Their home had turned dangerous, with the earth moving they couldn’t be certain that the dens were safe. So, following Basilisk’s advice, the little family left to go and see what the strange occurrences were. Hika walked close to Mortis who had Odette on his back. Though she was independent and wanted ot walk on her own it wasn’t long before the little girl pup’s paws were sore. She was easily nestled into her Poppa’s wings as the two men found their way to the strange land. Hikaru had never seen anything like it before. The red light was ominous at best and left him with a lingering feeling of dread. His protective nature was on guard as they brought their child into the unknown.

"Speech"

Odette didn’t realize the danger they might be in staying at home, she was just excited to be allowed out and about to explore. At first she had been adamant about using her own little footsies to walk but as time went on she began to fatigue. Eventually asking her Poppa if she could ride on his back. Something she never did voluntarily (but loved every time he lifted her up there.)

The red dawn was like nothing she had ever seen, of course she didn’t have much experience in her short life but that didn’t matter. "What’s all this?" She asked curiously from her dad’s shoulders. Of course they knew everything there was to know about the world so surely they could answer her questions. She just conveniently ignored their looks of uncertainty.

"Odette"

Mortis wasn't comfortable bringing Odette along on what could be a dangerous expedition. But two factors had persuaded him. The knowledge that she would try to follow if they left her behind, and fear that leaving her in the warrens would be putting her in danger of cave-ins. At least if she was with him and Hika, they could protect her.


They travelled to the new land that had opened up, hoping to find answers of some variety. With Odette on his shoulders, Mortis was taking every precaution. His companions surrounded them, and his steps were light. 


When they arrived, the weathered stone spikes were the most prominent landmark, and they were nothing like anything he had seen before. “I think this was made by the ones that came before. The ones that walked on two legs.” But what was it for? He couldn't even fathom a guess.

Hika knew that Mort was incredibly uncomfortable bringing their little Odette along with them, but truly what safer place could she be than with the two of them? However much the lands put him or Mort on edge, she was best off with her fathers. Hikaru’s fur was just barely being kept smooth over his back and like Mortis his senses were heightened to the extreme. He had never seen the sky look like this, and the land was also so unknown and ancient despite having just appeared.

Odette posed her question about the place, and thankfully Mortis spoke up first. He suspected that this was a place that had been created by the species that had come before. Their fingerprints were present all over the lands and Hika couldn’t argue that fact either. The lattice work was intricate and delicate, yet oh so frightening. Hikaru couldn’t begin to think about what they could be used for.

"I could say all of the things they aren’t.” Hika replied as his silver eyes surveyed the structures. They couldn’t be used for shelter, nor would they work well for storage. "What do you think they are, Sweet Pea?” He asked, his gaze returning to the little girl’s features.

"Speech"

Odette played happily upon her Poppa’s back, his soft wings a protective barrier against the strange foreboding sky and the danger pyres that jutted up around them. She was glad at least that the earth shakes were finished and the terrifying sounds of the night were gone. She didn’t really like this fake daylight though, and was glad to be with her dads. She wouldn’t have let them leave without her, not with the strangeness going on all around them. Odette was most comfortable right here with her parents, no matter the setting.

Poppa explained briefly that he believed this to be from the two-legs, the creatures that ruled the lands before their wolven kind. Her Daddy didn’t offer much up beyond that he knew what they were not. Odette couldn't say that she believed she knew what they were either. They were full of holes and were so tall that they couldn’t even be used for some kind of spike. "What if they’re just meant to be scary?" She asked, her voice soft and uncertain.

"Odette"

Mortis glanced over to his mate, and spared a smile at the other man's words. Indeed, they could write a mile long list of what it wasn’t. Because the truth was, they had no idea what they were dealing with. This wasn’t the first strange occurrence Mortis had run into, and others hadn’t gone well for him. He could feel his anxiety on edge as they walked slowly through the spires.

As they walked, the sun rose a little higher, its hue unusual and threatening. Some investigating revealed strange carvings drawn on the stone itself. He paused, kneeling to examine one such stone.


"Mortis""Hika"

Odettes was usually such a confident young girl, seeing her so on edge was something Hikaru did not enjoy. He continued to tell himself that she was safest with her two fathers. Of course her behavior must have been connected to their own, neither man was at their most confident though Hika was doing his best to hide that fact. There wasn’t much he could do though, the tremors that still shook the land, the strange sun that lifted over the horizon, and the even stranger spires that surrounded them caused far too much strife.

The little girl’s words were soft, and Mortis said nothing to calm her obvious fears. He leaned down to examine the carvings within, and Odette was obviously concerned. "Maybe they are there just to be intimidating.” Hika spoke in response to her theory.

"Speech"

The little girl was frightened, but she was doing her best to disguise that fact. She put on her bravest face while still doing her best to hide behind her Poppa’s wings. He was quiet as she told her Daddy about what she thought, though it was obvious they were both concentrating harder on their dangerous environment than they were on her. Though they didn’t look scared she could feel how on edge they both were.

