Knocking On Heaven's Door

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

After Gwendolyn got back with the kitty, she had stayed in her room until the next day, she did not want the kitty to be alone it's first night in the Inn. Though she wasn't sure if the Inn allowed pet's she had tried to keep the kitten quiet, and she had indeed succeeded. The next morning when Gwen awoke, the kitten was curled up in a ball against her stomach. Once she climbed out of bed, she moved over to look out the window, only to find to her dismay that it was indeed raining out. She had hoped that it would be nice and dry and bright, so she could take the kitty whom shall remain nameless until the name hits her, outside to get fresh air.

Moving back towards the bed, Gwen would pause, and look down to the kitty, "Well kitty you might as well make yourself comfortable, for its raining out, so you shall be stuck in this room today." She would then lower her hand and rub the kitty once more on the kittens head between the ears, before going to get dressed for the day. Pulling on a pair of dark blue denim jeans, she had gotten a feel for them after getting introduced to them, and a light blue peasant top. Upon her feet she would slip white socks and a pair of plain ole tennis shoes.

Gwen decided that today she was going to explore! She had heard there were people here in this Inn that she knew, and maybe if she was lucky she would bump into one, or maybe even just meet someone new. The last new people she had met, Leo and Juliet, seemed like good people. And perhaps there were more surprises in store for her, she couldn't just sit in her room with the kitty, and wait for people to knock on her door right? Pausing at the door, she would turn back towards her bed, "Be good kitty!" And with that she would slip out of her room.

After leaving her room, and making sure the door is shut, she turned right to go to the stairs. Once she reached the stairs, she thought of going down to the bar or even the lounge but then something had her moving up the steps. Feet tapping lightly against the steps as she went up and up, until the second floor was reached. A pause as she reached the landing, did she wish to go up further or explore this level. A moment later she was stepping off the stairs, and moving down the hallway. Hazels were looking around the hallway, noticing that not a soul was lingering out side of the doors.

It would be when she was scanning the hallway that one door would stand out, it wasn't an ordinary door like the rest. The door that stood out looked like something that would of been found in a castle, the thick wooden planks with the two metal bars going across them. She would move forward, almost drawn by something she couldn't explain, until she reached the door. Once she was standing before the door, she would notice that there was not a knob attached to the door, upon further looking she saw that there was no hinges either. Was it really a door? There was only one way to find out, and to find out if it was a door to a room or a decoration. Gwen would lift her left hand, making a small fist, and she would proceed to knock lightly upon the wooden surface. Then she would take a step back, as she awaited to see if something did happen.

[Epiphany]

Oh, something happened when she knocked on that door, that's for sure. This door couldn't get knocked on and not have anything happen. Unless it wasn't occupied at the moment. Fortunatly, the Door was in!

Knock, knock, knock was followed by the sound of a coin dropping down a hollow tube and dropping to the bottom, spinning quickly before it landed. Perhaps the door was hollow? Things were not always as they appeared to be. The coin sound was then followed by a scampering. This started at the base of the door, left side, and worked its way up in a diagonal pattern until it reached the very top, then, from inside came a high pitched muffled tone that was signing.

"Keep on knockin' butcha can't come in!" It was clear enough for the words to be heard for anyone who took the opportunity to hear. When that was done a small door, about three inches wide and two inches long, opened up.. It was very dark on the inside, however, two pin point silver eyes peeked from that darkness.

"And who might you be?"

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

Eyes would widen as she heard the sound of a coin dropping, and the spinning before a noise as it landed. She looked at her left hand, making sure her hand was still empty. Flexing her fingers a moment before looking back to the door, she was still puzzling over where the coin came from. Though her mind wouldn't get to stay there for long because the door was talking. The Inn had a talking door?! She had only thought that such things were in the stories that mothers told their young ones.

When the small door opened up and two pin point silver eyes peeked out from the darkness, her hands lifted upwards towards her chest, in a protective move, instinctively. Lowering her arms, her hands at her sides, she would look at where she thought the voice was coming from. And out came the babble. "Hello! I am Gwendolyn, but Leo calls me Gatito, and my adoptive mom calls me Gwen....and I knocked upon this door because it looked special." Yes the door did not ask her why she was knocking on the door, but she was giving an answer that it may or may not wish for.

One might think that stuff like this happened to her all the time, but this was a first, she just hoped she was handling everything okay. She did not know the proper procedures for such a situation, so she was plowing ahead.

[Epiphany]

Well now, wasn't this person bright and bubbly and airy and seemed a bit on the chatty side too! Those pen tip eyes continued to look down upon this young girl, being still and not making any sound at all until the one who was doing the talking began to spout out a name!

Oh this made the Door simply squeal with glee and excitement. It started as a low shrill whistle only to escalade to the point where it probably cut the poor girl off. The Silver eyes vanished for a moment and then came a one note sound on the harmonica followed by another song in that same high pitched voice.

"Oooohhhh!
A name, a name
I got a name.
Not one
Not two
but three of the same.

It's not in stone,
but spoke alone

This name I keep
This name is mine
I will not trade it anytime

It's mine
It's mine
It - is - mine!"

Another blow on the harmonica and the eyes returned.

"Thanks for the name. Goodbye." What happened next? Well that small door closed of course.

