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A mountain stands against the sky. Once, it was called Ebbott; this has been forgotten. It is still tall. This is generally known.
It's dangerous, as well. Supposedly, no one has ever returned from attempting the climb.
No one in their right mind would try to climb such a daunting peak.
The frog notices her as she approaches.
Then it notices her soul.
To whatever degree she can recognize a giant frog's facial expressions, it looks conflicted, even as it exhales a cloud of glowing insects that dart towards her little ball of light.
Then it notices her soul.
To whatever degree she can recognize a giant frog's facial expressions, it looks conflicted, even as it exhales a cloud of glowing insects that dart towards her little ball of light.
This particular frog does not seem to understand what she's saying, though it gets the general drift.
"Croak," it apologizes.
"Croak," it apologizes.
"Croak," it says desperately. There's a suggestion of some greater purpose, one for which her soul must be taken.
greatestgift
"How sure are you of that?" she asks sharply. "The world is full of people who thought they needed to do something awful for the greater good, only to find the greater good better served by a different intervention. You seem like a very nice frog and I'm sure you wouldn't be doing this if you didn't think it was important, but I won't accept that there's no other solution before I've even heard what the problem is."
The frog's comprehension of her language does not seem to be this complex.
However, at "very nice frog" its eyes well up with tears, and by the time she's through it's openly weeping. Its remaining fly-bullets flicker into nothing. "Croooooak," it croaks miserably.
However, at "very nice frog" its eyes well up with tears, and by the time she's through it's openly weeping. Its remaining fly-bullets flicker into nothing. "Croooooak," it croaks miserably.
greatestgift
...Sable sort of wants to pat the frog. But its ground feels awfully - insubstantial.
She gets a candy from the pedestal and offers the candy to the frog.
She gets a candy from the pedestal and offers the candy to the frog.
The frog takes the candy, stops weeping, and butts its head against her hand affectionately.
It feels pretty substantial. But at a closer glance, it has a certain- softness, malleability. As if it was only half real, and the other half just a stratified nothingness. An admixture of material and magic.
It feels pretty substantial. But at a closer glance, it has a certain- softness, malleability. As if it was only half real, and the other half just a stratified nothingness. An admixture of material and magic.
It continues to taste entirely unlike licorice, and it continues to soothe and reinforce her ground. After a few pieces, though, diminishing returns set in. There's only so much candy can do, apparently.
greatestgift
She can pocket a little of it for later in case the relief is temporary. There's still plenty left in the bowl even so.
Indeed there is!
...it looks like the bowl wasn't very stable. It falls over, breaking with a loud crash.
The frog looks at the wreckage mournfully.
...it looks like the bowl wasn't very stable. It falls over, breaking with a loud crash.
The frog looks at the wreckage mournfully.
The frog's vote is with her. The bowl, however, has veto, and remains broken.
At least it's a clean break. Easier to sweep up later that way.
At least it's a clean break. Easier to sweep up later that way.
greatestgift
Hmm... no.
She picks up the cracked halves of the bowl, holds them carefully together, and stares them down. They should stop being broken. They should, and if she has anything to say about it, they will. Her father does this sort of thing all the time - if she just -
Doing groundwork is still painful, but less so than usual, thanks to the candy. And now the bowl is in one piece again. She conscientiously refills it.
She picks up the cracked halves of the bowl, holds them carefully together, and stares them down. They should stop being broken. They should, and if she has anything to say about it, they will. Her father does this sort of thing all the time - if she just -
Doing groundwork is still painful, but less so than usual, thanks to the candy. And now the bowl is in one piece again. She conscientiously refills it.
The frog is amazed! Is this the power of the human soul, that they could perform such deeds a thousand years ago? Is this what let seven of their number defeat the serried legions of monsterkind? What marvel! What wonder!
He attempts to convey these thoughts through interpretive dance, to severely limited effect.
He attempts to convey these thoughts through interpretive dance, to severely limited effect.
greatestgift
Sable smiles and offers the frog more gentle headpats. Since the bowl was so unstable on its pedestal, she leaves it on the floor next to the pedestal instead.
The bowl raises no objection to this treatment.
The frog, on the other hand, accepts only one more gentle headpat before bolting off to sing of the human to all of its friends and family. Such power! Such kindness! Wow! Very human!
The frog, on the other hand, accepts only one more gentle headpat before bolting off to sing of the human to all of its friends and family. Such power! Such kindness! Wow! Very human!
strangely-literal
The large fluffy woman eventually does return. "Excellent, you found the candy bowl. Thank you for waiting patiently. We will return to my home now, if you have no pressing needs."
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