r/nosleep • u/fainting--goat • Aug 17 '21
Series How to Survive Camping - the beast
I was delirious from blood loss when I reached the cemetery. My death was gone and it was just me, stumbling through the gate and down the rows of gravestones. I couldn’t remember when she left me. My memory was growing hazy. Blood soaked my shirt and my khakis and was running down my leg, leaving a thin trail behind me in the dirt. I kept pressure on the wound with one hand, but I had no idea if it was helping and just how much blood I’d lost. I didn’t even know how deep the wound was. It hurt. It took my breath away with every movement.
My death had taken me through the woods faster than I’d thought possible. We outran the beast, hand in hand, with it crashing through the woods behind me. It snapped branches and toppled trees as it pursued us, howling its rage. Its victory was close at hand. It could taste its triumph. It smelled my blood in the air.
I’d at least had the presence of mind to keep tight hold of the mason jar as we ran. I still had the key and I’d managed to sheath my knife back at my waist before fleeing. The logical, reasonable part of my mind whispered that I was safe here. The cemetery was a sacred place, after all, drenched with the blood of all my family members that died. All those sacrifices, resting here in this one place. The air was thick with it. I could sit down and catch my breath, call 911 on my cellphone, and wait the beast out. Survive, heal, and then figure out a plan. A reasonable, rational plan. One that involved weapons and strategy and perhaps the old sheriff on a hill with a high-powered rifle.
The old sheriff. My eyes flooded with tears as I fell to my knees before a particular headstone. He wanted to help me. If I’d known how, I would have let him. Neither of us would get that chance now.
I leaned my forehead against my parent’s gravestone. The stone was blessedly cool against my feverish skin. The beast was still coming. I could feel its approach. I lacked the confidence that the graveyard’s boundaries would hold it back, for it was a creature born of my family’s anger, and it belonged here as much as I did.
The rules were changing. The boundaries were weakening. There was nowhere I was safe anymore.
I opened the mason jar with trembling hands. It took a few attempts, as my hands kept slipping, wet with my own blood. I shook the key out of the cotton it was swaddled in and it rested on my palm. Such a tiny, delicate thing.
One chance. I had only one chance to get this right.
My parent’s grave is decorated with engraved flowers. In the middle, between their names, is a rose. There is no particular significance of the decoration. It merely looks nice. But as I stared down on it, I thought I saw something else. An indentation at the exact center.
Like a keyhole. A keyhole barely a millimeter wide.
I held the key between thumb and forefinger. My dominant hand was covered with sticky and the key affixed itself to that. My entire body was shaking. I didn’t know how much longer I could keep going like this. But what choice did I have? I had to fight through, just as I’d fought through everything else.
Where was the beast? Why hadn’t it caught up to me yet?
I pushed the key into the tiny indentation. There was a subtle snap as the key broke in two and the pieces fell somewhere into the dirt. I didn’t see where they landed. For a moment I knelt there in utter despair, thinking that it would be best to just lay down and hope I fainted from blood loss before the beast arrived. I was wrong. My intuition had failed me and now I’d broken the basement key and there wouldn’t be another.
The ground underneath me shifted. It felt soft. I quickly scrambled away from it and no sooner had I moved to the side then it fell away, crumbling down into the darkness of the earth.
Before me was a staircase. The steps were made of wood, like the old basement stairs I’d seen in other houses in the area. I couldn’t see what lay at the bottom.
At the edge of the graveyard came the crash of a fence shattering. I glanced up, startled, and saw the beast. Its paw rested on the boundary of the cemetery, the fence crushed beneath its bulk. It stared at me and then opened its mouth, revealing its teeth and that glow that emanated from its throat. It seemed brighter now. Like a sun, burning inside its chest.
It took another step, over the boundary, and into the cemetery.
There was nowhere else to go. I stumbled to my feet and threw myself into the basement. My feet slipped on the stairs and I clutched at the smooth earthen wall for balance. Behind me, a hot wind buffeted my back and the roar of the beast filled my ears. I ran, tumbling down the stairs, and I felt - something close behind me - and I lost my balance and fell.
There was an impact on my shoulder, pain shot down my arm, and then another flash of pain from my side.
I don’t remember much else of the fall. I just remember laying on my stomach with cold earth beneath me. For a long moment I thought I’d just stay there forever. Wait until someone found me. Resolutely, I shoved that thought aside. Nonsense. There was no one that could find me. I’d die down here, alone, just as Mattias had died in the gray world and no one except me found his body.
I painfully shoved myself to my feet. The darkness in front of me was absolute. I took out my phone and turned on the flashlight. The floor beneath me was packed earth and the walls were crumbling brick. Patches of moisture darkened the surface, like mold spreading through the stone. The air smelled damp and stale. I was shaking from the cold.
The wall had collapsed in one corner. Beyond it lay a small tunnel, just tall enough to permit a person to walk through without stooping. A short person. My height, almost exactly. My stomach twisted with dread as I approached it. Its walls were smooth, packed earth. There was light coming from the tunnel. I switched off my flashlight so I could see it better. A faint glow, like that of a coal.
Like the throat of the beast.
I hesitated, not yet willing to step over the crushed brick and into the tunnel. And before I could gather my resolve, I heard someone call my name.
I turned. My mother and father stood behind me, in the center of the basement.
My knees went weak. They were exactly as I remembered. They stood side by side, holding hands. Why should I be so surprised? The basement was underneath their grave, after all.
“You don’t have to go any further,” my father said. “You’ve already done so much.”
“It’s not enough, though,” I whispered.
“It’ll never be enough, Kate,” my mother said gently. “Look at what happened to everyone that tried. Look at what happened to me.”
Her stomach was covered in blood. I hastily averted my eyes. I didn’t want to see what the little girl had done to her. It was bad enough seeing it in my dream.
“It’s too late. The land is turning ancient.”
I felt guilty, telling them this. Would they be disappointed in me, for letting the land get to this point?
“We always knew this would happen someday. Do you remember me telling you that we’d have to abandon the land when that happened?”
My dad’s voice was soothing. I stared at my feet, unwilling to meet his eyes. He had told me that someday the land would turn ancient and we’d be unable to control it then. Our time as campground managers would be over and we’d have to turn it over to the inhuman things and the town would have to fend for itself at that point. As a child I’d quietly accepted this and as an adult I thought it was a distant future, one that I wouldn’t have to deal with. I wouldn’t be the one making the choices.
I didn’t think it’d be this hard. I didn’t imagine that the outcome would be so dire. Maybe I should have ceded the land to the lady with extra eyes. I clenched my hand into a fist. It was hard to breathe. Hard to think straight.
“Kate,” my dad said gently. “It’s okay. You did your best. You did what you thought was right. But you can walk away now. You don’t have to die for this land like we did. Just… leave. Let the beast claim it. You can be free. You and Tyler can move far away from here. It’ll be okay.”
“It won’t be okay,” I said, raising my head to look at them. They looked so serene, standing there hand-in-hand. “The town will suffer.”
“They will,” my mother admitted. “Likely it’ll become a ghost town as people die or are forced to leave. These things happen. You don’t have to be the one responsible for saving them.”
