Crimson Rock, Sunday evening.
There are places one visits as a journalist expecting a statement, a tour, perhaps a biscuit if one is lucky and the host is either generous or distracted.
Then there are places where one arrives, takes one look at the building, the bunting, the stage, the garden plots, the little pens, the animal graves, the pet beds, the treatment rooms, and the frankly suspicious amount of fresh produce, and realises that the story is not really about timber, stone, cages, fences or even opening dates.
It is about someone trying, very hard, to leave something good behind.
The Skybreaker Animal Sanctuary, built on Crimson Rock and now nearly ready for its grand opening, is the work of Vivian Skybreaker, assisted by her translator and friend Siouxsie, alongside a small army of volunteers, carers, builders, veterinary helpers and supporters. The building itself houses an animal shelter, a petting zoo and a veterinary wing, with the surrounding grounds already carrying the feeling of a place that is not merely prepared for animals, but expects to be shaped by them.
There is a stage outside, ready for the opening show. There is bunting, which I was told was for Vivian’s birthday, though this was said in the manner of someone who may have been caught enjoying their own decorations. There is a garden where staff and Vivian grow vegetables for both pets and silver. There are apples, melons, signs, a donation box, a manure heap which was described to me with impressive honesty as being “full of crap”, and a landscape around it all so beautiful that even a Kul Tiran might pause before complaining about the lack of rain, storm and seagulls.
The view alone would be enough to bring folk out here, but the work being done here is why they ought to stay.
When asked to introduce the project, Vivian welcomed readers to the Skybreaker Animal Sanctuary, explaining through Siouxsie that the building is home to the animal shelter, a petting zoo and a vets’ wing. Among those helping keep it running are vets from the Life Line Brigade, Mister Stoen, who takes care of the pet shelter, and many others Vivian said she could not hope to list in full.
“But all of them keep this place running,” Siouxsie translated. “And Viv couldn’t do it without them.”
That became a theme throughout the evening. Whenever there was a chance to talk about the building, Vivian talked about the people. Whenever there was a chance to take credit, she passed it along to the volunteers. When asked what part of the shelter she was most proud to show people, she did not name the treatment wing, the pens, the gardens or the petting zoo.
“Probably my staff,” came the answer. That, as they say back home, is how you know the captain understands the ship.
The tour began outside, past the stage and towards the more practical parts of the sanctuary. There are areas for visitors, areas for animals, and areas no visitor should probably inspect too closely unless they have a strong stomach and a professional interest in shovels. Near the building stand small graves, a quiet reminder that an animal sanctuary is not all ribbons, fluffy faces and cheerful mugs with mascots painted on them.
Sometimes, Vivian explained, the animals brought to the shelter are already in bad shape.
“We cannot save them all,” Siouxsie translated.
It would be easy, in a place this charming, to write only of the charming things. There are many. Sassy the Wolf, the sanctuary mascot, appears on mugs and will apparently be seen often. There is the Peaceful Paddock Petting Zoo, where bunnies, ratties, chickens, piglets and other creatures already seem prepared to become favourites among visiting children. There is Alice, currently staying temporarily, and Little Spit, with hopes for little alpacas in the future. There are piglets yet to be named, chickens, and Dick the Rooster, who, I am professionally bound to report, appears to be angry all the time.
This rooster glared at me. Menacingly.
I have been glared at by magistrates, tax collectors, angry sailors, and insulted nobles, but Dick the Rooster may be among the most committed.
Inside the shelter itself, the mood shifts from festival grounds to working home. The Fluffy Butt Pet Shelter is alive with barking, meowing, squeaking and chirping. There are reptiles, turtles, and a purple snake which this reporter chose to admire from a safe and morally responsible distance. There is a washing room for defleaing, an aviary, recovery spaces, a vet’s wing, an x-ray machine and, of course, the latest in gnomish technology, which, I should add, sometimes requires being kicked by Dax and struck with a spanner.
The sanctuary currently has twenty-four animals in the pet shelter, with room for only a few more. The petting zoo has thirty animals, and Vivian made clear that all of them are rescues. The sanctuary is not built for large animals, at least not yet. For now, it is focused on pets, though Vivian did add that perhaps, “if Viv has a future”, it may one day expand.
