Sheep Head Stories

to read in chronological order, click!

[sheepheadstories]

Yin looked strangely at the woman.  She looked real, but unless this ship could keep people hostage, Yin assumed it was the face of the ship.  The woman looked Yin in the eyes. “So, you want to know why you are here, and you thought I would know?”

"Well, you are the one that brought me here, so do you know?"

The woman stepped closer to Yin, measuring her.  “I do.”

Yin was beginning to get frustrated, but there had to be a point to all of this.  “So will you tell me, or do I have to figure it out on my own?”

"I am sorry, sweetie.  You have to figure this one out on your own, but you do get credit for thinking to ask me.  I can’t tell you everything you need to know, but I can tell you my part in it.   Centuries before you were born this water fall was much different.  The waters weren’t as clear or as strong.  But one day there was said to be a star that fell from the sky.  Many villagers in the area were scared and ran away from the glowing light, but two people ran toward the light, each with their own motives in mind.  One was said to be a woman who wandered in the night and turned the soil of the Earth for the farmers.  She provided much for her village, but her soul was cold.  She ran towards the light seeking to be whole and warm for she felt that there was more to this life that she led.  The other was a man who worked as a miller for the village.  He prospered from the fires and rose early with the sun every day to provide works for his friends and customers.  But he was restless, and he ran towards the light hoping to find meaning in his work and his days, for as much as he provided for his village, he always craved more.  As the star touched down to the Earth it collided with the basin at the bottom of the falls.  As the two were running towards the light, it appeared that it had begun to rain over them, but the truth was that the star had caused the water of the fall to splash.  As they both arrived to the star, they were soaked with warm water and the woman cowered in the light of the star because she was not used to such power, but the man ran forward and saw the woman as he approached the edge.  He went to her, seeing that she was in pain and held her.  He covered her eyes and carried her into the basin where the star had begun to dissolve.  The sky shimmered around them with the dying of the star and the water that they were soaked in and were walking into became magical.  And that is where we have brought you."  Yin stared in astonishment processing the story slowly. 

"Okay…but I still don’t understand what that has to do with me."  Yin rubbed her eyes, tired and thoughtful. 

"Well that is exactly as much as I can tell you, and that is what you have to figure out for yourself.  Good luck on your journey"  The woman gave a fleeting smile before blinking away and drawing back into the ship console.  The man approached Yin and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Why don’t you get some sleep, and we can resume your questions tomorrow?"

"Alright, but can we camp out by the bottom of the fall so I can be outside?"  The man smiled at Yin’s request and relocated the ship.  Yin looked out the door and saw the moon shining white on the water of the fall.  The man pulled out a tent and Yin slept outside the door of the ship. 

When the geese arrived that night, Yin was dreaming of her mother.  Mother had sat Yin down in front of the mirror and began to brush and braid her hair.  Yin missed her mother and the way her fingers combed and weaved through her hair.  She could remember the steadied look on mother’s face and the occasional flash of a smile in the mirror when she looked up.  Yin loved those moments to be able to memorize everything about her mother’s face, but also because that was the best time to talk to her about anything and everything.  Mother would know what to do next and how to figure out what is going on.

In the dream, Mother was about to tell Yin the secret to making important decisions, but when she opened her mouth a loud and piercing honk came out instead.  Yin awoke slowly trying to separate reality from the foggy dream world when she noticed a goose picking at her hair.  She screamed and jumped back but the goose flapped its wings and honked more.  Yin got up and ran into the ship to find the man.  “Help, a bird is attacking me!”

The man came strolling out of one of the hallways laughing, “Where? Show me.”  Yin grabbed his hand and led him out to the goose that had been biting at her hair, but when they went out the door there was a whole flock of geese.  Some were drinking water, some were swimming, some fighting, and the rest staring at Yin and the man yelling.  The man went out into the crowd.  “Alright Alright! One at a time please!  Can one of you come ahead and tell me what’s going on?”  The geese quieted and spread about until one beautiful bird with a blue crest on his chest stepped forward to honk.  Yin stayed by the door of the ship ready to run of things got messy.  “Now how can I help you?”

