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Part 37: Who let the dogs out?
It''s getting dark, as the Stranger and the Seeker walk on their path. The full moon is up. The sun is setting. There is a forest up ahead, where the fields of wheat are ending. The road leads towards a wall of trees.
“Is this really a good idea?” asks the Seeker the Stranger.
“To enter a forest at night?”
“We need to delve deep into the unconscious,” responds the Stranger.
“Is there any better metaphor, for entering into the darkness?”
The light of the sun has fully vanished, the orange line on the horizon is gone. The night has come. The Stranger manifests a staff out of thin air and ignites a fire. An eternal flame, that never dies.
The Seeker picks up a stick from the floor and holds it in the Strangers torch. With burning torches the Seeker and the Stranger enter into the dark forest. The moonlight shines through the leaves, illuminating the forest path ahead.
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Suddenly a loud howling erupts from the forest. The Seeker trembles. They feel a dangerous presence, lurking in the shadows of the forest. Somewhere, hidden behind the shade of a tree, a distant shadow is quietly observing the faint light of the torches. Breathing heavily.
The unsettled Seeker gulps. The Stranger suddenly stops moving.
“Remain calm,” speaks the Stranger with a serious voice.
“Something approaches us. Watch your move. One misstep could throw you all the way back to Checkpoint 6.”
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Suddenly something jumps out of the bushes from the side onto the path, right in front of the Seeker and Stranger. A monster revealed in the light of their torch. Standing on two legs. The threatening shape of a Werewolf, blocks the path ahead. The beast wears Sunglasses.
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The Seeker has three options. The Fight. To Flight. And to Observe.
QUEST UPDATED:
Make a choice (Choose between A, B or C)
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A: FIGHT
Aggression! The Seeker attacks the Werewolf with the torch. Swinging the torch in panic. The beast dodges the burning flame and hushes back quickly into the night. The wolf takes one last look, lurking from the shadows, before vanishing again in the darkness.
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B: FLIGHT
Fear! The shivering Seeker lets their torch fall. Fleeing into the dark forest. Running away.
GAME OVER
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C: OBSERVE
Calmness! The Seeker keeps a distance to the monster. Holding the torch steady. They take a deep breath in. Their loud heartbeat calms down. The Seeker becomes aware of their own reaction. The Seeker observes their own fear quietly. Shifting from First Person View to Third Person View.
“God is backwards Dog.”
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The night-sky turns brighter. The dawn is coming.
“Okay...” speaks the Seeker after some time of walking.
“Lets suppose it was actually a dangerous animal, out to get us... Just hypothetical... How should we react? Hesitation can cause death. Should we just hold hands? Singing Kumba-Yah, while we are being attacked?”
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“Of course not,” denies the Stranger. The sun is rising.
“If you are in danger and there is no way to talk the aggressor into reason, you will protect yourself. And if you have a family, it is your responsibility to protect them. But from what place do you operate? From a place of fear or anger? Or do you operate from a place of calmness? Are you fully aware? Of yourself and your surroundings? Do you operate in accordance to a limited pattern or from a place of deep understanding?
Use empathy and observation to understand, without letting your guard down. Stay in balance. Be totally aware. This is how you find the best possible outcome in any situation. When you are calm, you are not blinded by the senses. Awareness shows you, which path to go. The way, which works best for the ALL.”
The Seeker and the Stranger stop in their way. The sun is risen. A dim fire burns at the side of the road up ahead.
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“Is that a camp-fire?” asks the Seeker excited.
“Can we finally save our progress there?”
“Yes,” confirms the Stranger. “It might not be a Checkpoint, but we will re-spawn. Like when you lost against the ''Guardian of the Pathless land''</a> and re-spawned at the campfire in the land of truth</a>.”
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
“What are you talking about?” questions the Seeker confused.
“I never lost against that Statue in the weird forest!”
The moon is gone, the Stranger contemplates.