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

When the door did squeal with delight it took Gwen by surprise, which would be noticeable by the small jump. Then she listened to the song that the door was singing about her names. Then she heard the door say her name was now the doors and that got a slightly confused look upon delicate features. She heard the blow on the harmonica again and went to open her mouth, but it seemed she had not chance for the door thanked her for the name, then said goodbye.

A small shake of her head, for this opened all kinds of questions, and she would stare at the door, her head tilted to the left for a moment of her speaking. "Pardon me, Door, you can't just go around stealing names! If you steal my name then who would I be then? And that is not very nice stealing is bad. You can get into a loooot of trouble!" Not that Gwen had ever stolen anything, because she was raised not too. She gave a gentle shake of her head, "Don't you have a name of your own?" Now if she did not get a response from the door, she just might have to knock again.

If she had things that she should be doing, she might of left when the door said goodbye, but as fate had it, the girl had nothing to occupy her time this day, except for the door.

[Epiphany]

Who was she to say that the Door couldn't go around stealing names or doing this, that and many others? It knew who she was, she was Gwen, or had been Gwen until she had given out her name and it was taken! That's right, the Door took the name and now Gwen was no longer Gwen. Sure, she could continue to call herself that if she wanted, believing that she was the same person who stepped up and knocked on the door to all her unknown ills and woes, but the Door knew different.

The Door could hear everything, didn't matter if that small window door at the top of the door was open or if she knocked again or not. The Door was listening - and sniggering - to itself as it heard her go on. Should it reply, say something in return? Why not, she may make a good person to play with and perhaps it would get something else during the verbal exchanges!

When it spoke now the voice did not come from one centralized location, rather it bounced from one spot to the next all across the width and length of the door, and in two different pitches. Why did it do this? The answer is because the Door was about to recite a few lines from a story.

"Who... are... you?"
------"Why, I hardly know, sir. I've changed so much since this morning, you see..."

"No, I do not C, explain yourself."
------"I'm afraid I can't explain myself, you see, because I'm not myself, you know."

"I do not know."
------"I can't put it any more clearly, sir, because it isn't clear to me."

The bit of dialogue was followed by tinkling laughter. Clearly the Door thought what it recited was funny for it related it to this girl saying who she was going to be now that it had her name.

"Don't I have a name? Of course I have a name, I have hundreds of names!"

How true that was.

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

Did the door have other magical powers? Could it really change her? Just because her name was now shared with the door? It wasn't that Gwen couldn't share, not that she had to share anything in quite a long time. It was a good thing that Gwen didn't know that the door knew so much, for she might of ran away then. But she didn't so she didn't have to run away, she could stay and play.

She would learn that she wouldn't have to knock to hear from the door, that now she had the doors attention, it did hear her when it did indeed reply to her again. Though she wouldn't know that the door was always on guard so to speak, that would have to take a visit or three. So when the voice began once more, she would notice that no small door opened this time, and no silver pin points were looking upon her.

She was sure that there was something in that story that she should take away with her, but that wasn't happening right now. Perhaps later when she laid in bed, and the words repeated themselves she would figure out how. "Then you are a collector of names? It is good to have a hobby! Do you have a favorite name? Do you belong to anyone?" She had the touch of curiosity and it was starting to come out now.

Fingers would move to clasp in front of her form, as she rocked back and forth upon her heels. Fingers once clasped they would move around each other a bit, as she talked and did listen and await...

[Epiphany]

It was funny wasn't it, the way she went on and how she sounded so excited about things. Or really that she was excited to not have a name. It liked people like that, though it rarely came across to many people who were 'bubbly'. Its owner was - most of the time anyway, but that was completely different as they had an understanding and it wasn't trying to get things from her, or her from it, or vice versa in any way.

But this person, this person was different and yet something about her struck the Door as familiar. Might be a kindred spirit or the same as the owner. Didn't know and may not even find out, though going back and forth a bit may help it out. Besides, it didn't even know why this person was here.

It was time for a better look.

The scurrying noise returned, as well as a jingle of bells (whatever that was for) all the way to the top of the door. That small door reopened and the silver pen-tip eyes appeared again. "I have a favorite name but I'm not about to give it to you," said the voice in a snippy tone. "It's not my fault that you carelessly tossed your name out there for any and all to have." Favorite name. The Door had to have one? Perhaps it was its own name? Whatever that was . . .

In sing-song tones, an a harmonica blow, the Door spoke again, those silver eyes moving as if in a dance.

"Everyone, everything, belongs to something.
------Who you're with, and where you go, only you will know.
------------Make a choice, name a place, no returns for your mistakes!"

The end was announced with another blow. "Well, what do you want?"

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

Perhaps it was lucky for the door that the currently bubbly Gwendolyn had not yet figured out the doors tricks! And she was rather amazed that she was standing in the hallway conversing with a door! Who would of ever thought that she would be doing such a thing, it made her want to pinch herself to make sure it was indeed real and not a dream. But she wasn't about to do such just yet.

As she stood there at the door awaiting what it was going to do or say next, she would appear to be studying the door. From here it looked like every other old castle door she had seen, which actually come to think of it had been a few. Yet there was something special about this door. As for why she was at the door, she didn't really know herself except the door stood out.