"honk"

"Oh yes, this girl is named Yin, and she is perfectly fine."

"honk"

"Well I would pleased to translate for you, but she seems quite scared so I am not sure how much you will get from her.  You’ll just have to speak with me if you don’t mind."

"honk! honk! honk!"

"Well I understand your concern, but I am not a man of Earth, and I have no reason to hurt you or the girl.  If Yin wanted to go home she would have asked.  Now will you tell me the message you wish to deliver?"

"honk honk"

"Okay, you can tell Yang that he has no reason to worry. Yin is safe and here of her own will"  The man eyed the goose for a response, but the goose eyes Yin until she nodded to confirm what the man had said.  Then the goose turned to the flock and they all flew away in a fit of feathers and piercing squawks.  Yin turned to the man astonished and expecting an explanation.

"What was that?!"

"Well those were a flock of geese apparently sent by your brother Yang and a giant cat.  They wanted to find out if you were okay, so I told them.  You can go back to sleep now."  The man finished with a smile and passed by Yin to disappear back into the hallways.  Yin was still confused, but her exhaustion overpowered her and she fell back asleep for the night,  knowing that she might as well rest as much as she could because when she awoke in the morning, there would be so many things to question and figure out and no place to start.

[sheepheadstories]

While Amara hunted, Yang started a fire. He sat and threw leaves into it, causing smoke to rise above his head. The wind picked up and bothered the leaves for a few seconds. Yang threw his head back and yelled, "Why?" His face turned red as he thought, What am I doing? Yelling at the wind... Yin is in trouble and all I can think about is...

A pair of yellow eyes flashed from a distance. 

"Amara?" Yang called. The eyes blinked, and the big cat crept closer. Dangling from her mouth was the limp body of a dirt brown squirrel. Following behind her, a waddling line of three geese with white bodies and black necks. Their bodies were big, and they were tall. Their beaks reached up to Yang's shoulders, a mere inches, a small stretch, from his neck. Yang knew how vicious geese could be. Especially when their young were in danger. They would relentlessly chase Yang's neighbors whenever they tried to catch a gosling. Yang vividly remembered one goose smacking its neck against a boy cowering on the ground, while another good bit at his shoulders. 

Yang wasn't sure if he should say hello, or if the geese would even be able to understand him. Instead, he sharpened a stick to impale the squirrel and roast it. Amara dropped the squirrel at Yang's feet and positioned her body so the geese were out of Yang's sight.  Her teeth peaked out of her mouth as she whispered, "They don't want you around. As soon as you've put the squirrel on the stick, leave. Wait for me about a hundred yards north of here, there's a clearing." Yang was suddenly filled fear. Could these geese be trusted? He jammed the stick through the squirrel and handed it to Amara. He gave the geese a slight nod as he walked past them. He was barely gone before they started squawking and beating their wings. Yang glanced back and for a second. considered finding a place to hide and spy on them, but Amara narrowed her eyes at him, and he knew he must not stay. 

The sun was setting by the time Amara returned to Yang. 

"It is finished." She sat beside him.

"What happened? Did they agree to find her and make sure she's okay?"

"Yes, Yang. They are distrustful of people though, especially men, since men are hunters, and the geese have lost many loved ones to those horrid guns. But they agreed to find Yin, to make sure she's okay, and if possible, they will let her know you are trying to find her."

"But, how will Yin understand them? She doesn't speak bird."

"I said, if possible. I am not the only animal in these woods who can communicate with humans."

"Right." Yang tried to imagine his sister in the company of a giant talking bear. He hoped it would be a kind rabbit instead.

Amara stood and stretched. "Are you ready to go? If we forgo resting tonight, we can reach the river in a day's journey."

