Chapter Text
Ranboo did not like their village. The people there were not outright cruel to them. No, the people there cared about them to an extent. They just did not pay much attention to what he was doing, hoping that if they ignored it he would return to ‘normal.’
There was not anything wrong with them, not in their opinion. Ranboo was simply different from what the villagers and their parents wanted. At least, that's what they told himself. It made it more bearable to get through the day. The stares and whispers as he walked through the village was nothing new.
Today was no different. Ranboo woke up and quickly made himself some breakfast consisting of eggs. Once that was done, he got dressed for the day, remembering to grab their journal to take with them.
The sky was still dark which minimized their chances of encountering people. Not that he hated anyone! He was just hoping to get himself to their favorite spot in the forest without having to deal with it.
The forest was still calm and quiet, the deers still grazing around the paths and getting spooked by Ranboo’s approach. He had accepted the fact that deer and most creatures would steer clear of them. It was unfortunate that the animals seemed to avoid them as much as other humans did. He hummed a tune he had heard from a traveling performer as he made their way deeper to the forest.
Their favorite location was quite secluded, being housed deep into the forest. Deep enough that he rarely heard any animals with them but that was not what drew them there in the first place. There, he could hear the laughter and songs of Nature. He would often sit and listen for hours, always delighted when he heard a second voice besides that of Nature. He could never make out any of the words that Nature and its friend had, such conversations were not meant for mortals in their opinion, but there was an undeniable feeling of joy in the voices.
As for the actual appearance of the location, it was by a river and a cliff it fell off of. Besides the edge of the water was a crevice that most could not fit through. Ranboo was tall and thin, even compared to the elders of the village, and was able to make their way through most days. Past the crevice was a large open area where sunlight filtered in from above. Under the main path of sunlight, as there were always other cracks it made its way through, was soft moss upon the rocks. It made for a good cushion to sit upon while Ranboo wrote and drew in their journal or as he listened. Being next to the river also meant that he was able to stay there all day without having to return to the village.
It was a wonderful spot in their opinion. It had everything a simple person could want. Food, sunlight, water, the voices of gods and perhaps more having conversations, and moss! Who cares if it did not have parental, or any sort of familial, approval. It had moss!
Ranboo spent their day in the cave, as he often did. When the light that filtered in from the ceiling changed to be more orange in color, he got up and began to make their way back to the village. He had gotten some drawing done, there were some buds in the alcove that were close to blooming. They were excited for the day that the flowers would bloom. It was certain to be a beautiful sight.
When he got back to the village, there were stares and whispers as there normally were. There was a difference though. Everybody was discussing some sort of ritual. Had they forgotten an important holiday again? He hoped he hadn't. Their parents were not very happy about it last time. He carefully made their way to the house of their family, more alert for any sort of clue as to what holiday he had forgotten this time.
When he opened the door, both of their parents were standing in the main room. In Father's hand was a beautiful piece of clothing, red with yellow embroidery. It was, however, a dress.
“There you are Riley. Here, put on this outfit. We have somewhere we need to be,” Father said as he tossed the dress towards Ranboo. He was used to this, though normally he did not throw a dress. These were the most words that Father had spoken to them this week.
He did not want to wear the dress nor even respond to that name but he could not disobey Father. Not with this, not this time. He did not even say a word, simply nodding before heading to their room to change. He changed out of the comfortable pants and shirt, both loose enough that anyone who did not know them would just assume it was hand-me-downs from an older brother, and put on the suffocating dress.
When he walked out to the main room, both of their parents looked at them weirdly. Interesting. He got the same disapproving looks when he dressed how they wanted as when he didn't. He could not wait for whatever this holiday was to be over so he could get out of this dress.
As he followed their parents through town, he avoided looking in anything reflective, not even the windows of buildings that passed. It would only make them feel worse than he already did. He was too preoccupied with trying to keep it together, he did not notice that everyone in the village was watching their family's procession through town. Nor did he notice as many of the townspeople gave their parents nods of approval.
Eventually, they reached the edge of the village that bordered the same forest Ranboo spent their days in. The Mayor, a priest, and some other members of the village were waiting for them, holding torches. Was this some specific festival with select attendance? There were not any other people their age in the group, with most members being older than their parents. Their mother was the only woman in the group.
“Let us haste. The sooner it is complete the sooner we may return,” the Mayor said to their parents. Ranboo was staying silent. Trying to talk got them yelling. He did not want yelling. He kept their mouth shut as they made their way through the forest.
Ranboo remained silent until the path beneath their feet was one less walked, less dirt and more stone. As the forest around them became less and less familiar, their steps became less and less certain. He swore he could hear something yelling at him about Danger and Run . He did not listen. Running results in yelling. He stayed following the others.
Ranboo only faltered for a moment when the group reached their destination. The sky had long since left them to the darkness, which was why he had not seen it sooner. The group was at the base of the volcano. Nothing good ever came when someone was brought here.
“Ah. Finally figured it out, huh Riley?” Father said with a chuckle. The man looked at him, smiling at their fear and confusion.
He should have listened to the wind.
“Hurry up. The sooner we finish this, the sooner we get to go to bed,” the Mayor said, earning a laugh from the men of the group. Their ‘mother’ looked at them, he was always taller than most of the village. He had hoped to find tears in her eyes.
There were none.
He continued onwards, knowing that he could not run. The wind comforted them to the best of its abilities. He liked to think it was fond of them. At least he got to hear Nature and its friend one last time. It has been a good day at least. He was able to spend most of it in the alcove. He wondered what color the flowers there would be when they bloomed.
“Lay down there girl,” the priest said. Ranboo nodded their head and went to the indicated spot. The stone was cold. He never thought that a stone slab on a volcano would be cold. The priest was saying other words but none that mattered to them.
Ranboo’s mind drifted back to the flowers. Maybe they would be red. They had been red in past years but they had also been white and yellow as well. What caused the flowers to change color every year? Maybe Ranboo could ask Nature after this was done. Red was a pretty color. Maybe that’s why the villagers had them dress in it.
It was quick. There was a split second of cold in their side before there was warmth. A lot of it.
”Stop."