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 Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:45 pm
Getting The Message The last few days had proved to be quite good in term of findings – Lenneth and himself had just barely stopped their search to eat and rest before starting over again, bringing with them bags of raw materials, glass, old bricks, wood, anything that could be useful. He left the final judgment of that to the mortals and gods involved. Ever since he had learned of Glyph and his host's need for glass, he had become even more motivated to continue on. Really, there was little Ankou liked more than feeling useful. Feeling like he had a purpose, and not simply running in circles. There was also sometimes the stubborn soul that had remained behind when Nergal had called for them – strong-willed ones, he could tell, but most could not resist direct influence upon them, where a wide call was easier to resist and ignore. He had brought these to the Gate, and in they went. It was not much, but it was something. And it made him feel better. He was doing some of what he was supposed to be doing, at least. Staying busy and feeling like he had a purpose was two of the few things Ankou truly needed to feel happy with himself. ”I will see you later.” The Spirit Guide whispered to Cosine's sleeping form, kissing her forehead before getting up and finding a shirt to put on. Being busy had it's drawbacks, however... He saw little of the woman he loved so much, and likewise she saw little of him. It saddened him, but... this was needed. Numbers seemed to understand, as far as he knew. When he did not see Lenneth anywhere, he figured she was probably somewhere outside, waiting for him. Thus, slinging his bag over his shoulder, Ankou opened and closed the door as quietly as possible, sliding out almost like a ghost, turning and walking the steps down down the stairs. And then... ”AAAAAANKOOUUUUU !!!!”Was that... Akakios ?! Was he hurt ? Certainly not here... He turned, but the boy had already reached the top of the stairs and started his decent. Lament seemed rather proud of himself... and Ankou could not help bit raise an eyebrow in a mix of worry and surprise. ”Akakios... ?””Hi !” The boy chirped, giving one of his rare grins. ”Was looking for you.” That smile quickly turned into a pout. How long had the boy actually been looking ? ”And what for, little Lament ?” Ankou dropped down onto one knee to look at him at eye level. Most children seemed to appreciate such gesture, as far as he could tell. ”Saw Uncle Tian Yue.” The boy nodded. ”Said he wanted to see you.””Oh ?” Tian Yue wanted to see him ? That came as a surprise. What would a dragon king need of him ? ”Did he tell you what for ?””Hm...” Akakios frowned in though, visibly in thought, then shook his head in the negative. ”Don't think so.” The boy finally admitted. ”Slept for a long time and just woke up now. Just said he would talk to you.”Slept for a long time... ? Clearly, the Guide would need to get those answers directly from Tian Yue. Perhaps he had proved to be a good source of information back then, and the dragon wished to know just what was going on ? ”I see... I figure I will have to figure it out, hmm ?” He reached to ruffle the boy's hairs, ignoring his mild irritation at the gesture, but taking note not to do so again. ”Thank you. I do have a few things to do, but... I will go promptly.””What you're doing ?” Ah, back to the curiosity that was more befitting of the young one. ”Gathering things. Useful things.” Ankou answered, standing once more. ”Not a task for you, before you ask.” Better not to let the little one get any ideas. After all, there was the possibility of many things happening, which would result in both of the boy's parents having his hide upon their return. By now, he knew that to apply a distraction would be enough for Lament to forget about this. ”And what are you doing, hmm ?””Writing.” The boy seemed rather eager to show him, but had not brought along his book. ”Will show you and Aunt Cos later. Kay ?” ”That better be a promise.” The Guide said with a wink, patting his shoulder rather than messing with the hair, before turning to leave. Lenneth couldn't be too far... and was likely growing a little impatient.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:46 pm
Summons Zero Dream  This had been a rather odd development, the Spirit Guide could not help but think - try as he might, he could not quite figure out just why Tian Yue would have a need for him at this moment. Akakios had not been very clear as to why his name had come up at all. Perhaps he needed some information again, as the boy had said he had slept all this time ?
Perhaps.
Ankou rather liked finding himself of use, so he had come as fast as he could. The boy had said to have seen the dragon a few days ago, but the god had reached out to a town further away and had only came back to the pantheon this morning - he could only hope that the dragon would not find offense in his lateness.
He stopped in front of the door the child had described him, pulling down his hood and shaking what dust he could away from the tail ends of the cloak before knocking. Sosiqui The door swung open almost immediately; however, instead of Toki's smiling, anxious face, another Aoide stood behind the door. She was female, lightly furred in blue and dusky purple, with hooves and delicate horns arching over her head. She bowed to Ankou, the movement graceful and practiced. "Be welcome, Lord of the Hidden Ways. The Worldshield has advised me of your visit." Her gaze traveled over his hair and misty wings, and she nodded to herself as if confirming his identity. "I am Xue Ling, an Aoide in Tien Lung's service. He is within the treasure chamber; I will lead you there if you wish to see him." She took a few steps back from the door, opening it wide so Ankou could enter. Zero Dream "If you could. I hope I have not kept your lord waiting ?" The apparence of the aoide did not surprise him - after all, Anima looked much the same, and Jinx had quite a few exact copies running around the pantheon. Aoide, it seemed, always tended to hold similar traits, most of them... though he could not remember why. Or perhaps he had never known at all.
Ankou gave himself one last look over to make sure he would not carry any debris inside with him, and stepped in to follow Xue Ling. Sosiqui "Not so, Lord. He himself h- no, that is not my place to say," Xue Ling demurred, after a moment. She closed the door behind him, then led him through first one archway, then another. "My Lord? Lord Ankou has arrived to see you." She bowed again, then stepped aside to allow the god entrance. The treasure chamber was a small room, windowless, lined with shelving on all the walls. Tian Yue himself seemed to only barely fit within its confines; his tail brushed at the shelves when he moved, and his broad shoulder-spines seemed perilously close to impaling the few artifacts displayed there. Still, he turned with a sober smile at the Aoide's words.
"Ankou. It is good to see you again, my friend." The Dragon King held a book in his hands; he let it fall closed, though kept one finger tucked within the pages to hold his place. "It has been some time. Too long, though that is my fault."Zero Dream The god said nothing in answer to the aoide's backpedaling - he did not attempt to pry it out of her, and simply let it be. He would get to know, in time, if he was meant to know at all. Though after spending time with Ishum, sometimes it was hard to remember that not all aoidei were so chatty.
"Thank you" He said to her before stepping inside. "It has indeed been... Much has happened." The Guide's face did not betray if he considered it good or bad. "Dare I ask what has happened ?" Sosiqui  "An overextension of my Self, heart and mind and body, all three. It required... some tending. A long slumber. Longer than was required, I fear, but grief held tightly until young Lament found and released me." Tian Yue's smile was a little sad, but there was a spark in his eyes that had not been there for some months.
"I fear I have not done my duty by the children," he added, giving Ankou a more serious look. "I was named godfather, and yet was not there when stepping into such a role would have been most appropriate and... helpful. And I cannot in good conscience do so now, for our Lord has charged me with a task that has already gone too long. I am sorry. I wanted to... to apologize. For my oversight."Zero Dream "...You do realize how ironic this actually sounds like, yes ?" Lament releasing him from his own sister, even though he knew very well that the dragon had not meant it this way. It was not a matter he should be amused at, however, so he held himself. Did that mean nothing could truly be done for the sky ? "I am sorry to hear..." He stopped himself at that. No use twisting the knife in the dragon's wounds, especially not when it looked like they had finally started to close.
The admission seemed to puzzle him, however. "I am not the one you should apologize to." Though, he figured... with Echo and Nergal gone, he was the closest thing available. "And... I believe you know just as well as I that Echo will not let you step out that easily. Come to think of it, I really doubt even the kids will. I don't think this was about... roles and matters and obligations." The last mention, however, caught his attention. "A task ?" Sosiqui Tian Yue just gave him that faint sad smile again. "I will go on. It's... foolish, really. Tien Lung and Universe had only the most tenuous of connections in this life, and yet..." His eyes lost focus for a moment.
Then he shook his head. "I've traveled down that path often enough," he said, firmly, again more to himself than to the other god. "The sky must be replaced, though for now the replacement will be a thin thing, for the comfort of mortals, no longer Universe Divine. What has been eaten... cannot be remade, or if it can, not so easily." Tian Yue flipped the book open again and held it out to Ankou; inside were star charts, ancient ones. "The task involves travel, numbering and naming of the worlds that remained. Connections must be reforged. I should have done this months ago, and yet..." He hesitated again. Zero Dream To that, Ankou said nothing. So they were... had been ? Close, at the very least. He could barely imagine how he would feel if he lost Cosine, and their relation was far from ancient. Words that might have been comforting failed to be found, so the Guide simply remained silent until the dragon moved on with his explanation, in respect.
The book caught the other god's attention immediately, and a few steps brought him close enough to see the pages it had been opened at. Star charts were not his forte, but they did resemble what he saw behind the Doors closely enough. While he could probably not make Tien Lung see what he saw...
"Many worlds were destroyed outright, when Hell collapsed on the mortal planes. I can remember... This." He pointed to one star. "And... I believe this one..." Another. Slender fingers traveled over the open book, never once touching the pages as if he had been afraid he might send them crumbling to dust with the lightest touch. The Guide spoke much like an old war veteran recounting battle wounds, as if he had been right there when it had happened. "There were many others, though... I did not see them all. There is also one other... Ah, here." His finger pointed to another star, face pulled in a slight frown. "This one, I do not know it's name, but it holds a city called Karsch. When I went there, with the one bearing Oath... There was no one and nothing but demons. The living had been killed, and the souls were eaten. We did not reach beyond the city, but it all felt... empty." The way the god spoke of the last word betrayed that it had not been a good feeling at all. "I fear there may be other worlds that may have suffered a similar fate..." Sosiqui Tian Yue tilted his head to one side, then nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. "That alone is more than I have been able to divine - then, I have not been actively pursuing such knowledge for long. You traveled much, then? ... Yes, I suppose you would." He made a face, then laughed at himself. "I forget your role, sometimes."
He quickly picked up another book, then moved awkwardly towards the doorway, sidling so as not to jostle either the shelves or Ankou. "I would like to make notes, if you know more. It may be only a little knowledge, like a drop in the ocean, but it's something." Zero Dream "Not nearly as much as I ought to have." The Guide admitted, somewhat bitterly. The dragon's task was one reminder of so many things that he ought to have been doing... but had no idea where to begin. There were ways, of course, to travel worlds without direct world-walking, but using them, for himself at least... felt rather backward. "Most of what I do know comes sorely from observation, I fear. I could tell you which are gone, but of those that remain... I cannot say what has truly gone on on the surface, so to say."
All that mention of traveling, however, reminded him of something old and ancient, faded images of a place he had not yet seen in this life - of twisted root-paths and dark hallways... of the world tree. It was the most direct access to the Underworld, he remembered. He must have traveled though the roots often, back then... When time was a meaningless concept and that there were no limitation of a mortal body to keep consideration of. Would he remember those paths now ?
Doubtful. As is, he only remembered flicker of memories, nothing more. However, for some reason, it made him... nostalgic. Sosiqui "And many, I suspect, would need to be visited, pathways feeled out and poked and prodded to assure that there is truly only absence beyond." Tian Yue shook his head as he led the way back out into the outer chamber. The furniture there was not so grand as it had once been - having all his followers sleep there for the last months of Gehenna's aborted awakening had done that - but he found himself disinclined to restore it. There were much more important things to life than mere fripperies. "Yet, as challenging as this task is likely to be... I would not give it to another. A... penance, if you will."
He put the books down on the battered coffee table. "The only way I had used to travel was on the backs of the errais - equines who travel the worlds, if you know them. Yet I am certain such ways are closed, now... leaving only the ancient pathways of root and branch, if my research - and memory - serves." Zero Dream "There are the Doors." Ankou followed the dragon king, but remained standing - most likely would unless being invited to sit. "Any of the doors of the halls that are not yet connected to a room can be used to travel to other planes, though by my own experience, they are handy devices... when you know where you wish to go, specifically. Otherwise, a lot of time is wasted simply looking. That, and I... must admit I have not attempted travel though them ever since quite some time before the ritual." If they worked, then it would be his best choice for his own tasks, but to travel alone with so little of his own mana at disposal to use seemed a rather foolish thing. There were the matter of potential demons, still... and Grigori.
Had it not been for Eddard back then...
Of course, the dragon would have no such problem. Ankou could not help but envy him a little. "And there is direct walk from plane to plane, which I know gods who have more of their mana at their disposal are able... Or the World Tree, as you have said, but the branches and roots are rather hard to navigate without a guide. These are the methods I know of." Sosiqui "The substance of All has been badly damaged; Gaia below, Universe above. Half of the foundation has been eaten." Tian Yue shook his head. "I would be wary of methods that require any form of reliance on... anything that isn't purely Gaia's own power. It could be very dangerous to do so. Void is unkind, as we all know..."
"... And that, naturally, would remove all methods but Yggdrasil itself," Tian Yue sighed, sitting down on the couch; it tilted to one side under his weight. "I understand that my brother Futs Lung traveled those paths to find the Manacles that tethered Gehenna for so long. I should speak with him as well, and perhaps also Knowledge..." He gave the closed books a rueful look, then glanced up at Ankou.
"I would more than welcome any knowledge or aid you have, though with your family's concerns - I understand if you are busy. I would be with the children if I could, but my Lord's desires must take precedence." Zero Dream That was a point. Even if he probably would not hesitate to make use of such measures if needed even if it was dangerous... the dragon was not. Which did, indeed, only leave the world tree.
At the last words, however, the Guide found himself silent for a moment. "Busy... There are so many things I ought to be doing." He sighed. "And I find myself doing things that anyone could do, and not what I alone can..." His own safety... he would not have cared before. If it had not been for his nephews, his niece, and most importantly the goddess he loved... he likely would not have cared, even now. "There are halls for them now, but the dead do not always find their way." Or want to find their way. "And yet, to go alone, for now... seems rather foolish."
There was another moment of silence, before the Guide spoke again. "Though, if we are likely to walk though the same paths... Perhaps, if you would find me more of an asset than a liability, I could go with you ? I doubt I would remember my way in Yggdrasil, however... The paths are like mazes. Perhaps I never did know my way though them and instead stumbled my way though." Sosiqui Tian Yue looked surprised. "I would be glad of the company, but... I do not want to tear you away from your duties here. But having footsteps alongside my own in those ancient corridors..." He had vague, distant memories of arching wood and crowded, laughing corridors; but he had seen Yggdrasil in the Ancient Pantheon and smelled the dust and stale air. It would be worse in the roots and branches, stagnant and choked with a silence that had not been broken for millennia. "... I would be comforted," he finished, finally. Zero Dream The dragon's words made an amused chuckle raise up in the Guide's throat. "My duty... Tian Yue, my duty is to be out there, gathering the dead to send to the Underworld, not to remain here, wondering if I can afford the risk to go alone. I have been bound in one place for too long, it seems." The last sentence sounded more like Ankou was simply thinking out loud rather than addressing the dragon king. "The scales have tipped... I would not be surprised if some realm held more dead than alive. If they do not go to Nergal, they cannot be judged. If they cannot be judged... Then they cannot be reborn in the normal circle of things. It is all well and good to have worlds, many stars and planets, but what uses are they if they are empty... or simply haunted ?"
"...I would be comforted, as well, to know that there would be someone walking by my side." Such foreign words he spoke of now. Words that he had thought he would never utter, but it was the truth. Until he grew more into himself, it was foolish to travel to other worlds alone. "The mortal body has it's limitations... As you know well." Sosiqui "It seems our paths are aligned, then," Tian Yue said, with a grateful smile; he merely nodded understandingly at Ankou's last words. The last vestiges of those limitations were gone now, burned away by that last blaze of power and then healed forever by his long sleep. A strange thought, to think the brief mortal life that seared so brightly in his memory was now gone.
He was not Crispin; he was not Shaiming. He was something else entirely.
"I have, however, seen only Yggdrasil's great trunk and spreading branches in the Ancient Pantheon; surely here there must be root and branch as well, as they are in every world, but I know not how to ferret them out." Tian Yue looked thoughtful. "One of my brothers has traveled through that wooded path in this life - I should seek him out, speak with him. For that, and many other reasons." Zero Dream "Indeed." It was better to leave entierely prepared. Something Music... had not quite done. But he mentioned nothing of it. He knew the King and the goddess close - Tian Yue had enough on his mind right now for the Guide to willingly add some more worry into the mix.
"I have heard rumors, of such an entrance existing far to the north of here - perhaps there is a way to truly verify if they are founded or not... I shall see what I can figure out." He gave a nod. Sosiqui "And I will consult my brother - Knowledge as well, if I can find him. I hear he was using my own tomes to teach the little ones?" Tian Yue raised one eyebrow at that, amused.
He glanced down at the book with the star-maps and shook his head, some of the amusement fading from his expression. "It is a task worthy of the gods, indeed. Would that I had fleet-footed messengers to fly ahead of us down the long, dark paths of Yggdrasil, who could peek through the cracks and tell me what they saw at each fork and branch." Zero Dream "That, I am not aware of." The Guide said with a chuckle. The dragon seemed more amused than angered, at any rate. He had never seen Tian Yue angry, and something in his subconscious said it was probably better for this fact to remain as it was.
"...I believe there were once guides, dwelling in the branches..." Ankou's expression pulled into a thoughtful frown. "Or that there may have been. But I cannot remember what they were.... Or what may have happened to them." Sosiqui "I heard no sign of life in the Ancient Pantheon. If life remains within the roots and branches, they must be deep indeed." Tian Yue traced one claw gently down the cover of the book. "How long will you need to put your own affairs into order, do you think - and to research those rumors? I am no travel-god, nor as swift as my brother Ying Long, but I can still move my coils at speed. Ask Akakios," he added, with a grin. Zero Dream "Perhaps I should." The thought managed to get an amused grin out of the Guide. A little expert then ? Perhaps he ought to be jealous right about now...
"A few days at most." In all honesty, he was sure it would take him much shorter than that to be ready, per-se - that was allotting time for the Worldshield to seek his brothers, and for him to see if he could pierce anything from the rumors. And... to warn Cosine of his departure, he remembered belatedly. The concept of actually having someone close enough that he felt the need to tell of his many departures so that she may not worry about not getting word was still a very new one. "I shall be ready whenever you will be."