“Hmmm. If you don''t remember it, it must have happened off-screen...”
From the camp the Seeker and the Stranger hear a laughter.
QUEST UPDATED:
<s>Make a choice</s>
Go To The Campfire
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Two dogs sit on camping chairs at a burning fire with 4 tents in the background. It''s a Great Dane with red eyes and a Dobermann who can barely keep his eyes open. The Great Dane is dirty, the Dobermann is missing an ear.
“Sometimes when I look up at night to the stars, it''s like I feel this inner calling,” speaks the Grand Dane, as he prepares another Scooby Snack. He examines the purple color of the sticky material. Then he points up at a setting star, as the sun rises in the east.
“Especially when I look up at Sirius, it gives me comfort. Did you know that some ancient cultures associated Sirius with a Dog? Canis Mayor, the dog of Orion. It reminds me of an old friend... Back then we traveled in our camper from place to place and solved some crimes for a living. Those were the good times. But then everything fell apart. Now I am all alone, like a Sirius without his Orion.”
The Great Dane lights up the Scooby Snack. The Dobermann is completely spaced out. “The Sun is rising, as Sirius is setting in the east with Orion out of the picture... What day is it again?”
The Great Dane chokes on his laughter and breathes out smoke. He then hands the Scooby Snack to the Dobermann.
“Sire”
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The Doberman takes the Scooby Snack, as the Seeker and the Stranger are approaching.
The Great Dane points at empty chairs.
“Hey, do you want to join our little party here? Come have a seat, my friends.”
The Seeker and the Stranger join the circle and sit together with the Stray Dogs. As the Sun has now fully risen, the light of the camp fire dies down.
The Great Dane offers his Scooby Snack to the Seeker.
“Do you... Wanna try?”
Now, the Seeker has Two Choices: To decline the Scooby Snack or to Accept it.
QUEST UPDATED:
<s>Go To The Campfire</s>
Make a Choice (Choose between A or B)
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A: DECLINE THE SCOOBY SNACK
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B: TAKE A HIT FROM THE SCOOBY SNACK
Suddenly the camp is interrupted by a voice. A Beagle sticks out her head from a tent.
“Did I just hear someone say Scooby Snacks?”
“Ah... We got a live one,” laughs the Great Dane.
The Seeker moves to an empty tent and lays down in a sleeping bag.
QUICKSAVE
NEW RESPAWN POINT ACTIVATED
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At high noon the Seeker awakes from their deep sleep in a tent. A loud bark from outside, pulls the Seeker out of their Dream. The dream fades away quickly.
The Seeker gets out of the tent. It starts getting colder. The leafs are red and yellow. Five dogs sit together at the campfire and talk about various things, while keeping their palms warm at the campfire. The Dobermann from the Day before, The Beagle, A Yorkshire Terrier, An Australian Shepard and a Golden Retriever with sunglasses sit in a circle.
The Golden Retriever wiggles his tail, when he sees the Seeker.
“Hey. It''s My friend! The One I told you guys about, from Red Ditch Inn. The One who found a new way.”
“Wait... So this imaginary friend is actually real,” mocks the Yorkshire Terrier.
The Retriever ignores the Terrier and faces the Seeker.
“Let me introduce you to my friends. We are The Stray Dogs?. Vagabonds without a home. Those who never fit in and were rejected by society. Those who failed at making it big in YouTown. Here we sit all day, play fetch, talk and eat scooby snacks. This is true freedom. No need to work, living completely in the moment. Dobermann is a failed rapper. Beagle never finished her degree. Shepard failed at becoming an actress. Terrier tried stand-up comedy, without realizing that he himself is a joke.”
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“Hey!” barks the Terrier insulted. “I am not a joke. Why does no one ever take me serious?!”
“Then there is the Great Dane,” continues Golden Retriever undeterred, dismissing Terrier.
“He used to be part of a group of Hippies and they traveled the country, solving crimes and spreading love. But then they split up, after his best friend...”
