====== Swamp Party ====== The capybara party is in full swing. There’s music, dancing, various conversations, secrets being shared, memories being created, and other general party things. Everyone is having a great time. //Almost// everyone, at least. Maybe it’s the fact that he’s the only raccoon at the capybara party that means the only raccoon at the capybara party isn’t enjoying himself. Perhaps it’s because he’s not a fan of loud noises but the temple doesn’t have a quiet place to retreat to. Or maybe it’s because this is the fifth party his housemate has thrown this week, and they’re only on the third day. He tries to get everyone to leave, but even his shouting doesn’t seem to compete with the music and revelry. He supposes he’ll need to wait this one out. He heads outside. At least the partygoers are respectful enough to not crowd around the graveyard. ---- “We need to have a talk,” Barrow says with a sigh. He’s tried so long to grin and bear it, but he knows he needs to say something. “Your parties are getting out of hand. When you first came to live here, I thought it would just be a temporary thing, until you moved on to your next goal. But it feels like I’m slowly being pushed out of my own home. And I won’t stand for it. I’m putting my foot down.” He’s starting to get so into his rant that he almost accompanies this with an actual stamp, but decides that would look immature. “Surely you must have better things you could be getting on with?” Donut Donutmister nods along with the tirade thoughtfully. It almost seems as if the doughnut-mister also nods, but that’s probably just a trick of the light. He decides it’s inspiring to see someone have such passion for what they want to stand for. Perhaps he could learn something here from his best friend. “You’re absolutely right,” Donut responds. “I //do// have better things to do. We’re off to complete our goal of misting every doughnut. We’ll be back soon.” With that, he picks up the doughnut-mister and takes his leave. Barrow stands, slightly baffled. On the one hand, he’s glad to be by himself for a while. But, on the other hand, he’s never felt such a sinking feeling at someone telling him they’d be back… ====== Ramblings of a Capybara ====== **The great adventure of one capybara and how he found and eventually overcame the world's last doughnut and brought it into his misty fold, told in three couplets.** //While makeshift heroes fight the villain,//\\ //rid the world of woe,//\\ //Donut fights to finally rid//\\ //the world of unmoist dough.//\\ //The capybara steels his paw//\\ //and steady holds his gun,//\\ //For Donut, he is sure//\\ //that he has found the final one,//\\ //That with this shot, the mistless doughnut//\\ //ceases to exist.//\\ //He pulls the trigger of his gun//\\ //and covers it in mist.// //-- Written by Harmann B.// ====== A Quest Complete ====== It’s done. A quest that has lasted years -- perhaps even //decades//; keeping track of the time became difficult at some point -- has finally come to an end. In front of Donut Donutmister sits the final doughnut, now misted by the doughnut-mister. It is a strange feeling as he turns away from it. He feels light, like mist, free from his mission and his quest. But, at the same time, he feels heavy, like fog, weighed down by questions of what comes next. Who is the Donutmister without doughnuts to mist? The future stretches before him, but it’s obscured by a haze of the unknown. But the only way forward is to march ever onwards. He knows that it’s time for him to part ways with his ever-present companion. He searches around for the right place, before coming across a collection of puddles. This seems like it would be a good place for someone to set up a juice bar, he thinks to himself. He sets the doughnut-mister down, relieving it of its duty, before heading off on his own. He makes his way back to the temple in the Swamp. He’s greeted at the door by a luxurious smell. “I was wondering when you’d get back,” Barrow says. “I thought I’d try my hand at baking. What do you think?” The raccoon Beastkin holds out a plate, upon which sit six doughnuts, freshly-made. A plate of doughnuts that cannot be misted. And so, there is only one thing to do. Donut Donutmister tries eating a doughnut for the first time. … It’s actually pretty good. ====== You Will Be Mist ====== The Mist stands before him. The parting with Barrow was sad, but this is the way that things should be. He takes one last look back at the Swamp and the rest of Mydreign beyond it, before proceeding into the Mist once again. It welcomes him back with open arms (or, at least, the closest thing that water vapour can have to arms). ---- The Donutmister wanders aimlessly, for there is no destination within the Mist. Over time (though that is not really a thing in the Mist either), his form begins to shift slightly, fraying at the edges as he becomes reunited and entwined with the Mist once again. He does not have visitors, and he doesn’t plan to visit Mydreign again, so he doesn’t have a need for his usual appearance in the future. He feels something tugging at him. A feeling pointing him in a particular direction. An urge to follow it to find out what lies at its end. A scent that he recognises well. A hunger he did not know he could still feel. ---- The Mist stands before Sylvan. His plate shakes slightly as he shivers; they should have listened to their mum and worn a thicker jacket, but they weren’t expecting such a chill next to the Mist. He still doesn’t understand the tradition. Perhaps if the creature in the Mist existed, he could understand doing something to appease it. But it doesn’t exist. And even then, why doughnuts? They look down at the plate. Six freshly-made doughnuts. One of their friends suggested that it’s because the Mist is doughnut-shaped, with Mydreign at its centre. But that would imply there’s some outside to it, which doesn’t sound right. He puts the plate down on the ground, before turning to leave. They want to get out of here as quickly as they can. As he’s walking away, he hears a noise behind him. He looks back and spies the now-empty plate upon the floor. They decide to leave even faster.