The night was still holding on tight over its grasp on the land. War was coming and it wished the occupants to enjoy their sleep still while they could. Not all would see that dazzling sunrise the morn after that eventful eve to come. The tension in the air hung heavy like winter snow atop the high mountains beyond the horizon.
Fate would be threatened by the hand of those who distrust change or differences.
Hours before the lord sun broke out of his slumber, another few persons were jostled from their own bed chambers. Several men in dark armor that were enchanted to help them hide better slip into two different rooms that were near each other.
Half of the men move silent into the first room. It was darker than normal which oddly helped them. A soft eerie glow of green and purple enchanted crystals stood about the place to give a faint light. Only just so to help if say one's bladder needed help.
Snuggled under several throws, blankets with a few furs, a woman slept deep and heavy. Her messy multi-colored hair spreads out as if alive along her pillows.
The soldiers slip silent still to the bed. Two held a special item, ready for its use. Hush whispers hang in the air as the masked men look at each other. Their leader could see that some of them were unsure. He glares at them as he signs his hands that they had a job. Now let's do it.
With a soft gentle shake, one of the men works to wake up the darker of the two special cases.
A light grunt escapes the woman's mouth as she blinks her sleepy eyes. Glances up as suddenly it goes dark again as a sack falls over her head. Picked up roughly, she felt her world shift as she got carried away. A cold moment later before she could protest, the icy feel of metal clasp onto her arms and now her lips part to scream in pain. Iron..cold evil iron..the fiends!! What was going on!
She winces in pain as her magic shudders and her body shrinks smaller and smaller. Soon she fell into the sack that a moment ago she had shoved on her head.
Gripping the sack where she now laid within a guard holds it tight. She pushes and kicks as she moves around to try and get free. Tiny shouts of colorfully language.
"One down. Now let's see if they got the other" remarks someone. The group moves out of the room but not before the leader waves his hand and an illusion is set to make others think she is still in her bed. It wasn't perfect but should give them some time.
Down the hall a bit away from the first to be captured, the sister friend of the other lady was sleeping in her own room. Curled up in her bed all sweet and gentle, the blonde locks all perfect and proper upon her pillow as a soft rose gold glow tickles the room around. The men slowly open the door, careful not to make any noise to alert their prey. Several of the men slip inside and note how the decor and aesthetic of the room was near three-sixty of the other one’s room. While this one was more light and warm and had a splash of the darker side, the first girl’s space was all dark and touch evil.
Inching closer the few brave ones ready themselves, one holds the sack to go over the head, the other two hold the shackles to go on shortly after. Hopefully this one goes as smoothly as the other one did. Little to no fight. That was the plan and hope.
That did not quite happen as they will learn very soon. When they wake the golden-haired woman she stirs awake but the moment the bag slips down over her head she throws a magic blast at the men blinding them. Staggering back the men groan and grunt trying to see. Yeeting the sack off her head, Orianna kneels up to fight the armed black clothed men in her chambers. As another arm gets thrown forward to smack the nearest, she picks the wrong target as the iron shackle gets slapped onto her wrist then the other as she was stopped short in pure pain. A cry of alarm and torment rakes her body and the air. Soon like her friend, the new rude and so last century style bracelets cause her form to get smaller and smaller.
The woman finds herself tiny and weak in the sack as it gets bunched up at the top to ensnare herself within the fabric trap.
Outside the castle walls, in the still cold night, the stars look down with unmoving sadness as they bear witness to the handiwork of someone wrong. The two groups look at each other as they lift the bags they held that were wiggly and cursing still. With curt nods they turn to a carriage cart waiting for them being pulled by dark steeds. Climbing up onto the wooded vehicle, the two bags get thrown into two separate iron wrought cages built just for this mission.
Two grunts echo in near unison as the women slips some out of the snacks now somewhat free but find they fell from the pot into the fire. Trying to adjust their eyes to the darkness as it still was heavy and low, the two women slowly dawn what was going on.
“You bloody bastard fiends! Yah lucky i gots these ugly bracelets on or I would so render yah to hell itself! When I get outa here you will wish yah ma never kissed ya da!” The darker of the two women growls and spats out as she tries to knock the cage open. Moment her skin touches the edge of the cage she yelps in pain and jumps back to the center to be as far from the bad as possible.
