beauty. there is beauty in this new world. it is somewhat of a relief. medulla had grown up knowing only the territory of her own family, and at times it had felt like nothing existed beyond it, like the world simply ended where her family’s land did. but here is proof, plain as day, that there exists wonders beyond her family’s reach, that an entire world lay waiting, spread out before her with tantalising mystery.

the water babbles noisily as she approaches the edge of a lower pool, gazing into its clear depths. her own face stares back at her, mouth parted in a little moue of surprise. Kass leans so far over her shoulder that he risked falling in, struggling to retain his perch.

”careful,” she murmurs, taking a step back, ”we don’t know that it’s safe.” but the sun is beating down with unforgiving heat, and the water looks more tempting with every passing moment. suddenly, Dulla becomes aware of how dry her mouth is, how heavy her tongue. perhaps, a small drink wouldn’t hurt…

It had been a long time since Mortis had been to the Sea’s Plains, and he decided to make the trip there before he made his way to the more distant lands of the Col where his fathers pack resided. There were a lot of memories to be had in the Plains, and he knew returning would feel bittersweet. A part of him worried he would expect to find his mother there, and the disappointment that came with the certain knowledge of her death would be devastating.

He moved first through the Hot Springs, and he found himself easily distracted before he could venture any further. He saw a wolf, a short tawny girl eyeing up the hot springs. His eyes drifted from her, to the hot springs, and back again. “You wouldn’t like the taste, there's sulfur in the water, which accounts for the heat.” He called out as he approached.

"Speech"

a voice drifts through the air, dragging her gaze from the pool. sulfur in the water. she grants him a sheepish smile, full of self-deprecation and gratitude - but a spike of betrayal jabs her, too. it is foolish, but the water had looked so serene, so innocent - to learn of its dangers was to understand, in some sense, that she’d been duped. it is a silly notion, one she dismisses immediately; water was not sentient, and could not, therefore, intend to deceive. “my savior,” Dulla teases, voice light and sing-song. "i owe you a life debt.” she trails from the pool’s edge and considers the stranger with a curious tilt of her head, admiring the feathered wings trailing from his back. often, as a girl, she’d wished to fly. “might i know your name, hero?”

Mortis gave a wry chuckle at that, feeling heat take to his cheeks. “I wouldn’t go that far” He cautioned her. “It was a small thing, really” She would have felt the heat once she put her face close enough, and that likely would have warned her. Besides, one lick, while unpleasant, wouldn’t have caused her great harm.

“I’m Mortis Fatalis” He introduced himself at her request. He spread his wings and bowed his head in an overly-formal greeting. Responding to her theatrics of calling him a hero. “And can I know yours?” He asked in return, pausing, and then continuing. “I know this territory pretty well. If you like, I could show you where drinkable water is?”


"Speech"

“you’re too modest,” dulla teases, delighting in the stranger’s bashfulness. he spreads his wings in greeting, and dulla can’t help an awed gasp as she observes his inky plumage, eyeing each feather with barely restrained envy. “oh, they’re beautiful.” she eyes the little bird on her shoulder, clucking her tongue in faux disappointment. “why am i the only one in present company incapable of flight?” Kass sings a mournful note, and she giggles. “quite. you should be sorry.” at the stranger – Mortis’- request, she dips her head in greeting and offers an equally dramatic bow of her own. “Medulla, and this is Kass. though Dulla is fine, too.” at his offer, she smiles gratefully, eyes crinkling in light-hearted mirth. “you truly are a saint. that’d be wonderful.”