NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 2: Valais Blacknose
The cool morning air greeted Ebony as she stepped outside, the sunlight dappling the sidewalk through the trees above. She took a deep breath, the fresh scent of dew and blossoms mingling in the air. It felt like the kind of morning that promised something new—something magical.
The bus stop wasn't far from her apartment, and she hummed softly as she made her way there. The streets were still quiet, save for the occasional jogger or dog walker. Her thoughts were filled with images of fluffy lambs and rolling fields of green.
As she reached the bus stop, she pulled the petting zoo coupon from her bag and traced the embossed golden lettering with her finger. She had been looking forward to this day ever since Scarlet gave it to her. A whole day surrounded by cute, fluffy animals—what could be better?
The bus arrived with a low hum, its doors hissing open. Ebony climbed aboard and found a window seat near the back, her excitement growing with every passing minute. The city soon faded into quiet suburbs, and then into open countryside. Fields of wildflowers swayed lazily in the breeze, and the sky stretched endlessly overhead.
The bus pulled to a stop near a rustic wooden sign that read:
Old Davie's Petting Zoo – Open Year-Round
Ebony stepped off the bus and into a world that smelled of fresh hay and wildflowers. The path leading to the farm was lined with white picket fences, beyond which the pastures stretched out in vibrant green. A faint chorus of bleats and chirps floated on the breeze, welcoming her.
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As Ebony reached the entrance, an elderly man with a kind smile greeted her. His weathered face was framed by a neatly trimmed beard, and he wore a straw hat tipped jauntily to the side.
"Morning, miss. You here to see the lambs?" he asked, his voice warm and gravelly.
Ebony smiled and handed him the coupon. "Absolutely. I've been waiting for this all week."
He chuckled and waved her through. "Well, you're in for a treat. The Valais Blacknoses just had a few new lambs born. They're fluffier than a cloud on a sunny day."
Ebony's eyes lit up as she stepped into the enclosure area. The fields were dotted with animals—fluffy white sheep, curious goats, and waddling ducks. But it was the Valais Blacknoses that caught her eye immediately.
They were exactly as she imagined—adorable bundles of curly white fleece with black faces and little black noses. A small group of lambs stood near the feeding station, nosing at the hay.
Her heart melted as one of the smaller lambs wobbled toward her, its soft bleat almost musical.
"Oh my gosh," Ebony whispered, crouching down. "You're the cutest thing ever."
She reached out her hand, holding out a raspberry she had saved from breakfast. The lamb sniffed it curiously, then nibbled eagerly, its tiny teeth brushing her palm.
Ebony laughed, enchanted by the soft tickle of the lamb's snout. But suddenly, the lamb bit down a little harder than she expected.
"Ow!" She winced as she pulled her hand back. A small bead of blood welled up where the lamb's teeth had grazed her skin.
The world seemed to pause for a moment. The sunlight dimmed, and a strange hum filled the air—something that felt alive and ancient.
Ebony's vision blurred as a wave of dizziness overtook her. The sounds of the petting zoo faded, replaced by a deep, resonant hum. She staggered, reaching out for the fence to steady herself, but the world tilted and spun.
Her knees gave out, and she collapsed onto the soft grass. The last thing she saw before the darkness claimed her was the small lamb's wide, innocent eyes.
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When Ebony opened her eyes, she was greeted by soft golden light streaming through wooden beams. The scent of fresh hay was stronger than before, mixed with the faint sweetness of wildflowers. She blinked, trying to focus.
She was lying in a cozy pile of hay, surrounded by fluffy white shapes. The gentle sounds of bleating and soft breathing filled the air.
She sat up slowly, and her heart skipped a beat. Surrounding her were Valais Blacknoses, their curly fleece like a cloud around their dark faces. But they were much closer—too close. She looked down at herself and froze.
Her hands...weren't hands anymore. They were small black hooves.
"No..." Her voice came out as a soft bleat.
Ebony scrambled to her feet—or rather, her hooves—and rushed to a nearby puddle. She stared into the water's surface, her reflection rippling back at her.
A Valais Blacknose lamb stared back at her.
Her mind raced, disbelief flooding her senses. She shook her head, but the reflection didn't change. She had become one of the lambs.
Just as panic began to set in, a soft chime echoed in her mind. A glowing black and silver screen appeared before her, floating in midair.