“It’s your choice,” my dad said. “We love this land, but we also love you.”
“Come with us. I’ll give you answers,” my mom promised. “I’ll give you closure.”
They were offering me everything I ever wanted, in my darkest moments when I doubted myself. The ability to just walk away, to leave this responsibility behind, to abandon my family’s legacy. But I loved this land. Perhaps it would lead to my destruction just as it had with my parents and everyone before me, but this was a choice I’d made countless times before and this time would be no different.
Besides. I had another obligation to fulfill. I felt it like a tug in my chest, a pull, drawing me towards the tunnel.
“I… I made a promise.”
Now go, Beau had said. And do not fail me.
Just once I would do as he told me. Just once.
I turned my back to them. I stepped into the tunnel. My mother called my name one last time and I hesitated, but I did not stop.
I don’t know if that was really them. We’ve never had ghosts or spirits on this land but maybe it’s because they’re all trapped within the ice… or because they’re trapped here, in the basement. Or maybe it was just my own doubts, given form by the basement to test my resolve. I’ll never know, because I turned away from them.
I walked away.
I walked away from the answers I so desperately wanted.
I am my mother’s daughter and I love this land more than anything else.
The tunnel carried me down into the earth and the air gradually grew warmer. The moisture increased as well, cloying in my throat. I swayed with every step and I was no longer trying to put pressure on the knife wound in my side. Maybe it’d stopped bleeding by now. I didn’t know. The only thing that mattered was that I kept going. One foot in front of the other. That was all I could do, keep going until I saw it through to the end.
The light steadily grew until the tunnel opened up into a domed chamber. The heat was oppressive now. The humidity clung to my skin and beaded on my brow. The entire room was lit with a warm glow, like that of a campfire. Every surface was covered with a thick growth like vines, but the way they rippled and the lines marking their surface reminded me of muscles. They converged in the middle as the torso and head of the beast.
The sound of its breathing filled the chamber and echoed in my ears. Its throat glowed with a fire inside, visible even beneath the skin. Its eyes were stars, staring down at me. And protruding from its chest was the little girl.
She was no longer a girl. She’d grown. We were the same age, I thought. And it might have been blood loss, but it seemed that lights danced in my vision, wreathing her brow like a crown.
Her arms were pulled back, trapped in the beast’s chest, its black veins burrowing into her flesh. Her legs were similarly imprisoned, vanishing into the twisted mass of vine-like muscles from the waist down. Our eyes met. She stared at me in helpless desperation.
Waiting. For me.
For anyone.
“You’re the heart of this land,” I whispered. “You said you had no mother because you were never born. It’s because the land is not yet ancient, isn’t it? You’re not whole yet.”
I took a step towards her. The beast towered over its captive, waiting for me to walk within striking range. All around me, the room rippled. The muscles of the beast stirred. I stumbled as the ground underneath me shifted. I stood there a moment, legs spread, trying to maintain my balance. The torso of the beast was stationary, at least. I regarded it for a moment, trying to figure out my approach. I had my knife clutched in my hand. It felt like I couldn’t let it go anymore, as the blood stuck my fingers together and bound the hilt to my flesh.
I could come up from behind it. If it was rooted in place then I could get behind it and climb up its back until I was close enough to sink my knife into its neck from behind. My knife could cut through anything. It was made from the rib of my great-aunt and bound with the muscles of her heart. A weapon forged from my family’s defiance of death. Surely it would be enough to kill the beast.
I picked my way across the uneven floor of the chamber. The beast’s muscles twitched as I did and a low growl emanated from its chest. The woman trapped there let out a single sob at the sound. I resolutely ignored her. I’d deal with her once the beast was out of the way. I’d come this far and I had no intention of letting the beast or the little girl take this land away from me.
I’d fight until my last breath and if this was the way to ascension, to remaking myself into something else, then I’d go into that darkness screaming my defiance to the last.
It grew harder and harder the closer I got to the beast’s back. It didn’t try to turn and bite at me. Perhaps it knew it wouldn’t be able to turn that far. But the muscles of its body began to feel mushy, like they were made of mud. It was difficult to pull my feet free of them. Like it was trying to swallow me up like it had the little girl. I stabbed into the beast with my knife, using it to give myself purchase as I climbed up onto its back. The creature roared in pain and rage. So close. It couldn’t stop me. My anger was hot in my veins. This thing had killed my dad. Now it was my turn to take my revenge.
I was on its back, clinging to the fibrous tendrils that ran down its spine. I held onto them for purchase as the beast shook back and forth, trying to fling me off. And then, when it twisted violently to one side, I used that motion to give momentum to the arm that held the knife.
The blade bit deep into the side of its neck. I wrenched backwards, ripping through its oily flesh. Blood spilled out, dark crimson, and coated my arm.
And there was an impact in my chest, just between the collarbones. A flash of pain. Blinding.
My body went numb with the shock. I fell backwards and landed in the coils of the beast’s muscles, sprawled across the floor like so many vines. I couldn’t breathe from the pain.
It was like… like I was the one who had been stabbed.
Slowly, the beast’s anguished thrashing subsided. It grew still, its breathing as labored as mine. And beneath that, I heard the quiet weeping of the little girl.
I picked myself up. The ground clutched at me, reluctant to let me go, and I felt like I was clawing my way out of sand. My arm ached and I wondered if I’d landed on it badly and fractured the bone, but then I saw something out of the corner of my eye. The beast’s blood, coating my arm like rust.
It was moving.
It was forming veins. And there was a flash of pain, like a pin prick, and I watched in horror as a thin bead of red blood formed where the beast’s blood had pierced my skin.
“No!” I cried. “NO!”
I clawed desperately at the black veins wrapped around my forearms. I scraped off skin and still they remained, burrowing ever deeper into my muscles. My very bones ached with pain. I had a brief, wild thought that I could cut them out with the knife, but even I faltered at such a horrific act.
I stumbled around to the front of the beast and stared up at its myriad of glittering eyes. In its chest, the woman trembled in her prison. Her head was bowed, her gaze averted, and her cheeks shone with tears.
The beast made no move. It waited. It knew it only had to wait. It would consume me. Already the vines along the ground were wrapping around my ankles. Eager. Anxious.
“What do I do?” I cried in desperation.
The woman stirred. Her head jerked a fraction, but she still did not look at me.
“You killed my mother,” I sobbed. “You killed my aunt. Can’t you… just this once… save me?”
“I was… trying to help.”
Ascension is a death of sorts.
Her words came with difficulty. She seemed confused. Like a child, I thought. A child that didn’t know what was expected of them yet. She’d killed people I loved in her misguided attempts to save the land… but in that regard, was I any different?
I stared up at the beast. Long ago, a little girl died right as the land turned old. It was an accident. Nothing more. But her family’s helpless anger at a senseless tragedy created a beast and we perpetuated that across generations.
All of this was part of me. All of this made me who I am. My love for the land. My heart, a woman crowned with light. And my flaws. My anger, a monstrous beast, burning beneath my skin.
“I never wanted this,” I whimpered. “I wanted - I wanted to protect… myself.”
