In the tranquil valley village of Stardew Haven, bathed in the soft glow of Estuary's single moon, Sunny Vaslo's journey began under the watchful eyes of the cosmos. Beneath the dancing constellations like sheet music to the night sky, his story unfolded like the phases of the moon, the first of many phases starts at his awakening ceremony.
"Mama, why do the stars sing at night? Are they telling stories?" Sunny has always been attuned to fate, his affinity was held in high regard even among the leaders of his hidden village. The Circle of Stars are a reclusive sect of Druids that hold some of the greatest prophetic ability within the bounds of Ather. Their individual abilities are only slightly greater than your average Seer or Fortune Teller but they hold with them the ability of rituals, a unique ability within their Circle to compound their visions to have more complete view of the future and the past.
"Aye, Little Star. They're weaving tales of magic and destiny. Listen closely, and you might hear your own story among them." From a tender age, Sunny found solace in the celestial ballet above. His mother, a wise woman with a heart as vast as the night sky, recognized his affinity for fate, but could never truly comprehend how deep it truly was.
"The boy has the gift of the stars he may be our chosen." An elder of the Circle would say at least once a week at this point. With this years awakening ceremony approaching and Sunny finally coming of age they all looked forward to what this child held in store for their people.
Sunny's affinity for fate was noticed early on, from something that seemed as simple as a dance to outsiders, but to those within the Circle, it was telltale sign 'This boy can hear the strings of fate and moves with a grace gifted by their chimes and lulls in a dreamlike movement he himself may not even know of their importance'
Years ago when Sunny was only a 10 year old Shifter boy in the outer Circle of his village, he and his small family of 3; Two loving parents and him, would merely live their peaceful lives. Although secluded from most of the world, the village of Stardew Haven still had it's connections to the outside world in the form of trade with a few trusted Circles of Druids and a similarly secluded village of Merfolk. It was in this connection that Sunny found his first friend; Sasha a Merfolk and even more so a Siren.
Her people are worshiped by some and hunted by many, so, many years in the past they split from their Gossip (A group of Sirens) and formed the secluded group in the underwater caves beneath the island of Estuary. The Circle of Stars found them and though mutual understanding formed a pact that has lasted centuries until this very day.
Sasha was young for a Siren but still many years older than Sunny still they became friends occasionally sharing stories, and as their trust grew, sharing songs. Sasha would sing songs of her people, their history and of her desire to see the world. In return Sunny would try his best to sing the songs of the stars, they never contained words but though many attempts at experimenting he managed to make a unique instrument that allowed him to mimic the sounds he heard. He called it a Vibrachord, it was like a bagpipe but all of the sound would be passed through a solid tube he would place in his mouth and manipulate with his own voice box before it was projected from his mouth.
The sounds were always a combination of haunting and awe inspiring, possibly one of the first time one would hear the sounds of fate without an affinity for it, and much like the songs of Sirens it would press on the soul of those who heard it. The press was never meant to be painful more of a ringing that one should act on subconsciously. As a Siren with years of experience in both the effects of songs on the soul and the pull of desire, Sasha felt she knew what to do. In a moment of trust and perhaps something more she let the pressing move her, she began to move with a grace she has never shown, the grace of a beast that was so far removed from her it might as well have been alien, the grace of a deer.
Only for a moment before her body stumbled, for she didn't have half of the parts to move as anything more that what she was, a Siren. In her stumble Sunny stopped playing, a mix of confusion and some hilarity at watching his friend try and fail to dance to his song. Somewhere in his heart he knew 'That's not how the dance goes' but he didn't know why he though that because it was just a song in his head, why would it have a 'correct' way to dance to it?
"Why did you stop?" The Siren asked after coming out of her trance. She had a feeling she knew what was happening but she needed to ask someone with far mor experience then her to know for sure.
"You started dancing wrong." Sunny was still feeling that the dance was wrong but he couldn't put what was wrong with it into words, so he thought maybe Sasha would be able to help him here. He knew she was older than him even if she was still a kid in the ways of a Siren.
"Wrong? Well how am I supposed to move like a deer when I have a tale? This song wasn't meant for me obviously" Sasha could only say what she felt but any deeper than that would need someone, probably even a member of the inner Circle to figure out.
