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It has never done anything wrong. In fact, none of the air in the patch has, even when it has been in other patches. It's so innocent.
greatestgift
A small human appears out of nowhere in the innocent patch of empty air.
She is wearing a many-pocketed black coat over an outfit that is mostly white with silver accents. On her head there perches a silver-accented white tiara, strangely stubborn about staying in place. She is also wearing a backpack, and a pair of wings resembling the gnarled branches of an ancient tree, strung with cobwebs that catch the air with improbable efficiency.
She can see land over thataway, but when she tries to move towards it, she discovers that her wings aren't rated for downless maneuvering. All she manages to do is set herself spinning vertiginously. She flails in a mostly-unsuccessful attempt to stabilize herself, and yells things that might mar the air's innocence.
The air is scandalized. It will never be the same again.
Time goes by.
Time goes by.
greatestgift
She manages to get herself straightened out, stops swearing, takes a few deep breaths, and starts carefully experimenting.
Most of the things she tries don't work. She hopes she hasn't moved away from solid ground much, but it's hard to tell for sure just by looking. Still, better to experiment and learn even if she screws up in the process, rather than just sit still and hope for rescue.
Several times she has to take a long break. All this spinning isn't doing her stomach any good and she'd really rather not find out what happens when you throw up without gravity, especially not while she's still unable to escape the consequences. So to speak.
Most of the things she tries don't work. She hopes she hasn't moved away from solid ground much, but it's hard to tell for sure just by looking. Still, better to experiment and learn even if she screws up in the process, rather than just sit still and hope for rescue.
Several times she has to take a long break. All this spinning isn't doing her stomach any good and she'd really rather not find out what happens when you throw up without gravity, especially not while she's still unable to escape the consequences. So to speak.
Eventually, someone approaches the edge of the world.
He looks at her quizzically and calls something out to her in an unfamiliar language.
He looks at her quizzically and calls something out to her in an unfamiliar language.
greatestgift
"Hello!" she calls back. "I'm stuck, can you help me?"
Since there seems to be a language barrier, she demonstrates her stuckness by trying and failing to move purposefully in the air. And now she's spinning again. At least she's figured out how to stop that in relatively short order - spread her wings out wide to create drag, make small adjustments until she slows down. But her poor stomach is distinctly ungrateful for the commotion.
Since there seems to be a language barrier, she demonstrates her stuckness by trying and failing to move purposefully in the air. And now she's spinning again. At least she's figured out how to stop that in relatively short order - spread her wings out wide to create drag, make small adjustments until she slows down. But her poor stomach is distinctly ungrateful for the commotion.
He tries another language. At least, it's probably another language.
He falls silent.
<Are you stuck?> inquires a voice that resembles his except that it is mental and without actual component words.
<Are you stuck?> inquires a voice that resembles his except that it is mental and without actual component words.
greatestgift
...What.
Okay, she can work with this.
<Yes,> she tries. Will that work? If it doesn't she can try something else.
Okay, she can work with this.
<Yes,> she tries. Will that work? If it doesn't she can try something else.
<I'll try to tow you out,> he says.
And then he steps off the edge of the planet, pushes off the corner, and floats in her direction.
And then he steps off the edge of the planet, pushes off the corner, and floats in her direction.
greatestgift
Okay, that's also surprising.
<Thank you! How are you doing that? And why is there only down on the surface?>
<Thank you! How are you doing that? And why is there only down on the surface?>
<I'm a kama,> he replies. <And I don't know, that's just how the planet works.>
On closer approach, it seems he has long pointy ears and is in his early or mid teens, though gawkily tall enough to have quite a bit of height on Sable.
On closer approach, it seems he has long pointy ears and is in his early or mid teens, though gawkily tall enough to have quite a bit of height on Sable.
greatestgift
People having quite a bit of height on Sable is something she was very much used to, back when there were people around to be shorter than. For that matter, even the horrible mindless person-things of Terraria are all taller than she is. It's not unusual.
The ears are a bit odd, but she's not about to stare. That would be rude.
The ears are a bit odd, but she's not about to stare. That would be rude.
He offers her his hand.
greatestgift
She takes it.
<Thank you so much. I was beginning to think I'd be stuck there forever.>
<Thank you so much. I was beginning to think I'd be stuck there forever.>
<People don't usually go to random parts of the edge often, so it's lucky I came by.> He tows her toward the planet. <How did you get there?>
greatestgift
<I was stranded in a strange world and trying to get home. I got to the point where the only thing left to do was test my transport spell and hope it worked. Clearly I didn't have it right.>
<Maybe my mom can send you home. She's a wizard,> he says, and they touch feet to ground.
greatestgift
<That would be nice.>
She folds her wings neatly to her back once she's on the ground; they tuck in surprisingly small, except where the branch-tips sweep down past the edge of her coat.
<My name's Sable, by the way. Sable Arrowsmith.>
She folds her wings neatly to her back once she's on the ground; they tuck in surprisingly small, except where the branch-tips sweep down past the edge of her coat.
<My name's Sable, by the way. Sable Arrowsmith.>
"Mallyn Camlenn," he says aloud. <I've never seen wings like that.>
greatestgift
<They're from the world I was stuck in. I have enough materials to make another pair if you want one, but you seem to be able to fly already, and more effectively at that.>
<It's one of the first things kyma learn. How did you get stuck in the wrong world?>
greatestgift
<...A giant snake with a mirror for a face ate me,> she admits. <Well. Insofar as a mirror can eat. It went at me with its mirror and suddenly I was somewhere else.>
<...Does that happen a lot?>
greatestgift
<Up until it happened to me, I would've said it doesn't happen at all!>