Speaker 1: Welcome listeners to Tales, a podcast that brings your short
stories to life. Do narrations, sound effects, and more. These
stories will be brought to you by different authors with
different writing styles, but with the same spooky vibes. So
lock your doors, check your closets, make certain there's nothing
lurking under your bed, and joy.
Speaker 2: He waits where the water forgets the shore, with hands
like drift, wooden, eyes like war, no coin, no crossing.
That was the way until the rules began to fray.
He hums to bones that line the deep, a lullaby
for those who sleep. The river speaks, but not in words,
just screams and currents, never heard. And now he asks
for something more, not silver brass or ancient lore. He
takes what makes you whole then less, and name a
face a last address, so if you see him, don't
look twice and never pay his changing price. But those
who deal and don't decline don't come back.
Speaker 3: The second time.
Speaker 1: The car windows were down, let it in that early
winter breeze that smelled faintly of pine gas, station coffee
and freedom music played low on the stereo and old
nineties playlist streaming off someone's phone and laughter drifted out
over the sound of tires humming against crack asphalt. Four friends,
two couple, one spontaneous road trip before the real world
drag them all back into meetings, mortgages, and a Monday
to Friday kind of hell. Mira sat in a pass
and the seat, sunglasses still on despite the fading sun.
She had one foot propped on the dashboard and a
half eaten Twizzler in her mouth. Behind her, Jordan and
Layla were tangled together in the back seat, sharing headphones,
whispering jokes, trying not to get carsick. Ezra drove. He
liked the long stretches of highway, the silence between towns.
He said it gave him time to think, but everyone knew.
It just made him feel like he was in control.
They weren't going anywhere special, but that was the whole point,
just driving west, staying in whatever cheap motels popped up
on a GPS, eating like trash, and seeing parts of
the country that weren't sold on postcards. That's how they
found Dry Creek, a blank and You'll missed town. Tucked
just inside a mountain ridge, there was a single diner,
a gas station with pumps that still clicked manually, and
a motel shaped like a horseshoe. Its sign flickered above
a front desk that smelled like lemon scented floor polish
and mildew. The locals were nice, a little too nice maybe,
but that wasn't weird for small towns. Everyone smiled, everyone waved,
and no one beat in an eye at four road
trippers pulling in with backpacks, snack wrappers, and tired eyes.
Plus they had only planned to stay just one night.
They found a trail by accident. Late morning, half hung over,
coffee in hand, Jordan spotted a trailhead behind a motel
while stretching its legs. A small wooden sign marked it
with faded paint. East Hollow Ridge Scenic Overlook, five point
five miles. Nothing dramatic, just a sliver of dirt pat
curved into the trees. Layla had the idea, first, let's
hike it. Ezra groaned, Hu mean, dude, we just got
here exactly. Let's see what this place has to offer
before we write it off as morin. Mira shrugged. Could
be cute, Plus I need content. She was already snapping
a photo of the sign. Jordan checked his phone, no bars. Ugh,
don't be dramatic, Leila said, we're not summoning Bigfoot yet,
Mirror added grinnin. They grabbed water jackets and snacks and
headed in. The trail was quiet, not windy, no bird song,
just a crunch of their boots on dead leaves and
the occasional creak of old pine branches overhead. Jordan kept
stopping to tie his shoes. Lailah teased him for dragging
his feet.
Speaker 2: Uh, it's the altitude, he muttered.
Speaker 3: How lungs aren't built for caryo and hangovers.
Speaker 1: Still, the walk was easy enough, a gradual incline, tree
lined on both sides, with slices of gray sky cut
into the canopy. Ever so often they caught glimpse of
the mountain ridge in the distance, jagged and dark, like
this spine of something long dead. At the first mile marker,
they stopped to catch their breath. Mira took a few selfies.
Leyla found a cluster of tiny mushrooms near a fallen
log and crouched down to take a picture.
Speaker 2: Ah, I think that's poisonous.
Speaker 1: Jordan said, paring over her shoulder. Well, yeah, only if
you eat it, dumb dumb From further up the trail,
Zra called out, hey, check this out. They followed his
voice until the path widened and opened onto a clearin Ahead,
the forest thinned and dropped off into a shallow ravine.
