MASKTOURN

Above the Citadel looms a great, looming peak. Its rocky cliffs are dotted with small remnants of ruined structures. Olive trees straddle the rocky expanse of the cliffside, their roots coiling around the uneven terrain. There’s goats here, too- wandering the crags and drops with ease and grazing on what little vegetation can be found up here. Though there’s a well-tread path leading up to the acropolis, the climb is still somewhat strenuous.

On one of the cliffside’s more remote, secluded landings stands a singular statue of a slender, androgynous figure. They’re of middling height, with elegant, gentle features- a wide forehead, an arched nose, eyes lidded in permanent half-moon arches. Their hair is silky and straight, carved from stone into the form of swooping strands and a full bun. They smile, looking out onto the expanse of land and sea they face. The statue wears flowing, cascading robes that cover most of their form, and holds in outstretched hands a rusted metal crown. The crown doesn’t look like it’s part of the original sculpture, it seems as if, with the right amount of force, it could be pried out of its grasp. No matter the height of the person visiting the statue, they always seem to be holding the crown at just the right height to rest it on the visitor’s head…

To investigate this statue, roll a divine intuition check and notify me.

Levi yawned, stretching as he almost gleefully explored the land like a crazy ass dog let out of the kennel for the first time. He had explored the areas by foot, easily adapting to the land as if he was never denied the chance to experience fresh air. Though the statue did peek his interest. More so out of wondering what the hell it was - or whom it was - than any curiosity of why it was here. For all he knew, it could be normal for there to be random statues of people on mountains. He squints at the crown. The shape being familiar to him from the memory game he was forced to play in the beginning. The vaguest of outlines that mimicked a stereotypical crown was the only reason he provably knew what the statue was holding.

Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

used /r

# 14
Details:[D20 (14)]

Divine Intuition check for funzies @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs)

As Levi looked over the statue, he'd be able to hear a voice carried by the coastal wind. The voice was speaking in a language Levi wouldn't know, but the cadence of the voice was that of someone giving a speech or speaking to a crowd. @Barry|Lacey🔦+ Levi🫠

He startles, hopping a couple spaces back looking around for whoever was speaking. Whipping his head around like an owl as he tried to figure out where it came from.

He wouldn't be able to pinpoint any specific place the voice was coming from, and after a while, it faded.

He slowly released the tension that was building within his muscles as it faded. Exhaling though his nose like an annoyed mutt as he plopped his ass down near the statue. "Man... this is lameeeee." He whines to himself. "Damn, having to play nice stupid-" and he'd likely stay like this till someone would come by. Or he got even more bored. Whichever came first.

Kenji wasn’t really one for early mornings, but after a night of restless—yet dreamless—sleep, he found himself wandering the outside areas of the Citadel again. As he drew upon the base of the mountain overlooking the area, he couldn’t quite shake the weird feeling of deja vu that it dragged out. He hadn’t planned on climbing it either way, but it was still unsettling. Not to mention, the strange statue looking over the cliff. Kenji steers clear of it for now, even as he looks out over the same direction it faces. He’s still, notably, wearing the bird mask. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

BANG! The sound of cracking and rolling rock carried from not too far away, from behind some crumbled ruins. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji startles at the sound, immediately scrambling to back away from the cliffside and gaze scanning around the surrounding area as best he can. Rock crumbles to the ground—luckily, not close enough to hit him. “Shit— Hello?” @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Hu-?! Fuck, is someone there?" Some loose rocks went rolling as someone walked closer, and soon a tall figure rounded the ruins. "Sorry, I thought I was alone. Nothing fell on you, right?" Seki eyed Kenji with a nocerned frown. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji sidesteps the couple rocks that roll past him, eyes widening in slight surprise behind the mask at the person approaching. “Ah— No, nothing hit me. Were you climbing, or something?” @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki sighs lightly, relieved, and smiles a bit. "That's good. No, I was just letting off some steam", Seki explained, shaking their right hand. The knuckles were scruffy and bloody. "What brings you here this early? Couldn't sleep?" they stepped to Kenji and folded their arms, head jovially tilted and tail swaying. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Oh. Interesting. Kenji’s gaze flicks down to their hand, then back up, and he decides not to comment on something like that. “Gotcha. And yes, you could say that,” he continues with a small, somewhat nervous chuckle. “I didn’t really have a plan in mind, but wandering seemed more interesting than just..laying there, I guess.” @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Mhm, similar story. I guess the fight announcement wasn't the best bedtime story", Seki said dryly with a lower voice. "Do you know the one you are fighting?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“The fights were announced?” Clearly the answer to Seki’s question is no. Kenji grimaces faintly at that. It must’ve happened at some point between…whatever happened to him and talking to Albanes, most likely. “I, um, ended up having to leave. I must’ve missed it then. Did it say when we start?” He seems strangely calm about all of this. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Ahh, damn. Well, I don't remember them saying when they start. Hmm. What's your name?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Oh, well.. That’s not ideal,” Kenji sighs, but offers Seki a hand anyways. “I’m Kenji Himura. You are?” @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki smiles, taking Kenji's hand in their's. "Seki Garmadon. I mean Icefang. Which one did we settle with? I think I'm officially an Icefang. Yeah." Seki shook Kenji's hand. "Kenji, hmm.... I think, your opponent was someone named Amy, or Ellie, or something like that." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji tilts his head slightly. “Oh, did you change your name? If you don’t mind me asking.” “Amy or Ellie… Well, it’s not anyone I recognize, I don’t think,” he sighs. “Still…upsetting, but… I hope it’s better this way at least.” @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Yup, upon marriage. Thought having his name would make things easier for me. I still rarely introduce myself with my full name." "Mhm, suppose.. I didn't know my opponent before yesterday, but I met him when the gala ended..." Seki's expression darkened. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Oh, that’s nice,” Kenji replies with a small smile. “My husband did something similar when he took mine, though his was more so because he didn’t have one.” That smile dims, slightly, as Seki’s expression shifts. “Did it, ah… Not go well?” @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Aw, that's sweet", Seki smiled, but his eyes darken again as she explains. "He's a teenager. Fourteen. They are making me fight a kid. Poor thing is terrified." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

