T25.5 The Featherstrummer, Part 1

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Sickening brightness jumped around in Gumue's mind as she gazed wearily at the shadowy hallways before her.

Echoes of unintelligible, muffled voices filled her mind every step she took forwards.

She could feel a heavy sheet draped across her whole body as she walked, as though led by a rope - the cold stone-washed floor made echoes of numbing cold from her bare feet.

Someone was calling out to her from above. Though the voice was muffled she could hear 2 syllables, repeating incessantly - her name was Gumue, surely those two syllables were referring to her...!

She struggled to look, but the weight of the sheet was unbearably heavy such that she could not even raise her head fully.

And soon even her vision faded to white as she felt her strength leave her.

"Gumue, wake up...! Wake up or you'll miss it!" the voice of a young lady rang as Gumue felt her body being shaken by from her shoulder.

"Fweeh...?" Gumue mumbled as she slowly opened her eyes and wiped the drool from her mouth. The creaking of the wagon seat upon which she sat could be heard alongside the choir of crickets and the soft plodding of the anteaters pulling the wagon.

Before her sat a young, small framed maiden with hair worn short, adorned with beads of lapis, wearing rich purple finery - she was none other than Kau, the daughter of of a wealthy merchant whom she was currently freeloading.

"Lady Kau?" Gumue smile as she saw Kau's excitied expression

"Finally you're awake! Look, look! You can see the twin Sprigs there!" Kau spoke jovially as she pointed in the direction behind her.

As she turned her back Gumue felt cool wind rush across her face and hair as she was greeted with a wondrous sight.

In the distance she saw the foggy silhouette two soaring Sprigs of equal height linked together by several colossal vines. In the foreground was a vast lake of cyan mud which seemed to flow like a lake from the feet of the Twin Sprigs, all the way to the bottom of the cliff upon which they travelled by tapir-driven caravan.

"Cithvu and Cithvi..." Gumue muttered listlessly as she took in the sights.

"What's that?" Kau asked, tilting her head.

"E...err... its the name of a song I made! Shall I play it for you?"

"Yes! Yes please! I want to hear it please!" Kau spoke excitedly, bouncing near Gumue's lap with a beaming smile.

With a gentle smile, Gumue set the lyre she hung from her girdle on her thigh.


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