A thin trickle of water cut through the rocks below,
barely a creek this time of year, but enough to
carve a path through the moss covered stone. There was
a strange stillness to the air. Ezra stood near the edge,
hands in his pockets. He didn't say anything. Mirra frowned.
Everything okay. He didn't answer for a moment, then thought
I heard something like what? He shook his head. Nothing,
just nothing. They stood there for it beat too long,
as if waiting for a sound that didn't come. Eventually,
Laylah wrote the silence, Come on, we've got more trail
to cover, and so they did. But Ezra kept glancing
back towards the ravine, towards the quiet, towards whatever sound
he thought he'd heard and didn't want to say out loud.
They planned to turn back after reaching an overlook, but
the trail forked unexpectedly. There was no sign, no marker,
just a narrow side path branching off through denser trees,
packed with mists and half swallowed in shadow. Mirah was
the first to notice, guys that that path, it isn't
part of the trail, right, nope, Ezra said a little
too quickly. Layla tilted her head, skin in the opening. Well,
it looks like it. It looks like it looks back.
Maybe it's a shortcut, Jordan stared at the darkened path.
Speaker 3: Or it's a horror movie waiting to happen.
Speaker 1: Mira folded her arms. See this is why I don't
hike with white people, Ezra laughed. Babe, I'm serious, she said,
Why do we have to be so adventurous? What's wrong?
Would walk in back the way we came. Huh, that's
a perfectly good route, no fog, no doom. We'll just
turn back if it gets weird, Layla offered, I mean,
come on, it probably just loops. Mira si famous last words,
but they were already moving, not out of the fiance.
Just curiosity, or maybe that strange aimless confidence that settles
in when you're surrounded by trees and friends and laughter
and no cell signal. Just a minute, Ezra said gently,
if it gets sketchy, we turned back the temperature seemed
to have dropped ever so slightly on a new path,
trees leaning closer and the sky seen closer as well.
The forest floor was damp, and patches of fog clung
to the earth like low smoke. Every step muffled beneath
the soft mult of pine needles. They stopped talking, not
because anyone said to, It just happened. Words thinned out
the further they walked in. Even Mirror's usual commentary faded
into silence. She still had her phone out, filming lazily,
but she wasn't smiling anymore. Ezra was the first to
notice the sound, not a full noise, just a vibration,
a low, almost imperceptible hum that seemed to come from
the trees themselves. You you guys hear that, he asked.
No One responded, because they all did. It wasn't wind,
it wasn't insects. It was something lower, deeper, a note
that pressed against the edge of their hearing, like it
didn't belong in the world at all. They walked faster,
but the path didn't seem to end. Jordan glanced over
his shoulders, guys and stopped. The trail behind them had
vanished into the fog Leyla turned Wait, wasn't wasn't the
ravine chess back there? They hadn't walked that far ten minutes,
maybe fifteen at most, but the trees behind them looked unfamiliar, now,
too tall, too twisted. The sun was dipping low behind
the trees, turn everything gold and rust. They weren't panicked yet,
but the mood had shifted. Leaves crunched under Mirror's boot,
and she muttered, this is why I don't go off pats.
There's always a pad for a reason. But no, let's explore.
Ezra snorted. I didn't hear you complain when we found
that waterfall. That was six hours ago. Mirror shot back,
I had granola in dignity. Back then. They crested a
small rich and stopped ahead. Maybe fifty feet down the
slope was a man mid thirties, tan, hiking pack, weathered
one clothes that didn't match, like he dressed in a hurry.
He stood facing them, and when he noticed the group,
his face broke into an unmistakable look of relief. Oh
thank god, he called out.
Speaker 3: I thought I was the only one out here.
Speaker 1: They hesitated. The man raised both hands, palms open, like
he knew how weird it might seem.
Speaker 3: Norax, my name been lost since yesterday morning. I was
starting to think I'd imagine whist group us.
Speaker 1: All the group exchanged glances, cautious but not closed off.
Noroc stepped forward closely. His movements were easy, practiced, like
someone used to hike it alone. But there was something
else there too, not dangerous, just off, like he hadn't
spoken to another person in a long long time. After
some pleasantries, and although still weary of the new addition
to their group, they continued to walk. Norak informed them
that he had also went off the path and had
gotten laws somehow. He did mention that he saw another
group from afar. He tried calling out to them and
even attempted to catch up with the group, but failed.
