*

wiktopher.md

@@ -334,12 +334,9 @@ Bag plump with supplies, Lupin headed toward the mountain. The bag contained wat
     The Verido rose, gazing at the top of the mountain with no name. The summit was flat and full of shrubbery and flowers. The smell was dizzying. Mesmerized at the sight of a bright purple flower, Lupin's knees met with the earth. The flower had massive petals, arranged in tight rows and bound together by a single fuzzy yellow button. Little droplets of mildew had accumulated on the surface of its petals. The droplets looked like jewels, but in a world of interminable desert these were much more precious. "Is any of this *real*?" Lupin asked, fingers catching some of the droplets to taste them.  
     It's here, that this Verido discovered another illogical creature.  
 
-A red-haired being lay in a bed of soft grass, amongst flowers and wet leaves, asleep. Its pale chest rose and fell with every breath, its pink lips curved into a smile. All these things made for a bizarre, yet wondrous sight. Verido people liked to colour their hair, but no dye could produce a red like that. The tone was so rich and so vibrant that it burned these eyes. This creature was unique, different, with round ears and a pale, pale complexion, paler than the skyrocks overhead.  
-    Lupin took a step back, keeping a line of tall grass between them. Awakening to a stranger could be unpleasant, Lupin thought. There was also the chance this person did not care for the company of others, why else would anyone be alone up here? This would be a rather disappointing discovery, coming up all this way to find it occupied by a misanthrope. Lupin much preferred to think that this place was a refuge, a place of rest, or some sort of secret garden. It didn't appear that anyone else had ever come here. The grass was tall and thick, it had been allowed to grow unhindered for many, many annums. There being no one else was not shocking to Lupin, when people left the safety of the city it was with purpose, not for sport. Energy was a precious thing in the Soronan desert. Lupin gulped then, realizing how careless it had been to climb up here, to a hostile place without a clear goal. "Why did I come here?" Lupin said aloud to no one.  
-    The Verido wondered if Uno had known that this red-haired Wonder lay
-here.  
-    It was possible that this creature lived here, but there was nothing around. There was no shelter, no fabric, no pots or table, not even a kettle. The mountain top was full of fresh herbs, pulsing, they caressed Lupin's arm, as if begging to be brewed into tea. These nostrils could sense many different varieties, but could not put a name to them.  
-    Every passing moment revealed something new and amazing, but the biggest attraction of all was the red-haired Wonder. How exciting it'll be when the Wonder wakes up, Lupin thought. What question should I ask first? Where's your kettle? Lupin thought this one funny. What is this plant? And that one? What about this one? Yes. So many plants to ask about, maybe I can take some home! The Verido paused then, there was no more room for grieving in this heart, there was no point. Life had changed in a really big way, it was better to get used to this new reality.  
+A red-haired being lay in a bed of soft grass, amongst flowers and wet leaves, asleep. Its pale chest rose and fell with every breath, its pink lips curved into a smile. All these things made for a bizarre, yet wondrous sight. Verido people liked to colour their hair, but no dye could produce a red like that. The tone was so rich and so vibrant that it burned these eyes. This creature was unique, different, with round ears and a pale complexion, paler than the skyrocks overhead.  
+    Lupin took a step back, keeping a line of tall grass between them. Awakening to a stranger could be unpleasant, Lupin thought. There was also the chance this person did not care for the company of others, why else would anyone be alone up here? This would be a rather disappointing discovery, coming up all this way to find it occupied by a misanthrope. Lupin much preferred to think that this place was a refuge, a place of rest, or some sort of secret garden. It didn't appear that anyone else had ever come here. The grass was tall and thick, it had been allowed to grow unhindered for many, many annums. There being no one else was not shocking to Lupin. When people left the safety of the city it was with purpose, not for sport. Energy was a precious thing in the Soronan desert. Lupin gulped then, realizing how careless it had been to climb up here, to a hostile place without a clear goal, and wondered if Uno knew that the red-haired wonder lay here.  
+    There was no shelter here, no pots or a table, not even a kettle, but there were fresh herbs everywhere, covered with moisture. These nostrils could sense many different varieties, but could not put a name to them. Every passing moment revealed something new and amazing, but Lupin's attention was on the Wonder, waiting for them to wake up. "What question should I ask first? Where's your kettle?" Lupin thought this one funny. "What is this plant? And that one? What about this one? Yes. So many plants to ask about, maybe I can take some home!" The Verido paused then, there was no more room for grieving in this heart, there was no point. Life had changed in a really big way, it was better to get used to this new reality.  
     With all this thinking and speculating, Lupin thought that a long time must have passed. Anytime now, Red would awaken. But the position of the suns relative to the moons said otherwise. Skyrocks could not lie. Lupin sighed, impatient, but knew better than to disturb the sleep of another without good reason. Lupin would have to wait for a cue, a yawn, maybe some stretching or some wrinkling of the eyes, signs known to precede waking. After much waiting, the sleeper still lay there, not a yawn or hint of eye wrinkling.  
     The mountain was quiet. Lupin could lay on a carpet of green and watch the flowers all day, undisturbed. There was an astonishing variety of plant life, some sat atop lanky stems with surprising balance, others had long green fingers, curling around bits of stone and neighbouring grasses. Collections of flowers sprouted from the ground in fireworks of colour, then there was the beautiful rosary of dew drops accumulating on everything. Even the Wonder's skin bore many of these silvery jewels, the result of the occasional droplet of water slipping down the centre of a leaf, and dripping onto this living canvas. The Wonder's torso had a complicated motif all over it, thousands of little wet eyes. With a big breath some of the droplets would slide off, leaving small wet trails behind.