ask if he would mind very much checking to see if there is anything inside those cufflinks, please.

Are the river rapids that bad that rocks can destroy the boat?
Well we better go save his sorry ass and whatever poor damsel he tricked into getting into the boat with him... but he didn't mention the other fox? He was alone? What happened to the other one?
Yeah and get the fragment from the cufflinks if any.

Ask him if he would check inside the cufflinks. You have reason to believe that a piece of your heart is in them. Maybe two pieces.

Was he alone?

Also, check those cufflinks, plz.

FRACTAL 2012/10/05(Fri)09:17 No. 460501 ID: 8dbc01
File 134945385408.png - (212.39KB , 700x600 , 32.png )

"Did you see another fox in the boat with him, sir?"

"Sure did. Pretty thing. But. Too young for him. At least in my opinion. No offense intended."

I sigh. It hurts but it isn't surprising. He was rather older than I was when we met, too. I suppose that's just what he does. "And those cufflinks ... I'm sorry, he's my husband so I'm familiar with them. Did they have anything else with them?"

"Oh sure. Just here. Little bits of colored glass." He takes the cufflinks off and shows the glass to me. "Why do you ask. Do you need them."

"Yes, please."

"Here. You can take them. No way I'd need them. Nohow."

"Thank you."

I push the two fragments back in. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts.

FRACTAL 2012/10/05(Fri)09:17 No. 460502 ID: 8dbc01
File 134945386960.png - (200.87KB , 700x600 , 33.png )

Ulric and I continue on foot. The deer was right - the rapids are fierce and angry. I look for wood fragments, blood on the rocks, any indication that something terrible has happened. There's nothing.

FRACTAL 2012/10/05(Fri)09:18 No. 460503 ID: 8dbc01
File 134945388222.png - (146.61KB , 700x600 , 34.png )

When the river finally calms, we are at a lake. I have never been to this part of the forest before. It's restful.

How complete is your heart now?

There's something red in the water there.

make your man-slave get that red herring out of the water for you.

How deep is the lake? Maybe you can fish it out with a branch

Gain Heart Piece from Cufflinks.

Place Heart Piece in Incomplete Heart.

Gain DEAD BODY from Pond.

Why does your heart hurt? Is it because he left you? Or is it because you know what happened to him?

Go get that red thing from the pond, or use a stick to poke at it.
Ask Ulric if he can better tell what it is.

Examine heart status. Examine pond.

Oh, awesome. You have multiple personalities, and one of them murdered him? haha.

Or you could you know, take your clothes off and swim out. Ain't nothing Ulric hasn't seen before.

FRACTAL 2012/11/08(Thu)21:33 No. 469888 ID: 2c322d
File 135243922403.png - (165.03KB , 700x600 , salt35.png )

I have five of my heart fragments. My heart is very heavy now, and the edges are sharp and rough and unfinished.

I try to fish out the red object, and so does Ulric. Neither of us can reach it, no matter what we do. It glitters tauntingly.

FRACTAL 2012/11/08(Thu)21:36 No. 469890 ID: 2c322d
File 135243941066.png - (70.60KB , 700x600 , salt36.png )

Ulric protests, but I know what I have to do.

I leap.

>>469890
Search the bottom. You could easily see it from the surface so it must be easy to find, right?

swim further down. fondle the lakebed.

Your heavy heart should drag you down to the bottom.

Keep going. You've got this.
Did you ever go diving for objects underwater with Ulric when you were younger?

FRACTAL 2012/11/09(Fri)13:35 No. 470127 ID: 8dbc01
File 135249693739.png - (61.30KB , 700x600 , 37.png )

I find it almost immediately. It is a bare shard of my heart, not hidden away in any trappings or ornamentation.

FRACTAL 2012/11/09(Fri)13:36 No. 470128 ID: 8dbc01
File 135249696117.png - (47.82KB , 700x600 , 38.png )

I pick it up and push it into my chest. My blood blossoms like cigarette smoke in the cold water and I begin to kick towards the surface, holding tightly to my beating wound.

FRACTAL 2012/11/09(Fri)13:36 No. 470129 ID: 8dbc01
File 135249698643.png - (49.10KB , 700x600 , 39.png )

It is so cold. So cold and the water is heavy and the surface seems far and intangible. I think it would be easier to sink.

