[PRP] A Grave Mistake (Deo VolenteI x Raedwulf)

[viatorai]

"Easy, now..." Deo rasped, backing up as the body of the mangled stallion was pulled by his helpers. As much as he would rather not have to clean up the smeared blood on the ground, in this case, it couldn't be helped. The body was barely recognizable as a soquili, but Deo saw no issue in that. The body, after all, was simply a vessel, a construct of flesh that housed the soul inside. The being that had been in the body was well on their way to one day being born again, and it was simply Deo's duty to make sure that the vessel was treated with respect. And in the dark of night was the perfect time to do so with little fear of curious others ambling along to ask too many questions.

Making sure he had an empty bottle for when he was done, he began to look over the grave he had dug. He didn't have time, however, as his head snapped up, his ears swiveling at detecting a sent he didn't like. His helpers, as well, became unsettled, and at his direction, took off towards the bramble grove he called home. Whoever- or whatever- was approaching certainly wasn't there to pay respects...Or, perhaps?

[208]  

[viatorai]

For most of his life, Deo had found he didn't mind the predators that skulked around the cemetery. They needed to eat, yes, and as long as he had finished his rituals, he usually let them be. Woe betide, however, the fox that dared try to interrupt him as he was cleaning a body. Even a lone bear had been chased away as it thought it had an easy snack, Deo taking advantage of his luminous wings to look much bigger than he actually was. In the end, he would have been fine with letting whatever this was partake in what was a rather fresh, juicy corpse...after he was finished. And the creatures around the area knew that by now.

Which told him that the creature that made the howl was not local. Not in the least, and he felt his fur prickle with what could only be fear. And when the wolf revealed itself, his ears swiveled and pinned back flat. No amount of knowledge about the world around him gave him an idea of what to do. All he knew was that...well, it wasn't himself he was worried about, it was the vessel. The body. Without a proper ritual, the soul couldn't be reborn. He had a choice to make, but the indecision was keeping him from acting in any way. Frozen in place, his wings not yet unfurled, Deo was having one of the biggest conflicts regarding his morals and his self-preservation he'd had yet.

[248]