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:47 pm
Information From Unlikely Sources Many mortals were making their ways toward the pantheon, or at least the town surrounding it. Gathering where it seemed the safest – safety in numbers perhaps – and rebuilding. Some followed the 'rumors' of gods, and some did seem to believe. Ankou kept an eye out, for multiple reasons, though none of those he had seen so far, either close to the pantheon or while going though what had once been streets, quite had the same feel that Lenneth had. He still could not quite put his finger on what this familiarity was, or what it meant, which to be honest was rather madding. But, most of all, he was trying to figure out a way to tell where the world-tree entrance of this world might be... If they could not figure it out before leaving, the whole matter would definitively become even more complicated than it already was. He had found some old lanterns that could work as lightning, and pearl-shaped little lights from the survivors of Koiso, but there was still the matter of knowing where to go. Once that was done, then they could likely get there relatively quickly. At least, he hoped so. It was relatively easy for him to blend in – always had seemed to be a particular talent of his, if vague memories were to hold any accuracy – and so he walked, and most importantly listened. He had noticed a particular influx of unfamiliar faces, so to speak – and went to try and figure it out in greater detail. After all... Echo had left quite some time ago. If she found settlements on her way, certainly she would tell them of this place. And he was not let down in any shape or form. The mortals indeed remembered the woman, hair a clear blue and purple, her strange yet kind eyes, and the melody that followed her. Echo clung to their mind and, as always, had seemed to attract their attention like a magnet. Not all had followed her advice, but many did. Many had indeed made their way down, and just as many were more than willing to talk about it. After the first day, it had seemed to be a good idea to bring a notebook. And after he had done his rounds, he looked up the rough regions spoken about on an old (and hopefully somewhat accurate) map. This gave him a loose idea of the path that Music had followed. There were deviations, but it all seemed to point north. Straight north for the most part... “She asked me about the tree...” It was that sentence that brought his mind out of his thoughts, where he had drifted off after the young mortal woman had started to get chatty about things that he did not quite care about, only remaining half-listening. She had not seemed to notice. Or care much. “The one I used to play at when I was a kid.” A tree... Could it possibly be ? ”A tree ?”“Yes, a tree. It doesn't sound really special I know, but it was ! It was hollow, with a large opening in the trunk. Some people came in, and some... didn't ever come out. I've always wanted to go inside, but mom never let me. By the time I could have... it seemed too dangerous. The last time I've been there... it still seemed a little alive, even if the rest of the trees around it had died.” ...Well, it was vague, but it was the most accurate thing he had gotten so far. His mind wanted to just scream victory, but he would not know for sure until he went and checked it out. But... it seemed likely. Very likely. What other tree would have survived Destruction's long influence while those around it had died off ? None, at least to his mind. He smiled, a small, shy smile, but rather genuine. ”Thank you. This... actually helps me quite a lot. I will leave you to your friends now, since I have already taken quite a bit of your time...”He had only barely turned that the woman had piped up once more. “Hey, wait ! So you know her, then ? Why do you think she wanted to go there...?” ”Most likely looking for something.” Or rather someone...“Oh, so... you are going to go look for her ?” ”Among other things.” He shrugged. Vague answers, but they were true ones. The girl blinked, something finally dawning onto her. “So, you are... like her ?” ”...You could say that.” Ankou could not help but be slightly amused at the girl's cheeks turning red, turning to be on his way and leaving her to her obvious embarrassment to apparently having spend the last half-hour doing small talk to a god of all things. But there was, ultimately, no harm done. Though, with that kind of light attitude, she certainly would not find a lack of like-minded deities to look upon. She would not remain alone long, though... she was a little chatty, for his tastes. For now, however, he had to figure out where on the map that tree could be on...
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:48 pm
Findings Sosiqui Tian Yue couldn't keep the layout of the Pantheon straight anymore - the building looked far too small from the outside to contain the rooms and hallways that seemed to coil endlessly in the dome, and the layout of the upper floor utterly defied the soft curves of the building's exterior. Still, he remembered vaguely where the Spirit Guide had made his home, and the sigils on the doors were a sort of guide.
Despite all this, it seemed far too long before he arrived in front of the door, marked with flowers, birds, and candles. It took him a moment to assess the symbols there, to match them up in his mind to the god, but once he had he nodded firmly and raised one hand to knock, shifting from foot to foot in eagerness.
Oh, how he hoped the logic in his finding, scribbled on the paper he now held curled in one hand, would make sense to someone that wasn't him! Otherwise, perhaps they really were doomed to an Age's searching to fulfill his Lord's request. Zero Dream There were steps beyond the door, which at least meant that someone was there... The door opened soon afterward, revealing a demoness similar to Xing Yue, but black furred and wearing a short purple dress. "Ah... Lord Worldshield." Anima bowed. "Please, come inside - my lord should be here in a moment..."
She then turned, hooves clicking against the hard wood floor as she knocked at the door of one of the side rooms.
And, from the opposite side, another opened, with a small, blonde-haired and brown eyed figure peering out curiously. Sosiqui "Thank you," Tian Yue, said, a bit absently - he was so wholly focused on keeping his thoughts straight that dealing with anyone besides his 'target' seemed almost dangerous, as if the logic and sense of his Grand Idea would crash and burn if he lost focus for a second.
Which was stupid, of course, but he so wanted this to work. Zero Dream It was not long before said target slid out of the room Anima had knocked onto, which, from the look that could be seen before the door was closed again, looked almost to be a library of sorts. But what use would the Spirit Guide have of a library... ?
But at any rate, he was carrying what looked to be a book and a map in his arms. "It is a good thing you've come," He said with a grin, obviously pleased with something. "It saves me the trouble of having to find you..." Sosiqui Tian Yue raised one eyebrow. "You look like the cat that ate the canary," he said, well aware that this was... well... the pot calling the kettle black. He grinned at the other god. "Have you figured something out? I certainly have. Or, at least, I hope so."
He paused, then, rather at an impasse - it would be rude to just steamroll over the Spirit Guide's own discovery, if indeed he had made one, but he had to tell somebody this idea to make sure it made sense outside his own head! "You first...?" Zero Dream "Is that some sort of mortal expression ?" The Guide asked, clearly a little amused. "But indeed... I have."
He came forward to rest his items on the nearby table, noticing Lenneth from the corner of his vision, but overall pretending he had not. This was no state secret, after all.
"You see... Echo went though the World Tree herself." He pushed things aside in order to unroll his map - with many notations on it. "Quite a long time ago... I have noticed an influx of new faces around here, and with some asking around and listening... I figured out that she was the one to send them here." He pointed at the point on the map where the pantheon was. "According to where they came from... I can see the path she followed... roughly." It wasn't completely accurate, of course. But since the goddess had not returned yet... It was not so far fetched to think that she probably had found the entrance.
"I think the entrance to the World Tree would be roughly around here." He pointed again, to another dot quite far away from their current location. Sosiqui "Echo..." She must have been traveling in search of Underworld, surely... A host of worries sprang to his mind, like did she go alone, but he forced them away. Echo was no fool, and surely Ankou would have accompanied her if the goddess had wished it. "That was bravely done. I hope she is well," he murmured, leaning to look at the map.
"That is quite far, but with my brother's help... the Fangbridle can travel astonishing distances in a day. It's entirely unfair, really," he added, with an amused look. "But with his aid, we at least should be able to make that journey in far less time than would otherwise be needed."
"As for me," he continued, "I have... a theory. A way we could divine the status of worlds from within Yggdrasil itself. We are, after all, not measuring the health of each world... only if it exists or not. Yggdrasil carries mana and sustains all worlds... therefore, by tracking the movements of mana, the health of the Tree itself, we should be able to determine the existence of the connected worlds. By this theory..." He unfolded his own paper and presented it to Ankou. "Dead branches of the Tree would carry no fruit. That is, no living worlds." Zero Dream "Brothers tend to be rather unfair things." The Guide added, knowingly and teasing both. Though, he did miss his own... But there were other matters to tend to. Unlike the goddess, Ankou had no doubt howsoever that Underworld was allright. In what state, per-se, was what he was not sure of.
But there had been activity. A realm ghosting over the others. And growing. Those things would not be possible without the god.
He paused, then, thinking on what was presented to him for a moment. "That... makes sense. Resources are precious at this time, the same goes for mana... Why spend resources on something that had no chance of recovery ?" Sosiqui "Indeed!" Tian Yue nodded vigorously, pleased. "We could assess the health of branches and track them that way - the task will still be difficult as we will need to walk many lengths to feel out where branches split, and I believe some sort of map might be the best way to indicate to our Lord where the mana paths now travel, and thus which worlds yet live." Zero Dream "Indeed... a visual reference might very well be best." The idea of having to put everything into words, an essay of it's own, and still have it make sense... Seemed far-fetched. But then, he always had an easier time reading maps than books, as his attempt at research had showed.
The Guide seemed to ponder for a moment, lost in his thoughts before continuing. "...If there is a world on the other side of a path... There very well also might be ghosts wandering along it. I can also use this as a guide." No souls would come out of the void, after all. They were eaten, just like the worlds.
The thought still bothered him a little. It should not have been this way.... but it was too late to do anything about that now. Sosiqui "Yes... that's true." Tian Yue gave Ankou an almost startled look - but of course the other god would be able to sense the departed in some fashion. It would be awfully hard to do his job, otherwise! Then he sobered. "Not even a soul left, all eaten. Those who set Gehenna into motion... have much to answer for."
He shook his head, then, and smiled wryly at Ankou. "Having a back-up plan, another means of confirmation, would be perfect. Let us pray that such things work once we actually get there... otherwise, the road ahead of us will stretch far longer..." Zero Dream "Is it so surprising ?" Thankfully, the god seemed more amused than possibly annoyed by the look the dragon gave him. Just as if he had dropped the bombshell of a century on him. He had to admit that had been very amusing indeed. "Though... I figure not many actually think about things like this." After all, to most, the dead were just that. Dead. Gone. Unable to be felt even if they were right beside their surviving family and friends, save for a few exceptions there and there, those powerful enough to project themselves without aid. Such occurrences often resulted in hauntings. Or even fewer, the living with such a perception...
But he said none of that, and instead shook his head, sadly. "Indeed." Even if it did lessen his task considerably... he found no joy in it."Lords." Anima had made her way back, holding a tray with a kettle and two mugs - tea, it seemed, and slid it on the table. The demoness bowed once, and then, made her way toward the side rooms, leaving the two once more to their discussion. Sosiqui "Your servants are attentive," Tian Yue remarked, then leaned forward slightly and inhaled the steam wafting from the kettle, an appreciative look on his face. "The return of Creation has meant a return of such niceties. Little luxuries made all the better for want of having them."
He settled back, then, to let the tea steep and to allow Ankou first pour, if he wanted it. "It seems to be the easiest method of transport within Yggdrasil would be... dragon-back, in the largest corridors, and errais-back or on foot in the smaller. I will ask my Aoidei to fashion a harness for my use, capable of providing a comfortable space for yourself and any Aoidei you choose to bring with you. Perhaps something with slings to bear the errais also... have you such a creature looking to you? If not, my brother can doubtlessly call one to serve." Zero Dream "Anima is a lady of few words... But she catches everything. And is rather efficient." Not to say with Jinx was sub-par - they simply each excelled in different areas.
"I do agree... going by foot is not going to be very efficient, now wouldn't it ?" The god reached for the kettle, pouring the contents into each mug. He was not exactly one for tea... or most warm drinks, come to think of it, but he figured he could make an exception this time. Little luxuries made all the better, as the dragon had said.
"I do know of them..." Ankou answered with a nod. "It seems indeed that there are already some that decided to offer their services to gods, perhaps indeed with the Fangbridle's influence... Though I do not seem to have attracted any to myself. If it is to be of any trouble, though.. I can walk." Then, something seemed to occur to him. "Will he be coming with us ?" Sosiqui Tian Yue took the kettle and poured his own cup, taking another moment to savor the scent of the brew before speaking again. "He will not accompany us within the Tree, but he can take us there - as I mentioned earlier, he can travel quite far in a day's time. I believe we could make it to the place you indicated within a day..." Zero Dream "A day ?" It was Ankou's turn to be somewhat startled. "That is indeed... impressive. And handy. I am glad he is willing to lend assistance." Indeed. On errais, and maybe even dragon back... this would have likely taken weeks to accomplish.
Perhaps, if they somehow managed to catch up with Echo... He would be at least able to return with news. That might soften the blow of his leaving for Cosine... Whom he had yet to warn that he was, indeed, departing soon.
He still had much to think about... Sosiqui "He is, yes. We are quite close. Well, we all are... the five of us that remain..." Tian Yue looked pensive for a moment. Where were the other four; where did Shen Lung, Ti Lung, Qian Lung and Mang rest their coils now? Surely if they had been Eaten, he would know...
He took a sip of his tea; the flavor was excellent. "My compliments to your Aoidei," he murmured, a bit distracted, then swallowed and re-focused himself. "When do you think you will be able to leave? I do not wish to tear you away from your own pursuits without warning, but I feel it best that we depart as soon as we are able. The sooner the task is done, the sooner we can both move on to our continued duties." Zero Dream "Brothers tend to be close-knit... even if they are very different." The Guide mused out loud. To be able to come up with something so quickly, Anima had likely chosen though one of the many blends Cosine kept on hand to brew at a moment's notice - which she thankfully did not seem to mind sharing, though he should likely think about replacing the used up leaves... That made him curious, however, and he took a sip of his own. It was rather hot on the tongue, but it was not so bad. Better than most teas he had tasted. Which was, granted, very little.
At Tian Yue's last statement, however, he took a moment to think it over. Something reasonable for the both of them... "..Two days, at the most. I have not warned anyone that I would be leaving yet, since I did not know exactly when we would."
He had been rather absent lately, and now he would be even more so. If nothing else, he owed his love one day at the very least, to spend as they wished, if she wanted to take it. It was the very least he could do. Sosiqui "Of course - I shall need as much time, myself. The harness of which I spoke still needs to be constructed." He made a face at that, as he knew his own idea was dooming himself to time spent outside, holding still very carefully while Toki measured and pinned and hemmed and hawed. At least in dragon-shape the Aoide's pins couldn't p***k his flesh.
Another sip of tea. "Will the children be well? I could pick one among my followers to help attend them in their absence... I feel badly about taking more of their family from them." Zero Dream "I am certain that they will be well." Indeed, the words had come without any hesitation, and the god stopped to take another sip of his cup before continuing. Perhaps he just needed to let it cool down a tad more...
"Echo did not take any of her own with her. Neither did Nergal." A slight frown made it's way on the Guide's face, betraying that he would likely have preferred it otherwise. "And... Cosine will likely be watching over them as well. They will not lack proper supervision and care... And I do believe that she would not have left if she did not at the very least trust that they could handle their own somewhat." Music, from what he had seen, was a rather odd mother hen, watching over her little brood yet not too keen of robbing them of the experience they needed to learn by overprotecting them.
He did not always understand this odd contradiction, but he knew at least that much. Music would have not left if her sons and daughters were still fully dependent on her. And, after all, he had seen some of that budding independence with his own eyes. Sosiqui "That is good. I will let myself be more at ease, then." Tian Yue smiled, then tilted his head to one side. "Cosine? I believe she's been mentioned to be before... ah, yes. Little Lament. She... makes you 'all weird', I believe was the phrase?" He raised one eyebrow at Ankou. Zero Dream "As you should. Their care is not something we need to worry ourselves about." They were very well accompanied, and would be well-watched over indeed. That, more than perhaps anything else in this journey, he was certain of.
"Ah, and for that, well..." Ankou gave a light chuckle. "There are many things the boy find 'wierd' indeed... Ah. She is the lady of Numbers, half of a pair of literal twins, though I have yet to meet her other, though I figure we will likely meet when time will be right." Sosiqui "Numbers, is it?" Tian Yue looked thoughtful. "I think... perhaps I have met her, once, some time ago. Or her host. A young woman in red with black hair...? What was her name? Lien, I believe."
He smiled, though, a little soft, a little sad. "Cherish her, then. Loves I have had, and lost, twice over. I pray you do a better job than I." Zero Dream "That would be indeed right." Lien... Lien. Truth to be told, her host he had never met, and he had never given it a second thought. Neither her or his own. He had never asked what happened to Lien... as she had never asked what had happened to Adrian. These things, apparently, were their own secrets to keep.
And that was fine. That did not help but remind him of darker times, where things had still been completely uncertain.
"...I can only hope so." He sighed in turn. "....I am... inexperienced, in these matters." It was an hard admission - perhaps even somewhat embarrassing, as he took another sip of tea. The temperature was more bearable now that he had given it time to cool. "I do not think I have ever loved anyone before her... and I fear that I will only end up hurting her."
Why was he even talking about it ? Certainly the dragon had better things to do than to hear him ramble. "I apologize, I..." Whatever the rest of his sentence had been seemed to die in his throat before it could even come out. A rather akward moment. "...I do not think I had many... friends, either." Sosiqui "It is said that it is better to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all," Tian Yue said, quietly. He took a long sip of tea before speaking again. "As one who has done both... twice... I believe that anonymous sage is correct. At least if you have worries, you can speak with Love himself," he added, lifting his voice a little, trying to lighten the mood slightly. Perhaps he should have done so, sought counsel.
Too late now. Zero Dream "You would know better than I, being the scholar that you are. So I shall listen to your advice." Likewise, Ankou was trying to do just the same, the hints of a smile playing on his lips. Things... are different now, he reminded himself. The past did not matter, at least not in this way.
It was the now that did.
Perhaps he had stopped being afraid of consequences the night where everything was reborn... the night he had completely accepted her into his life.
"I can only hope it will not come to that. But... I think she knows me well enough by now to know I am a skittish little creature who rarely stays put." Sosiqui Tian Yue laughed, then. "As am I, though the little is debatable in my case. But my duties to the Crown will call me to many places and to many tasks. I did well to love Universe, for He was - in a sense - everywhere..."
He sighed, but the wistful smile did not depart. "And now such things must be restored. If only in effigy. The mortals will be comforted... and so, I admit, will I." Zero Dream "Well, in comparison..." He gave a light-hearted chuckle on his own. "I am definitively tiny. And that isn't even including dragon selves yet. Clearly I am at disadvantage." But being small and lean also had advantage - being able to slide where not many others would have been able to, for example. He was not dissatisfied with the body he had inherited, though there was something off that he still could not quite explain.
But it was all rather meaningless for now. Existing at all was a boon of it's own.
"You will not be alone in such thought, I believe." He would certainly feel comforted... There were visions of blank skies, deep into the broken shards of memory - such a thing... did not belong on the planes of the living. Sosiqui "We will see - I believe we will have need of agile hands in Yggdrasil." Tian Yue grinned, then looked thoughtful. "Have you given thought to our retinue? I hardly think we should bring many with us - the more we bring, the more we must carry to care for them - but going alone would not be wise. I had thought to bring one of my Aoidei... what about yourself?" Zero Dream "I have, in fact." The god turned more serious once more, nodding. "I do agree on both points... I thought to bring Jinx - I believe you have already seen her ?" The Guide could not remember for sure if he had, or not. "She is a hair clumsy on day to day tasks, but she is efficient. And a formidable fighter, should we run into trouble." Such a possibility should not be discarded, though he would prefer it to not happen at all. Who knew just who - or what - had possibly taken refuge in the tree, if they could have found an entrance... Sosiqui "Yes... yes, I have." The one who is like Nebula... and yet unlike, thankfully. "She sounds like an excellent ally for this journey. As for myself... I have two Aoidei in my keeping, one of whom is... not well-suited for this. The other is Xing Yun, whom you have met. Which would mean two gods, two Aoidei, two errais... that should be doable," he mused. Zero Dream "It should." He could only hope, at the very least. Though, if it came though it, he could probably push the limits of his still-mortal body further than the aoidei might be able to. They were immortal, yes... but only except from the effects of time. This... he remembered innately.
Very few of those souls he carried, and their destination... had been different ? Though, as soon as the flicker of memory came, it was gone as quickly. No matter.
"Is there anything you would like for me to try and find ?" Sosiqui "Hmm... some supplies for the journey... actually, there is one thing. I believe Yggdrasil will be dark, devoid of what light was granted it in Ages past." Tian Yue put his mug down thoughtfully. "Might you be able to find some source requiring no flame or excess heat? I would hate to set the Tree ablaze." Zero Dream "I will do my best. Though, I have a found a few lanterns in my scavenging. They will require candles, but... they look to be quite safe. I will bring them if I find nothing else." The Guide nodded. Light, indeed, was a very important thing - why was it that he never seemed to really think about the little things ?
"I will do my best, though it is very likely that we will have to settle and take the risk. But... it would seem likely to me that Yggdrasil would be more resistant to such mundane things." Sosiqui "Perhaps, but I would hate to cause any undue damage. Especially if my theory proves true and we draw near to decayed or rotting places... but I trust your judgment, my friend."
