He hadn't been here in what felt like years. Though if he was honest with himself, it likely had been years. The last time he'd been in these parts was when he was still very young. When his sire had claimed these lands for Ruina. But Ruina had fallen to ruins shortly after Elias had built it, dying along with everything else. In a sense, Ignis' pack had done the same thing. But the crimson male had decided to stick around instead of outright abandoning everything. Even if his children and other family despised him, Ignis still sought to forge ahead and start fresh. With or without their help, he would somehow redeem himself. How he was going to do that, he was unsure. He didn't exactly want to follow Elias' footsteps, but he was at a loss on what to do. He felt lost all around. Unsure how to feel or how to go about making things right with the three kids he had left behind when he went on his unplanned pilgrimage. He still felt bad. Cina seemed to want nothing to do with him, and while Ignis knew he couldn't force or rush them to forgive him, he'd still try. The Maw didn't seem to be any different than the Northern lands. Ice still clung to the surfaces here, and if he remembered correctly, snow clung to the Maw year-round. What had captured his attention, however, were the blue fireflies that seemed to linger and dance all over the place. He noticed them on his journey here, dancing under the bright moonlight that never seemed to wane these days. The night seemed to stubbornly cling to the world, and he wondered if it was a sign of sorts. His daughter was traveling with him. He wanted to try and do right by her, so that was his reason for being here. To show her one of the places where it had all started seeing as how the volcano was claimed...that was the main home for Ruina, but the Maw was just as significant. As he led the way up a trail lit up with glowing crystals and mushrooms, dusted with snow while fireflies danced all along the way. "Ignis..." He paused in confusion. Did he just hear his name? Or was that the wind? He glanced at Celosia for a moment, wondering if it was her that spoke, but...it was definitely a foreign voice. "Ignis"||"Blödhgarm"

Since the encounter with the strange bear, Celosia had chosen to stick close to her father. There was no pack to back her up, and it felt like a scary time to be a rouge. She had enjoyed the darkness for a while, but it had made her feel like she was losing it a little bit. It was dark when she went to sleep and dark when she woke up. She couldn’t tell how much time was passing and it left her feeling unsettled and on edge.

As if the eternal night and nightmare bear weren’t enough, more glowing things seemed to appear. The worst by far were the fireflies. They were everywhere. No matter where she looked, the little blue lights seemed to dance, like they were taunting her. Another small piece of a puzzle she couldn’t figure out. She hated feeling so off balance, there had been too much change all at once and she felt like she had to find herself all over again while the world fell apart around her. Maybe it was a little bit over dramatic, but how was she supposed to react to all of it? The plus side to all of this, though, was that now she was the one traveling with her father and getting to explore more of Boreas without him being distracted by his responsibilities with the pack. It would be interesting to return to some of these places once the sun came back out, if it ever did.

She had been focused on her surroundings as they walked, but had been looking out and around more than she was looking directly ahead, so she didn’t notice her father pause at first. She had taken several steps past him before she realized he wasn’t by her anymore. Stopping herself, she turned to face him, her head tipped ever so slightly in a silent question. He looked like he was listening to something, but before she could ask, she heard something. Over here... It was quiet, and she almost wasn’t sure she heard it. Her gaze swept across the land again, but she knew they were alone. "Did you hear something?" The words were spoken quietly as her gaze returned to her father, hoping it wasn’t some other strange creature like the bear.

