The sun started turning a blood red as the heat grew hotter and hotter late that evening, Something was in the Air most certainly that late afternoon. Everyone that was out and about trying to do some last minute shopping before the Gypsies left town even though no one knew if they would in fact leave or not. Sweat seemed to be streaming down their bodies like a brook that had lost its way. Everyone that is except a small frail woman who was shroud in what looked like some sort of cloak. She walked with a cane and a slight limp not many had noticed her enter town. One person did notice her and that was the Gypsy woman who seemingly was frightened by her presence. Word started to spread and questions were raised "who was she and what did she want? was she the one who had brought the curse all those years ago? or was she something else?" Not many knew and more were very skeptical of her. What was her name? At a closer look the right side of her cloak had a letter that was sewn quite raggedy, the letter was E! but what did it stand for? no one wanted to ask her, and in fact no one seemed to want to even approach her at all. for all around her as she gimped her way across the grasses a foul odor was present and the air was very very stale. But why? what was going to happen now? As she approached the young Gypsy woman whose face was a perfect as any woman would die to look like, something had changed. For the young Gypsy seemed to bow down as if bowing to royalty. But why? The frail woman slipped her hand under the chin of the gypsy and smiled at her lifting her head up to look in her eyes. Without saying a word, more was said by that look than anyone can possibly imagine. They walked slowly toward the brook in the center of town arm in arm  as the towns people stood by staring.

When the frail woman and the young Gypsy walked to the brook they stopped and whispered something in a strange language to each other. Both of them chuckled after which they hugged once more before the frail elderly woman walked away slowly towards the edge of town. After reaching the last house which was now behind her she turned and waved and with a swirl of wind she disappeared into the now setting sun. The young woman turned toward the towns people whom had all gathered around to witness what had just happened she spoke ever so softly but with a tone in which no one could or would dare interrupt. She spoke with a firmness in which some called soft but deafening. she spoke of past happenings and future events that would leave the hair on the back of your necks standing on edge. She spoke of things to come that would indeed change all lives as they knew it. When she finished she motioned to the other Gypsies that had circled around to listen in, all of them with not so much as a word seemed to know what she was going to say. She spoke one last time letting all know she was the matriarch of the Gypsies and the frail woman was her mother who in fact had did the black magic deeds that had been done oh so long ago. everything from Timmy the tree, the Ogre, even the floating jellyfish were of her mothers doings. She spoke how the town had treated her years before calling her names and chasing her out of town, setting fire to her wagon and all the other things the locals had done to passer byes. She said with a firmness now that scared so many, "If I hear of anymore such nonsense coming from these lands I will return with a vengeance unlike you have ever seen before. I will unleash something so evil nothing will be standing when i finish." With that final word the others turned and gathered up their pots and pans, their ware for sale and even their other belongings, without saying a word all of them formed a line of wagons as the young woman walked over to the lead wagon and spectacularly jumped into the seat without a struggle. With a soft whistle the horses started to pull cart and wagon after wagon to the edge of town. Just like when they arrived they were now gone. BUT, something was different. Something had changed, the air seemed quite stale and smelled of something unfamiliar to anyone left standing. What was this strange odor? What could possibly be coming now? What was in store for them next?? Only time will tell, or will it even let the secret out....

Later that morning as the people were glancing around at all the wondrous things both the gypsies and others had brought forth to the town, something was stirring which threatened the very existence of which had been given to them.  For under the bridge where the ogre had been hiding before the Gypsy had seen him there was a tinge growing in the water that flowed under the bridge. the slightly discolored water was slowly making its way to the sea and circling the area. some of the people looked around and did not see the Ogre, some say it was him who was making this happen, others still think it was an elder male who had happened into town the night before unseen by many but seen by a few. The elder male walked with a slight limp and used a cane to help him along, his hair was stringy, his clothes smelled of an odor unlike you had ever smelled before. A search had begun to find the Ogre and the elder male but, no one could find them. They searched every building and tent around and still no sign of them were found. Some of the trees which were by the brook were starting to wither as if dying a slow horrendous death. the grasses were turning brown and still no one knew what was happening. The locals in town were beginning to panic. Children were forced to go indoors to try and keep safe. The mood was rapidly changing from a festival to something more hideous and frightening. The search was on for sure. Even though no one knew exactly what they were looking for, non the less, the search continued. 