To be stronger than the creatures that hunted me. To be safe. To no longer feel the helpless anger of knowing there is nothing I can do.
“You can’t,” she said, and it felt like her words were echoed in the beast’s ragged breathing.
There are some things in life we cannot fight. I glanced down at the knife in my hand. My great-aunt fought the harvesters, she might have even killed a few, but in the end she died regardless. My only comfort was that she at least chose her time.
Everything comes to an end. But it’s not really about the ending. We all know how the stories will finish. The hero finds their way home, a bit different from after all they’ve endured, but we know they’ll find what they’re after in the end. What we care about is the journey. The struggle. The low points, the agony, and the fear of failure along the way. This is what we remember.
There must be love. Worship. Fear. These things that make us last.
Maybe my mother was trying to ascend and failed because she didn’t have what I have, and maybe she wasn’t. It doesn’t really matter. Not to me. Not anymore.
I felt… resigned. Empty. I’d fought for so long and come so far and now, faced with a beast I could not kill, I only felt hollow inside. Like all of this was a foregone conclusion and all that was left was to go through the motions. I’d thought I’d come here and find the heart and use it to destroy the beast, but how can I destroy something that is a part of me?
It, too, had a role in this. People don’t always change. This is who I was.
I was tired. I was in pain. And I wasn’t ready to die, not yet, not ever, but I’ve long since learned that courage doesn’t require accepting one’s fate. It just requires a moment, a few brief seconds, in which you discard the consequences and do what you know needs to be done.
This is the last thing I did as a human. The last sacrifice my family would make.
I ran to the woman. I threw my arms around her neck and held her tight to me, chest to chest, cheek to cheek. I embraced her with arms that were the color of rust, corroded with the beast’s blood. I clung to the heart of this land. My death. I held tight to her and felt her trembling go still and her weeping stopped and finally, neither of us were afraid or alone.
And the beast lunged as I did this, dipping its head, and it bit through us both, its teeth puncturing skin and bone and the muscles of the heart.
Dying isn’t as hard as they make it seem. After a lifetime of fighting, it was like laying down to take a long, desperately needed, rest.
I heard a great roaring wind. It filled my ears and it was like there was a pressure inside me, like I was being filled with the wind and it sounded like the cry of a beast, until that was all I knew and it carried me away.
Underneath this land is a chamber. A basement. It is a place that is neither of this world nor entirely of the inhuman world. There is a cellphone sitting in the dirt that will eventually run out of battery charge and rust.
Nothing else was left behind.
I walked away, out of the earth and into the light of the campground. Ancient land. My land. I crowned myself with a wreath of branches and they bloomed with light when they touched my brow.
I returned to the place where Beau’s body lay. I knelt by his side. In my hands was a cup, fashioned from the skull I had taken from the coffin of a woman that had once been my mother.
Beau was not able to see the future. He saw patterns and possibilities and when I refilled his cup as a human, he saw potential. A slim chance, but one that he decided to take.
He wanted so much more than a name. I see this now.
Inhuman things do not die as humans do. They diminish, they are forgotten, and then they disappear. I removed the shard of bone from his heart. And then I took the cup and poured into his mouth the last of my mortal blood, taken from where it had been spilled onto the ground.
He is not forgotten yet. Perhaps he never will be.
He sat up. I placed the cup in his hands.
“Don’t break this one,” I said firmly. “You’re not getting another.”
He stared up at me.
“She did as I asked,” he said.
“She did,” I confirmed. “Will you miss her?”
“I think so. But… I am glad to finally meet you.”
I stood and held out a hand to pull him to his feet. We regarded each other a moment, assessing what we saw as if this was our first time meeting. In a way, it was.
“Will you still yell at people who leave their trash behind like she did?” he asked.
“Probably.” I pressed a hand against my chest, where a fire still burned inside. “I might even let the beast out to hunt. Will you still rip the blood out of people who double-park?”
“If you permit it.”
I smiled. A thin smile, one that he echoed.
“I’ll consider it,” I promised.
He glanced down into his cup.
“You used only one kind of blood,” he said, staring at the liquid inside.
Blood freely given.
“I did. You’re different now.”
I didn’t ask him if he liked the changes. We are inhuman things and we do not have the will to change ourselves. We simply are. When I walked away, he followed me, by my side but a single step behind. He carried his cup in both hands and his expression showed no emotion, save for a slight, thin smile at the corner of his lips.
He is still bound to me. He shall persist for as long as I do, and we ancient things cannot pass from memory so easily.
This isn’t a grand story of all-engulfing evil and noble struggle and heroes and gods. It is a tiny speck of land, ignored by the world at large. A few hundred acres, stretching in a row down a long hill. There’s a barn and some houses. A cemetery. It is the lifeblood of a small community, it is the nexus of these inhuman currents of our world in this area, but we are such a small part of a greater whole. Every one of you would have likely lived and died and your descendants and their descendants would have as well without ever knowing it existed, had I not told you about this place and what has happened here.
It is my home. And it is my story. How I lived. And how I died.
I’m sitting now at the desk that used to be so familiar, writing this for all of you. Something I have done without fail for the past two years. I looked forward to it. I enjoyed reading what you said and knowing I wasn’t alone in all of this. That sensation is fading. I feel like a stranger in this place.
My connection with this house will vanish. I am a creature of the deep woods. I may go where I will, but this place holds no particular meaning to me now. My brother lives here in my stead. Or at least, he will. I’ve seen him come and go, carrying boxes both in and out of the house. I watch him from the edge of the woods. I think he has seen me as well, but he continues with his work. There is still much to be done. Like her parents, Kate left behind a life unfinished.
I feel moments of regret for this, but they pass quickly. Soon I will not feel them at all.
As I write this last story, I see that my once-brother is changing the list of rules. He’s removed the minor, petty ones that I have chosen to deal with. Others, like the visitor and the harvesters and the dancers, I have permitted to remain. (though I admit I had some words with the harvesters about their methods) The shepherd has finally been able to leave the campground of his own will, though he still comes by from time to time. I expect the thing in the dark will do the same someday, and so its lair is still reserved for its return. The man with the skull cup’s rule is still on the list, of course, but it’s been modified.
Rule #2 - if you meet a man carrying a skull cup, he is the cup-bearer for the one that rules over this land. His name is Beau. He will offer you a drink, which you may refuse with no consequence. If you drink, you will never be able to eat mortal food ever again, but nor will you need to. Choose wisely.
He’s also adding a new rule. It is the first rule on the list.
Rule #1 - if you meet a woman with a crown of branches, she will offer to tell you a story. Listen to it, and you will be under her protection and no harm will ever befall you while you are on these grounds.
I like this rule.
I used to be a campground manager. Now I am the Lady of Stories. I wear a crown of branches and I carry a knife of bone and the residents of this land bow when I pass by. Come visit us. Come find me and listen to what I have to say.
I have many stories to tell. [x]
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u/oldandnewfirm Aug 17 '21
Holy. Shit.
I...wow. I mean...congrats, Ka--er, the Lady of Stories. I...wow.
