I’m in love with you. The words would tingle through his mind for a long, long time. Well after the fact. It was true that things would never be the same with the two boys. With the winged boy willing to open himself up to the vulnerability of being loved. With Hika his… boyfriend? Beside him, they ventured further into Auster. Along the edge of Wraith Woods they would find a lovely lake, its crystal blue waters making a lonely place to camp for the night. Even if the woods at their backs seemed a little ominous.

Sleeping on a coat, with Hika around him, he woke to something glittering bright enough to shine through his eyelids. Opening his eyes, he would see that the entire lake had come to life. Lighting up with some strange inner light. ”Hika” he whispered “Wake up”


"Speech"

x

Despite the crazy things the two of them had seen on this trip Hikaru slept deeper and felt more alive with every day that passed. Maybe it was the new sights, smells, and occurrences, but more likely it was how much the trip had changed the relationship between him and Mortis. Like his near death experience had opened his eyes, and the run in with the fog ghost made him realize where his priorities lie. Mortis loved him, and Hika wouldn’t soon forget that.

The dangers were many but the two of them easily fell asleep next to a beautiful lake, and the koi would have slept forever and never noticed what was really going on if Mort hadn’t woken him up as light pulsated through the glowing fruits. He blinked open his silver eyes and lifted his head, confused at what he was looking at before he realized that the lake was glowing.

"What is going on?” First deadly mists, now glowing waters and… mushrooms. Mushrooms everywhere, and they were glowing just as brightly! Hika’s jaw dropped.


"Speech"

As Hika sat up beside him, Mortis realised where the glow was coming from. The fungus growing from every square inch of space around the lake gave it that otherworldly glow. Incredible. He rubbed his eyes with a paw, trying to understand what he was seeing. “I… don’t know” he admitted as Hika questione him. There was no way these mushrooms were here when they went to sleep, right?

He got slowly to his paws and stepped closer to the mushroom, sniffing the air cautiously as he moved. There was no doubt that the sight was gorgeous, but was it also deadly as well?


"Speech"

x

If the fungi had been present when Hika fell asleep there next to Mort he hadn’t noticed. They weren’t glowing at the very least. He couldn’t say the illumination was from the moon either, it was definitely of the mushrooms themselves. Hikaru continued to blink his eyes as if trying to dispel an illusion, but it was far too real. Everything was giving off light. Mortis didn’t know any better than he did, there was no obvious explanation before them.

Mortis untangled himself and stood with Hikaru following his lead. The koi marked boy shook his pelt and as it all settled in felt in awe at what he was witnessing. Hika leaned into Mort’s shoulder, taking comfort and basking in the wonder.

"Always stay clear of mushrooms you can’t identify.” He whispered cautiously as Mort sniffed at the fungi.

"Speech"

“I know” Mort agreed softly, not approaching too closely to the glowing mushrooms. He did eye them cautiously however, sniffing the air near them. There was a strange earthy flavour to the air, as well as the taste of the water and the woods. He shook his head after a moment. “I don’t know what they are” he said with a sigh, looking back at Hika. Was it another threat to his love? He didn’t know.

He took a step back, and felt something suddenly squish beneath his paw. With a startled expression, he looked down. No way that mushroom had been there a moment ago, but despite all logic… there is was, beneath his paw.


"Speech"

x

As if worrying about Mortis was even more intense now that what was hidden was revealed. The winged heir knew what he was doing, and Hika didn’t doubt him, he was just being over concerned with everything going on. Mortis didn’t know what they were facing anymore than he did though. Maybe it would be better if they just laid back down, or avoided the mushrooms all together. What if they breathed in the spores?

At the moment the thought crossed his mind there was a very odd scent at his nose. Earthy and almost like composting leaves. It wasn’t a bad smell… then he sneezed as Mort looked down to realize what he had done. Shock crossed Hika’s features, fear jolting through him as a shiver went down his spine.


"Speech"

Mortis

The mushroom squishes beneath your paw, and then begins to wiggle violently. Though some pieces of the cap are broken when you pull your paw away, they too seem to wiggle for a few fleeting moments before their glow fades.

Maybe you shouldn't have done that...

Hikaru

As the spores enter your nostrils you feel a sudden zap of electrical energy. You sneeze, and you swear you can watch the energy being expelled out your nose in a faded blue glow. It's vaguely painful, but with each sneeze the discomfort within you lessens.

Maybe you shouldn't have done that...

He felt like the spores went into his eyes too when they were released into the air. They stung, and he could almost feel them fill his nose and lungs. Hikaru suddenly sneezed, the spray looking like it was glowing. He tried to use his paw to cover his mouth and the glow was obvious on his pale fur. Again he sneezed, each time slightly less painful than the first but uncomfortable all around. He almost missed the way the mushroom seemed to wiggle and move under Mort’s paw, and he thought that maybe it was his imagination to begin with. Another sneeze and more glow on Hika’s paw as he sneezed out the spores within.

"Speech"

It Continues for Hikaru...

Huh? It doesn't seem like anything happened... Well, maybe that's for the best...

Mortis grimaced as the mushroom squashed beneath his paw. He held the limb up to examine it, and caught sight of Hika’s shocked expression passed him. He offered the other boy a reassuring smile, before the piece of mushroom stuck to his paw began to wiggle. He yelped in surprise and almost fell over as the glow and wiggle of the mushroom faded.

The mushroom piece still in the ground was also wiggling, and Mort quickly backed away, struggling not to lose his footing as he wiped his paw off on the grass with each step. Hika began sneezing as Mort wiggled away, and the winged boy turned to his friend in shock. “Hika! Are you okay?” he said, closing the distance between them.

"Speech"

x

Firefly Shoppe- Mortis

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:

• Firefly’s Favor- 1 /
  A firefly in a bottle. Might come in handy if you let him go at just the right time.
  
• Small Unfleshed Thought- 2 /
  This bottle contains whispers of what has passed, what is passing, and what has yet to pass. It looks kinda like a firefly…
  
• Firefly Fone- 1 /
  It’s actually just a bunch of fireflies in the shape of a phone. Use it in any thread (and post in Maintenance) to summon the Firefly Shoppe to your location.
  

As Mortis moved to Hika, a firefly buzzed in front of his nose, and directed his attention to the ghostly creature. The winged heir startled, almost falling over again as he stared in astonishment at the creature. His eyes turned back to Hika, and then to the firefly thing again. “uhh…” he said with some bewilderment. He had already begun to ease himself in front of Hika, putting him closer to the shop.

“I… uhhh… that one?” he said, utterly bewildered as he pointed at an item (Small unfleshed thought) There was no way he was awake. This had to be the weirdest dream he had ever experienced in his entire life.


"Speech"

x

Firefly Shoppe- Mortis

As quickly as the item is chosen, the figure, the shop, and all the fireflies are gone, leaving you only with the thought.


You gain:

• Small Unfleshed Thought- This bottle contains whispers of what has passed, what is passing, and what has yet to pass. It looks kinda like a firefly…
  

You lose:

• Currency (x2)- Used in Firefly's Shoppe, and perhaps elsewhere...