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ethium ✦ archive ✦ last post )
Chaos reigned in the whorl of shredded green-gold leaves and long claw markings marring the dirt. Tonight, the melody of the gales threading through the pines seemed to fade, stuttering, at the path of carnage. The path meandered, winding through the fringes of the forest, leaving a trail of clues. Telltale destruction from a creature on the cusp of sanity.
Only the ancestors could foresee what awaited, but the last time he followed a clue trail like this…
Wolfpaw swallowed hard. He couldn’t go down there. Not tonight.
“It’s hard, isn’t it?” The deep cadence of Herringpace’s voice rumbled, a sympathetic wrinkle creasing his eyes. “Knowing he’s gone? Dealing with his loss? Maybe you’re simply focused on what’s ahead in which case I shouldn’t interrupt…”
He grimaced, trying for a faint smile.
“Herringpace. It’s…” The croak of a wandering frog had never been more welcome. Long limbs sprung, captured in the moonlight’s blaze, telling of a humble creature on a journey. But the hasty spring in its leap painted a different picture. Pale ghostly eyes bulged, throat trilling a frantic, piercing song. And it wasn’t the only one. Others sprung, rushing like phantoms from temporary lodges, a chaotic swarm fleeing from one, clear direction.
(+3FP frog, +3FP frog, +3FP frog, +3FP frog) “The badger is close.” Jaw tense, his gaze roamed the patrol, tracing the contours and edges of wary faces brushed by the silvery traces of moonlight.
“Spread out, eyes open. If you see it, do not engage… unless you have no other option.” Nods greeted him, swift and determined. No dissent, nor argument. Followers guided by a leader's direction.
His direction.
"Found something.”
His heart lurched.
“Already?” “… just a few herbs." With a grunt, Herringpace reached into a low thicket, unsnaring a few furled leaves. Gnarled branches raked across his back, drawing a soft wince from him. "Just in case. You know, it could be useful for later…?"
(+1 dock, +1 lovage, +1 sweet-sedge; -3% health for herringpace ━ no herbs or rest needed to continue patrolling!)"Shhhh." A light, playful swat from Cinderspeck interceded, waving the other along. "Head that way, come along."
But Herringpace's words lingered. A new chasm opened within him, brimming with possibilities. Dark possibilities. It struck like a beast with poisoned tendrils ━ tendrils that writhed and wormed, wrapping around his heart.
Squeezing. Would any of them fall tonight? Would
he? If they did… it'd be on his shoulders. All of it.
Dull, lifeless eyes glazed over, light draining━His head spun, the world a fierce blur.
Keep it together. He forced a shallow breath in, heart a muted thrum in his chest. The cool soil against his claws and the gentle sway of grass underpaw… grounded him. His final tether to this world. He shook his head, hard. The badger was close. He couldn’t afford weakness, not━
A flicker of gold.
And under the soft, silvery glow of the moon, it twirled, a slow pirouette, wings beating to another rhythm. A rhythm untouched by the wild chaos within. The insect danced in the fields, a flickering flame, warm and true. With a little dip, it fluttered close, landing on the tip of his nose.
A firefly. And its light was luminous. A brilliant gold. Gold like… Ravendust’s eyes. The ache in his chest twisted like a heated blade, but something about this tiny insect was… comforting. Like his mentor was right here ━ right beside him. That same steady, soothing presence guiding him along, holding his head high against the darkness closing in. And every flicker of the firefly was a signal, a gentle, reassuring sign to move forward. To
go.
He would not succumb to evil. Nor to fear. “Wolfpaw?” Pawsteps neared, accompanied by a light breathlessness. “We found it. It’s… by the river.”
All around him, the night came alive. Alight with the glow of a thousand, flickering flames━fireflies lighting up the darkest hour of the night. Together, they illuminated a path, one of shredded leaves and claw markings, but also… a stone finely etched with glowing runes, strung along dried twine.
(+1 supernova ━ mythical edit: albinism! <33) Paw against the strange stone, he tugged a breath in, lifting his chin.
This one's for you, Ravendust.“Take me to it.” ⊰ ☾ ⊱
The badger was a crazed creature.
Wild light shone, a pillar of charcoal flame in those dark eyes and saliva hung like a writhing nest of cobras from its jaws. Ivory crowned its head, striking, if not for the sheen of sweat gleaming under the moonlight. Head bowed, its long, silver claws scraped the grounds, clinking against loose pebbles.
“Easy.” His voice was a low murmur, heart thrumming.
“Slow and steady. Surround it… block off any chance of escape.” With a flick of his tail, he waved the patrol forward, urging them closer. They knew the plan. Now, they just needed to stick to it. And perhaps… perhaps that was the hardest part.
It was like charming a snake.
A twisted tango to appease a little serpent of banded obsidian and ivory. The rhythm, the steps, the dance… all perfectly synced to the raspy hiss of this serpentine beast. Instead of smiles and a charming ditty, the song was one of barred teeth and the rising torrent of the river.
One step in and another. His paws wove, slowly eating at the space between him and the beast, backing it closer and closer to the weathered edge of the riverbank. The river’s song rose, wailing a warning in his ears.
Another step. The space between them dwindled.
Chunks of dirt crumbled, skittering into the roaring river. But the beast remained, silver claws wrenched into the dirt, muscles tensed. Dark eyes lashed, sweeping the patrol, a low growl rumbling at the back of its throat. It was a caged creature with dwindling options. A dangerous, desperate creature.
The badger’s claws flashed, hovering above the cracked dirt. Dark eyes tore from his, fixing on the nearest patrol member, inching a little too close for comfort. Hindpaws teetering on the edge, its claws lifted, glinting in the moonlight, poised━
His shoulder rammed into the badger.
Silver blades twisted in his direction, a whistle in his ears, as he connected with a mass of dark fur and muscle. And it fell. Toppling like a king dethroned, slapping the foaming waters like a shuddering clap of thunder.
He staggered back. The badger’s head broke the surface, eyes pale and rolling. Long claws snaked up, fumbling at the banks. But it was at the river’s hands now, under the forces of rushing waters and churning foam. And there was no escape.
Without mercy, the river whisked it away, binding the creature in an eternal, watery grave.
It was gone.
(predator defeated/left the territory!)xx