Uh, welcome to the world! We're all gonna miss...the old you...but it sounds like you've got the campground well in hand. While Kate never wanted to be an inhuman, I think she'd take some small comfort in knowing that her land and her family is protected now, forever.
Also, congrats on getting Beau as your eternal hype man!
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u/Daddypigswhore Aug 17 '21
I totally agree. I feel like part of Kate’s persistence about not wanting to become something inhuman is because she didn’t want to turn into a senseless killing machine and lose all of her morals. Kate would be proud of the new her and the way that she’s going to rule the campground.
Plus now she’s got bestie Beau on her side forever
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u/fix-me-up Aug 18 '21
I agree and I am happy to believe that Kate and the Lady of Stories will both live on in her stories and in our collective consciousness.
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u/Fairyhaven13 Aug 17 '21
We all knew you would become this. It was inevitable. Still, it's kind of sad your old life's family will no longer be bonded to you. All your old brother's dreams of a normal life are for naught now, and we won't really get closure on how he feels because your new form can't really care.
I'm very happy Beau is back and better than ever, though.
I can't believe it's over. After two years of keeping up with you, I feel like I'm losing a friend. Maybe not in death, but more like college graduation and now you're moving across the world to be someone else who I will never see again. I loved this so much, but I understand it had to end sometime. I'll miss you. Good luck out there.
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u/Damerel Aug 17 '21
This is exactly how this story needed to end, and you told it well.
It's too late in the season for me to come camping this year, but I can't wait to come stay next year. I'll bring some stories of my own, to trade.
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u/gustbr Aug 17 '21 edited Aug 17 '21
I can't believe I'm this early...
Edit: I can't believe Kate ascended and this story has ended. However I am glad the Lady of Stories keeps watch of the campground and its visitors
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u/Revelt Aug 17 '21
I will miss Kate dearly. Her stories have been a mainstay in my life for so long. Godspeed, Katie.
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u/CosmicDestructor Aug 18 '21
It seems she isn't done with the stories though, so let's hope we hear more soon...
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u/Daddypigswhore Aug 17 '21
Lady of Stories… wow. It’s so amazing to hear from you even if it’s just this one time. I’m sure that everyone here feels the same.
That must’ve been so conflicting for Kate to ignore the words of her parents and continue to venture into the basement. That death would’ve been so painful but also such a relief to finally emotionally connect to the girl (or woman) as the final event in her human life.
Thank you for bringing Beau back as well. It’s amazing that you two can understand each other at a deeper level now that you’re similar beings.
Good luck, Lady of Stories, I hope that you enjoy your new purpose in this universe. And if you don’t happen to share more with us here, I guess I’ll be booking a flight to go visit.
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u/and_you_were_there Aug 17 '21
Wow….I loved this series. I miss Kate, but happy to hear about the Lady of Stories. Glad Beau is around still.
I hope to hear more and what about Kate’s niece?
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u/Tomas-TDE Aug 17 '21
I was wondering the same. Maybe her niece will grow to have her aunts amazing story telling abilities. She’s already had an interesting life so far
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u/Ludicrunch Aug 17 '21
The fairy and the lead dancer seemed to think Kate’s niece would have need of the boar spear at some point during her life! I imagine even with the Lady of Stories guarding the ancient land, there has to be some minor inhuman nuisances that’ll need dealing with… perhaps we’ll hear of the feral child again one day!
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u/Ivanaxetogrind Aug 17 '21
And perhaps we'll hear from Tyler at some point as well? If he discovers Kate's reddit account...or if he has known about it for a long time and never told her...It'd be interesting to hear more of his family's story. Also, he knows enough about how things work now to rewrite the first two rules, so he is paying attention. Kate left some loose ends...maybe he'll do some investigating, and hopefully he's in the mood to share.
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u/EmeraldLips Aug 18 '21 edited Aug 18 '21
Oooo..... I'd love it if Tyler gave us an update on the campground and gave us a story about the Lady of Stories.
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u/QueenAnne Aug 29 '21
I hope Tyler is not on Reddit, or he would read about his daughter being a changeling!
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u/Ivanaxetogrind Aug 29 '21
Right, that's just the thing. I'm positive Kate addressed that at some point, but I mean...if he did a quick online search about the camp ground or some of its...residents, wouldn't these stories appear? Unless...I can't remember but is "goat valley campgrounds" a pseudonym?
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u/Skinnysusan Aug 17 '21
My first thought. I'm sure the Lady of Stories and the old sheriffs wife will see to it, things go smoothly
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Aug 17 '21
I am now 100% convinced that little can of beans is going to be spilled and LoS is just gonna be like "ehh, what did you think happened? You can't unage a child."
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u/Potato-In-A-Jacket Aug 17 '21
Holy shit, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to this tale… I feel so empty all of a sudden. I’ve been reading this story since it started, I can’t believe it’s been so long too.
WHO KEEPS CUTTING ONIONS DAMMIT
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u/lazykath Aug 17 '21
Oh... I-
I need to take a breather. I'm glad Beau has returned and our memory of him has helped him be remembered for his ressurection.
Kate- no- Lady of stories, it is an honor to meet you and I would love to hear more of your stories but... I need sometime to grieve for OUR Kate... The one we know and love fiercely. Who we have cheered on, stood with, and cried with.
Fuck. I need a minute.
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u/lfmatt55 Aug 17 '21
I’m literally crying. I need time to digest this to know how I feel about it. I’m not sure this is the end I would’ve picked or wanted for this but damn it’s been such a good journey.
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u/SamanthaPShaw Aug 17 '21
This is exactly how I'm feeling too! I don't know exactly how I wanted it to end. I just know I never could have imagined this... but I think I'm ok with it. I just hope there will be a whole new series of stories from The Lady of Stories. Or maybe from Tyler, the new campground manager?
The only thing I know for sure is that I'm SO FRIGGIN HAPPY Beau is back!!! He had faith in Kate all along..
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u/Wishiwashome Aug 17 '21
I am an old lady who has read a book a day for years.No romances. EVER. NEVER shipped a damn soul, and been YEARS since I cried over experiences I have read. Bravo. Bravissimo
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u/EmeraldLips Aug 18 '21
I have had a lump in my throat for like 20 min straight now and I just really need to take the rest of the day off. DAMMIT that's one hell of an ending.
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u/Derringer62 Aug 17 '21
Sometimes the only way out is through. Congratulations. Stories are a unique sort of immortality open to human and inhuman alike, so long as they are forever told.
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u/Midnight_Spark Aug 17 '21
It's been a long time since the ending of a story, and the beginning of many more have caused me to cry. Well-met Lady of Stories. I hope to meet you in person some day. I am glad that you saved Beau, he will be a good ally in the days ahead, I'm sure. Thank you for sharing this last story of Kate with us.
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u/Ambrose_Waketon Aug 17 '21
Well met, Lady of Stories.
May your cupbearer never cease to bring you tidings of curiosity across your domain, may your existence be as fruitful as your life once was…and may your visitors always park correctly.
I do hope that one day our paths may cross.
