Sleighbells with Satyrs (Greetings from Monster Town)
Chapter 1
Chapter One
Marisol
The train hums beneath me as it winds through snow-blanketed hills and frost-kissed forests. Outside the window, the world looks like a holiday card brought to life. Evergreen trees are draped in sparkling snow, and quaint cottages trail plumes of smoke from their chimneys. I clutch my father’s scarf tightly, the familiar scent of cedarwood and spice lingering faintly on the soft wool. It’s my last connection to him—a man who filled my life with warmth and stories, now gone.
The ticket in my pocket reads Avalon Vale, a place I’ve never visited but chose on a whim, drawn by its reputation for magic and wonder. I need a fresh start, or at least a temporary escape, from the echoing silence of my empty apartment and the weight of my loss.
As the train curves around a bend, my first glimpse of Avalon Vale steals my breath. Twinkling fairy lights weave through the trees, casting a soft glow on the snow-covered ground. Whimsical creatures—a faun balancing a stack of packages, a fox-like sprite darting between market stalls—bustle in a scene so picturesque it seems unreal.
When the train slows to a halt, I step onto the platform, my boots crunching in the snow. A cheerful attendant hands me a small map of the town, its borders marked with flourishes of enchanted ink that glimmer faintly in the twilight. I tuck it into my coat pocket, suddenly feeling both nervous and hopeful. Perhaps here, in this charming village tucked away from the rest of the world, I might find a way to heal.
I check into Lakeside Manor, a place that looks like it was plucked straight from the pages of a fantasy tale. The structure seems to grow organically from the mountain, a harmonious blend of stone and timber that gives it an ageless, earthy elegance. Massive beams arch over the entrance, their carved details weathered but intricate, as though the building itself has stories to tell. The proportions are vast, clearly designed with Otherkin in mind; the ceilings soar higher than any human construction, and the furniture is built to accommodate beings whose average height dwarfs my own by at least two feet. The scale is humbling, yet the craftsmanship and warmth of the design make it inviting rather than intimidating. It’s a reminder of how Avalon Vale is a shared world—a place where humans like me are guests in a land designed for giants and creatures of legend.
Valiana, the B this moment feels like permission to let the grief flow freely. It’s cathartic in a way, like a storm passing through, leaving the air clearer.
After a while, I swipe at my cheeks and take a steadying breath. Flipping to a blank page in my journal, I let the pen glide across the paper, the words spilling out as easily as the tears did. My thoughts take shape, untangling the knots in my heart with each line I write. When I’m done, I pull out a pastel pink sticky note from the stack by my side. It has a little cartoon bunny in the corner, its cheerful expression at odds with the heaviness I feel.
"Days Since I’ve Cried: 0," I scrawl in loopy script and stick it to the page with a firm press. A small, wobbly smile tugs at my lips despite the ache still lingering in my chest. It’s a small note, a quiet acknowledgment of the day’s emotions. As I close my journal, my eyes catch the colorful brochures Valiana handed me earlier, now sitting on the corner of the desk.
Curiosity nudges me, and I pick them up, flipping through the vibrant images of the Solstice Festival and its many highlights: the glowing Solstice Tree, the lantern ceremony, and a bustling holiday market filled with magical wares. They’d make perfect additions to my journal, I think, already imagining how the colorful pages could brighten its somber tone.
One brochure catches my eye, showcasing the Hearth & Hoof Tavern, where Valiana mentioned the best spiced cider in Avalon Vale. My fingers itch to write something down, so I flip to a section in my journal I’ve labeled "Future Planning." With a practiced flourish, I jot: "Visit Hearth & Hoof Tavern."