Unnamed

YOU ARE UNNAMED For as long as you lived, you never had a name. No parents ever called you their child. No lovers ever called you their partner. No people ever called you their friend. You know that everything has a name. The rough skinned, green haired towers are called [[trees]] and the cold, wet sliky ribbion is called a [[river]].

The branchs of the trees sway to a gentle brezze. The leaves all rub against each other, making a shaking sound. It reminds you of the buzz of the [[cicadas]] you often hear in the high heat of summer. What do you do? [[Go deeper into forest]] [[Talk to the trees]]

You sit by the bank of the river. You stick your hand in the water. It feels nice and cool. You cup some of the water in your hand and then let it slip through your fingers. You love how formless the water is. What do you do? [[Talk to the river]] [[Step into the river]] [[Drink the water]]

You listen closely. There are a few cicadas you can hear deeper in the forest. What do you do? [[Go deeper into forest]] [[Talk to the trees]]

The forest is dark. The trees stand closely togehter, their leaves blocking out most of the sun light. The moss covered ground smells of wet earth. The scent makes you feel happy. You countinue into the [[clearing]].

"Give me a name." you say. The breeze picks up and you can hear child like giggling. "A name you ask?" the trees say in their airy voices. "You will have to go into the forest for that. There in the clearing, there is a GRANDFATHER OAK and he is far wiser than any of us. Yes, yes, he will give you a name. What will you do? [[Go deeper into forest]] Go to the [[river]] [[Talk to the trees again]]

The river bubbles as youe hear three female voices. The childish sound voices are full of spit and bite as they talk. "You want a name?" they all say in unison. "Well, we can't give you a name. Hell, why would we even give you one? You should go and the water. MISTRESS SALMON can give you something." [[Step into the river]] [[talk to the river again]]

You step into the river. The water makes you shiver as you slowly bend your knees. You descend into the water. It is suprisingly deep despite its appearance. The water feels less cold the deeper you descend. You tuck in your knees so you can sink deeper. MISTRESS SALMON floats in the dark blue water. She is the largest of the other salmon that float and swin around her. She looks at you with her bulbus eyes. "WHAT DO YOU WANT?" she asks. "YOU WANT A NAME? OF COURSE YOU DO, WHY WOULDN'T YOU WANT A NAME? HERE HAVE THIS ONE: AQUA! TAKE OR LEAVE IT!" [[accept her name]] or [[reject her name]]

You cup the water in your hands and bring it to your mouth. You slip it. You don't feel any different, not even refreshed. It taste cool and kind of sweet, but you don feel better at all. [[Step into the river]] [[talk to the river again]]

The trees giggle. "What are you waiting for? Do you want a name or not?" [[Go deeper into forest]] Go to the [[river]]

Sunlight fills the clearing. The clearing is a perfect circle of trees. Many of the trees that surround the clearing are bent forward,as if forever showing respect to GRANDFATHER OAK. GRANDFATHER OAK is planted in the middle of the clearing. His roots run through out the clearing. Some of his roots peak up from the ground, forcing you to watch your step as you walk. His branches are bare. Piles of red, yellow and brown leaves surround him. You find this rather odd because all the other trees have vibrate green leaves still attached to their branches. A hard wind picks up. It also most knocks you off your feet. Leaves whirl around you and you can hear the bassy bellow of GRANDFATHER OAK. "I HEAR THAT YOU WANT A NAME? I WILL NAME YOU: FLORA!" [[accept his name]] [[reject his name]]

GRANDFATHER OAK bellows with laugther. "WONDERFUL!" He cries. The wind is harsh, but not enough to blow you off your feet. He chuckles as you leave. You dart through trees and tripp over branches until you finally exit the forest. [[You take one final look at the forest]]

The wind blows even harsher than before. You are knocked to the ground. "How dare you!" He screams. Leaves fly in your face. Soon your vision is nothing, but red and yelllow colors. You run back into the forest as he screams again. "NEVER COME BACK HERE AGAIN!" You dart through trees and tripp over branches until you finally exit the forest. [[You take one final look at the forest]]

The trees are now thin and wrinkled. They are bare and crooked as if there was never life in them to begin with. A voice tells you that everything is dead. You should [[move onward]].

You think: if the [[river]] is still there, you can go back there. What if [[everything is dead]]?

"OKAY, I GAVE YOU A NAME!" she barks at you. "NOW LEAVE MY WATERY DOMAIN BEFORE YOU DROWN!" You start to swim back up the the surface effortless. The air greets your lungs easily. [[the voice greets you]] as you reach shore.

"YOU UNGRATEFUL BITCH!" MISTRESS SALMON cries. Suddenly, hundreds of her salmon kin start to swim rapidly around you. They start to creat a current that pushes you up toward the surface. The reverse whirl pool shoots your body through the surface of the water. You flonder to the shore, gasping for air as you do. [[the voice greets you]] as you reach shore.

"Go already!" the three voices shout. "Go! Go! Go! Or leave if you don't want to!" [[Step into the river]]

"Come to me. Listen and you will find me." The voice is whispery and airy. It sends shivers down your spine. You swear you can feel cold fingers lightly trail down your back. "Everything is dead." the voice says. [[you look behind you]]

The river is now a bed of sand and smooth round rocks. Some of the salmon flounder in the barren river bed. They breath vigarously through their gills before falling still. You think: if the [[trees]] are not dead too, you can go there. What if [[everything is dead]]?

You close your eyes and focus. A image of the a fores, rotten and bent. Then a dry river bed comes to mind. Dead leaves and still salmon. These visons make you want to cry, sob even. How can so much life be taken away so quick. You feel those fingers on your back again. "Chase the stars." The voice calls. "Your true name is with me. Travel up." You look up at the sky and see that dark clouds now gather. "[[Go up]]." the voice coos. "Up in the clouds, up in the stars. You can find your name there."

You breathe in and extend your arms out. You tilt back your head and start to focus on the twinkling of the stars above. You swear you can feel your feet start to float above the ground and the clouds part for you -END-