For a moment, Kenji doesn’t even know what to begin to say to that. Everything he found out about this place just kept getting worser and worser. “I’m..sorry to hear that,” he says finally, shaking his head. “That’s… Do you know what you’re going to do? Maybe Albanes could help..” Even as he says it, he doesn’t sound overly confident in the fact. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Yes, maybe I will talk with her... I don't know how much it will help, since they already set up these matches. I'm sure they know who they paired together without me telling them.." Seki growled quietly. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“I don’t think Albanes would intend to do something like that..” Kenji murmurs, but again it’s a pretty poor defense. “Maybe we could suggest switching one fight to three competitors, or…something…” @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki chuckled darkly. "Two against me? Or a brawl between all three of us? Sure, I guess that's something. Either way, the boy is not getting much older. And unless he suddenly learns how to fight like a master, I worry he won't survive..." Seki sighed and shook their head. "He shouldn't be made to fight. Honestly, none of us should be, but he's just a baby..." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji shrugs, somewhat uncomfortably. “All three, I meant. It could be…decently fair that way, at least? But we’re…” He hesitates, then just spits it out. “We’re all not meant to survive, regardless.” @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"I know", Seki's eyes darkened further, and their fur bristled, making them look slightly bigger. Their tail lashed behind them. "And that's the fucked up thing. I don't care if they say the winner will have everything they could ask for. To me that's one and the same as there being no winner. This is a shitshow for one bloodthirsty freak to enjoy, and we just so happened to be interesting enough for them to play with. And if it was just adults, if it was irredeemable monsters, maybe then I wouldn't complain, but there is a literal school boy here, fighting for his life among fully grown adults! How is that fair? What kind of competition is that? It's... a slaughter just waiting to happen, god, fucking, dammit!" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji’s body tenses, slightly, and beneath the mask he carefully sizes Seki up. He knows they’re not angry at him, but still. “I don’t think there will be a winner,” he admits, the suggestion surprising even himself despite the fact that he seems strangely undisturbed by what he says next. “The Lifebringer decreed that we should die. It’s meant to be a slaughter waiting to happen. But I don’t think the Lifebringer is doing it just because.” @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki glances at Kenji with a mix of ire and curiosity. "You think so too? I think it's bullshitting us. And maybe there's a reason behind this other than just entertainment, but it's a stupid reason that is not good enough to justify this. Besides. If the Lifebringer has acces to people all across different timelines and universes, I refuse to believe there is not enough people who would be willing and capable to fight in a tournament like this. But it chose to pick us unwillingly. Son of a bitch." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“I’ve been told the Lifebringer has everyone’s best interests at heart,” Kenji repeats Reagan’s words from the day before, and though it sounds just as almost rehearsed, it..sounds a little bit like he believes it too. “Albanes..assured me everything would end up okay. Perhaps it was just unlucky….” @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"'You've been told', huh?" Seki repeated, in a slightly sarcastic tone. "And who told you? The Lifebringer itself?" Seki scoffed. "I believe Albanes isn't as happy about this as Naiyta, and maybe she can help us, if she dares to go against her master. However, I've been told, that she's unlikely to do so as things currently are. She might just be lying to keep us calm.. she might feel bad for us, since she isn't as insane as the other one," Seki continued in a more serious voice. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“By Reagan. The head of the snakes,” Kenji corrects, frowning faintly behind the mask. “They helped me figure things out, when I had just figured out what was going on.” “And I trust Albanes,” he continues. “I’ve known her for a long time now. She.. Maybe she left information out, but she wouldn’t lie to us. She wouldn’t. If she says things will be okay then I believe her.” @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Hmm, Reagan. There's a nice fella, but do you think you can really trust someone who serves and worships the Lifebringer?" Seki cocked an eyebrow. "And either way, if I may ask, what makes you so chill with dying?" "You know her? Maybe you should ask around then, if you're her friend, wouldn't you deserve a more thorough explanation than just 'trust me bro'?" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“If Albanes trusts them, yes. And they seemed like they understood when we talked.” At Seki’s second question, though, he pauses. And then, he simply doesn’t answer. It’s a good thing they can’t see his face. “I don’t want to ask too much of I her; I already owe her enough,” he sighs. “She’s already helped me so much. I meant to talk to her at the gala but I..didn’t exactly get the chance.” @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Albanes is also a Lifebringer", Seki reminded with a raised brow. They tilt their head when Kenji ignores their second question, and pushes their head a little forward as though trying to hear Kenji's nonexistent answer better. "Friends help each other", Seki replied simply and shrugged. "She's got you in a pretty sweet pickle, so I think you have all the rights to ask a few questions, man." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

“Albanes is different,” Kenji insists, shaking his head and still trying not to think about the question. It’s a whole other can of worms he’d rather not open right now—especially after the whole gala fiasco. “Sure, friends help each other, but I’ve hardly done anything for her besides have more problems for her to fix.” Granted, he..wasn’t so sure what those problems were, anymore. But he knew at least that it was enough to bring him here, so it must’ve been serious. “I…guess I can try. To ask her questions I mean. I just don’t know how much she can tell us that we don’t already know.” @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"You're missing the point. If she tells the same thing to her followers as she tells us, of course they are going to believe her, because they are her followers. And so, of course they would tell you the same thing as her", Seki shook her head lightly. "You should still ask. You deserve to know. We all do." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji crosses his arms over his chest, though more out of discomfort than anything else. “I can try,” he repeats eventually, after a silence of considering Seki’s words. “I can’t promise anything, you know. But I’ll… I’ll talk to her. About the kid that you have to fight, at the very least.” @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Seki smiled, and swayed his tail. "Thank you. I knew you'd see reason. If you are her friend she's probably more likely to listen to you than me." @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

What Kenji really thinks about that is hidden by the mask, but he slowly nods. “We’re friends. Yes.” Almost like convincing himself, in a way. “I should.. probably go look for her then. Before the fighting starts.” @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Do that, yeah. And thanks a bunch. Hm. I think I'm going to grab some grub before I do anything else", Seki mused. They unfolded their arms and patted Kenji on the shoulder once as they passed him. "Good luck. And remember that even though you might not have anything to live for, there are others here who have." And with that he was walking back towards the Citadel. (edited)

3:34 AM

@em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji twitches slightly at the touch to his shoulder, Seki’s words not quite processing until they’ve headed back down. Nothing to live for? That couldn’t be true. He reaches for his necklace, wedding band clinking gently against the crystal. “I don’t want to die,” he murmurs into the open air, the statement weak and confused at first, then stronger, louder, shaking his head— “I don’t want to die.” It’s a weird sort of..detached thought, almost, at odds with his own insistence of everything being okay. He doesn’t want this. He might be accepting of it, but he doesn’t want it. Kenji turns, and glances up the mountain. The deja vu—that strange sense of both good and bad—churns in his stomach, stronger now, and he has the distinct feeling he needs to leave. He ignores it, and begins to climb.

1

After his bout with Invo, Cansu took to the skies and flew a short distance away to the mountains. He grunted as he landed, kneeling down as he put a hand to his back. Damn Invo got a good shot in- His back and his wings were killing him. Slowly, he retracted his wings, wincing as they ached. Fucking hell.. At least he was all alone to sulk and be miserable. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

As Cansu rested on the mountainside, he'd begin to hear gentle footsteps descending the pathway, and shaky breath. Reagan hadn't had the heart to clean up after their clothes and face had been so soiled. They hadn't had the courage to bathe alone, nor the trust in themself to endure it. So they descended the mountainspot to a place they frequented, out of sight of the Acropolis doors and in view of the infinite sea. They'd hoped to get some fresh air there. They hadn't expected Cansu to be there. Reagan looked a mess- their white dress stained almost entirely by blood, their exposed face more of the same. Their scarf from before was absent, and at least the skin it had covered was free of any bruises or lacerations. But they were trembling, still, and their voice was weak. "... Cansu, I... wasn't expecting you to be here." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“I wasn’t expecting anyone to be here-” Cansu grumbled. He turned his head to face them. His eyes widened as his face became blank. In a second, he arrived to their side and looked over them for their injuries. “Who did this to you?” Cansu asked. This wasn’t right- Sadihak should never bleed- They should never feel pain- This was wrong. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan instinctively flinched. "It's not as bad as it looks- Albanes healed me up." Sure enough, Cansu wouldn't be able to spot any visible injuries on Reagan's body- -well, save for a very human-looking bitemark on their forearm. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