FRACTAL 2012/11/09(Fri)13:36 No. 470130 ID: 8dbc01
File 135249700883.png - (48.58KB , 700x600 , 40.png )

Much easier. The water is like an embrace and my blood is warm and comforting.

FRACTAL 2012/11/09(Fri)13:37 No. 470132 ID: 8dbc01
File 135249702370.png - (42.97KB , 700x600 , 41.png )

Easier to sink.

I wanna talk you out of it, but shit, that's pretty much all I've done all month. I guess, uh, don't sink because that's... bad for you?

>>470132
You know what's even easier though? Floating so you don't have to deal with the guilt of you dying and making Ulric a miserable wreck for thinking he let you die.

Ulric: Jump in after her and take care of business.

Come on girl! If you wanted to take the easy route out, you should have stayed home, and starved without your heart. But you chose to try and regain yourself. Don't give that up now. Don't make everything you've said and done today meaningless- don't make the people you hurt have suffered for nothing.

>>470132
There are still fragments left.

>>470132
If you wanted to take the easy way out you wouldn't have put that shard in your chest at all. SWIM.

FRACTAL 2012/11/13(Tue)22:59 No. 471606 ID: 8dbc01
File 135287639441.png - (56.39KB , 700x600 , 42.png )

Second thoughts touch my mind like insistent fingers. I've come too far for this. I've brought Ulric into it. I've killed a girl. To give up now would be pointless. Selfish.

I swim. It hurts and I feel like my fur is freezing over, but I swim.

FRACTAL 2012/11/13(Tue)23:03 No. 471607 ID: 8dbc01
File 135287659059.png - (151.69KB , 700x600 , 43.png )

When I collapse onto the bank, gasping and coughing, I find that Ulric had been preparing to dive in after me. I look up at him, wet and bloody and confused.

"Ulric, you can't swim."

"It seemed like you couldn't, either." He removes his vest and hands it to me so I can dry myself. The gesture provides more comfort than the fabric itself does. "Did you find a piece?"

I touch my bleeding chest. "Yes. One more, I think."

And unless I miss my guess, that would be the one your husband is holding.

Get ready for a sudden genre switch and a 600 image boss fight.

>>471607
Take some time to rest and wait for the bleeding to stop before we follow the river a bit further to see where your husband's boat went.

keep following the trail.

Gather your strength for the next part.

When you're ready, press ahead.

Perhaps you can find a warm place to dry a little bit?

Wait. Rest and dry off before you press on. You'll catch up with your husband eventually.
It's more important that you be in good condition before you face him.

FRACTAL 2012/12/17(Mon)09:38 No. 479429 ID: 6808dd
File 135576590356.png - (161.48KB , 700x600 , 44.png )

I wait, and I rest. Eventually my clothes dry and my blood dries and my tears dry. Ulric helps me up and we press on.

FRACTAL 2012/12/17(Mon)09:38 No. 479431 ID: 6808dd
File 135576591841.png - (181.52KB , 700x600 , 45.png )

The path is rocky and dark and uncertain. I feel lost, and I tell Ulric so.

"There's only one path," he says. "We can't be lost."

FRACTAL 2012/12/17(Mon)09:38 No. 479432 ID: 6808dd
File 135576593308.png - (182.15KB , 700x600 , 46.png )

Eventually I see a flash of red. When we draw closer, it becomes clear that it is a young fox, younger and prettier than i am.

"He left," she sobs. "He left, he left, and I should have known better. I should have known he'd leave me just like he left that old bitch. I was foolish to think he left just for me."

>>479432
"You trusted a betrayer and expected loyalty.
If you have a piece of my heart, then I will offer you sympathy in exchange."

she had it coming. don't comfort her. but she's already had her punishment dealt, and her lesson taught. ask if she's seen a piece of your heart.

...don't give into anger. She's young, she's foolish, and she made the same mistake you did. Show compassion and forgiveness- if you're going to repair your broken heart, and live for yourself, you cannot despise or hate this broken echo of yourself.

I'm sorry. You're not the first one to make that mistake, to allow themselves to be hurt in this way. Please, did he leave you anything?

When he said he gave you his heart, he gave you mine...

>>479432
Tell her that "old bitch" isn't finished with him yet.

Ask her where he went.

