i crave pain

Unnatural, though it had been revealed by something of a natural event. Earthquakes... they happen. The reasonable and rational part of his brain knows they happen, and they're natural phenomenon. Whatever put the spires here originally? Unnatural. Their metal nature, and the rust that had formed on their surface were the first clue. The carvings, they're the next.

Leaning into the same spot Lumi is examining, close enough to brush his cheek to hers, the boy wipes away some of the rust and dirt with a paw. It's a careful touch, the contact chilling him in ways he doesn't know how to articulate. Not just the cool surface, but like... like it's wrong to be touching them in this way. Withdrawing his paw as if he's been bitten, but there's interest. Too much interest. "An inscription, I think... maybe?" Scowling at it, the symbols don't mean anything to him, but given the way they're shaped, it seems to make sense.

Another scream ripples through the forest of not-trees. Protectively placing his chin over Lumi's back, it's on instinct. "We could try to figure out where the shrieking is coming from, maybe that's got more answers?" Bringing her into danger wasn't on his to-do list, but then, he wasn't leaving her behind either. Dom wants answers.
"Dominus"