His gaze remained locked on the bite mark as soon as he saw it. In his chest, Cansu’s heart thudded with an emotional he couldn’t quite place a name to. His hands began to shake. “It doesn’t matter if it’s ’not as bad as it looks,’ the fact is, something occurred. Who is responsible?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan hesitated for a very long moment, and didn't meet Cansu's gaze. "... Roman Ricci. One of the bird contestants." They confessed. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Roman Ricci. Cansu’s hands shook harder. “I’ll have his head on a stake.” Cansu mumbled. “He’ll regret ever laying a hand on you.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Don't- you'll only get yourself in more trouble with Naiyta. Don't risk that. Especially not for my sake." Reagan cautioned. "Please." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“I could care less for what Naiyta attempts to do to me,” Cansu grumbled. “You deserve better treatment. You don’t deserve to be treated in such a way by a contestant.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I care about what Naiyta tries to do to you! I care a lot about what happens to you!" Reagan pleaded, "So, for both of us- don't start anything. Please." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Cansu huffed out a laugh. “You do not care for me, you care for the other. I will be fine.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I care for you." Reagan repeated, "I really do. And I don't want you, or- or him getting hurt." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“He’ll be fine,” Cansu waved a hand dismissively. “It’s not like he can feel anything. All is well. All will be well once I deal with Roman.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

None of what Cansu said seemed to comfort Reagan at all. Instead, they seemed even more agitated now. "Nothing I say will convince you to listen to me, will it?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“No, nothing.” Cansu spoke. ‘Nobody messes with what’s mine. Nobody harms what’s mine. They’ve shed your blood, and for that, I’ll shed theirs.’ @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan sighed, and let their gaze drift to the distant sea. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Cansu took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. There were a million things he thought, a million things he wanted to say, but not a single word left his mouth. “.. Are you sure that you are well?” Cansu spoke quietly. “No open wounds?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan didn't reply for a moment. "I'm... as well as I can be." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Cansu gave a small nod of his head. He hesitated before he asked, “.. Have you.. Been here the whole time since you’ve left home?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... I can't tell how long it's been, but I can only remember being here." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“It has been.. Quite some time since you’ve been home.” Cansu spread out his wings once more to stretch them. They were still aching from being slammed. “.. At least I-.. Know that it wasn’t your choice to come here, yes?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"... I would never choose to leave what I had back then. Now, I am even more certain of that fact." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“.. Even with this new partner?” Cansu asked. “Is it- Like what you had before, or is it a different type of partnership?” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan sighed again. "I don't want to talk about Kairas. Not with you." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Would you speak about it with him?” Cansu asked. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan didn't reply for a good long while. "... Does it matter? He's-" They looked away. "He's not here, is he?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“He isn’t.” Cansu spoke. “Unless you’d like him to be.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan froze. They didn't have an answer yet, they would never have an answer to the fountain of emotion that welled in him. What would Enzo even think of them now? They didn't think they could stand seeing his face- his face being his again. It was hard enough when it was Cansu. It would be harder with him. They didn't reply. They swayed, slightly at first, with conflicting emotion. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“It’s okay,” Cansu looked out to the sea. “You don’t need to speak to him now. He’s not listening, either, so you don’t have to worry about that. What is said is between us, and us alone.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Had they been forgotten so easily? Or was he just supressed? "Does he... want to talk to me?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Cansu paused for a moment. “He’d like to,” Cansu nodded. “But he’s in a.. Weakened state at the moment, so it would be difficult for him to communicate..” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan sat down. They were too woozy- and it was a bad idea to be woozy on the side of such a steep mountain. Maybe it was for the best, that it was difficult for him to communicate. "Is that your doing? Did you weaken him?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Cansu was silent for another moment. He shut his eyes and let the breeze ruffle his hair. “.. Partially. It is partially my doing.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan thought for a moment. "... what's the other part?" @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 \

“His own doing.” Cansu responded. He shifted slightly on his feet, beginning to grow-.. Uncomfortable? @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

The discomfort was definitely shared by Reagan. This conversation would not be made any easier had he been there. But oh, How they wished he was. "I... mhm. I guess, that'd make sense." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“It’s a- Bit of a complicated situation, with the Bond,” Cansu admitted. “I’m still figuring things out about it myself.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"If only situations could ever be simple..." Reagan sighed. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“If only,” Cansu chuckled grimly. He ran a hand through his hair, his fingers lingering upon the feathers in it. “If only..” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Reagan remained silent for a very, very long while. They simply wanted to enjoy the silence with Cansu, enjoy a simulacrum of peace they had once known. Familiar bodies, familiar proximity, a familiar view. They'd always have the sea. After that long while was up, they sighed again. "I... should probably clean up. I'm a mess right now." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Never,” Cansu instantly spoke. “You always look quite lovely, Sadihak.” He looked over to them. “But do take care of yourself. Your health and well-being matters.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Tell that to me when I'm not soaked in my own blood." Reagan stood up. "I'll... see you around." @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“I will.” Cansu formed his wings once more, stretching them out. “I’ll see you around as well.” @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Stay safe. Don't do anything stupid." Reagan said as parting words to Cansu, before ascending up back to the acropolis. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“I would never.” Cansu hummed. With that, he flew off.. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kyrie scanned the area from above before finally spotting Naiyta heading down the mountainside. Not the best, but not the worst. They needed help, and they needed help fast. She landed quickly, but gently, and helped Ace rest on the narrow path. "Please, we need help- Ace got bit by something in the garden." She pleaded, despite her fear of Naiyta. Naiyta smiled, and glanced over Ace. "Oh, again? You really have to be more careful, my friend." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace landed neatly enough as Kyrie set them down, letting go of their wound temporarily to balance themself against the cliffside. Whoo. They felt dizzy. Though they tried to adjust to the sudden change in. Everything, Ace sharply looked up as the Lifebringer began to speak. Puk gai. Pukkkgai. Pukgai. "Naiyta," Ace simply said, internally withering away. Was that the poisoning or the hatred? Couldn't tell. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta crouched down next to Ace. "If you want me to fix that up for you, you'll have to ask." And then in a lower tone. "Snakes are the only things that bite in those gardens, you know. Venomous snakes. You only have so much time... if I were you, I'd make it count." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

[Snakes. That made sense. Maybe shoving the equivalent of a mini-Sun into a snake's home wasn't a good idea.] [But venomous ones.] "Venomous snakes," Ace dully repeated, ignoring the first part of that. "Are you certain they're venomous ones?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

"I only keep venomous snakes in my citadel," they sighed, almost dreamy. "I have a certain fondness for vipers." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"I..." Ace said, actually looking a bit taken aback by this. "I...see." That was more than just unnerving. Vipers, huh? He would...keep that in mind. Ace held onto his hand a bit more now, still watching Naiyta with a careful squint. "Is there no sort of antidote to the vipers you adoringly keep in your Citadel." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Why would I keep an antidote, when I can heal without it effortlessly?" Naiyta almost laughed. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

9:46 PM

(Kyrie pov:

‍♀️)

".Hm." On one hand, he was absolutely miserable. Getting healed by Naiyta just made his skin absolutely crawl. [It wasn't Kyrie's fault in the slightest, though- she'd gotten him to a healer in record time. He was just being awful about this.] On the other, bleeding hand. Poisoning. "...You'll need to hold onto me to heal, yes?" they asked, still watching it carefully.

