Holly

Holly

Famous leader of the Pelted Exodus, from pre-Alliance history.

Appearance and Personality

A pre-Karaka'an felid, Holly was around 3'5", and Siamese-patterned, brown and cream with blue eyes.

Biography

According to Kellen Grove, a historian, "Holly's diaries didn't survive the diaspora."

"Holly purportedly kept a diary about her life, beginning the day she learned to write," Kellen explained. "On the journey out it was accidentally destroyed, yet we have more documentation about the events leading up to and following the revolution and diaspora than we do about any other part of our origin. When we met humanity some three hundred years ago, they only added to that knowledge." He paused for breath, a dark ache in his chest. "That there are so few of Holly's original words remaining is a shame. But we do have a few of her public speeches and one or two private conversations on record."

While in captivity (as Holly would later characterize her time, which was spent partially undergoing medical experiments), Holly would tie knots into her hair, under the surface layer, for every time she was hurt by her captors, as a way of remembering it despite the brain fog caused by medication and injury. When she escaped, she finally combed out all those knots (or cut them out), which led to a few sayings: 'combing out the knots' is a way of referring to a fresh start, particularly after hardship, and 'cutting the knots free' or 'cutting out the knots' is analogous to 'do the hard thing and get it over with.'

Legacy

Religions

A religion formed around Holly about 75 years into the formation of the Alliance; Followers of Holly consider her a saint, one who can still intervene on behalf of her believers. They pray to her and call on her for aid, and (especially during their initial years) could often be found telling people that 'Holly saved' and 'Holly still does,' if one only believed. This earned them the derogatory name of 'Hollysaveds', which they appropriated, and this nickname has persisted for centuries. The Hollysaved have several religious practices but the most noticeable to outsiders is hair knotting, which they do every time they have an epiphanic experience or life-changing realization. Devout Followers of Holly can sometimes have entire heads of braids or knotted locks, often tied off at multiple points on the plait with colorful fabric twists or beads. These are called, variously, Hollylocks or Hollyknots.

While initially the religion was racially diverse, by the 300s, most Hollysaveds were Karaka'A, and it shifted toward focusing on Holly's legacy as the first Karaka'A, as well as her divinity.

In Media

Holly is the subject of one of the Opus posters; some limited editions include a reproduction of a lock of her hair.

Dance

Holly is the subject of at least one ballet (named solely, "Holly"), and at least one opera ("Mother of Hope").

Music

Holly is the subject of countless songs in the Alliance, but this is one of the only ones written out in full in the canon. It was purportedly pieced together from what remains of her speeches and recorded conversations:

There are more stars in the sky at night
than Joy was taught to count.
And I must somehow lead our flight
even though it's tantamount
to suicide, they tell me. Suicide.

How can we ride each other's hopes
when so much could go wrong?
When it's on Terra that Wolf lopes,
and Lion sings her eerie song,
to these stars, I've heard her. These stars.

     But what greater prize than freedom must we follow to that light?
     What greater price than true-home, what ransom more than Right?
     What greater love and hunger drives me on despite my fears?
     When all I know and touch and change may end with frigid tears…
     May end with frigid tears.

I have seen the ships they've built us now
have walked inside their skin.
We'll know them when we fly them, and how
to put to dreams our kin:
Another risk, they tell me. Another risk.

Waking schedules have been fixed and fit
to last the hungry days,
A long and lonely watch to sit
as the months grow long and gray,
and tumble into decades. Into centuries!

     But what greater prize than freedom must we follow to that light?
     What greater price than true-home, as we spread our wings for flight?
     What greater love and hunger drives me on despite the pain,
     That drags at me and leeches, leaves me solemn in the rain…
     Leaves me crying in the rain.

But I have dreamed the future--who but me can paint those dreams?
I have dreamed the future, and it's nothing like it seems.
It's full of toil, of strife and vice,
of love and joy…and sacrifice.
Oh! I have dreamed the future, and there's freedom in those dreams.

There are more stars in the sky at night
than my naked eyes can see.
And I must absolutely lead our flight,
even if destroying me
is the price. Is part of that price.

     What greater prize than freedom must we follow to that light?
     What greater price than true-home, in exchange for truthful sight?
     What desperation drives me on, nightmares tearing me from sleep,
     That claw at me and ride my back and slash me 'til I weep…
     And watch me as I sleep.

Holly is also mentioned in an Exodus lullaby:

	Will you come back again?
	Will you come back again?
	Not today, she said.
	Not tomorrow, she said.
	Not a thousand thousand days from ever.
	That was Holly’s whisper.
	Holly’s whisper.