FRACTAL 2012/12/18(Tue)14:41 No. 479688 ID: 6808dd
File 135587047295.png - (193.56KB , 700x600 , 47.png )

I am torn between bitter scorn and a sort of twisted sympathy.

She's gotten what she deserves, my mind whispers sharply - but I pause, because i see something of myself in her. Have I gotten what I deserve as well?

I approach her. "You gave your heart to a stealer of hearts and expected that yours would be safe; that was foolish. But others before you have been just as short-sighted." She looks up at me, her tear-rimmed eyes flashing between resentment and sorrow, but says nothing. I continue. "If he gave you any pieces of a heart, claiming they were his, you were deceived - they were mine, taken from me before he took yours, and I need them back, please."

"He left me nothing," she spits. "All I have is this promise." She hurls it at the ground - it is a crumpled paper bag with nothing in it. "And he went off, in that rickety old boat, down a stream that will barely carry him."

let's make one thing clear here- she's not the same as you. you married a single man. she knew he was cheating and went along with it. that makes you a decent person and her a whore. she deserves no pity. the fuck did she expect, him not to do to her what he readily did before to you? stupid harlot.

make sure there really isn't anything in the bag and continue your pursuit.

>>479692
no dude, he told her she was pretty and so she wanted to believe him.

make sure the bag is empty and keep moving.

I'm sorry.

And then move on. There's nothing more you can do for her, or to be done with her. You still have the last piece of your heart to find, and a husband to confront.

We will go find him, then.

>>479692
Jesus, Elephant Guy, that's harsh.

>>479790

no it isn't. having your partner of many years end the relationship by cheating on you is a thing which breaks you for life. I know it from personal experience.

>>479790
>>479850
let's keep stuff quest related, guys. this is not the place to mourn your shitty past relationships

Take the bag and leave.

Hang on, what was the promise exactly?

FRACTAL 2012/12/19(Wed)18:17 No. 479923 ID: 6808dd
File 135596984687.png - (150.37KB , 700x600 , 48.png )

I tell her that I'm sorry because I am.

The bag is empty, as all his promises always were. It says "love" on it in marker. I don't want it.

Ulric touches my arm and we continue.

The girl was right - the stream is so shallow that I can't see how his boat could have navigated it. I could easily wade across it if I wished.

We walk, and we walk, and the stream trickles away into wet dunes with baby tufts of seagrass.

It is the ocean and I can see where my husband has dragged the boat.

This .... this can't be right.

I'm supposed to find him.

I'm supposed to confront him.

I'm supposed to get my heart back.

Investigate the end of the trail.

check the red shrubs

He's still there, on the horizon. How long would it take to retrieve your boat to go after him?

Could you swim that far? What lies in that direction, anyway?

Follow the tracks to the edge of the beach. And then watch the sun set on this chapter of your life.

If he threw the last piece of your heart into the ocean, you will never see it again. You'll never see your husband again either- in all likelihood he's going to die trying to cross the ocean alone, with little supplies, in a dingy little boat, and tired from rowing and dragging all day already. He's gone.

You might never get the last shard of your heart back. Love is like that. But we can try.

continue towards the beach.

FRACTAL 2013/01/09(Wed)19:57 No. 483930 ID: 6808dd
File 135779025631.png - (106.45KB , 700x600 , 49.png )

I check everywhere as i stumble towards the water. I kick my feet through the sand, hoping to unearth some final clue. I kneel down and search through the coarse, bristly red dune grass, hoping to find something nestled among the dry, angry blades.

I reach the line where the water laps at the sand and is sucked dry by the thirsty beach. It is slowly erasing the tracks of the dragged boat. Ulric comes up behind me but says nothing.

I see nothing but briny water tossing back shards of red reflection. It is cold and the sand bites when the wind whips it against my legs.

I stand there for a long time until the sun is thinner than a bleeding cut and I am shivering.

Ulric touches my shoulder and I don't know what to do.

The moral of this story is that you never really get back everything you once gave; you have to fill the last gap yourself, with something else.

Speaking of that, Ulric is right there. Give him a hug and cheer up.

FRACTAL 2013/01/09(Wed)20:22 No. 483934 ID: 6808dd
File 135779176413.png - (339.22KB , 700x600 , 50.png )

I turn to Ulric and embrace him. He's not any warmer than the air but it still helps.