9:51 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Of course. I believe we have already gone over how my abilities work." They smiled. Kyrie simply glanced between the two, rocking anxiously on her feet. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Wordlessly, Ace extended their injured hand to Naiyta, their other hand clutching a bit more at their robe. They really didn't want to cave. They also really didn't want to die of poisoning. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta clasped their hands around Ace's injured one, and did not break eye contact as they healed the bite wound. ... at least the pain was very quickly fading. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace winced a little as Naiyta held onto their hand, refusing to break eye contact out of sheer stubbornness. ...At least they didn't have to ask it to heal them. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta didn't let go of Ace's hand, even once the healing was done. "Better?" It smiled. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

.Ah. "I. Yes," Ace said, "it feels...better now, yes." Unnerving. Unsettling. No longer ow. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta let go of Ace's hand now. "Good. Good. Now, I have places to be. I'm sure you and your little..." They glanced to Kyrie. "Bird friend will be fine on your own. Will you?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

[As expected, their hands were cold and. Knobbly and bony, though their healing- their healing was warm. Huh.] The snake bite was completely gone now. They briefly ran their fingers along the surface of their hand, now smooth and undamaged. "Yes, we will be alright on our own," Ace said, using the face of the mountain as support to get up again. "We'll leave you to tend to your matters." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Thank you." Naiyta smiled, stood up, and continued down the mountain. Kyrie watched it go, and waited til it was out of hearing range before speaking. "Ugh.... that was weird, sorry. I wanted to get you healed as soon as possible." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace waited until it was out of earshot before letting out a sigh, shaking his head a little. "No, you didn't do anything wrong," he said. "I...thank you for getting me healing. It was, ah, very timely." They flexed their hand a little, the one that was still a little cold from the touch. "It's fine." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Still, I feel bad." Kyrie sighed. "But, you're welcome." She glanced to where Naiyta had left. "They freak me out..." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Ah, it was either them or the poisoning," Ace hummed, eventually sighing and clutching at their robe again. "Neither were fun. I'm not a fan of the bushes now." "...They are...unsettling, aren't they." [Cold and bony and warm.] @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Eeughh.... I'm really sorry you got bit." Kyrie said, sounding truly guilty. "Really." "Yeah... I hope we won't have to deal with them again." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Nonsense, it was my own fault," they said, waving it off. "Really. I should have thought twice about rummaging through some overgrown bushes." "Hopefully so." We. Knowing their luck, they'd probably get bit and mysteriously bump into it again alone somewhere. "I...assume that they spoke with you when you arrived?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Still. I feel bad you got hurt, trying to do something nice for me." She nodded. "Yeah... after I got abducted by that fire thing. It was.... really weird about me being corvi. Eugh." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Mm. It was of my own volition, nothing more. You shouldn't blame yourself, really." "That fire thing...I- huh- eugh," they quietly groaned, their face suddenly twisting into a grimace. "I'm...not going to pry, that's. Mm. Not fun." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yeah, I'm- not a huge fan of fire. Freaks me out." Kyrie shuddered. "It's all alright now, I guess. I mean... seems like they had something else to do. Do you wanna go back to the garden?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"That's reasonable," Ace hummed, deciding to leave it at that. "Hopefully we won't bump into them anytime...soon." "Ah, we could go back to the garden if you'd like," they said. "Though, I won't be rummaging around in any bushes anymore," they added with a half-smile. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yeahh, I left all those lemons I got for Gale back there. I wanna make sure they're still all okay." Kyrie hummed. "Very fair. Are you feeling up to walk back? If not, I could fly you there again." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Hm, I wouldn't mind walking back, unless flying would be easier for you. The weather's quite nice." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yeah, I'm up for walking! It is a really nice day." Kyrie hummed in agreement, and started walking down the mountain path carefully. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace followed after Kyrie, running their hand along the mountain face to keep their balance. Hiking down a mountain was much easier than hiking up it. "I explored a good portion of the area yesterday," he said, keeping a careful eye on the steps in front of him, "though I haven't seen much of the ruins out there yet. I might go there a bit later, seeing as it's nice and all." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"I've been trying to explore as much as I can, too." Kyrie nodded. "Have you seen any of the statues out beyond the citadel? I've seen two already, they're pretty weird." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Hm- I...saw the one in the brook, but that's about it. I didn't have much time to examine it." 'Cause he was too busy getting bit, hell yeah, whoo. "'Weird'? In what sense? The statue I saw was headless, so that could be considered 'weird'." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Oh, I haven't seen that one yet. The two I saw had heads." Kyrie hummed. "I saw one in these auditorium ruins, and one on the cliffs. Weird thing is, when you get close to them, they talk. It's crazy- I think they're haunted, or something." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"The...statues 'talk'? I. Hm. I didn't...get close enough to the statue...though, it also was. Headless." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yeag, when you go up to them you can start to hear these weird ghost voices- though, the one in the ruins also did a song on some kind of instrument. It was weird. They spoke a langauge Gale and I didn't understand, so... who knows what was going on." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"That...that's a bit haunting," Ace muttered. "I...hm. There's a competitor here, on the snakes side- Darcy, he's a linguistics professor -If there's anyone here who could translate what the statues are saying, it could be him. I, ah. Haven't spoken to him since we first met, though." "Asking the Lifebringer would be...much less than ideal. Knowing them, they'd either edge around the topic or lie outright." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Mhm, I'll say." Kyrie nodded. "Oh- that might actually be super helpful if he knows the language!" She exclaimed. "His name is Darcy, you said? I'll keep a look out for him. You're right the Lifebringer would probably be... less than helpful, but there might be other ways to learn things about those statues..." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Mhm- Darcy Sterling, snakes side," Ace said. "Black hair, fair skin, and a bit on the shorter side. Ah, and moles, I believe. His powers are linguistics related, which might come in handy." "So there's about three statues, maybe more," he mused, slowing down as he back to the temple at the top of the mountain. "Ah. And there was a relief with some figures at the top of the mountain. At the temple." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kyrie hummed. "Alright. I'll keep an eye out for him, hopefully he'll be willing to help." "Yeah... at least three statues. Gale and I were thinking they might be the past Lifebringers, or some kind of saints or something." Kyrie shrugged. "Oh? What did that look like?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"Past Lifebringers? That would make sense, wouldn't it?" Ace hummed. "The statues could be some sort of homage to them...though I'm not quite sure why they'd be speaking...hm." "I...didn't get a good look at it," he admitted, on behalf of getting surprised by the Darkness. "I got a bit distracted. If you'd like, we could look at the relief? It's not too far up the mountain, though it's your decision. And your lemons, yes." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"It would... though yeah, it doesn't explain the spooky voices." Kyrie hummed. "Gale said they might have the souls of the lifebringers inside them, which is grisly. But that could be the case..." "Hmmm... you know, we're alright up here, might as well. I can get more lemons later." Kyrie hummed, and started back up the path. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"I. Hm. Oh. That's...eerie. Though, given the nature of this place, not far too unexpected." Ace made their way back up again, and a second thought popped into mind. "Ah. While we're at it, I feel it...important to mention that there is a ghost up there. She's harmless, I believe, though she might be a bit disturbing at first." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"A ghost? Like- an actual ghost?" Kyrie briefly stalled and looked back to Ace. @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

Ace seemed to notice the falter in Kyrie's footsteps and paused, nodding once. "Ah, yes. There was a woman further within the temple who I drew my bow at earlier," he explained. "Kairas, the leader of the birds side, with her allsight, told me that I drew my bow at nothing. Though when I spoke with Naiyta, it said that she did not belong here." "I'm...not entirely sure if it was a 'ghost' ghost, or just an apparition, though." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Hhuh...." Kyrie took a deep breath, clearly a bit unnerved. "Do you think we'll come across her in the temple?" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"The relief is outside of the temple, so hopefully we won't have a need to venture inside." Ace cocked his head to the side, peering up at Kyrie. "Are you alright?" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Yeah, I'm fine. Mildly spooked at the concept of ghosts, but I still wanna go." Kyrie shrugged. "Let's go see it." @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

"That's reasonable," Ace hummed. "Well then. Let's continue." @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Kyrie continued walking. "Yep! Let's go!" @Kip | Ace 🏹 / Ellie 📷

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (want me to write a bit at the temple?)