Suddenly the Retriever is interrupted by the Great Dane shouting:
“OUR STASH IS EMPTY. SOMEONE TOOK ALL THE SCOOBY SNACKS!”
“What do you mean by empty?!” shouts Dobermann nervously.
“Are you sure, you looked right? It should be enough to get us through the Winter!”
“It''s all gone,” affirms the Great Dane with a horrified face.
“This can only mean one thing: There is a Werewolf in our midst.”
The Stray Dogs? all gasp and look around. Everyone checks out the others reaction.
“Don''t worry guys,” speaks the Great Dane in a reassuring manner. “We will investigate. We will find out, who the werewolf is and put an end to this.”
The Stray Dogs? calm down. Some of the dogs mumble, new conversations start.
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“Do you have a minute,” asks the Great Dane the Seeker and takes them to a quiet spot.
“I need your help. Since I am part of the group, I can''t investigate freely. They know me too well. But You as an Outsider could conduct interviews. Find out, who took our stash and you''ll receive a 5 % cut of the remaining Snacks.”
“I think I already have a culprit in mind,” speaks the Seeker as their skeptic gaze lies on the Golden Retriever who wears his sunglasses at night.
QUEST UPDATED:
<s>Make a choice</s>
Investigate who took the stash
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Speak with the Golden Retriever
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“Hey, where were you yesterday between midnight and dawn?” asks the Seeker the Retriever.
The Golden Retriever looks at the other dogs.
“How about we continue this conversation somewhere in private.”
The Seeker follows quietly behind the Retriever into the dark forest. The Dog suddenly stops, his back facing the Seeker.
“So you know my secret,” sighs the Dog.
“I really hoped I wouldn''t need to go this far, but it seems there is no other way...”
The Seeker clenches their fist, ready to defend themselves.
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“I AM THE WEREWOLF,” confesses the Golden Retriever under tears.
“I can''t hide it anymore. I have a shadow. I can''t control myself. It was me, who took all the Scooby-Snacks. If the Stray Dogs? ever find out, they will kick me out of their club and I will be all alone again! Please, help me in covering this up!”
“Why don''t you just return the stash anonymously?” questions the Seeker.
“I would, if there were any Scooby Snacks left. But when I was in wolf-mode last night, I just ate everything. I couldn''t stop until the chest was empty and my belly full. It was like a trance. Please, my friends must not find out, that I am the Werewolf. It took me a long time to craft this persona of a friend who is beloved by everyone. I don''t want them to be disappointed in me. I don''t want to lose my place in this pack.”
The Stranger joins in on the conversation.
“Even if this were to be covered up, you would still turn every now and then into a Werewolf, hurting the people around you and acting selfishly. It''s time, we take a good look at your shadow. Start questioning your impulses, your reactions, your behavior patterns. Why did you feel the need to eat all the Scooby Snacks, even when you knew it would hurt your friends?”
“I was hungry,” admits the dog. “I didn''t think about it.”
“Do you regret it?”
“I regret how I am feeling about myself now,” he admits honestly.
“Where does the hunger come from?” ponders the Mysterious Stranger.
“I am not speaking of the physical hunger. I speak of the hunger for things that go beyond the necessary. Why do we always want more, than what we need? Why do we never find fulfillment? Is it because fulfillment only ever truly exists in the Present Moment? In the Now? But we escape the Now through thought. And we are stuck in patterns.
What pattern is the root of this endless hunger? Isn''t it this feeling of lack? Because for you to want something, it means that you not yet have it. So what shall we fill this emptiness with? With meaning? With love? How do we close this rift within us? How do we cross the inner abyss?
By being true to yourself. By letting that fall away, which doesn''t belong to you.
You need to realize, that YOU ARE THE LIGHT, which you are searching. It is already burning inside your heart, this divine spark. As it burns in all of us. When you carry your fire with love in your heart and truth in your eyes, the path will form around you.
