It was a long night, keeping watch over the last prints of the strange creature. As he sat there, besides the point where the intruder had vanished, he watched the moon high above the pack. Occasional dark clouds flitted across its surface, casting a solemn glow upon him. Other times, roving bands of fireflies danced in the sky above him.

At no point did the owner of the strange markings reappear, and dawn wasn’t far from approaching now. He could feel it, even if no sign of the light from the sun had appeared in the world. The Samori leaned lightly back on his hunches. Listening, watching, and tasting the world around him.


"Speech"

Venom was nearing the end of her worknight as dawn began to approach Ashen’s borders. The woman was nocturnal by nature, and she above many realized quickly the change in the air. The nights were not peaceful dark moonlit times any longer. All of her patrols the last evening were stiff and she felt as though she were being watched.

Paws brought her over the sandbridge as the tide went out with the sun’s approach. She would conduct business within the palace and then rest. However, she would be interrupted with an odd disruption. Blue fireflies. Venom blinked in surprise as she followed them to where Lament sat quietly.

”Samurai,” The Empress greeted softly. ”Have you noticed the chill in the air tonight?” It was much more intense than their usual mild winter weather. The bugs had come out but the temperatures dropped.

Lament was entranced by the azure shades of fluttering lights bobbing in the air above him. So much so, that she did not immediately notice his Empress until she was almost upon him. Mentally cursing his inattention - he was supposed to be holding vigil in search of the creature - he bowed his head to the Empress. A little stiff from remaining in one place for so long.

“My Empress, “ he murmured politely. “I have, it’s been a rather strange night. With the chill, and the swollen moon, and these markings” he pointed downward to the print that Hattori had followed here, before it had vanished with no trace of where its maker had gone.

"Speech"

Venom was easily put on edge by the strange occurrences. What she was disturbed the most by was the moon, though the unnatural fog and glowing lights hardly put her at ease. It was all unsettling, even more so that the hard winter that they had been put through last year. She hoped this was not like winter’s never ending threat. The Empress nodded her head in greeting as Lament looked up to her, his movements stiff as he greeted her in return and spoke the answer to her question.

Sunset eyes widened in surprise as the man gestured to the markings on the ground. Glowing almost paw prints in the ground, just faintly noticeable. Venom gasped softly in surprise. She’d seen fog, lights, and the incredible moon. ”What could be going on?” A spark of worry drilled into her chest, was this some kind of punishment for her actions?

Lament shook his head, not having an answer for the Empress. “Hattori directed me to these prints early in the night. He followed them half way through the pack, and they ended here. It's as if whatever created them sprouted wings” he said, trailing off and glancing upwards. The fireflies that seemed to be ever-present were still there. He glanced distrustfully at them.

“I distrust the fireflies the most, through I have nothing to support my feeling” he said, rising to his full height as a few darted closer to the two wolves. He did not know how one might defend their Empress against a strange flock of fireflies, but he was prepared to give it a go. If it came to that.


"Speech"

Lament shook his head in regret, he knew no more than she did. That was disappointing, considering the frequency of the events and more so the overall feeling over her. The Samurai did mention Hattori’s awareness of the situation, so at least her other half was already well aware of the unnatural occurrences. Venom felt a shiver down her spine at the thought of it all. At least what she had seen was harmless… so far.

The fire marked man mentioned his distrust of the fireflies, though she had her own doubts if they were fireflies or not. The cold should have been too much for a real insect. ”They certainly are curious.” Venom replied almost absently as she watched the glowing and fading light of them as a flock passed overhead.

Lament

A stealthy rabbit tries to sneak past, a small bundle of brightly colored flowers in it’s jaws. Whenever it hops, an odd sprinkling of blue dust breaks off from the flower petals. You also find 3 mushrooms. Maybe these are worth keeping…

Venom

Fireflies suddenly dance around your head. You also find 3 crystals. Maybe these are worth keeping…