A loud hum rose above the lake as a cloud of fireflies swarmed the edges. Their wings buzzed a sort of ominous melody as they appeared to move in unison. In one moment, they would sway over toward one side of the lake and in the next moment, they would sway over to the other side. Even as the sun was set as quickly as it had risen, there was a sort of hurriedness to it. Did the great ball of fire in the sky not want to be out? As of a few days ago, it had appeared that the nights had grown longer with a haze of blue eerieness in it. Even the moon did not appear joyful anymore, but sullen and angry as if someone or something was pestering it. This did not deter Gilgamesh as he set afoot on a new adventure. Weary to leave his new friend behind, she had assured him she would be fine staying with her family while he went out to train and explore. From a distance, the swarm of fireflies was easily seen. An electrifying dance of blues and oranges took to the air, hoving just barely over the line of weeds. Dense and hiding the lake from view, Gil wasn't sure if he should approach. Apprehensive at first, he lowered his body slightly so that his own body would be harder to see in the dusk of evening. SPEECH

Sera was adjusting to these Eastern territories. She rather liked Firefly lake, with the way the world seemed to glow above the still waters. It was early evening, but the sun had already settled below the horizon. With the coming of winter, the days seemed shorter and the nights endlessly long.

It was a short walk to the lake, and the darkness did not deter her. The lake was beautiful in the dark, after all. But things were not as she expected them when she arrived. Appearing near the water, she wrinkled her nose and the vast, endless expanse of fireflies. Their colors like nothing she had seen before, blues and oranges like little suns and moons themselves as they frolicked above the water. If there was anybody else here, she could not see them, blinded as she as by the dancing lights.

"Speech"

Entranced by the dance playing out before him, he did not notice the other wolf approach. Her own attention turned toward the show over the lake seemed to draw her in just as it had done to him. His tail swished back and forth calmly as his own paws moved to go closer to the edge. There had to be some reason for such a large swarm of fireflies to be hovering over the lake. Maybe a dead body? Maybe someone was calling them? They seemed frenzied and on edge. A few steps in, Gil nearly bumped into the other girl. Her lighter coat of grey, white, and blue illuminated by the fireflies glow should have pointed her out way before. Startling for a moment, he took a step back, eyeing her and the lake scene with wide yellow eyes. Shaking his head for a moment, he sighed. "Apologies," he rumbled in his deep baritone, nodding his head in her direction. "What do you think they're doing?" Gil mumbled, turning his shoulder so he was facing the lake more than her.

Sera shuddered in surprise and astonishment when another wolf materialised beside her. So close, they almost touched. She shied away from him, her aversion to touch jumping to the foreground of her thoughts. For a second, even the fireflies were forgotten - but that didn’t last long. The frantic, sweeping creatures almost begged for attention.

The other wolf was polite enough about it - it seemed he was as captivated by the show as she was, and her appearance had been just as startling. He gave her space, and murmured a soft apology and a question. “It’s alright,” she said. It wasn’t, but that was her own private thoughts and not for sharing. “I’m… not sure. This place is known for its fireflies, but not like this. A shame they are over the water, we can’t get a closer look” she said, leaning forward. She had no idea if it was a dead body, a disruption to their usual habitat or what.


"Speech"

Her aversion to touch seemed as apparent as the fireflies flitting around them. Gilgamesh paid no mind as she responded since it really hadn't been on purpose. He was not quite the social creature and physical touch was saved for the dearest to his little heart. Her answer to his question, though, did not settle his curiosity. It was news to him that this lake was known for the fireflies, but surely this was odd. A low hum buzzed in his throat as a few fireflies danced between them. As if beckoning them toward the lake, his eyes followed to the shore. The mud was sticky and full of rocks, just enough to stand on without sinking in. "We could scare them off?" He questioned, looking to the blue-eyed girl with a devious smile. Stepping forward, he answered the call of the fireflies. While they swarmed in a large cloud over the center of the lake, the rest took to dancing around the edges. Careful with his steps as he attempted to shoo them with a few nips of his muzzle, they didn't appear too pleased. Their wings beat at his fur and their buzzing grew louder. Maybe antagonizing the fireflies wasn't such a good idea...

She glanced back at him as he made a sound in the back of his throat, a low, thoughtful hum. She saw the fireflies too, flitting between them. Taunting them almost, to go closer. “If you decide to chase them to your death, I'll have to stop you, and that’ll be awkward all round.” She warned him as his eyes followed the dancing fireflies.

However, when he moved forward, it wasn’t trance like, but brimming with mischief. She laughed softly at his question. “We can certainly try” she said doubtfully. His approach was to jump closer to them, nipping. Sera tossed back her head and let out a long, angry howl.

"Speech"

SERAPHINA

A nightingale sings sweetly in a tree nearby. His feathers seem to glow softly. You also find 2 mushrooms. Maybe these are worth keeping…

GILGAMESH

You feel a strange chill in the air. You also find 1 crystal. Maybe these are worth keeping…