While you were remembering

You have emoted: Gurashi rolls over again, tiredly staring at Bizirik, who in turn stares back. It doesn't move, silently watching as the light of day begins to fade into night out the window behind it. Gurashi lets out a little sound, folding his arm over his forehead and narrowing his eyes. "How are you holding up in all of this..." He asks the leothin, reaching out to idly stroke her snout.

As nightfall steals the last vestiges of daylight, a slender leothin's muted coat begins to shine with a violaceous radiance, and a double pair of wings materializes, grandly extended as if they've been there all along.

Bizirik, the leothin shakes its entire body out, flapping its wings as its appearance changes. It chatters softly, then resumes staring, its unblinking eyes glowing eerily golden in the dim light of the bedroom. "What...?"

You have emoted: As the leothin finally lays its head down on the bedside, Gurashi frowns, sitting up.

You think to yourself: **a memory of metal washes over everything - sudden bright brick hues**.

You shudder violently as a chill ripples down your spine.

Bizirik, the leothin bristles a bit, shaking itself out, wings flapping in irritation. It resumes its vigilant stare, nostrils flaring.

You think to yourself: **the same pounding, throbbing headache - now, a wave of nausea - a jolt of hot red sick**.

Bizirik, the leothin lets out another little noise, a grunt, and a snuffle. Gurashi shakes his head, lips pulled into a tight thin line as he reaches out and cradles the leothin's head in his arms. "Hey. It's O-K. Do not have to stay." Bizirik's tail slaps the ground as its head is smothered by its small, orange-headed companion. "Know are worried but I do not know how to turn this off. So go," He exhales, "go play with the cats, yes. Love you -so- much."

You give Bizirik, the leothin a friendly squeeze.

Bizirik, the leothin snorts, tail slapping the ground a few more times... slowly it pulls itself away, tossing its head again as it reluctantly creeps towards the door, disappearing down the stairs.

With a playful chirr, Bizirik turns sharply and scampers off to the northeast.

You have emoted: Gurashi slumps back down on his bed, then clumsily makes himself roll off the mattress, bringing with him two blankets and half a dozen pillows. "Water."

You have emoted: Still fully wrapped up in blankets, Gurashi shuffles towards the doorway.

You think to yourself: Water ....

A cozy living room above the kitchen.                  (#HAH_5)
A comforting feeling of privacy pervades the area. Eleven steps, all different dimensions and carved from dark ravenwood lead to a comfortable little living area. Dark floors contrast the gentle green shade painted on the walls, and bright, flickering wall sconces. A curved ceiling looks as if it has been scooped directly out of a tree, and thick support joists criss-cross the expanse. Delicate muslin curtains cover either window and barely touch the floor. On both window sills sit half a dozen tiny planters with newly sprouting flowers and herbs inside. Three plain oak doors typically stand closed, but whiffs of lavender and petrichor can be detected when they open, briefly displacing the delicious smells of the kitchen below. The diminutive size, low lighting, and soothing colors of this room invoke a sense of ease and respite. An elegant wall sconce featuring numerous large poppies juts from the wall, holding a flickering candle. There are 2 soft couches decorated with needlepoint poppies here. A tapestry depicting the creation of the lyrebird is proudly hanging here. A lush beige carpet is spread out on the ground. There are 2 elegantly carved ravenwood armchairs here. A small dark brown tea table stands here. A painting of Gurashi and the Racist Dartboard is proudly exhibited on a nearby wall. A gilded pedestal, displaying a painting of A Stack of Cats, stands here, its gold leaf cracked and weathered. A gilded pedestal, displaying a painting of The Seal Of Approval, stands here, its gold leaf cracked and weathered. A shimmering blue circle floats in the room here.
You see exits leading east (open door), southeast (closed door), southwest (open door), and down (closed door).

The faintest hint of poppies coils out of the nearby poppy covered wall sconce, candle flickering softly.

You have emoted: Gurashi quietly pulls his bedroom door shut, sniffling. He maneuvers almost entirely on muscle memory, feeling the frame of the door - the armchair, the back of the couch - eventually, the railing before the steps. Eleven. One, two...

A modest kitchen with forest motifs.                   (#HAH_3)
The shadowy outline of a twisted forest casts a dark gloom here. Like something out of a story book, this little kitchen with a small center island feels warm and comfortable. Ground-level cabinets have been painted a rich forest green and are outlined with tiny handmade crow and leaf imprints. High-mounted ravenwood shelves are lined with jars of herbs and spices, as well as odd-shaped baking implements and pans. Cast iron fixtures are set in strategic places beside heavy wash basins, and an open window overlooks the garden, offering a refreshing breeze. Hanging over the island is a blackened storage rack with several well-used skillets and cooking utensils suspended by hooks. A half dozen cabinets have small locks fastened to their handles, the dark metal surfaces carved with beautiful leafy patterns. Offsetting the dark decorations are brightly colored hand towels and oven mitts decorated with childish happy cows playing in a field. A wooden stool carved to appear as a hand rests sturdily on its own wrist, awaiting occupation. A coiling silhouette of thickets is inked upon the supple surface of this softly pale tea table, low to the ground. Warm honeyed hues dance upon the surroundings, cast by a delicately-scented glass lantern from its perch upon a nearby wall. Central to the kitchen is a large oven, next to racks of pots and pans that hang nearby. A painting of Gurashi and the Chamber of Crab-ness is proudly exhibited on a nearby wall. Surrounded by a faint, emerald halo, an ethereal cat romps playfully about the area.
You see exits leading south, west (open door), and up (open door).

You have emoted: After some struggling with the water pump and a lot of audible griping, Gurashi manages to get a steady stream of water flowing. At first he fills up a cup and gulps it down at once. He fills up a second cup, repeats... then eventually sets the cup aside, sticking his whole head under the faucet, hissing from the cold.

You have emoted: Gurashi makes a face, puffs his cheeks, slaps his face. He removes a sparkleberry from his rift, eating it whole and wrinkling his nose at its tartness. "Right."

You think to yourself: **a short wash of relief, the sparkleberry finally taking effect**.