Howl Your Appellations

The Inner Market

BOEN OPEOR

It’s only been a few minutes into the trip but I already feel exhausted, Nikki’s taking a lot of twists and turns and most of the vegetation and trees seem to be the same. All I know for sure is that, we’re east from The Train, and Nikki’s walking in a somewhat straight line. The trees are taller, with longer branches and the bushes are thicker with more varied tones. The little sunlight the peers through, seem like precious spotlights for passing travelers.

I assumed that Reese would also ride on Nikki since she acted like she was going to, she’s following slowly behind us in her wolf form. I don’t know why she didn’t decide to fully transform into her Wolf Were body, but I’m never really sure what works in her mind or not. It’s cute because, her wolf form’s still wearing her poncho. It didn’t just magically turn into fur. I take a candid picture of her.

I try to take as much pictures as possible so I’ll remember the way to the market. Nothing seems to serve as a trademark, since everything’s all just trees, bushes, and trails.

Thirty minutes into the trip, and we’re permanently going up a large slope. The trees seem to be shaped like stairs. And the bushes are starting to have a lighter color, almost as if it’s autumn. The green turns into gold. The scene glows like a meadow of gold.

“We’re not there yet.” Nikki clarifies, as I was in fact, thinking that we’re finally there.

We reach flat ground and the collection of trees are thick and lined with patterns. The canopy of the trees hinder any sunlight from coming in but it seems to produce pseudo-sunlight on it’s own. It’s a little dim, but it’s definitely pretty. The prism color of the canopy lights bounce of the translucent lining design of the trees.

I take picture after picture. Such a wonderful place, that only the creatures of the forest can see, and now me. We’ve encountered a few Weres and animals but we all just collectively agreed to mind our own business.

The canopy lights make Cain’s hood glow beautifully in the dim. The path seems alluring, as if a pathway to a large entrance. It’s fair to assume that we’re probably close to the market.

“Not yet.” Nikki repeats.

At this point, I should just stop assuming we’re close. It’s actually a very long way, we’ve passed multiple places that seem like the entrance to a market but they’re all not it.

We finally reach the end of the canopy light forest and proceed to go down the slope. The slope situates itself into a large trench with beautiful white flowers, flowers that I haven’t seen before. They sort of have heart shaped petals and curly leaves.

“So Boen, you feeling tired yet? We just walked a hill’s worth.” human form Reese interjects, as she walks beside full form Nikki.

“We’ve been traveling for a bit but this is nothing compared to the flights I’ve had. Also, Nikki’s doing all the walking, not me.” I clarify, waving my index finger like a magic wand.

“You’re okay cause you probably can’t tell, but we’ve been through several dimensions.” Reese smirks, it’s the kind of smirk a know-it-all would display.

“What do you mean, ‘several dimensions’?” I ask worriedly.

Nikki says nothing but hastens her pace a little. I grip her fur a bit tighter. Reese starts to blissfully run to catch up with us.

“It means, Outsider, that we’re not just in Abalone anymore. We’re in different dimensions created by Luna to ensure order.” Reese explains, “In order to reach the market, which is also a large pocket dimension, we’ll have to make sure we don’t get locked in or out from the dimensions.”

“How do we make sure of that?” the conversation is making me nervous. Why is Reese telling me this now? As long as I’m on Nikki, I’m sure I’ll be safe.

“Well, you already are. We’re going to the Inner Market, aren’t we?” She asks.

Nikki jumps up, and it’s a long way up the mountain. There are several animals and Weres walking side by side, but not too many that it makes it hard for Nikki to just jump off.

“Ah, Reese isn’t jumping along! Is she gonna be okay?” I ask Nikki and she jumps from boulder to boulder.

“That kid can survive anywhere. She’ll meet us at Mei’s shop.” Nikki stops and looks at the view, the mountain is actually a plateau that harbors another forest inside it. I’m not sure if this is still part of the Abalone Forest, or another pocket dimension created by Luna. One thing I’m sure of is that the scene’s so darn breathtaking.

Every dot, a tree so robust and ancient. The three lakes that glisten relentlessly from afar. Gigantic boulders with indistinct shapes. A hidden land, this whole plateau enclosure must be the Inner Market.

“We’re not at the market yet.”

Nikki slams my assumption to the ground and I am left dumbfounded as we descend. Just where the hell is the Inner Market? Why is it hidden so far away, how did the Weres even discover the market in the first place. So much lore, too embarrassed to ask.

Nikki runs to the center of the plateau, I assume. There are fallen stone buildings and multiple statues of unknown origin to me. They seem to be made of marble and clay mixed together. With Nikki running so fast, I have no time to take pictures or even take in everything that we pass. It’s almost as if the fallen debris of the old settlement serve as a make shift maze. The lengths the Weres have to go through, just to buy food and supplies, saddening.

“I can’t believe you guys travel this far. Don’t you get tired from travelling so far?” I ask Nikki.

Unfazed she replies, “What happens to the body in the dimensions, stays in the dimension so the physical fatigue doesn’t carryover. It’s just a matter of getting used to it.”

“Oh. That’s actually so cool, what the heck.” I exclaim, so many mysterious machinations is always at work here. Impressive doesn’t begin to describe it.

Finally, Nikki stops. “Put your hood up. Make sure you don’t let you Appellations show. Newbies get swarmed pretty quickly, all the merchants here are…a little too enthusiastic.” she tells me.

I do what she says and slide down her large Wolf Were body. I pat her body a bit and I realize that, even though she’s the one that insisted that I should not use my fae-given ability, I consider our relationship to have improved.

“Thanks for showing me the way today, Nikki. I feel great.” I tell her as I smile my chubby grin.

“It’s not a big deal. I still think you’re gonna cause trouble so stay close to me.” she reaches out her hand, “First timers have to hold my hand, understood?”

I gasp with excitement, Nikki’s the closest to what an older sister should be to me. I happily take her hand.

“So where’s the Market?” I ask with a grin on my face.

Nikki points up.

Gigantic trees, taller than any tree in the outer forest, form three arcs that frames a large door. The same fabric that floats above the Train, also floats around the entrance. There is nothing that presents it self as the regular properties of a door, beyond the arc of the trees is a mirror.

“D-do we just walk in?”

Nikki takes the lead, “Yes.”