"what do you mean 'like a deer'? why would my song make you dance like a deer?" Sunny was getting answers but they only seemed to open more questions. Eventually they both agreed to ask their parents and maybe even their elders because what was happening here was definitely important.
"Mama! Mama! I played those songs I've been hearing for Sasha and she started to dance all silly. She said only a deer could dance to the songs" Sunny was a mix of excitement and anticipation, his mama had all the answers, she always knew just how to explain the world in ways that made sense but still brought wonder to his sparkling eyes.
"You... Played the songs? Wha... How... I" In a very rare moment Sunny seems to have stumped his Mama. 'Maybe I didn't explain it well enough' He thought. So before she could even collect herself fully he pulled out his Vibrachord and started playing the same song he did for Sasha.
His mother, being pulled from one emotion to another so quickly, resisted the call of the music but as an adult and a member of the Circle of Stars, she vividly remembered the sounds of the awakening ceremony. Although unique to every creature they shared the same feeling, the same tempo and it was the act of not only hearing the song but also being able to let the song guide you that showed your affinity to the stars and in turn signified your welcome into the Circle. Yet here she was, Years after leaving the Circle for her husband and her young boy was not only hearing the song, but clearly enough to put the song into the world himself.
"Little Star, That song was made for you. You shouldn't be playing it for other people." Even she, knowing of Sunny's great affinity for fate could never dream it was so deep that he could translate their songs at such a young age. This wasn't just rare, it was Prophesized.
"Little Star, let's go see Grandpa, he will be able to tell you more than even your Mama can about your songs." She desperately hopped that her son had nothing to do with any prophecy, but she was smart enough that hope was not what it took to change fate. Even she, as a loving mother, knew that fighting fate was exactly how you pushed it forward.
"But Grandpa is always so weird! He always talks about stuff I can't understand and he never explains anything like you do." Sunny didn't hate his Grandpa but he hates the phrase "You'll know when you get older" and it seemed to be his Grandpa's favorite thing to say when Sunny was around.
Only an hour later, Sunny and his mother were passing through a large wooden gate covered in symbols that always made Sunny feel funny, like an inside joke translated directly into feelings, it pressed into his soul with a familiar feeling, just like the song his Mama told him not to play anymore.
"Prodigious Elder, we have come to seek your guidance" Sunny's Mother knelt before her father, her small antlers, the only thing keeping her forehead from touching the hardwood of his lavish but respectively lived in home. She would not typically greet her father this way, but today she was not greeting her father, a loving but secluded man. She was greeting the late Elder and one of the Proud Seers of the Circle of Stars; Edwing Kingsgrace.
Sunny had never seen his Mama kneel before, but he knew she was smarter than him and that she would explain everything with loving patience, so he mimicked his Mama and knelt beside her. Sunny's antlers had yet to grow more than nubs so his forehead smoothly touched the clean floors, he didn't speak only because he didn't know yet why he was here.
Seeing the display before him Edwing's voice caught in his throat. He had only seen his daughter in this position once before, when asking to marry outside of the Circle. 'An act he never would have refused his daughter in the first place as his families happiness was always his priority' Even though it cost him his position among the Seers he'd happily do it again seeing the joy that man brought his daughter. He could only guess what his daughter could be asking for but seeing her in this position after so many years still choked him and he was already prepared to grant any request she might have.
"Prodigious Elder, I..." "Enough, Eleanora. I will not have my daughter bow before me. Never again." Edwing cut off whatever polite speech she may have prepared, he knew his daughter better than anyone and she was never one for ceremony or empty gestures, either this was serious or she was trying to teach his grandson etiquette, his opinions on the latter aside he would rather his real daughter make the request than this polite and pleading face.
"Sunny has shown me something today. Something I can not put into words, I thought you could help us" She was still too polite for his liking more polite than she had been with him in years, but it was a start for now, clearly whatever was happening had to do with his grandson and the use of "Us" in her words could only mean this request would not be simple.
Sunny raised his head alongside his Mama as she handed him back his instrument, motioning him to play it. At first he was confused 'She just said don't play it for anyone, now she is saying to play it again not even an hour later? is this a test? But Mama doesn't do tests. She said she was always bad at them so she would never make me take them.' "Ahem" Sunny heard his mother clear her throat and he realized he was caught in though again. "Sorry" he pleaded with guilt in his eyes but shortly after he started playing.