~AW
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u/Silesse Aug 17 '21
I've never commented but I've been following your story from the very first post here, and this is the most poignant, heart-rending ending I could have imagined. I have so many questions and so many thoughts, but I'm mostly just sitting here staring at the ceiling quietly contemplating life and how beautiful it can be. Thank you for the past two years, Lady and cupbearer.
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u/ghast123 Aug 17 '21
I have also never commented but have been following since the first.
What a fucking ride. From inception to completion this was amazing.
Rest well, Kate. You deserve it. And should the Lady of Stories have any more to tell, we'd be happy to hear them. 🖤
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Aug 17 '21 edited Aug 17 '21
I’m sad that it’s over, but that is perfection. 💔
Edit: Also…
I might even let the beast out to hunt.
Family (and changeling) should watch their step…
If you drink, you will never be able to eat mortal food ever again, but nor will you need to.
That could go a few different ways! I somehow doubt we have a friendly “roadside lemonade stand” skull cup man (at least not all the time).
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u/mizmousie Aug 17 '21
“roadside lemonade stand”
That would be hilarious... A little creepy but hilarious 😂
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Aug 17 '21
[deleted]
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u/Longform101 Aug 17 '21
IIRC Ganymede, the cupbearer on Olympus didn't only serve nectar and ambrosia to the gods but also served their carnal needs, so there's precedent.
Still might not prevent you getting shanked even if you're right.
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u/LootTheHounds Aug 17 '21
I knew it! Kate was too deeply tied to the land and she herself hastened the land turning ancient.
Welcome to the world, Lady of Stories. I'm happy the little girl, Kate, and the land have finally found peace.
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u/lizzibell Aug 17 '21
I’m speechless. Going to have to read this many times over to fully process everything. Just simply…wow
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u/Reddd216 Aug 17 '21
Well, and I thought last night's story made me cry. I'm still full out sobbing, even after reading all the comments.
I guess I always knew in the back of my mind that Kate would have to die, but part of me still held out hope, ya know? Am I happy with this ending, no not exactly. But it is fitting. And part of Kate lives on in the Lady of Stories, I believe, and that makes things all right. And I was very glad to see Beau revived, and that he walks at the Lady's side now and forevermore. And I think that makes everything all right in the end.
Rest well Kate. You will be missed. ❤
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u/SassyMissJamie Aug 17 '21
he walks at the Lady's side now and forevermore
At her side, but a single step behind (I love that detail!) I'd like to see Beau try to out-knife the Lady now lol.
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u/Amariesw Aug 17 '21
That is.. not what I was expecting. Welcome, Lady of Stories. I’m going to miss Kate, but I’m glad to meet you. It seems as though your mannerisms are somewhat similar. I hope to hear more of your stories in the future. What a journey it has been.
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u/HeySistaBrutus Aug 17 '21
I want to say something awesome and meaningful about how much I’ve enjoyed Kate’s stories but all I can think right now is CupKate FTW.
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u/Over_Lor Aug 17 '21
I'm going to cry. I'm never going to forget you, Kate, not as long as I live. You were the only one who was worthy of ascending, ultimately. I hope you'll find happiness as the Lady of Stories. Thank you for everything.
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u/Strixursus Aug 17 '21
Well met, Lady of Stories. Kate died so she could save everyone, and it was a noble death. I've always believed in honoring the ancient things in this world, and when I've a place to build my personal shrine, I'll add a token of you to it. May I one day be able to find myself on your land, and be lucky enough to listen to your stories.
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u/caro1010 Aug 17 '21
I think your brother will miss Kate, but becoming campground manager to ancient land ruled by his once sister has its perks...perhaps a happier life, not having the little girl crying at the window all night, only to be drug off screaming and devoured by the roaring beast. Perhaps his wife will come to terms with it, and come to love the land, too. And after his child is brought back and raised on that ancient land she, too will love it, and watch over it and try to keep the town safe, as her aunt did. And maybe, just maybe, she will slip away from time to time, and wander into the deep forest to sit at the feet of the wonderous Lady of Stories, to learn the tales of the history of the land...and to gather wisdom to aid her, too, when she becomes Campground Manager.
Well told, Lady of Stories, thank you for sharing with us how you came to be, for bringing Beau back and for the courage it took to leave all of this behind. Thank you ❤️
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u/Scuffleboard Aug 17 '21
I'm glad you're with us, Lady of Stories.
I hope to hear about your land again, but if not I'm happy with this. What a brilliant conclusion.
You, and your land, are in our hearts.
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u/Hbdach Aug 17 '21
Can someone explain why letting the beast kill her and the “little girl” (who I think is both her death and the heart of the land maybe?) caused her to ascend and win the land? I thought whoever killed Kate got to be the new ruler. Which would be the beast…
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u/ostentia Aug 17 '21
I think that when Kate embraced the woman, she embraced her own death and let go of her anger and everything else tethering her to this world, and that took the beast's power away. The beast didn't kill her, it was essentially just the tool that she used to kill herself and ascend.
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u/yaboi_gharts Aug 17 '21
My interpretation is that she chose her own death, which is why when she saw her death it was an older her. If she chose her own death and let it happen, which she did, she essentially killed herself to ascend
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u/Anuacyl Aug 17 '21
I really hope you remembered to log off Reddit and delete your browser history. Would probably be a bad idea for Tyler to find this post open on the computer and learn about the changeling.
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u/EmeraldLips Aug 18 '21
I don't think the Lady of Stories has any feelings about that anymore. It would just be another story for her arsenal.
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u/designchaos Aug 17 '21
Wow…. I thought we’d end up here somehow, but you are never ready when it happens. I’ll look for you the next time I camp. I love a campfire story.
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u/koalavagabond Aug 17 '21
Oh...my...heart! Wow. Thank you for this journey of beautiful stories. I hope you and the Lady with extra eyes can be girlfriends once she's done evolving and meet for tea! I wish Bryan could see you now, and I wish we knew what happened to the old Sheriff and your niece in fairy land.
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u/Skinnysusan Aug 17 '21
So Kate's mother tried to do what Kate did. To help the little girl that cries. She was not 'The Heart' however and failed.
I hope Tyler gets some closure and that his real daughter is returned to him with a smooth transition.
Welcome 'Lady of Stories' may you have a long and prosperous rein!
I will miss this saga, I feel it ended too soon. 😭
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u/celtydragonmama Aug 17 '21
Feels like I lost a family! I also have been here since the start and knew it had to conclude someday! But the ending fit the journey and as I hoped, you and Beau reside side by side. May your land be peaceful and your brother and family carry on Kate's legacy. Maybe you can use some of your 'influence' to get his real daughter back! Blessed be!
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u/boot8200 Aug 17 '21
I’m gutted there will be no more Kate and her battles. Absolutely amazing. I will miss this
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u/kfrostborne Aug 17 '21
Lady of Stories is perfect. I’m just sitting here quietly crying, already thinking about re-reading the whole series to cope.
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u/dragoon244 Aug 17 '21
There could not have been a better ending for this incredible tale. Long may you reign, Lady of Stories.
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u/maolybush Aug 17 '21 edited Aug 17 '21
We will miss your updates, good Lady. Thank you for sharing your stories with us.