“Girl keep from the edges, its iron… we are trapped” Replies the golden one as she peers to her friend with small worry etching into her fine features.
“I know.. Just urg. Wha the heck. Where are they taking us? Do the boys know we gone?” She grumbles as she sits on the floor of the cage as she looks around.
Orianna sighs as she slumps a bit and glances at herself as she had not been in this form of hers in some time. Her golden hair remains as always but holds a touch more inner glow to it. Her clothing was rose gold colored cloth that crossed her chest and one flowy sleeve to cover her torso, while her lower half was half skirt and half pants with small dainty shoes. Her wings were out and beautiful butterfly style matching rose gold with a small bit of rose peach as well. Very light and classic colors to go with her classic beauty. Her warm spring blue eyes turn to look at her sister friend in the cage near her own.
Now Hexela had a different look and style of her own. Dark locks hang long and heavy on her head, shades of brown with green and red and blue slightly but all faded and old like sun dried mud with moss akin to a swamp like area. How odd. The frame she bore was more round and curvy than her friends. Sure Orianna was curvy, yes she was but Hex was heavier in weight and more fat if one would to put it bluntly. Clothing of greens and blacks with touch of deeper purples and reds cover her form with similar flowy sleeves but both arms and half skirt with pants and boots instead of dainty shoes. Her own wings were butterfly moth-like with black, white colors and greens with the deeper wine color in there as well. She hunches over as she sits very unlady like. “The day has yet to break and the night is still heavy” She replies softly as she tries to see the stars above them. The sounds of the horses' heavy hooves clop clap against the road’s dirt. Smells of the night and the men around them drip and cause the fae of the dark to sneeze. Rubs her nose with her arm as she sulks.
Unable to do anything really, the two girls conserve their strength as they keep watch and ears sharp for a chance to escape or learn better of what was going on. The sky started to grow lighter and softer of pastel colors as dawn was nearing. The men started to talk more and eye the horizon and sides of their troup as they signed with their hands to make it easier for the prisoners not to know what was going on. Sadly they forgot that one of them knew the tongue as if it were of fingers and could gather bits of what they were saying.
“Psst.. they are taking us away.. Far far away..”
Hex looks over to her friend as she hears her. What? Why?
Waiting to understand more Orianna tells her friend what she is learning. “ It appears they are splitting us up? One will go eastern and the other western. To where I am not sure”
“Oh hell you're not leaving my side. I can't be alone, we need each other. Your my sister” Hex whines in annoyance and growing fear with a tinge of sadness. Tears started to well in the green blue eyes she bore.
Just as the sky was crossing into dawn break the group stops at a crossroads. There waiting to the side in the shadows of the forest green was another carriage and group of men. They walk over to the carriage from the castle and reach into the back to grab one of the cages.
Hex yelps when she is picked up and struggles not to fall over as it sways in the air. The man carrying her was not smooth in his movements. Jerk! She turns, straining to see better and find her sister in the carriage still. “ANNA!” She screams as she ignores the pain searing into her arm as she reaches through the cage to try and get to her.
The rose gold fae cries as she reaches for her bestie as well, her own arms burning thanks to the iron as she holds her arm outward. “HEX!” Orianna wails as her own tears stream down her face. This was her sister. Her soul’s other half in chaos. Where were they taking her!
“Move quickly and get them to their new homes. May they enjoy the promotion.” The leader from the castle laughs and sneers as he waves to Hex as she was carried to the other carriage “ Bye bitch:”
The carriage from the castle turns and bumps with speed down the road toward the west. While the new one with Hex carries on to the east, splitting the duo up for good.
Alone in their own now separate cages in the carts going different places, the two friends hug their bodies as their hearts break and shatter. Who could break them up? They were yin and yang.
The days turn to weeks as the two continue to their respective new homes. Passed off from one group to another and always tossed in the back of hideouts and hidden caverns, away from the light of others. Anna grew weaker as did Hex over the time apart. Given only scraps of food and a few thumbles of water to keep them barely alive, spirits started to shatter as well.
A month, maybe two had passed since that night and Hex lost track of time. They often kept a cloth over the cage so she could not see where they were. Only the grunts' voices and the smell of different things became her norm.