It took only moments before Edwing knew why his daughter had come here, but unlike the times before he didn't stop Sunny from playing his song, allowing him to through the whole movement before gently clapping with a brilliant smile on his face. "Sunny! You brilliant star! I knew you had talent. Your song was perfect I could feel every step of the dance in your tunes" He could feel every movement and bend in the song, something only years of experience with fate or a particular affinity with the effects of the soul.
After a few moments of joy filled praise for his grandson Edwing turned back to his daughter with a thoughtful expression. He could guess what she wanted to ask next but he let her to say them, he knew she hated when he predicted her next words. "Father, please teach Sunny 'Sight Reading' and if possible don't let the elders know of him, at least until he knows the importance of his gifts" Her words held a pleading that left Edwing uneasy. He had no issue teaching his grandson, but the task of keeping a secret from a sect of fortune tellers was a legendary feat if not outright impossible, he would bet they knew of this day years in advance and even if they didn't know of the particulars he knew the prophecy his daughter was so frightful of.
"I will teach him, it is already a certainty. Daughter you already know why even I can not keep this from the Seers, but they would never dare invade my home just to force their name into prophecy" His words all but confirmed her greatest worries; in the Circle of Stars it was considered a great honor to be prophesized, to have your life written in the songs of fate itself but Eleanora thought of it only as a curse.
To be told who you would love, what you would do and how it all ends. She spent a great many years trying to break fate, it started with the smallest things from who she would meet that day to the meals she would eat. She thought if she could change the small fates then why not the big ones. Like many Seers before her she learned a truth she hated to hear "Some fates are a soft melody, easy to drown out, to scream over or to even rewrite them with your own notes. Some, like the one she fears her son is bound to, are a symphony so grand, so loud they leave no room for other sounds. No amount of screaming can drown it out and it is so perfect you wouldn't dare try to add your own notes."
She new it required power to alter fate, yet she could barely even hear the soft plucking of its strings. How could she dare to try to add her own melodies to the world, her only efforts amounted to screaming to drown them out like a child trying to drown out the words of a strict parent. After her mother's death she separated from the Circle entirely, that's how she met her husband and in her efforts to fully escape she begged her father's blessing knowing it would pull him from his position as a Seer of the inner Circle. 'No inner Circle member can have a connection to outside clan members' after taking her husband's last name and later giving it to her son she all but solidified herself as separate from the circle, so if Edwing wanted a connection to his daughter and grandson he needed to drop out of his position as a Seer.
Edwing picked up his grandson holding him like the precious boy he was, not only as his grandson and the one who brought calm and joy to the life of his beloved daughter but also as a bearer of a song of fate. He carried Sunny around the estate while his daughter left to bring her husband to live here until Sunny came of age. "What do you think of this, Little Star?" Edwing gestured to a tapestry along the hall they were walking down.
"It feels scary... But not in a bad way, like meeting new people." Sunny had a hard time explaining but he could see the smile on his grandfather grow brighter at his attempt so he continued. "It feels like the new people are scared too, but then we can help each other and together we don't need to be scared" Sunny was getting so many feeling from the tapestry they started to jumble into a mess of feelings until he had to look away.
"Well done Little Star, do you now what this is?" He asked but the question was rehtorical because he answered before could even think. "This is Grandpa's story, from when he was just a young man. I was scared to see how big the world was but I met all sorts of new people, and you are right, together we were less scared" His explanations were still hard for Sunny to grasp. 'How big is the world that even Grandpa is scared of it and where are his friends now?' But his grandpa continued before he could ask his first question.
"You are going to be staying with Grandpa from now on, your Mama and Papa too. All of us are going to teach you about the world, we will be together so you never have to be afraid like Grandpa was." Edwing new that he only had a few years to teach something even he as a great Seer took a lifetime to grasp, but with the proficiency Sunny was showing on just his first attempt at 'Sight Reading' he knew it might not be difficult for him to succeed him.
With that, Years seemed to fly both with the busyness of his studies and the joy of a family united. Occasionally the elders would come to visit, But Sunny was never allowed to see them or they were not allowed to see him. Sunny only got better at 'Sight Reading' the ability to glance at the songs sung by the words of fate, and eventually he was able to know what they were saying. Sometimes they were movements like the dance, other times they were words, omens or even prophecies mostly about himself, but rarely he would hear them about other people. His Grandpa told him to always keep the prophecies about family a secret especially ones about his Mama as she didn't like them.