Yang nodded. "Okay, let's go."

[sheepheadstories]

On the other side of the wall of water was a dark tunnel. Illuminated by the slow twirl of the ship light, the walls appeared almost fluid and flowing.  A jostle signaled that they had landed and Yin stepped carefully out of the door observing her surroundings.  The water in the background echoed through the tunnel and made it hard to hear so she kept an eye on the strange man with the cheesy smile and walked forward toward the tip of where the light reached.  But soon she hit the end of the tunnel and became confused.  She turned around with questions on her face and the man waved his arm to follow him back inside the ship.  Once inside, he closed the door and all was quiet except for the wurring and breathing of the machinery surrounding them. 

"So, why have you brought me here?  Do you plan on killing me or something?" Yin stayed close to the door while questioning the man but kept an eye out for things about her that could be used as weapons. 

"Why in the world would I hurt you?  You are special.  I just need you to realize that."  He kept her attention with his smile and tried to allude comfort and calmness.

"How am I special? I'm just a girl from a village in the middle of no where..."  A hint of sadness and longing touches her eyes before she looks away and gathers her expression of strength  again. The man laughs heartily and it almost sounds to  Yin that he finds her stupid or silly. 

"Tell me, you got forcefully sucked into a strange place with a strange man, yet not once have you stopped to ask who I am or been scared or being on a ship.  You took the controls and flew, and you leaned out of the door without fear.  All the while with me, a strange nameless man, and you never questioned anything but the destination.  Why do you think that is?"  As he proposes the question it sits idly in the air between them.  He backs slightly toward the controls and sits without breaking eye contact.  Yin stands stunned trying to remember the events from opening her house door to now.

"I...I suppose I felt safe here.  I had time to observe you and my surroundings before you found me.  I knew you didn't have any harmful intent, and the ship...the ship kind of breathes and releases ease and wonder into the air."  Yin broke eye contact and stared at the ground wondering if her words were true.  The man continued to stare at her as she thought, but not in an obtrusive way, just...waiting.  Yin looked up but not at the man.  Her eyes fingered through the details of the ship like the pages in a book, categorizing each crevice.  She ran her fingers along the wall next to her, and turned to the man again.  "Do you know why I am here?"

The man's grin widened slightly.  "I do not.  I only know that you are special and you need to be here, now.  My ship knows more than I do actually."  His gaze strays off to the control panel and lines of his mouth draw down.

"Well, can we...ask it?"  Yin feels stupid as soon as she hears the words out of her mouth.  But before she can correct herself the man's face brightens.

"Brilliant!  Why didn't I think of that?  Of course!"  He excitedly runs to the computer screen and frantically types then pulls some buttons and a lever then...ding!  A hologram appears between the two of them facing Yin.  It is a bronze skinned woman with tight curly hair.  She turns to the man and says "Hi, sweetie!"  Then tuns back to Yin. 

[sheepheadstories]

"Yang! Wake up! We must leave, now." Amara stood blocking the sun from Yang's blinking eyes. 

"What? What's wrong? Has something happened?" Yang struggled to stand up. His body felt heavy with sleep.

"I have received news from my friends in the north. They spotted a big blue box flying towards the Northern River. There's reason to believe it's the same one that your sister disappeared into. It's moving quickly, so we must, too."

Yang nodded. "Okay. Let's go." The young boy and his companion trekked through the woods in silence. Yang's thoughts raced through his mind. Is Yin okay? Why would she be taken like that? There has to be a way to contact her, and make sure she's okay.

"Amara?" Yang whispered to the big cat, not because he was afraid, but because he was out of breath from walking so quickly.

"Yes, Yang?"

"Do you think we could..." Yang stopped walking to catch his breath. He looked up at the rustling tree tops and sighed. Amara kept walking.

"Do you think we could maybe ask a bird to check up on Yin? Make sure she's okay?" 