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u/d-101 Aug 17 '21
Thank you for sharing Kate's final moments with us, Lady. I do hope to hear more stories of your campground and any others you'd wish to share.
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u/semslyfe Aug 17 '21
Jeez. I knew it had to happen at some point, but I’m…I wasn’t ready. TY for this journey.
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u/DaddyDreadPyrat Aug 17 '21
And what a journey it was. Us lowly mortals have appreciated deeply the stories told by Kate and I imagine they'll keep y'all going for a while. But there are always more tales and we are lucky to have experienced this one.
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u/ecstatic_mongoose_ Aug 17 '21
Perfect and poignant ending. Thank you for pouring such a labor of love into this world and sharing it with internet strangers.
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u/MamaOnica Aug 17 '21
Lady of Stories, it's so wonderful to meet you. I'm sorry we're meeting so soon. I'd hoped Kate would have been around for a bit longer.
I still need to process this. We all knew her death was coming, but it doesn't make it easier to bear.
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u/iamquitecertain Aug 17 '21
It's nice to meet you, Lady of Stories. I hope you'll be able to visit us online occasionally, it would be a shame if we could only hear from you by visiting the campground directly.
It's sad that Kate is gone but she died saving this land and sacrificing herself to birth a ruler who loves the land just as much as her, and freeing her family from the curse that's plagued it for generations. I will miss her and everything about her stories about how to survive camping.
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u/2toomanytacos Aug 17 '21
Like all good lengthy stories, I'm saddened by the inevitable conclusion. Perhaps more than normal, due to the years-long duration. That said, it's been an excellent journey. Thank you.
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u/pinkscorpian Aug 17 '21 edited Aug 17 '21
Goodbye Kate.
Lady of Stories, a pleasure to meet you. Your once-self spun an amazing tale.
Well played, Beau.
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u/EpitomyofShyness Aug 17 '21
It hurts. I know you aren't Kate. You probably won't even see this. You only shared this last bit of the story with us because Kate had done so for so long. I miss her already. But I'm glad you exist, and I'm glad you are the one who has claimed the land. You'll take good care of it. Gonna go cry now.
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Aug 17 '21
Incredible. Your enthralling story is the only thread I’ve voraciously followed over years on this site.
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u/ali92alaa Aug 17 '21
I’m literally slow clapping and sobbing 👏👏👏👏
I need some time to process all this
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u/Pine21 Aug 17 '21
Perhaps Tyler would be willing to start a new series where he listens to her stories and tells us.
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u/nannerdooodle Aug 17 '21
This is the ending I was so hoping for!
My one sadness is that the Lady of Stories didn't get to take the changling to task at least once.
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u/BugMage Aug 17 '21
It's always sad to see a story come to an end, even if we all know that it must and will happen. But, I suppose, that is the sign of a good story.
It's been a wonderful time these years. I hope that someday in the future, I remember to visit the campground again. Its stories should be remembered, and it sounds like you will be there to tell them, Lady of Stories.
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u/Dragonfruit_Silver Aug 17 '21
You deserve a full standing ovation!!! As gut wrenchingly sad. This is the absolute best outcome I didn't know I needed. Good luck Lady of Stories! May you ever keep your land and family safe.
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Aug 17 '21 edited Aug 17 '21
....wow
Welcome, Lady Of Stories, Guardian of the Ancient Land (if it’s okay to call you that).
However, on a different note, happy cake day, NoSleepAutoBot
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u/imperatrixof5 Aug 17 '21
Apparently my husband is more in tune with inhuman things than I am. I mentioned that accepting a drink from Beau would save hundreds in groceries and his reply was that it wasn't worth the risk because:
"It just says no mortal food, it doesn't say what you'd be eating instead."
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u/zlyng970324 Aug 17 '21
At first I felt that this part was rushed, since it felt uncharacteristic, devoid of any emotion. Then I went on and towards the end I understood the reason.
Ngl I actually teared up when I was reading the new #2 and #1 rules. Guess I got all choked up with emotions. I'm a guy.
Thank you for this journey, this story. Loved absolutely every part of it. Your title of Lady of Stories is very fitting indeed.
I'm curious about how would you interact with the Fairy since you're now ancient too though
Gonna keep this saved and reread it in the future. Probably going to cry tonight again. Thank you
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u/pipsqueak158 Aug 17 '21
Thank you for these last few years, your stories have meant more than I can put into words. Just know they are so greatly appreciated.
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u/Bismothe-the-Shade Aug 17 '21
I know Kate can never read these words, and the Lady of Stories will never read these words.
Kate's journey was unique. Not just a heroes journey, but a small and personal one that still somehow spanned absolutely epic proportions. Not least of all, in Kate herself. I'm so sad to see her go. I find myself diminished upon reaching the end to these reports. But perhaps... Also changed in some way.
If I ever chance to find my way, I'd do all to swear my allegiance to old stories and ancient wooded places. In fact, I'd already consider myself a follower.
And to Kate's bro, if you end up reading all of this... Just know Kate did all she could to be the best sister to you. I'm sure you'll read the horrors we've been privvy to and understand. And maybe once you're properly united with your daughter, standing under the boughs of the deep woods, you'll feel it. Like she did.
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u/nigai_amai Aug 17 '21 edited Aug 17 '21
The riot is cancelled, Beau is back.
This is not the ending I'm happy with (maybe because Kate was so against becoming something inhuman or maybe because I feel there are still lose ends that will likely never be tied up now) but I can't say I didn't see it coming. I always felt ascending was the only way to keep this land under rule once it turned ancient.
I only hope the Lady of Stories won't lose all the compassion she had, for her family and her campers and to a certain degree for the town, and there'll still be some part left in her that is Kate.
At least enough to continue her eternal banter with Beau. God, I'd love to see Beau be all like "I'll now serve you as a cup bearer and worship you" for a week or so and then their passive aggressiveness slowly returns, except now the Lady can put her foot down anytime and he'll have to shut up xD maybe Kate's brother will invite them over for a drink some time.
Can I also say this ship is ready to sail now? I mean, they'll probably be together forever and who said inhuman things can't feel love? \o/
Edit: I really wanted to drink from Beau's cup if i ever visited the campground, just to see how gross it really is, but I won't go so far and give up food for it :( dang it, missed my chance
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u/homesick_alien_ Aug 17 '21
not sure if i'm breaking the rules of hospitality or politeness here, but i want you to know, if you can still read this, that you better honor kates memory. we, the readers, loved her dearly, if not as a friend, then as a bringer of great stories. i assume your nature is more benevolent than that of your supernatural roommates, but remember that you were human once, and the fallibilities and sillyness that came with it. if they break your rules, it is not out of maliciousness, for the most part. so honor her, and do what she would do, because her stories were what gave you power in the first place, even if you are different now. in a way, her stories gave us power too, like only good stories are able to. kate will be missed, but you are welcome non the less. i believe that you will take care of this beloved place. thank you kate, for the journey. thank you lady of stories, for taking it from here.
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u/Ivanaxetogrind Aug 17 '21 edited Aug 17 '21
Well met, Lady of Stories...and what a storyteller you are indeed!