The phrase slipped out unexpectedly, and Tian Yue paused after saying it, then inclined his head in a nod, smiling. He would not take it back. Zero Dream Ankou, likewise, grinned in turn - and said nothing in attempt to disprove it.
"Perhaps I should go on and search, then. After all, finding things is apparently one of the things I am rather good at." Hopefully... Hopefully his judgement will hold true, if he was not lucky in his search.
"We both have much to do, unless you would like to talk some more ?" He was not in a hurry, not really. He did indeed appreciate the dragon's presence. Friend.... He could do that. And hopefully show himself worthy of such title. Sosiqui "I would - but I fear we'll have time enough to talk on our journey that we may grow sick of each other." The dragon grinned, giving the lie to his statement, then rose to his feet. "Thank you - be well, Ankou. Send word when you are ready, and I will speak with my brother and we will travel."
He paused in the doorway and glanced back over his shoulder, his expression just barely visible between the formidable shoulder-spikes. "Thank you. I look forward to our travels together."
With that, he turned and was gone.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:49 pm
Goodbye, I Love You Zero Dream Once the process had gotten started, it seemed both he and the dragon king had found what they were looking for rather quickly. He had his rumors as to the path Echo had taken and where she had last been seen, and he had been contacted by one of Tian Yue's aoidei to let him know all was ready.
So it was time to go. Normally it would not do much to him - he would just take his things and go - but... It did not feel right for him to just leave like that, without telling Cosine that he was indeed leaving for a longer journey than he had done so far. They had not seen much of the other lately... seemed like they were both busy,
Though the fault of that was moreso his own than her's, he knew. Keeping busy did not necessarily take her far, unlike with him. Maybe one day, when he was more of himself, he would take her along with him if she wished. Made her see the paths he followed, the things he did. But now was not the day.
He knew she was here now, the god could feel the energy of the woman he loved in the other room. Probably keeping some sort of record, if she was up to her usual tasks. Though, if she was busy, perhaps he should leave Numbers to her work. Leave a note, perhaps.
...
Oh, who was he kidding. This was not only about her. He wanted to see her, hold her, kiss her one more time before leaving for who honestly knew how long. That, and he had something to give as well...
The god finally seemed to decide himself, pushing the side of the long curtain that was now separating the bedroom from the small part where she kept her things, and worked. "Cosine ?" midnight_medea Cosine had not really been working on anything critically important. Some workbooks for Crys and Kios to keep them occupied and out of trouble for a few moments at least. She really hoped that she would be able to do a good job for Echo and Nergal.
At Ankou's voice she finished the row of numbers she was writing and looked up.
"Hello stranger." She said with a smile, shifting so that she could stand in a fluid movement. She could tell by the look on his face, the weariness behind his eyes that it was time. Zero Dream Stranger indeed. He knew she most likely had meant it as teasing and nothing more - he was getting better at reading her moods and the meanings under her smiles and movement. Yet, he could not help but agree.
"Stranger indeed. Or perhaps an odd wanderer. I believe both might fit nicely." He voiced out, this time, moving closer to her. He wanted to draw her into a hug, but left her to do the first move.
It was easy for even him to see that the goddess knew very well what he was probably here for. It made it both easier and harder. "I figure it is not a surprise that I will likely wander away soon..." He wanted to say so many things, even apologize for it somehow, which was completely illogical. But somehow that was rather hard.
The Guide figured this probably spoke volumes about how much he cared for her, at least in his mind. Otherwise this would not be hard, would it not ?
"I have much to do now... And I have truly done little of it yet." The god had never been one for which words came easily, but something in his expression did betray that some part of him... probably would rather stay here, by her side. Especially since Echo had not yet returned as well... But that was not possible for him. If he did that, then he would have no true purpose as Guide of the Dead, and what would be the point of him existing, then ? "I will look for her." He promised. midnight_medea
Cosine did not make any move to go to him at first she merely listened, watching his complex expressions as he spoke. Her head nodded in agreement, it was no surprise, especially after her meeting with Echo. She felt sad inside, she did not want them both to leave. She would be alone again then ... though, there was the children. She had been entrusted with their care which was a great responsibility.
His final words made her smile a little and she then moved to wrap her arms around him and hug him tightly.
"I will miss you." She said softly, "But she needs to be found, as does he."Zero Dream He could not promise to return soon - not keeping in mind where he was going, and the sheer scope of the task, so he... simply did not. It seemed better to not promise anything than to do so and then break sure. "I am sure they are fine." He said, closing his arms around her's as well. "Both of them." There had to be a reason for the lack of news, but... he doubted the reason was a dire one.
"I am not leaving alone." The Guide let go of one side, holding his hand to run his fingers though her bangs. "I will have the Worldshield by my side... He had been given the task to take amount of the remaining worlds. Since our footsteps happen to lead us in the same places... I will also assist him." He hoped that at least this much would be comforting.
"So no worrying about me, do you hear ? I am quite certain the only thing he could not save me from would be my own stupidity." He said with a grin. He wanted to see her smile again. midnight_medea Cosine kept her eyes on him as he spoke, closing them briefly as his fingers worked their way through her hair.
"Worldshield." She repeated, watching him closely. She was a little jealous, why could she not accompany him. Left with the children, though that was no small task, it did not stop that twinge of resentment.
"If I trust anyone to keep you in one piece it is him." She smirked, resting her head against his chest and listening to his breathing for a few moments. "I have you for tonight?" She asked softly. Zero Dream "Yes." He said, without hesitation. And if not, he would make it happen. One day more before leaving would not change anything, after all. It was not like the worlds would magically re-arrange themselves in that span of time.
"One day..." He started, as if lost in thought, but shook his head. "One day, if you wish... I will take you with me." The Guide said. These were no small words, and he knew it. "I will take you with me, and I will show you things that other seldom see. The hidden gems at the confines of the further worlds..." He had to find them again, those breathtaking sights, but that was only a detail.
But until he could protect her from what problems could happen on such a journey on his own... Until he could freely move as he wanted... such a thing would be complicated. "And yes, that is a promise." But this he could promise. This he did not hesitate to do so. midnight_medea His answer made her smile. She had just gotten used to being settled and now she would be alone again. Not entirely alone but still, without those closest to her. She would misse them dearly.
"I would love to go one day. Have an adventure with you." She smiled and traced a finger over his shirt, thinking of all the things that they might see one day. "Sitting at home and worrying is not much fun." Zero Dream "I can't say it must be. And that is exactly why you are not going to sit here and worry about me." At least, in a perfect world, this was how it would work.
"But then, I want it to happen the other way around, too." He said with a grin. "I will even try not to fall asleep during lessons." After all, what did Numbers do at her peak ? Teaching her art was one of the ideas that came to him, at the very least. He knew she had kept records... many records... but otherwise he had not known much about her past. Neither had she known much about his, come to think of it, but the distant past was the past - mostly faded from their memory and not worth dwelling on too much beside learning from the pieces and seeking information from it.
"You could keep count of the souls for me. See how many we find in one day." That part had been completely serious, but his tone turned to silliness, an impish grin forming on his lips as he moved to sweep her off her feet and carry her. No work for him today apparently meant no more work for her either. "And you can whack me on the head if one gets lost along the way..." midnight_medea "I will teach you. Though there is more to me than being a school marm you know." She raised an eyebrow and smirked. "I can do interesting things too." As he swept her off her feet she laughed and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. "I like this whacking you on the head idea, that sounds like a lot of fun." She gave him a tap with her hand and tugged a lock of his hair. Zero Dream "Ow." He announced, overdramaticly, as if she had hit him twice as hard as she actually had. "Careful with that. I might actually need to use it, one of these days. And I indeed feared you might very well take a liking to this..."
One over-dramatic sigh later, Ankou had made his way toward their bed, to sit and lay her down at his side. "Well, you never told me about any of the other things you do, yes ?" He said, eyes full of both mischief and cheer. "I am sure you do "fun stuff" as well, though I do believe there are indeed people who would see world-hopping to grap souls as more of a chore than any fun. Everything is relative, after all..." midnight_medea Cosine laughed and stretched out on the bed.
"Indeed, everything is relative. I didnt tell you because it's secret numbers business." She tapped her nose and gave him a wink. "Maybe I'll show you one day, if you're a good boy."
She sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
"I don't want you to go." She said honestly with a small smirk. "I know you have to, for Echo and Nergal. but ... I don't want you to." Zero Dream "But... I am not very good at being a good boy, you know that." The Guide said, and then sighed, and shook his head.
"I know... But, it is the way things have to be." He had no regret about leaving, per-se - wandering was what he did, and asking him to stay put forever would be like asking a bird to never fly. Perhaps his only regret was that he could not take her with him. Not this time.
Not only this trip was not really his own, but he had no idea if he could protect himself - even moreso her. Not that she was helpless, far from it, but he knew what kind of things could await them on a journey like this one.
"Close your eyes." He whispered in her ear, reaching to kiss her forehead. midnight_medea Cosine nodded and smiled. She knew it had to be done, that was why she would say it once and once only, just an expression of her feelings. She knew his path now was not going to be an easy one. Maybe she was just nervous about being alone. The grigori were still out there somewhere, waiting, biding their time.
She smiled at his soft words and closed her eyes, relaxing a little as she breathed deeply.
"Okay." She said softly. Zero Dream There was the sound of movement, of Ankou just slightly sliding his way away to be able to bend over and reach for his pockets without ending up smacking her with his arm as he moved, the rustle of fabric on the bed sheets. The sound of wood and glass colliding with each other as something was pulled out, the soft touch of his fingertips as they ran across her cheek to reach for a lock of black hair, twisting to settle something in place. His hands withdrew then, and he tilted his head slightly to the side to have a better look. That seemed to do nicely indeed.
"I have to make sure you'll have a mean to remember this stranger's name while he is gone, after all. Cannot have you forget me that easily." He said, his tone impish, reaching for the small mirror on the side table. "Go ahead and take a look...." midnight_medea Cosine smiled as she listened to him move, the sound of glass and wood, his gentle touch as he placed the ornament in her hair. Opening her eyes slowly she sat up a bit more and reached for the mirror. A new charm sat next to the one he had given her shortly after they had first met. It was prettier, she decided, though she loved them both.
"I love it." She smirked, turning her eyes to his. "You are turning me into a shamen piece by piece." Zero Dream "Ah, but you make such a pretty shaman. All you need is a staff... or some kind of wand..." He teased, a grin sliding on his features.
"Though... Perhaps not so. These..." He tapped at the large wooden beads lightly. "Are from an abascus. I found it in one of the ruins in a nearby village, broken. I had no idea how to fix it, but I figured something could still be done with the beads." midnight_medea
Cosine laughed and touched her new decoration.
"A wand, that could be fun." a wizard, that is what they were called in some children's tales. A wizard would be an interesting profession.
"I could make Nergal appear with it. Not that he would like that." She smirked and reached out to toy with one of his grey strands. "Abacus beads, I love it, very thoughtful. It would have been a shame if they had been left to nothing."Zero Dream The Guide could not help but give a light chuckle. "If only..." If only things could be so simple. But... that was impossible. He looked rather pensive at the moment, lost to his thoughts as he often was, not minding in the least as she started to play with one gray strand of hair.
Things would never quite be that simple. But perhaps it was better this way.
"I thought so... I am glad that you like it. These are the nicer ones... the rest were pretty badly worn and cracked." In the end, he had only had just enough. midnight_medea Cosine smiled up at him and reached up to touch it again.
"It's beautiful." She said softly. Beads that were saturated in numbers, the essence of them. Such a perfect gift. "I don't have anything to give you." She said, holding his eyes with hers. "Except maybe this." The goddess shifted a little so that she could place a gentle kiss on his lips. Zero Dream His hand shifted as she did, to better support her as she moved, in order for her to not fall off the bed. He reached upward and took her gift eagerly.
"That is indeed a very worthy gift to give." He said, poking at her nose with his before he went and reached out for more.
Ankou seemed to like to give out gifts, especially if they were like this. Oh, how he loved her... But yet, as it often was the case, the words to truly express it, the words that could truly express all he felt for her...
He could not find them. midnight_medea Cosine smiled at his words and kissed him back once more. She knew he was not one for expressing how he felt in words, so this gift, his small gestures meant so much to her, more even. Anyone could string together a few sweet nothings, but gestures, honest gestures they really meant something.
"You don't have to say anything." She said softly, running her fingers up into his hair and kissing him again, a little deeper. Zero Dream That indeed seemed to suit him just fine, and his decision had not been taken already, it would have been taken at this very moment.
He would not move an inch today, unless it was meant to follow her. The Guide would not leave today. Today he would enjoy her presence before having to leave it. He would miss her... he would miss her terribly, but hopefully his focus would not falter.
"I will tell you all that I have seen when I return." He promised, once that kiss had ended. "I will find Echo and Nergal... I will figure out what happened. I will bring you whatever news, whatever clues I will be able to find. The dead, they will tell me if they have seen her. And how she was."
He could, at least promise that much.
"But... That is not for today." midnight_medea Cosine smirked a little as he spoke.
"I should hope so. I would be rather angry if you appeared and told me nothing." Her eyes held his for a moment and she smiled at his last statement.
"No, that is not for today. Today I have you all to myself and we are not going to talk about these things."
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:50 pm
The Edge of the Labyrinth Sosiqui Tian Yue, still in dragon-form, took a deep breath as they moved further into the tree, downwards and deeper, further from the light and from his brother's presence. He could smell the faintest traces of Echo and her companions, but most of what he could smell was dust and rot - centuries, eons worth of it. The Tree was not rotting to bits in entirety - it couldn't, not with Kishara alive and generally well - but it had certainly seen better days.
And it was vast. What he had seen in the Ancient Pantheon was the merest protrusion, he understood now, the merest sapling emerging from the unthinkable whole. It would be impossible to map... except they didn't have to map everything. If his theories were correct, then the truly dead sections would host living worlds. The dead roots and branches could bear no precious mana-flow... and what sense was there in ferrying mana to empty places? The Tree was alive in a sense that went beyond the esoteric knowledge of mere plants.
"Ankou." Tian Yue raised his head and inhaled again, trying to triangulate from which directions flowed stale air, or fresh, or utter rot and corruption. "This part... we must map and number the branches, somehow. The rotting places should bear no fresh fruit; no living worlds... so we must note which areas are dead, and which alive. I believe this will answer our Lord's request in the most efficient way." Zero Dream Ankou's attention so far had been mostly on making sure the little group of aoidei and errais was well settled, and making sure his kitten didn't fall off in awe of what she was seeing from so high up.
That, and watching. There was not much that would look unusual to most sights - but he could see them - the ghosts - even now, some were still making their way toward and inside the pathways of the tree, as if drawn by an invisible force. And the urge to simply ask Tian Yue to go further down, down, and down, was getting harder to ignore.
He has been distracted enough as is. This travel is not on my whims... He reminded himself, sharply, before the worldshield called out his name. "That would most likely be a good way to start..." He agreed, looking into his backpack for a small notebook and pencil. He was not exactly skilled at map-making - all that he needed to know before he had commited to memory, though now it was all gone - and handed the lantern to Jinx. "I am ready." Sosiqui Tian Yue walked forward slowly, moving with care; the way here was more than large enough to hold him, but he was careful, listening to the sounds of the wood below him as he moved, ready at a moment's notice to switch from walking to flight should the floor break beneath his weight. "I will place scratches in the walls to indicate our path so we can return... and so we can know which areas we have canvassed," he told Ankou.
The harness was working quite well, even though his Aoidei had made it quickly - Toki was an astonishing seamstress, really. Ankou, Xing Yun, and Jinx could ride him comfortably from above, while the two errais could be carried in slings at his side if such a thing was needed. For now, he heard them trailing behind him - no need to carry them now, not when they were moving slowly in exploration.
The first fork in the path came swiftly; a tunnel smaller than Tian Yue could fit into. Still, he jammed his muzzle into the opening and inhaled sharply, only to rear his head back and cough very, very hard as rot-dust seemed to practically attack his nose. "Ugh... blech!" he spluttered, shaking his head and spitting the dust out onto the floor. "That... that does not smell like anything's alive back there... Ankou, do you see anything?" Zero Dream Jinx let out a startled meow when the dragon read back, but held on as best as she could. Ankou, for his part, made his way up to standing in order to have a better vantage point of the front. Tian Yue had warned him he was big in dragon-shape, but that hadn't stopped him from still being surprised when he saw just how much. There were no dead coming out, but some were heading in, clearly lost in the maze-like tangle of roots, which made him frown. He should have come here long, long before now, but he forced the guilt away. Now was not the time.
"Over there, Jinx." He pointed, and the cat aoidei tried to light the hallway the best she could. Ah, this was better. The dead that were heading that way were turning back. "Nothing's coming out of it. The ghost who try to go down that path end up having to go back." A few scribble of the loose shape of the tree later, he slashed an X over that particular branch. Nothing would stop them from going on if it was not closed off.
Though... he could not leave them here. Yet, to bring the ghost along all this way ? He would not mind, but there was the off-chance that his companions could feel them, and feel rather haunted indeed. "The way you seek is downward - follow the trunk to the roots." He called out, some authority slipping into his voice as he did so. The ghosts looked at him, but... nodded, and started their decent.
There. Sosiqui Tian Yue nodded, then reached out one claw to carve an x-shaped marking in the floor in front of that pathway. "There... that's that bit done, anyway..." Still, at Ankou's mention of the dead, Tian Yue sighed quietly. There had once been living, vibrant worlds attached to this branch - or was it a root? he couldn't tell - and now they were gone. He couldn't tell when the mana had ceased to flow... had it been thousands of years ago, or during the aborted Ending?
He turned away slowly, moving down the tall pathway, ducking his head and occasionally raising his voice to direct the light sources carried by the Aoidei - his night vision was fairly good, but not that good. "Are there any areas with large numbers of dead moving, Ankou? Perhaps we should angle our path in those directions... it would help to confirm our hypothesis. I'd hate to track dead branches only to find they don't mean what I think they do..." Zero Dream "Hm..." The Guide moved along to look toward the side. The dead had already started to move in the direction he had called, so it was a little harder to tell. It took a few minutes before Ankou actually replied to Tian Yue's question.
"Over there." He pointed toward another branch.... root ? Another opening, though it was hard to tell if the dead were coming out because the way was blocked from this angle. Sosiqui And down they go to Underworld, to rest eternal or to Rebirth's cycle, on and on and on- Tian Yue shook his head again, feeling an atavistic shudder run through his frame, unbidden. He wasn't afraid of ghosts, not at all, but the certain knowledge that the Dead wandered here invisible, seeking their Destination, was somewhat unnerving.
Yet the Eaten worlds... would release no Dead. They had no Destination, only the mouth of Void.
"The great pathways at the trunk will be much, much larger. Forks splitting everywhere - we must be barely at the tip, the merest beginning." Large dead sections would narrow their search... yet it would also mean vast damage, hundreds, thousands of worlds Eaten.
Tian Yue took a few steps forward. "Can you see, now? I don't think I can fit down that tunnel without transforming." And that was a little irritating, he had to admit - his proper size was a bit of an inconvenience at times. He took a few experimental sniffs. "It smells..."
Like Her, like Kishara only faded and dusty and aged beyond telling, and like our Lord, and like green things...
"... alive," he finished, shifting his weight slightly." Zero Dream "Hm." The Guide said again, This was a bit better, yes, but he still had to scramble his way atop his head to get a better look in the distance. "It looks like they are actually going out, yes..."