This made the others a little uneasy, but also gave
them hope that there were others. They didn't mean to
set up camp, but Norak mentioned how quickly the light
faded in this part of the woods and how easy
it was to get hurt trying to hike down after dark.
The idea made more sense than pushing ahead. Besides, the
man had flint a firestar of the kid and somehow
even a small bundle of dry kindling. It was odd,
but so were a lot of things out here. They
picked a wide flat spot near a ring of stone
someone else had left behind, and built the fire quickly.
The orange light was a comfort. The warmth from the
fire against the cold that was setting in was good
company against the creeping dark. Noroc set cross legs just
beyond the fire's edge, light dancing off his eyes. He'd
taken off his pack but kept his jacket zipped high.
A man who'd been lost didn't seem too shaken, and
Mira had noticed that, but she didn't say anything yet. Instead,
she passed around granola bars and dried fruit, talked about nothing.
We're childhood dreams, gas station snacks. Whose turn it had
been to plan the next shrip? Noroc just listened, smiling,
and then he asked, so, how.
Speaker 3: Long have YouTube been married?
Speaker 1: Leyla laughed. We're not married. We're just together.
Speaker 2: Three years next month, said Jordan, nudging her feels like forever.
Speaker 1: Norrock smiled too, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
He leaned and then closer to the fire. The shadows
caught differently across his face now and sharper around the mouth.
Speaker 3: I don't think that's true.
Speaker 1: He said softly. The group stilled what. Jordan gave a
short laugh, trying to keep the tone light. Noroc didn't blink.
Speaker 2: I said, I don't think that's true. You don't know
everything about her, and she doesn't know everything about you.
That's just what people tell themselves.
Speaker 1: The fire crackled. No one moved. He tilted his head.
Speaker 2: There are secrets between you, real ones, deep ones, and
I think you're going to share them with the group.
Speaker 1: Okay, Mira said, half standing. Yeah, no, no, you know what. No,
I'm not doing this spooky story shit. Norok replied, still smiling.
Speaker 3: You're going to share, You're all going to share.
Speaker 1: Yeah, Ezra added his voice low. I think we're done here.
Jordan stood, pulling Layla to him.
Speaker 3: We are leaving.
Speaker 1: They packed quickly, shoving bags over his shoulders, snuffing out fire,
but the trail didn't lead anywhere anymore. Every path left,
right forward, curved back. It took less than ten minutes
of walking for them to return disriented to the same
circle of stones. The fire was still lit. Norok was
sitting there waiting. The smile had faded. Now replaced with
something older, more patient.
Speaker 3: Where do you think you're going?
Speaker 1: He asked, but they didn't answer. They were breathing harder now.
Mirah looked ready to bolt, Ezra looked ready to fight,
but Jordan he sank down first, as if his legs
couldn't hold him anymore.
Speaker 3: I don't know what's happening.
Speaker 1: No, Rock's voice was gentle.
Speaker 2: Now I told you you can't leave, not until it's shared.
Speaker 1: Layla crouched beside Jordan, arms wrapped around herself. Shared your truths,
all of them.
Speaker 2: This is a toe in place you don't get through
until you've paid something.
Speaker 1: Jordan looked into the fire, jaw tight. I guess I'll
go first, he muttered, rubbing his hands together like trying
to shake something loose.
Speaker 3: Might as well get this over with.
Speaker 1: Layla gave him a quick glance, half supportive, half weary.
Jordan let out of breath.
Speaker 3: Okay, so.
Speaker 2: One time in college, I know that one won't do
I didn't even say yet.
Speaker 3: You were never going to say.
Speaker 1: It, Norrock replied, voice low, not the real one, And
just like that, Jordan's face slackened. He flinched, like something
inside him had been pulled tight, then cut loose. His
mouth opened, but no sound came. He blinked hard once
twice and looked towards Layla.
Speaker 3: What was I about to say?
Speaker 4: I just forgot No one spoke, Norrock smiled like he
tasted something sweet.
Speaker 2: You tried to cheek the toe, So I took my share.
Speaker 1: Jordan shuddered. After a pause, he swallowed and sat up straight.
Speaker 3: Fine, you want the real one here? It is.
Speaker 2: I'm a financial advisor. At least that's what everyone thinks.
I haven't told anyone that I was suspended three months
ago pending investigation.
