#apologue

[toutenprose]

L’enfant, regardant vers le ciel, s’adressa au vieil homme. -Vieux sage, je ne t’ai pas dit, hier j’ai parlé à une étoile. Une étoile magnifique, la plus belle de toutes. Cette étoile m’a confié un secret. Un secret que seuls les astres connaissent. -Vraiment ? Mais quel est donc ce secret ? -Et bien, c’est que les étoiles connaissent notre destinée. Il suffit pour cela de les regarder. L’une des étoiles, la plus brillante d’entre elles, m’a dit : “Si tu vois ma lumière, alors tu verras ton chemin. Fais-moi confiance, et jamais tu ne seras perdu”. -Oh, mon enfant, mon doux enfant sois prudent. Les étoiles nous disent toujours qu’elles sont les plus brillantes. Mais pourtant, le ciel est tout empli d’étoiles. -Mais vieux sage, elle était sincère… -Écoute. Un soir j’étais comme toi, le regard perdu. Et comme toi je regardais les étoiles. Nous les hommes avons toujours contemplé le ciel. Il faut dire qu’elles sont si belles ces étoiles. Mais alors, l’une d’entre elles, comme à toi vint me parler. Elle me dit les mêmes mots, diffusa ses mêmes rayons, et me promit la même lumière. Elle était brillante et elle était belle. -Et qu’a tu fais ? -Et bien j’ai fait comme toi, je l’ai crue. J’ai suivi sa lumière, sous ses rayons j’ai fait quelques pas sur la route. Je voyais le sol, et le temps d’un instant j’entraperçus le monde. -Alors elle disait vrai mon étoile, s’écria le petit garçon. -Jeune homme laisse moi finir mon histoire, et tu choisiras ou non d’écouter ton étoile. J’avançais sous un ciel rayonnant. Tout était si beau. J’avais dans ma vision la totalité du monde. Je voyais le ciel, et je voyais la terre. Ce fut un moment magnifique. Je fis alors confiance à l’étoile, et je crus ses paroles. Je me mis à suivre son chemin. J’arrivais dans une forêt, nulle peur, je suivais ses rayons. Je traversais des pays inconnus, nulle peur encore je suivais ses rayons. Si bien qu’en quelques heures à peine j’avais parcouru un long chemin. Et derrière moi, il n’y avait plus rien. J’avais quitté mes amis, j’avais laissé tout ce que je connaissais, et cela juste pour suivre une étoile. Alors, comme toujours le soleil se leva, et mon étoile disparut. Garçon, ne fais jamais confiance à une étoile dans un ciel noir, c’est la chose qui puisse te perdre. T.M. Peinture : Devin Leonardi, Two Friends on the Shore of Long Island, 2009.

[thetwistedtealeaves]

Twisted Tea Leaves Radio

[mybuddyjimmy]

Apologue

Apologue [AHP-pə-log] Part of speech: noun Origin: French, mid-16th century 1. A moral fable, especially one with animals as characters. Examples of apologue in a sentence “Jessica wrote an apologue that made it easy for her students to absorb the lesson’s morals.” “The Tortoise and the Hare’ is a famous apologue.” #wordoftheday

Apologue

[apologuewip]

Pendleton Companion v8.08

[apologuewip]

hydrangea

[talesfromapologueisle]

