Howl Your Appellations

Shopping Inside a Labyrinth

BOEN OPEOR

Nikki leads me to a more crowded part of the Market, I believe that we still aren't even in the busy parts yet. We're still at the entrance of this large, cryptic, and jam-packed Market. I can hear people talk about things I don't even know about. And I hear people talk about which is the best type of fish for the season, or which type of stalls sell the best fabric. All these conversations are intermingling with each other in the sea of shoppers and intentions, all the while Nikki's holding my hand as tightly as she could. If I get lost, it'll definitely cause trouble. I tighten my grip as well.

We pass through a very large, and beautiful bridge. It looks like marble but there's also stone mixed in, as if the bridge was a ceramic toy of a child as large as the moon. There are stalls inside the tunnel that the legs of the bridge managed to form, it almost seem like a fancy catacomb. There are different smells and different decorations in each stall. I would have taken so many pictures and talked to so many people if it weren't for the rules.

"See anything you like? Something to eat? Don't hesitate to tell me. Although to be honest I just want to eat at the shop I regularly buy from. Just purely out of convenience and habit." She looks back at me and smiles, her expression matches her small basket bag, small but cute.

"But there's just so many! How did you guys even manage to find your way around here? There's so many people too!" I exclaim.

I spot a cute group of what seems to be Were Hares, their long pointy ears and cotton tail look so cute. They're all wearing such light clothes, I wonder if it's just because I'm new that I get cold. There are tons of people here too that has the same cloak and hood, although with a different design. I shouldn't just assume things based on my circumstances alone, I have to focus on having fun.

"Boen? Hey, are you listening?" Nikki shakes our arms in the hopes of getting my attention, and it does. I was distracted by the Hare group that I completely forgot I asked a question.

"Sorry, there's so much to see. Everything's so new." I bow my head slightly.

"Well, I get that. what I was saying was, there are no maps here. There are unofficial maps, but since the circumstances of each shop isn't stable, people just rely on the seventeen major landmarks here in the Market."

"Whoa, seventeen? This place really is that big, huh?" I exclaim.

"Yeah, but our pack has our own set of landmarks since there are places that are off limits. Weres aren't the only people that come here, you know. There are all sorts of dangerous people. So you better be careful." She warns me.

"Alright, I will. My hood stays on until we leave." I express.

"Good girl. Hmm, let's but you something to make sure it stays on. I think I know a place. We'll head to the fish market, crop market, bakery, and hardware shops right after. It's going to be a tedious ride so I hope you and your metal leg's ready." I gulp at her statements. I didn't know we needed to buy so much. But it doesn't matter, Boen Opeor has the stamina of a thousand gazelles!

"It's a bit of a labyrinth through here but a good friend of mine sells a lot of headware for protection and fashion! So don't worry about looking stupid.'' I nod and nod, still thinking about all the shops we need to go to, and that the area she's taking me doesn't have a lot of people, so the light is pretty dim.

"I have to go under a bunch of the throne's debris and some other shops. Maybe you'll find one you like? Really, just tag me if something catches your eyes. Your first purchase's something really important after all." Nikki says this as we hop down a large boulder, I can see the over arching bridges on top of our heads, it's so intricate but also sort of horrifying. Some of the bridges don't even have any support and are just glued unto one another like certain bones.

I think about what I should buy from the forest first, I know it shouldn't be food because I know I'll want something to remember my first trip by. Maybe I should buy something for Lissana, but shouldn't the first purchase supposed to symbolize something for me? Then...a headband should be enough. I can wear it all the time even if I'm not in the forest. It'll be my signature headdress...unless I want to style my hair a different way, but most of the time, I'll wear that...!!

"Yoooo! Nikki! What is this shop, why is it so different!" The shop's in between two fallen pillars, make-shifted into a triangular shop. There are trinkets placed on the shelf that caught my fancy.

"Oh, you wanna buy something from here? Sure. I don't know much about it though. Something new for the both of us!" Nikki exclaims, "You lead us there, go on."

I slowly trudge towards the shop, there are a few round bushes that decorate the way, the white flowers of the bushes harbor no scent. Inch by careful inch we get closer, and this is when I realized why the shop has peaked my interest.

"Oh, whoa, now this is something creative." Nikki commented before I could.

"Yeah...just...wow...." I stared at the creations displayed on the shelves. There are only about five on display but they're all so beautiful and colorful. I never thought you could do this to them.

"Well, let's go in. It'll be a wonderful souvenir to remember this day by." Nikki slowly tugs at me, and gestures me to enter the shop.

I'm lost in my mind thinking about the creations under the glasses. This is the right place. There's no doubt about it.

We enter the small shop and even more are on display.

"Hello, good day! Welcome to Fodes' Surrealist Coral Sculpture Emporium!" A small man with a large voice yells.