"Speech" || Thoughts

He was...confused. Did he really hear something or was it a figment of his imagination? It definitely wasn't the voice he'd heard in his head before. His Demon's voice was very recognizable, and this wasn't it. The fact that his daughter asked him if he had heard something, only confirmed that he was the only one to have heard the voice. "I...I'm not sure..." His brows knit together in confusion before he shook it off and looked at her again, "C'mon, let's keep going. There's a cave up here that used to be my old den." Maybe he'd feel at ease once he was around the place that used to bring him comfort. He continued walking, leading his daughter forward until they finally reached the cave he had mentioned. He stood outside of it, scenting the air to make sure nothing had moved in since he'd been gone. All he could smell was the musty scent of nature, but inside...he spotted more of the blue glowing orbs that had been flickering around. "This is it." He breathed before stepping inside. It had been a long time since he'd been here, and asides from the mushrooms and crystals and glowing moss, everything else seemed relatively the same. He spotted the corner where he used to sleep, some other old things he had collected. Furs that had been eaten away by moths and other bugs... "You made it. We've been waiting for you." His fur stood on end when he heard the mixture of voices again, head raising to stare into the darkness. A dozen or so fireflies floated down in front of him, pulsing with each breath he made. They danced around him for a few heartbeats before flickering off further into the cave as if beckoning him to follow. Glancing back at Celosia, he was hesitant...but the urge to follow was overwhelming, so he did as he was bid. He withdrew further in to find another cavern he didn't know was there. And once he stopped at the mouth of the second cavern, he saw the fireflies had multiplied. There were hundreds of them now, all dancing around the center before they seemed to form the shape of a wolf larger than even himself. "Blödhgarm... It said in a distorted voice. "We've been waiting for you to join us. Apollyon has been displeased...you are failing in your mission. Our ancestors demand an answer, and for you to explain yourself. Have you become weak and soft like the mortal shell you inhabit? Must we intervene? Explain yourself!" Ignis couldn't help but stare wide-eyed as he listened. What the hell was going on? Were they speaking to him? The rest of the world seemed forgotten as he tried to make sense of this. He looked at Celosia, but she wasn't there (She was, but he was unable to see her). When he looked back at the firefly-wolf figure, he spoke. "Brethren...all great things require patience. This form has been slowly losing his will and giving himself to me. Soon, he will be mine and there will be nothing that he can do to stop it. Apollyon will get the sacrifices he demands, even if it is one of the children this mortal beast has borne. We will return to greatness, and you will all soon have mortal forms of your own to command, and the world will be ours once again." The firefly-wolf appeared to make a sound that indicated it was pleased...though not wholly convinced. "We are interested to hear your plans on this, Blödhgarm..." It purred. "I'd be more than happy to explain...but first, let me tend to our young charge." He purred back as he turned towards the darkness. "Celosia, dear." "Ignis"||"Blödhgarm"

Her father couldn’t confirm or deny hearing anything, but he looked rattled and that was enough of an answer for her. Maybe they were both going crazy, but if so, at least she wouldn’t be alone in her insanity. She nodded as he ushered her forward, following along just a step behind him, taking comfort in not having to think or make any decisions for herself. She could trust that he wouldn’t lead her to harm, at least not intentionally, and if they did get into trouble she knew he’d have her back.

When they entered his old den, her gaze roamed the space, wondering what it might have looked like when he still lived there. How different he might have been, and how strange it might feel to him to return to a place that he must have spent so much time in so long ago. The voice that spoke this time was undeniable, offering an ominous sort of welcoming, a small cluster of fireflies beaconing them in deeper. Had these dark caverns always been there, when he called this place his den? It seemed an odd place to make a home, not knowing if some other creature might be lurking in the depths…

When they stopped, she couldn’t help but be taken aback by the massive amount of fireflies. The pulsating blue light was bright, but it didn’t extend far enough, and it made the darkness of the second cavern feel that much darker, deeper. She’d been uneasy since these strange events began, and the bear had genuinely rattled her, but now she was afraid deep down in her bones. The fireflies swarmed together to form the shape of a wolf, and it spoke to them, the voice seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once. It spoke of things that made no sense to her, names of people she’d never heard of. She wanted to ask what the hell they were talking about, but as Ignis began to respond, her mouth snapped shut. Sacrifices? One of his children?

Slowly, she began to retreat, her steps taking her backwards the way they had come, her eyes never leaving the forms of what she thought was her father, and the firefly creature. She wanted to turn and run, but the idea of turning her back on them had taken over completely, slowing her limbs to the point where it felt like she was underwater, caught in a current that was trying to take her closer to the danger. It was a fight to keep up her backwards motion, but it ceased as her fathers gaze swung around to meet hers. She was trapped there suddenly under the weight of his gaze, eyes wide, the sound of blood rushing in her ears rising to an almost deafening roar. "Yes, dad?" Her voice came out as a soft whisper, almost timid as she questioned his intentions in bringing her here.

"Speech" || Thoughts

"Yes, dad?" He didn't miss the timid way she spoke. The way she seemed to try to escape. He eyed her, a softer smile forming on him as he motioned for her to come forward. "Don't you worry, dear. We're not going to hurt you," He said in a softer tone. He wouldn't hurt her without a good reason...or any of them for that matter unless they gave him reasons to snuff them out. So far, she'd been proving her loyalty to him, even though he'd disappeared without a word for a little while, he had come back. He came back for all of them, though Cinaed seemed to want to stray away. "Do you hear them? Can you feel their power? That's the power of our ancestors...our blood. You'll learn all about them tonight and in the days to come, my dear." He purred before turning his attention back to the throng of voices. He could hear all of the demons both new and ancient murmuring among themselves.

