Echo's Story

A creaking sound echoed through the near woods, as a linen hammock swings in the tree-tops. A form moved from from within, and a moan joined the creaking.
"...5 more minutes...uhmmm"

Allowing the sun to cross over his face, he cringed...then reached over and slipped on his glasses, dropping over the edge of the branch he landed on his feet and brushed himself off. Mussing his air as he walked, he pushed through the edge of the trees and onto a path leading into a small shack.

"Full moon tonight, This should be fun."
Chuckling he flipped open a chest and grabbed his clothes, preparing for the day ahead of him.

((Sorry I'm just getting off work, didn't want to hold you guys up))

Stepping through the treeline, Echo brushed himself off and glanced up toward the town. It was fairly close, and his long legs carried him there in no time. The festival preparations had already begun, and he saw a few more wandering around the courtyard but his stomach called to him first.
Close to where preparations were being made sat a corner cafe, with a spicy sweet smell drifting from its open doors.
"I want whatever that is..." Echo smiled, as he strolled over dropping a few coins onto the counter. The woman ladled a thick, hearty broth into a bowl and passed it over to him with a spoon.
Taking a seat on a stool, he lifted a short sheet to look over to the others wandering around. Shoveling down his hot, meaty soup he watched the others...

Dropping a few coins on the counter Echo rubbed his stomach, satisfied with the meal. He waved as he walked away, thanking the chef. As he looked around he noticed everyone talking to each other and felt a little awkward. A cool breeze drifted through the town, carrying the smell of brine. Turning his head toward the smell eh began , walking.
"A day on the water, how pleasant."
Walking with his hands crossed behind his back, he followed a dirt trail that lead through a rolling field of wheat. The smell of the water hit him almost as hot as the sun bathed him. Stepping onto the hillside his gaze fell on the shoreline, and a now lush green field of wild grass and flowers. His grin widened as the sun reflected off the cool water. He slipped off his shoes, and rolled up his pant legs to his knees and he ran down the hill toward the water. In his peripheral vision he thought he caught a tuft of red hair, but the water beckoned him. Cheering like a bafoon he climbed on top of a rock and jumped off the edge yelling,"Cannon Ball!"
He laughed a deep bellowing laugh as he dragged himself out of the water, shaking off like a dog. Lifting his hand to his brow to block the sun he looked for the red hair again. This time he called out,"Hey! Why don;t you come in! The water's great!" Cheering once more, he scrambled to the top of the rock and jumped into the cool water.

Rowan let out a soft sigh as he stood up, figuring it was about time to head back and help out with he festival. Though he knew he probably wouldn't be missed, he liked putting up the decorations and the liveliness was pretty encouraging too. Just as he turned around and began to make his way up the grassy hill, he heard a loud splash behind him and turned to see that someone had jumped into the water further over where there were a few rocks that spotted the edge of the lake. He squinted against the sun and took a few steps towards the rocks to see who it was when someone resurfaced and climbed out of the water.

"Hey! Why don't you come in! The water's great!"

The white-haired boy called out before climbing back up the rock and jumping into the water. Although Rowan didn't really get a very good look at him, he did know he's seen him around the village a few times, but had never really talked to him. He walked across the shore over to where the rocks were and stood on the shore line where the other boy had previously climbed out, pressing his left hand against the rock side to support himself. Swimming didn't sound like an all-too-bad idea. It was a hot day after all and he was sure there were probably already enough people to help out for the festival. "Uh, I don't know if jumping off the rock like that is safe." He said to the person swimming.

The cool water rushed around him, catching his fall as he slowly drifted to the bottom of the lake. With a strong push her propels himself upward and swam to the surface. Gasping for air a moment he turned to the redheaded boy. Swimming to the shore he took a good look at him. He was a small guy, looked kind of young and scrawny. However, Echo got the feeling eh was much older than he looked, possibly the same age as he.
"Uh, I don't know if jumping off the rock like that is safe."
As he climbed out of the water he rolled off a quote he once heard,"“The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.” With a smile he patted the guy on the shoulder and said, "I live here in this forest, you can say this is my jungle gym really. My name is Echo, I think I have seen you around town before. Riley?Raven? Something like that right?
With a grin he extended his hand to shake his and looked to the water.
"It's a hot day, I think I'll stay here for while before I head up to the festival."