He still got to see Sasha, turns out his Grandpa has a well in his home that is connected to the Merfolk's rivers and Sasha got permission from her elders to visit whenever she wanted. Eventually his coming of age ceremony was approaching as he was nearing 18 years of age. Sunny had already completed his 'Awakening' and became a full fledged Druid, after they found out he already heard his dance the elders were more than excited to welcome the youngest druid in the Secs history.
After his ceremony Sunny was supposed to become an inner Circle member, his Mama didn't like it but through all the years Sunny had become enamored by the songs of fate and he knew if he became an inner Circle member he could do the group ritual and hear even greater songs.
Sasha wasn't going to become an Adult Siren for another few years so Sunny had no problem with Joining the inner Circle. As a Siren and a member of the Merfolk until she was an adult she couldn't leave the Gossip so her whole clan was considered Members of the inner Circle as part of their agreement. As long as Sunny could meet his friend he was fine and he was even thinking of leaving on his own adventure just like his Papa, though he kept that to himself for now.
"Happy birthday my Little Star!" Sunny was awoken from his thoughts by his Mama, who in her jubilance threw her arms around him locking their antlers together, something Sunny knew she did on purpose as it took minutes to untangle them and she would continue to hug him in the meantime.
"Good morning Mama, and thank you" Sunny knew that after today he would have to leave for the inner Circle training and as an outsider his Mama could visit him often, so he didn't even try to unlock their antlers for the first few minutes of their hug.
After the duo separated she presented him a leather satchel; Adorned with a tapestry of constellations and star shaped clasps, the darkness of the leather seemed to feed on the light of its golden buttons and clasps. "Magical?" Sunny could feel an aura coming from the bag but it was muted by the soft songs of the Constellations, a story of a mother's love for her child.
"Yes, your Papa and I made it to keep all of your magic components orderly and safe" She was tearing up at the thought of her son leaving but she could only do so much, Sasha had told her elders the same day Sunny came to her so word quickly spread of Sunny's Instrument and his affinity. There was little she could do but except fate and be there for her son in his times of need.
"And this is from me!" Sunny's Grandpa shouted as he rounded the corner he was clearly eaves dropping but waited for the right moment to interrupt before Sunny's mother would fully break into tears. He handed Sunny a white staff made of a magical wood topped by a black and gold crystal. It looked almost like a tree branch made of Ivory bearing a gemlike fruit.
"It will help light your path in your journey... And your enemies once you learn to use it" Sunny's Grandpa exclaimed. "Light up my enemies? What does that mean?" Sunny didn't question the journey part, his Grandpa had long figured out that Sunny wanted to travel the world but 'Did he just give me a Spell Slinger as a coming of age gift' Sunny thought with some trepidation. 'Well if I'm going to be an adventurer I'll need all the tools I can get, I can't shy away from combat.' "Thank you as well Grandpa." Sunny gave him a sideways hug not wanting the same locking he had with his Mama to repeat itself.
"Now hurry along, we don't want you to be late to your ceremony. Do we?" The question was more directed towards Eleanora as she attempted to lock her son in another hug. Sunny left the estate wearing his traditional garb; a loose but still fitted robe of silvers and green, still wielding his gifts, the satchel tucked beneath the robe and the staff openly displayed.
"Who let you here Outcast!" Of course his day couldn't go without trouble. A Satyr boy with his horns curved inward and the makings of a beard already showing on his chin pointed through his group of friends towards Sunny. Expected couldn't begin to describe this scenario, not only had his Grandfather warned him of this family of Satyrs he also Divined almost every aspect of today that he could, in preparation. With that thought Sunny looked at the staff his Grandpa gave him just hours ago and thought 'My enemies?'.
Ignoring the boy and his friends as Sunny continues to the central amphitheater, no one in their right mind would stir up trouble in the presence of the elders especially not a branch family that only recently made their way to the inner Circle. The day was still young and the ceremony wasn't to start until the sun had set. Most of today was to acknowledge the achievements and aspirations of the up and coming members of the Sect. With that an elderly looking Elf with golden skin and silvery hair walked out in robes similar to all the children present only far mor grand as it clearly had tapestries woven with magical enchantments uncountable.