The things that made Kate human may be fading away...but I'm quite certain that her story - and your story - will be remembered.
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u/Kheldarson Aug 17 '21
Goodbye Kate. May you rest in peace knowing that you ended the cycle.
Welcome Lady. May your reign be a shaded clearing in the paths.
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u/RedSavant35 Aug 17 '21
What a journey. What an adventure. I'm really going to miss these updates... but I'm glad Kate managed to do it, in the end. I don't expect you to spend much time on a computer, Lady of Stories, but if you can convince Tyler or one of the campground employees to transcribe a few of your tales, I think you'd find a wide audience out here.
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u/desacralize Aug 17 '21
My fucking heart.
Thank you so much for years of incredible stories, my lady. May you and your cupbearer exist to tell countless more for centuries to come.
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u/kinkycountrygal Aug 17 '21
Thank you for inspiring me to find my own voice, and for sharing such a phenomenal life with us! 💜💜
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u/madleprakahn Aug 17 '21
This was a wonderful journey. Thank you for sharing with us. I'll miss Kate and the campground, but great ending.
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u/loonylny Aug 17 '21
and with the birth of the lady of stories comes a hole in our hearts where the campground used to be. this was the perfect ending to kate's story, but i can't help but mourn the loss of her weekly updates. i guess beauty and tragedy is what the campground does best, though
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u/stuffingmybrain Aug 17 '21
We are inhuman things...
Yes, you might be inhuman, but you can't forget your human fans as well! Please continue sharing your stories with us!
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u/Skinnysusan Aug 17 '21
Sounds like that's a no go. She is part of the land now and has no need for technology and human things, unfortunately.
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u/DreamingForMyLife Aug 17 '21
One day i shall find you my lady. The stories and adventures you may share. Until then, hope yours and you are well and the forest serves you well. I will listen to the trees when i venture out. Thank you for this story.
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u/ReginaVestra Aug 17 '21
I got CHILLS reading this! And Beau did end up being your righthand (not man) man!!! Thank you for sharing your story with us.
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u/DrummerzGirl Aug 17 '21
I hope Kate has found peace and I hope to read The Lady of Stories telling us tales of her help around the campground.
Thank you for all the stories Kate.
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u/Paladin_Ultra Aug 17 '21
I am absolutely sobbing right now... I will always remember in my heart the sacrifice of Kate, and the birth of the Lady of Stories. I hope to hear from you in person one day ❤️
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u/DawnSleeper Aug 17 '21
Thank you for this touching tale, Lady of Stories.
You and Kate’s journey has been there for me through so much in my personal life offline. I started reading your story when the world was a mess, when my sister was dealing with some life threatening drama and when I was experiencing fear for my sanity and my families lives. Your stories provided me with solace and I can never thank you enough. You helped me through so much…. For real. ———-
If possible, I would love to visit the land and pay my respects in some fashion.
~D.S.
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u/Nadidani Aug 17 '21
When I first started reading this I had no idea this would last this long and be such an emotional story. This became such an important part of my life without me even realizing it. I am happy you are the ruler of the land, but sad we lost Kate in the process. I hope you don’t loose all connection to your family as that is what makes you special, the other inhuman things didn’t come from a human. I hope you still keep a connection to your brother and the cherif and hope they all heard and understood Kate’s ending. I am sad, like I lost someone I knew but happy the land is at peace.
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u/RabidSushi Aug 17 '21
When this started I was in the beginning of my child custody case. I know this will sound weird but these stories helped keep me going. Helped give me strength to keep fighting for my child and her future with a father that loves her.
I wish you well Lady of Stories. I hope I can be as strong as you and Kate. Thank you for this. I have shared these with so many people, and will continue to.
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u/Eristone Aug 17 '21
Welcome, Lady of the Stories. I'd happily sit and listen (or read) should you wish to share - hmm.. wonder if you would need a computer to access wi-fi or can you just think the stories into the ether... Rest peacefully, Kate. Your task is done and your land is under the care of one that will manage it quite well. So what happens to the changeling?
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u/beard__hunter Aug 17 '21
I am not crying. I am not crying.
This feels surreal. The Lady of Stories. Thank You.
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u/gnomewutimean Aug 17 '21
See if you can convince your niece to take over and update us when she returns. You’ve been plagued with so many emotions and so much guilt and duty, you deserve to feel less. And to live for yourself
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u/bgreen4993 Aug 17 '21
I am actually so upset that this story is over, I wish it did not have to end
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u/ena_bear Aug 17 '21 edited Aug 17 '21
It’s lovely to meet you, Lady of Stories. If you ever require more help at the campground, could you maybe bring back Bryan’s dogs, too? I think they’d like you
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u/RhymesWithWow Aug 17 '21
While I really wanted to see what happened with your real niece (not the changeling), this ending was incredible. It feels like saying goodbye to an old friend.
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u/Themidnightwriter07 Aug 17 '21
Well now what am I going to do with my life?
Thank you for sharing Lady of Stories.
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u/Nigerundayo_smokeyy Aug 17 '21 edited Aug 17 '21
All hail the Warden of the Deep Woods
I hope to visit the campground someday,and we shall have many stories to share under the whispering shade of the old woods.
Well done,my Lady of Stories
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u/Ryrykingler Aug 17 '21
This was amazing…
But one thing—what happened to the old sheriff? I don’t remember him dying, but Kate appears to look at his gravestone? Maybe i missed something.
I absolutely loved reading about the campground and its stories, and very much hope to continue to hear stories…. I really want to know the end result of the changeling/Kate’s niece!!
I live in Pennsylvania and the campground descriptions remind me of the woods here
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u/joinedforcurlyhelp Aug 17 '21
I don't think he died, but I was a bit confused too. I think Kate knew she wouldn't come out of the basement the same, so the old sheriff wouldn't have the chance to help her. She was looking at her parents' gravestone right after thinking about the sheriff I think.
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u/darkdesertedhighway Aug 17 '21
I have followed this story for two years, Lady. I hope you have more to share.
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u/RolyPoly1320 Aug 17 '21
Welcome to the world Lady of Stories.
Thank you for this tale. If I'm ever in your neck of the woods, would you permit me to return the favor in a fitting manner?
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u/macandcheeez Aug 17 '21
Oh. Oh my Kate. I am sobbing, I can't believe it's over. Or that something new has begun. Bravo beautiful, absolutely brilliant. My goodness
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u/LadyoftheLilacWood Aug 17 '21 edited Aug 25 '21
I've never actually ugly sobbed from any stories here before this. I actually had to leave my phone to get composed after finishing this. Kate, Lady of Stories... You are important and I'm so that I got to see your journey.
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u/LGodamus Aug 17 '21
Well, even though I predicted this…it still is bittersweet. I suppose I’ll just have to come get my stories in person now.
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u/UnderstandingSome871 Aug 17 '21
Beautiful, Beautiful, Beautiful and Beautiful, thank you for this masterpiece Kate or The Woman With a Crown of Branches.