"Do you fear that I might steal your favorite name for myself? Because I wouldn't do that." Shaking her head as she spoke, "I was just curious that I was, because if you take everyone's name I figured you have heard many names that I never had." She would rock back upon her heels again, looking rather thoughtful, "And how can you steal my names? They were gifts to me, so I would still be well, me wouldn't I?" A pause in her babbles, "And a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. My name doesn't make me whom I am, I make me whom I am." At least that's what she had taken from the lines, not that she had read Romeo and Juliet all the way through, she heard it did not have a happy ending so she thought to save it for another time.

Then the door was singing again, perhaps it wasn't a real song, but Gwen did hush when the harmonica did blow, for she liked to listen, and try to make things make sense, which did not seem all that possible at the moment. Once the door was done, and asked the question of her she would ponder just a moment. What did she want, she was still undecided. "What do I want? I am not quite sure. Perhaps to talk? You are a very interesting door. Do you lead to a room? Or are you a decoration? Why don't you have any hinges?" The door did ask her a question....and the door got questions in return!

[Epiphany]

"No. No. No." and a tsk, tsk, tsk came from that opened part in the Door. The young lady formerly known as Gwen had recited a part of a play but did it without any pizazz or bravado at all. It was words. Plainly spoken words that were recited from memory. If she was going to give the Door words, then they had to not be plain. "Come on now. If you're going to stand outside of me and make quotations and rhymes and take up my time you need to make it interesting. That's my first and last warning!"

Did she dare to test the validity of the Doors warning? It was a door, what could it really do? That is, besides talk. The Door skipped over that whole name business because it didn't think it was important. Why would it keep talking about names if it had no desire to speak any names. Sure, it had a vast amount of odd names in its repertoire and it wasn't about to let any of them go.

So it was on to the next, questions. She wanted to know about the Door and some of those things were rather personal and it took offense. Looking at those eyes anyone could see that they now had an upwards slant, a rather high pitched "Pft!" Came forth.

"Decoration. Like you don't decorate yourself by putting those things over your body." It was talking about the clothes she wore. "Decoration. And hinges? Hinges!" Might be good to note that it had no handle either, or even one of those plates that people pushed against on those modern swing doors. "I don't need hinges to signify that I'm a door."

Didn't the Door sound bit miffed. There was a bit of inaudible muttering going on for a few moments before the Door spoke again with: "Maybe you come from places were doors have to have hinges and sit neatly in frames and have the vocal capacities of a block of wood and go no where, but I'm not from there."

Those eyes looked back down at here. "Where do you think I lead? Name somewhere."

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

When the door told her no, and made the other comments Gwen would pause just a moment before speaking, "I dare say Door, that I did not know I would be spouting quotes, or that I should be entertaining a door. Next time, I shall make sure to bring costumes and work on my dialect so I might pronounce the words correctly." Her tone had not changed from the happy bubbly it had been when she spoke of anything else. She did have other tones in her voice, but it usually took something big to get it to change. And it would be interesting if she did follow through on such a performance in the hall for the door at some later date.

She would notice that the door did not wish to speak of names anymore, and Gwen would not push and ask that again, at least not right away! There was no guarantee that she wouldn't fall back into that line of questioning at another time.

Her eye's would widen as she noticed that she did offend the door, it was not her purpose and she would dip her head a moment, as she spoke, "I did not mean to offend you Mr. .... um.... Mrs. err...um...Door!" She shook her head and looked back forward towards the door. "I am sorry I don't know what to call you. Would Door be sufficient?" She was bumbling and she didn't know how to save herself. A soft sigh would escape parted lips before she attempted anything else to come out of her mouth.

Gwen would look down at her body, the only thing she saw was her clothing. She figured she could go without it, but she wasn't sure of the looks one would get if that ran around with out clothes. She had no jewelry on so it was the only thing the door could be suggestion as decoration. "And I just have never seen a door open that didn't have hinges...I have not explored to much." She could admit such. And then she decided to go with the question of what she thought was behind the door. She took a deep breath, "I would think with you being a special door that you would either have a very special person behind you or the heavens..." She had heard many stories about the heavens and the angels.

[Epiphany]

The Door could have laughed itself silly. It could have and probably would if it wasn't trying to keep up the appearance of being flustered and in a total state of discontent with what this Gwen-person had said moments ago. Maintaining an appearance was important, even for this Door. Besides, it helped to get the point across. Already the person outside had promised a better performance and you better bet your bottom dollar that the Door was going to expect it next time too!

But this girl was quite puzzling. Why would it not be sufficient for her to call it Door? "Why would it not be sufficient to call me what I am? I am a Door after all. It would be wrong, though, if you called me the Door." A very brief, momentary pause. "I'm not as great as all that." On top of being a door that talked, it had the ability to be boastful as well. A special door indeed.

Now there was a destination in mind. Now there was more to this verbal ping-pong than idle chatter. Now, this girl had named what she wanted. A different sound now come from the Door now, a low hum, tinkering blades of grass upon a polished cymbal. When the Door spoke next it's voice was of one who spoke with a carefully guarded secret and there was a sparkle in those silver pin-point eyes.

"Speak the name you gave me and press your right hand fully against my wood."

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

And once Gwen did return back to her room, she would begin to start thinking of what and how she would indeed perform for the door. She wondered about props she could use, but those thoughts were pushed aside for the moment. She had other things on her mind, which seemed to flutter from topic to topic so much sometimes, that she had trouble staying focused on one thing for to long.

