#FUDGE EDITING THIS MAYBE INA YEAR OR SO HA

[wandering-artist-and-writer-ded]

Monster Capital: Haven

You walk down the pristine road. The bright, multicoloured, stone guides you through the lively forest. The clear sound of birds signing accompany the click of your pace as you make your way down. The road gives ample room for people to pass, on foot and by carriage. Flowers of all shapes, sizes, and colours adorn the side of the road, yet not one plant peaks through the stone. 

Although it is midday you know the scenery at night. When the sky goes to rest... no, when the sky comes alive with a different life. The world never rest, it just lives in a different way, and this path reflects it as well. The stones glow bright, illuminating the flowers around, when the trees far above are alight with the array of pastel colours. The pattern built into stone below reflecting in blurred accuracy lights above. It guides you just as well when dark as when the light greets you from above, whether you care for the night, or the light more. It cares for you.

The trees part as you reach the base of the mountain, although the peaks are by no means bare, a forest does stretch it’s length but here, it lets you see the glory you are about to ascend. A house open for all travellers to rest at sit, quiet and well maintain. You walk into it, the door opening with a gentle creak, as it welcome you into it’s warm embrace. Stepping in you see the furnishing, modest, humble, and yet still covered. Although the royal family pays for it to always be well stocked, furnished, and in great repair, many travellers often leave pieces of themselves, fragments of so many lives to be open to the new people.  I wind chime in the window, make of old glass and wrecked pieces of a city,  A shelf caring a battered book, inside lays only drawings, many of them unidentifiable due to age. Old antique cutlery, some of which can not be used due to age. On the beds lays unique draping of distant lands. A battered doll snuggled into one of the large beds, painting of mysterious animals. Or a simple stick,have shaven, and broken.

People leave a part of them here, if they desire, to welcome everyone else who steps foot in here.

You step up the stairs, the occasional one creaking as it finds itself in use. And you make your way to one of the beds, the decoration was appealing to your eyes, the colours blend in a way you find breathtaking. Either organized and carefully placed, or carelessly strewn around a mix of many things, many stories. You fall down into the bed. It’s soft and comfortable, curving around you to give you the most support it can. Immediate the weariness of your travel’s wash over you and your eyes close.

When your eyes open you are refreshed, ready to take on the day. and you smile enjoying the songs of the birds outside. Light filtered in through the window, a bright day outside calls to you. You get off the bed, the hurry down the stairs. As you reach fr the door it opens, and a figure stands in the doorway, stopping as you appear in their many eyes. They blink, each eye blinking at a different time as it focusing you in it’s many pupils. Then they open their mouth, a soft welcome greeting rolling off it’s tough, around the few large round teeth that are embedded within it’s gums.  They looks delighted to see you, and they extend a hand in a welcoming gesture. Before carefully making their way to the side, allowing you to pass by to where you were going. As you head out, they wave at you, a gentle smile on the Monster’s face. Overjoyed to see another new person. They like to make new friends after all.

The road starts to incline up. Gently turning to spiral around the mountain, It is a long walk up, and there are detours one can take t make it more direct, stairs for you to walk up if you chose, they span the entire mountain, you could find the path from anywhere on the mountain if you desired. to take the long path designed to allow those with wheels up, or the one of the many stairs to hike up the mountain. The choice is yours. Either way you are greeting to vast beautiful sights as you make your way up, a river that comes from the very peak of the mountain rush down the side, under various bridges built over them, perfect untouched clear water. Dipping your hand into it to take a sip, it is pure, fresh water. It returns your strength as is passes your lips. As you are about to leave you see a doll floating down. Luckily undamaged, but soaked by the water. the pastels blues and greens were untouched by the powerful liquid. You pick it up as it slowly passes your hands

It’s soft, yet strong. You examine it more closely and find places where it has gone dull, from time. It is obviously loved dearly.