Yes...their time was coming, and nothing would be able to stop it.

As he explained, telling her he didn’t intend to harm her, she felt her doubts begin to dissolve. Not fully, but there seemed to be some trace of the father she recognized and she couldn’t find any logical excuse to doubt him. She had felt uneasy about all of this, but the unknown was always scary, and if their blood was powerful as he said it was, and with what the disembodied voice seemed to claim, maybe all of the strange events had something to do with them? She took a small step closer, hesitant and unsure if she fully trusted this. But it was her dad, and he was going to explain it all later. She could trust him. Right? "I do… I hear it…"

"Speech" || Thoughts

Ignis

As the massive cluster surges  around you one firefly phases through your maw, sending a chill up your spine. The group seems to close in on you, as if stalking closer, and you wonder if they eat flesh... Maybe they're not quite the kin you thought they were.

Maybe you shouldn't have done that...

Celosia

The voices are both unsettling and yet somehow familiar and comforting, but they turn dark, cackling in your ear as a thick fog suddenly rolls in, it is deep and dark and thick making it hard to breathe. The cackling reaches a crescendo in your ear.

Maybe you shouldn't have done that...

The voices would grow louder and quieter, but what they were saying was unintelligible. That was fine. They seemed to be talking among themselves, acting as judge, jury, and executioner as they seemed to debate about their decisions. Eventually, a firefly would come towards him and before he knew it, it seemed to phase through his maw and he felt a violent shiver down his spine. Before he could really react to that, the firefly wolf seemed to stalk closer, and he got a sudden feeling of dread. "Wait! I promise I can do better! Whatever it takes!" He exclaimed though it was him speaking without his demon this time. The firefly wolf made a sound that sounded like a cross between a guttural growl, and an amused sound, almost as if it were debating whether or not it would gut him here and now, or if they should let him fulfill the promises he'd been making... "Speech"

Art by Naiterion

Firefly Shoppe - Ignis

A firefly draws your attention nearby to reveal a cloaked figure with a small wooden table in front of him. On the table lay three items, with their prices beside them. "Choose wisely, and only choose one," the figure says. "If you can afford it, that is." Perhaps he accepts cŕ̷̕y̵̍͊stals and mushrö̸́̀ō̴̉ms... or perhaps its worth bargaining for something greater...


Inventory:

• Xtra Shrink Potion- 2 /
  It comes in an extra tiny bottle. There’s barely even one drop!
  
• Equalizer- 3 /
  A small bag in which you can see two sickeningly green cookies, on the bag is a small tag with instructions: “Afore the eve of war, when the outcome is yet to be drawn eat one biscuit and leave the other for your opponent and all battlefields shall be made equal.”
  
• Glittering Concoction- 2 /
  Smells like mushrooms, glitters like crystals.
  

He waited for an answer from the wolf-shaped firefly beast, but he felt like he was waiting for an eternity. One of the fireflies drifted past him, drawing his attention and his gaze followed it. Seemingly from nowhere, a cloaked figure appeared and spoke to him, presenting a table with a few items laid upon it. Crimson gaze was drawn towards them, ears pricked forward as he slowly crept up to the table. He studied each item, but hell if he knew what they all were. One was drawing his attention more than the others, however. A small bag with a couple of green cookies in it. He glanced at the price tags, and he didn't hesitate to produce the mushrooms that would cover the purchase. "I want this one," He pointed at the Equalizer. He had also been interested in what looked like a glittering concoction, but he was hesitant enough as it was and with everything going on, he had no idea what to expect from anything...

Ignis chooses the Equalizer

Firefly Shoppe- Ignis

The wolf didn't hesitate, and the hooded figure swiftly pushed the bag of green cookies toward Ignis. "Very well then," he said before disappearing completely, leaving the item he'd purchased behind.


You gain:

• Equalizer-  A small bag in which you can see two sickeningly green cookies, on the bag is a small tag with instructions: “Afore the eve of war, when the outcome is yet to be drawn eat one biscuit and leave the other for your opponent and all battlefields shall be made equal.”
  

You lose:

• Currency (x3)- Used in Firefly's Shoppe, and perhaps elsewhere...