Dinner With Pirates

      The clothes Sora had loaned Evangella were loose to say the least, but they were more comfortable than her wedding dress. She was more than happy to be in a pair of pants whether they fit or not.         When she found her way up to the deck, she wasn't quite sure what she was expecting but this wasn't it. The ship was alive with music and dancing as people drank and ate. It wasn't at all like the dinner parties she had been raised on. There were people everywhere having the time of their lives and celebrating as though it were their last night on Earth. Evangella looked around and found Sora in the middle of a crowd arm wrestling with one of the crew members. She had cleaned up from the raid they'd done earlier. As she got the upper hand and slammed her opponent's hand into the table, she stood up and threw her arms over her head, whooping in victory. Looking over, she made eye contact with Evangella, smiled and waved her over.        "Have you had anything to eat yet?" She asked. Evangella shook her head and Sora took her by the wrist, leading her to where the food was. Considering they had only left a few days ago, everything that they had brought with them was still fresh. Along the side of the ship, they had a table set up with meats, fruits, vegetables, breads, cheeses, and several other foods that she hadn't expected. "Eat what you can now. In a couple of weeks, we're going to have to switch over to our dried supplies. Also, have fun. The crew won't hurt you."     *************      It took a bit of work for Evangella to loosen up enough to join the crew in their antics. The rum helped, it was stronger than any of the stuff she had been given in Astra.     After a few drinks, she had started to enjoy being on board. She had joined the circle of dancing pirates, picking up on their movements with ease, the heel of her borrowed boots hitting the deck with each beat as she held tight to a bottle of rum, getting a little drunker with each sip. When her bottle ran dry, she moved to the outside edge of the ship to take a breath.      In Astra, she had never had this much fun. As a princess, she was supposed to be the regal image of the crown. Dance tedious dances to classical music in stiff dresses, only drink the finest wine or champagne and spend each day preparing to rule. Never would she have been allowed to even think of wearing pants and partying with pirates. She would never admit it out loud, but she didn't necessarily miss Astra. She hadn't let go of her teachings and morals entirely, but she drank and danced as if she were one of the crew.     "Evening, Princess," Sora came up behind her and leaned on the rail next to her. "Enjoying yourself?"     "This is more fun than I've had in a long time."     "Well, I'm glad. It seems some of the sailors are just waiting for the chance to ask for a dance."     "Maybe in a bit."     "Take your time." A comfortable silence fell over the two as Evangella watched the dark waves in the moonlight and Sora cradled her bottle. The crew behind them sang some out of tune shanty about drunken sailors, though it was more drunken slurring than singing.     "Can I ask you something?" Evangella spoke.      "Sure."      "Are you being nice to me because I'm a princess?" This made Sora laugh loud and long.      "We're pirates, not barbarians. Not to be rude, but my crew and I couldn't care less that you're a princess."       "Then why am I here? Why did you show me mercy?" Sora took a long swig from her bottle before deciding to answer.       "You, my dear, are stolen goods. Stolen from your home and now stolen from the people that stole you. Pirates steal things of value. The men in the cells beside you? Monsters. Worthless. You, however, radiate innocence which is rather rare these days. And that makes you valuable to me." Evangella didn't quite understand, but whatever Sora was trying to say frustrated her.       "I don't need your pity if that's what you're saying."       "I don't pity anyone. I assume everyone is planning to betray me, kill me, or both. Even you. But I try not to be a monster unless I need to."       "And what is your definition of a monster?"       "It's more of a loose term really."       "How so?"       "Well, there are a number of things that make someone a monster. It's easier to use one general word than a list of specifics."       "And what makes you a monster?"       "A number of things."       "Is that supposed to be reassuring?"       "No."       "Oh, well that's good to know. I trust you entirely now." Sora chuckled at Evangella's sarcasm and raised her bottle to her lips.       "If you plan on getting any sleep I'd do it soon. We start work at dawn and you are going to learn how to use a sword. I'm assuming they didn't teach you such things at princess school." Evangella shook her head and moved away from the rail.      "I suppose you're right. Goodnight, Captain." She touched two fingers to her brow and flicked her wrist.       "Night. Oh, and Princess? A word of advice, lock your door and sleep with one eye open. My crew consists of good men and I'd lay my life down for any one of them, but that doesn't mean they'd do the same for you." Evangella nodded and headed below deck, leaving Sora and the crew to wind down for the night.