It remains in your hand as you continue your climb. Under the soft trees, and around the gardens all scattered about, it’s filled with life, birds flutter arcs the tree tops, rabbits run from their holes, and bees buzz. You sit dfown for a rest on the side of the road, falling back onto the soft grass and flowers. Your head tilts up, and at the top of your sight you spot some glass, squinting your eyes you make out a window, and two curious eyes looking through it.  They jump up, trying to get a better look at you and wave, big shiny eyes stare at you with excitement before jumping down from the window. A door opens from somewhere near by and a monster possessing two huge eyes on their head comes out, trotting on their bizarrely formed legs, They lacked a neck, infact they jade no joints whatsoever. In their hands was a glass of some yellow drink, the come to yoiur side and kneel down, offering you the beverage. Lemonade they tell you, as you take the glass and look at it with with curiosity. And you take a small sip. Which reveals that it was, infact, lemonade nice and cool, a perfect mix of sweet and sour. You smile graciously as you slowly drink the offered refreshment, and they look pleased, chubby cheeks smiling with lopsided teeth.

You talk with the Monster a little. and hold out the doll for them to see, they [pick up the doll and turn it over. remarking it’s a beautiful thing, but not theirs. They would like one like that though, so the person who lost is but be very sad. They hope you find the owner of it.

So you continue to walk up the mountain side, over the paved, worn paths, The gentle stairs. Everything was worn with many travellers, everything was carefully crafted, and lasting. There appeared to be no caretakers, and yet, it wasn't chipping. 

And at last, the trees part, and bright blooms replace them. a bright vivid city coming to veiw. the light colours, soft as everything melt together to form a tapestry even from this distance. and you feel safe, even with no guards, even though you stand so close to the top of a mountain. 

You know, You are safe. You have arrived at Haven. The capital of the entire monster empire. Out of all the continents, all the other rulers, this is where the head of all of them lies, this is where the royal family to whom every monster in the world heralds to.

You step upon the stone path, heading into the city, no walls surrounded it, only flowers. organized and cared for. A large monster knelt down into the bed, their back was to you, but you could see his orange and red hair, braided down his back, incredibly long. He has white fur with a few hints of yellow in the tips, and a pair of large horns, that curved back and then up, thick ridges evenly spaces out on the white horns.

He was large, and humming as he waters the flowers, stopping to let one rest in his hands here and there. You stop, staring at him. Despite his stature he was so clearly gentle, if you couldn't tell by the song bird lazily perched on his horn. You think about going up to him and addressing him, but you deside against it as a younger monster, which many visual similarite4s to him comes running up, laughing with their arms out to give him a large huge smile find its way onto your face as you see them embrace, and the larger one hold the monster over his head with glee and pride.

 The both of them, so happy. You turn to head into the city.

A monster of slime, with gems glistening from the shimmering liquid nearly bumps into you, ten eyes suddenly open on the side near you and they change their course, ensuring to not disturb you with a gentle gurgle.

A ball of feathers comes rolling down the street, an eye occasionally visible. slowly rolling down and swerving around the two children that just darted in front of them, one covered in crystals, and the other looked to be made out of water. chasing a red bouncing ball.

A collection of basic shapes also walk down the streets, three paper bags filled with fruits, some exotic, and some you saw just last week, and bread in their arms. What appears to be their head turn to look as you as they pass, and they nod at you, perfectly aware of your location despite not having any obvious eyes. you smile and nod back. The scent of fresh bread filling your nose as they go by. they stop, turning towards you again, before a gentle repeating chuckle comes from them, it sounds distant, as if it was an echo. And they take one of the loaves of bread from the bag, and hands it to you. You try to refuse  but they do not seem to care, placing the loaf upon your head as they turn and walk away.

You see a figure, a possessing a long tail curled around them lays, hunched away in a flower patch, head buried in their tail. And before you could start to approach another monster, a fluffy feather crest running down their back, and animal paws kneels down next to them, and even another, a skeleton plops down next to them, and they speak, they talk, you don't understand what about. 

But as you watch the com[passion they are showing to this monster is clear. And slowly they help them to their feet, and start to walk among the flowers. The grieving monster already looking better. So you smile and walk away, assured they would be alright.

You find yourself coming upon a fountain, water being shot up into the air and coming down in careful formed, glittering drops that hit the crystal water with clear splashes. a melody only in the sound of water going up and coming down. as you head over to the fountain and lean over, you see something move in the fountain.

Your eyes. flash down, looking for whatever move. and before long a pink head peaks out at you, two increadibly long fins trailing of from their head, and a feather bread stretching far into the water. They smile at you,, pruple pearl eyes closing, and tiny sharp blue teeth opened to the air.