And he did not see any decay, either. At least not as much as he had seen at the other path. The bark seemed alive here, as well as leaves there and there. He managed to pull his notebook and draw a circle around that particular entrance.
...He just hoped the dragon wasn't going to sneeze again while he was up on there. Sosiqui "Shall we go down this path?" Tian Yue had no idea how deeply it led, how many forks-upon-forks they might stumbled down... again the sheer scale of the task nearly dizzied him, and he forced himself to narrow his perception to this one tunnel. They could explore one at a time. Just one. And then another, and another, until they were done.
It wasn't so bad, thinking about it that way, provided he kept himself fully focused on that viewpoint alone, and did not shift to consider - try to consider - the whole. "Perhaps confirm at the first world-juncture we meet... that our hypotheses are correct? Provided the worlds we find here do indeed live, then that would serve. I might also travel a short way down a dead branch to see if I can find anything living there." He had a terrible thought of worlds left un-found, forever separated from the false Sky through his own bad logic. Zero Dream "That would probably be best." After all, they were going from guesses - and guesses were indeed not infallible. Just because ghosts were wandering did not mean a thing. This place struck him as a maze - it did not mean that they had came from it.
They could have simply gotten lost.
Most of all, they had to be as accurate as possible - no matter the time it ultimately took. Too many things depended on it. "Do you need to shift ?" The errais were certainly not far behind... He could hear their hooves from here. Sosiqui "That might be best, yes. I don't think I can fit in that tunnel and carry you comfortably." Tian Yue sighed and shifted from foot to foot, then crouched as low to the ground as he could to let the Aoidei and Ankou climb down from his back. "Xing Yun, once everyone is clear, please undo the cinches and bring down the harness? I don't wish to change and be buried in cloth."
"Of course, Lord," she said at once, then bowed to Ankou. "After you, honored Lord."
I can carry you? Gringolet's mental-voice was excited, and Tian Yue had to laugh, the sound shaking his sides. Don't, the errais chided him instantly. I'm the Horse, I'm meant to carry things - you are not. You are not the Fangbridle.
"And a good thing, too," Tian Yue snorted, amused, and waited for the others to dismount. Zero Dream Ankou nodded, and let himself slide down along one leg, landing in front of one claw with obvious agility, and starting to make his way down the path. This both gave more room for the dragon to shift and... less chance for him to end up squished. The black cat was quick to follow her master, after having taken the time to aid Xing Yun with the cinches and the harness.The brown-black errais that followed Gringolet closely could not help but watch, unable to keep in his awe at what he was seeing. This... This was so vast... He had never dared imagine something like this. Or that he would be chosen by the Fangbridle himself for something so important. Was his mother still wandering those roots... ? Sosiqui Tian Yue waited until the harness slid free of his back, then transformed, his viewpoint changing at dizzying speed as he poured himself into human shape. It took only a moment, and Xing Yun was there immediately with clothing for him, but he had to pause and stare before doing anything else.
Now that he was human-sized, the Tree seemed impossibly large - which it was, and he'd known that, but knowing something and really feeling that mass, that distance pressing down on you... that was something different entirely.
"Honor to the Empress," he murmured, feeling for his pants as Xing Yun wrapped a waist-length robe around his shoulders, her fingers deftly fitting his shoulder-spikes into the 'sleeves' made for them.
"Praise indeed," the Aoide echoed, then bowed and stepped back. "Are you ready to continue, my Lord?"
"Yes, I think so." Tian Yue shook his head, slowly, then smiled as Gringolet eagerly trotted up to him, ears raised. "Thank you, noble heart, but I think now... we draw close." Even in this form he could smell air, cool and sweet, and feel the faint stirring of a breeze from a nearby fork. He took a few paces and peered at it, where a delicate tracery of roots led upwards, a natural ramp spiraling up the interior of this root. If he stood in the center and looked up, he could see light filtering through...
"Shall we? I believe it is enough for the errais to come as well." Zero Dream Ankou had stopped his walk after only a few steps, leaning against the wall of root as he waited, observing the sight in front of him rather than the shifting dragon. He had to admit that this was quite a sight, especially in times like these... But this was the Yggdrasil. There was comfort in knowing this would not be the last of those sights he would see.
When the rest of the group had caught up to him, he surveyed the path again, then nodded. "Yes, I believe that would be fine." He rose one hand to idely run one hand across the length of Athanasius' neck. It was easy to see that the young one was at least a little bit nervous. Sosiqui Tian Yue nodded, then began to walk up the path with care; Xing Yun trailed him, bearing her light. "It smells... good," he murmured, tilting his head up as they ascended, light beginning to filter through cracks in the bark. The scale had shifted; their surroundings looked more like the inside of a normal-sized tree - and the type of tree seemed to have changed, too, into a soaring conifer that went straight up above them, smelling pleasantly spicy and alive.
There was, however, a gap at the top of the 'stairs'. Tian Yue hesitated. "Well, here we go," he said, took a deep breath, and stepped through.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:51 pm
Paen to Silence Zero Dream The small group emerged in what looked to be a dence forest, composed indeed mostly of conifer - a few looking a bit worse for the wear, but otherwise it seemed the wildlife here had recovered nicely. But yet, at the same time, something seemed... wrong somehow. Like if something was missing, but...
"We should look for water... Usually there are settlements near them." Nearest to the sources of life. It was where most of the rebuilding he'd seen had happened - it was only logical to assume the mortals here would do the same. "What kind of information do you want me to note down ?" He asked, cocking his head sideway to look at the worldshield. He was not quite sure what exactly would be most relevant to keep in mind. Sosiqui "Only that this world is alive." Tian Yue sighed and took another deep breath of the air. It seemed ever so slightly tainted with ash, but that was hardly surprising, not after Gehenna. And yet... there was something faintly wrong...
It took him a moment to realize, and when he did, his expression shifted into a frown. "Ankou... I don't hear any birds. Or insects. Or..." He bent down and worked one hand into the sod, lifting up soil rich with roots but empty of worms. Zero Dream Ankou had nodded in answer, raising the notebook to take note, but then he was stopped in mid-stroke by Tian Yue's sudden realization. That was right...
And it reminded him all too much of somewhere else......
"That..." He did not finish his sentence, however, and instead turned to look... toward something invisible, at least to the rest of his companions. "Do any of you know anything...?"
He was silent, for a moment, but his face quickly pulled into a frown. "...Most of the ghosts here are ones that wandered from the World Tree..." He did not like this. This was starting to look more and more like Karsch had been. Sosiqui Tian Yue shivered - the breeze was pleasant, not too cool and not too hot, but something about the whole place seemed abruptly sinister. The only sounds were the rustling of needles and leaves against each other, moved by the wind. Other than that, there was nothing but the sound of their own movements. Their own breathing.
"Maybe... maybe this place has always been this way?" Even as he spoke, though, the dragon knew it was a vain hope. Plants needed pollinators to reproduce at the very least, and while the worlds could range from the mundane to the utterly implausible, this one seemed a close cousin to Crispin's Earth, at least in basic form. Zero Dream "...I do not think so." Ankou shook his head. "We should probably check. Just to make sure..." After all, to him, it seemed like knowing what happened here was relevant enough to take the time.
Even if they were very likely not to like what they found. Sosiqui Tian Yue nodded, then placed one hand on Gringolet's shoulder as the erras edged up to him, clearly also nervous yet ready and willing to do his duty. I hear nothing, Lord... do we continue?
"We do," Tian Yue said, aloud, and Gringolet stood to let Tian Yue mount him. "Which direction? Towards water?"
The erras stood still, head tilted up to catch the breeze, then turned. This way, he broadcast to both gods, Aoidei, and his fellow erras, then slowly began trotting in the direction of the water he could taste on the breeze. Zero Dream Likewise, Ankou took place on Athanasius' back, followed by Jinx, and again the errais seemed a bit nervous, but again, the touch of Ankou's hand running down his neck proved soothing. 'Lord...'"I want you to stay close to Gringolet, should we need to part ways again." The Guide said. The older errais could easily keep an eye on this young one... young and perhaps a little excited and overeager. "And if you get tired - let me know. Understood ?"'Yes, my Lord...' The black horse set after the pair at that moment. His father and mother had taught him respect of the gods at a young age... perhaps knowing that their sons would likely have destinies much like their own. The small group traveled for quite awhile though the forest - many dead husks of trees littered the landscape, providing fertilizer for the new growth. This world had not been sparred the influences of the weeks, far from it - but the new growth, most likely influenced by Creation's return and Gaia's stronger influence, was slowly starting to take over the old and dead. There was indeed a river nearby - and following it's bank led them to what had perhaps once been a settlement, which looked worse for the wear... and most importantly, inhabited. There were no curious eyes peeking to see who these newcomers were, no stirring within the two huts that had remained standing, no recent traces of what could have been a campfire. Nothing at all.
This was really starting to look too much like the burning city... and his frown gave an outward sign of the Guide's worry. "Hello ? Is there anyone... ?" He called out. Both the living and the dead. Sosiqui "So there were sentient beings here... humanoid, from the proportions of the buildings," Tian Yue murmured, slowly dismounting and walking over to the hut, leaning foward slightly in an unconcious attempt to make himself look bigger. Just in case.
Though what would challenge a nearly seven-foot-tall, clearly spiky dragon god... well.
But nothing presented itself. The inside smelled stale and cold, not even the scent of habitation left. The only rot he could smell was that of wood, nothing meat or bone. "Ankou, there's not even anything... nothing edible here. Nothing alive or even formerly alive. No bodies... not even of vermin..." Zero Dream This was not natural at all. It was easy for even him to guess and see - there should be, at the very least, bones from the victims of the influence of the weeks... some kind of remain, even if there was no life.
But nothing was left. As if it had been picked clean by an unseen force --"Once, the bards sang..."The sudden voice made Ankou suddenly perk. "Did you hear that ?""Mrr ?" The cat-like aoide peered in turn, from where she had been peeking though remains to see if there was any bodies there. Strangely, there were none. "No..." "The songs of the kingdom, joyous and sad both..."Without anything else in term of explanation or warning, Ankou suddenly ran off toward the back of the village. Sosiqui "Hear - Ankou!" Tian Yue barely had time to get the god's name out before the Spirit Guide was running away from him. Hear what?!This place... Gringolet shifted and stamped his feet in nervousness. It is not right, my Lord... it is not right.."Hush, my Horse... we are here. No ill will befall you in my care," Tian Yue soothed him, running one hand down his neck; still, he readied his power grimly, set to release his shields and his form if he must. He was formidable in human shape; in dragon form, he could be a potent force of destruction.
But only if he had to be.
"Ankou!" he tried again, then set off in the direction the other god had run, the errais and Aoidei following with nervous glances. Zero Dream The Guide did not stop at the worldsheild's call - perhaps even so focused on that one foreign voice breaking the silence that he had never heard him at all."But only I recount the tale of the end of all..."Closer. Uphill. And that was the direction he took, until he ended up in a small hut, worse for the wear but still mostly standing - inside what was he had been looking for. A lone woman, her features pointed and delicate much like an elf's, see-though to his vision and invisible to the rest, the 'edges' of her being frayed and unraveling into loose mist.
A lone ghost, who did not react in any way to his arrival. Instead, she continued to sing, as if unaware."The worlds is at an end, hear me so
All sentient dancing to the tune of a deathly force unseen
We were not spared the strength of those strikes
But the deadliest of all...
These beings came, varied in shape
but all angry and seeking to feed
They took us, one by one, starting from the far away capital to the north
followed the rivers southward, crossing the whole length of the continent
Women and children, none were spared
Eating both soul and bones, these inhuman fiends
would stop at nothing to get what they want
And then they left, they fled
Be wary, any who hear this
For this land is cursed
And you and your own may very well be in danger
Flee while you can..."From there, she simply started her song anew, eyes unblinking and looking over the Guide's shoulder. He did not say a thing to her, did not ask questions - for he knew that there was no conciousness left to her. Most of her soul had been Eaten, this being the only thing that remain... perhaps she had been strong-willed and protective in life, that last fragment anchoring itself there to warn whoever might pass.... In vain.
Demons. That was Ankou's first thought of the matter. All signs seemed to point to exactly that. Not many creature ate both the souls and the bodies of their victims... Even the bones, which explained the lack of anything much too drasticly.
The influence of the weeks likely had ended most animal life - and then the demons had came, finished the job, and then fled... where ? Who knew. But with the entrance of the world tree so closeby...
He finally moved, one, two steps, ending up in front of the ghostly woman, raising one hand to touch lightly on her forehead, causing a sudden surge in his mana. "Is is not necessary for you to suffer more of this, young one..." He whispered, even if he knew she likely never heard any of it. He Looked into her, and, at last, silenced her warning song and let the rest of herself disperse into faint mist, glimmering to his companion's eyes now only due to his use of his own mana. Her song had truly been the only thing left of the bard - there was not enough of her to try to bring to the Underworld and save.
She was lost to the circle of life and death... As was the rest of her kind. Perhaps this was exactly what hit him the most, what caused both pain and anger to surge in his chest.
He had not wanted to see another world like the one bearing Karsch, but apparently this was exactly what he was seeing. Sosiqui Tian Yue finally caught up to his companion, hesitating in the doorway of the damaged hut as he watched the other god raise one hand to... the empty air.
Or so it seemed, to him.
He waited a long moment until the other god's demeanor changed imperceptibly, then cleared his throat, the quietest of sounds. "Ankou... what was it?" Zero Dream "A ghost." He said, calm at the surface though some part of him indeed seemed... bothered. "Or rather... a shard of one. A broken soul, mostly eaten." He turned to face the dragon again, the traits of his face heavy, and his eyes betraying some of his inner anger and sadness.
"After most of the influences unraveling... Hell fell on the mortal planes, as I believe I might have told you. Some worlds were obliterated outright by the force." Again, he spoke as if he had seen all these things for himself. "Those who did not.... suddenly had a demon problem, to say the least, most likely varrying in number depending on how many remained on the mirror-part of Hell. Most demons are rather malevolent - the ones who are not at the exception - eating soul and body of their victims for subsistence - and sometimes even simply for amusement. The only thing left of this one was one lone song - a warning, a tale of strange beings coming from the north of the continent and to the south... Where we seem to be. I do believe these were likely demons... Since there are no remain at all. If it was not for the influences of Creation and Gaia... this world would have likely been completely barren."
Behind the dragon, he could see Jinx suddenly tense - and, mostly, hear her hiss. "They are likely long gone, but... we should remain vigilant. I do believe... We will not find any native life on this continent at all."
If there was any other continents to this world... he did not know. But it did not look good to him. "...So many lost..." He shook his head. This was not right. Sosiqui Tian Yue let out a long, hissing breath. "I see. That... that explains much..." He felt vaguely ill at the thought. And yet this world was still here, not Eaten... still viable.
At least in theory. With even insects gone, it wouldn't be long before the remaining ecosystem began to collapse, even with the inflow of mana from Creation's rebirth. "I hope you were able to grant that soul peace..." He hesitated, then let one hand fall onto Ankou's shoulder into what he hoped was a comforting gesture. Sometimes, he did not envy his friend what gifts were his to command.
This was definitely one of those times. Zero Dream He did not shy away from the touch, though he tensed a little. Yet, after a moment, he rose one arm to rest his hand on top of the dragon's for a moment, not wanting his reaction to be misread as him wanting the other away from him just yet. He was not a physical person, for the most part, and such interaction outside Cosine and his family still tended to puzzle him.
The dragon, however, he did not mind.
"There was not enough left to save." He shook his head, for once looking pained, before letting go. "Her song was the only thing left. She... likely repeated it, over and over, ever since it happened. At least... there is no more suffering for her now."
Peace in non-existence was better than a broken existence. At least... he hoped so. He hoped he had made the right choice. His Sight was not yet perfect - what if he had overlooked something... ?
...No, now was not the time to start doubting and second-guessing himself. Not here, and not now. "What do you want to do, now ?" With the asset of flight, they could see if there were other continents to this world, see if they had been spared any - though... he doubted it. He doubted the concentration could vary this much from world to world.
There must have been so many, to do something like this. Sosiqui "The world is whole," Tian Yue said, quietly, "at least... in theory. It supports life, and could do so again were life introduced once more. It remains viable... and I admit, I am loathe to spend too much time here. The silence is too sharp for me." It was far different than the silence of the now-vanished heavens, where to his ears even the stars hummed and sang. Here there was nothing but the startling, terrifying purity of plants.
Plants that would soon begin to die without insects to pollinate them, without worms to stimulate the soil at their roots. Zero Dream Ankou nodded along to that. To be honest, he... was not so keen about staying here for too much longer, at least not on a ground level. There was the off-chance that the demons were still around, and while he was quite certain Tian Yue would make sure none of the group would become a tasty snack, he would much rather avoid such a run-in if at all possible.
And so, instead, he fetched the notebook from the old, tattered messenger back at his side and noted what the dragon said down. This world could easily bear life again, if He willed it so - as is, even the faintest influence had managed to get it going once more... at least for a little bit.
It would require a little more attention, but it seemed likely that one day, new civilizations would walk and build upon this very earth. If Creation wanted it so.
"Let us go, then..." Sosiqui "I believe I would like to rest," Tian Yue said, shaking his head, slowly. They had had a long journey to get to Yggdrasil's protrusion into their own world in the first place, not to mention traveling through the immense Tree itself was somehow... draining. Everything about it made one feel small. And then this place...
Well, it hadn't helped at all.
"Let us return to the Tree, and rest within Gaia's coils."
Gringolet had never come to his side so quickly, it seemed; Tian Yue was not loathe to climb onto the erras' back. Zero Dream "I agree... That would likely be best." Safer, too. Less of a span to watch - the branches were very wide indeed, but linear. It was easier to keep track of.
Ankou followed, and settled himself on Athanasius' back. The younger errais seemed just as every but unsettled as his elder - he could not blame them. He had felt something like this before, erriely similar, and in a sense this was slightly more comfortable because of the wandering ghosts he felt, saw and heard. Even they seemed rather nervous, talking of demons and danger and hiding. These were very eager to follow him, he could tell.
But such small comfort were not one that applied to the other travelers by his side, then. "Rest, then - I will keep watch, just in case."