She turned her attention which had drifted to the former mentioned acts, as she pondered just a moment. "Well, it's not that it would be sufficient, it is just that you are not like the other doors. You stand apart not only in your appearance but in the fact that you can talk!" Only a small pause here, "You are the first door I have ever met that can talk...or at least that has shown such an ability to me....can all doors talk?" Her head tilted as she looked in thought a moment then pushed that thought away, "Why would it be wrong to call you The Door? At least then you would have a title. And if the other doors do not speak as you do, wouldn't that make you special?" She was just giving her honest opinion and thoughts!

Lids would close and open in a blink at the new noise, head cocking slightly as she listened to see if she could figure it out, which she couldn't so head would right itself. Slowly when the door gave her directions she followed without hesitation, that could get a girl into trouble, though she wasn't even thinking of that. Left hand lifted and pressed against the door, flat. Her voice would come out softly almost like she expected to say what the door had asked and have it laugh or bite her or something! But what would the door do with this, "Someone special or the Heavens." She had spoken two things and she did not know which one the door was talking about. Who knew maybe someone special was in the heavens!

[Epiphany]

Could all doors talk. Pft. It had told her that doors had vocal capacities of wooden blocks so of course they couldn't talk. But those were doors, not Doors, so this Door wasn't surprised. There's a lot of difference in a capital or lowercase letter, like how important that thing was.

The Door had told her to place her right hand against the wood, and she had used her left. How much difference would that make and would it change what was behind the Door? Most certainly. Although, if one never knew what was suppose to be there, they'd never know what was missing.

As soon as she touched the Door the time for talk - at least on its end - had passed. There were no more words, no more strange sounds, the Door merely swung inward (even though it had no hinges). What would be seen when the door opened . . .

A light, bright enough to cause momentary blindness, broke through as the Door opened and then faded out to reveal open sky and white clouds that had a golden hue. An overwhelming sense of peace and fulfillment. Beyond the threshold of the Door there was no ground - though the awaiting cloud that was there could be something to stand on - only sky. And clouds. It went on for miles in every direction, all that could be seen was sky.

But wait, what was this?

If a person took time to study the clouds some of them appeared to make a type of stairway - granted one where the person would either have to jump from one to the other in a zig-zag pattern, but there was a 'staircase'. And at the top, what else, but what could be described as a large shiny, golden gate.

Now, would she go in? Better question, would she figure out the staircase if she decided to go to the gate?

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

Now Gwen wouldn't of put two and two together on the wooden blocks for vocal chords. She would just assume that all door parts were made of wood except for a normal door when there was windows and hinges and perhaps even door knobs! It seemed that The Door was indeed special as she had thought! She had been right about that one.

She had been in such awe of the talking door that she had not paid attention to the details, and indeed details were very important and perhaps if there was a next time she would take heed. But if one did not know what was suppose to be there, they wouldn't know what was missing! That could be a good thing or a bad thing, it really depended on what was really there. When the door opened, the bright light did blind her, her arm would come up to shield her eyes, though she realized that she did not have to hold that position long and her arms would fall back to her sides. Her mouth fell open only a moment before she would notice the cloud that looked as if it was there to be used to move further in. Unsure of how it was going to work, and hoping she didn't fall and plunge to her death, she would move through the door and gave a little jump onto the awaiting cloud. Eyes closed just a moment as she landed to see if she fell straight through. Turning back towards the door, she would give an eye widening look, "This is beautiful."

Once she realized she wasn't plunging down, she let out a small breath that she had not realized she was holding. Her gaze would dart around the area, moving carefully she would begin to explore the area. She had not expected to see such a place when she told the door, and yet the door seemed to be showing her exactly what she had mentioned. She wandered around for a little while, just looking at the area, she was still in awe.

It would take her a bit of time, but she would find the makeshift stair case. With a look of pondering upon delicate features she would study it for a few moments. She had played many games of hopscotch when she was little, and she had a feeling a few hops and skips it just might work. Taking a deep breath and refusing to look down, She would take a little bit of a running start before jumping from the ground clouds to the next higher one, giving a hop to the next cloud, pausing there a moment. She would take a small breath, looking up to see how many more clouds she had to go, she refused to look down, she feared she would go tumbling if she did, perhaps once she reached the top. With that thought she would continue moving in a zig zag fashion, jumping carefully to each cloud. Taking another break right before she reached the clouds with the golden shiny gate, she would take a breath, backing up as much as she could on the cloud to give her a little running start before jumping onto that last cloud. Talk about being a human ping pong ball.

She would pause looking at the gate, wondering what would happen if she did try to enter it, she wasn't sure what the gates were for, and just whom could use them. Looking she did not see anyone right off, so she would attempt to enter through the gate.

[Epiphany]

As soon as Gwen walked through the door and landed on that first cloud the Door started to close slowly. It made no noise as it moved to a close, it just did. Now, when she looked back at it that first time to make the comment about the beautiful room the Door was still there, plain and out of place in a setting such a this, but at least it showed her that there was a way out. However, once Gwen started moving away from the Door it began to fade. Literally. Even if she went all the way back to where she started the Door would not be there; its place filled with more sky and clouds.

How was she suppose to get out? That may be something to ponder at another time.

The clouds only sank a few inches with every one of her landings and the decrease probably wasn't even noticed. Each cloud also emitted its own low white light that shone for a moment before fading. Each of these lights were reflecting off of that large golden gate.