Amara's tail swished as her head tilted back. "The birds aren't the friendliest of animals. They are beautiful, and vain. If we want a favor from them, they will want something in return."

"Like what?" Yang caught up with Amara and they started walking quickly beneath the trees.

"Well, the ducks and geese, they will want food, of course. But good food. Not bread scraps or rice. From humans they expect the delicacies of their kind: squirrel."

"Squirrel? Ducks and geese eat squirrel?" 

"Yes, I know, it's surprising really, but they do. On the other hand, we could always tempt a sparrow or other bird bush with some jewels or some precious metals, but I don't think we are well equipped to do that, are we?"

Yang shook his head. "So, I guess that means we'll need to hunt some squirrel."

Amara crouched, winked at Yang, and said, "I'm on it."

Suddenly, Yang was alone in the silent, but lively, woods.

[robinsparkles22-blog]

Yin leaned further and further, wanting to sprout wings and fall, but right at the moment when she should’ve began to hurdle head first toward the ground an invisible force gave into her weight and bounced her back into the ship landing her on her bottom.  The man stood laughing slyly.  “Did you expect that I would let you fall to your death?” Yin frowned to herself and pushed up off the ground.  “Where are we?” “This is the fall of desire, rightly named.  The myth says that if you swim and drink in the waters your deepest desire will be granted.” “Then why doesn’t everyone come here?” “Well probably because no one believes the myth.  But also because the rest of the story says that your desire has to be morally sound in the eyes of nature.” “So basically no killing or bringing back to life or forcing people against their will.  That seems simple enough.” “Ah, but that’s not all!  Your desires may not be carried out in the manner you might expect them to be.  And that can get tricky.”  Yin continued to look out into waters while he talked, thinking. “Why are we here then?” “For you of course!”  The man shined her a cheesy grin then ran back to the ship controls before she could reply.  He pressed some buttons and pulled some levers.  Then Yin noticed that the ship was slowly gliding down at an angle, aimed straight at the falls.  As they approached the water, Yin’s ears were overwhelmed by the thundering sound.  Finally they were close enough that Yin could see the spray from the water hitting the invisible force and sliding down, hugging the curve of the bubble protecting them. Then they were passing through the pounding force of the water, but instead of hurting the bubble, the water danced around it. 

[sheepheadstories]

Yang woke up in the middle of the night. He was dreaming of his sister flying through the air, only she didn't have wings or anything, she was flying, like a leaf being lifted and spun around. At first she seemed happy, but then Yang was suddenly beside her and she was yelling for him to leave her alone. It was her yelling that woke him up.

Amara was curled into a giant cat ball close to the woods. Yang could see her breathing and the tip of her tail flicking in the grass. He stood slowly, watching for any sign she might be awake. When he was convinced, he slipped out of his shirt and wiggled out of his pants. A nice midnight swim would clear his thoughts.

As Yang waded about in the rushing water, he thought about what going back would mean. He would be back where he started. Stuck at home with his beautiful mother, while his looks would do nothing but make people look away. A beautiful, worried mother. She wouldn't function with her lovely daughter missing. Even though she would never say it, Yang knew their mother loved his sister more.  "I can't go back," Yang whispered to the river that surrounded him. The river gurgled in reply. "I have to continue my journey. I have to find something or someone that can make me just as special as Yin." Yang didn't realize he was crying until a soft breeze turned the tears on his cheeks cold. 