"Find your places everyone, so that I may begin" His voice was full of a happy exasperation, like he was remembering this very day from the perspective of the children, hundreds if not thousands of years in the past as both an Elf and a Druid live long lives, their combination was nothing to scoff at and an Elf who looked old must truly be ancient. "Today we come together to celebrate and to honor the achievements of our new young minds, to welcome them into adulthood, and for some, the inner Circle. Should they qualify for the awakening"
Sunny had long since awakened, merely 11 years old when the elders came begging his Grandpa to let Sunny become the youngest member of the Circle of Stars since they went into seclusion. So with that the man pulled out a small scroll, clearly enchanted as it was glowing but 'with what' Sunny didn't know. The man listed small achievements first, some boys had physical prowess well beyond their years, a few women too. A few had magical aptitudes not shown in their families for generations and some were the harbingers of a new family bringing with them titles and bloodlines from outside the Sect, still an achievement even if some viewed them negatively, the sect would fall if new blood wasn't introduced every few generations.
Then came the new members of the inner Circle, the Satyr boy and a few others belong in this category. It was an honor to Join the inner Circle as it meant you or your families elder were not a Druid of Stars and tended to mean your bloodline had a deep connection to fate. Next was the part Sunny wasn't looking forward to. He already caught the stares, some had noticed that Sunny was never called to be honored and as the end of the list was approaching they thought he never would. Instead of what they all thought, just before the old man started to announce who would be welcomed into the awakening ceremony he called on Sunny to step forth.
"Sunny Vaslo, Step forth and receive your praise." The glares intensified, the later one was called on the list, the greater their achievements but none of them had heard of Sunny until this very moment while all of the last 10 or so names were spread through every part of the Sect for days if not weeks for the glory they wrought. 'Who was this kid? Why was he called last? I've never heard of the Vaslo family.' Many thought were going through the crowd and some even slipped into hushed whispers before they were all silenced by the elders next words.
"Sunny Vaslo, today we honor your great achievements; You are the first to be granted the awakening ceremony at the age of 11, The one among his piers with the greatest affinity with fate. You managed your first 'Sight Reading' before you were awakened, and you brought a greater connection inner Circle and the Misinial family of Sirens!" The last one was a surprise to even Sunny. 'Misinial? That's Sasha's family name. Why would Sasha being my friend be something to honor?' Sunny had to quash his throughs though because the hushed whispers quickly became murmers then shouts.
"Already awakened!" "He can 'Sight Read'? My dad can barley 'Sight Read' and he's been doing it for years" "Who are the Misinial Family?" Sunny shared the sentiment wit that last one, 'but what do you mean your dad can barley 'Sight Read'? It's an affinity thing you don't just get better with age, is this kid dumb or did his family not teach him anything?'
"Quiet down children." His voice although not loud carried perfectly through the amphitheater "As Sunny has already awakened he is exempt from the awakening tests and already a member of the inner Circle. Please from this moment on treat him as such. Now that we may continue..." Sunny went back to his spot in the crowd but the gazes stayed on him even when they started announcing those qualified to take the awakening tests.
Finally night fell and the coming of age ceremony began in full, as the moonless night allowed the stars to fully show their brilliance many began to hear songs and chimes, something only ment for them. To Sunny this was a familiar song one he even played for his friend years ago and a dance he had now practiced for years. 'He might as well it was also practice for his 'Sight Reading' to let the songs of fate flow through you'
In the end many had short lived songs, soft melodies they could barley keep for a few steps and it was only those with a high affinity for fate or a skill in the 'Sight Reading' process that could keep in step with fate until the end. The elders had those who's movements ended go home with parting words of welcome and congratulations for coming of age. Those who could keep their dances longer were welcome to take the awakening tests though many would turn down such an opportunity, either out of fear of failure or a knowing inadequacy that the life of a Druid was not the one they wanted.
Sunny was not the last to complete his dance as the length was not the determiner of affinity but the ease in which you know your steps. Some simply had a longer dance to the songs of fate, some even repeating the same moves over and over for hours like possessed puppets.
As the last specks of darkness were washed away by the coming suns, Sunny and the few that had passed the tests to become awakened were led to their new homes in the inner Circle. They were led to a tower carved from a large boulder or small mountain with several alcoves carved from the rough stone.
