Miscellany XLIII

Page 26

Into the Heart: A Field Guide

Rachel Greene Phillips

This scientific journal is the property of a researcher pursuing rare and unusual species. If found, please return to her immediately. This information is of a sensitive nature to those in the scientific community and other explorers of Emotion. The knowledge gathered and contained in this journal is research of the highest importance. Crushes parva phantasiae Crushes are little creatures. They’re small and almost everywhere. I tend to carry a lot of them; many spilling from my pockets and a few sticking out of my socks and always one tucked behind my ear. They’re almost imperceivable, but now and then I’ll feel a tug on the sleeve of my shirt, a sudden tightening of a shoelace, or even a little pull on my hair. They’re imperceivable, but if I could see them, I’d imagine them as little pear-shaped things: soft and pink and squishy. Yesterday, I felt one in my jacket collar, but I didn’t bother with it, as it was doing me no harm. Later however, while I was talking to an associate of mine, the little creature yipped and tickled the back of my neck, which caused me to giggle in quite the inappropriate context. Exes or colloq. “Loves Lost” perdidit amor Exes are found in the swampier regions of the Heart, located near Mixed Emotions. I have discovered only one in my travels, but others in my profession have come across many of these creatures. From what I’ve seen, they are generally of a disagreeable demeanor. Rather than openly pursue prey, this predator prefers to stalk its target from a short distance, until the prey is tired and vulnerable. Once the ex sees that the prey is weakened, it strikes. They feed off of your very lifeblood, so be cautious in your interactions. They may also vary greatly in size. The specimen I mentioned before has been stalking my camp over the past couple of weeks. This is a predictable behavior for an ex, which, if one stays vigilant, is nothing to be too alarmed over. However, I am still trying to limit my interaction with this creature as much as possible, as I know that the consequences for growing too close are dire. It is an adult specimen, which means the bite is far more lethal than that of its underdeveloped young. Friends cognitus prope Friends are relatively common, although hard to track for long periods of time. This is due to their highly variable migratory patterns, since friends are a largely nomadic species. Some explorers encounter many of these creatures, while others encounter few. From what I gather, the more years you spend in the study, the more friends you’ll find. I’ve discovered many friends in the lands of Common Interest, but I hear that they’re also a prominent species in the valley of Proximity. Friends, like exes, vary widely in size. They tend to bond more quickly if they find you share similar traits.

17


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.