This gate looked as if it could have been plucked out of a story book about the golden gates of Heaven for it was very tall and wide and each bar of it held its own unique shine. It did not speak but held it's own sense of majesty about it and power. Perhaps, if Gwen had a blackened soul or a heart that was not kind this gate would have started to burn her for standing so close to it - especially when she touched it to ease it open. But this didn't happen. Instead it moved easily for her.

As the gate parted to allow her to enter it would rumble slightly and a deep voice came forth from all around.

"Welcome home."

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

It was probably a good thing that Gwendolyn was paying attention to the awe of being in the clouds. If she had noticed the Door disappearing it might of caused a small panic. Or she might of attempted to get back down the broken cloud stair case to catch the door before it did disappear. But that was not the case. She would have to figure out how to go back to the Inn once she realized that the Door had left her there! Deserted even!

When the gate did let her open it, she was a bit surprised, and the fact that someone didn't swoop down upon her form, caused a moment of pondering as well. She had heard that most gates like the one she was entering had someone that watched them at all times. Thankfully she was not a evil being because getting burned hurt!

As she slipped in past the gate, she would jump, her arms moving quickly up towards her chest, hands covering the bottom part of her face as wide eyes looked around. The voice that sounded as if it was coming from well all around her, had spooked her for a moment. And odd sense of peace entered her, as her arms lowered to her sides, though that questioning look formed over her features. "Home?" Such a odd thing to hear one when entered through a pretty gate. "What do you mean welcome home Mr. Voice?" She was just guessing because the voice was deep, though she probably had the voice pegged wrong, she did that a lot.

She could not help but continue to look around, though she had stopped just in the gate. It seemed so peaceful here, unlike other places she had visited. Then her voice crept out once more. "Is this Heaven?" If so, she had just learnt something very interesting about The Door's powers.

Part of her wondered if the voice would speak again, or if she should continue to explore. She decided she would wait a few moments, before moving forward, the Voice did say welcome home, so if she did explore it wouldn't be that bad, right?

[Epiphany]

Was it Heaven?

It could be Heaven, or it could be something that was similar. The answer may be in the reply that came. "This is what it is." It was the same deep voice and, just like before, it was everywhere. Heaven was many things to many people.

The feeling that surrounded this place was incredible. Peace and joy, as though all he cares and worries had been taken away, as well as any other negative feelings. But all that glitters is not gold for stepping through the gate came with it's own 'gifts'. There was no one at the gate to tell the curious Gwendolyn that things of the mortal realm have no place 'through the Gate' and that the deeper she went the more of herself she would loose. The more of her 'mortal self' that is.

It was not anything sudden, she may have forgotten what she had for breakfast yesterday or the search for her cat would be equal to a long ago memory, or distant dream. There, and yet not. No need to worry, once she left the gate that knowledge would return so that she would be able to continue the form of life relating to the world she lived in.

There was a reason that Voice had welcomed Gwen. When she had touched the wood of the Door it knew who she was -more than by name. She was not simply Gwendolyn (or Gwen) but she was half sister of Epiphany and some of the same blood ran through their veins. It wasn't an equal share - siblings never had exact DNA structures - but it was there.

"You may call me Voice. What is it you are seeking?" The question was asked whether the Voice knew the answer or not.

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

This is what it is, well that was a answer, though it did not give the girl any direction. As she took a step forward, she would begin to feel the peacefulness and joy, that she had not felt seep into her bones. Everyone has worries, even sweet tempered ones, and it would be a small weight lifted from her shoulders. She had not had to many things to think negatively upon, and those that had lurked in her mind, were gone.

She was not trying to remember anything at the moment, so she wouldn't even realize such thoughts were gone. Instead she was filling herself upon the sights, sounds and feelings of this place she was exploring. Gwen normally did not go off exploring on her own, she had heard that evil people did lurk in dark corners, but something about this place made her feel safe.

The Door and The Voice knew more about Gwen with that tad bit of information then she knew! Oh she knew she was adopted but she did not know anything really about her birth family or the fact that she had at least a half sister! Especially the fact that she had a half sister that was so close!

"Nice to meet you Voice! Are you related to The Door?" She paused in her thoughts a moment, "What am I seeking?" Now came a very puzzled look, she was just exploring did one always have to be seeking something? Perhaps she would never know what caused her to ask this question, though it was something that did come into her mind from time to time, "Voice, are you all knowing? Because I am curious if I have any siblings out there. And why you said welcome home...." She really did not wonder about her birth parents, and she had always wanted to have more family. Gwen would continue to explore the grounds, though she did not go to far from the Gate, even if The Voice was coming from every area.

[Epiphany]

This Voice, and the Door that had led her to this particular destination were two different 'beings' that had no real connection to each other and yet, "Everything is connected." The Voice proclaimed. "I am connected to the Door just as you are connected to me." Answers the Voice gave, although it seemed as though it was not a fan of straight and clear answers.

The air was still here and yet the clouds below them drifted slightly, perhaps by their own power, or even something else entirely. If it were not for the peaceful feeling this place possessed anyone here may get an eerie feeling due to the complete lack of sound that now settled amongst the clouds. Once words were spoken the residual effects that would normally linger about died. Any rustle of clothing, hum from breathing, or even the click of the tongue against teeth, died as soon as the sound was made. Was this a sudden thing or had the room been this silent? Would she remember . . . ?