Speaker 1: Layla's had whipped towards him.
Speaker 2: Wait, what there was this firm one of our big clients.
I found a way to skim just small percentages at first,
bonuses that didn't raise flags. But then I started moving
bigger numbers, and when it collapsed, it took half the
satellite offices down with it.
Speaker 1: Ezra stiffened. What firm? Jordan hesitated, then said the name
Ezra was on his feet before the words were even out. Bro,
that was my job, Jordan blinked. What I worked there?
I lost everything when they shut us down. The group
was suddenly on edge. Mirrah stepping between the two and
Laila pulling Jordan by the arm. Ezra was shaken with fury.
You're the fucking reason we got laid off.
Speaker 3: I didn't know you worked there.
Speaker 1: You didn't know, or you just didn't care. Jordan nor
Rock watched, eyes glinting like hot colds. No amusement, just
hunger enough, Mirah snapped when not doing this, Ezra finally
sat seething. Jordan looked at him, looked at all of them,
and whispered.
Speaker 3: I'm not proud of it.
Speaker 2: I I thought I was smart enough to get away
with it, but I didn't just ruin people's lives. I've
ruined someone I called friend. He looked at nor Rock, happy.
Speaker 1: Noroc didn't answer. He simply leaned back into the shadows again.
But there was a satisfaction in the firelight. Now a
tall paid. When Norak's eyes settle on her, mirror's brett hitched.
She tried to smile, but it wobbled at the edges.
I don't really have anything like what Jordan said. Nothing criminal,
nothing dramatic. Norac tilted his head. The fire cracked. Ezra
reached for her hand, but she pulled her fingers back
into her lap, and then she said, I've never really
felt accepted, not by any of you. The group exchanged
confused looks. Even Ezra sat straighter, stunned. Mirror stayed into
the fire, speaking softly, like reading from a diary. She
never meant anyone to find I'm the one who cracks
the joke when things get tense. I'm the cheerful one,
the one, you know, the easy one. That's my role.
But it's not because i'm It's because I'm terrified that
if I'm not entertaining, you won't want me around. Ezra
swallowed hard. Mirror, what are you talking about? Of course,
she shook her head. I've been with you for years, Ezra,
and I still don't feel like like I'm mean enough
for you, for any of you. I've been thinking about leaving,
about disappearing, and you know what, none of you would.
You wouldn't even notice, You just replace me. A long
silence followed, thick and painful. Even Jordan and Laylah, who
bickered more than they agreed on anything, went completely still.
Mirror wipe a tear from her cheek with the back
of her sleeves. I didn't want to say any of
that out loud. Ever, the fire hissed. Then Norac smiled slowly, satisfied,
almost gentle.
Speaker 2: A true secret, one you kept from yourself as much
from them, that'll.
Speaker 1: Be, And he moved his gaze to the next person.
Ezra's shifted in his seat. The flicker of the fire
painted sharp lines across his face. His voice came out quiet,
almost too quiet to hear. I am, I cheated on Mirah.
The group stilled. Mira's head snapped towards him like she
hadn't heard him right, but the way her face cracked
said she had. Look, it was a while ago, stupid,
a coworker, It didn't mean anything. Mira blinked fast, a
single tear stating down her cheek. Norak said nothing. He
staed into Ezra's expression, unreadable. The others were silent. Then
Norak stood, not quickly, not dramatic, just slowly, like a
ripple moving through time.
Speaker 3: A secret.
Speaker 1: Yes, he stepped closer to Ezra, but not your deepest.
Ezra flinch. Noroc extended one hand and tapped two fingers
against Ezra's forehead, light like the brush of a mott's wing.
Ezra inhaled sharply, his whole body tenson, his eyes widen,
as if something had slipped out of him, something important.
He clutched his chest, staggered sideways, and vomit into the grass.
Speaker 2: Jordan jumped up, Ezra, don't I only lost something he
didn't deserve to keep.
Speaker 1: Ezra looked up, dazed, pale. What what what was that?
Norah smiled gently.
Speaker 3: A toe.
Speaker 2: You see, when the truth is shallow, the price must
be paid in other ways. What is memory, after all,
but the soul's currency.
Speaker 1: Ezra was shaken, now breathing hard. He wiped his mouth,
tried to stand, then collapsed back to his knees. I'm sorry,
there's more. I didn't. I didn't want to say it,
but he swallowed hard. It was after your accident. You
you don't remember much of that time, but I do.