[sheepheadstories]

Yin was afraid.  She scooted behind some piping and curled her legs into her mother's dress she had been trying on.  It was her mother's favorite...gem blue with small yellow flowers.  The strange many was still pacing and mumbling.  Occasionally he would tousle his hair in thought or adjust his bow tie.  She tried to listen, and understand his accent.  She heard he word Mixrinks, and something about wanting to be somewhere called an "Ood Sphere"... and why did he land here, and why wouldn't the....what is that word.  Tardis?  Why won't the Tardis move?  Yin figured that is what sucked her in.  But it was warm and inviting, unlike this man seemed to be.  She started to relax, slowly coming to the conclusion that the man was as confused as she was.  But before she was ready, he collapsed by the panels and spoke to the air asking in desperation "Why are we here?  Show me!"  and all at once a path illuminated.  Two at a time, gradually leading to Yin's hiding place.  The man followed the lights with amazement and at the end found the humming lights surrounding Yin.  Her head tilted upward to him, and her cheeks spread into a nervous smile.  The man admired her for a second, smiled back, and held out his hand and helped her up.

"What is your name, my dear?  And how have you boarded my ship?"

"Um, my name is Yin.  And I was just answering a door bell ring when I was lifted into a warm blue light.  This is a ship? What kind of ship?

"This is a space ship.  A ship that spans the realms of space and time.  Do you like her?"

"I do like it.  It has a certain welcoming feel to it."

The man tilted his head with a smirk.  Lightly shut his eyes and sighed a slight chuckle.  He then looked upwards and whispered something, then look back at Yin and said "Would you like to drive her?"

Yin shifted awkwardly noticing her bare feet and the shape of her arches on the metal floors.  "I would"  The man lead her by the hand to the center panels, they were fluttering in a breathy way.  He placed her hand onto a switch and gave instruction.

"When I press this button over here, wait until it changes color to green, then pull that switch out and down.  You might need to tug a bit.  Got it?"  Yin nodded and focused on the button.  He looked into her eyes even though she wasn't looking at his, and typed something on a screen before pressing the button.  After three seconds the sounds of the ship came alive.  Steam spouted from the pipes around them, gears turned in all directions, and lights pulsed in blues and greens.  The button changed and Yin pulled the switch out, but when she tried to push it down it slipped and the ship jerked and sputtered.  The man fell in her direction and held Yin's hand on the switch while using his to help pull down.  

The switch settled and so did the ship.  The man sighed and spun Yin around.  Her dress raised and flowed around and for a second she felt like a weightless bird.  The man dropped her hand, and ran towards the door.  And as Yin gained control and settled on her feet she looked to the man with his arm held generously open at the door.  She stepped carefully and turned the simple brass knob in her hand.  the latch clicked and the man gave her a reassuring look as she opened it.  There before her eyes was a beautiful waterfall.  The colors of the Earth reflected onto the white waters with green, red, yellow, and blue.  The wind squealed through the frame of the door, and as Yin's bare toes curled on the edges of the doorway, she was breathless, and began to fall, her dress flowing about her.

[sheepheadstories]

Amara and Yang stopped to set up camp on a riverbank. A couple of ducks were floating by chatting excitedly.

Amara watched them intently, trying to read their nonexistent lips, Yang thought. Soon after their quacking faded into the distance, Amara turned to Yang and explained, "A young girl was seen being sucked into a flying blue box!" A flock of geese followed the box around trying to figure out what happened, but they weren't able to see inside or hear anything."

"What? A flying blue box? Is it like a flying car?"

"No, it is just a box with some writing on it they said."

"What did it say?"

"Birds can't read Yang."

Yang kicked at the water by his feet. "How was I supposed to know that?"

"The geese said this happened in your town. That the girl was yelling for her mother, Uni. Do you know who that is?"

Yang turned sharply to Amara, "Of course I know! That's my mother! Yin? Yin was abducted by this thing?" He started pacing by the river. Every now and then he would stomp his frustration into the earth toned pebbles. 

"I have to go back, Amara, I have to."

"No, Yang. I know you won't understand, but I think this is connected somehow to your trip. You must complete your journey. Sleep, have a good night's rest before you make any decision. We will talk about this in the morning."