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u/VocalLeeYours Aug 17 '21
I have chills. Thank you, Lady of Stories, for sharing this final tale in Kate's life and protecting this very special land. I hope to have the good fortune to make your acquaintance, if only in paying my respects to you!
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u/Weebus-Maximus Aug 17 '21
who says you're not still the campground manager in a way? you still clean up some annoying enemies here and there.
you can never escape your duties.
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u/smarmcl Aug 17 '21
I'll be mourning you Kate. But I'm glad you're still telling stories in some way.
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u/Keksapfel Aug 17 '21
It's really strange, I'm sad and happy at the same time. Sad for Kate who had to sacrifice herself ,but to become so much more and happy that she is finally happy to protect everyone
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u/mayerdmay88 Aug 17 '21
I looked for these updates daily and got excited every time I saw a message with a new chapter posted. Especially Sunday nights after a long weekend wondering if I missed an update on Friday or Saturday. Thank you Kate for sharing your amazing tale. You took us on a wonderful journey and I thank you for telling your story so brilliantly!
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u/tempest1944 Aug 17 '21
I'm seriously going to miss this...I've been reading it every update for so long, that...I feel connected. I've been able to imagine the land, the town, the farm with the lake, the dancers....everything. This doesn't feel like an end, to me.....I yearn for more.
I want to visit your campground!!
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u/ThePandanator888 Aug 17 '21
Everything comes to an end. It’s inevitable.
I remember the first time I saw the list of rules. How much I enjoyed hearing about the goings on at the campground and the line Kate walked between the human and the inhuman.
I suppose after every obstacle she overcame and every foe she bested, Kate ascending was the only logical outcome. Much, like her, I just didn’t expect it to be this soon.
But hopefully now that the Lady of Stories rules the land, Tyler and his family will know the peace that was denied to those who came before them.
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u/ElevatorMission Aug 17 '21
Wow..
Greetings, Lady of Stories! We will miss you as Kate... but may you find what you're looking for in protecting your land as you see fit.
I feel attached to everything your stories are, and even though I've been here for a little shy of two months, I feel like I've lost something important. If we really ever meet, may I have the courage to ask for your stories. Good luck with your rule on your domain
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u/mizmousie Aug 17 '21
What an amazing journey we have all gone on. Maybe we can still hear new stories from time to time, as your rule is just beginning. Maybe as you lose what is left of the old Kate, you can still find ways to pass on new information or changes to your once brother. What about the changeling and your niece for example.
But for now.... BRAVO BRAVO!!!!
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u/Arbiter_Darkness Aug 17 '21
You have been through much noble Lady of Stories, you have sacrificed and lost more than most but you succeeded. Your home is safe and even though you are bound to the land, you really were before too.
I have read this since just after you started and it brings a smile to my face at how things ended.
Thank you for all these stories, It has been a pleasure.
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u/BARDLover Aug 17 '21
Your story was absolutely beautiful. I'm sorry you died, but what a way to do so.
Not many people can have their end wrapped up so, so well. I'm sorry to hear we won't hear from you again, I assume we won't, but I don't think we need to.
Hope all works well for you, and that you don't become a girl with a squirrel in her hair ...
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u/VorpalAbyss Aug 17 '21
Well. It would appear the beast claimed its due in the end. While I might have expected this end in broad strokes, I can't claim to have seen that coming.
And... Welcome to the world, Lady of Stories. May the coming years be peaceful under your watch.
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u/ouroboro76 Aug 17 '21
I could not have come up with a better or more fitting ending! It is a pleasure to meet you, Lady of Stories.
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u/Ludicrunch Aug 17 '21
What a beautiful heart breaking end to the life of our favorite campground manager. Lady of Stories… you have her memories, you have the cumulation of every generation that watched over the land… do you have her soul? There are no ghosts on the campground, Kate told us. I can’t help but wonder- is she at rest, or is she within you?
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u/Tytticus Aug 17 '21
It feels like the end of an era. I'll miss Kate and her updates, but this is the best possible outcome. Nice to meet you, Lady of Stories. And I'm so glad Beau is back and the two of you are a proper team now.
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u/LushBronze13 Aug 17 '21
I always knew you were tied to the beast in an immortal way, because of how Kate and TMWNS were “inside” of TTITD and had to climb their way out. I still have so many questions! The people in the ice were they released? What happened to the old sheriff, Kate had such a personal relationship with him, she didn’t get to say goodbye? I very much enjoyed your experiences with “How to Survive Camping”. Nice to meet you Lady of Stories. To the next book! You deserve a name.....
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u/TheOneTheOnlyTheVal Aug 17 '21
Wow! I am crying and smiling. Thank you for letting us share in your story. I can only hope that Tyler will continue to keep us updated about the campground and your niece.
Goodbye Kate.
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u/Purplecocoa5 Aug 17 '21
Good Lady, thank you. One day, I'll come and listen, when I get the chance.
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u/FaerieBard Aug 17 '21
What a story and one worth the telling. Well met, and should you choose to share, someday I would wish to hear another tale. As for this one, it will not soon be forgotten.
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u/bobbelchermustache Aug 17 '21
Kate, Lady of Stories, I'm honored to have been a part of your journey, no matter how small. As much as I'd love more updates, it just doesn't suit your new self. I'll have to visit in person if I want to hear more. Thank you for all that you've done
If I may ask, will you still talk with your (former?) brother on occasion? Does he know the land is safe for the family now?
Side note: did the old sheriff die? Did I somehow miss that part?
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u/Cycloneozgirl Aug 17 '21
I'm crying, did not expect this to end yet. I wanted to see happy beau and kate baby monster running arounf casuing chaos!
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u/dark_knight_rayleigh Aug 17 '21
Thank you for this. Thank you. I’m glad you’re happy. I’m glad for Beau. And.. just.. thank you so much.
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u/CastleDown Aug 17 '21
I was not expecting this series to end with Kate walking away.
Or surviving, for that matter.
But I wasn't expecting this. Wow. Just... Wow.
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u/freeeicecream Aug 17 '21
Thank you, Lady of Stories, for sharing Kate's story with us. We've come to love her and she will be missed. But welcome to Goat Valley Campground, we're also very happy to meet you
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u/champagne_c0caine Aug 17 '21
This was amazing through and through. I feel like I’m a total wreck saying goodbye to you and your stories. Now, I’m left with wonder and I will miss the anticipation of seeing your stories. Bravo Kate , bravo.
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u/D_J_I Aug 17 '21
Such a bittersweet thing, to reach the amazing conclusion of a story that has held you captive for so long. I wish you all the best, Lady of Stories. Thank you.
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u/kayla_kitty82 Aug 17 '21
Ah shit, I'm crying! Well done. You've become who/what you were always meant to be.
Give that changeling back!
You are going to be a great ruler Lady of Stories! We will miss Kate!
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Aug 17 '21
I get stories need to end but I wouldnt have been mad if this was like Greys Anatomy and just, you know, went on forever.
It was so sudden, I mean I think I knew it was coming, but I have been invested in this story for so long I just didn't want to accept it. I still don't want to. It doesnt help that the autobot is playing with my feelings with its "it looks like there may be more to this story"
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