Abandoned Castle tribute

Words were spread across the lands that tributes needed to be made for the court or else something bad may occur. It made every life frantic in trying to figure out what to do.

There needed to be tributes paid to the court so everyone would be on good terms with the court. However, who was to say whether it was really a good or bad thing.

Nightingale has heard about an abandoned castle somewhere in the middle of the isles. She was terrible at directions but could figure out where things were based on landmarks. As she had been told more than once and showed it by just wandering about. She knew something was fishy but did her best to stay calm and collect.

Outside, the weather was calm, trees stood still as the clouds covered the land. It honestly felt and appeared, spooky, to Nightingale. A chill crept throughout her body as she made way towards the castle.

The exterior of this abandoned castle had a fence line that was so worn down in greenery that it looked like hedges instead of a fence. It melded with the tall grass that had overgrown outside of the structure.

Nightingale had a steady pace until she reached the entry point of where the fence would open. Her guard went up as she was totally unaware as to what would happen. Rumors were spread that the court was seeking items of good taste. Whereas who or what the good taste was – had to be based on every individual that would represent something.

For Nightingale, she held between her taloned fingers a bag full of a variety of fruits. There were coconuts, bananas, grapes and some random rainbow pebbles she found awhile ago. It was quite an abundance of colors and scents. It would tickle her nostrils lightly as she stepped closer to the doorway. She looked around the area, with her red eyes, almost scared but tried her best not to be at the same time.

It was quite difficult to remain calm in such an eerie time for Nightingale.

A sigh escaped her mouth, followed by a large inhale. You got this, she thought to herself. A reluctant smile teased at the edge of her snout.

The doors were double doors; something that humans seemed to enjoy for their large structures of various types. Around the framing there were windows, however, now broken down and covered in moss. The greenery appeared neat to such darkened doors. As they creaked open, Nightingale slowly peered her head into the doorway first. Shifting her head, left then right then forward. Nothing was seen.

Nightingale crept into the entrance, the bag dangling across her arms as the material brushed against her stomach area every other step she took.

The area was held so much green, who was to say if anything lived here or anyone. At least for now, she knew that there was a dining hall where she could make her tribute. She hoped she had enough goods for the court.

Disappointing others was something she tried her best to avoid.

Before she continued forward, looking around, she just… took in the sight before her eyes. The walls had lightning strikes cracking down the panels up and across the ceiling. There were no light fixtures anywhere. There were spots where picture frames used to dwell at but have since shifted and or fell completely onto the steps. To the right of the entrance, there was a very large stairway that was crumbling. Something for Nightingale to take notes and to avoid going there.

Nightingale began to move forward into the large hallway, up ahead there were a few openings to rooms. But what rooms? Nightingale was unsure but cautiously made her way in.

“Hello? Is anyone home?”  she whispered in a soft tone, not wanting to disrupt anyone. Let alone scare anything or anyone away.

Her feet pressed onto moss covered carpets that were so coated one could not be able to tell what color it was prior.

It amazed Nightingale as to how much moss and other greenery festered their way into this castle. Sure, humans did not exist but were dinosaurs really that unaware of how to make sure things were cleaned up? These thoughts trickled into Nightingale’s mind out of such curiosity; she paused between two entryways.  One on each side of her.

To the left, it appeared to be a library or some sort of office area. Bookshelves were coated in vines and moss. One could tell it was some sort of study.

To the right, it appeared to be a kitchen.  In the middle of it was an island or what humans may call it such. Again, most were covered except for something that had circles on the top area. It was as if something stopped the growth of the greenery.

“How odd,” Nightingale tilted her head with the soft comment.

What did not know was in the kitchen, the dinosaurs in the area figured out how to use the heat of the stove. Whether or not it was functional like what humans used was another story. But it definitely showed some areas in which it was fairly charred.

Nightingale did not notice anything else to note between these two rooms. A light mm ruptured through her lips as she continued forward.

There was a large opening ahead, with a few light sources that were rather dim to the left and right. She was not interested in venturing throughout this castle anymore. She now just wanted to reach the place where the court was supposed to be at and leave.

This place was giving her the heebie jeebies.

A cold chill crept through her body as a light wind blew through the hallway, coming from the large room ahead. The cold air hit her face unexpectedly. She wiggled her nose and blinked a few times. Then Nightingale gulped with some hesitation. Shifting the weight of the bag to her other dinosaur fingers and allowed them to curl, grasping onto the handle a bit more snug.

As she slowly strolled into the room, the air was heavy. Smoke from some candles lit up throughout the room. It was a dining room or ballroom, of sorts. Tables were in a particular way with goods of types covering the tops of a few of the tables.

Nightingale glanced around, counting the tables in her head; 1, 2, 3…4.. what? Why 4 tables, she thought. Confusion overlapped her mind with her curiousness as well.

The room was rather large, the ceiling almost looked like it never ended above. It grew dark the further one would look to, due to the lighting from the candles.

She shivered again. The cold breeze swept through the room again as she heard a voice in the distance. She could not understand it though or was unsure if it was even another dinosaur.

Nightingale quickly trekked towards one of the – more empty tables – lifted the bag of goodies and placed them gently onto the table. She had to be gentle because of the fruits; she knew that they would get damaged and go bad if they were tossed around.

Would the voices she was hearing come out of the darkness and speak with Nightingale? Were they a threat or were they friendly? Nightingale had no idea but now she just wanted to leave. The job was done. Part of her body released some of the cautious and anxiety she held throughout the entirety of walking through this old castle.

She mumbled to herself as she turned around to leave back to where she came from, “I sure hope it’s enough to appease the court…”

The voices grew louder as she began to step out. Nightingale avoided trying to look back even though she was now super curious to see and hear more of what was being said. Was her tribute good enough?