After being led to his new room Sunny settled down quickly as all he wanted was to deepen his knowledge about fate and even to try the group 'Sight Reading'. Sunny was only in the Circle for these benefits, he truly was looking forward to his studies and aside from Sasha, he didn't want to make any more friends.
Sunny spent the next 3 years deep into his studies, rarely his piers would approach him in an attempt to form bonds or to gain benefits. He only saw Sasha a few more times before her coming of age ceremony, where she chose to leave her Gossip and adventure the world as an adventurer. She knew the risks especially as a Siren, but she could disguise herself as a merfolk and with the spell slingers her people gave her 'I'll prey for anyone who crosses her but even fate might have trouble saving them'.
During the last few years in his Sect Sunny ran into an issue he never though would be a problem, everyone was too nice, too accommodating, too friendly. He knew they were trying to get on his good side, they wanted to inject their nae into his story, to share his honor. Honestly it was getting exhausting, everything he did even the mistakes he made on purpose, they would be pillars of gratitude and reverence and it was getting creepy.
Sunny decided that after his next Birthday he was going to use his time in the outer Circle to escape. He wanted to see the world like Sasha and he wanted to face challenges like no other. Destiny or not, honor or not, he wanted to be looked down on by stronger foes and to come back stronger to slay them with his own strength. He wanted to be like his Papa; an adventurer so trusted he would be welcomed into secret societies and so strong nobody feared if he would come home at the end of it all.
As he walked into his Grandpa's home for what may be the last time for a very long time he was trying to find the words he could use to convince his family that this was the right thing to do. But one look into his eyes and his Grandpa was already on board, he had this great speech and everything and his family was the ones dragging him through their plan and handing him tools and bags, dressing him in adventurer's garments and planning his route. 'I love my family' Sunny thought countless times during their explanations.
Turns out they were going to send him out the same way Sasha would come in, the well. He would take some water breathing items and an informant from the Misinial family would lead him out of a river far from the Sect. He never did understand why Sasha's family was so important to the Circle other than their strong connection to the effects on the soul that was innate to Sirens, and their ability to travel through the underground streams, but that wasn't that hard as other merfolk and especially Druids could travel just as well.
As he said goodbye to his family and dove into the well behind his Grandpa's home the dark and cold seemed to embrace him. Sunny and the nameless informant traveled for hours in the water, stopping occasionally to avoid guards or other merfolk so no one would see a land dweller in their territory. After such a long time Sunny lost count of the hours and with no light in the passages he had no way to tell time aside from the hunger telling him he was late for dinner.
When he finally surfaced and could breath normal air again his sight was still dark, noticing he was in a cave he looked towards his guide. 'He hasn't said a word, do I just leave?' after a minute of staring the guide gave a silent nod, dropped a bag out of the water and dove back in without a moment to talk. 'Well I guess that answers that.'
With that Sunny changed into something not soaked, pulled out the map his Father had made for him. His journey begins, a young Shifter man of 23 years who's never left home, starting something that would ring in the songs of fate or die out before its melody could ever be realized.
Sitting in a carriage the Shifter held his excitement as the gentle ringing of fate seemed to turn into a crescendo as he glanced at each passenger. Their fate seeming to harmonize with each other and create a song like Sunny had never heard before. As he glance around, his half hood dropped from his head showing his curved horns in their starlit glory, his half deer heritage clear in his tuffed ears and golden brown hair. His light brown eyes were round and wide with wonder and seemed to fill his small face, his small nose a tinge of red as he was not use to the coldness of the night.
His robes a combination of royal and holy, the darkness of the cloth was lined with the white of constellations and specks of gold. The leather bag and staff, gifts from his family, treasures he held dear and came in use every day in his travels. Standing at 6 feet tall and another foot with his antlers Sunny was lean utilizing magic far more than physical means, and combining that with his sheltered life of study he was bordering on thin if not for his healthy diet.
Sunny concluded his story needing to exclude most of his past, he couldn't tell anyone of his Circle, of his connection to fate, and especially not of his abilities to translate the songs of fate. He knew the people sitting besides him had intertwining fate, perhaps they were his allies, or even his foes, all he could tell is that their fates are irrevocably bound. Before they could ask too many questions about his past he directed the attention to the blue man cloaked in an unnatural darkness, like it was bleeding off of him.
"So what brings you here? I think it's time we hear your story."