There came a smell she did not know or had not noticed in many years. Heavy of salt and fish as well as tar and rum drifted like a serpent in the air and smacked her in the face. The ocean. Hex tried to remember her studies and the layout of the kingdoms. East of Rogehill was where Anna said they were taking her. What was to the east of the capital. Tapping her head with her fist she tries to knock memories back, sometimes she hates being so scatterbrained. Suddenly she was lifted up and carried away from the cart she was in. Pushing the cloth that covers her to the side she tries to peek out to what was around her. Ignoring the pain that was so common now she accepted it, she peers beyond her jail and finds merchants selling their wares. Several persons of different clothing styles and speech patterns. She could also see different races, there were the elves, and dwarfs she was used to, even some demons and a couple dragons from what she could tell. A port clearly. Only big one she could think of was Korsha. But if that was where they were… where was the next place they were delivering her. The group moved into a tavern where the smell of rum was so strong she thought it was the stain of the wood that made the building. Gags some as she waves her hand and ducks back into the middle of her cage. Just yuck.
Bumping into different tables as she hears grunts of watch it and oy and beat it. She is carried to the bar area itself as the holder of her pen. The barkeep hears what was hushed and motions upstairs and then glances away. As the group move up the stairway nearby, the keep steals a gaze toward them and the draped cage they carried. Frowns as they knew what was going on but it was not their place.
Upstairs in the new room the cage gets roughly dropped onto the table as some of the meager group now linger and sit or lean against the wall all moody. One keeps an eye out the sole window to keep watch and another stands by the door just in case. This was a fairly dangerous mission even if so far it has been rather boring and uneventful.
What felt like forever, a triple knock followed by two knocks against the door. The one at the table turns and eyes the wooden slab that stood as a door in the shabby tavern that may or may not be held together by bile, body fluids and rum. The door opened and there stood a barrel of a male. His shirt strained to stay on his large chest as his messy unkempt beard tickled the torso that peaked out some, mingling with his chest hair. He grunts as he pushes himself in with a small duck of his head to get through. He stood tall, nearly touching the roof of the room and looked down at the men before him. His skin had an almost sickly hue from what the fae could see from a tear in the cloth. She made herself a sorta window and glanced around. The lighting in the room was sparse to say the least. A candle on the table and another on the side table by the excuse of a bed.
“Looks like ye got here good” the large one mutters as he reaches down at his side and pulls out a bottle and yanks the cork out as he starts to chug the amber liquid. It splashes down his chin and dribbles over his beard and stains his shirt, adding to whatever stains were already there. Gross the fae thinks as she shrinks back a bit.
The man at the table nods as he eyes the large man and reaches into a satchel he carried. A coin pouch thuds onto the table heavy. “ Payment for your part” The large man steps closer to grab the coin pouch and thumbs it open. He reaches in and wiggles his fat greenish fingers into it to figure the payment amount. He grunts “ it good. So.. that the item?” He motions to the cage thing in the middle of the table.
“That is it. You take that to the location on this map” The man hands him a scroll. “ Drop it off there at that location and leave. You can do what you want but remember. No word of this transaction or he will know” the grunt threatens.
“Yah yah” The green big man waves his hand as he pockets the gold and then picks up the cage. “So wha be in da thing?” He goes to lift the cloth that covers it.
The grunt smacks the orc’s hand “ leave it on it. You do not want to see it. It's horrible and vile” He spats as he glares at the cage.
“Now you have the blasted thing we will take our leave.
The grunts bow light and head out the door to go to a better tavern for drinks, food and women. Now they don't have to babysit the brat, they will enjoy their freedom.
Once alone with the cage the orc shrugs and lifts the cloth covering the cage and peers down at what he was paid to transport. “Wha the?” He blinks confused at what his yellow eyes found looking up at him. A tiny woman with wings. A fae?
“Well what did you do miss to get yah banned frum da big city? '' He chuckles as he sits down at the table and drinks his ale.
“I was taken when I was asleep! I don have a clue” She grumbles as she sits crossed leg and rests an elbow on her thigh with her hand holding her cheek. She glances up at the orc ``so you gonna follow through and take me to that map place or set me free?” She asks the last part a bit hopeful.
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Guag laughs as he leans forward some to get closer to the small woman, also to see her better. His breath stank heavy of alcohol and felt heavy with that salty tang aroma. Wee lady sways as she coughs to the assault. Gah
“That is what ye think lass. I will take yah to tis place. I was paid, I do my job” He winks
Great! An orc with standards,.. Lovely. An irritated groan slips from her lips as she flops back against the cold floor of her cage. Perfect.