(sure!)

After interacting with Kallum, Kal sighed and took a seat on the ground. Might as well just chill and recover a little bit. He was a bit bummed that they didn’t light the sparkler, but hey- Next time! There’d be a next time! @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Kal would soon hear light footsteps approaching- running in his direction. There was a kid in the black robes running down the path, barely looking where they were going with those mismatched purple and black eyes. Their purple mop of hair covering most of their vision- and leading to them crashing into Kal. The kid tripped over onto the rocky ground with a yelp- and quickly scrabbled up to their side, breathing heavily and staring at Kal with wide eyes. They didn’t say anything as they stared, seemingly catching their breath. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Kal rolled onto his back as the kid bumped into him. The man’s smile returned as he laughed a little. “My bad!” Kal apologized as he sat back up. “I tripped you up- I probably shouldn’t have been sitting on the ground in the first place. Haha, how’s it going? You okay from that little tumble?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

As Carrion stared at the man, that same racing feeling in his chest that he felt seeing Cansu had returned. The feeling caught the attention of the god within raging over the burning body above them. [‘CANSU? CANSU. HIS PRESENCE LIES WITHIN IT. DOES HE HAVE TWO BONDS?’] The kid frowned at him. “Wh- what- whhy are you l-laughing..?” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

“Oh- Sorry, if laughing isn’t good,” Kal bit back a chuckle. “I just kinda laugh because it’s a bit of a silly situation. I was just sitting and was in the way, I got a tendency of doing that- You okay, though? No scrapes or cuts or anything?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

The kid tilted their head, clearly confused, before shifting to a hard look- like they were trying to look tough. “..’m fine. Wh-who are you.” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Kal was still just smiling. Smiling and chilling. Having a good time. He had climbed a mountain, fell off that mountain, and hit the floor pretty hard. He was genuinely having a good time, as the guy would. “I’m Kal! Good to meet you.” Kal beamed. “And you’re..?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

“..yyou’re.. mm. I’m C-Carrion. Why..” Their face scrunched again. Lots of whys- lots of questions about this guy.. weird guy.. “..why were- were you.. sitting here.” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Carrion! Cool, great to meet you!” Kal beamed. At his question, he pointed to the mountain. “It’s because I fell off of it.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

They looked shocked. “Huh?! Wh- were you.. up a-at the- the lights..? Are you hurt?” The last part slipped out, maybe everybody asking him was starting to rub off. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Oh- I was hurt, but now I’m okay!” Kal smiled and gave them two thumbs up. “I got healed, so I’m doing pretty decent right now!” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

He nodded, fidgeting with his robes. “Oh, o-okay. Um… are you… C-Cansu’s host..? Or, um.. a.. a-another one? You ff- feel like him..” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

“Who?” Kal tilted his head with a smile. “I’ve never heard of that before, is that, like.. I can’t even guess what that is, actually. I’m just Kal. With a K, not a C. A lot of people actually spell my name with a C, just a little fun fact.” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

“Oh, my name’s with a C, I- I think. Um.. C-Cansu’s the.. wings guy. He’s mean. And uhm.. a god, t-too, I think.. ff- feels all.. staticy. You k- you kinda ffeel staticy like him.” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

"Oh snap- Is your name Kal, too, but with a C?" Kal asked with a smile. Another addition to the Kal Pals? Oh? When he heard more details about who Cansu was, Kal snapped his fingers. "Ooohhh! That makes sense- I know him! He's kinda a weirdo, not gonna lie. You should probably stay away from him." He paused. "I feel staticy? Huh- I don't have lightning for powers.." @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

“N-no it’s- I’m Carrion.” Didn’t he say that earlier? Did he imagine that..? Maybe he forgot or something... “Mm, C-Cansu is- he’s a.. a god, um..” [‘DEITY OF WATER AND LIGHTNING. GOD OF STORMS.’] “..he does stuff with storms..? He ff- feels all- all electric and like.. like.. y-you look at him and y-you ffeel like.. looking at a big storm.” He gestured with his hands, holding them out to indicate big. “You k-kinda ffeel like that.” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

“Oh yeah! Sorry, my head’s still a bit foggy from falling,” Kal chuckled. “But uh, nah, I don’t have powers over storm stuff.” Kal paused. “You know, my friend was speculating that that guy might be my brother? Do you think that’s it?” @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Carrion stared at him, puzzled. “That’s weird.” As Kal voices the theory Carrion’s eye widens. “Brother. Yes- yes that’s- maybe that’s it! Y-you sshould ask. That’s important. Brothers.” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

"Yeah. I just have powers that make me faster and stronger," Kal hummed. "Yeah, maybe I should ask. I don't wanna be related to him, though. He's a weirdo." Kal sighed. "Do you think we look alike? I don't really remember- I don't think we do.." @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Their face scrunched in thought. “Um.. I don’t know if… mm, Yoli do you remember..?” Carrion looks down to their right palm, seemingly talking to it. [‘PIECES BARE RESEMBLANCE. CANSU HIMSELF IS NOT HIS KIN. THOUGH HIS HUMAN HOST COULD BE RELATED.’] They tilted their head and looked back to him. “Hmm.. he looks a little like you, but just the human part of him..” ’I don’t wanna be related to him though.‘ Carrion suddenly looked determined. “But y-you need to ask! Family- ffamily’s important, you need to know!” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

"Yoli?" Kal asked with a tilt of his head. "Who's that? Wicked name, I like it. It just sounds cool. Yoli. Ten out of ten name." "The human part?" Kal asked with a light frown. He had no idea what was really going on or what that statement might've meant. "Is.. Is he a human? Or is he not, or-" Kal let out a quiet laugh. "Sorry, super sorry, I'm kinda clueless and not so good with stuff like this." @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Carrion gives a nod. “Mhm.. um, so I- I ssaid- said before Cansu’s a- a god, but, um.. he also has a per- a person he’s.. that’s his- his host. Like me. That person c-could be your brother.” He stares at him quietly as he admits his cluelessness. An adult saying they don’t know something..? “Oh, um, it- it’s okay, this sstuff is.. c-complicated.” Carrion smiles at Kal. “Hee- heh, it- it is really cool. Yoli’s really cool.” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

