Gilgamesh had not slept in days aside from an exhausted nap here and there. Always woken shortly by tormenting nightmares full of fireflies, crumbling statues, and lava spilling from a worm's mouth. He did not try to hide the wild look in his eyes. Bloodshot and dry, he doesn't believe he could cry even if he tried. His stomach rumbles with hunger and his chest aches with incessant paranoia. Every shadow, every bend, he was there waiting for the right moment to take him.

Shallow breaths, half-turned ears, and fur bristled and unkempt, Gilgamesh is an image of fear. He can't stop. Not after investigating the metal spears that had erupted from the ground after the tremors. And now? Wolves were discussing winding channels in Auster. What had developed on his journey down was peculiar and terrifying all the same. His breath catches in his throat as he peers at the tunnel opening beneath him. If he and his companion, Urtur, hadn't been paying attention, they would've fallen in. They share a knowing look between each other before descending into the dark.

"speech"

Their exploration of The Prominence had not been terribly fruitful, but was interesting nonetheless. Seiko was slow to head back home though, choosing to take the long route back and veer toward Auster's western coast. Being away from Tojo-kai was strange, and a little uncomfortable, but Seiko knew it would lead to personal growth. That was the main focus of their journey, though they knew whatever was much more far-reaching- not that they could even begin to grasp the depths of the severity of the changes that were happening. Still, they wondered. The happenings of the outside world had been kept at such a far distance for so long, for practically their entire youth, and now that they were older they were so much more curious. Nearing the edge of the Shimmering Shore, where the dirt was uprooted, spiraling out in long tendrils all around. It looked unmistakably like something had been digging below the surface. Strange... Seiko was wary as they investigated, slowing further when they came upon a crack in the earth. Upon further inspection, they realized it wasn't just a crack at all, but it was as though a sinkhole had appeared here and swallowed up everything. Strange wasn't quite the right word for it. Catching sight of someone up ahead making their way down into the depths, carefully they moved to trail after them, letting out a bark of greeting. The last thing they wanted was to startle someone, not when there was such a sinister aura surrounding... well, all of this. "Excuse me- do you know what this place is?" Maybe this stranger would have some insight.