The sea captain bellows a laughter that nearly shakes the cage from its strength. “Do nae know wha a wee thing did to cause yah to be caged and sent so far from home, but coin is coin. Shall we my little prisoner” He scorns as he yanks the cage upward and carries it aggressively, actively bumping the small prison against any table or wall or banister just so it would jostle the small angry lady inside.
The unlikely duo now travels out of the low bad run tavern where only the sleazy would go naturally and head toward the edge of the town. As they traveled down the winding downhill alleys and pathways, the smell of the ocean grew stronger by the step. Heavy sea salt tossed with old fish and maybe more spilled drink and other body liquids that had left in one form or another. The small woman holds her nose to help try and keep whatever little food inside her, to stay there and not be yeeted out.
It didn't take long for the soft lap of water against wood and stone to tickle her long ears. The sounds of men and movement grew strong as she found the smells to get deeper and heavier with each step. Several footsteps got closer and louder as voices brought them near,
“Welcome back Cap’” Replied one of the persons.
“Get ready to sail we leaving while she is calm”
“Is that the cargo?” Another asks curiously. The orc captain bumps into the one who asked about the cargo roughly and with intention as the cage bangs against the man sharply causing both him and the small one inside to let out a oww.
Shipmate number two as Hex will think of them for now, rubs their arm as they turn to their ship mate then back toward their capt as they carry the cage thing and board the ship, the wooden slats under his heavy boots creak and sway wobble with the weight. Thuds of leather meet the deck as he peers around. “Cabin boy!” Captain Orc man shrieked as a lanky tall boy came stumbling out from below deck. “Aye sir!” he fumbles to stand upright and salute the captain.
Guag shoves the cage into the arms chest of the boy. “ Take this and strap it downstairs in the cargo hold. Do not remove the cloth over. Very dangerous”
The captain disappears into his larger private chambers and leaves the rest of the crew to do what they had to do. A human who was tall as a tree and has thick headed, moves to the orc who was about his own height. “Brig give the small one to me. There is some more cargo for you to go get” The man thumbs back to the dock as more barrels and crates were being loaded up.
“The cap..”
“I will take care of the brat. Remember last time you tried to tie down something..”
“Aye, alright” The lad shuffles off to go back onto the dock and help.
The human snags the cage and turns to walk down the steps that lead to the lower decks. He passed the one right below and moved farther down the large ship to the cargo hold. Storage of barrels of drink or food, with crates of more food or ammo. Various items were stuffed down here where they needed it for their trips.
Looking around he tries to find a place to stash the cage and at least keep it down so it doesn't sway. He gets an idea and looks up as he sees a peg on one of the beams and he hooks the top of the cage up onto the wooden post so it dangles and when they hit rough waters, which they will, the brat would get sick. He taps the cage and snickers “ enjoy yahself, it will be a while before you're at your new home. So just.. Hang around” He laughs and returns upstairs to help get the ship ready.
The movement of persons and things did not take as long as she had originally thought because soon the sound of the anchor lifting out of the dark waters and chain curling up nearby rattled the air. Her cage swayed a bit as the ship pushed away from the docks and swept into the ocean waters. Shouts above for sails to be released open, ropes to move and be tied and other nautical jargon she had no idea what it means.
Deep falls and crests sway the boat up and down as it makes its way through the gray. Up and down, left and right, sway swish blub bob, the ship moved and danced as it cut through the waves of dark onward to her future fate she was still trying to figure out.
Little did she see the crew come down to the far belly below deck as she hung off the peg on the beam in the cargo hold. The one who carried her down a day or so after they left the port, did make their way down to her prison and move the cloth that did cast her in shadow more so. He had dirty blonde hair and eyes blue of gray like the waters she could barely see from a port hole nearby. His skin was ruined by the salt air and sea blasted sun from years aboard a ship. The tips of his hair were turning salt flavor letting her know he had some years to own.
“Why do you come to see yah prisoner?” Hex enquiries with little hide to the sass dripping from her lips.
