Blip: Rocks and Cotton

Chapter One

A constant breeze filled the land, choreographing the best dance routine any grassy land has seen. It tickled Clemat’s hand as he gradually woke up. The breeze tasselled his short brown hair, trying to keep up with the steps of the grass around him.

This feels nice, he thought. The breeze is…. salty?

Clemat opened his eyes slowly, letting the blurriness fade and the light from the orange clouds fill in. The clouds illuminated the purplish sky behind them which bathed the land in a contrasting purple tinge and orange glow.

“Dang”

Clemat sighed and took out a small moleskin notebook from his jacket pocket and the pen attached to it. He flipped to a page with three crudely drawn earths with slash marks over two of them. With his pen, Clemat slashed the third and drew another.

“Here we go again,” he said as he rubbed his sore neck.

He stood up, pocketed his notebook and took a quick look at the grassy plains around him. With a mighty stretch, he started walking and quickly reached a small cliff overlooking a valley.

The orange clouds illuminated the land below. There were huge dandelions that grew to half the height of the mountains behind them. Below, surrounded by the mountain range, was a small town with houses shaped like coconut husks.

At least I blipped closer to civilization this time. This looks interesting.

He shivered and shook his right foot. Loose hay drifted away from him, finding their place with the land.

“More interesting than a world of hay. That’s for sure.” He mumbled while rubbing the back of his neck, the feeling of a small burning cut faded away as he did.

As he was about to start walking toward the town, a huge dandelion flew in from the right of his view, quickly moving above him. It was as tall as a small house and as poofy as any dandelion would be. On its stem, sat a creature that looked like a statue made of pebbles.

Clemat looked up in surprise. The pebble person, unaware of Clemat, was screaming at the top of her rock-like lungs.

“Hey,” Clemat said calmly, in between her screams “Do you need help? Can you understand me?”

“No no, I’m… Totally in CONTROL!” The small rock person shouted back at Clemat, unconvincingly.

Just then, the winds caused the dandelion to swirl. The small rock person held on tight and continued to scream.

“Alright then, have fun.” Clemat waved dismissively and started walking towards town again. Not even a few steps in, the dandelion flew above, then behind him. The wind was not letting up.

BAM!

The base of the dandelion seed knocked him on the back of his head. Clemat lost balance and tumbled a little down the slope.

“Woah!” He exclaimed as he was reeling from the impact. He looked up to the dandelion now in front of him with the small rock person at the helm, clearly struggling to hold on.

“Sorry! Guess I’m not really in control!” She said, looking back at Clemat. Her face was etched in the rock, eyes slightly indented and her mouth causing a bump in an otherwise, totally smooth surface. As Clemat locked eyes with her, he could feel that she wasn’t filled with fear or regret, but doubt.

“That’s it.” Clemat picked himself up quickly and ran toward the dandelion, which was now bound for the town below.

“Don’t worry if you can’t catch up! I’ll land, eventually…” The rock person yelled back as Clemat struggled to catch his breath.

Clemat staggered, his body was weak and his breath was getting increasingly shallow with every step. But with one last push, he leapt, aiming for the tail end of the dandelion. He reached out even though it was obvious that he wasn’t going to make it.

The rock person quickly angled herself so the dandelion’s stem would be lowered. Just enough for Clemat to grab on and pull himself up.

His weight throws the dandelion off balance. It dipped at first, but his struggles to hold himself up angled it in a way that caught a strong gust of wind. The dandelion spun itself high in the air while the both of them clung on as tightly as they could.

”… Th…. Thanks…” Clemat muttered as he slowly opened his eyes again “Woah!”

From this height, Clemat could see the rivers that cut through the town, the lush green grass that makes up its bed and the clusters of dandelions on the edge of it. As well as the mountain range that surrounded the town was impossible to miss. Even though it wasn’t as huge as the ones on earth, it still towered over everything, blocking the view of the other side. There was also what looked like a cotton forest that sat in between it and the town.

The orange clouds bathed the land in an orange glow while the mountains and rivers shimmered with the light. The beauty of the valley captivated him.

Taking a glance behind them, he looked at the spot where he woke. The grassy plains extend to the ocean that stretches beyond the horizon. There was no sand, no edge of the water. Just grass, grass, grass then the ocean. It clicked for Clemat. The winds blowing them toward the town is a constant sea breeze.

