Unlike the areas surrounding God's Garden, the areas closest to Hallucination Caves were vastly different. While Autumn was very much apparent in these areas with drying leaves and a lack of berries to consume, there was also a swirl of gasses lingering. Nearly invisible to the eye, the gasses would occasionally let off a myriad of bright colors that felt almost blinding if looked at too long. It was a phenomenon that she couldn't explain and it only piqued her interest more and more.

Since the feast, Rheum found herself drawn to wandering the area surrounding the Grapevine Cathedral. The pull of the mysterious statue wasn't as harsh here, but it was enough to draw her in. Dipping beneath the vine-covered entrance to peer into the dim light, her brow would furrow. Nothing could be seen at first until she blinked a few times. There, off to the side, she saw something dart into the shadows. An animal? No, it looked different...

Taking a few steps closer to it, another flicker of something caught her attention in the other direction. Twisting around to try and catch a glimpse of it, her lips would curl in frustration. Back and forth, spinning in circles, Rheum tried to see what really wasn't all there. The pads of her paws were getting scratched by the dried-up leaves and her plum-colored paws would stain darker from stomping around the fallen rotting grapes.

"Who's there?!" She screeched as she darted further into the cathedral's inner dwellings.

R H E U M

Áskell marveled at the autumnal canopy above him. Rich colors of orange and red stirred in the wind and created an almost soothing melody. It was strange that autumn should show so fiercely here when so much of the land was cloaked in winter. It was almost as if the seasons were rolling backwards. Hadn't most of the trees lost their leaves only weeks before? Try as he might Áskell could not find an explanation for this strange weather and while he was certain there was an explanation he wasn't sure he wanted to know.

His raven flew up into the trees, settling on one of the branches. Beams of light filtered through, dappling a few spots on the forest floor but it mostly remained dark. A wooded room with a ceiling of jeweled leaves. He continued along the paths, taking in the sights and smells of autumn and nursing a dull ache in his heart. He knew his father and brother had since left this life. He felt sorrow when thinking of them but his memory still failed to return. He could see the fuzzy shapes of their faces and wish they were here with him. Surely they'd have loved taking a walk in such a beautiful forest.

"Who's there?"

Áskell paused, ears flicking up. That voice sounded familiar… "It's Áskell, who's out there?"

What she had believed she had seen finally disappeared into the shadows she could not reach. Assuming it was merely an animal playing a prank on her, Rheum tried to settle her nerves by giving her coat a good shake. It was then a voice responded back to her in a familiar tone. Perking up, she glanced over to where it was coming from. "Askell?" The pup questioned quietly as she made her way through the patches of light and crisp autumn leaves. "It's Rheum," she answered back loudly, her brow furrowing once more, wondering why he was all the way out here.

Ducking beneath some low-hanging branches that smelled like mulled wine, she turned a corner to find the older wolf wandering down a path. Feeling safer the closer she drew to him, she showed him a smile. "Can I join you in a walk through here?" Rheum asked softly with a few wags of her tail. It wasn't that she wasn't brave enough to go alone, but after the confusion and frustration of the shadowy figure leading her astray, she knew it would be better to be in a group.

R H E U M

Áskell stood rigid and still, listening for the voice. It responded and to his surprise it was Rheum. Although the girl was almost a yearling in these strange times he felt a pang of fear for her safety and bolted toward the sound of her voice. Eager to make sure she was ok. "Rhuem!" He called out when he caught site of her. "I'm glad you're ok. There's something strange going on here. I'd definitely walk you back through here. Are you heading back to the bay?" He hoped so. He hated to escort her further away from the safety of the pack.

The air was quiet, eerily so and every so often the leaves above them would shudder. Was there some strange magic going on here that brought autumn back into their midsts? He hadn't given much thought to magic but Ari had mentioned it every so often. Could that be the unexplainable force or was there some other explanation?

While Rheum quite enjoyed the feeling of autumn, she didn't really enjoy the feeling that she was being watched. Something about the slight shimmer in the air made her eyes play tricks on her. Right before she would blink, a light shadow would flicker at the corner of her eyes. Some would say it was because the grapevines surrounding her were so thick that it was hard for the sunlight to push through. That light being this close to the floor of the cathedral was impossible. Whatever it was, she tried to ignore it as Askell asked if he could escort her back to the maze.

"Actually, yes, that's a good idea. I don't like the feeling this place is giving me..." Her voice is quiet as she shifts so that she's standing beside him. Letting out a soft whoosh of a breath now that she had company with her, the unsettling feeling eased slightly. "Mum mentioned something eerie happenin' not long ago. Do you think the same thing is happening again?" She asks out of curiosity. Lately, she was always asking a ton of questions, but it seemed to be her nature. Even as they began their walk back to the bay, her eyes wouldn't leave the canopy and its shadows, wondering if this place really was playing tricks on her or not.

R H E U M

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Áskell was relieved to hear that the pup was heading back home but at her comment about the strange things that had happened not long ago he felt his blood run cold and his pace slow. His memory stirred. He remembered a time of endless darkness, of voices in his head and of tragedy. He a flash of remembrance of his brother and himself chasing fireflies through a strange and tilting landscape. He couldn't recall for sure but the painful ache that settled in his chest made him sure that his father and brother had passed away during the last event. He needed to get Rheum home as soon as possible.

"I hope not. What happened last fall was… it was very bad. I remember, though, it started when the sun disappeared and didn't return for a long time. We still have the sun now, so I think its different but let's not take any chances." Áskell picked up the pace from a walk into a brisk trot, slowing now and then to make sure the pup kept up.