Gloomville Diaries - Gen 1 - Ch 4: Flock Hideaway

Ochana had a nap, and got up at 10 PM. She ate a little before heading to Muggerdale to meet Aileen Gleeson again, probably for the last time in a while.

She read through the documents on the kitchen table. While the Rules and Directions seemed fine, Ochana had a feeling that some of what Alieen said earlier today, was not so easy to point out in the documents. There was nothing regarding rights and wrongs, or justice. And relations to the other 4 Willow Field families being important to Ochana's family? Nothing, really, not beyond the main heir's spouses. The documents simply didn't cover it all.

Time to leave for Muggerdale hood.

Ochana had not told anyone, and she even dressed very neutral in case someone should see her lurking in that hood. She had been to Muggerdale hood a few times during the Sims by Numbers Show, and it looked different from Willow Field. The market, Muggerdale Fair, was quite popular for hanging out.

But tonight, she walked to the end of the road. It was 10 minutes to midnight already, better hurry! Was it Raven's house over there, the house where she was directed to turn right?

Hm, over by those huge trees? Ah, there she saw Aileen standing under one of those!

- Hello again, I think I'm on time...
- Yes you are, dear! Now, don't talk loudly... we don't want anyone to see us.
- And now what?
- I'll take you to Flock Hideaway. It's the secret location where you will formally receive your mission. This is also where you will formally hand it all over to your main heir when that time has come!

Ochana thought to herself that Aileen must be insane! A formal ceremony right next to this old tree? Oh, craziness!

- This is our entrance to Flock Hideaway, Aileen continued and pointed at the tree. And now Ochana could clearly see there was a huge hole!
- I don't understand, she said...
- Don't talk, Aileen whispered. - Just follow me, but be quick, the entrance might close shortly.
- You don't know whether it will close?
- It's the very first time I open it! Now, let's move!

And then Aileen climbed inside the huge tree and was out of sight. Ochana had no time to rethink, she followed right after...

The next she knew was standing with Aileen next to the old tree, but everything had changed around them.
- Wow!

- You might think it's magic, dear, but it's not. Flock Hideaway exists, and the only magic is the connection. In earlier days there was an entrance at Willow Field, but the poor old tree was cut off, just like old Flock.

Aileen spread her arms and smiled. - Now, isn't it lovely! Just like I remember it!

Sure, it was lovely. Ochana had a feeling of dreaming this all, but her back was aching from all the gardening, and she was still a bit hungry. Would she have brought those physical feelings into a dream?

- Flock keeps this place nice and tidy, it's a pity most people will never see it, Aileen stated. - We should have taken advantage of this visit, and stay for as long as possible! That is allowed, if one brings food and what else one needs for a day. But I need to be back home to watch my favourite TV show. Now, for the ritual, it must take place while you watch the Flock's Beam, by the little sea.

Aileen started walking, and Ochana followed.
- Where are we going?
- To that little sea. If I can find it, it's only my second visit!

They arrived the water, and over there, at the waterfall, Ochana instinctively knew she saw the Flock's Beam.

- There is so much mention of Flock, what does it stand for? Ochana asked.
- It's just a name, dear. Some old person's name. Flock suffered great injustice long ago, and had to hide or to die. He might be around here, but I can't tell for sure!
- And now, what?
- Now for the poisons, Aileen said with an eager voice. She held up 6 small bottles of various colours, and Ochana grabbed them all. She recalled reading about them in the directions.

- You shall now empty the green poison to formally accept the mission, drink it to Happiness! The other 5 you will save for later, it's all described in those documents I gave you.

Then Aileen pulled up a small bottle to drink for herself. - You might not enjoy the taste, but in the name of Flock, it must be done!

Ochana hesitated, but at the same time she felt a warming energy, even before tasting this stuff.

Aileen raised her cup and took a big sip. - To Confidence! she said loudly. Then, followed by something that Ochana couldn't really hear: - Forgive me, dad!

Ochana did the same. - To Happiness! she said with a weak, but proud voice.