With the absence of sound, and Gwen's focus elsewhere, it might be possible that she didn't notice that the gate she had stepped through was slowly inching to a close.

To further help keep Gwen distracted a large portion of the air in front of her shimmered, like a water ripple, and a hazy image started to appear. It was a view of a cliff-face, flat, with trees falling out in the distance. Looking closely enough at the image the viewer may be able to make out the outline of a young lady who sat at the cliff, one leg dangling over the edge while the other was bent up and the females head was resting on the knee. There was nothing defined about this shape at all. It was a shape, accented with red, golds, and blues. Then Voice spoke out again. "You share blood with the Epiphany. Where you dwell, so does she."

It was true, and yet, it was vague. The image stayed there on display.

[Gwendolyn Zoi]

When the Voice did speak, it had her full attention, any stray thoughts had disappeared once more. That was a big accomplishment for her mind did roam from here to there and back around the bend most of the time. She was getting better at keeping her mind on track, and it seemed right now, she was doing better then normal at that one goal. "We are all connected?" She moved her hands around her to see if she felt any odd strings that had not been there before now, but felt nothing out of place with her hands.

She had noticed the clouds were moving, and she was opening her mouth to speak about it, for she had not noticed it before she was quickly distracted. She had started to turn back to the gate, but then the air began to shimmer in front of her very face, and with the fuzzy image, she could not turn away, curiosity. Perhaps that was not given to her by birth, but by being raised by Azlin, you could get traits being raised around them, right? She did not even notice she was leaning closer to the image that was appearing. Her head tilting just so attempting to get a better view, though it did not seem to be coming in any clearer. Then the words would seep in, for she had not expected more words, when the image had appeared, she had forgotten the question that had started everything. "I...share blood with Epiphany...in what way?" Of course, that would bring more questions. "Or do you mean we are connected like you and I, and the Door and you, the Voice?"

She had heard that Epiphany was in the inn, but this made no sense to her, if she and Pip were related in some fashion wouldn't Azlin or Airtia tell them? And she knew that Az never mentioned anything to her, though she wondered if Air had ever said anything to Pip, but that thought was quickly shaken off. Was it possible that the blood that was shared was so distinct that they did not know, or was it closer then one would think, yet they never put two and two together? This was puzzling, though her gaze did not seem to tear itself from the image, she slowly sank to a lady like sit upon the clouds. The gate was completely forgotten, the Voice dropped a bombshell that gave her pause.

[Epiphany]

The image stayed there for her to see and, no matter how close she got to it or how she would squint up her eyes, the image would stay as a haze. If she knew who Epiphany was then there was no need for the picture to be clearer. If she didn't, then she would have to discover that on her own. "All blood stems from the same source, given by the same Being." Came the Voices reply to her question though, for once, it may be clearer than it had been all night. "You share the blood of your mother. "

It did finally register, that the image was that of Epiphany, as that was whom the Voice was speaking of. It all made sense, she was wondering now if The Door just happened to be Epiphany's door as well. A small nod, even if she wasn't sure the Voice could see her, though that bit did not seem to need a audio answer. She spoke softly, as she sat upon the clouds, they had dipped a bit, but they were steady enough. "Epiphany is my half sister?" That's what the Voice was saying right? "I have...close blood family." She was slightly awed before asking the same voice, "Does she know about me?" Of course, she would wonder about Epiphany now, and if she knew or not.

Truthfully Gwen did not have to talk at all for the Voice to be able to hear it for she was right when she asked if it was all-knowing. Though this was the case, it never said anything of it. What was, and what will be may already be known to it, but that did not mention it. There was simply no need. "She knows what is given to her to know as it is with all things." When Gwen sat down she would find that the cloud was very soft and it cradled around her, conforming to her shape and relaxing her body. She may even feel compelled to lay down or sleepy. "The time for you to know that you are not alone has come. "

But if she knew that and did not talk out loud she would feel as if she was talking to herself once more, and such as the information she was finding out, she needed to hear her voice, make sure it was not some crazy dream. Of course, back to the not full answers, she did hope that if Epiphany did know that she took it okay. As the cloud was cradled around her, she smiled, "Clouds are rather soft." She would of never known that, if she hadn't met the Door. She did think of laying down upon the clouds, but she felt she needed to be alert, and if she laid down, her mind would no doubt wander away. "Why has this time come? Did I do something I wasn't suppose? Is there something I am suppose to be doing?" There started the questions, she thought perhaps if she asked three one of the answers would make sense.

"You are doing what you are suppose to do." How Gwen would love the Voice and its way of speaking. She had to be getting use to it by now. "Your inquisitive mind is leading you forward with questions and will cause you to seek the answers." That gate continued to inch to a close and in another second or two it would be completely shut. The female in the picture - Epiphany - moved. Slightly. The leg that had been dangling down the cliff rose and she hugged her knees. "Do not be afraid of the answers or the questions."

"So I am suppose to be asking you questions?" She took that to be she was doing what she is suppose to be doing right at that moment. She was starting to get used to the Voice, it was somewhat soothing, that it did not seem to change the way it answered things. She would nod once more, then it was odd, something caught her attention, perhaps it was a flicker or a glimmer, "Whys the Gate closing?" She did not really think to much of it, just a random curiosity, seeing the Gate had stayed open for so long after she arrived. But then the image did move slightly, "But if I don't know the questions I am suppose to ask, how do I know to ask them?" She paused a moment, "And can just anyone come through the gate?"