The air around the fire had thickened. You were hooked
up to everything, tubes, machines, all of it. Everyone thought
I was devoted, that I was brave, But I was
angry and tired, and one night I pulled out your
oxygen monitor. Mira covered her mouth. I told myself I
just just needed a break, just a moment of silence.
But it wasn't that not not really. I wanted to
know what it felt like to have to not have
to fight for you anymore. He looked up at Nora.
I put it back. It was only for a few seconds,
but I thought about what it would be like if
I didn't silence. Norac gave a soft hum of approval.
There you are, his voice, rich with satisfaction.
Speaker 3: Now, who's next.
Speaker 1: The fire had burned a little, only coals now cast
in red light across their faces. Ezra had pulled away,
sitting by himself on a moss covered rock, rubbing the
heel of his hands against his temple like it might
pull his memory back. Mirah sat stiffly, arms folded, legs
shrawn in, staring at nothing. Norah stood, I will be back,
sit tack. No one spoke for a while. Jordan was
the first to break the silence.
Speaker 3: We should jump him.
Speaker 1: Everyone looked up.
Speaker 2: Curious, guys, he's just a guy. He bleeds right, There's
four of us and one of him.
Speaker 1: You don't get it, Mirah said, shaking her head.
Speaker 2: No, you don't get it. We're letting him screw with
our heads. Ezra's losing his memories. You're crying over feelings.
What if this doesn't stop. What if we keep giving
and he keeps taking?
Speaker 1: Mirah stood, you think I'm not scared, you think I
don't want to fight back, But this, this thing, he's
not just some guy with a bad attitude and creepy eyes.
He's something else, Jordan.
Speaker 3: So we just roll over, tell him everything until we're hollow.
Speaker 1: No, we tell the truth because it's the only thing
that works. Layla, who had been silent the whole time,
finally spoke. Easy for you to say, miss innocent. Mira's
joor clench. Excuse me, you gave your secret and got
a gold star. Not all of us have guilt wrapped
up in a neat little bow. That doesn't make mine
less real, Mira said, her voice sharp. I didn't ask
for that reaction. Ezra reached towards her a quiet attempt
to break the attention, but Mira flinched and stepped away.
His hand hung therefore a beat. Then drop Leyla turned
towards Jordan, trying to re anchor herself. Hey, babe, remember
what we talked about last month at the cabin when
we Jordan blinked.
Speaker 3: What cabin?
Speaker 1: She froze? The cabin, the one in Ashville, we stayed
there over the long weekend. Jordan's face was blank.
Speaker 2: I uh, I don't, Layla, I don't remember any of that.
Speaker 1: Mira turned towards Norak, who had returned moments before, perched
by the fire, watching like a patient wolf. You took it,
she said softly. Norah said nothing. The group went quiet.
Layelah's expression shifted. Something caved in behind her eyes. She
looked at Jordan again, and this time her voice cracked
when she spoke, you really don't remember, do you. Jordan
just stared. Mira swallowed hard. We need to finish this,
no one argued. When they sat down, Leylah didn't wait
for Norah to ask. She leaned forward, elbows on her
knees and stared into the fire, as if it could
make the words easier. I was pregnant, she said. The
words hit the clearing like a dropped stone. Jordan's head
whipped towards her. I was pregnant a few months ago.
It was early. We weren't trying, but it happened. She
closed her eyes. I didn't tell you. I made an appointment,
took a few days off, told you I was a
visiting my sister. Jordan opened his mouth, but no sound
came out. I wasn't ready. I didn't know if I
ever would be, but I knew you wanted it, and
I didn't want to see that look in your eyes
when I told you no, so I didn't tell you anything.
The fire popped softly. A wind moved through the trees,
whispering like a warning. I thought that if I just
handled it, we could go back to normal. I thought
i'd forget, but I didn't. Tears welled in her eyes
but didn't fall. I see her sometimes in my dreams,
a little face I never got to meet, and I
wonder what they would have looked like. Jordan finally found
his voice.
Speaker 3: What why didn't you trust me?
Speaker 1: Leyla looked at him and there was nothing but pain
on her face. Because I didn't trust myself. Silence wrapped
around the clearing like fog. Noroc lean back, exhaled through
his nose and nodded slowly.