Kal squinted slightly. "That weirdo's a god? Maybe that's why he's so weird.. So, a god's possessing my potential brother? I didn't know gods could possess people like ghosts." "Yeah, pretty complicated," Kal laughed easily. "Makes me pretty confused." "Mmhm, Yoli sounds really cool! Can Yoli hear me? Let them know for me that they're cool." @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Carrion nodded a little. “He was weird. And mean.. um, yeah gods c-can.. posses people. Have people and- and animal hosts. They’re different ff- from ghosts, though..” They tilted their head again. How was he so.. easily saying that? Multiple times, like it didn’t bother him or matter that he didn’t know and that they knew more than him. It was weird- weird guy. They snapped out of their thoughts as Kal continued to compliment. “Oh! Yes it c-can hear you. It can see you too, do you- do you wanna see Yoli?” His creepy little smile had returned. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

"Huh... Well, you learn something new every day!! I'll keep that in my brain and remember it." Kal nodded. "Sure, I'd love to see Yoli!" Kal grinned. Whoever it was, he was sure that they were chill. @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

They smiled fully and brought up their right palm, clearly displaying the large black gash along it. “H-here! Ssay hi, Yoli!” From the darkness, clusters of small white eyes opened, some fixated onto its host, others to Kal. For whatever reason, looking at the thing inside of Carrion’s hand would give Kal a similar feeling of looking at something molding. Gross! If he were to glance up, Kal would see similar eyes appear inside of Carrion’s black eye. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

For a guy who was relatively normal, he didn't seem thrown off by the supernatural. He offered the darkness a wave. "Whoa, I was right!! You're cool as heck, Yoli! Hi!" @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

The praise feels warm in their chest. [‘HE DOES NOT FEAR US.. HOW INTERESTING.’] Carrion lets out a laugh, smiling excitedly. “Eehee-eeheehee- it- it likes you! Haha!! A-and you’re not sscared! Hee.. e-everyone’s been ss- scared.. ha..” His smile dies down a little. @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (edited)

“Really? Aww, it might just be because they’re a bit unfamiliar, but that’s okay!! I’m sure once they got over it, they’d find out that Yoli’s super cool and chill!” Kal grinned. @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

Carrion nods excitedly. “Y-yeah! Yoli is- is really nice. K-keeps me ssafe.” The sludge recedes back into his palm, though the eyes within Carrion’s remain watching. Their eyes drift up to the sky, the aurora beginning to dissipate. “Mm.. do you.. know what those lights are..? Did It- did the.. Lifebringer thing make it..?” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟

"That's great! Buddies should keep buddies safe." Kal nodded his head with a grin. At the mention of the colors, he looked up. "Oh- Those! There's something like the Arial Borialis. I think that's what it's called, but I don't know, actually. If my buddy Darcy was here, he'd know. He's really smart. In some parts of the world, the lights just kinda appear, but since the Lifebringer made this place, he probably just copied it." @Saj | Gale🌪+Carrion🍄

They seem a little disappointed. “Oh.. it looks c-cool.. but the.. the Lifebringer iss- it’s stupid. I don’t like it. Sstupid.. borialis..” @Vanessa | Cansu🐥+Evan🔩+Kal🌟 (wanna end it here? Sorry my replies have been so slow

)

Trying to shake off all the dread of her impending doom- because, it really was doom, no matter how the fight went, Kyrie took flight. She always- always felt better with the wind to her wings and the ground fathoms below her feet. The sky was her home- it always was, it always would be. Her own private world, away from the judgments of others or the whims of pervy gods. Here, she was free. At least temporarily, she was safe. Kyrie dived towards the cliff of the mountain on the less-traveled side, hoping to catch her breath and enjoy even a few moments of privacy. To her surprise, she wasn’t alone. Another person stood there- a woman, with light skin and curly dark hair and jet black wings folded neatly against her back. Another corvi. “Oh! I didn’t see you there!” Kyrie threw her hands up apologetically, and landed by the other woman. No talisman- she couldn’t tell what kind of corvi this stranger was, likely a crow or rook by her looks. This was probably Kairas, the woman she had heard so much about. “I did.” Kairas replied, her tone cool and her words a little too unnerving. “You are... Kyrie, yes? One of my contestants.” Kairas wore Kyrie associated mainly with the gala on the first night and the creepy staff that seemed to be everywhere you didn’t expect them to be. She averted her gaze from Kairas’s out of politeness. “Uh, yeah, that’s me. You’re Kairas, right? The bird side host?” Kairas nodded. “Yes. I am.” Man, this woman said nothing! “Well, uh, you’re corvi too? What murder?” Kyrie asked. Kairas visibly stiffened. “I- I don’t know. I was-”

8:03 PM

Oh. Oh. Kyrie had misstepped- and this wasn’t even a blunder like she’d made with Roman, thinking he was corvi when he was in fact just a liar. No, one look at Kairas- her wings, her apparent age, her visible lack of any maturity signs like pointed ears or skin markings- and she knew exactly what Kairas was. “Uh- I don’t mean to be presumptive or rude, but were you one of the Stolen? One of the Watchers?” For centuries, the Lifebringer had raided Corvi nests for children- any child with powers, as soon as they made their first transformations. And so, so many children had been taken. The Nightwatcher’s generous blessings became a cruel curse, and the children taken from under her wing named in mockery of their Creator. Very, very few of the Corvi watchlings survived what Kyrie assumed to be the rigorous training process, but very occassionally one would find their way back home. Around the time Kyrie was born, the watchling raids trickled to an end. That was when the military raids as she knew them began. The Lifebringer no longer wanted to use the Corvi. Whoever was on the Loucari throne just wanted them all dead. Kairas glanced briefly away from Kyrie. “Ah- yes. I was a watcher, before I was brought here.” “You don’t have to tell me any more.” Kyrie reassured. “I’m, uh- I don’t know how much you know about our people, or if you’d even want to know, but I’m from the Coalfoot murder.” “Mhm. All I know is that I’m a crow.” Kairas repeated, distant. “Coalfoot...” Kyrie felt obligated to help this woman. This other woman, this other crow- this aunt or cousin or sister she could’ve had, had she not been stolen from her family. “I really will help you. If you want to know anything. And- and maybe, when we all get out of here, I could help bring you back home? We could find your family, if you have any.” It was a long shot. A terribly, horribly long shot. Kyrie didn’t know where her own family was, much less that of this random crow that didn’t even know her own murder. But she needed to offer something. She needed to be able to form connection somehow with her kin. Her real kin. Kairas thought for a moment. “I... will consider it.” It was impossible to read her. But Kyrie could here the ghost of wanting layered under her cold tone. “Thank you, Kyrie.” “Of course.” Kyrie smiled. “We gotta stick together, alright?” She offered out her hand. To her surprise, Kairas took it in a friendly clasp. The slightest of smiles formed upon her lips. “My best wishes to you, Kyrie.” “Mhm,” Kyrie said, and was about to repeat the sentiment when the words struck home. She realized what Kairas was referring to. “AH- the fight, shit- I have to go, I need to talk to some people-” Gale, Ellie- she had to let them know what was going on. She had to talk to them again, in case it was goodbye. She let go of Kairas’s hand and stepped closer to the cliff, unfurling her wings. “It was nice talking to you! Bye!” And without another word, she took off. ...