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:52 pm
Protective Bones After a bit of squabbling, they had settled on taking turns with the guarding – each god would take turns, each with their 'night', though of course, Tian Yue had him promise that he would wake him up should he feel tired. It had been a moot point from the start, to anyone other than him – the dragon was further ascended than he was, his body requiring little to no rest. Such was not the same for him. But in the end, he had gotten what he had wanted, as illogical as it was. His reasons had been twofolds – the first of which being to be able to enjoy the silence. Nothing against any of his companions, of course, as so far each had been proven to be a strong fit, but Ankou was definitively more introspective than outgoing. Being able to simply listen to the silence, only broken by the breaths of his companions, for a few hours was refreshing. The second reason, was a matter of pride, though he would not readily admit it. He wished to do his part, as well, in this, though... he was not sure what he was trying to prove. Or to who. He had rested against the side of the branch, lantern carefully put to the side where it's lights would not bother the sleep of his companions as he scanned over the progress so far. Listening to silence was soothing, and it was easy to think while there was no one awake to address him, though not all the things the Spirit Guide thought of were things he wished to focus on. As with not every silence being soothing. It had been two 'days' since they had left the empty, silent world, and yet it seemed like the thoughts of it would not leave so easily. It had been twice, now, that he had seen empty worlds like these. How many more ? Have I... done the right thing ?Perhaps he would never know for sure. Likewise, it brought with it thought of Cosine. During the day, it was not so bad, as he had many other things to focus on. While sleeping, his longing often translated itself in the space behind him feeling unnaturally cold, as if there ought to have been someone right there, though that faded fast with habit. Awake and keeping guard, though... It was when he truly missed her. Those smirks, those beautiful green eyes, bright and full of life. Those bright red lips. The way she moved, the sound of her voice, down to the way she held her tea cup. Everything. There were also his nephews and niece, too. He missed them. And Nergal... though for now, that could not be helped. So many things had changed already. He had learned, slowly, to open his heart and reach out for others. Time would come to tell if that would be a good or bad thing, though... He was not sure if he would regret it, even if it somehow turned out to be unwise. He noticed, belatedly, that he was not even paying attention to the open notebook on his knees. Ankou frowned, and put it back into the bag. Walking... Walking seemed like a good idea. He could not go far, of course, but he could stretch his legs a little. Apparently, Ankou rather resembled his oldest nephew in the way that he could not remain sitting still for long. Making sure not to shine the lantern's light toward the sleeping party, he started to head deeper into the root. There was a faint, musty scent in the air, dust mixed with ageing and decay. This branch held no leaves, no life, no mana – there was no world on the other side. Which seemed like a good idea – it meant he could not possibly stray too far from his companions. His steps seemed to resonate across the dead wood, amplified by the sheer silence of this place. To travel this whole length alone... Well, there was a thing such as too much silence. His left foot collided with something, and he angled his lantern to see... Off-white. Bones. The god lifted his lantern once more, and... The bones stretched on, a large shape, more beast like than humanoid... it's span blocking the path to what had once been the world that laid below. Suddenly curious, he knelt, picking a bone from the tail that he had just hit with his foot. And he Looked. And Saw only quick flashes. Virtue, Guardianship. The Last Guardian.
Alone. Loss.
Protection.
No one else will lose what I have lost... Sacrifice. ...And then nothing more. The feel of the soul that had once inhabited these bones had long since started to fade, and the soul itself seemed nowhere near. Perhaps... absorbed into the World Tree so it could mend itself. He would likely never know for sure. But the creature's intention had been pure... and he had guarded. Something. He did not know what. Would likely never know what. But that did not stop him from sliding the large bone he had taken in his hands into the side pocket of his bag. Perhaps Nergal would appreciate the feel of one close to his eldest son's domain... Of a guardian who had given it's all. One more jewel for the crown, found on accident... but was it not how most of these things went ? At last, he turned to return toward where him and his companions had taken up camp, leaving the massive skeleton behind. Surely, they would awaken soon...
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:54 pm
Poison In The Roots Sosiqui The sound reached Tian Yue's ears as they paced down yet another tunnel; they'd decamped that morning (or so he thought; time was largely meaningless within Yggdrasil's massive form) and moved onward for several hours, mapping and making notes and placing markers to avoid getting lost. Currently, they were moving down a large central branch that bore no outlets to worlds along its length, merely to branch upon branch, root upon root.
It would be very, very easy to get lost here.
The only sound was that of their movements, of hooves and feet on wood. Or it had been, until a faint scraping sound made Tian Yue freeze in his tracks. Gringolet stopped immediately, his ears lifting up with curiosity, then tilting back, wary. Lord?"Quiet," Tian Yue murmured, then glanced at Ankou. "I hear something. Something that's not us." Zero Dream 'Something ?' Athanasius asked in turn, but was quickly silenced by Ankou raising his arm. He was silent, likewise staying alert to the sounds around them, one hand preemptively going to grasp at the bone mace tied to his belt. What... or rather who... could be down here with them ? His first thought had been Echo - though... no, most likely not. The distinct harmony given off by the goddess' wings was missing. That, and hooves would also accompany her...
scratchscratchscratch...
The ghosts following them seemed equally antsy, but another silent hand gesture kept them from dispersing in panic. No harm would come to them that would not need to come though him first.
Or, more accurately, him, a clawed aoidei, and most notably an irritated dragon king. However, he could only hope that, whatever it was, it was actually friendly. Sosiqui Tian Yue gestured sharply for Gringolet to stay where he was, then took a few steps forward-
- and something fairly flew past him, whipquick, something thin and sharp and all sinew, bones, teeth, claws. The Dragon King let out a strangled roar and whirled, transforming even as he moved, but his head cracked into the too-low ceiling and dizzied him for a moment. Only a moment.
But it was enough for the demon, impossibly emaciated yet still grinning with every sharp tooth, to throw itself at the Spirit Guide. Zero Dream Perhaps it was the experience gained in between the then-and-now that made the difference, or maybe it was that he was more settled into this body that had now initially been his own, or that his constant moving around ruins after the ritual had honed his agility. Or an odd mix of all of the above, but this time, the Guide seemed more matched to his attacker - raised the mace quickly and stuck it down just at it charged for him - or perhaps for the tasty souls that accompanied him - with a much harder hit straight on the head that he had previously done on his travel with Oath's host.
He moved on pure reflex, to hit again while the creature was down, wing-tandrils fanned out and trying his hardest to look as big and dangerous as he possibly could manage to look like. He could not afford to spare a look to see if Tian Yue was allright, not with the demon so close.Jinx, for her part, let out a sharp hiss and lunged alongside her master. Sosiqui There were more.
That much became obvious instantly; they flowed past Tian Yue, scraping under his legs and calling wildly to each other in a sort of insane glee as they flung themselves at the errais and the Aoidei, ignoring the dragon's hard scales in favor of easier prey.
Or so they thought. One of the creatures was met by a flurry of hooves, one sharp strike from Gringolet's rearing movement easily driving in its skull with a wet thunk. Xing Yun made for another, pivoting on one hoof and slamming one elbow into the thing's chest, winding it. "My Lord! Are you well?!"
"I'm fine!" Tian Yue's words sounded almost exasperated; of course he was fine! He lunged downard, long neck twining, and snapped up the demon Xing Yun had attacked. It struggled against his tongue, then stilled as he brought his jaws together, bones crunching under his teeth, releasing a flood of truly foul stench into his mouth. Zero Dream Perhaps the Guide would have made a wise-crack comment about demons not being for eating had he not had his own problem to deal with.
Or perhaps own problems was more accurate. There were indeed more, some of those who had managed to claw their way past the dragon also going straight for him - after all, he was a great deal more squishy than his companion, even as Jinx made short job of the first who had dared to strike, clawing her way trough it's face, visibly content as the creature who had dared attack her lord writhed in pain - though all sound from it ended quite suddenly.
A pair, visibly having learnt from the demise of their predecessors - charged right for the Spirit Guide - and while he managed to dodge one and land a strong hit in it's midsection, followed by the sicking crunch of weakened bone snapping, he was not so lucky with the other one - it buried it's sharp teeth into his main arm and Ankou screamed as pain coursed though him, causing him to drop his mace.
That scream, however, had been enough, and the cat abandoned her previous toy to charge at this new challenger, though she was not quite enough to tear it away from the god, it's feeding frenzy apparently rendering it stronger. It only clung more tightly, sinking it's claw into Ankou's arm as well. Sosiqui Tian Yue roared, the sound not any recognizable word, simply a visceral wave of fury. A moment later a wave of power surrounded the god, flowing over his skin like scales, and the demon's jaws were forcibly snapped upwards, out of Ankou's flesh as Tien Lung's shield covered the Spirit Guide in its protection. The demon shrieked as the force snapped its lower jaw, staggering backwards. "Take him, Aoide," the dragon snarled, the fur on his back rippling all the way down his spine.
"And yyyou," he added, reaching back with one clawed foot and grabbing something - a larger demon, bulkier and adorned with bones that chimed and clanked dully as the dragon slammed it down in front of him, claws digging through both arms as the creature writhed and spat. "Hold your treachery."
The demon - the leader, by the look of it - made a terrified, high-pitched screeling noise, then quieted. The remaining demons stood still; Gringolet slammed the one nearest him into the root-wall with a sickening crunch. Zero Dream That order, even though not from her own lord, was one the feline seemed rather over-eager to carry though - she leaped straight for the the creature as it was forcefully released from Ankou, and after a few seconds of blood-curdling scream, it's head flew carelessly in the other direction.
Which left only one, the one Ankou had snapped the spine of as it had flown by - writhing in pain, certainly, but alive. The Guide was too busy clutching his open wound with his valid hand to bend over and retrieve his weapon - such a death seemed almost too quick and painless, anyway. So, instead of that, it was his boot that went down hard, snapping it's neck with a sickening crunch.
And then... All was silent, and Athanasius peeked out of the branch-path he had ducked off into, too scared to even think about fighting those... those things, whatever they had been. Upon seeing the state of the god, however, he regretted his reaction. 'Lord !!!'"I-Im fine." The Guide hissed though clenched teeth - blood was starting to sweep out from in between his fingers. The statement was mostly right - nothing seemed broken, at the very least. But it was not exactly pleasant. If anything, this was a sharp reminder that he needed to learn how to fight properly... At least, as far as physical combat went. Sosiqui "Jinx, are you versed in medical treatment?" Xing Yun said quickly, taking a few steps towards Ankou yet clearly loathe to lay hands on a god not her own patron, especially with an Aoide of his own near at hand. Tian Yue shot Ankou a look of deep concern, which shifted to blazing anger as he tilted his head down to glare at the demon pinned between his claws. The creature was twitching everry so often, yet still lifting its chin to glare a thim, prideful to the last. "You. You smell.. you reek of dust and..."
... and of the faint tang of familiar evergreen.
"Did you come from that world?" the dragon spat, pressing his claws deeper into the demon's flesh.The creature began to laugh. "That world, oh - that place? It's so quiet now, so empty, so beautiful - our bellies were full then, so wonderful... full and none for you, God-thing, none for you. No strength no power no nothing-" Zero Dream "M...Myaaa.... N-No." Jinx shook her head, apparently having some issues shaking off the surge of adrenaline - and of former base nature. "Not really..." With her claws, she might end up doing more harm than good. However, when the demon spoke, she let out a sharp, nearly-painfully high hiss. "Fool !" How dare it speaks to a god with that tone ?!? Ankou, for his part, said nothing - simply let himself fall back against the root 'walls' and slide into a sitting position, bloodied hand reaching to first return his weapon to his belt, and then motioning to rip off part of his shirt to be able to use as bandage. If there were more demons around, the blood would only serve to lure them...
He did not even bother giving an answer to the pinned demon - proud beyond even folly - though his eyes were locked on the scene as he worked. It did not mean that he would not enjoy what was bound to happen, sooner or later.Sosiqui "Void devour you," Tian Yue hissed, his eyes narrowed to slits - and then the demon's laughter shifted to a scream, then a gurgle as the Dragon King shifted his weight, pressing downward with a sudden rapid pop of bones and flesh. He felt the thing squish under him, the shift from living being to pile of meat, and felt absolutely no guilt whatsoever.
And then there was silence, except for their breathing.
"Tend him, Xing Yun," Tian Yue growled, fury still running down him in waves; as he spoke, the protective power fell away from Ankou's form. The Aoide darted to his side, reaching out her hands to examine the wound.
"By your leave, Lord, there may be poison," she whispered, tearing away a strip of cloth and binding it around his upper arm as a tourniquet. Without waiting for further answer, she leaned down to press her lips to the wound without answer, sucking at it, drawing up blood and whatever else the demon may have passed into it. Zero Dream "..I don't think that will b-" ....Well, alright then. Ankou's expression was downright priceless, and Jinx had to bite her lip to keep herself from giggling at the mix of shock and surprise on her master's face, turning to look away in pretense of surveying the area.
Oh, well... Xing Yun looked like she knew what she was doing, so perhaps he should not worry about her if there was, indeed, poison. He was not sure what would such thing to do him, so perhaps it was better to simply not take the chance. He left his arm as limp as possible, held away from him for her ease, and looked at Tian Yue.
"We should not stay here too long... if there are more, the scent of blood will likely lure them in." Sosiqui Xing Yun turned her head to the side and spat, making a face. "Demon-stench... tastes terrible," she hissed, then examined the wound. "If they had venom, it should be gone now. I do not think there was, though... but it is best to be sure. My apologies for my forward actions, Lord Ankou..."
"Thank you, Xing Yun." Tian Yue couldn't help but agree with her assessment of the taste. The one he'd crunched between his jaws had tasted foul to start with, and as time went on the aftertaste was even worse, even though he'd spat it out. "I don't think there are any more. But, to be safe..."
The dragon crouched, then concentrated, expanding his shields to hover around this small area. Then he knelt and scooped up the bodies with one forepaw, scowling as the one he'd squashed stuck messily to the floor and had to be scraped up. A few steps brought him to the edge of the shield, and he flung the corpses headlong, uncaring where they landed.
Then he transformed again, between one step and the next, not caring for now about his own nakedness. "... ugh." He wrinkled his nose and worked his jaw, thoroughly disgusted, and aware that there was demon... goo... between his toes still. But there were more important concerns than his own comfort.Xing Yun was bandaging Ankou's arm now, with fresh strips of cloth. "Jinx, there's salve in the bag there," she murmured, tilting her head in the direction of their scattered belongings. "It should numb the pain." Zero Dream "Better to be safe than sorry." Ankou voiced his thoughts out loud. "And well... I figure there has to be a reason not many things try to eat them...
Hopefully his companions would forgive him for not wanting to experience the stench for himself. He could smell it and that was enough for him.
He continued to hold out his arm, wincing a bit as Xing Yun started to work on the more sensitive sections. "That... would not be so bad..."Jinx did not answer, per-se, but she moved forward, grapped the bag and whatever else she could carry, then brought it back to Xing Yun, croutching at her side. "Myaaa... Is there anything else I can do to help ?" Sosiqui "No - I am nearly done, thank you." Xing Yun carefully applied the salve to the edges of the wound, then bound the whole tightly in cloth. "That should stave off infection; though, Lord Ankou, you may wish to wash the wound thoroughly when next we come to a realm with clean, flowing water." She bowed her head, then got to her feet and took a few steps back, regaining respectful distance.
"A thorough wash sounds like an excellent idea for everyone," Tian Yue said, bending down and retrieving his fallen clothing; his robes, despite their seeming complexity, were designed to tear as cleanly as possible should he have to transform at a moment's notice. There were tears here and there, but it had survived well enough to cover himself again. "Ankou, are you well?" Zero Dream "I should be fine." The god answered, working his way to his feet once more since Xing Yun had finished - the bandage looked like it would hold nicely, and he could feel the tingling of the salve starting it's work. It was a little annoying, but it was better than the pain from before. Already that was starting to subside slightly. In a sense, he had been lucky - if the demon had decided to go for his leg instead... That likely would not have been pretty at all.
Not that his main hand was much better, but it was definitively less disabling. He could still write, but he was not quite sure he would be able to defend himself if the need for it came again. At least not able to hit as hard as he had just done. Wide movements seemed to make the pain flare anew, in spite of the salve. The bite and claws much have dug pretty deep. "I should still be able to write down..." Of all that introspection, however, it was the only thing he said out loud.
He turned to look ahead - it seemed his little group of ghosts had gotten though unharmed, at the very least, and there was no increase of their numbers. After all, demons with true souls were uncommon. Perhaps it was why they hungered for them so much.
"Shall we continue, then ?" Sosiqui Tian Yue sighed, then smiled and shook his head at Ankou. "I could make the notations if I had to - what's more important is that you're all right. I was careless. We've met no-one else here... but of course, others can enter this place. And did, often, in the old days." There were reminders here and there of those ancient travelers, cart-tracks scraped into the floor or knobbly protrusions in the bark worn glossy and smooth by the touch of hands.
He wondered, for a moment, what it felt like, if Gaia was distantly aware even now of their presence, like the clamber of tiniest insects within her bones. The thought was somehow worrying. "Can you ride? I would not rush you. The task is so monumental, I doubt that taking time to rest again will add much to our labor." Zero Dream "I should be able." As long as he did not fall over on his injury.... Tian Yue was right, of course, but Ankou was not especially keen on holding the group down. The task at hand was, indeed, monumental enough on it's own.
The Guide clacked his tongue and Athanasius came to his side, from where he had been hanging further back in order to not be in the way of either gods or aoidei. Lifting himself to saddle up pulled at the cuts, but he ignored the pain the best he could. "I do promise I will tell you if I start feeling worse, if that would make you worry a little less ?" He said with a grin. Having others actually be worried about his well-being was a rather new thing, and he was not quite sure what to do with it. Sosiqui "Of course," Tian Yue said, with an amused yet understanding smile. "But we will be on our guard... I will maintain shields around us." It was impossibly foolish of him not to have done so from the beginning.
Gringolet nudged up to him as well, as Xing Yun began to re-pack their things and gather their supplies from where they had been scattered. Fortunately, it seemed they had not lost anything to the demons; the attack had been meant to kill, not steal. "At least this happened early on. Had we been tired..."
Well, the demons still wouldn't have killed them; killing a god took more than what a mere demon could dish out. It could, however, have been a great deal more unpleasant. Zero Dream Ankou was not so keen on thinking what would have happened then. Especially to him - fatigue affected him moreso than his companion after all. He was not keen on more physical pain, no he was not.
Jinx brought him his notebook - likely he had dropped it along with his bag earlier - and he accepted it a nod, flipping it open once more to the page he was at, leaning to the side sightly so that the cat could sling the messenger bag over his head and let the strap lay over his shoulder.
The shields would hold - he held no doubt of that - but the sooner he would get away from the acidic stench that hung in the air, the better he would be. Another defense mechanism, no doubt. Sosiqui Xing Yun brought over a clean, whole robe for Tian Yue; once the Dragon King had dressed again, he once again mounted Gringolet. "Let us ride, then." He was grateful for the Aoidei and errais' presence. Without their aid, this would have been more difficult.
Gringolet whickered softly at Athanasius, then tipped his ears back in his Lord's direction. Do we continue?
"We do continue, yes." Tian Yue took a deep breath, trying to scent out the area, but his senses in human form were muted, and the demon-stench still over-rode everything. "If only I could pinpoint a friendly world... what I wouldn't give for an entry to The'ta'naa about now..." The avians, and that ancient Aoide - if he yet lived - would be a welcome site. Alas, he had no way of knowing which direction that world lay on the World Tree's roots and branches. Zero Dream "The'ta'naa ?" Ankou asked, idely, as the black catgirl slide on the errais' back in turn and the two resumed their path, leaving the gore behind. Perhaps a world the dragon had visited before...
The group passed another branch, this one literally sealed over as if it had been cut and the wound scarred over - the Guide made another X on the paper at the basic location of that branch. The map already spanned across quite a few pages, going from the top of the tree to the bottom - he could only hope that it would all make sense in the end.
And that he would not have to somehow cram all this on a single page. He was no experienced map-maker, after all. Neither a very talented artist, but it looked like a tree and the branches where clear and visible, and he was also noting whatever small detail he noticed that might help in identifying what laid... or what once laid... beyond. Sosiqui "A world that Zhijian and I visited shortly after the Wave," Tian Yue said, turning his head back to focus on Ankou even as he kept part of his attention on the shield around them. It was very easy to keep it stable, allowing it to bend and flex along the curves of the root they traveled, sinuous and strong as if they were his own literal scales. "An ancient Aoidei dwelled there - it was he who told us of the stones that prophesied the Answer to the End. I hope he yet lives..."
The dragon shook his head. "But those matters do not concern us now. Let us continue on..." And on, and on, and on, until... until we reach the end.
