Darkest Night

The food suddenly heats up, steaming to the perfect temperatures. A chair appears behind you and pushes in so that you're forced to sit. A piece of paper floats down from one of the trees and lands in front of you.

​

"Dine with us," it says.

​

You don't see any reason why not, so you dig in. Everything is delicious, just how you like it. You indulge perhaps a little too much from being so hungry before, but that's okay. You spend a good amount of time warmed by the food, and you notice that there is much more food missing than what you ate. Upon closer inspection, you find that there are little hands grabbing the food from the other side of the table. You bend down and see winged sprites or faeries. They're all naked but seem unbothered by the cold.

​

One of the sprites spots you and gasps. It flits away, and you hear a shattering cacophony of beetle wings flying. The food begins to rot, growing cold and stinky, and a path opens up for you. You hold your nose and leave the feast.

​

Even though you are slowed down by the weight of all the food and drink, you manage to make it to another clearing. This one is dark and snowing heavily, and at the center is a woman dressed in a white kimono. Her long black hair whips all around her in the wind, and she is crying silently.

​

"You made it, little summoner," she says. "So far into the forest, so far from home." She lolls her head to the side. "It is good to be reminded of home. Read something comforting, or something you have already read. The King of Winter will enjoy such tribute."

​

You grab your notes to write that down. Three clues down...

​

The woman is suddenly right in front of you, her dark eyes boring down into yours.

​

"We are all stardust and stories," she whispers, her voice choked. "Isn't that a beautiful, sad quote? Where is it from? What book contains this quote?"