Rowan took a small step back to give the guy a little more room as he climbed out of the water, replying with a quote of some kind. Though, an interesting quote all the same. "I guess that makes pretty good sense." Rowan said with a smile and a quick shrug just as the other boy patted him on the shoulder. "It's Rowan actually, and I come here a lot too. The lake is really nice when you just wanna take a break from the bustling town, ya know?" Rowan said, shaking the other guys hand, who had just introduced himself as 'Echo'. It was a pretty interesting name.

"It's a hot day, I think I'll stay here for while before I head up to the festival."

"It's pretty warm out. I was about to head back and help out with the decor and such, but if you don't mind me hanging around a bit longer. Maybe I'll go for a swim too?" He said casually with a friendly smile.

"It's pretty warm out. I was about to head back and help out with the decor and such, but if you don't mind me hanging around a bit longer. Maybe I'll go for a swim too?
"Not at all!"Echo said with a grin. His toes sank in the warm grainy sand of the shore. Walking back toward the water he said to Rowan,"So Rowan, are you joining the festival this year? It aught to be fun." Sitting waist deep in the water he turned his head to look at the guy,"I'd love to go help set up but, this lake was calling to me. I'll most defiantly be checking out the awesome street food thought! Oh and the whole mating thing I guess...

Splashing some water on the back of his neck, to cool the heat blaring down on him form the sun, "I don't know what the big fuss is all about, It's just a festival. Though I am curious to see which one of the guys turn into girls."
With a goofy grin he added, "Maybe I'll be a sweet Lolita!" as he burst out laughing.

"Great thanks!" Rowan said with a smile, leaning against the rock to remove his shoes. He tossed them a little further up the shore, then rolled his pant legs up to his knees before taking off his tan sweater, then rolling up the sleeves of the black sweater he had underneath. "I was planning on joining it this month. I mean, it's nothing all that new but festivals are always fun." He said, walking out until the water reached his knees. "I like the whole decorating thing, and the lights at night are pretty amazing." He said, looking over at Echo as he talked about the mating thing. Rowan let out a small laugh as Echo mentioned that maybe he would turn into a sweet Lolita. "You never know!" He said with a bright smile, taking a few more steps into the water. "Some of the manliest men you know might turn into little girls!" He said, just before stepping on a slippery rock and splashing down into the water with a small yelp. It might've been a warm day but that didn't change the fact that the water was quite chilly. He stood back up, his hair dripping with water. "Well, that felt nice at least." He said, shaking out his hair. "Anyway" he said with a smile, "I'm surprised you don't know whether you're a girl or a werewolf yet, but I guess it happens at different times for everyone, huh?" Rowan took in a breath and dived down into the water, swimming out a little further before resurfacing.

"You never know!...Some of the manliest men you know might turn into little girls!" He said, just before stepping on a slippery rock and splashing down into the water with a small yelp.

Leaning back Echo bathed in the sunlight for a moment. As Rowan fell he leaned forward as if to catch him, but he was too late. Resting his arms on his knees he said, "Careful, wouldn't want to hurt yourself on the big day."

"Well, that felt nice at least...Anyway,I'm surprised you don't know whether you're a girl or a werewolf yet, but I guess it happens at different times for everyone, huh?"

He stood, wading into the water and taking a dive. The cool water rushed around him, and past his body. The current tugged him a bit and he surfaced a few feet away from Rowan. "I guess I didn't mature as fast," he remarked with a cheesy grin as brought this arms down into the water, soaking his red hair. Diving once more he made his way to th shore, once again climbing onto the rock. As if addressing a Victorian audience he stood, hand on his chest, the other stretched out.
"“If growing up means it would be beneath my dignity to climb a tree, I'll never grow up, never grow up, never grow up! Not me!” " With a bow he leapt into the air, gripping his knees to his chest, cannon-balling into the cold water, displacing a wave as he hit the water. As he surfaced he brushed his hair back and turned to Rowan once again.
"I take it you know what your fate will be under the moon tonight." Raising his arms high over his head and flexing his muscles he asked,"Will you be a strong Were-wolf?" This time dropping his tone and crossing his arms in front of his as he bat his eyes,"Or a sweet young lady?"
Though he joked, he was curious to know, it was his first festival after all.