“It’s boring, isn’t it? Can’t wait to get out of this place.” The rock person said. Breaking the calm silence.

“What are you talking about? This is amazing! Way better than a world of hay!” Clemat exclaimed. Still gawking at the scenery. “I’m uh… I’m Clemat by the way.”

“What’s hay?”

“It’s like dead, dried up grass. Not as soft as you’d think, and it gets everywhere.”

“Grass doesn’t dry up, are you okay? Did you get bonked too hard in the head? And uhm… I’m Pebbles.”

Clemat didn’t respond. He was too busy soaking it in as they slowly drifted towards the town.

Chapter Two

The pair landed on the eastern outskirts of town. Pebbles hopped down from the dandelion with a heavy thud. Clemat’s legs wobbled as he stepped down, grabbing onto Pebbles for balance.

Pebbles was half his height and smooth all around. Similar to rocks by the lake that was perfect for skipping. When caught in the right light, a soft sparkle revealed itself.

“Here we are. Welcome to New Cottown.” Pebbles said, stepping out from supporting Clemat.

“For the cotton forest behind it? Creative.”

“Finally! Someone understands!”

Clemat started walking ahead of Pebbles, fascinated by the town just up ahead. The coconut houses were just in view, some were full coconut with a small base cut out for stability while others were half a coconut embedded in the ground.

“So what’s new about it?” Clemat asked while he acted like a tourist.

“NOTHING! THAT’S THE PROBLEM!” Pebbles said with her hands in the air while her feet dragged behind Clemat. “I would just love to be able to leave, explore the world beyond this. Maybe even survive on my own and find something new!”

“Then why don’t you? Seems as easy as just getting up and leaving.”

“Didn’t you see me trying? Anyways, it’s not that simple, there are just so many things I need to think about…” Pebbles sounded unsure as she progressed through that sentence.

Clemat didn’t press further, they’d just met after all. He chugged along, slightly in front of Pebbles, excited to see the world he’s been dropped into.

As they entered the town, Clemat noticed that there were no streets but tiny paths lined with totems that glowed orange from the top. It emanated from the luminous orange cotton on it which was encased in a stalk-like material that looks to have come from the dandelion. Like a tiki street lamp.

“Hey, Pebbles. How did you guys make the cotton glow?” Clemat asked as he came to a halt and just stared.

“We stuffed the clouds in them.” Pebbles replied with an unenthusiastic tone.

“Wait… so the clouds above are actually glowing orange? And how did you even get them down?” Clemat continued, more confused than ever.

“Yes they glow, we have light as long as we have clouds, if not we have these totems.” Pebbles began to monologue, “If the clouds don’t move and get too heavy, pieces of them will fall, so we put them in the cotton. Pretty basic stuff, but picking up the clouds is one of the worst chores ever…”

Clemat got excited and started moving again. He trailed further in front, giddy with every step. They passed by a few other rock people of different sizes. Most waving at Pebbles but giving him a weird look when he came into view.

He was used to it by now.

They had a society of their own, a world that’s different from his own, but feels familiar somehow. Some were talking amongst themselves, others used grass brooms to sweep the top of their coconut houses. One was balancing on a ladder next to a totem and fluffing the cotton while another rock person, the size of oodPebbles, stood below, looking up expectantly.

Pebbles started to feel self-conscious with all the glances they were attracting. She knew everyone by name, they knew who she was too. And they knew what she was up to that afternoon. She needed to distract herself, to focus herself back on her goal and away from the doubt.

“Hey, can I ask you one question? How did you get here? And can you show me how to get out?”

“That’s not one question, and…” He patted his jacket pocket to feel his notebook, “I’m not sure.”

“Not sure how you got here or how to get out..?”

“Yes,” Clemat replied, now he actively avoided Pebbles’ gaze.

It wasn’t as if Clemat was hiding anything from Pebbles. He could feel Pebbles slow down, could feel her thinking things through and could feel her sense of place. I wish I knew too, he thought while he kept moving forward, genuinely curious with his surroundings and pretending that Pebbles would just go along with it.

Pebbles’ steps grew heavier, slower and eventually, they stopped. She was unsatisfied with his answer but could hear the sincerity in his voice. Why is it so easy for you to just keep moving while I’m stuck here? Is it me? She thought, reliving her most recent failure while admiring Clemat’s forward momentum.