Speaker 3: That was a burden worth sharing.
Speaker 1: The fire flared for a second, then dimmed again, as
if something unseen had been satisfied. Norak stood without a word,
dust in his palm, like he'd just finished a task,
not unburied. Four truths He looked at each of them,
the same serene expression settle on his face. He seemed
lighter now, taller, maybe, or maybe it was just the
weight of everything day'd loss that made him seem further away.
Speaker 2: I told you your toes would been.
Speaker 1: He turned and began to walk. No one spoke, and
no one moved until he did. The forests around them
had shifted, the trees that impressed so tightly. Now the
air wasn't so thick with fog. The moonlight filtered through
branches with gentler hands. The path beneath their feet wasn't
the same one they came in on, but it felt
like it might be somewhere familiar. Mirah kept her eyes down.
Jordan walked slightly ahead of Laylah. Ezra followed last, his
hands still aching from where he had gripped them tightly.
They walked for what felt like hours or maybe minutes.
Time didn't belong here. Then Norak stopped. They almost bumped
into him. He turned slowly, His smile was gone. Only
three may leave a beat pass. The silence pressed against
their ears. Jordan looked around what Ezra frowned, But we're all.
Speaker 3: Here, No you think you are, but one of you
is not.
Speaker 1: They all looked at each other. Mira's eyes flicked to Layla,
who blinked to Jordan, who turned to Ezra. All four
still standing, still breathing, but then flashes, the storm building fast,
the slippery incline, the dirt given away, some one yelling
a name, a hand not caught in time, a scream
swallowed by the rain. Mirror stumbled backward. No, that that
didn't it did you simply forgot Laylah breath caught her
fingers curled over her lips like she was pressing the
memory down.
Speaker 2: You passed through the veil on borrow time. Three of
you belonged to the world. One does not.
Speaker 1: The path ahead shimmered, not glowing exactly, just clearer, real
go before.
Speaker 2: This place remembers you too well.
Speaker 1: Ezra was the first to step forward, but Mirah caught
his arm. Her eyes were locked on Norock's hand, on
the small, tawnish coin rested in his palm, something that
was weathered, ancient, too heavy to be something so small. Wait,
she whispered that coin. She looked up sharply on the
name hit the air like a dropped match. Ezra's expression
shifted recognition dawning. Leyla took a half step back. Jawdan
exhaled like he's been holding his bread for hours, and
noroc No. Karan smiled, soft, knowing, timeless, I laughed.
Speaker 3: Some one remembers.
Speaker 1: The forest had vanished, and in its place a dark,
endless river, still as glass. A flat bottomed boat waited
at the shore. Two paths had opened up for the hikers,
the river sticks to the front, and a forest from
which they came behind him. All four turned towards the forest,
their faces pale, drawn tight with realization. Then without a word,
three figures stepped into the trees, their shape stretching long
and silent in the dark. The fourth remained. Karan watched
the others go, expression unreadable, like their names were already
slipping from some ledger older than time. Then he turned
to the one left behind, to the wide eyes, the
shallow breadth, the quiet ache of knowing, and he said.
Speaker 2: I'm sorry, but the tool was always for one.
Speaker 1: The hotel lobby was quiet. A small stack of newspapers
set on the front desk and headlined that Red Haiger's
found after flashtorm one dead, three injured. The group had
reportedly gone off trail during an unexpected storm system. Search
and rescue located down near a collapse ridge just past
the south trail line. One fatality confirmed. Behind the desk,
the clerk watched the rain tap against the window. He
thought he'd seen someone in the woods when the lightning flashed,
but looked again and saw no one there, just the
woods wading. This episode of Tales was a team effort
for sure. The episode was written, edited by En Varro,
narrated by Yours Truly and help once Again by Brody
Mason aka Brosky, Produced by d Madison, and the story
was brainstormed by a list of people that I am
grateful to have helping me here and there with the podcast.
If you want your story featured on this podcast, my
email address and socials can be found in the listener's note.
I have some exciting things happening with the podcast in
New Year. So to all the tail Weavers that have
been with me from the beginning and to those who
have just joined us, stay tuned and thank you for
always listening. And remember, some tales are gates, some troops
have tolls, and some things never stay buried. We'll meet again,
Tale Weavers when the next story calls bye bye.