The koi wolf had huddled terrified all night. When the red sky of the morning broke she found herself curiously drawn to the spires that had appeared. The scent of her siblings had drawn her even closer. The eerie light overhead did nothing to dissuade her fears or anxieties.

The spires were strange, exceptionally tall, and frightening. As if they were shards scraping the sky. She looked around for her siblings and suddenly found herself without them! Her tail tucked beneath her, she looked about wondering where they had gone. The more she looked the fewer signs she could find of them! There were others about but none of them Jiro, Kina, Kaizen, Saiko, or Katsu! And she couldn't quite reorient herself out of here either! There were spires everywhere!

Maybe this was all a bad dream. Maybe if she huddled next to one of these spires and covered her eyes and ears she'd wake up and it'll all be over.

Speech // thought // Nihongo

Kea’s fear of worms hadn’t really shrunk in the long months since his encounter with the fireworm. It had changed something inside of him, given a blow to his confidence. But he was still and desired the chance to prove himself. If not for others, then at least to himself. To prove that he wasn’t less for his fears.

So despite how much the idea ate him up inside, he took his sword and made his way to the strange new land that had opened up. He arrived to walk beneath the spires, catching the occasional scent of wolf as well as other things he could not yet identify. As he walked further forward, he found the form of a small wolf, who looked uncomfortable and unhappy beneath the blood moon. He understood how she felt.

He took in a breath, and tried to assume an air of confidence. “Hello, are you here to investigate as well?”


"Ciaran Carpathius"

Asahi was just about to curl up in a bush and hide when a confident voice greeted her, making her jump out of her skin and slink into the bush. She was so used to hiding in the bamboo and sneaking up on her siblings, that no one had ever snuck up on her!

Bright golden eyes peer out between the leaves at the tall male. His dark form swathed in the strange red light of the red sun climbing higher in the sky. He had a sword with him and a kind face. Cautiously she pushed her face back and nodded her head sheepishly. None of her siblings were around to help her speak. She had been interested in this place, that was until she found herself alone.

The moan and near scream of the spires above them had her pinning her ears and closing her eyes for a moment until it faded in intensity. A breath steadied her and she pulled herself out, her tail still clung tightly to her belly. Maybe this black and blue knight had shown up in her dream to rescue her from this nightmare? 

Speech // thought // Nihongo

Ooops! He hadn’t meant to startle her! A hint of panic crossed his features when she slunk suddenly into the bush beside her. From her jump and movement, it was clear what had caused her reaction. He watched a moment, struggling to decide if he should speak again, or if that would just make it worse. She stuck her head through the bushes and he offered her a smile. “It’s okay, you can come out…” He said, as she pulled her head back in again.

He wasn’t entirely sure what to do here, actually. “If you’d like, I can escort you around this territory? Are you looking for family?” he suggested. If she was this afraid of him, he couldn’t imagine she had come here alone.


"Ciaran Carpathius"

He seemed rather gentle! Perhaps, even as surprised as she was. The ominous moaning continued overhead as she pulled herself out of the bush. She bowed her head with a straight leg dip in greeting. Then jumped with a startle again as the moaning intensified over them.

She slunk a little closer to the ground and slithered next to him. Nodding emphatically that yes, she'd like help finding her family. The red sky wasn't helping her blue roller bird orient itself as it called from one of the openings in the spire with a grating "kreh" sound similar to a raven call.

"What is this place?" She asked, her voice whisper quiet, barely audible above the sounds overhead but she had leaned a little closer to his side to murmur to him.

Speech // thought // Nihongo

She nodded her head at his question, coming to stand beside him. She must be over the initial fright he’d accidently given her. Good! He let his paw touch the hilt of his sword again, as if to reassure himself that it was still there.

She leaned surprisingly close to him, and he realised after a moment it was to speak. “I’m…not sure yet.” he admitted a little reluctantly. He’d wanted to have the answers for her. “I’m Kea Carpathius” He introduced himself, voice soft and leaning towards her as they walked. His eyes continuously scanned around them, looking for any clues.

"Ciaran Carpathius"

Asahi was busy looking around and shrinking at the strange markings on the spikes beside them, but it didn't escape her notice that he reached to touch his sword briefly.

He was just as confused about this pace as she was. The soil soft beneath their feet. As if it the ground was about to give beneath them.

"Hattori Asahi. I come from the south." She replied quietly to his ear between the moaning of the spires around them. Her eyes danced up to his, wondering if he could lead her that way. She wasn't familiar with any of these places in Boreas and this place she'd rather not linger longer in.

Speech // thought // Nihongo

Kea gave her another fleeting smile, still trying to offer comfort despite his own uncertainties. “Me too! I live in the castle near the bifrost.” He explained, wondering if they’d find common ground in the location of their homes. They were both a little far from home at this point.

Far from home, and somewhere incredibly strange. He leaned closer to one of the spires, and examined the dirt near its base. This whole land was weird, and there was no getting around that fact. He dug a little at the base of one of the spires. He’d come here to investigate after all. Finding Asahi didn’t fully take him away from his primary course, through he wanted to offer her comfort as well.


"Ciaran Carpathius"