Don''t let yourself be controlled by unconscious patterns. Know Thyself. Be aware of what you are doing at all times. Be aware of your intent behind every thought, word and action. Fully understand yourself. And what is not in alignment will fall away. Almost automatically. Don''t judge yourself. Don''t suppress yourself or the parts you don''t like. Don''t look away. Shine a light on every dark spot of your being. Until every part is illuminated. Until everything unknown is understood and every wound is healed. Integrate your shadow and become whole again. And you won''t allow yourself to hurt anyone again, neither directly nor indirectly.”
The sun comes out behind the clouds and shines a light between the autumn trees, illuminating the forest.
The Golden Retriever takes a deep breath in and makes a vow:
“I don''t want to hurt any of my friends. I will be aware!”
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Suddenly the sunlight is partially covered by the clouds and concentrates on a single point. The light shines on the Dog. Yellow energy surrounds him. His form changes. He morphs into a new figure. A Werewolf with golden fur and without sunglasses. His eyes are burning.
AWAREWOLF
2 Strength
2 Speed
1 Astral projection
7 Awareness
3 Agility
5 Energy Control
Special Ability: Flowstate
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“Whoa,” speaks the Awarewolf.
“When I am in Flowstate, I can see everything much clearer. It''s like I see things in HD now, after everything was blurry. Like the movement of things seems faster. And when I concentrate on someones face, I can even see their frequency.”
“Now that you are aware, how will you act?” questions the Stranger the Awarewolf. “How will you resolve the Snack-Situation?”
“I will tell them the truth. Its up to them whether they forgive me or not. But I will at least do the right thing and clear my mind of regret by confessing.”
The Awarewolf turns back into the Golden Retriever with sunglasses. He returns with the Seeker and the Stranger to the camp. All conversations at the campfire stop, as the Dog opens his mouth:
“I am the Werewolf,” confesses the Golden Retriever.
“I ate all the Snacks. I am sorry guys. I... I just couldn''t restrain myself... I know that all of us worked very hard to collect the Snacks... And I feel bad for just eating it.”
Everyone is silent. All avoid eye contact for a moment before the beagle stands up and speaks:
“I also have a shadow. My full moon arises and turns me into werewolf, whenever I feel insecure about my failures.”
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“I also carry a wolf in me,” confesses the Australian Shepard. “I am addicted to Popcorn.”
“My wolf tells lies about others and spreads rumors in order to feel better about myself,” admits the Yorkshire Terrier.
“I watch Terrier at night, when he is sleeping,” confesses Dobermann.
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Terrier pulls his eyebrows together. “Wait... What?!”
“I am a coward,” confesses the Great Dane. “I only ever think about myself. I always prioritize myself first, no matter who I leave behind. I run away from my mistakes and abandon my friends.”
“Guess that means we all have a wolf in us,” laughs the Golden Retriever. All the other dogs laugh as well.
Only the Yorkshire Terrier doesn''t laugh. “What was that just about watching me in my sleep?”
“Where will you guys go next?” asks the Golden Retriever his two friends.
“We are on the way to YouTown. Wanna join us?”
“YouTown... I tired it already once... Should I really try it again?”
The Golden Retriever takes a deep breath in and transforms into the AWAREWOLF.
“Yes,” he speaks with determined eyes and turns to the Stray Dogs.
“Goodbye friends. I will make it big in YouTown.”
His friends wave him goodbye. “Come back and tell us all your stories,” shouts the Great Dane after him.
“Let us walk together,” speaks the Golden Retriever before dissolving into energy and flowing into the Seekers Heart.
LEVEL UP!
LVL 30: + 1 Awareness
NEW TRANSFORMATIONS AVAILABLE:
GOLDEN RETRIEVER
GREY WEREWOLF
AWAREWOLF
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Together, the Seeker and the Stranger move on from the camp heading towards their next adventure.
TO BE CONTINUED