A Deal With The Devil

There was a lot to be said by how a wolf carried themselves, the body speaks when the mouth is silent. Lurid dealt with the criminally insane all the time in her home, hell, the wolf she had chosen to rule beside her had killed his own father. Alastor carried her heart with him, and she had his beating within her chest as she lay in the sweltering heat of the river. Watching the pair before her, Lurid could see the pride emanating from the darkly cloaked woman, but there was a sadness in her as well. As much as the ebony woman tried to hide it, Lurid knew the spark of loss hidden in those molten gold eyes. The male sat quietly, seemingly ever on guard. He was quite good at watching without watching, the subtle shifts in his eyes gave him away, but only if someone knew what to look for. When the female spoke up, Lurid's holographic eyes fixed her with something akin to warmth in her gaze. "I have noticed this since my arrival. The lands seem unsure of their own identities." She gave a laugh that was melodic and hypnotizing, unfurling herself and coming to make the graceful leap to the same side of the hellish river. The golden light from the river of lava made her fur seem to gleam with a fiery glow, though it was the translucent nature of her fur that made it seem as though embers clung to her pelt. Lurid always held herself with pride and poise, her every motion fluid and smooth, the living epitome of grace and nobility. Her paws dared not even make a whisper on the hard surface of the rocks, like a true specter, as she approached a more appropriate distance for conversation away.

Introductions ensued, and Lurid found herself wanting to play games, but for the sake of etiquette, she decided against it. The female introduced herself as Nox, a fitting name given her color. The male, Nox's dear friend, and companion introduced himself as Lupa. With a smile and an incline of her crown, Lurid's dual vocals rang warmly, "I am pleased to make your acquaintances, Nox and Lupa. You may call me Lurid." Lupa went on to comment on the landscapes and their changes, expressing a particular interest in the area around them. She could see the open admiration on their faces as they looked around, the same look she had worn when she had seen it for the first time. The bitch-goddess liked it here as well, though it would do nothing for hunting or thirst if she were to claim it. This place was considered decorative by the ghostly empress, like a hood ornament. With her brightly colored plumage, Lurid stuck out against the darkness of the landscape, starkly contrasting the black rocks and red magma that flowed beneath. "I quite fancy the heat, myself. It soothes the bones after traveling in the north." It had taken her longer to realize what she liked about this place, but it dawned on her at that moment. The colors reminded her of her Alastor, a beast she hadn't been able to shake from her mind as of late.

Looking between the pair, Lurid wondered just what had brought them to the northern parts of Boreas, aside from the pack that lived up here, there weren't many who would travel up here. For most, there was no reason for it. Life was difficult up here, perhaps they were only exploring. "What brings you to Boreas?" Lurid asked instead, her own reasons were depressing at best, but she held hope that one day her seat would be restored. Perhaps sooner rather than later, at the rate she was going now. Things had picked up recently, her leg was better and she was able to move as she needed to. It would take a fair bit of time to work her body back into fighting shape, but she was confident she could achieve whatever she wished to. It was maybe an intrusive question to ask of them, but she had never worried over offending anyone with questions. If they got offended, she could make her corrections as necessary.