Numeral the Ulert

Numeral was scared.

She usually wouldn't be. Because usually, Steppe would be around. Usually, Steppe was there to talk to strangers—to the weird-looking creatures that passed by the Meadows and inquired them about the whereabouts and such. But this time, Steppe wasn't—and she had no idea what was happening.

Usually, the Meadows were nice. Because it would be only her and Steppe, all alone and in the sun's warmth. But today, there was something else. Something different.

There was always an inspector-leaf creature that came around every weekend. Numeral was generally okay with him, if not slightly apprehensive—beacuse Steppe was usually the one to answer his inspection questions and all that. But today, Steppe wasn't here, and Numeral was all alone in that dusky line, creatures long trotted off into the Meadows, with that inspector-leaf creature staring at her expectantly like it wanted her to talk to it or something.

After a staring-contest, the inspector-leaf thing marches up to her. Numeral felt her tail tighten as she curled into herself, looking at the inspector-leaf creature that felt to tower above her. ''I'm here to make sure you're ordinated to pass. Your name and species, please? Current nutritions and numerical values?''

Numeral felt completely rigid. It was as if the inspector-leaf was attacking her with questions, and at the thought, she shrinks into herself further. It—no, he, Numeral could see it now— was still looking over her looming, like a shadow. Something like a whimper comes from her. ''Uh... numerical... what?''

Inspector-leaf doesn't seem to notice her stutter or her nervousness, but plucks out a stray leaf beside him and scrawls a word on it. Still not looking at her, he says: ''Numeral. Correct?''

''Uh...''

''Numerical. Your name. Correct?'' He looked visibly annoyed.

That had made something wither inside of Numerical, as she squirmed. ''... yes?''

''Alright. Everything's in order.'' Inspector-leaf waved her off, and Numeral was left there blinking back at him. ''You may proceed.''

Numeral paused. Wondered if she should correct Inspector-leaf on it. And then, finally, Numeral shuffled in.


- Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that.
- There's zero correlation between being the best talker and having the best ideas.
- But there is a tremendous difference between alone and lonely.
- Hoping for something and losing it hurts worse than never hoping for anything... but hope is also being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.
- Some things don't last forever, but some things do. Memories that you can take out and unfold in your darkest times, pressing down on the corners and peering in close, hoping you still recognise the person you see there.