliae." Salinae said.

"Huh, you remembered?"

Salinae said nothing, glancing at the tree, the deep carvings still visible. Yarnio gave a gutteral laugh, letting out a hacking cough.

"Sorry..." he said, coughing some more, spitting. "Something in my lungs...I'm surprised you read that old thing."

"It was fun. Kind of...takes me back to when I was young." Salinae sighed, a small smile on her face. "It was nice to go back to that time...but..."

She paused, staring at Yarnio. The black cat clicked his tongue.

"I know what you're thinking" He said. "How much they offering?"

Salinae perked up, her heart sinking.

"5 stones."

Yarnio laughed bitterly, shaking his head.

"S'all I'm worth to that company, huh?" He said. "Sorry to make you come out all this way for nothing."

"Yarnio..." Salinae said, looking him up and down. "...when'd you last eat...?"

Yarnio stared, considering the question.

"I don't really think about stuff like that now." He replied, coughing again. "I eat plenty in the Glade, even if it's just make-believe."

"Yarnio...the place is cute, but..." Salinae shook her head. "It's not real."

"Of course it's not real." Yarnio said. "I made it a point for it to not be anything close to real. Have you seen what is real out there?"

Salinae blinked, looking over her shoulder.

"The only reason you're out here is because of...my factory manager." He continued.

"Well yes, but..."

"None else? Am I correct?" Yarnio put in. He wasn't pleading or desperate...just stating facts.

Salinae was silent, fidgeting in place, trying to find some words to say. At last, Yarnio sighed, hands in the pockets of his overalls, and spoke:

"Frankly, Ms.Salinae, you're presenting me with two options: either I return to the world outside, to the delight of my manager, and toil and toil until I breathe my last, choking on smoke and soot, as another anonymous statistic, mulched by the machine of Quayoffi industry..."

"...or I stay here in the Glade of Everlasting Memories, eating imaginary food until I starve, dying here surrounded by old friends of childhood imagination's past, only lonely by the standards of others whilst every bit of it is real to me. I find the choice laughably obvious."

Salinae was silent. Only silent, staring at the black cat...staring at...

...Darkvex.

The small black cat, sword resting on his shoulder, looked up at Salinae.

"Go on home, Salinae." He said, a small smile on his face. "My friends need me."

Salinae only watched as the cat turned, walking forward and slowly vanishing into the thicket. Soon, she couldn't even hear the rustle of the brush.

The forest was silent. Not even the wind broke the silence.

The thicket in front of her was solid, as though nobody passed it.

She was locked out. Forever.

The Glade gone.

Salinae stood for a long time, the light of the evening sun pouring through the canopy in orange shafts of light. It would be time to go home soon.

But first, Salinae took a knife from her belt, approaching the tree.

'VOPPI WAS SAD BUT TIKAE WAS HAPPY. THEY RUSHED FROM THE GLADE TO THE EVIL ONE'S BASE AND

Tikae accepted Voppi's love for Mollie & Darkvex confessed to Tikae. Two couples to defeat the Evil One, who was soundly defeated and put to rest at last

(Final Addendum by: A Passerby)'

Satisfied, Salinae stood and left.