8:03 PM

... Kairas watched as Kyrie flew off, even after she had left the confines of her physical sight. She kept turning over the young woman’s offer, in her head and in her heart. Did she want to know more about the family she had been stolen from? She knew what had happened to the Corvi after- - after something, she couldn’t quite remember (It was really getting difficult, remembering everything she wanted to). She did not want to unearth a wound that had been festering in her since she was old enough to understand what a mother was, and to understand that she no longer had one. And yet, she did want to know. She did want to know who she might’ve been, what she might’ve done had she not been taken. She could still remember faint parts of it- voices and faces and sensations she only knew were from then because they could never have taken place in the Red Chambers. Nothing warm or kind or loving had ever happened in the Red Chambers. She refocused to Kyrie, because it was easier thinking about the strange, young woman than herself. No matter what happened, Kyrie was going to suffer. And Kairas did more than simply pity her- she found herself wishing there was something she could do to stop it.

High on the mountain side, there was a pair of antlers. Maybe a normal sight in the wilderness, but since there were no deer around, it was rather odd. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta descended the mountain early in the morning, hoping to enjoy some solitude. ... but it seemed they would not be getting that. It picked up the antlers, knowing exactly where they had come from. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

A sound, like the branches of the trees around were splintering, crackled through the air, fizzling out into static, and an angry presence pierced Naiyta with its gaze behind them. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Naiyta didn't turn around just yet. "It'd be wise to stop hiding from me. I know you're there." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Irregular buzz of static started bulding up, jagged sounds growling. "Lifebringer... Lifebringer... Lifebrrrringerrrr..." The shade under the treed and behind the ruins began moving with light, like a bonfire had been ignited. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs (edited)

Naiyta rolled their eyes and muttered something that sounded like 'unruly pest'. It extended a hand out, and a ring of golden light formed around the flickering. It wouldn't be able to spread beyond the border. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

A frantic, static crackle carried out, and the glowing gathered together, pulling away from the golden light, like a hem of a dress being pulled away from dirt. It condensed, getting brighter and more visible, and started taking form, evil little eyes blinking at Naiyta.

"Release me you wretch! Free meeee! You can't keep me here! LET ME OUT -ree meeee! Fre- I'm going to bite you! -eeee meeeeeee!!"

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

"Silence." Naiyta hissed, though it didn't expect the creature to follow any of its orders. "You are in my realm, and you will do as I say." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

The glow flared up in the shape of a bristled up fox, its back arched like an angry cat's and its tail billowing tall in wispy shapes. It wasn't white and green like Kettu usually was. It was still violent red and blue, with hints of purple and white amidst the flames. It opened its amorphous maw and screamed with broken noise. "YOU brought me here! FREEE- I didn't ask to be here! -MEEEE!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

3

Naiyta didn't answer, but the ring of light around Kerry grew stronger, til it was enveloping her completely. It would feel itself being contained, somehow- put into a vessel it did not normally take. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu screamed and struggled, the sound from her flames growing into a deafening blaring of broken sounds and static. She knew what was happening and she struggled as much as she could, trying to escape, trying to fly away. Not again! First she had been trapped inside that boy, then, in that magic stick, and then in that boy again. What now? She screamed insults and threats at the Lifebringer, her flickering form morphing and struggling. @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

As the light faded, Kettu would find herself transformed into the form of a common red fox. Her powers were extremely limited, but still present. "There." Naiyta said. "You'll stay like that til all of this is over. And then you're going home." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu blinked her eyes. Now there was just the two of them; greenish yellow eyes, pupils little slits from the bright light. She flinched, realizing how much taller Naiyta looked now, and stared up at it, shrinking lower and flattening her ears. Then she became aware of her new body. She turned her head frantically to look at her sleek, red fur and the fluffy tail that was tucked between her legs, almost fully pressed against her belly. What she couldn't see was her cute, pink nose. She turned her head towards Naiyta again, her spine bristling. She opened her jaws wide and screamed at them, eyes wide and dismayed.

12:26 PM

@innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

12:26 PM

https://youtu.be/-42P_iYrthM?si=gfTF6qPBr8dDOBDN

Roz Placido

Screaming Foxes

There wasn't much Kettu could do to Naiyta in this form. It rolled its eyes and scoffed, and continued down the mountain. "Stay out of trouble." It said as a parting message. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu would not stay out of trouble! She would dig holes and, and.. chase the goats! She was so mad, but when she tried to run after Naiyta, she got tangled in her own new legs and tumbled. She made angry fox noises and trashed in the leaves. "Cursed flesh god! My mom will turn YOU into a fox! And then you'll be hunted with hounds and horses and guns!" @innsjo | kyrie🪶+ darcy🖋+npcs

Seems like trouble would find Kettu instead—as a familiar face appears heading up the mountain path. Kenji doesn’t look like he’s got much of a destination in mind as he walks, as he fiddles almost subconsciously with the mask held in his hands. There is, however, a distinct uncomfortable expression on his face, and he stops to look out over the statue and horizon a little ways ahead. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu saw Kenji approach, and disappeared behind a tree in a flash and a rustle of dry leaves. She peeked out carefully to see who it was. Kenji looked even taller than Naiyta had. Her fur poofed up and sparked a little. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji's a little bit more observant this time, and at the noise of leaves crackling behind him he turns around sharply. At first, it looks like there's no one there, and as he relaxes he has half a mind to wonder why it startled him so much in the first place. But then, he spots the sparks hidden in the bushes, and immediately tenses again--frowning as he tries to make out what it is. "Is someone there?" @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu crouches lower, ears pressing along her head, and yellow-green eyes staring wide at Kenji. She recognizes him, and figures he'd not be so friendly since their last encounter was... Well. Less than friendly. She tries to stay quiet, but is already going through all sorts of plots and scenarios in her little head. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji squints, golden eye piercing as he scans the undergrowth. Something's there, though...it doesn't seem like a person? He'd passed a few goats on the way, sure, but this wouldn't be a normal goat thing to do, would it? What else was out here? He takes a step closer, trying to get a better look. Somethin about those sparks is familiar... @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu hunches up, shrinking into a high-strung ball of fluff when Kenji steps closer. She considers for a moment, and then shuffles backwards to hide behind the tree better. The leaves give out her movement, but she's already looking for a best way to escape. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Alright, he's starting to feel a little stupid--it's probably just a squirrel or a bird or something, Kenji reasons, though the unreasonable half of his brain still has an odd nagging feeling driving him forward. He can tell it's an animal at least, so he shifts to the other side of the tree to get a better look. "Hey, I'm not gonna hurt you." Hopefully. It probably can't understand him. This is ridiculous. "I'd just rather not be stalked I guess.." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

"Eehh! Eekkekkek!" Kettu jumped and spun around, ears flat behind her head and little maw open, pointy little teeth bared. Her red fur was all fluffed-up, and oddly luminous. Some orange sparks floated off from the bristled hairs. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

"Woah!" Kenji stumbles backward, surprise lessening the intensity of his stare. Definitely hadn't been expecting a fox. He holds his hands up non-threateningly, which hopefully the animal can understand. A sparking fox, though. Interesting. That..thing, from the hallway, it had made him think of a...what was it called? ....Fire fox. Kenji's eyes narrow, ever so slightly. "You're not a normal fox, are you." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu closed her mouth and licked her muzzle, lowering her head. Kenji didn't recognize her? But he was suspicious... The fox was frozen for a moment, but then seemingly relaxed, the fur sleeking and the sparks fading. She flopped onto the ground, and rolled over, squirming and wagging her fluffy tail innocently. She made cute little fox sounds and pawed at the air. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