As the sun shifted higher in the sky more details were able to be made out in the spires themselves. Mortis leaned down to examine the etchings in the sides and though Odette used her little leopard claws to try and hold on she toppled over her Dad’s shoulder and ono the hard ground with a thud. Scared more than hurt she couldn’t help the overwhelming emotions and began to cry.

"Odette"

Mortis reached out a claw, and scratched lightly at one of the etchings. Something about the way it was carved seemed strange to him… swiping a small gorge above it, he realised partly why. It looked almost as if the impression had come from inside the stone, instead of an outside force caving it there. But what could cause such a thing? He hadn’t the faintest idea.

“I think--” he started to say, when suddenly he realised he had leaned too far forward. Odette toppled from his back before he could catch her. “Odette!” He cried, grabbed the girl and pulled her from the spires, into his arms. Afraid of having any measure of room between herself and these dangers that wasn’t filled by him. He cradled her gently to his breast with one paw, as he had done that very first day they had found her. “Sweet one, are you okay?” he whispered, leaning down to kiss away her tears.


"Mortis""Hika"

Hikaru still wasn’t sure what to think about the towering spires. He could see inscriptions upon them but he couldn’t begin to make out what information they may have been trying to convey. Nothing that was good for the wolves of these lands, that he could be certain. Not with the dangerous trembling of the earth that foretold their coming. Nor the formidable sun that now lifted above the horizon. Foretelling of something terrible.
He watched the stone closely as Mortis tried to rub away the earth that clung to the base, and he watched in horror as Odette slipped off his back. The whole scene played out in slow motion, and before he could even think Mort had grabbed the little girl from the contaminated ground and comforted her ailments.


"Speech"

Perhaps she had been leaning too far forward and slipped, she would never remember. Her mind was all consumed by the sudden fact that she was on the ground all alone. It was hard and uncomfortable, though she didn’t fall far it still hurt when she bonked. However, being on the ground and not in her father’s embrace was what turned out to be the most scary.

To her benefit, at least, her Poppa was very quick on the uptake. She had barely time to begin crying when he had scooped her up into his arm and pressed her protectively against his chest. She sniffled softly as she pushed her head into his soft fur and felt safe and warm once again. Her wings fell back, much larger than the day they had found her, and draped over either side of Mort’s arms as she clung to him with leopard like paws.

He kissed away her tears, and asked if she was okay. The truth was she was completely unharmed, only startled by her sudden topple. Made worse by the strange lands and goings on. "I’m.." she sniffled, "okay." The girl whimpered softly as she tried to ignore the scary happenings all around them. "What do you think, Poppa?" She asked as she recovered realizing her fall had interrupted his words.


"Odette"

She held her in a firm but gentle grip to his chest, giving her a moment to recover. She sniffed, and seemed to be coming right, but not there entirely. He took a couple awkward steps forward, and manoeuvred Odette to place her over Hika’s back, near his neck. She was growing so fast, so it wouldn’t be long before she outgrew that spot. But for now, she was able to fit on her Dad, and he wrapped his wing over her back, letting her head peek out as he covered both Odette and Hikaru. Two people who were very precious to him.

“I think…” He paused, tilting his head. “I can’t remember what I was going to say.” He admitted, her tumble had turned his mind blank in fear for a moment. Almost a too strong reaction to the small drop. The consequence of being in this land, surely.


"Mortis""Hika"

Hikaru was frozen in shock as he watched in slow motion as Odette tumbled onto the ground and Mortis swiftly pulled her from the toxic earth. Relief flooded through him as the girl was soothed and obviously unharmed. He moved in closer to the two of them, though he wasn’t far to begin with. They were safer together after all. As he stepped forward Mortis gently placed the girl on his own back, her weight fitting perfectly behind his shoulders as she held on tightly.

Mortis spread his wing protectively over the both of them as he answered their sweet daughter, after her little fall he didn’t even remember what he’d been going to say. The words made Hika giggle, and hopefully lightened the mood for all of them. "Another symptom of this crazy day, hmm?” He asked with as much lightness as he could muster with their surroundings.


"Speech"

Odette was deposited on her Dad’s pale back and she settled in snugly. Her wing falling on either side of his ribs as her little leopard paws grabbed onto his fur. Her silver eyes looked up to her Poppa as he shielded both her and her dad, replying to her words easily. He had completely lost his train of thought with concern for her when he’d rescued her from the horrific grounds beneath them.

The she felt her father beneath her begin to chuckle, and that simple act was enough to bring a grin to her youthful features. That simple little laugh was enough to shed much of the fear that gripped her. "When do we get to go home? When will everything be normal again?" She asked up in a small voice.


"Odette"

“Must be so” Mortis said agreeably, smiling at Hikaru, though there was still worry in his eyes. The panic of Odette’s fall wasn’t so easily brushed off. It reminded him all too easily how much he had to lose.

Odette’s question was a good one, but he didn’t have many answers for her. He glanced back at Hika beneath his wing. “What do you think, love? Should we head back?” he asked softly. They hadn’t discovered anything yet, but Odette was frightened, and he didn’t want to expose her to this territory much longer than they had to. Perhaps he could come back here himself and take another look around.


"Mortis""Hika"