Rowan swam a little closer to the shore until he could stand with his shoulders above the water, shaking out is red hair as Echo began to climb the rock he had jumped off of before. Reciting something about growing up that seemed rather familiar to Rowan, Echo jumped off the rock and into the water with a cannon ball. That was the second time now he's reciting something like that. Maybe he reads a lot and that's where he gets it from? He thought to himself, Slinking down into the water until it was up to his neck, but keeping his feet firm on the rocky ground underneath.

"I take it you know what your fate will be under the moon tonight."

He heard Echo say after he resurfaced and brushed his dripping white hair out of his face. That was a good question. Rowan really didn't know quite what was going to happen tonight. Sure he knew whether he was a werewolf or girl already, but that wouldn't really make a difference. At least he didn't think so. After Echo did his little impression on the werewolf or lady Rowan let out a small laugh and stood back up. "You do the lady thing so well maybe you are a girl." He said, laughing a little before walking back up onto the shore. "it's not really something I usually talk about." He said as he climbed up onto the rock and stood on the edge. "And I wouldn't be some sweet little girl! Maybe I'm a super tough, manly girl!" He boasted, pretending to flex his arms over his head, then leaping of into the water with a splash. He let out a deep breath as he resurfaced and shook his head until his spiky hair was somewhat dry.

"You do the lady thing so well maybe you are a girl...it's not really something I usually talk about...And I wouldn't be some sweet little girl! Maybe I'm a super tough, manly girl!"
From below Echo began clapping, and laughing. "That's something I would like to see myself!" He chuckled as he trudged out of the water. Stretching his arms up he bend side to side, and then touched his toes, "I am so sleepy...this lazy sun is making me want to nap right here on the cool clover bed here."Lowering himself to the round he ran his fingers through the clovers, and smelled their earthy smell.
"But alas, it cannot be." It only took one arm to lift him up, and nimbly re balance on his feet. Sliding his glasses back on with his index finger, he smiled over to Rowan, "I do have some business in the town, you are more than welcome to come along with me if you would like." Grabbing his clothes he slipped back into his sweater, slacks, and overcoat. Looking back he smiled to the boy, "Plus I want to see how goes the festival preparations."

He sure does have a unique way of speaking doesn't he? Rowan thought to himself after Echo left the water and started talking about taking a nap in the clovers. It didn't sound like such a bad idea. The swimming, along with the warm sun, caused Rowan to feel a little drowsy too.

"I do have some business in the town, you are more than welcome to come along with me if you would like."

Rowan smiled and pushed himself out of the water and walked up onto the shore, stumbling a couple of times on some wet rocks a few feet under the water but not falling this time. He shook out his hair again as he walked up onto the grass. "I was planning on helping out with the decorations, but I'm sure they have most of that stuff done by now, but I bet they are starting to set up the stands and I can already smell the cooking from way over here." He said excitedly and and pulled off his black sweater, wringing it out and setting it down before picking up his tan sweater and putting it on. He'd hang up his black sweater and pants later. Putting his shoes on with wet feet might not be a very good idea but he surly couldn't walk back through the forest barefoot. So he shook one of his feet, then the other, before slipping on the black sneakers, then picked up his soaking black sweater.

"I don't really get the chance to meet very many people either. I'm not shy or anything, I just don't find much of a point making friends I guess." Rowan said with a casual smile and a shrug. "Do you know anyone else in the village? I know a few of the adults because I help out with the decorating every month, but that's about it."

"I don't really get the chance to meet very many people either. I'm not shy or anything, I just don't find much of a point making friends I guess....Do you know anyone else in the village? I know a few of the adults because I help out with the decorating every month, but that's about it."
With a laugh Echo threw his hands up and cheered, "Everyone in town is my friend, I just don't know all their names, and have met very few." Turning back eh grinned, "that's just how I see it, You however are the first one who's name I know,"
Placing his finger on his lips he pondered for a moment as they walked, the sweet-spicy smell from the street stands was drifting through the trees as the festival preparations sounded almost complete, "I suppose that would make you my first real friend though, me knowing your name and all." His stomach growled loudly as he spoke, and he tossed his hand behind his head adn he blushed, "You and Mr.Fasing, who works a meat pie shop. He knows me all too well!" He laughed boisterous, as if it was a funny joke only he knew the punchline too, then calmed himself. After a whimper he asked, "That's where were headed now! I told him I'd run and errand for him yesterday, now I just have to go pick up my payment and I'll treat you to something hot and yummy!"
As he walked he threw his arm over the boys shoulders, as though they had been friends all their lives.