So...maybe that spirit? Then again, Kenji's never really been face-to-face with a fox before, so maybe this is just a normal thing. He crouches a little bit to get a better look, still keeping a bit of a distance. "I feel kind of stupid talking to a fox," he admits, "but...I guess I've done weirder. You--" He wiggles a finger at the fox somewhat accusatorially."--were definitely watching me though." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu blepped and tilted her head at Kenji, looking at him upside down. "Drnn drnn-gnn-gnn?" :3 @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

....Well, Kenji's suspicions are certainly decreasing. "Yeah, you," he repeats, very much aware of the fact that he's nearly fifty years old and somehow talking to a fox like it can understand him. At least they're out in the middle of nowhere where no one can see. "So what, a magic fox?" If not the spirit, then maybe... "You're not like, a weird Naiyta creation and it's going to jump out of the bushes too, are you?" @Twig | Seki / Aarni

At the mention of Naiyta, Kettu flipped onto her stomach and lifted up her head to scream at Kenji. "Gah-! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah!! Grh, hff, nrf grrnggrr hff!" @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji flinches back slightly, but at least that's...a good enough sign of 'no'? Also, it seems like the fox actually might understand him. So at least he isn't as crazy as he feels. "Okay, not Naiyta, that's..good." He leans back on his heels a little bit, but doesn't exactly look intimidated. "So what's your deal then?" That might be a bit of a complicated question for it to answer.. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu huffed and puffed, eyeing Kenji at least as suspiciously as he was looking at her. He didn't seem to recognize her, but seemed certain that she wasn't a normal fox either. Currently he didn't seem aggressive, but looking up at him was intimidating even when he was crouched. She flicked her ears and stood up. "Eh, eh, eh, eheeh eh eh. Aaa-aa-aa eh eheh heh. Gnrr greehh eh eh!" She rambled, not really saying anything as much as she was just expressing her frustration about her current situation and the fleshy form she had forced into. She trotted back and forth in front of Kenji, keeping her eyes on him so he couldn't surprise her. She also inspected him at the same time. Some things still felt curious to her about him. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Whatever it's saying, it doesn't sound happy at all. As far as he can tell anyway. Kenji watches, intrigued, as the fox somehow both at once paces and stares him down, and with a small sigh he finally decides that sitting down is probably better for his knees than crouching right now. It puts them a little bit more at eye level, but not by much. "You're not Naiyta's but you're clearly not..normal," he says finally, frowning a little. "And you're also somehow magic and can understand me. You're... Hells, this is stupid," he sighs, rubbing a hand across his face. "But why not, I guess. Sparks and foxes... You're not the thing from before, are you?" @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu stopped, and arched her back, lowering her head a little and pressing her ears back. Her back bristled and her tail fluffed up, making the hairs glow with fiery sparks again. Her tail tucked between her legs, and though she was looking at Kenji and didn't turn her head, her eyes darted to look around quickly. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

...Huh. "Well I'm..not sure I know what that's supposed to mean," Kenji sighs. It doesn't seem like a no, which is a little worrying, but not immediately concerning. Maybe he'd taken the thing screaming in his head for granted--not able to communicate is more confusing. Though it hurts less. That's a plus at least. "I haven't seen anyone else out here if that's what you're worried about." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Oh, Kenji didn't attack? Great! Kettu relaxed, and her fur sleeked again. She shook herself, and made little, whiny fox sounds, just complaining about her new form. She paused to look at Kenji again; the eyes, the horns, the necklace... she was so curious. Some benefits that she got from being a corporeal fox now were that she had proper senses. She could smell Kenji's scent, and interact with objects better. She went and trotted around Kenji, curiously looking at him from all around. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

If Kettu cares to remember at all, Kenji certainly looks different here compared to the time they had met, years ago--but it's also very obvious that he is in fact the same person. As he's studied, though, Kenji tenses a little bit more. "Don't-- Hey, stop that," he frowns, twisting to follow the fox's path and debating if he should stand up again. With Kettu a proper animal now, she'd be able to pick up on the faint--very faint--scent of death that seems to follow him. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu whines and makes sounds again, sitting down in front of Kenji. She did remember pretty well. She remembered Kenji was more feeble, and didn't have a golden eye, or horns as pronounced as this. Se also remembered Amara. Where was she??? Kettu liked her a million times more than the Lifebringer. She was cool! And the Lifebringer was a killjoy just like her aunts. Her eyes fixed on the necklace once again. She would get a better grip on it now. She lunged forward with her mouth open, and bumped harmlessly into Kenji's chest, flailing and trying to find the necklace, but her long stupid nose was in the way! @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

"Hey!" Kenji jolts backwards and jumps to his feet, instinctively half-shoving Kettu off of him in the process before she can get at the necklace. "What was that about!?" He glares, hand protectively clamped tightly over the gemstone. The glare in his golden eye almost seems sharper than his gray one. ...The thing before, Aarni's parasite, it'd gone for his necklace too. That couldn't be a coincidence too, could it? @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu tumbled to the ground and shook herself, letting her annoyance be heard. "Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah! Geh, geh, gnaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!" She yelled at Kenji, ears back, tail tucked and eyes narrowed. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

"Yeah yeah yeah, yell at me all you want," Kenji snaps back. "If you are that thing, that's the second time you've done that! Why do you want it so bad?!" It dawns on him a second later that that's an answer he won't be getting, and he lets out a frustrated groan. "Whatever, I don't-- Whatever. You don't know me. This shouldn't mean anything to you." @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu huffs and snorts, backing off a little but not going far. She continues to make high-pitched wailing and whining noises, occasionally spinning around in frustration and even jumping up and down in a temper tantrum. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji rolls his eyes at the fox's antics, folding his arms across his chest. "I don't know if you really are that thing, but if you are, I hope this is what Naiyta meant when they told me they'd clean up your mess," he huffs, clearly annoyed, though doesn't quite seem mad this time. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu bristled again at the mention of Naiyta, and she scurried a few steps forward, screaming louder with her eyes and mouth wide, staring up at Kenji. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Kenji's taking that as more confirmation this is who he thinks it is. "I told them you were out here somewhere. I don't like Naiyta either, trust me, but maybe this is one thing they've actually done right," he chuckles, with no humor behind it, though there's an oddly sharp spike of pain in his head that twists his face uncomfortably. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

After another high-pitched scream, Kettu pounced forward and bit into Kenji's shin painfully. She let go almost immediately and skittered further away out of kicking range, before turning to yell and laugh at Kenji. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

"Ow, what the-- Fuck!" Kenji hisses in pain, staggering a little bit backwards as Kettu's teeth sink in and then rip out. "You godsdamn-- Ugh! Seriously?!" Smoke starts to pool faintly around his feet, though he doesn't seem like he's planning to retaliate at least. @Twig | Seki / Aarni

Kettu cackled and quickly climbed onto the closest ruins, wagging her tail quickly from side to side. @em || enya 💥 + kenji 🌫

Nothing about Kenji's smoke looks at all familiar--in fact it looks normal, and maybe gives Kettu a clue about Amara's whereabouts. He glares after the fox, crouching down briefly to inspect the injury and quickly standing again. "I guess it's a shame you can't tell me anything but I think I prefer this over you screaming in my head," he grumbles, shooting her another sharp look before sighing and turning his back to her. "Hopefully wherever Aarni is he's better off without you." @Twig | Seki / Aarni (edited)

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