one

[the_marli_tharn]

[No little guilt trips for this traumatized rabbit, thank you.]

[Instead she's busy working on a new burrow since her first one caved in with the earthquake. There's the oddest man-thing, though, that keeps appearing everytimw she trns her back.

She keeps dragging it out, but keeps finding it again, to a point of frustration. Really the castle just wants her to have her journal.]

[So have some scrabbling of nails, scratched and chewed paper, and a rabbit muttering in exasperation.]

Frith above, how does this thing keep ending up in my borrow ...

Comments

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

That's your journal. It'll follow you if you like it or not. It lets residents speak to one another. [Like he's speaking through it right now, good job, Bunny]

[the_marli_tharn]

[She drops it and hops back with a squeak. Did this strange man-thing just talk to her? Like El-ahrairah?

No reply besides the sounds of sniffing from a cautious nose.]

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[...Oh right]

They're a sort of magic. Anyone in the castle can talk to each other through them.

[the_marli_tharn]

Magic?

[She sniffs more at the journal and then settles back from it, thinking for a moment.] I don't understand.

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

That's right. The thing that makes you able to talk to the humans. It's all around this place.

...You can see it or touch it. It's just a thing that's here.

assuming you mean 'can't'?

[the_marli_tharn]

Oh ...

[She thinks on that a moment, suddenly reminded about the river of knowledge that Vithruil had found in the burrows ar Efrafa. They had no explanation for that, couldn't really see or taste or smell it.]

I think ... Yes. I think I understand.

yes I can totally type

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

There you go. Anyway, it's nothing to be afraid of, no one can hurt you through it.

[heloise]

[ Sounds like someone has a pet kitten too! ]

What thing?

[the_marli_tharn]

[Oh goodness no, Hyzenthlay doesn't have a litter at this point! ;) ]

[And for all Bunny's explaining, she's still keeping a careful distance from the journal, twitching her ears at it warily.]

You. The man-thing that followed me into my borrow and speaks with many voices.

[heloise]

No, I did not--

The journal followed you, I am only speaking through it. I am not there.

[the_marli_tharn]

Why is it-- [She had almost asked 'why are you'] following me?

[heloise]

Because it is yours. The castle wants you to have it.

[the_marli_tharn]

[What is ownership of things, this is an entirely new concept to her.]

What do I do with it? [Oh, she is so confused right now.]

[silentrunning]

[Chell's confusedly sprawling on her bed, covered in ash when she catches that muttering...]

What is it?

[She asks, her voice, if possible quieter than usual.]

What have you found?

[the_marli_tharn]

[Oh, another familiar voice! That, at least, is a little comforting!]

El-ahrairah called it a 'journal', I believe? But how do you all fit in there?

[silentrunning]

[Chell's sooo confused right now.]

We... don't fit in our journals... They're much too small. I'm not sure how, but they somehow send you just our voices. And what you say pops up as words I could read, right after you say it. It's fascinating. But it's a normal part of being here. And it will follow you if you try to leave it somewhere.

[the_marli_tharn]

Words? What are words?

[silentrunning]

[She considers how to explain.]

It's a way of talking. But not with our voices. Look at the book. Do you see odd symbols on it? Those are words.

[Not the best explanation, but she'll definitely try.

[the_marli_tharn]

[She does see the angry black lines on the book, and to be honest it's a little confusing and upsetting.]

Those are words? How very strange ...

[hard_talker]

... What thing?

[the_marli_tharn]

The ... journal? The man-thing that speaks.

[hard_talker]

Oh! Yeah, it does that. It's pretty impossible to get rid of. People've even tried burning it... but it's how everyone keeps in touch. You must be new, yeah?

[the_marli_tharn]

Yes, I am. It's been quite different, but not altogether unpleasant.

Have you been here long?

[hard_talker]

It'll be two an' a half years at the end of June. [he sounds like he can't quite believe it, himself]

[the_marli_tharn]

Oh, goodness ... [That's a long time in a rabbit's timeline, too.]