There was a moment or two of silence - deafly silence - as the Voice said nothing in response. Unnerving silence if it wasn't for the peaceful feelings being put out. "Anyone who is allowed entrance may pass through the gate." That was the important question and therefore itw as answered first. As to whether or not asking the Voice questions was what she was suppose to be doing....."The Gate symbolizes a choice. The choice of whether to go in or to stay out. You have decided to go in. Speak now if you want to return, but be warned. IF you go back through that gate you will remember nothing of this encounter." For just as things of the mortal world were forgotten the more she moved in this place. so would the knowledge of this place leave her.

The silence had her wondering if she should be scared, yet that peaceful feeling never did leave, so she was not. "How does one get allowed entrance? Or how am I allowed such entrance?" She was silent but after the Voice spoke again, "I wish to learn more, I just found out about Epiphany and if I wished to leave I would not remember her? But does that mean I can never go back, if I wish to remember that I do have family?" Her head tilted for that was a not something wished for either, she felt rather, torn.

"You must find another way." Those were closing words and once they were said the gate shut tightly. Not only that, but once it was shut the golden gate began to shimmer and shine. Each pole with it's own light and all of it grew in its intensity to near blindness. When the light died down the gate would be gone. No gate, no Door, Gwen was left sitting alone in the clouds with that hazy image of Epiphany before her. Gwen was no in the room with no visible way of escape. Or.. was there?

"Another way? What do you expect me to sprout wings?" Once more the tone of her voice was still pleasant, that never changed unless she was truely frightened or upset, and how could one be one or the other in such peaceful surroundings. Her arms lifted to cover her face from the brightness; it almost felt as if she could feel heat in the blindness it caused. As she let her arms fall down from her face, one reached out towards the image, not where it would distort the image of Epiphany but off to the side of the image.

Another way, just as the Voice said. And she could sprout wings - if she knew how - but that was certainly a way to fix this possible dilemma. When Gwen reached out towards the picture something strange happened, there was a 'force' that seemed to press against that hand the closer she got to the picture. It wasn't something she couldn't push against but the air seemed more.... solid? Heavy. Thick. But her hand swayed. It didn't touch the picture, but off to the side. As her hand moved to the side of the picture the air returned to normal. "You must do, what you must do."

But she did not know she could or how to do such a thing! She just figured they were in the clouds what better way to move about them. She blinked at the force, she knew it was just a image, and her hand still moved but it did not keep its course, instead it was next to where she had aimed her hand. "This image...can it not be touched?" Or did she just need to aim a different way, or perhaps stand and run at it...that could hurt though. Her mind of course was thinking all of these very things, "Except I don't know what I must do. I don't want to forget any family..."She let out a deep sigh.

Something strange happened when Gwen said 'family' with the sigh in her words, the figure in the image moved again. The head turned and, though the face was a blur, it could be assumed that it was looking towards Gwen. Was it possible that an image that had no eyes was able to see? Aside from that movement the picture was still. "Life . . .is risk." There was nothing in life that did not involve risk, some form of chance. If anyone could go through life without risk, then they may as well be dead. "What are you willing to risk?"

Gwen blinked, for she could of sworn the image had moved. It was not like she had anything really else to look at, besides the image. But she gave a small shake of her head, perhaps speaking to the Voice and the Door was starting to mess with her mind. She did not hesitate, which would be rather odd for her, with what she was about to say, "For family? I'd risk everything." Gwen was rather loyal, in her own way, though she wasn't sure what everything was, her voice was still rather strong, yet wispy at the same time. She looked at the image, once more, though this time it was more of a studying look around the air near it, as if she could see anything different. Slowly she would raise from the comfortable seat of the clouds, before the voice could answer, and asked in the most innocent way one could, "Voice...what exactly must I risk to know my adoptive mother and half sister?" She almost sounded a bit scared, yet there was a piece of steel in the girl that rarely showed itself, but it was now.

Gwen had steel resolve. The Voice saw this, the Door - even though it was no where in sight - saw this and it was something that was seen with an approving eye. The peace that surrounded this place began to have an underlining of Gwen's mood. There was strength in the air as well as determination, these things only made the peace more fulfilling. As if it was something that had to be maintained. something that was important. The image moved again. Epiphany's legs lowering before she stood up and was now standing on the edge of the cliff face. The head turned away from looking at Gwen and looked back off into the distance. "Everything." Came the strong sound of the Voice. It sounded more powerful than it had when it was talking to her before. And there was a small... something.. urging Gwen forward towards the picture.

[Epiphany]

Most people that had met Gwen would not of known she had that in her. She noticed that the feeling had changed a bit of the place, but it was not a bad change, and it did not make her uncomfortable in the least. She felt as if she was more atuned to the things around the place then she felt back at the Inn, but that was not something she was going to dwell upon, for her mind was on something else. She noticed the picture and the image had moved, she wasn't sure if that was good or bad. She half wanted to close her eyes, when the Voice did say everything, but she did not. She felt the urging, and she did move closer towards the picture, the movement was not overly forceful but it wasn't as if she was scared of the image. She figured the worse that would happen would she would end up back on her rump in the clouds. She would attempt to walk right into the area the image took up.