Vivian spoke openly about her condition, saying through Siouxsie that she has what most people call brain rot, and that she does not know how much longer she will be sane. That is not an easy thing to hear during a tour of animal pens and garden apples. It is even harder to hear when the next words are about why the sanctuary is so near and dear to her heart.
“Viv really wanted to leave something good behind.”
The sanctuary is not merely an animal project. You could say it is an attempt to take fear, illness and uncertainty, and turn them into warm beds, careful hands, full bowls and second chances. Some people build monuments to themselves. Vivian has built a place where frightened creatures might stop shaking.
When asked what had been the hardest part of getting the shelter ready, Vivian did not speak first of construction or coin, but of retrieval. Each rescued animal, she explained, has its own story, and some of those stories are difficult to hear. Some animals are missing an ear or a tail. Some are skittish. Some arrive carrying invisible wounds that no bandage can quite cover.
“We will give them love and care while looking for their new home,” Siouxsie translated.
Adoptions, once the shelter opens, will be handled with care rather than impulse. Prospective pet parents will not simply point at the nearest fluffy creature and march away looking pleased with themselves. Mister Stoen will show visitors around, tell them the animals’ stories, and then interview would-be adopters to make sure creature and caretaker are compatible. Vivian described him as very smart and a great judge of character.
The sanctuary has already received significant community support, including from Roaring Days, which helped raise attention and funds for the project. When asked how much of a difference that support had made, Vivian’s answer was immediate.
“Loads,” Siouxsie translated. “Loads, loads, loads. Most of this building was built from that money.”
Vivian thanked The Lion’s Roar and its readers (that is you guys!) for allowing the fundraising and for donating. Further thanks were offered later to sponsors and supporters including TK, CoGS, Silver Oddities, the bands, Daras, and many others. Khari was also named as an amazing driving force behind the effort.
It is one thing to attend a festival, buy a drink, clap for a song, throw a coin into a cause, adopt a pet rock and wander home with a warm head and sore feet. It is another thing to stand months later in a finished sanctuary, hear animals moving in their pens, see the treatment rooms, the gardens, the little graves, and realise that the coin did not vanish into a vague promise.
The grand opening is planned for next Sunday, the 28th, with the first act taking the stage around 19:45. The ribbon will be cut by Chili of the Crimson Tusks, fittingly enough, since the sanctuary stands on Crimson Tusks land, for which Vivian expressed deep gratitude.
The evening will include tours with Vivian and a concert featuring a strong showing from familiar names. Daras will act as compere, with performers expected to include Dax and Kessi, The Cogspinners, The Hot Babes, Shredding Accordingly, Lindalë, Khari, Alaina, Leejing, Netherflame, Steele, and Meri Tooke, who will headline the evening. The Wandering Lamp Post will provide catering.
For those worried about the animals, Vivian has asked for mostly chill music so as not to startle the pets. Some performances will be acoustic. Shelley Sparks reportedly offered a firework display, which was wisely declined on account of animals not generally appreciating sudden sky explosions, though Shelley has donated gold to the fund and is expected to attend. Vivian suggested that perhaps she might simply yell “pop pop” a few times instead.
This reporter supports the compromise.
As the interview came to a close, Vivian asked to say one final thing.
“Thanks Mum for believing in me.”
After the formal questions ended, I did what any responsible journalist should do when confronted with a charity fruit stand and a donation box. I asked how much for one of the red apples. Vivian said she would not dare charge Mister Hardhy. I insisted on paying because it was for a good cause. The price given was two silvers.
I took two apples and placed two five-silver coins in the donation box.
“My first sale!” Vivian said.
The Skybreaker Animal Sanctuary is not perfect because no sanctuary can be. There will always be more animals than room. There will always be harder stories than any one pair of hands can hold. There will always be another frightened creature, another missing tail, another hungry mouth, another night when someone has to clean, feed, mend, comfort and try again.
When asked what she hoped people would understand when they walked through the doors on opening day, Vivian’s answer was simple.
The work is so hard, but it is worth it - every single time.