And then they turn and dive back down, splashing the cool water on you a little. And they vanish before you have any time to question them. No sign of them remains in the fountain, but as you stare into the water its clear that the fountain does not have a visible bottom.

 It goes on for far beyond what you can see. You stick your hand into the water, it feels refreshing to your skin, the perfect temperature to cool you down. and as you remove your hand it looks much brighter than before, it feels much better even. 

You dip your other hand into it, and the same happens, the aches you hand wishing away and all the grim vanishing. No sign of dirty in the water. Your tempted to take a sip of the water, feel this refreshing effect upon your entire body, down your chest. To feel much better with just a single sip of this cool clear water.

AS you leave the fountain, content with what you have seen today you start to look for a place to rest, you will be here a while and having a shelter over your head would be nice. it doesn't take long to find a place, a  large wooden sign holding a moon and star hangs out. and you head in. seeing if this place would welcome you.

Bright light flickers inside, covering the many monsters and wicker chairs in a gentle flickering orange light. a fire sits in the far wall, humming peacefully. 

a group of monsters, one large and wrinkly, with five arms, one small, frail, almost a skeleton, a couple of floating elementals of fire and earth, a small little goblin all sit at a table, laughing, their distinct laughs filling air with their joy, one of them opens their mouth and tells another joke, you cant help but to smirk at the bad pun as they all burst out screaming with laughter again.

A small fluffy monsters peeks over a table, needing to stand on their tippy toes to see the board game being played by the two monsters sitting comfortably at the table. 

they move the brightly coloured pieces, faces furrowed with concentration, and yet they still gave enough attention to rub the little ones head.

your turn over to the counter, looking for so

Looking for someone, some monster to speak with to get a room.

A bright face greets you, two gleaming eyes and a mouth upon a floating head, there were clothes beneath it, although they seemed to move independently of them

A warm greetings rolls of their lips in an upbeat sing song. And you ask for a room and, the price of a meal.

They laugh as they spread their arms, reaching under the counter for a key.

They inform you that the first night and meal is free for any newcomers to the city. Courtesy of the King.

They drop they key in your hands, they lacked actual arms, merely floating hands mocking around. They tell you that they will have weeks special sent up to the room in a few hours. and they bid you a goodnight as you turn, having to stop as a four legged monster darts in front of you, barely coming to your waist. You see a hint of yellow and blue, but it moved too fast to make out any details.

you step up the stairs, the only sound they make as your feet hit the wood, is the steady click as your feet hit the ground, firm steps steady beneath you.

You head into the door, who's symbol matched the one inscribed on the key the innkeeper gave you, a simple spiral is engraved on the metal key, however the door is more elaborate, colours swirling around it, and gems in the wood of the door.

You notice the door lacks handle, and your key lacks anything to open a lock. On a guess you reach your hand out and try to push the door open, the spiral on the key and on the door starts to glow, it lasts but a few moments, before fading. and the door opens with the lightest touch of your hand.

You head into the room, locking around at what you have been generously provided with. the far wall has a large window, allowing the darkening sky to pour the last rays of light into your room. the draippings were of a bright colour, and imagery embroidered flawlessly onto them

to the side and below the window sits a large bed.

The bed is soft, curving to fit your form as you lie into it, as as you feel the pillow the gentle feathers within it are made clear. Two blankets are provided, a warm, fluffy one, always soft to the touch, and a larger, firm, quilt lay folded resting at the foot of the bed. each where made carefully by hand, and the pictures told of ancient myths.

a vanity stand rests on a adjacent wall. In the topmost drawer waits a brush, with firm but soft brisles on a polished wood handle, A comb of just as high quality, polish which upon inspection poses an image of shiny scales, a jar of cream which shows an image of hide. Each item was fresh, not a hair bent out of place, and jar packed fully with no intents, the polish full to the brim.

The rest of the drawers were empty.on a stand in the corner of the room was a large pot of water, and a cloth sitting next to it.

the last thing in the room was an empty shelf... no not empty, a single row holds a some books of different subject materials, and a lounge chair next to it, a single magenta colour, and soft, you sink into it. the books are in easy arms reach for you.

As you lean back into the bed you see out the window, at the fading light, the twilight taking over. you see many monsters usher their children in. but at the same time you see more monster leaving their homes, wide awake. small ones jumping to the roof as the sun falls, ready to go.

Your eyes start to close, and before you know it you've drifted off to sleep.