“PEBS! You are finally back! We saw you in the sky, are you ok?” A soothing voice called out from the right. It snapped the both of them out of their funk.

Clemat looked back, trying to find the source of the voice.

Three paths down to the right of Pebbles, two larger rock people stood in front of a coconut house. The one with the smooth voice waved her hands while walking towards them.

The second, gruffly looking, rock person trialled behind slowly. Those soft eyes locked on Clemat, holding his gaze before shifting to Pebbles too.

Pebbles hung her head low while she moved towards them. Clemat didn’t let the gap widen too much before he followed.

“Yea I’m fine, the sea breeze kept blowing me back… I’ll never get out…” Pebbles said sheepishly.

“Not this again…” said the rock with a soothing voice, though they sounded a little more annoyed this time.

“I found something though, or someone.” Pebbles said, cutting them off and redirecting the subject to Clemat.

Clemat approached to find that even though the 2 rock people were larger than Pebbles, they were only as tall as his brow.

“Hey,” he said, raising his right hand for a small wave.

“These are my parents!” Pebbles said proudly to Clemat, then turning to her parents “And yea, this is Clemat. A… I don’t know what he is… he’s nice though.”

“Name’s Marbles, nice to meet you!” Said the first rock person with a soothing voice.

“Rockford,” said the second rock person right as he caught up to them. “Thanks for keeping Pebbs safe.”

As soon as those words ended, the air around them seemed to have gone still. The wind blew as constant as ever but Clemat could feel the awkward tension rising. The four of them started walking back towards the house in silence, which only made the tension grow.

“Pebbles had things under control, I was just along for the ride,” Clemat said a few steps in, to break the ice. “I’m a human by the way. What are you guys?”

Rockford grunted while Marbles let the silence sit for a little before providing a reply. “We are Amphibolite. Seeing as we’ve never heard of what a human is, I guess it’s safe to assume that we’d be foreign to you too.”

Clemat nodded in agreement.

Before long, they arrived at the front of the house. It was a large coconut with the bottom third of it cut off. It sat on the grass, creating a dome shape with a cut-out door. In front of the house sat a totem light and a bench made out of stalks from a different plant. One that looks sturdier and more wood-like.

Marbles gestured, inviting Clemat into their home. He stepped in without hesitation while Marbles followed behind.

After they all headed into the house, Pebbles kicked around outside. She looked in the direction of the winds that furiously blew the grass and furs on the coconut house. Letting the familiar breeze brush up against her face.

Rockford stood at the door, watching his daughter. He felt a mixture of pride and frustration. Conflicting emotions were cut short when Pebbles turned around to look at him.

“Come on in now, youngin’. Time to be a good host.”

Chapter Three

Inside the coconut house was surprisingly spacious. There were tiny stools made up of dandelion stalks. A little coffee table, made from the same material as the bench outside. There were no other rooms, no beds, no washrooms, just a one-room coconut igloo.

Clemat noticed that the floor was still grass, it just continued from outside in. The place was also lit up with cotton stuffed cloud lights hung up with blades of grass that were strung into a rope. The curved walls were decorated with little trinkets made out of grass and or cotton that were woven together.

Marbles noticed that Clemat was studying the trinkets on the wall. They walked over carefully so as to not startle him.

“Those were made by Pebbs and I. Pebbs gets so attached to them that we could never throw them out.” Marbles said, “Would love to barter them at the market, but Pebbs would get so self-conscious.”

“They look great! I’d get them.” Clemat replied. “Looks like art does exist everywhere huh?”

“What are you guys chatting about?” Pebbles said as she walked in. Rockford followed closely behind. She quickly noticed that they were standing in front of the trinket wall and continued, “Those are nothing… pish… I could have made them better.”

Clemat asked about how they were made and how the grass is so strong that it can be tied into a rope. He was curious as to why the grass doesn’t dry out and lose its strength once it’s been plucked from the ground.

Marbles and Pebbles explained enthusiastically as Rockford walked past them to take his place on one of the small stools.

“What were you doing on those dandelions again?” Rockford asked, cutting off the previous conversation. “What do you plan to do if you DO manage to get past the sea breeze? Just float in the middle of the ocean?”

“Are we really doing this now?” Pebbles retorted. “What happened to ‘be a good host’?”