A terrifying prospect.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:55 pm
This Just In : Demons Sucks. He could not sleep. He simply kept on tossing over, irritated, and irritating Jinx in turn, until he gave up and forced himself still to allow his aoidei some sleep. His wound was itching, oh so very badly, a mix of it healing over and the healing salve that had been applied on it by Xing Yun for all that he could think about. He doubted it was poison – it if had been poison, this would likely have been even less pleasant. But the fact remained that the wounds were itching like crazy, and he knew better than to scratch at them. So he had settled with grasping at his arm with his valid hand, which seemed to only slightly help with the rather madding feeling. At least, as he had figured out when he had switched out bandages when they had stopped to camp and rest, the wounds had already stopped bleeding and closed up, leaving red marks in the shapes of teeth and claws on his forearm. As long as he did nothing that caused them to open up once more... then they probably would at least close up swiftly, which was a good thing. The last thing he needed was a wound dragging him down, especially in a place like this, where having to go back to the pantheon only meant a lengthening of an already long journey. He had been rather careless. He would need to learn how to fight, how to use that mace of his, and the agility his host's body had given over to him, to be able to protect himself and others correctly. He could not rely too much on his powers... at least not for now. Though, some part of him was rather proud – he had done better, at least, then he had done with the host of Oath at Karsch. This was a start... but it had been close to not being enough. If he could barely fend off demons, then what about Grigori of all things ? This would not be the end of this. He was no war strategist, but he knew this would not be the end of it. But, he was not quite sure who to ask. Jinx was his bodyguard, and he felt safe in her presence, knew her skills to be honed like a sharp blade, and her fury nearly unparalleled – he trusted her completely, but this was not the issue at hand. He did not want to depend on her completely, and she could not protect what she could not see. The Spirit Guide had probably looked mighty tasty to his attackers, but their true target, he thought, had likely been the souls that had followed him. The black cat knew much, but she used her own sharp claws, and not any kind of weapon. Try as he might, he could not remember if she ever had done so. She could provide basics, but he lacked claws of his own to attempt to imitate her. Some kind of metal-made contraption seemed more trouble that it was worth, and his mace suited him just fine. It was made of bone, certainly, but it was heavy, and by no mean fragile. And it had resisted the passage of time in between the fading and his rebirth, even the influence of Decay – though there were cracks, small but noticeable, that made it clear that it had not done so without some light damage. Nothing that diminished it's strength, as he had just proved. Clearly, there had been some kind of enchantment put upon it... but by what ? By who ? The knowledge was lost. It only bothered him in the sense that he could not find the individual and thank him properly. Ankou had to meant to know if he had ever done so properly back then... Even though the past was a gone, faded thing, the usefulness of that had carried over into this life as well. Jinx would be a good start, but the aoide would likely not be enough. Tian Yue seemed much like the same thing – though certainly, if he could not shift in the area he was fighting in... perhaps he would ask, after this journey was done and over, if he would be willing to put up with him a little more. Or Eddard... He was skilled, experienced, and had a squire after all. Though... it had been a long time since he had seen him, ever since they had returned the jesses to Byrne. For all he knew, he had probably long ago given way to the god. Oath... he had not come to know. At all. So he was unsure on this point. Still, he could attempt... Jinx had shifted in her sleep, sliding her way to rest her head in his lap, much like a housecat would have curled up there. Had it been anyone else doing this – well, not anyone else to be truthful, but he honestly doubted Cosine was fond of sticking her head in laps - he would likely have been rather annoyed, but he finally let go of his arm and moved the hand of his unwounded arm to scratch behind her ears, causing a faint purr to come out of her. He smiled. How could someone be so fierce and, at the same time, so gentle, he did not know. But if anything was able to do such a thing, it would indeed be a cat. He remained there, laying down on his back, scratching the back of Jinx's feline ears and staring at the span over his head, where the pathways closed. It looked like many branches weaved with each other to create the roof, and he could see green in the distance, leaves perhaps, but it was too far up for him to really tell, and there was not enough light – only the lantern further away, where the dragon was still awake, guarding. If he had noticed him being awake, he showed none of it. Perhaps he was still hard at work at trying to get the foul demon-stench out of his mouth. To that, however, Ankou could not offer advice, only quiet empathy. Demon probably did not taste good in any shape or form. Scratching at Jinx's ear kept him from focusing sorely on his itching arm, at the very least. Stupid demons... And, before he knew it, the catlike aoide's soft purring had him drift off into sleep.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:56 pm
Here... kitty kitty ? Sosiqui It was hard - beyond hard - to keep track of the cycle of days within the Tree. The living worlds they passed held no answer; some had spans of daylight quick as an eyeblink, while others had days stretching on so interminably long that the surface was parched as if inside an oven. Any accurate reference point they had was now lost, replaced with instinct and sheer guesswork.
It was both good and bad, to lose track of time like this.
This morning - or, more accurately, after waking after a long period of sleep - they had continued on their way, having thus far reached the terminus of several living branches and worked their way back. Tian Yue had no idea how far they'd come, only that Ankou had filled an astonishing number of pages with notations. It had been long enough for the Spirit Guide's arm to begin healing, long enough for them to need to refill both water and food from the worlds they passed.
And yet, even after so long within Yggdrasil's depths, there were still moments of astonishing wonder, when tiny tight labyrinths opened up into soaring chambers echoing with the remains of plants that had found a home within the Mother, or a river flowing through the branches, polishing the wood it passed to an exquisite luster. One could not remain blase for long... even if, for the most part, they were confined in those small branches, winding their way through single file, with their footsteps and the ever-present scratch of Ankou's writing their only companions.
Tian Yue was in one such tight squeeze right now, wincing and shoving at a root protrusion that seemed determined to snag on his horns and shoulder-spikes. "See? I told you... oof... that your size was an advantage," he called back at Ankou, pressing against the root again. It cracked, but did not give completely. "Damned... thing..." Zero Dream
It was hard not to be amused when such things happened - in fact, it was nearly impossible, but he was good at keeping his amusement to himself. The Guide did not have any problem sliding though the tangle of roots, as he lacked horn, shoulder spikes, and other similar adornments. His wings did not get in his way much, being simply tendrils at the moment.
Still, he turned and headed back, retracing his steps and helping the dragon pull at the roots with his valid arm. His right was healing along nicely, but he still was not quite ready to use too much force with it unless he had no other choice - it was still rather sensitive and painful if he forced it, and there was also the worry the barely closed wounds would open again. He took hold and pulled back as far as he could at this angle. "Can you slide though now ?"Sosiqui "I think- there," Tian Yue grunted as he pushed, and the brittle root finally gave way with one sharp crack that resounded down the dark root-tunnel, almost like a gunshot. The Dragon King stumbled forward and tripped on a burl of dense wood, letting out a most undignified yelp as he fell to his hands and knees.
"My Lord?" Xing Yun called, swinging the light in his direction. "Are you well?"
"I'm fine," Tian Yue called back, sighing. His palms stung, but that was all. "How-"
He stopped as he heard something - a new sound, not a reverberation of their own voices or footsteps. A low, hissing noise...
The Dragon King stared into the darkness for a long moment. Was it just his imagination, or had there been a flicker of light further on? Dim and sickly, but...
"I think there's something back there..." He inhaled sharply, trying to scent it, but he had been in man-shape for quite some time now, as they passed through roots and branches far too small to house his dragon-form. Any especial sensitivity had long since left his nose. "Something...""MYAAA~!" Tian Yue jerked backwards as something moved in the darkness, then launched forward - only to hit his shields and fall back with a hiss. Something small, something... feline?It blinked at him, bristling all down its back, eyes reflecting the light as Xing Yun ran forward. "Mrrrrrrrrr... whooooo?" it spat, after a moment, crouched, tail lashing wildly. Zero Dream Ankou pulled some more, and was caught in mid-movement when the root unexpectingly snapped, nearly sending him down as well, though the Guide stumbled a few steps and managed to regain balance in a somewhat more gracious fashion than his companion, reaching out with his unwounded arm in an attempt to help the dragon stand upward once more.
Though, his motion stopped short when he, likewise, heard the sudden sound. "What..."
Jinx very nearly hissed right back by pure instinct as the creature did, but one sharp movement from Ankou was enough to let the sound die in her throat before it could leave it. No need to pick fights if they could be avoided, after all, and the feline creature might have likely taken at as aggression.
Ankou moved forward alongside Xing Yun, though his movements were a careful stroll rather than her running, arms clearly visible to show that he was holding nothing threatening. "We are simply travelers passing though." He said, calmly and evenly, eying Tian Yue - perhaps... it would have been a better idea to have let the dragon do this, it occurred to him belatedly. His words... were often misinterpreted. Sosiqui The felinoid dropped to all fours, still bristling. "Mrrrrr... vissss...itorrrrr...?" The words were broken and thickly accented, only just recognizable as an attempt at speech. If it hadn't been for the few indications of civilization - a thin leather strip braided around its wrist, and the blade held under one paw-like 'hand'. From here, it looked to be made of wood... but that was impossible, wasn't it? Surely wood couldn't hold an edge... "Yes, visitors." Tian Yue slowly slipped into a crouch, not yet standing up - he'd tower over the creature, and might scare it worse. What is it? Guardians, guides... there were beings living here in droves in the Old Days... There was a faint prickle of memory, but no more; he couldn't have entered Yggdrasil more than a dozen times, even before the Fading. "We're not going to hurt you, we promise. I am the Dragon King Tien Lung, and my companion is the Spirit Guide.""Mrrrrrr." The felinoid glared at them all, but sat back in a slightly more relaxed manner. "Mmm. 'mere. C'mere!" It darted back a few feet, then forward again, tail lashing. It swallowed then, and stretched its jaw wide open as if trying to force words out. "Commmmmee, mrrrr." Zero Dream
Ankou looked rather puzzled, though he seemed at least smart enough to present that expression to the dragon than to the creature itself, one eyebrow raised in silent question. Should they follow ?
He had to admit being somewhat... curious, though, as to what the feline wanted of them, and with Tian Yue's shields up, there was very little potential for danger.
Eventually, the Guide seemed to make up his mind, and stepped forward to follow the creature, his pace still slow in order not to agitate the cat-like being further.Sosiqui Tian Yue nodded and got to his feet carefully, deliberately slouching a bit so as to seem less intimidating. Which probably didn't help that much, but... well. He was making an effort, at least!
The felinoid darted forward again, then back, grumbling very quietly with every movement. The erratic, quick dashes didn't seem to tire the creature at all as it led them deeper into the root, past a few world-entrances. Yet as they moved, Tian Yue's ears flicked upward just a little as he caught another sound on the edge of hearing.
Water..."Mrrrrr - rrrrrrrrivervoice, comecomecome," the felinoid yowled, and ran. "Hey! W- damn it," Tian Yue swore as it zipped out of sight. He did his best to run after it, but the low sloping ceiling impeded his movements. Yet they passed no fork in the root or world-entrances, and the sound of falling water increased to a rumble, the humidity going up noticably the further they went.
And there was light at the end of the tunnel...
Tian Yue nearly tripped as he squirmed through the last crushing bit, almost too small for him to fit through, then gasped audibly. All around them was a space so high he swore he could see clouds at the top, with a great waterfall crashing down one side of the trunk, its movements having polished the wood to a high luster on every side; while its fall did not seem to end here, at least some of its flow was diverted into a pool and narrow stream that flowed away down another thin branch. There were ledges and protrusions in the wood as far up as he could see, all dripping with greenery. The light came from two large orbs set high up on root-protrusions of their own.A sudden burst of laughter drew the dragon's attention away from the astonishing scene, and he turned to see the felinoid perched on a burl of wood. "Mrrrahahaha, visssssss-itorrrrrs liiiiiiike?" "It's astonishing," Tian Yue said, shaking his head. The air was damp and warm, though not unpleasantly so. When he focused on small areas rather than trying to take in the whole, he could make out rope ladders on the walls, connecting ledge to ledge, and small domed structures resting among the greenery. "Your home?""Mmmmrrrryessssssss." The felinoid's words ended in a pleased hiss, and it puffed up its chest with pride. Zero Dream Ankou followed along, though he only broke into a run when the creature darted off. "H-Hey !" If it decided to dart off in one of the worlds, they'd never know it !"MyyyyYYYyyAAAaAAAAAa !!!" Jinx darted after her master, clearly startled by his sudden take off. For a moment Ankou almost checked back to see if the feline creature hadn't somehow made it's way behind him.
This was getting a little ridiculous.
Unlike the dragon, neither of the pair had much of a problem squeezing their way though those narrow spaces, and managed to keep up with the creature a little better - in the end, however, Ankou came to a sudden stop, which caused the aoide to smack right into him, only to skitter off to the side mewling apologies and looking rather embarrassed.
The Guide might have found time to be amused if he hadn't already been busy being amazed.
A place like this... right here. So green and full of life. How was this possible.... ?
...This was the World Tree.... if it had been possible anywhere, this had to be where."Myaaaaa..." The cat aoidei was also clearly in wonder, peering at the area around her with wide eyes. Sosiqui "Comecomecome," the felinoid chirped, bounding away again; Tian Yue started forward quickly, his claws digging into the damp wood. He could hear the errais struggling free behind him, heard their twinned gasps. Lord, I fear for my footing on this dampness. I will remain here for now, Gringolet called, a moment later, as Tian Yue moved carefully over the slick surface. It was not flat, but ridged and whorled, with dirt ground into the cracks. "This whole area... perhaps it was a garden? A food source?" Tian Yue murmured. He could pick out more and more of the little structures on the surrounding ledges, but many of them had caved in at the top or were otherwise clearly damaged. As they drew closer to a cascade of greenery, he could make out fruits and flowers... yet at the base of the wild fall of vines was a moldering pile of leaves and fruit that had rotted where it fell.
Beautiful, but in decay.In front of them, the felinoid raised its voice into a catlike yowl that contained no discernable words whatsoever. The sound echoed against the walls. A moment later, an answering yowl came. "Mrrrr... sister, brother, mother comeee," the creature muttered, scratching at itself with one hind leg. Then it sat upright and thumped its chest with one forepaw. "Mrrraya. Sss'me. Mrrrraya." "Mrraya?" Tian Yue tried the word, and got a toothy grin in response. "Hello, Mrraya. My name is Tian Yue.""Xing Yun," the Aoide said behind him, her arms spread slightly for balance as she clopped across the uneven, damp wood. Zero Dream Likewise, it seemed like Athanasius did not dare come any further - that, or Gringolet had stopped him. It was hard to tell from so far away. Ankou did not have the added stability of claws, like the dragon and the cat did - so his descent was slower, his shoes all to eager to slide on the slick surface. He would have rather went barefoot, but that had seemed to be a rather bad idea given his overall... fragility. One step on something nasty and things would have turned rather unpleasant. "That might have very well been the case..."
When the names came out, he figured he might as well add his own. "Ankou." He said, without much formality, as he was mostly focused on not falling on his face."Myaaa.... Hang onto me." Jinx said, offering her arm for added stability. That kind of surface had to be rather unpleasant on hooves... Then, she tilted her head. "Im Jinx !" "Mrrrrmcoming." Came a voice from nearby, a tad higher in tone, and a small pair was visible in the distance, the two darting to meet with their sibling with the same ease the previous one had. "Mrrrr what that ?" The second, a little younger than his big sister, said, but one good look at the dragon send him darting behind his sister for protection. She let out something in between a hiss and a laugh, clearly amused. "Stopthat ! Mrrraya not bring scary here." One paw went to settle on the boy's head, and she looked at her elder sibilings. "Mrrrrr... Butwhothey ?" Sosiqui Mrraya bounded over to her siblings and drew them close, into a little furry huddle, whispering in hushed tones. Tian Yue couldn't make out exactly what was said, and suspected that they weren't speaking a tongue he knew in any case. Tian Yue glanced back at Ankou, a bemused look on his face. "What are they?" he whispered, quietly. "Do you know?" He could see faint traceries on the nearest walls, scratches scored deep into the bark, but most of it was covered by encroaching moss or trailing vines. This close to the wall, the scent of rotting vegetation was rather unpleasant.Zero Dream The only thing somewhat understandable that came out of the little group was the other girl's amused giggles, every now and then. She seemed like a rather cheerful one by nature, where their younger brother looked to be rather sky and skittish. "I..." He paused for a moment, trying to think. His shards of ancient memories, however, refused to surrender their secrets. "I am not too sure, to be honest... Perhaps they are of some kind of tribe that dwelt into the World Tree ?" But for that reason... ?Sosiqui "They seem friendly, at least," Tian Yue murmured. "If... a bit primitive. Perhaps they are remnants of a once-greater population?""Mrrr..." Mrraya scratched behind one ear again, this time with a forepaw. "Dam will know, will yesmrrrr. Know know know." She perked up, as if pleased with herself for remembering the words. "Here herrrrrrrrrre. Sit." She bounded to a small lump in the vines, then reared up, tearing away greenery with her claws to reveal a slightly slumped 'hut' within. "Sitsit. Will come." With that, Mrraya bounded up to a ladder and scurried up it, moving more rapidly than Tian Yue would have thought possible. He looked at the hut - it looked damp, but he didn't want to risk insulting their 'hosts'. "Shall we?" he murmured, picking his way over to the hut. There was no way he could even get his shoulders inside it, so he settled for sitting just outside. He sank down somewhat in the moldering leaves, and the dampness soaked his robes through at once... but, well. It wasn't terrible. Zero Dream "That does indeed seem rather likely." Ankou admitted. After all, if there were others, certainly they would have come ? They seemed like rather curious by nature. Likewise, he eyed the small hut and decided it was probably better to sit outside rather than to try to slide himself in there - while quite a bit smaller than the dragon, the hut wasn't big enough. Or fitting would require a whole lot of bending he was not inclined to do. The dampness did not seem to bother him in the least, or at least nothing was visible outwardly.The girl and her brother remained behind, the former shaking her head a bit, a smile still on her small face. "Not long, mrrrrr." After saying that, she gently poked at her brother. "Stop, Nyarrra. Gogogo~" Nyarra did, at least, peek from behind his sister, and let out something akin to a mewl, whatever word that had been being mostly incomprehensible. The girl did that hisslaugh mix again, but then something occurred to her, and she pointed to herself. "Sanyrra." She announced. "Visitorrrrrssssss.... hungry ?" Sosiqui "Hungry? Ah... yes, of course," Tian Yue said, after a moment's consideration; turning down their hospitality might be considered rude. Though he certainly hoped the meal wouldn't be composed of the rotting fruit. "Thank you. Ah... have you been here very long?"
As he shifted, he realized there was something hard beneath his tail; he carefully reached back and unearthed a small, round figurine from within the leaves just inside the hut's tattered entrance. It bore a very vague resemblance to the cat-creatures, so he held it out to Sanyrra. "Is this yours?" he offered. Zero Dream "Longlong, mrrrr." Sanyrra answered, rather vaguely, patting her little brother on the head and mewling something or other the gods and the aoidei could not really decipher. Nyarra mewed right back and bounced off, climbing the same ladder his eldest sister had skipped off to, though a little more slowly. "Mrrr !" She exclaimed when the dragon unearthed the figurine, though it seemed more out of surprise then anger. "Visitorrrrrrrrfound !" She skipped over to the dragon then, carefully taking it away from him. "Thankthank. Mother happy, mrrrrr, yesyes. Manymany more needfound, mrrrr." On Ankou's part, however, he looked a little puzzled when Tian Yue held out the figurine for Sanyrra to take. Was he seeing things... ? A more direct look revealed that no, he was not - and neither was he confusing it with some assembled ghosts.
