I wish you could see me for something more than the things I'm confined and condemned to be

Stjarna had been focused on her hunting, gathering pelts for the turn of the season while summer prey was bountiful. She was deep in her den, resting from the busy day when the tremors began. She immediately squirmed out of her den and peered toward Mount Volkan. Nothing seemed particularly off about it but the darkness was strange… dark, thick, almost as if it were pressing down on the land. She scurried back down into the den and waited it out.

When morning rose she quickly headed out to investigate. The morning light was red and abnormals. She'd seen red skies before, the kind that so often harkened a stormy day to follow but this red was different. She just couldn't place her paw on it. It didn't take long however to notice strange spires off to the west. Now wait a minute, when did these get here?


Speech

Sonnet was more than happy to hide away in the den with her family when the tremors began. Darkness fell over the land outside in such a thick blanket that it would have been too difficult to see anyway. Though she hardly got any rest that night, mostly due from the tremors often waking her, she felt rested enough as the light began to filter in. When it wasn't the normal bright, yellow light, but a dusky red the color of blood, she practically raced to the doorway. What happened? Her eyes are wide as she drinks it in. This definitely was different!

Curiosity plagues Sonnet as she slips from the depths of the den toward where the red light glistens brighter. She knows she's breaking the rules, but when she spies an older girl, Stjarna, headed in the same direction, the pup knew this would be her way out. "Star, wait up!" Sonnet calls out, tail lightly tucked between her legs as she hurries over. "Can I go check them out with you?" She questions with a cant of her head before her attention is pulled back toward the spires in the distance.

"Sonnet"

After the chaos of last night Álarr was inclined to curl up and sleep the next day away. Maybe it was the fact he was getting so old. He'd seen enough weird ass shit in Boreas he didn't think this required his immediate attention, not until Brynhildr came flying in saying that Stjarna was gone. Immediately he started to worry. She would go investigating those weird spires he could see on the horizon now wouldn't she. Bah! So far his big take away from parenthood was that it was a lot of worry. Worrying all the dang time. Couldn't drop his guard even though she was a yearling.

Getting his stuff together he tracked her scent into a place he really didn't want to be. Eerie stone spires stretched up into the sky, the wind groaning through the gaps in the spires. He felt drawn to one of them but quickly pulled his face away. He needed to find his daughter, and it didn't take long. Soon he spied her brilliant blue coat and one of Thalia and Theory's pups to boot. Oh great….

"What are you two doing out here? This place is dangerous. Sonnet, you are way to young to be this far out." He felt Afi hop off his back and side-eyed the cat as he went closer to a spire. "Afi… careful. We don't know what these are."

The pallas cat waved his fluffy tail in a flippant matter. "Well, we're here now aren't we. I want to know what ruined my sleep last night." He stretched up on his hind legs, front paws leaning against the stone of the nearest spire as he squinted at the carving. "Egh… some creepy ass faces carved on here. This one looks pretty scared, gripped with terror even I'd say. C'mere Álarr, quit being a pussy." Afi winked at the horned man.

I wish you could see me for something more than the things I'm confined and condemned to be

Stjarna flinched at the small voice that called for her to wait up. Ahhh crap, one of the babies had followed her. Star debated abandoning her mission right there before Thalia or Theory caught on but she'd already come this far. She looked down at Sonnet, debating for a moment before sighing. "Ohhh… fine. Ok, you can explore with me a little bit. Just be careful. Your mom's will kill me if something happens to you."

Stjarna scooted closer to the nearest spire, cautiously as if at any moment it might reach out and try to bite her. These things popped out of nowhere, no telling if there were more that would do the same. Reaching out with a claw she tapped the spire and hopped back. Hmm… what were these things for? Her father had told her about all sorts of weird human things. Maybe it was a human thing?

Speaking of her father… Star flinched as his voice met her ears. "Oh, uh, hey dad. We were just taking a quick look. Promise!"


Speech

It's not until Star's sigh of defeat did Sonnet really register where they were. She stares wild-eyed at the scenery. This was nothing she'd seen before. These spires were terrifying. Tall, craggy, scary things with carvings trailing down beneath big holes. What were those things? She blinks, her tail tucking tighter beneath her, against her belly as she swallows loudly. "Th-thanks," she says softly, scooting closer to Star as they inch closer to the spire.

After a minute, the pup attempts to collect some bravery, but the sharp tone of Alarr sends her fur bristling and ears flattening. Crouching toward the ground, she twists to look up at the behemoth of a man. Before she could say anything, Star was saying they were taking a quick look. Sonnet is nodding urgently like yes, indeed, only a quick look! "I promise I won't be trouble!" Sonnet insists, turning big, watery puppy-dog eyes up to Alarr with a timid, shaky smile.

"Sonnet"

Álarr quirked a brow as his daughter swore they were just going for a quick look. Even though she was a yearling he didn't like the idea of her going off to such a strange and dangerous place without an adult present. Especially as she had one of the pups with her. His gaze turned then to Sonnet who stared up at him with her big amber eyes promising that she wouldn't be trouble. Álarr sighed, looking between the girls then back to the spires then back to the girls. When had he gotten so soft?

"Ok, fine. Since I'm here you can take a quick look, but please be careful and keep on your toes." He shifted over to Afi who pointed out the screaming face. "Well, that's comforting," he said sarcastically before testing the soil at the base of the spire. Casually he started to move some of the soil away, looking to see if there were more faces buried below.

I wish you could see me for something more than the things I'm confined and condemned to be

Stjarna backed up Sonnet's nodding, looking pleadingly at her father. He was here now so technically they had an adult with them now, why waste the journey and go all the way back? She leaned forward as Álarr opened his mouth and bounced on her paws when he said they could explore a little as long as they were careful. She bounded toward him, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thanks, dad! We will!"

Returning back to all four feet she moved to look at the spire Álarr was examining. "It looks so oooold. Smells old to." Squinting at the carving she noticed a distorted face, mouth open like it was screaming. "Yikes… why did they carve screaming faces on these?"


Speech

Sonnet lets out a yip of excitement when Alarr gives in and allows them to stay for exploration. Finally, some excitement! Her smile widens for a moment until a pitch in the wailing sends her ears laying flat to her skull. Nervous eyes turn toward the sky in its reddened glory wondering where the sound had come from. Had it been the big metal things that Star and Alarr were looking at?

Curious and not wanting to be left behind, Sonnet scurries along behind Star and moves closer to the spire they are looking at. A shiver rolls down her spine at the sight of the crying face from a creature that she didn't know. "Kinda smells like something is rotting," Sonner says quietly, her nose scrunching as she leans in to be mere inches away from the metal spire. "You think it's supposed to keep us away?" She asks, looking up to Star with an obvious hint of uncertainty in her tone.

"Sonnet"