-Gwen Gudkov Roughneck
Official Hidden Sanctuary Events Storyteller

As the sun peeked up across the village, it seemed to be busy that weekend. Travelers had come from far and near to sell their wares and see what was to come of this tiny village that had a past that not many had known about. People were running about anxious to see what others had brought. Over by the swamp area where the Jelly fish were floating about, the air was crisp but something was extremely different about this morning, for the young Gypsy woman who had always seemed to appear from her tent later in the mornings was already up and slowly walking around. What did she do the night before?  But, as the town was filling up with more and more people the new question was, where would they all stay? For one caravan tent was selling wagons for some to sleep in while some others were selling things ranging from crystal balls to clothing that would surely make some hearts melt. plunging necklines skirts that seemed to flow in the breeze. One wagon even was selling wigs that were so very nice, but, where did all these people come from? why now? what was happening to this seemingly quiet town?  The young gypsy woman who had chanted the night before was very happy to see what she had done, seen over next to the blue orb she was smiling and nodding to all the folks coming to town, a couple of locals approached her very quietly and decided now was the time to ask what was going on. The young woman gazed into their eyes, her own blue eyes seemed to sparkle as she smiled and said in a soft tone which was very pleasing to the ears, " long, long ago, when i was still in my mothers womb, we stopped here the night i was born. The few people that were around at that time gave my mother comfort. After hearing of the plight brought here by some evil sorcerer When i became of age and was thrust forward as the new leader of the Gypsies, I studied long and hard to control my magic. I do possess some dark magic but, mostly i have light magic inside me, I decided to help this land as they helped my mother and lift all curses that had fallen here before, " then she smiled widely and motioned to where Timmy the tree had stood before and quietly whispered, Timmy is whole again and out playing with the other children. BUT, she said with a change in her voice which went ice cold as she spoke, "DO NOT forsake my gift or all who dwell here will be cursed with an evil that has never been seen before" and with that she slipped away toward the center of town where most of the people had gathered expecting something but what they had no idea.

-Gwen Gudkov Roughneck
Official Storyteller of Hidden Sanctuary Events

Later that night as the Gypsies campfire crackled under the moonlight, strange sounds could be heard coming from all parts of the lands near and far, it were as if something was happening, something for which there has not been anything like this in ages. In Fact, the last time these sounds could be heard were right when most of the men had disappeared and the village was overcome with fear and plagues. But, these were different that those of years past. These were like Cries of joy perhaps. Just as suddenly as they had started, the sounds grew quiet just as an eclipse took over the moon creating a darkness which left a certainly uneasy feeling for all the village. Shutters could be heard closing, doors slamming shut and being bolted down, it were as if something was coming that night. Certainly something was about to happen and soon. Over by the stones where the blue hue was, it seemed to grow stronger like it was being summoned. Was the young Gypsy woman creating all this?? or was it something a lot more sinister. As the sky darkened even more a couple of old bums burst forth from the surrounding waterways, both of them were drenched and covered in all kinds of seaweed and moss. The odor that surrounded them was so strong even the village pigs turned up noses as they past. As they approached the campfire the gypsies were gathered around one of the men suddenly dropped to his knees and bowed. None of the Gypsies turned toward the men, they kept on chanting softly in a tongue unheard in many many years. Even the Jelly fish which seemed so out of place floating and hovering on land were seen drifting toward the gypsies, Timmy the tree was struggling and struggling to move and actually broke his roots loose enabling him to move also toward the campfire. Everything and every one except the locals were all gathering around the Gypsies and this young woman who seemed to be summoning something. She turned showing only the whites of her eyes as if in a deepened and heightened trance. Muttering louder and louder her voice seemed to pitch higher and higher screeching like a Banchee getting ready for war or something. It was loud enough now to wake the dead. Just as suddenly as the darkness fell from the eclipse it was over. Stars were shinning brightly and a chill fell across the land with a mist. The young Gypsy stopped and quietly whispered "it is done" and with that she stood, turned and walked into her tent, leaving all who were there both amazed and fearful for none of them knew what the light in the morning would bring.

Written by Gwen Gudkov ( Roughneck)
Official Storyteller of Hidden Sanctuary Events