There was a soul in there.Sosiqui "Many? What are they?" Tian Yue tilted his head to one side. The cat-creatures seemed friendly enough, even gregarious, but he couldn't entirely figure them out. "You're searching for them?"His questions, however, were interrupted as Mrraya came down the ladder again, not so much climbing down as engaging in a controlled fall. "Rrrrrrrrrope-" She bounded off the last rung and fairly dove into a pile of vines, coming out with a tightly-braided rope of dried vines in her mouth. "Visitorrrrrr.... mrrrr. Hollllld." She dragged one end over and waved it around at them. "Brrrrring down." Tian Yue followed the rope upward - it seemed there was a basket up there, or some woven construction. As he watched, it swayed slightly and creaked, as if something unseen had climbed into it. Zero Dream "Mrrrr. Verrryyyyy imporrrrrtant." Sanyrra answered rather vaguely once more. "Asleep." The basket swayed and creaked once more, as if another little form had taken place in it, and then it went completely still, and remained so. "These..." The Guide mused to himself. "...There was a soul in that figurine." He explaned, and was eying the scene as well, and figured he just as well might. Working himself to his feet, he took the wine and started to lower the basket, carefully. It was a little heavy, but not unbearably so.Sosiqui The basket descended smoothly, despite the creaks from vine-rope and basket both; as soon as it was a foot above the ground, a paw slide out over the edge. A moment later the rest of the creature emerged, larger than the others and moving much more slowly, as if moving too fast was painful. "Mrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr." The eyes were clouded, fur more thin and turning pale around the face, but the feline's attention on them was sharp and clear. "Visitorrrrs." Mrraya hopped over and sat next to the matriarch, whispering something in that feline language. She nodded, then lifted her head again. "Nnnot had for long." Tian Yue nodded respectfully to her. "Greetings to you and yours. My name is Tian Yue, the Dragon King Tien Lung, and my companion is Ankou, the Spirit Guide. We travel with our Aoidei and our mounts on the Crown's work."One tattered ear flicked back. "Crrrrrrrown. Long, llllllllllong since hearrrrrrrrrd the name. Mrrrrr." The matriarch's tail twitched and she stared at them both with eyes bright and hard as diamonds. Zero Dream Ankou continued to maneuver the basket carefully, eventually ending up in a gentle landing, and the Guide let go on the cord, and nodded in agreement to his companion's words. He was not quite sure what to say, to be honest, so he remained silent for the time being.Nyarra's head peeked out of the basket after it had landed, and the younger boy climbed his way out, pulling at a smaller basket full of fruit - thankfully not rotten, though perhaps a little over-ripe - and dragging it out in the open the best he could, before skittering off to nest against the older one's side once more. "Motherrrrrrr." Sanyrra hopped over next, still carefully holding the figurine. "Visitorrrrrrrrr found, mrrrrrrrr." Sosiqui "Ahhhh...." The matriarch exhaled slowly; she reached out and took the figurine from the younger feline with an air of reverence. "Wellll brrrrrrrought, visitorrrrrrs with ollllllld names." She carefully tucked the figurine between her paws, then looked up at them again. "Mrryna I am. These arrrrrrrre my childrrrrrren." She spoke slowly, carefully, her accent thick. "These..." She licked the figurine between her paws. "Arrrrrrrrrre my kin. We awake. Prrrrrotect, guarrrrrrd. Old names." Her tail curled lightly around her flanks. "Why arrrrre you herrrrrrrre?" Tian Yue reached forward and picked up a fruit - he did not recognize it, but it tasted strangely salty, the juice running thick and sticky down his fingers. "We are on the Crown's business," he repeated, pausing to lick away juice that threatened to spill on his clothing. "We are.. making maps. Of which worlds live and which do not.""Mapssssssss." The word trailed off into a hiss, and the matriarch gave them a look that could only be described as calculating. Zero Dream With that done, Sanyrra settled at the basket as well, sitting at the opposite side of her sister, and watching - silently and curiously - her tail wagging back and forth like a metronome and betraying her interest in the situation. Ankou settled down again, beside Tian Yue, and took one of the fruits in turn. That one seemed to be more on the sour side of things, though not unpleasantly so. Though... he was not sure if he liked that look.
"Those carvings... These are maps as well, are they not ?" Maps, maps carved in the wood of the world tree. Old maps, damaged by decay though the careful work could still be seen. The realization seemed to be the last thing that finally stirred memory from him. "Nyanko... You are nyanko, correct ?" Though, that seemed to be all he could recall.Sosiqui Myrrna chuckled, in a way that was not entirely friendly. "They arrrrrrrre... sacrrrrrrred trrreasurrrrrres of the Nrrrrrryanko." A faint smile twiched at the edges of her mouth. "These maps you may sssssssee. If... iffffffffffff." Her mouth opened, long pale tongue lolling out in silent laughter. "Brrrrrrrrrring us meat, Crrrrrown-serrrrrvants. Meat. Fissssssh. So much dangerrrrrrr in this worrrrrrrrld, this trrrrrrrrree." She rolled the r-sounds luxuriantly. "My little childrrrrrrrren have never had such things. The worrrrrrrld smells like waterrrrr. Brrrrrrrrrrring. Then maps. Perrrrhaps morrrrre. Zero Dream To be honest, he had expected that there would likely be a demand to see these maps, but what the demand would be he had not been able to quite guess.
...And, apparently, the demand was fish.
He turned to give an inquisive look to Tian Yue - this could either be very easy or very difficult, depending of the state of the world Myrrna was referring to. Though, he figured catching a few fish on the way to check it out would not be such a bother if there was indeed water.... and life. Sosiqui Fish? Of all the strange requests...
... Well, they were cats. Or feline-ish, at any rate. And while it was true that they could go on ahead, copying those maps or gaining allies that knew the pathways could be a big help in completing their task.
"Is this world near?""Mrrrrr... yess. Nearrrr. Down the path of waterrrrrrr. The strrrrrrrream flowssss." Tian Yue glanced at the stream's path; it did indeed go down a root, small and... no, no, it wasn't a root. It was a world-protrusion. An entrance.
He raised one eyebrow as he looked back at the matriarch. "It's right there, and you cannot go in?""It is of waterrrrrrr, Crrrrrrrown-serrrrrvant." Her tail lashed once in obvious disdain. "Nyanko cannot." Zero Dream Clearly, Tian Yue had never seen a cat fall in a body of water. Clearly.
Though, that was unimportant to the matter at hand. "We will bring you fish, then." He said, without hesitation. Seeing these maps would give him a good idea of how to arrange his own and have it be clear... Those nyanko were likely much more skilled map-makers that he was.Jinx was silent, though she was staring at the water with just a hair of disdain herself. She would follow, loyal as she was, but it did not mean she would enjoy the journey. Sosiqui "Very well, then." Tian Yue inclined his head in agreement. "It would hardly be fair to ask treasures from you without bartering in return.""Mrrrr. Good." Mrryna closed her paws over the figurine again. "Barrrrterrr is fairrrr." With that, she laid down again, pulling her tail close around her and watching the gods with silent regard; the other Nyanko drew close around her, adopting identical, very feline poses. Quiet watchers. "Er..." Tian Yue got up, slowly, brushed leaves from his robes, then glanced down at Ankou. "Shall we, then?" Zero Dream "Yes." He nodded, working himself standing once more, but not even bothering to brush the leaves off his pants and shirt. Or rather, what was left of his shirt after he had ripped out bandages from the lower half. That hadn't seemed to bother him in the least. "Let us go, then.""
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:57 pm
A Paen to Water Sosiqui The nyanko had, at least, allowed them to rest within the confines of their 'garden', and provided a little bit of fruit here and there, though the matriarch of the tiny clan had not permitted the children to speak with them further. Not until the promised fish was offered, or so Tian Yue presumed; while the aged nyanko was physically frail, she had a very sharp, potent presence that Tian Yue had to respect.
They've been alone, lost, abandoned, for a very long time indeed.
It was agreed that the errais should remain behind, as would the Aoidei - that last a gift to Jinx, who hadn't seemed keen on going into a watery place. While the dragon was quite certain she would have accompanied them had they asked, the servants deserved a rest as well. Perhaps moreso; they were not mortal, but neither were they divine, and could not take quite as much strain as the deities themselves.
And watery this world indeed seemed to be. Tian Yue had followed the offshoot root, with its little stream, all the way to the base; the stream-water was cold, and washed around his toes and made the way treacherous, as the wood it flowed over was crusted with slimy, slick water-moss. He had to dig in his claws to maintain his footing, and offered his hand to his companion whenever it was needed.
The root bore no other worlds along its slim length, merely turned upwards at the end where a deep pool formed as the stream ran out. That, too, was cold and clear. But more water was oozing down the walls as the root shifted shape, walls merging gradually from wood to fibrous membrane that let light - and drops of salt water - through.
"They weren't kidding when they said this was watery," Tian Yue murmured, looking at the way up; instead of clean stairs, the wooden platforms gave way to odd bulbous shapes that bumped upwards. It reminded him powerfully of seaweed. Zero Dream Ankou followed his companion closely - the wood under his feet was certainly slippery, and he had no claws to aid in his stability, so that task felt mostly on the dragon's hand and shoulders-spike, if he suddenly started sliding.
He was the one that was carrying the fruits the nyanko had given them, into his old, ratty messenger bag. He had left the maps with Jinx - if there was water here, and there definitively seemed to be a lot of it, they were safer... and it would allow the two aoidei to map the nearby roots while their master was gone, if they wished to do so. He had not especially given any order to do so. They had their own ration, but the elder nyanko had insisted. Said they just might be handy.
Like Tian Yue, Ankou was not too keen on potentially insulting the little creatures. Not when there was much to earn by gaining them as allies.
The slick surface suddenly send him forward again, and his reflexes kicked in, grapping at the dragon's arm for balance. "Sorry..." How many times had he said that word, so far ? So many. He had lost count.
But after his first fall had ended up with him landing directly on his wounded arm, he figured this was the better idea. The closed wounds had not seemed to re-open anew, but the surge of pain in the still-sensitive area was still rather unpleasant. Yet, he could not afford to hold it in order to try and diminish the pain - he needed both free hands for balance.
"Indeed..." The god mused, looking as the material that formed the wall slowly seemed to shift and become... different. More so like plantlife than actual wood. And all that water... "Maybe the entrance is in the bottom of a lake... ?" Sosiqui "It's okay," Tian Yue responded automatically to Ankou's apology - the other god wasn't even heavy enough to pull him off-balance. He tilted his head up and tried to look up the 'root' above them, then gave the weird bulbous shapes that formed the remainder of the ascent a dubious look. They seemed... fragile.
Well, he didn't need to use them, did he? "Ah, Ankou, would you mind if... I'm not sure those things will carry my weight, and they appear fragile... I could fly us up and out...?" He could see what looked like open air in a pinprick high above. Now that he was high up inside the fibrous, flexible part of the root, he could see that the whole thing was swaying, back and forth in a clean rhythm. Zero Dream It seemed better for his wobbly balance for his grip to remain on the dragon king's arm, so he let go of his pride and did just that.
Likewise, the god gave a rather uncertain look, looking around him. He agreed about the stability of the... thing they were inside of, or rather the lack thereof, but... was the dragon honestly going to shapeshift in here ?
In theory, he very well could, but it would probably be rather unpleasant... for him and the root. But, if the dragon had a plan... "Allright." Sosiqui "Alright... er. Here, one moment - hold on!" Tian Yue turned quickly and scooped Ankou up bodily, flipping his companion into what might be charitably described as the 'rescued princess' pose. "Er. Hang on-"
With that, Tian Yue jumped into the empty center of the 'root', flying upward with ease; while he didn't often fly in human form, he was absolutely not going to risk transforming in here! The undulating, translucent 'walls' of the root grew thinner and thinner, pressing closer on each side the higher the Dragon King flew. But he could hear water now, waves, smell fresh air, and-
He did, inadvertently, destroy the very tip of the 'root'; the opening was simply too small, but the 'walls' were so thin by now that it was easy to tear through them and enlarge the exit point. "There we..."
His worlds trailed off as he took in their surroundings. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but open ocean, the root visible below them only as a massive trunk of seaweed, huge leaves spread over the ocean's surface, each one the size of small boat.
They were also, other than a few shadowy visible here and there above the waves, the only thing remotely resembling solid ground.
"... They weren't kidding when they said this place was watery." Zero Dream Ankou allowed himself to be lifted and carried - he was, indeed, just as light as his build would hint at, and thus easily carried and flipped about, especially as he did not resist any of it.
When the dragon took off, he stiffened a bit, clearly a little surprised. Well, he had not known about that, and yet felt rather stupid. He could not help but be a little jealous, though he hid it. The dragon could fly without wings, and his own were all but useless...
That thought was cut off, however, when they emerged, and after managing to pull off the root material from his face, he looked.
And for a moment, was completely silent, his jaw growing slack.
"...Well." He said, flatly. "...We will not have any problem finding fish." Sosiqui "No... I think not..." Tian Yue slowly descended until he hovered just above one of the massive, rubbery leaves of the Yggdrasil-'root'. A tentative poke proved the thing sturdy, if slippery and shifting with every wave, like a slick raft. "Here, I want to fly high and see... what there is to see." It was true that their lights would yield little in comparison, but his vision in dragon-form was attuned to the celestial. There was - had been - the greatest extremes of darkness and light in the skies. He should be able to make out the vague form of the land around him.
If, indeed, there was land to see.
He put Ankou down with care, then quickly took off his robes, careful to drop them onto the huge leaf rather than into the water. "I will go check-"
He leapt into the air again, feeling awfully self-conscious, then transformed in mid-air. His tail unfurled into the sea, and he grumbled as he pulled the tip free, the massive fan dripping water in a trail against the waves. He looked down, marked the location of the Yggdrasil-'root' - even were it not for the lights Ankou carried, the vague feeling of mana-flow would help him find it again - then surged upwards.
He could no longer fly into space; there was no space to fly into. Still, he could go to the very limits, until his claws scraped at the edges of Being; this the dragon did, flinching as he hit that barrier, turning his scales aside. For a moment he pressed his coils against it, wishing, yearning for something beyond...
With a shake of his head, he tore himself free from that reverie, and looked down.
All he could see was water, wavelets dancing, barely visible even to his eyes, yet it was clear enough that there were no landmasses anywhere below him. A watery world in truth, then - yet, Tian Yue thought as he descended, why should all worlds resemble the ones he'd encountered? Surely there were worlds made all of air with no ground, made of pure energy, constructed in any way the imagination could conceive...
The descent was swift, and Tian Yue let himself fall for part of it, taking a distant pleasure in the rush of wind and tug of gravity. It was easy enough to find Ankou again... but there were other lights. Dim pinpricks, glows hidden by the shifting waves, but light.
"No land anywhere," he rumbled as he stopped his own fall before he hit the water, lowering himself gently into the cool - but not unpleasant - endless sea, so as not to swamp Ankou with a small tidal wave. "But there are lights here and there, below the water. Faint." Zero Dream The Guide did not seem embarrassed or even affected in any way at seeing the dragon naked - doing no particular motion to either look or not look, though Tian Yue's self-consciousness was not lost on him - the god, however, only allowed himself an amused smirk when the embarrassed dragon turned to jump and transform.
Though, that was a little too close still - and the movement of the fan tail was enough to create a small wave of the water. Ankou was swift enough to turn, to shield the lantern and most importantly the candle within. Though... that did not stop him from getting drenched.
The god let out a soundless sigh, pulling at the torn, wet shirt that now clung to his form and discarding it on the leaf-raft. Nothing at all seemed better than thorn-up and wet, honestly. He let the lantern lean against the harder part of the alguae they had made their way out from, carefully picking up the dragon's robes and folding them carefully, draping them against his left arm before picking up the lantern again with his right hand. He looked up in the darkness, but even with the lantern, there was no sign of the dragon anymore.
At least, he was not the only thing drenched from head to toe. The dragon had inadvertently splashed his own clothing quite nicely.
And so, he waited. And waited. There was only silence. And then...
Something, so distant, below, below, much like a siren's song but lacking the true lure of such. Though even with no effect from the distant voices, the Guide was still compelled to look... But no, he saw nothing.
Yet, something seemed to call. Deep, deep into the water. Thankfully, the dragon was back before he could even think about leaping right in, and he rose from his crouched position.
"Lights..." He echoed. "...Did you hear anything ?" It was the only way to know. The distance was too great for him to be able to tell, for certain, if the voices had been alive... or echoes. Sosiqui "Hear?" Tian Yue tilted his head to one side, ears flicking upwards; he held the listening pose for a moment, then ducked his head under the water. He could not see as easily below the water; it was clear, but not that clear, and the movement of the waves warped and distorted what little he could make out. There were lights, definitely, distant - and places of greater darkness. But that was all.
"Nothing," he reported, surfacing again. "Not above the water, nor under it. Only the sound of the sea..." Zero Dream "I thought as such..." The god nodded, peering into the water once more. He could not see any distinctive shape, ghostly or not. The ghosts... had to be rather far down. Much too far down for his call to reach them, he could not help but think.
How was he supposed to reach them... ? He could not just leave there without at least taking a few. He was here now, and leaving them to wonder behind, not knowing that they were heard, and that someone was coming for them, even if not right at this instant... It felt wrong.
The deceased spread messages, quickly. Once they knew of his existence... They would likely calm. And wait. And give some respite to the living,
"So there is no ground to be found, then ?" He returned to the subject at hand. He would figure out something... somehow. Sosiqui "No. As far as I can see, there's nothing but water... and a few things poking out of the waves here and there. No significant landmasses." Tian Yue paddled idly around to bob by the edge of the leaf; the water wasn't terribly cold, and it was actually rather comfortable to float on the waves. "I can probably dive without too much trouble, considering I can manage the vacuum of space without harm..."
True, the heavens were part of his own domain as Tien Lung, but the ocean could hardly be more oppressive than that. He gave the waters under his paddling feet a dubious look. Thus far, he hadn't spotted any fish, either. Maybe they stayed away from the Yggdrasil-'root'; he wouldn't be surprised if there were some subtle protection magic to keep the protrusion intact. "So you do hear something? ... More ghosts?" Zero Dream "Yes... But I cannot see them. They might be rather far down... Their song sounded rather far away." Ankou was still peering down into the water... But yet, he saw nothing even move as far as his eyes could see. Nothing beside the dim glimmers of those lights.
"I do not think this place was flooded. This... may very well be just what this world had always been." He reached to slide his hand into the water - it was cool, but not unbearably so. Sosiqui "It makes sense... this whole world is a marvel of Water. I wonder if he knows of it?" Tian Yue had never met the Water-god, only knew of his existence. "There are likely worlds stranger than this... 'strange' depending solely on our reference-point, of course."
"Of greater concern to me at present is the lack of fish." Tian Yue ducked his head and squinted into the depths, but if there were fish present they were adept at hiding in the shadows. Zero Dream The mention of Water made the god stop for a moment, to think. Water... he had not seen him since... Well, techinically he had never seen him. It was Adrian that had. And their relationship... had been an interesting one, so to say.
Perhaps, just like with Shadow, it was best that their path had not yet crossed again. Not when he still resembled the man they both had cared for. "I do not know. I have not heard of him in quite a while indeed..."
He had been about to say something about the fish, but the dragon had already ducked his head inside the water once more. He let the lantern rest against the root-alguae safely one more, took his bag off his shoulder, and dived right in. Sosiqui "Ankou-" Tian Yue blurbled the words into the water, then frowned. The sounds barely made sense as coherent words. Will you be able to breathe?