Just as before, when Gwen moved towards the image there was that invisible force pushing against her, like a small shove telling her to go back and to not attempt to do what she was wanting to do: to go through that image. It had to be something that Gwen wanted to do, that she was certain of doing, that she wasn't going to give up in doing. And, if she was determined and continued to press forward, there would be a prickly sensation at first on her skin, the type that caused the hair on a persons arms and legs to stand up straight. And, if she continued to press, that sensation would start to burn as though she was standing in direct sunlight on a hot summer day. The space between this 'wall' and the image measured about five feet. Five feet, five steps. With each step the sensation of being burned would increase until. at the end, she would reach the picture and fall straight down . . . Would she be deterred?

She kept moving forward, she felt force pushing against her, but it was something that the Voice had said, everything. It was worth it to know the truth was it not? Some might of said that it was not worth it, but to this girl, it was. Gwen was usually a passive being but when she wanted something, or when something was this important to her, she would not back down, on her own accord. She felt the prickly sensation, but she did not stop her pursuit forward, nor did the hair standing up, effect her at this particular moment, instead she continued through until suddenly she felt very hot, she had thought to lift a hand to fan her, but she was using all of her force to keep moving forward, the heat would end eventually right? And it did seem that she finally reached the picture, and now she was falling down, well that took care of the heat. But what was going to stop the falling!

Down, down, down she went, if she was wearing a skirt it surely would have flown upwards so hopefully she was wearing something underneath? Though... was there anyone around to see? Or would there be anyone? Down past clouds, lower and lower into the blue sky. There was nothing to see and nothing to hear except for the sound of her going through the air. But there was something going on below. Where Gwen was falling to was the place in the picture, though still a bit of a ways down, there was the cliff and on that cliff there was Epiphany, hair back and dressed in a red crop top a shorts ,both with a gold trim. She looked up and saw that Gwen was coming from the sky. She cupped her hands about her mouth and tipped her head up to yell. "Turn down! Hold out your hand!" She was far away still, if Gwen saw her, she might look like an ant. Would the words reach.?

Good thing for Gwen that this very day she had chosen to wear blue jeans. It was one of the modern things that Cam had introduced her to, and she was rather thankful for that, especially at this very moment! If she had been wearing a dress or skirt, at this moment, even though she was falling she would of felt mortified, it just was not lady like to show your under things to the world! It was just as lucky for her that she had not taken her braid that she slept with her hair in either, for during this free fall her hair would of likely ended up straight in her face, as it was it would beat against her body randomly, but that was better...wasn’t it? She would make out the voice very dimly but she heard it, and she was not putting to much stock into who's voice it was. Instead she would turn her body as the voice said, and her arms would go out. She had been trusting a Voice and a Door, so why not trust this one as well? Soaring down she went.

Good.. she had heard her, it would be rather.. complicated if Gwen hadn't heard Epiphany shouting up at her from below. It was going to be rather complicated anyway, but at least Gwen was aware, and being aware was half the battle. Now, Epiphany was on the cliff and there was nothing around for her to hold on too. The trees were too far back and if she moved she wasn't exactly sure that she would be able to direct Gwen to spin and turn in the air to navigate. She didn't know if she had ever done free-falling before. So, Epiphany crouched down a bit and set her feet firmly on the ground. She rubbed her hands together and reached up. "Reach for my hands!" The direction Gwen was falling.. if she happened to miss Pips hand she would fall down the cliff and into the crashing waves that were a couple hundred feet below and, at the rate she was already falling, that type of fall could be fatal.

Yes, it was a very good thing! Maybe she heard her because she was more in tune with herself after the time in the clouds, or maybe because that Voice wanted her to hear her, but whatever caused it, it happened. Gwen had indeed not done any free-falling before, as this was a first, she was glad she had not gone to the bathroom in her pants to be honest, yet she felt a sense of enjoyment, when she wasnt thinking of hitting the ground. Gwen took a deep breath as she got closer she realized it was indeed Epiphany and the scene was that image she had seen, she would of nodded her head, but that was not possible to much at the moment. So as she closed in on Epiphany, her hands would reach out, grasping Epiphany's own. Surely if Pip did save Gwen the force would send them tumbling?

Indeed it would. It was some physics law that said that a force in motion stays in motion until a stronger force stops it. Right now, Gwen was the force that was in motion and at the rate and speed of her fall Epiphany was certainly not the stronger force that would be able to stop it. What would happen to the pair? Epiphany was preparing herself for this was going to hurt. In truth, if circumstances were a bit different, she may be able to sprout her own wings and provide that extra bit of force that would push against Gwen and cause them to have a rather 'peaceful' landing. If things were different. If she thought enough about it now, if she tried hard and willed it to be so, she might be able to do it still. Alas, her thoughts were not on that, they were on catching this person - whom she did not yet recognize as Gwen - and keeping her from sudden death. Even if that meant she suffered a bit on her own expense. Ready... ready... Gwen's hands were there and Epiphany jumped up to catch them. but she didn't get her hand, more like her wrist, but she had them tight. With the hold Epiphany grunted as she pulled Gwen close to her and, just as Gwen thought, the two of them went past the cliff and down towards the sea....

(The end..... of part 1)

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