Rockford maintained his stern but soft gaze on Pebbles. The room fell back into silence, but it wasn’t uncomfortable this time. Clemat felt the concern and the worry that emanated from her parents.

Marbles took a seat on the stool beside Rockford. Their attention now fully on Pebbles who, on the other hand, was super uncomfortable, shooting looks back at Clemat.

Help me… she mouthed to Clemat. Clemat awkwardly walked up next to the parents and took a seat on the final stool. Pebbles sighed. Not impressed, but understood.

“So were you just going to float there?” Rockford pressed again.

Pebbles sat on the grassy floor in front of them, now forming a little circle between the four of them.

“Well, I was planning on flying high enough to see if there was anything other than water out there…” she said softly.

“What if you fell? We can’t float.” Marbles asked.

“I wouldn’t have fallen.” Pebbles replied, agitation coming through in her voice. “Tell them, Clemat!”

“So… What do you guys eat around here…” Clemat said, desperately trying to change the subject.

He wanted to help Pebbles but didn’t want to lie. Rockford and Marbles might have sounded like they were disappointed and discouraging, but their body language didn’t show it. To Clemat, this felt more like a review than an interrogation.

“Eat?” Pebbles inquired, totally on board with the plan.

“You guys don’t need to eat? Um.. then if you don’t mind, I need to.” Clemat said as he took out an energy bar from his pocket and tore it open. “It’s a human thing. Really sorry, I need to do this, to y’know…”

The three of them looked at him curiously as he bit into it.

”…Stay alive?” He continued with a mouth full of food.

Rockford grunted.

They waited for him to swallow his first bite before Marbles jumped in. “Clemat, you look like someone well travelled. How do you like this place?”

Pebbles was relieved that Marbles took the bait.

“Well from what I’ve seen… It’s pretty great! Would love to explore a little more of it. Everything’s so soft and cosy..”

“And super boring…” Pebbles mumbled.

Rockford grunted.

“Pebbs.” Marbles said, trying to stop her.

“You know I’m right! One day I’ll leave!” Pebbles fell back into the previous conversation without knowing it. Her mind was still occupied with her failed attempt that afternoon. “One day I’ll… I’ll..”

“Please… we have been here for generations…” Marbles continued, “You’ll need to…”

“By force? We are trapped!” Pebbles exclaimed. She was frustrated but didn’t raise her voice. “We can’t leave by sea because we can’t float. Can’t leave by air because of the breeze while the mountains and forest block off the other way!”

“Enough, youngin.” Rockford voiced up.

“We aren’t trapped…” Marbles continued, “It’s just that…”

“Just what? You don’t trust me? You don’t trust that I’ll be able to survive on my own?”

“Enough,” Rockford said again.

“Um…” Clemat interjected, breaking the tension. “Has anyone actually left before?”

“Of course n..” Pebbles answered quickly.

“Yes,” Rockford said, turning to Clemat.

“Ford…” Marbles sighed. “Yes, some left before. A long time ago, and we’ve never heard back from them. We don’t even know if they made it up the mountain. It’s scary, not knowing if they are alright…”

“So, why don’t you just go?” Clemat said, turning to Pebbles. “And just keep in contact, let them know you are okay?”

“What? How?”

“It’s dangerous, not knowing if you are alright, it worries us that…” Rockford said as he looked at Marbles then turned to Pebbles. Pebbles sat there quietly, she looked like she was losing steam.

Clemat noticed it too. The vigour that Pebbles was arguing with quickly dissipated.

“You just need to know that Pebbles is fine right?” He turned to the parents. “We will figure something out. Don’t you worry!”

“Send us a signal,” Rockford said. “Send us a signal using the cloud lights when you get to the top of the mountain. That way we’ll know you are okay.”

“That… is possible…” Pebbles perked back up though her voice still shook.

“What are you worried about? I’ll be going along with you!” Clemat jumped in, trying to hype her back up. “Wanted to explore this place more anyways.”

“But… but… if we don’t see the signal after three days, we are going out there to get you!” Marbles adding a new clause. “Deal?”

“Okay! Deal!” Pebbles replied, all excited again.

“Not so fast youngin,” Rockford says calmly. “We need you to do something before we are fully sold.”

“A test?” Pebbles asked, shoulders slumping down again.

“More of a proof of commitment.” Rockford said before turning to Clemat “from the both of you.”