[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... _maxxd.png[/imgleft] Kernel had gone to bed after a surprisingly strict routine of checking on his increasing (however it could have been more intense than before, it managed to be) obsession, his corn, and of dancing solemnly around it in grand Acha and mildly Royal Rainbow Troupe-inspired tradition to encourage its health and growth in these uncertain ecological times. He had snuggled into his wispy husk pile with a pleasant vacuous look on his face, and fell asleep with the keenness of a buck looking forward to doting on his children - and his actual children, one supposed – the next day.

However, Kernel had not anticipated that instead of the blessed void of sleep, he would be meandering through the middle of the swamp in the dark all a sudden, seeing a giant stone stood proud in the area. The massive shaft, much like his corn, was stark and pulled his gaze. He could not look away from the impressive sight of this amazing rock.

The first thing that came to his mind spilled out of his mouth.

"WOW IT’S HUGE"

Such eloquence in so little words, at a such volume that echoed across the Swamp. He danced a little jig towards the obelisk. When he continued, he realised he was not alone as he joined up with a group of kin, but ah, they could not hear him! It was rare that kin could not hear him, but he was happy to chatter to himself as he followed along. Kernel did so like a party, though it was dampened by his inability to distribute nuts and corn.

As they continued, and chattered to themselves so lively, he followed suit and jumped upon the etched stones as they lit. Nothing happened under his hooves, but he did like to be included somehow.

Through no work of his own, the rock turned into a massive glowing shaft of light shooting rays (shooting rays!) not once, not twice, but (he counted) eleven! Eleven times.

And so the crowd dispersed in great confusion, as did Kernel. Something important, he knew, had happened here, it was a sign.

But Kernel was too small a piece of the Swamp to truly understand what.

Kernel was irritable when he woke, which meant a lot of loud grumbling. He tended to his crop dutifully, but an urge to see this massive rock tugged at the back of his mind.

He would go see this obelisk.

[imgright]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgright]Shroud had dreamed of the obelisk. It was his understanding many had. It was also his understanding that many dreams of the obelisk were probably more helpful than his. Like a sizeable number of zikwa, Shroud was effectively blind. He could see glow. That was all.

Thus, his obelisk dreams had largely consisted of a sense of unease, a foreboding scent - like the tang before a storm, and occasional glow. And then there had come a night with the voices of Kin - many at once, questioning, hesitant and bold. There had been much glow that night, coming and going, going and coming; the moving voices of Kin - he'd heard them speak of symbols, and stones.

He had been careful, but he had stepped forward, once or twice, he might have tapped a stone.

And all of a sudden, as he'd listened to the voices, the click of hooves, the glow had exploded - eleven, he had counted, quickly, as they'd flashed, lights. Eleven lights.

And then, there had been nothing more.

It wasn't that it wasn't easy for a blind Kin to get anywhere, in the Swamp, but it wasn't easy for a blind Kin to get anywhere specific. Nevertheless, the next day, Shroud had bumbled - through a series of mishaps and pleasant inquiry and more mishaps - his way to the Obelisk.

At least, he thought it was the Obelisk.

His mood had somewhat improved along the way, his quiet trudging turned lighter in the presence of sunshine. It wasn’t so much an active understanding of where it was than a feeling of where it was, and soon his instinct had proven true when he saw it, the uncanny shaft of rock, standing proud in the distance.

It was impressive enough that he yelled, once again, "WOW IT’S HUGE" loudly, echoing across this part of the Swamp, at least.