Ghouls circling round and round

The nights were growing longer than he was accustomed to, seeming to stretch on for over half the day and taking over the sun shortly after it had even risen in the sky. The moon itself seemed to remain constantly full, ignoring the waxing and waning cycles that it normally strictly abided by. The moon itself seemed to glow brighter, like a second sun, but the landscape remained swathed in pitch darkness. This darkness was penetrated periodically by flickering fireflies, something that surprised him with the cold. What was even more surprising was that they weren’t the colors he was accustomed to. Instead of bright yellow, they glowed a neon blue or purple. Their lights flickered on and off throughout the Ashen territory, sometimes lasting for several minutes before disappearing just as quickly. And, he never seemed to be able to see the bugs themselves. It was if they apparated and disapparated from thin air. But, surely that wasn’t possible?

The boy trekked to the Shrine, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end in unease as he stood next to the bright pool of water, surrounded by the skeletal white trees. Somehow, the place that often brought his comfort was now causing him great concern. His tail twitched nervously at his ankles and he blew through his nose. How odd.