[talesfromapologueisle]

Aboard the Horizon Storm

"Let me show you to your room." Sora lead Evangella below deck and down a private hallway. "I'm assuming you're used to the luxury of a bed so I won't make you sleep in a hammock like the rest of the crew. You can bunk in the room across from mine. Just let me get you a change of clothes." Sora disappeared behind a door for a second and reappeared holding a bundle of clothing. "That dress can't be too comfortable." She slipped past Evangella and opened up another door behind her. Inside was an actual room with furniture and a closet. Completely different from the hammock room they had passed earlier.     "Thank you."     "Not a problem Miss. Also, usually the crew and I have dinner together up on deck if you'd like to join us."     "That sounds lovely."     "Great. See you then." Sora began to walk away so that Evangella could get settled in.     "Hey, Captain?"     "You can call me Sora if you'd like."     "Right. Sora. I was wondering how long it'll be until we're back in Astra."     "Honestly? Probably a month or two. We set sail from Astra about two days ago and we still have a couple of stops to make. After we drop off some cargo in Apologue, we're headed back to Astra."     "Apologue?"     "Apologue Isle. You've never heard of it?" Evangella shakes her head.     "Apologue Isle is a place filled with people like me. I don't know if you noticed but the light blue skin and fangs don't exactly scream human." She had noticed and she had never seen anything like the woman sitting in front of her. "Anyway, it's a safe place for people like me to exist. I'm just one of the few brave ones who dare to travel outside. I bring back food, treasure and a bunch of other stuff and then turn right back around and set sail."     "I don't think I've heard of Apologue Isle before. I don't remember it on any of the maps."     "It's not on any of the maps. It's hidden which is why it's safe. But sometimes people who decide to leave Apologue pass on stories about the place."    "Decide to leave?"    "Most people who go to Apologue end up staying in Apologue for one reason or another. Every now and then some make the decision to leave, but it's not very often."       "And you're one of the few who decided to leave?"      "I'm more of a traveler, to be honest. This ship is my home. Always has been, always will be, but I also have friends and family back there so I come and go when I can."        "Oh. I don't think I could stay. I have a kingdom to get back to." A loud crash sounded somewhere in the ship and both women looked toward the noise.      "Creators help us," Sora muttered under her breath. "Look, the decision is up to you. I should get back on deck though. Dinner is at 2000 hours. I hope you decide to join us." With that, Sora left to investigate what chaos was ensuing on her ship and Evangella was left to explore the room she'd been given.

[talesfromapologueisle]

The Witching Hour in Apologue

      Elliot stepped left her house at an hour to midnight. Dressed in the witches traditional all black, no one noticed as she slipped out into the streets. She decided that tonight, she would walk into the woods rather than ride her broomstick. Her familiar, Amos, flew overhead to watch her back. She didn't have much to do tonight. She just wanted to recharge some crystals in the moonlight and collect some herbs. Maybe she should cast a few more protection spells over some of the townspeople. Just to be safe.  As she neared the edge of the woods, she could feel the energy of the witching hour drawing nearer and it was exhilarating. 

     Unlike her very bubbly appearance in the coffee shop, the witching hour filled her with a different attitude. Elliot was more confident and sure of herself. The town didn't realize it, but everyone depended on her for a good night's sleep and she's also single-handedly responsible for the remarkable amount of harmony in this little town. 

     As she sauntered into the woods, the energy washing over her as she got nearer to the clearing where she often performed her rituals. Elliot began to set up the altar, lighting the candles and making her offering. The witching hour had only just begun. The wind whistles through the trees and she set to work. She began to lay out the crystals to charge in the moonlight and called out to her gods to protect those she held dearest. She also called upon the spiders of the woods to weave her a dream catcher large enough to catch all of the nightmares of the townspeople. Nasty things Nightmares are. All it takes is one Nightmare to open a whole can of disastrous dreams throughout the entire town, they spread like the plague and they're a pain to clean up.       As if on cue, the night sky lit up with a myriad of brilliant colors. Apologue Isle's famous Aurora Borealis. The lights could be seen for miles and were said to bring peaceful dreams. Having taken her moment to enjoy the lights, Elliot got back to work. The candles create shadows that dance and flicker on the trees while she works her magic. She talks with them for a while and catches up with them before she sends them off one by one to watch over the sleeping town. Elliot can feel as the witching hour draws to a close and she spends the last moments gathering herbs before collecting her things and leaving a token of gratitude for both her gods and her shadow friends. She slowly makes her way out of the woods, humming a sleeping enchantment to put the creatures of the forest to rest for the night.