[sheepheadstories]

When Yin woke up she realized that she had nothing to do for a few hours so she played dress up with her mom’s clothes and thew cereal in the air in an attempt to catch them in her cleavage. Out of no where there was an earthquake and after she was done freaking out the doorbell rang. But when she went to answer it, there was no one there. She stepped outside to look around and suddenly was sucked up into a glorious blue light and landed inside of a mysterious ship where she found a slightly handsome English man mumbling to himself and walking back and forth in confusion. He hadn’t even noticed her appear.

[sheepheadstories]

"Do you know where I'm going?" Yang questioned Amara.

"No, I only know that you are going somewhere." Amara and Yang had started walking along an old commuting path. The moss was thick and plush against their feet.

"Do you want to know?"

Amara suddenly stopped walking and looked up. The leaves of the trees were rustling with the energy of excited birds. 

"What is it, Amara?" 

"I'm not sure, Yang. It's hard to understand those damn birds."

"You can understand humans, but you can't understand birds?"

Amara glared. "It's not that I can't understand them. It's just that they speak so quickly and so shrilly." 

The trees stilled as quickly as the commotion started. Amara padded towards a nearby tree and stretched until her paws were well over Yang's head. She scratched at the tree before nimbly pushing off and walking past Yang.

"To mark where we were." She explained. "Let's keep moving. It will be getting dark soon." 

[sheepheadstories]

As the sun tired and sunk to the ground, Yang was still no where to be found.  Yin and mother had gone all over town asking about him, but no one knew, but that wasn't really surprising to Yin.  Yang was kind of a loner.  He just wanted to hang out with his sister and when he wasn't following her around he was daydreaming or walking.  So if he did go walking like his note said then he was in the forest and would not have stopped to talk to anyone. 

Mother worried, but always gave Yin and Yang their personal freedoms to decide what was right for their lives, and just provide guidance when needed.  That what she believed all good parents should do, even though the tradition in Mixrinks was to be strict with your children about studies.  Other parents believed that the children would never succeed if they went off on their own or were left to make their own decisions.  But Mother was different, and the town resented her for it.  They used every slip up from Yin and Yang to spread rumors about her bad parenting, even though they were both generally good children, and far more independent and responsible than the others. 

Yin laid down that night to sleep, and though she knew Mother would be up thinking about Yang, she did not worry.  Yin had a sort of psychic sense with her twin.  If he was truly in danger, she would know.

[sheepheadstories]

Yang was surprised by the words Amara had breathed. His mother had told him that same saying last night. Neither of them could sleep, so they found themselves in the kitchen drinking steaming chocolate milk tea in comfortable silence. When their cups were empty, Yang's mother pulled a necklace from her pocket, and said the same words Amara had just said.  On the necklace was a pendant of a foot, but not a human foot. It was a bird's foot. The wrinkled toes and tiny talons were made of gold she said. To Yang, the three toes extending from what he guessed was the bird's equivalent of an ankle, reminded him of a peace sign. Only with sharp little triangles at the ends, capable of digging in the dirt for worms, or scratching at predators, or clinging to rough branches. His mother didn't explain why she had that necklace in her pocket, or why a bird's talon was her talisman. She simply let Yang hold the necklace, feel it's weight, it's coldness, and it's accurately sharp nails, before sending him to bed. 

[sheepheadstories]

Mother startled awake to the touch of Yin's hand on her back.

"Why are you asleep in the kitchen, Mother?"  Yin didn't want to show concern in her eyes so she masked it with a giggle.  Mother didn't like feeling like anything other than the adult of the house.

"Oh, I was just meditating, and relaxing before I started cooking.  Don't worry about it.  Now go wake your brother, please.  We have to be ready to go to your grandparent's house by eleven."  She swiftly turned away from me and resumed stirring pancake batter.  Yin ran back up the steps towards the bedrooms and tapped on Yang's door, continuing to get louder and louder until she tried opening the door.  It was unlocked, and inside she found a neatly made bed, and a note:

         "I have gone for a walk.  Should be back by sunset.  Do not worry             about me. -Yang"

Of course Yang would forget about visiting Laolao and Laoye.  Yin thought back to the many memories of when Yang's flighty personality had caused the family inconvenience.  Yin remembered how just last month, the family was at the market and Yang went off on his own and came back with a horse.  He said he met a man with a very expensive looking hat and that man said that the horse was very special and could talk, but he would only talk to his master.  So Yang paid two weeks pay for a horse that can't make the family any money and stays in the yard and stares at you like you did something wrong.  Yin hated that horse.

