Without a Doubt

The darkness had descended upon the lands like someone had snuffed out the flame on a candle. Ever since the voices and wolven figure in the cave, he had become increasingly more paranoid and had begun to hear the demon in his head more frequently. It was as if the blood wolf had taken him over completely...but if he told anyone, they would think he was crazy, right? No...he couldn't tell anyone. He had to keep this secret to himself. With Casso having practically killed himself, there was nobody he could trust anymore. Perhaps Celosia...or Ifrit...maybe even Vulcan...Cinaed, perhaps? "No! He betrayed you and ran away like the coward you called uncle. You came back and he abandoned you, but he'll regret it...they all will...even your uncle..." Ignis growled, head swinging to the side as his jaws snapped, crimson gaze alight with fury and confusion blended together. "Acere is dead! I blinded him! He's buried in the East! He can't save me anymore!" He shouted in the darkness.

Ah...the darkness...he couldn't escape it. No matter where he went it followed, and as his shouting voice echoed around him in the cave, he couldn't help but snarl at the noise. The creature in his head and the image and voices of the firefly-wolf burned in his memory, his uncle's bleeding form etched in his vision. He couldn't unsee what had been seen, and no doubt it was making him go crazy. The darkness. The voices. The choices he made in his past. They were all coming to haunt him.

He stood in place, head swinging back and forth as he felt the warmth of the ooze drip down his face. He had noticed it days ago, and it was clear he had contracted something but what, he wasn't sure. It glowed like the color of lava and blood mixed together, molten tears spilled from his eyes, ears, and nose, and even his saliva had taken on the same color. Without realizing it, he had begun to cackle to himself. Quietly at first, but it slowly began to get louder and it echoed off the walls. "Ignis...is that you?"

The crimson dire froze. His laughter abruptly stopped to be replaced by silence. That voice...it sounded familiar...was he dreaming? Or had his paranoia gotten the better of him? He licked his lips as he turned around, mist snaking around his paws with the movement. His teeth were bared, every hair on his spine lifted in apprehension and fear. He slowly stalked forward, steps muffled by the fog that swirled along the ground. There...he could see a silhouette at the mouth of the cave. The crimson eyes of his alabaster uncle...he could see the outline of his form against the clashing darkness of the cave and the outside world.

As silent as a snake, Ignis lunged with snapping jaws at the figure he swore had died.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think