Two - #08. “The Sleepwalker Yeti”

[Prof. Sindor Aloyarc]

The storm that greets you on the farther side of the next mountain feels wrong, almost sad. Snow pelts you, fiercely but forlorn.

You follow the trail until you find the source. An enormous yeti trudging through the blizzard, eyes half closed, murmuring softly.

“The stars are calling me…” It snores. “I must go…”

Each step shakes the mountainside.

Finn tugs your sleeve. “Sleepwalking. Poor thing’s lost between waking and dream.”

You try calling out, but the yeti doesn’t hear. Its fur glows faintly with starlight, and every time it looks up, the aurora dims, pulled downward toward it. If it keeps walking, it’ll unravel the sky completely.

So you climb down, down, down as quick as you can manage safely.

Ice bites your hands, wind lashes your face, but you keep going until you reach its shoulder. There, you place the glowing map-sphere against the fur of its chest.

The light pulses gently, heartbeat to heartbeat. The yeti slows. Its voice deepens into a hum, low and peaceful.

When it finally opens its eyes, they’re full of tears. “I dreamed the stars had left me.”

“They haven’t,” you say comfortingly. “They’re just waiting for you to rest.”

It kneels, settling into the snow. The storm stills around you, flakes falling gently.

Finn whispers, “How do you always know what to say?”

You smile faintly. “I don’t. I just try to listen.”

Above, the aurora steadies once more, its colors soft and strong, like breath returning after a long sleep.

Task:
Write and post below lyrics to a Lullaby in a minimum of 80 words that will help the yeti fall into an even deeper sleep. You must pick at least eight of the following words to include in your poem: Aurora, Beastkeeper, Calling, Frigid, Frost, Hail, Ice, Map-sphere, Moon, Night, Shimmer, Shiver, Snowbeast, Starlight, Trail, Whisper. You are welcome to change these words slightly to fit the piece, such as writing Shimmering instead of Shimmer, or Frosted instead of Frost.

Alternatively you could tell us about what the yeti is seeing in their sleep by sharing any Dream you’ve had yourself in 125 words or more!

15 beans/sapphires are available for this task, with an extra 15 for completing all Week Two tasks by end of activity. Deadline is 11:59pm (HOL time) on Wednesday January 21st.

[Janne Halla]

Soft now, soft now, the night draws near,
The aurora sighs, calm and clear.
No more calling across the white Trail,
The moon hums low through the frigid veil.

Hush, dear snowbeast, close your eyes,
Let starlight fall as silver sighs.
No hail will strike, no shiver stay,
The sharpest ice has drifted away.

Gentle whispers ride the snow,
Telling your tired heart it’s safe to slow.
The map-sphere glows, steady and warm,
A quiet guide through the winter storm.

Rest now, rest now, strong and deep,
The stars are whole while you sleep.
By frost and dream you’re safely bound,
While shimmering skies stand watch all around.

Sleep on, sleep on, till morning’s light,
The world will wait through this long night.

[River Fenwick]

Rest, sweet snowbeast, the night’s reach is far and wide,
The frost will fade into warmth, with rest like a map-sphere; a guide.
The aurora lights up the sky, shimmering like a fading dream,
And the moon hangs low, and starlight begins to gleam.

Focus on the whisper of sleep, shivering to take you away,
Now is the perfect time, while the hail and ice remain at bay.
Close your eyes and imagine a trail, vibrating with a gentle calling,
You’re safe; this beastkeeper will keep watch for anything that comes brawling.