He hugs me back and I can feel his blunt claws through my shirt. I am crying and his arms are tightening until I can barely breathe and somehow they are the only thing holding me together. It is cold.

It's cold and his voice is in my ear.

"Do you still feel lost?"

>"Do you still feel lost?"
...I don't know. I'm not sure I remember what it feels like to be found.

No, but you'll manage. All it takes is time, and it's easier with an extra set of eyes.

No, because now I'm with you. (I know it's corny, but c'mon guys, I want a good end)

No. You know exactly where you are. Don't you, Katherine?

your past was a lie, your future is all but uncertain and your present is just plain fucking weird.

so yes. yes, you are.

yes, but we can find our way together

No; you were never lost in the first place, it just took a lot of time to realize this.

FRACTAL 2013/01/10(Thu)13:25 No. 484114 ID: 6808dd
File 135785310925.png - (119.46KB , 700x600 , 51.png )

"No ... I'm not lost anymore."

There is a buzzing in my ear. It is colder and colder but no longer unpleasant. I step away from him and look up at his face.

"I know where I am."

FRACTAL 2013/01/10(Thu)13:25 No. 484115 ID: 6808dd
File 135785313738.png - (82.40KB , 700x600 , 51S.png )

Because the shock of losing him forever, of knowing he's gone forever, has knocked loose a little seed of knowledge from the dark, moist corners of my mind and my soul is fertile ground

FRACTAL 2013/01/10(Thu)13:25 No. 484116 ID: 6808dd
File 135785315344.png - (172.55KB , 700x600 , 51ST.png )

and isn't it true that horace died in the flood last year

FRACTAL 2013/01/10(Thu)13:26 No. 484119 ID: 6808dd
File 135785318004.png - (196.91KB , 700x600 , 51STYX.png )

and isn't it true he had a little niece who ran to the city with its lights and noises and filth, who was raped and killed and dumped in the woods

FRACTAL 2013/01/10(Thu)13:26 No. 484121 ID: 6808dd
File 135785320316.png - (99.65KB , 700x600 , STYXSTYX.png )

isn't it true that the forest gatekeeper's head is now hanging quietly above someone's fireplace

FRACTAL 2013/01/10(Thu)13:27 No. 484123 ID: 6808dd
File 135785322983.png - (111.91KB , 700x600 , NO.png )

i am reeling
it is cold
isn't it t rue that the r e is no river out of the sw amp

i sn't it true that if there were a r iv er i would have left a long t ime a.go

i push u lri c away b e cause i k.now that as so.on as he re ceived my w edding invitation he sat in his p arlor and put a little g un to his he ad

FRACTAL 2013/01/10(Thu)13:27 No. 484125 ID: 6808dd
File 135785325508.png - (165.37KB , 700x600 , thereisnoriver.png )

there is no river out of the swamp

FRACTAL 2013/01/10(Thu)13:27 No. 484127 ID: 6808dd
File 135785327102.png - (276.44KB , 700x600 , therewasneveranyriver.png )

there is no river out of the swamp

FRACTAL 2013/01/10(Thu)13:28 No. 484128 ID: 6808dd
File 135785328331.png - (146.32KB , 700x600 , iwillrotintheswampthatboremeintothisworldifichoose.png )

there is no river out of the swamp

Wow

>>484128
Okay that is not what I expected to happen at all.

Well, the whole quest seemed to be about acceptance of loss and moving on. That... just wasn't the way we meant it.

Rest in peace, Kathrine.

>>484128
What? No. Get off the ceiling, fox. You're drunk.

But who was the fox girl we met near the end with the paper?
And husband walks away like that? He ain't dead, is he? Or did the husband hang himself and all that shit was self-reflection trying to understand Kathrine's point of view?

Because this fox has no pants and Katherine has a plaid skirt.
We also have the other rabbit we saw, the third one with the roses?

Whew.

>>484141
err not roses, necklace

all questions about the quest are gonna be fielded in the katherine quest disthread (http://tgchan.org/kusaba/questdis/res/59239.html) and i'm also gonna be writing up some closing thoughts there!
thank you guys so much for doing this with me, this is my first finished quest and i am really, really pleased with it. <3

I, uh, wow. you what. and when and how and why did all of this? I don't even! I just, wow.

many bricks have been shat today.

Good end.