“Thought ye may be need of food or you too good to take vittle from a pirate?” The man asks as he lifts a bit of bread with cheese shoved into it, with a small bit of dried meat. Sight of the food made the small woman pull back her cheek and she tried to strain her eagerness. “Ah oh well who am I to stop a pirate from helping a small lady as I” she bats her eyes to try and be polite.
A haughty warm laugh ripples the air as he opens the cage and puts the bit of bread with cheese and meat inside and sees she still had the shackles on. Frowns as he knew just the iron around the cage would keep her from being too strong. He reaches in and takes off the shackles.
“Now be good, I will bring food down when I can. An we can talk so you do not go mad. I am sorry for all this. Boss man was paid and we work. But still not sure why all the hubbub to bring you to that place” he voices with gentle care.
Hex eyes the man as her arms are now free of the shackles, and starts to rub her sore wrists as she ponders. He closes the gate as he leaves the food within it for her.
Dirty blonde pirate man took a swig of a mug of some slosh he had close by where she could not see and even pulled up a barrel to sit on. Sitting on the wooden case of ale, the pirate digs into a bit of bread cheese he had as well. He enjoys his meal and eyes the small lady in the cage a moment.
She bows her head lightly to thank him for his kindness but before she tears into the food she stops short and looks at him with questioning eyes of judgment and worry.
“If you fear poison yah best not. Same cut of food be what I'm scoffing now. I wouldn't kill ya anyway. Always was fond of yah kin. Fun at taverns and skilled allies.
“Oh so you gonna be nice and feed mes, but won't set me free eh?” She enquiries as she eyes him. He nods his head with a smug as he slurps some of his drink.
“Now you're catching on little one, so what yah name?”
The small woman grabs a bit of cheese and tears a bite for herself as she sits down with the food and noms away. “Hex,” She replies as she looks at him.
“Yah, can call me Shifty” He remarks with a lift of his mug. “Ah oh you should have something to wash that” He reflects he made a small mistake. Gets up and looks around. Finds a bit of a shell that somehow caught on the anchor and fell off. He snags it and then pours a touch of his drink into it as he pushes it through the cage “here yah go”
Takes the drink with a bow of her head once more in thanks “Yah not so bad Shifty” She smiles warm as she takes a sip of the drink then coughs and hacks “ah wha da.. Yah drink dis swill?”
Bark laughter echoes from the man as he nearly falls off his seat. “Well sorry miss, we don have the finest of wine for yah ladyship” He shares.
“Ah do not pin me wit 'em horty torty fae kin!” Hex snapps as she jabs her finger toward him to state her point. “Jus cause i don like this swill yah gave me, do not make me all uppity drinky wit pinky in da air” She grumbles as she eyes him and shoots the cup down and gags. “Ahh oh yuck still”
Shifty snickers as he lifts his arms up in defense “My apologies miss Hex. I do not think you the higher class like those others. After all, you're captured in a cage and being transported to a place most un nice. So by that logic you are not friendly liked by someone of power”
“Well you has a point but I do not know who or why. Yet I do have a theory and I don like it” The fae sighs as she tears into the meat he gave her.
“Oh and what is your thought on who you pissed off?” he asks as he eats his meal with her. He glanced around as he felt the shift of the boat under him as the waves carried them.
Hex glances outside the window thing close by as she was about to speak when the ship tilted roughly fast to the side so hard, the cage fell off the peg thing and was heading to the floor.
Shifty jumps up as he catches the cage and holds it close to his chest.
“Ah you okay miss?” He glances down to his chest as she slumps in the cage.
“Aye uh what happened?”
Shifty turns and carrying the cage with him he darts upstairs and then again up another set of stairs to the top deck and ducks jacket some over the cage as they walk out into a storm. The skies were gray and wild and angry. Large swells of the steel blue waters sloshed and tossed the ship any way it wanted like a giant in a kids bathtub.
Shouts of different orders raked around them as the storm grew louder and heavier. Shifty thinks and darts back downstairs to keep Hex safe as they stay in a corner of the ship down among the cargo. “I got you. We will wait down here for the storm to pass”
Hours passed as the ship bobbed and swayed non stop as the storm screamed around them. It was like the gods of the sea were angry at the ship, doing their best to try and stop what had transpired.
