The shuddering of the earth around him had driven Kenway and his two cattle dogs from their underground den. Thankfully it was a warm enough night that sleeping under the... well there weren't any stars, or a moon, but sleeping outside under the sky, he supposed, bearable.

Being awoken by his mother's distressed squawking and nose punching, however, was another matter. He groaned and rolled over, throwing a paw across his face to block out the... apocalypse-red sky. Well. That was different.

Rising with a yawn and a stretch, he sleepily blinked at his mother while she went on and on about the kids scampering off when clearly the world was ending, finally caving with a bowing stretch and a grumble of what sounded like caving to her whim, he tipped his head to his girls and they ran ahead, their barking leading the way as he crossed the country between the Moor and... whatever this strange place was.

The problem with his sudden and rude awakening was that he hadn't really taken time to, uh heed the call of nature, and with not a tree in sight, he supposed one of the strange rocks would have to do. Still half asleep, he cocked his leg to relieve himself, heedless of the panicked barking of his companions.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma

Maelstrom had waited eagerly for the sun to rise. There was something about how dark it was that intrigued him. The tremors were interesting, a tad nervous-making, but didn’t deter him from taking off at first light. Before he could even notice that the sky was turning shades of red, he was over the border and in loner territory.

Following the congregation of wolves that headed to the towering monoliths, Maelstrom picked up the pace. His legs ached by the time he got close, his tongue lolling from his mouth and his sides heaving while he panted. He wanted to rest, but the creepy looking things were so close!

It wouldn’t take him much longer and the closer he got, the more he could see. How the wind whistles through the holes, the spooky wailing that sounded like “stay away” to him. The dirt going from hard to soft. The etching along the spires.

Compelled to investigate, Maelstrom is stopped by the sound of liquid hitting the surface of one. “That’s not a good idea,” he warns the stranger - who unbeknownst to him is actually his uncle.

The relief that came with finally being able to empty his bladder was overwhelming. He was so caught up in the feeling that he didn't hear the kid approaching. Not one he knew, but he coulda sworn sometimes Scald came home smellin' a bit like that?

He wasn't concerned enough to stop mid-stream, then he'd only have to piss on another one further into the strange place. "Better'n pissin' all over yer own feet fer a jump scare..." His tone made it sound like he knew exactly what he was talking about, almost like he had learned the lesson the hard way.

This wasn't one of the kids he had been sent to round up, but he was a kid none the less. The mottled yearling frowned. "Yer seen anyone 'round yer own age out 'ere yet?" Maybe he could recruit the kid into helping him do his job and then he could hunker down with the Raiders until whatever shit storm this was passed. He still had a scar from the strange wolf-dogs that showed up in the night, and this place had an achingly familiar vibe to the cavern full of flames.

"speech"

coded by NachoMumma