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Status Screen
Name: N/A
Species: Sheep kin (Valais Blacknose variant) [0/500 EXP to next Evolution]
Class: N/A
Abilities: None Unlocked
Titles: Pan's Chosen
Current Objective: Explore your surroundings.
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Ebony blinked at the screen, her fluffy ears twitching.
"This...isn't real," she muttered—or tried to. Instead, a soft baa escaped her lips.
Around her, the other lambs seemed calm, unbothered by her strange predicament. But Ebony couldn't shake the feeling that she had stepped into something far beyond her understanding.
And somewhere, in the distance, she swore she heard the faint echo of a shepherd's whistle, beckoning her toward the unknown.
The glowing status screen lingered for a few moments before dissolving into shimmering particles, disappearing from view. Ebony's heart pounded in her chest—or whatever was in place of her heart now—as the new reality settled over her.
"Pan's Chosen?" she thought, the words echoing in her mind like the fading notes of an ancient melody. What does that even mean?
She shook her head, her thick curls of wool bouncing with the movement. The cool morning breeze rustled through the wooden barn, carrying the faint scent of clover and wildflowers. The other lambs nuzzled each other or lazily grazed on hay, oblivious to the existential crisis unfolding beside them.
"Okay," Ebony muttered in her mind, trying to stay calm. "If this is some kind of bizarre dream, I might as well play along until I wake up."
Her legs wobbled as she took a tentative step forward. Walking on four legs was... strange. She felt like a marionette with tangled strings, but after a few awkward tries, she managed a slow, steady pace.
The barn doors were slightly ajar, revealing a glimpse of the outside world—a lush meadow bathed in golden light. The sight tugged at her curiosity.
Objective: Explore your surroundings.
The words from the status screen echoed in her mind, accompanied by a gentle but insistent pull in her chest. She didn't know how she knew, but the meadow was calling her.
As Ebony passed through the open barn doors, the world opened up before her. Rolling hills stretched as far as the eye could see, blanketed in wildflowers of every hue. The sky above was an endless expanse of blue, dotted with lazy white clouds. A gentle stream cut through the meadow, its clear waters bubbling softly as it flowed toward the distant woods.
She took in the scene with wide eyes—or as wide as sheep eyes could go. Despite her fear and confusion, she couldn't deny how breathtaking it all was. The breeze brushed against her wool, and for a moment, she felt... peaceful.
A soft rustling sound drew her attention. She turned to see a small, silver-haired hare peeking out from a bush. Its eyes glimmered like tiny crystals, intelligent and cautious.
The hare tilted its head, then twitched its nose as if trying to communicate something. Ebony felt a strange sense of recognition, as though the creature wasn't an ordinary animal.
Before she could react, a distant, melodic whistle floated across the meadow—a sound that sent a shiver down her spine.
It wasn't threatening, but it was ancient, resonating deep within her bones. The hare's ears perked, and it darted off toward the sound.
Ebony hesitated, her hooves pressing into the soft earth. She remembered the status screen's words: Pan's Chosen. The shepherd's whistle felt... familiar, like a forgotten lullaby.
Taking a deep breath, she began to follow the sound, her small frame weaving through wildflowers as she stepped deeper into the meadow.
The sound led her to a small clearing where the wildflowers thinned out, replaced by soft grass that shimmered under the sunlight. In the center of the clearing stood an old stone altar covered in vines and moss. Symbols of crescent moons, stars, and musical notes were etched into the surface, their meanings lost to time.
Ebony's breath caught as the air seemed to hum with an unseen presence. She stepped closer, drawn to the altar despite the strange weight in the air.
A soft wind stirred the grass, and for a moment, she swore she could hear music—a faint, ethereal melody that wrapped around her like a familiar embrace.
Suddenly, the light above the altar shifted, forming into the outline of a figure—a tall, willowy silhouette with horns like a ram's curling from its head. The figure's presence was both serene and wild, like the forest itself had taken shape.
"Welcome, little one," the figure's voice whispered, rich and resonant, like the song of the wind through ancient trees.
Ebony's legs trembled, but she held her ground. "W-who are you?"
The figure's eyes—golden and warm—regarded her with gentle amusement.
"I am Pan," the figure replied, their voice carrying both joy and sorrow. "God of shepherds and hunters. I am also the one who brought you to this world."
The words settled over her like a cloak, strange yet comforting. The meadow shimmered around her as though the world itself was holding its breath.