The ship slowly made its way to its cursed destination but took days longer than was planned because of what felt like one of the gods hands. Those on board were starting to question their captain and the choice for this job. To bring one of their kind on board and even the darker kin versions. Whispers among the crew grew by the day and some tossed the idea of legit tossing the brat into the sea and be done with her. No one would know she didn't make it to the isle and she would be claimed by the oceans and eaten up. Good riddance they think.
About a week passed and the storm finally settled down to mostly cloudy weather over the waters. Shifting learns that the isle was getting closer so he goes downstairs to get Hex. Picking up the cage, he carries it upstairs to the deck. Once topside the small woman looks around as she sees the crew give her eye daggers and whispers to each other. Ignoring them all she steadies herself in the care by activating her core and appearing very aloof some, while inside she was screaming things that would make a sailor blush and be proud.
The captain calls Shifty up to the top area where the wheel house was. The pirate carries Hex up to the captain and nods his head “ You called me captain?”
“Aye it best to show our little guest where we taking her” He blurts with venom dripping on each word. Shifty nods his head as he moves down toward the deck and then he treks toward the front of the ship or the bow.
He lifts the cage up so she could see beyond the front of the ship toward the horizon before them. The clouds were getting thick and low like fog above the water and so it made it a touch hard to see. The air around the ship started to feel almost electric with that metallic tang but also a dank musky smell lingered too.
“Wait the only place to has that smell that I read was within the deep.. Dreich.. “ she starts to utter as she glances down at Shifty. He remind quite as a sign she was right. His expression screamed deep in his sea blue eyes, I am so sorry.
“ Only location with the deep of notice is…” Her voice stops short as she comes to understand what was going on proper. She had a suspicion and theory. Higgy. They were taking her to Hinggus Isle.. and within that island was a place hushed in the village town. It was whispered in dark evenings to bad children to make em behave. It was a legend. A place of lore. Now she learned it was real and what was to befall her.
Tacenda Marsh.
A single tear breaks the bottom of her eyes and slowly trickles down her round pale face. She would die out here. They brought her to be forgotten. When someone is sent to the marsh they died the true death. Damn that old farty bastard! How dare he! All because she fell in love. All because her heart met its match and soul sang the dance of romance.
Her body’s aura grew gray and cold as she had a feeling her choices would come to bite her in her large rump, and sometimes it really did suck balls to be right.
“Hex, I am truly sorry. This is wrong but my hands are tied” utters the pirate who held her cage up.
“I see no ill wrong in emotions or judgment to you Shifty. Fate wields as it will. I always had a sinking feeling what I did would return to hurt me. Karma can be a bitch.” She looked down at her hands as the fingers grew dark and it snaked up her forearm.
He blinks seeing the shift on her body and frowns wondering.
The isle grew more in focus as they passed through the fog and got closer. Large irregular shaped island with forests of black green around the edges that lead toward a swamp in the middle. There within the murky marsh waters among the crocodiles, large rats, giant wasps and huge snakes and big toads, were the bones of the few who were damned to the land. Skulls looking up at the dark gray skies that never showed the sun proper, forever lost to time.
Crystals of deep blue green growing on the bones of the malediction souls and held a beauty even from death.
Hex knew when her feet touch the shore before the dark forests, her bones will join the others and perhaps only one who may wish her soul to rest in peace would be Shifty when they sail away.
She was left to the isle and even though she didn't have her cage and could move free, the place had a magic about it that would not give back the souls it was given. It was an offering by the one who sent her to the place and it would gladly take new bodies to fill its waters.
Fluttering fast and quick she darts into the grounds to do what she could with the hand she was given and live as long as she could.
About a month is how long it took. The marsh was quick to eat its prey. Atop a stump with mushrooms growing off it, the small winged woman lays down. Her body’s light eh dark grew stronger and deeper in this time. Finding her breath weakened and raspy, a few tears fell and helped the fungi to grow stronger, while she wasted away.
Soon the skin on her started to fall off her body, muscle showing as the magic of the damned place ate her spirit and form. Another week and she gasps her last breath as the maggots and other bugs move in to take care of her properly. They gave their respects to the small magical woman as they feasted on her flesh. A song played in the still air as the circle spins, and the beautiful dark crystals began to grow on her bones, helping her join the others trapped for all time.
Those who come to this isle are forgotten beyond the mist. They die the true death. When no one remembers you, your soul will wander and may not be reborn for many a year.
Even the bugs who called your corpse home will forget you.