[sheepheadstories]

The sky grumbled as Yang entered the forest, replacing the mute gray clouds with bright green leaves rustling their excitement. A storm was on its way. Or not. Yang was never really good at predicting the weather. The ground was soft beneath his feet. He imagined all the worms and little crawly things aerating the dirt. How amazing their purpose was, although seemingly useless, they helped all the plants grow. Every leaf, every branch, every flower, all that beauty came to life because of those tiny slimy creatures. Yang closed his eyes to see what he couldn't see clearer. He took a deep breath and when he opened his eyes, he found himself staring into the dark irises of a large, black cat. 

"Hello." Yang counted as he breathed in and out, trying to keep his heart from racing away. 

"Hello Yang." The panther's voice was soft. It reminded Yang of his grandmother's storytelling voice. He wondered if the cat laughed like she did. It blinked and relaxed onto its haunches, breaking a stick.

"Who are you?"

"Who are you?" The cat echoed back.

"I'm Yang. You know that. You just said my name."

"Just because I know your name doesn't mean I know who you are."

"Oh, I am," Yang hesitated. Should he trust this cat? It looked nice enough. Its eyes held their darkness like a comforting night sky, not like the deep sea and its threat of drowning. "I'm a traveler. I like to listen to elders tell stories, and I like to walk. A lot. My mother says I was always kicking around in her stomach. She thought I might've kicked my sister in her head."

"Where are you going, Yang a traveler?"

"Well, I'm not really sure. And you know, you never told me who you are." Yang snuck his hand into his pocket and wrapped it around his pocket knife. Just in case.

"I'm Amara. A traveler's guide."

"A traveler's guide?" 

"Yes. I guide kind souls through these woods when they're on a journey. But, if their intentions are impure, I can't be held responsible for what happens, or doesn't." Amara lifted a paw to her face, extended five sharp claws, and meticulously cleaned the fur, flicking her pink tongue and coyly revealing bone colored teeth. 

"I've walked in these woods thousands of times. How have I never seen you before?"

"I only appear to those on a journey." 

"But how did you know I was on a journey?"

"It is not hard to tell what one's intention is by the merit of their step." 

[sheepheadstories]

Yin woke up to the sound of the front door shutting, but figured that it was mother going out to the Sunday market.  She sat on the edge of her bed waiting for her head to clear, and curled her toes up into the furry slippers Yang had gotten her for their birthday.  Her body pulled against her efforts to straighten up, but eventually she made it to the window in just enough time to notice a strange figure skipping into the woods a few miles away.  That was strange since everyone knew everyone in the village of Mixrinks, but she was too tired to care so she went downstairs to find breakfast.  But her morning confusion grew more when she found her mother slumped over the kitchen table with pancake mix on her face. She always found her mother beautiful.  With round cheeks, and eyes green as a rain forest, her youth was preserved except for the shallow lines peaked from her oval eyes and strung across her forehead that said "Hey, I have lived a while, and laughed a lot."

[sheepheadstories]

Yin was happy they weren't identical, but Yang wished to be identical to his twin sister more than anything in his life. So he set out on a quest to turn back time or find a magic potion or a shaman or a fountain for making wishes. It was an overcast morning when he left. The sun barely lit the empty yard behind their house as Yang snuck past his mother asleep in the kitchen. He didn't tell anyone about his quest. He wanted it to be a surprise.

[sheepheadstories]

There were two fraternal twins named Yin and Yang.