Alfrun had left pack lands after she'd recovered sufficiently from the use of the psychedelics - she was somewhat used to their effects, and so they were somewhat less effective on her anyway, so it took less time than it could have. She solicitously left a large bowl of water where Jupiter could easily find it to aid his own recovery, and left a warm bowl of stew packed in sand to keep it warm until he felt like eating. It might be more appealing than leaving a raw rabbit sitting waiting. Her duties to her husband discharged to her own satisfaction - though undoubtedly to his own discomfort when he eventually discovered them - she took Tanken and the crystal she'd found while gutting the rabbit with her to the river to bathe, to rinse the blood from her fur.

She was satisfied she had broken Jupiter's curse to the best of her abilities, and hoped that her aging sides would soon swell with pups from him, but as much as she wanted to sit and daydream about it like a silly girl, there was more trouble in the world than simply her failure to get with pup by her husband. She turned the crystal over and over in her paws as she lay in what was left of the weak winter sun in its abnormal pattern. The crystal's appearance had clearly been a sign, and she had attributed it to the Aesir's approval of her and Jupiter. But... she turned her head to stare hard at the rock next to her. More crystals growing on its surface, nearly identical to the one that had appeared before. These stirred a strange feeling within her, as though she were looking at something that lived and breathed rather than a rock. She ran a paw gently down the side of a new crystal thoughtfully, but hissed quietly when a sharp corner gashed her paw.

Pulling the bleeding limb back to her, she licked the wound while she settled in to meditate on what they could possibly mean.

Ásvor could've called it mere chance that she'd stumbled across her sister outside of their packlands but she knew it was anything but. Many things in this world happened for reasons that were outside of her realm of knowledge and Ásvor wasn't arrogant enough to pretend she knew the answers to any of it. The unusual things that were happening lately - from the glowing mushrooms to the crystals, to the lengthening evenings and the strange voices that were carried in and out on the wind - were no exception. She could pretend to uncover their secrets but that didn't mean she'd be successful.

She was fairly certain Alfrun would have more luck than her deciphering the meaning behind the changing world. She'd always had one paw outside this world anyway, it seemed - and so when she managed to find her scent by accident she was quick to follow it and close the distance between them. It'd been awhile since they'd spoken properly, their lives diverting for many years only to find each other in the same pack again, but her presence was a comfort in her later years. "Sister," she greeted her, with all the warmth Ásvor could muster for anyone in this world. "What do you have there?" The scent of blood was evident as she drew closer and sat beside her, eyeing the crystal she was holding. Part of her couldn't shake the thought that it foretold of something dire, but perhaps her sister would have wisdom she couldn't quite comprehend.

Still licking the blood that oozed from her paw as she studied the crystals, she heard pawsteps and lifted her head to see her sister approaching her. "Asvor," she said warmly in return. She moved slightly so Asvor could see both the crystal she had been given, and the ones on the rock. "This crystal appeared to me as a sign - but now they are found everywhere. It is unexpected." She frowned distantly at the offending rocks and resumed licking her bleeding paw for a moment. "I am not certain what this means. It seems... it seems to be heralding something terrible. Beautiful, yes." She tilted her head back to look around them, taking in the changes again. "But terrible."

Her gaze fell on Alfrun for a long moment before shifting to the crystals finally, noting the way that glowed. It wasn't that they were simply bright, but they quite literally pulsed in a rhythm not unlike her own heartbeat. Perhaps she ought to feel uneasy, but instead she regarded these phenomena with a mild curiosity and only the faintest bit of uncertainty. Warily she she reached out to touch the rock that the crystals grew from, her own paw running along the edge, careful not to catch the sharp corner Alfrun had cut herself on. "Something terrible," she mused softly. Asvor had seen her share of terrible things during her long life thus far... could things get that much worse? "They are quite beautiful. It's a shame they likely won't stay." At least... that was her best guess. Few things in this world were permanent, and she had a feeling this might not be either.

Alfrun blinked slowly, almost drowsily, at the pulsing crystal glow, but when Asvor spoke she dragged her attention off the rocks and recalled herself to the conversation. "Imagine a world where there was so little daylight," she said dreamily. "Imagine what that would do to plantlife, and to the creatures who depend upon the plantlife, and to us who depend upon the prey. I do not know why the crystals are appearing, or what it all means... but I know the flame of life would dwindle and flicker in Midgard does this change stay." She tilted her head thoughtfully, no longer noticing the blood trickle from her paw over the crystals. "This is not quite how I pictured Ragnorok, sister, but it could very well be nearly as worldchanging."

Alfrun

The more you fondle your blood-coated crystal, the more it seems to lose it's integrity. Suddenly with one small movement of your paw it crumbles, falling onto the ground in what appears to just be bloodied dust.

Maybe you shouldn't have done that...

If anyone knew anything at all about these happenings, it'd be Alfrun. Her sister seemed more uncertain than she expected though and Asvor couldn't help the bit of worry she felt welling up inside. It was minimal at best, easily outshone by her curiosity, but still... what if this was Ragnarok? Could they be so lucky? Asvor sighed thoughtfully as she considered her words. Perhaps she ought to consult with Valdis on what she suspected all this meant; whether it was a harbinger of what was to come or something else entirely. Before she could speak further she tilted her head, noting that the crystal Alfrun was touching suddenly grumbled under her light touch. "Curious," she said simply, continue to grasp one of her own and wondering if it would suffer a similar fate.

Asvor

You watch as Alfrun's crystal crumbles beneath her touch and continue observing your own. Suddenly you feel overwhelmingly unable to let it go and dreading should yours too decide to break and decay within your paws. The crystal is yours now. You want to take it with you and keep it forever.

Maybe you shouldn't have done that...

As Alfrun stroked her paw over the gleaming crystalline surface, she thought about what it would mean to bring pups into a world that was ending. They would grow up strong, nurtured by a pack of fierce warriors as they would be. They would be able to... suddenly the previously solid crystal crumpled benesth her paw into a pile of bloodstained rock dust that puffed up around her paw as the unsuspecting appendage suddenly fell through the crumbling form. The hair all along the usually phlegmatic priestess' back rose amd she shrank back from the remains, her deformed lips pulling back in an atavistic and superstitious reaction. That crystal had appeared to bless her and Jupiter's litter, and this sudden change was a clear omen, one that frightened Alfrun.

Firefly Shoppe - Alfrun

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:

• Mushroom Based Acid- 2 /
  A small vial with a convenient handle that almost makes it seem throwable. Upon the label is a skull and crossbones symbol beside a shattered shield.
  
• Firefly's Favor- 1 /
  A firefly in a bottle. Might come in handy if you let him go at just the right time.
  
• Ghost Bath Bomb- 2 /
  It’s a see-through orb. The seller assures you it’s good for styling your ears or tail exactly how you’ve always wanted.