Nowhere to Hop To

Gonyaul was at a loss. He had figured out a sorting method in his head for systemically scanning the people in the central square; however, he never imagined just how many people would be present. To make matters more challenging, the influx of people just kept coming. The square surrounding the temple of the Twin Gods was getting exceedingly crowded, to the point he no longer could freely move around to get a better view of those further away. In fact, there were so many people now that leaving might not even be a possibility without bulldozing his way through them; there were just about as many people previously in front of him as there were those forming behind him. It suddenly dawned on him that this was not a good idea and he shouldn't have hesitated earlier and just left.

He could tell a huge cremation pyre was being setup next to the impressive entrance of the temple. He desperately hoped that this was not a live cremation. The last time he got stuck in a large crowded area a horrific and gut-wrenching execution took place. He had no desire to ever experience something so appalling ever again, the pathologizing of a society celebrated, if it was within his power to help it.

Not only was he on edge because of the masses boxing him in, but their lamenting style was unnerving. While the execution in Ostiarium had rancorous and vicious noises, these were more heartbreak and wailings of hopelessness. In both occasions he wished he could block them out. In fact, he tried. Gonyaul squatted down onto his heals, his staff marking his location as it rested against his shoulder and stood upright. He held the staff between his elbow, forearm resting on top and inner leg. From a distance it would look like he disappeared beneath anyone standing around him, and a staff was just balancing at an angle on its own accord. He made himself small and covered both his ears by pressing his hands against the outside of the head wrap.

His empathetic nature was soaking up the emotions of the men, woman and children around him. Not those that were posturing and preening for religious formality, but those that were authentically grieving. It was just too much, and it was prying tears from his eyes to be around this much heartache. He closed his eyes and at one point imagined a giant bird would come pick him up and carry him to a safe haven. His desire to be invisible doubled as the sadness transformed more and more into vehement attitudes and gnashing of teeth. He knew such anger unbridled could quickly turn into wrath and destroy goodness.

As the Ascendant came onto the scene, a hush rolled across the gathering like a rolling wave. This caused Gonyaul to open his eyes and look to see what happened. He didn't know what was going on, and probably wouldn't be able to understand most of what this authoritative individual had to say, but he was going to be stuck there finding out whether he liked it or not. There was nowhere to hop away to for this rabbit.