He supposed that gods wouldn't technically need oxygen, but Ankou was still young in his ascension. Zero Dream The Guide did not seem to recognize Tian Yue's words as that - actual words - and instead continued to head downward - trying to get a better look at either fish or the lights underneath - but he did not manage to go very far. He was quick to turn back and head back up, clinging to the side of one leaf and gasping for air as his head emerged out of the water.
This would, indeed, most likely be very complicated. Sosiqui Tian Yue hurriedly surfaced again, bringing his tail up underneath Ankou's feet to give the other god something a bit more stable to stand on. "Are you okay?"
Well, that answered that question.
"If you wait here, I could dive and find something, catch it, bring it back... it doesn't have to take long." Zero Dream "I figure so." The god did seem somewhat disspointed - in himself, most likely - and he used the lift from the dragon's tail to settle on the large leaf once more, still regaining his breath and raising an hand to clear wet gray bangs from his eyes.
"I will... wait here, I guess." Not like he had anywhere else to go, after all. Sosiqui Tian Yue nodded. "I will take a light, then." He carefully reached out and pinched one small orb between his claws, then pondered. Where could he carry it...?
Well, it is traditional.
He gently wove the thing into the fur of his beard, then snorted in amusement at the effect. Well, dragons of myth had long carried pearls and things in their beards, had they not? He supposed this worked as well.
"I'll return shortly, with any luck." Tian Yue nodded, then ducked his head and dove - straining against the water. This was not the same as flight, but it bore enough resemblance to it that his actions weren't entirely clumsy. No doubt Ti Lung would mock my laugh of finesse... were he here to witness it.
But he wasn't.
Down, down, down... Zero Dream With nothing else to do, the god sat back, leaning against the side of the large root-alguae they had emerged from...
And waited.
And waited some more.
Certainly, not much time had likely passed in truth, but to be sitting here, doing nothing at all beside waiting, and still hearing the call of those mermaids... While any lure they might have had did not take hold on him, it still remained that they were dead spirits. It still remained that he had to tend to them, take them back with them - have them spread the word to those he could not take with him that they would be cared for, and that he would return for them.
That they were not forgotten. Not by him.
They were his responsibility, and he could do none of it, thanks to all that water and this half-mortal shape of his. He gave the pool of water the best glare he could muster, one hand reaching into his messenger bag to pull out a string of bright red berries, almost akin to cherries but just a bit too small to truly be so, and their color too vivid a red. Just like he did with cherries, he plopped about three of them in his mouth, only to have his senses greeted by a wave of sour, like he'd just starting munching on three lemons at the same time, making a face and just barely resisting the urge to spit them out and swallowing the whole instead.
Yeesh. The rest of the grape-like string wasn't looking too appealing after that one, so he let it fall down beside him, getting up once more to try to catch some water to drink in hope of making the taste leave his mouth. After kneeling right over the water, though, he hesitated, and watched. The pearl-light that the dragon had attached to his beard was now but the slightest glimmer, and he again got another pang of guilt. Really, he had not been making himself very useful so far, hadn't he ?
He had not thought about needing air underwater - he was a god, he should not need to worry about anything like that - and therefore hadn't really been prepared. If he did hold a breath... Surely he just might be able to get down, enough, just enough... to call the ghosts to him.
Surely.
His mind made, and rather unaware that his actions could likely be considered as more reckless than determined, he tore another strip out of his once-shirt and tied one end to his wrist, separating the other end into three strips and weaving pearls into the braid. Now armed with a source of light, he took as big of a breath as he could and dived straight in once more, ignoring the chills the cool water sent up his spine.
Down, down, down... Sosiqui Tian Yue, heedless of his companion's dive, continued twining downward, sweeping his head around in vast arcs to move the light about; air escaped his nostrils in roiling bubbles but he as yet felt no need to draw breath. Hopefully the same power that let him move safely through the emptiness of space would allow him free movement here.
As he descended, he became aware that the darkest shadows were not rocks, but structures - submerged, arched and beautiful things unquestionably built by sentient architects. They had a strange organic, almost wavelike form to them, and the Dragon King had the sense that they were uniquely designed to work here and here alone - that if the design was mimicked above the water, it would collapse to rubble at once. There was a certain mastery of forces, of building material pushing against water pressure to maintain stability, that Tian Yue could not help but marvel at. If Gianfar could see these...
Something moved; Tian Yue whipped his head around to catch a scaly, bright [i[thing dart past. Aha- here, fishy.... fishy... He lowered his ears and moved more slowly, eyes bright. He was not so good at hunting as a god of such would be, but his size and power tended to make such things not matter. At least for normal game. Zero Dream Ankou slid though the water very quickly - his lean form seemed rather suited for quick swimming, even though his half-fire elemental host had been loathe to have anything to do with water. That dislike was completely gone - the body was no longer such. And it had not been in quite awhile.
The Guide saw the buildings as well, and this was where he headed, out of pure instincts. Ghosts in ruins were not a rare thing, though there unusual shapes retained much of their beauty, broken as they where. A closer inspection proved the material to be not concrete or any other kind of material... No, it was mostly coral, along with some other structural additions that the god could not identify.
The lack of knowledge did not make the sight any less breath-taking.
He angled to swim into the structures proper - this was where he would start his Look. He felt no urge to go back up for air yet, and what he failed to notice was that he had already been swimming down for a few minutes... Sosiqui Come here, you-
It took only a quick swish of the tail, then a snap of jaws, and...
... the fish was reduced to a smear in the water, and then gone entirely. Tian Yue put his ears back reflexively. So... he could kill fish, yes. That much was clear.
Killing them so that their bodies remained whole... was another matter, apparently. He was simply too big for them. A net. Maybe I could make a net out of vines, or seaweed, or... He rolled over in the water, let out a few more air bubbles and watched them rise to orient himself up...
And spotted lights, moving ahead, near the structures.
Ankou?!
The dragon let out a roar that came out as a torrent of bubbles and muffled sound, then kicked upwards. Zero Dream Ankou did not notice any of the dragon's movement, or the torrent of bubbles that his underwater roar unleashed. Both his senses of hearing and his sight - at least as far as souls were not involved - were nothing truly special, and both of those were dulled by the water - his vision was indeed blurred, but the waters were still thankfully clear enough that he did not have trouble seeing where he was going.
He stopped a moment to cling against one of the spire, his breath completely spent and accidentally getting a breathful of water in. And yet...
.... ?
And yet the sensation of burning in his lungs did not return. All seemed well... oddly enough. How... ? But then, the sour aftertaste in his mouth reminded him of one point he had overlooked.
The berries... ? Well, the elder nyanko had said they would come in handy.
Not wanting to push his luck as to how long the effect of this underwater breathing would last, and not questioning his pure dumb luck, the god resumed his descent. Sosiqui Ankou!!
Tian Yue watched in horror as his friend opened his mouth, gasped for breath-
-and kept going?!
The Dragon King rumbled again, the sound resonant and traveling through the water, unmistakable, to alert the other god to his approach, unsure of how to communicate in this place. He was deeply nervous about going inside the structures; what if there was a sudden need for air and they were trapped within walls, under a ceiling? Zero Dream The sound, this time, reached his destination, as well as sent a small school of rather frighted fish dart past him, as he the less scary thing in these waters at the moment. For a split second he feared that something big and nasty was darting his way, looking for lunch, but then recognition settled in.
Big, sure, but not particularly nasty nor out to turn him into dinner.
Ankou stilled for the time being, turning over to look at the dragon, his expression making it still apparent that he'd about scared the living daylights out of him for a split second. What the hell was he freaking out ab-
...Oh.
Right.
He tried to speak, but nothing really legible came out due to the water, and he frowned. The language barrier was going to get a little interesting right about now.
In lack of any other way of expressing himself, he shrugged. At least he was not looking like a panicy drowning person by any stretch of the imagination. Sosiqui Tian Yue gave Ankou a piercing look, then brought his tail around and flicked the fan at Ankou's feet, jerking his head upwards as he did so.
The message was clear - Up. Now. Zero Dream
Ankou frowned a bit, but did indeed comply, using the movement the dragon's tail caused as momentum, though the situation was starting to look a little reminiscent of a child being caught doing something he should not be doing by his guardian and it was just the slightest bit irritating.
At least he knew where the voices were coming from now - indeed, from these structures.
He emerged from the water first, and the sudden re-entry of air in his lungs, he was reminded that he had, indeed, 'breathed' quite a bit of water - which was now not exactly agreeing with him, and sent him in coughing fits until it all came out.
At least the sour aftertease was gone... replaced by salt and a raw throat.Sosiqui Tian Yue surfaced immediately after Ankou, sucking in deep breaths of air before turning under the water, bringing up his coils under the other god so that Ankou could stand - or sit - on his back. "Are you alright?! What was going on down there?" There was nothing of lecture in his tone, just of curiosity and concern. Zero Dream Ankou did neither, at least at first - letting himself fall limp on the dragon's back until the last of the coughing finally was done, before he stood up slightly, suddenly dizzy,
"Im fine..." Oddly enough, he had felt better underwater. Stupid coughing. "I thought I could... get low enough to try to call the spirits of the dead to me." He started to explain, throat still aching. "I didn't notice it at first... But I ate some of those berries the nyanko gave us before deciding to come down, figured I might just eat while waiting, but... I think they had an effect. I was breathing the water... just fine."
And now his body was not agreeing with the notion very much. Sosiqui "Ah... I apologize, I had worried... going inside a structure without an air source would not be good." Tian Yue's ears flicked back. "So the voices you heard are ghosts, then?"
He gave the nearby seaweed a sour look. "And I am not so good a hunter as I supposed. I am excellent at squashing fish. Not so much at catching." Zero Dream "I got close enough to tell, yes." Finally, he lifted himself up completely to sit, his braid of lightpearls dangling off the side. When the dragon looked over at the seaweed, he did so himself... And let out a light chuckle.
"What did you try to do, swipe at them ?" For some reason, he had no problem fully believing the 'squashing' part. "I am sure you are yet a skilled hunter... for bigger things. Too bad we did not think of bringing fishing poles. Or, perhaps, I figure you would like me to try to weave a net ?"
...He had never really done anything like that before, at least not that he remembered - but... it couldn't be too difficult, couldn't it ? It did not need to last forever, just long enough to catch some fish... Sosiqui "Yes," Tian Yue said sourly, almost pouting. However, he brightened a little at Ankou's question. "That would be... an excellent plan. I could trawl with a net, and perhaps... perhaps the brackish pool at the base of this root could be used as a catch-pool? It could sustain a small population for the nyanko. A renewable resource. With a net, I could make live catches." Zero Dream It was hard not to laugh. It was, honestly, very had not to laugh, even for him. But somehow, the Guide managed, only shaking his head instead.
"I have never done anything like this before." He warned, launching himself from the back of the dragon to land smoothly on the leaf where his bag and the lantern awaited, undisturbed. "So I do not know how successful this will end up being, but... I can try."
Which did not mean the dragon would not have to work for his net. "Could you bring me some of that seaweed, then ? Longest strands you can find." Sosiqui "Hmmm... I wonder..." Tian Yue carefully paddled over to the main 'trunk' of the Yggdrasil-protrusion and peered down. Sure enough, there were other, lesser seaweeds tangled around it further down, like penitents in worship to their supreme ruler.
Without another word, he dove, reaching his claws out to grab the toughest strands. The seaweed was soft, and supple, and peeled easily away from the Tree. Strong, yet flexible...
He had to bite the tangle to get it back to Ankou, his feet all needed for swimming. "Mmmf mmft?" he mumbled through the mouthful, hefting the lot high, dripping. Zero Dream ...Well, he figured that also worked just as well. Perhaps even a little better, who knew ?
Ankou seemed to make no attempt at decoding the dragon's mumbling, heading toward the edge of his own leaf to catch the tangle as he dropped it. "Let us see..."
He wandered a few steps back, plopping down once more and working on untangling the stripes of leaf first. They were, indeed, rather flexible, yet durable at the same time.
This might actually work...
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:58 pm
A Paen to Water, Part II Zero Dream He was not quite sure how long he had actually sat there, carefully separating and weaving strands together and working knots to hold it all in place, working with only faint lantern light and his weaving of cloth and light-pearls attached to his wrist to guide his moment - likely quite a few hours - enough that, once he got up again, his legs felt rather tired.
But he had something vaguely resembling a net, with the biggest pearls he could find woven at each corner to add weight and the unplanned benefit of light - though, of course, the net, while large compared to him, remained rather minuscule compared to the dragon that was swimming back and forth, ever-so-patient. Sosiqui Tian Yue was indeed paddling back and forth, keeping moving; while the water wasn't freezing, it did sort of get into one's bones the longer one was in it, and movement made it easier to deal with. However, as Ankou tied the light-pearls into the corners, he stilled his movement and drifted to the Spirit Guide's side with the last of his momentum.
"An exquisite piece of craftsmanship, truly - are you sure you haven't done this before?" There was genuine curiosity in his tone as he carefully lifted one side of it. He could easily drop this over the fish and then bundle them up... hmm.
But, first things first.
"What about the ghosts? I... I don't want to leave you to the ruins alone. It could be dangerous." Tian Yue swung his head vaguely over Ankou in a protective fashion. "Jinx would have my hide." Zero Dream "Not in this life, at any rate." He shrugged. "Though, I have always been rather good with my hands. As long as you have a basic idea how a net needs to work..."
At the last few words, the Guide gave a light chuckle. "I am not sure she would even know exactly where to start. Though... You could come with me, if you are worried something might happen." He was not... But if it made Tian Yue less nervous, than so be it. It was not like he had not seen what he was about to do before, or that he had anything to hide, so it did not bother him. Sosiqui "Of course. You do have more of those berries, don't you?" Tian Yue carefully bundled the net up and slung it over his neck to carry it, hooking a few strands together so it would stay in place. "I don't want you to end up in the depths of some underwater labyrinth and need to breathe..."
Though, if that did happen, Tian Yue could do... something. Break through the ceiling, something, anything. Zero Dream At the mention of the berries, Ankou frowned a little. Yes, that meant he had to chow down on more of those little sour bombs, did he not ? "Yes. They gave me quite a few."
He didn't mind sour, not really, but these things were off the scale. But, it was enduring the taste or stay here and leave the spirits behind - and the second part, in his mind, was not even an option.
So, indeed, he reached inside his back, plucked three from the vine - he was not sure if three was the magic number or not, but Tian Yue was worried enough as is, so he did not quite dare to add more unknown to the situation. So, he ate all three - again just barely resisting the urge to simply spit them out - and, after about a minute, dived right in. Sosiqui Tian Yue followed, resisting the urge to scoop the smaller god onto his back again - but they couldn't really communicate clearly here, underneath the water. Light haloed the dragon now, from both the light-pearl in his beard and the pearls attached to the net that now hung around his neck. Fishing would come later - for now, catching Ankou's ghosts came first.
Or whatever it was he did with them.
Still, with practice the dragon was getting a bit more nimble in the water - but only a bit. His massive size made sneaking impossible, and he wasn't sure if he'd even fit within the buildings. Still, as Ankou kicked towards the ruins, Tian Yue realized their scale was larger than he'd first supposed.
The seaweed of Yggdrasil had been massive...
... were the beings who build these places similarly sized? He had no idea, but the thought made him a bit nervous. Zero Dream Ankou, on the other hand, was fairly agile and nimble in the water, able to re-orient himself at a moment's notice, and, most of all, completely fearless, in spite of being the one in greater possibility of danger. Drowning was still a possibility - neither had any idea how long the effects of the fruits actually lasted for - but yet nothing of it really showed. Perhaps he had not even thought about it.
When it was about his duty, it would take more than this to stop him. He would not turn away when he had been so close.
The Guide slid in between two of the large coral spires, reaching toward the ocean floor. This... this was where he could call. He could hear them now, singing - no, from closer in, it was not simple singing, neither was it the kind of songs meant to lure sailors to their doom, if the myths held true.
It was a lament. Forgotten, forgotten...He had not. He was here now. His feet finally touched the sea bed and, gathering all the mana he could wield, he Called.
Silently. Without a word, without a wave, without any bubbles. Without any sign to his companion other then the sudden spike of mana.
They heard. And they came, one by one - pale blue skin and scaled tails kicking small waves as they moved, hair made of seaweed carefully braided in an ornamental fashion - not only mermaids but their masculine equivalent. They heard, and they came, wondering just what it was that had remembered them, after the survivors had abandoned this city and their bodies. It was not one of their own, but something else - something much different indeed. But yet it did not matter. He had called and, instinctively, they had came to answer it. He was here, he could see them and... perhaps, they already knew what he was here for.
The Guide smiled. He could not speak, not underwater, but there seemed like there would be no reason to.'It had been a long time... Since someone last came for us.'Ankou knew, simply by the look on their faces. Some circled about the dragon, rather curious of this strange beast that could not see them, and was even more foreign than the Guide of the Dead - curious but not hostile. Perhaps even a little playful. As their scales brushed against his own, the poor dragon might very well feel a little haunted indeed. Sosiqui
The light from the pearls rippled and refracted strangely in the depths; Tian Yue only followed his companion silently, pausing and keeping at a respectful distance when he felt something begin to happen.
Something he couldn't see, couldn't put a name to, but that made the waters around him feel... occupied. The ghosts. There were no eldritch signs, no mysterious light - maybe the water felt a little colder here and there, but he couldn't be sure. All the dragon knew was that Ankou was definitely looking at and interacting with something. Someone.
Multiple someones, probably.
A little chill ran down Tian Yue's spine, unbidden. Just as in Yggdrasil, the idea of the dead moving past and around him was a bit unnerving. It seemed worse here, though, with the darkness and the weight of the water pressing down on him, rippling and distorting.Zero Dream Again, at the opposite side of the spectrum, Ankou seemed rather comfortable with all those presences around him - perhaps it helped that he could actually see them. It was easy to notice his friend being uncomfortable - and with another small spike of mana and a gesture of the hand, the curious merpeople slid back toward him, as if he'd risen his voice and ordered them to follow, hopefully leaving the dragon less unnerved.
They knew what he was, instinctively, especially with his mana spread around these waters. No explanation seemed to be needed - they knew what he did, if not that he was a god - and what he was here for. At the moment, it was all that mattered.'It has been a long time, since we have started to sing.' The one who had spoken slid closer, her face fair and her reptilian eyes so bright a blue that it rivaled with the clear water around them. 'We thought ourselves to be forgotten... The cycle of life and death broken, doomed to haunt these waters forever. This city has been cursed ever since plague overtook it - no one dares swim these waters anymore, in fear that they shall die as well.'Ankou shook his head and then, slowly mouthed words. I do not forget. Not of these things.That seemed to work well enough, as far as communication went. 'So we see... Oracle of the Dead. It is good that you are here. You will show to way to I and my people. The paths of legends did not work for us when we tried.'The Guide, suddenly, looked a little puzzled. The paths of legends ?'Tunnels along the coral and the earth, leading lower and lower... These paths, according to legends, are the ones our ancestors followed to reach the sacred ever-after. I have gone, but... they lead nowhere.The sacred ever-after... The Underworld. Yes, it made sense, and the more sense it made the more he thought of it. Connections so direct, as after all, the borders had always seemed to 'ghost' along the living realms. It made it... easier to jump toward destinations. He remembered clearly.
Before, there had been Rivers.
This water, of course... had to come from somewhere. And now, there was a need to find these connections again... remember them. And use them.
The old pathways had been cut off.' He mouthed again. 'Until... recently. It is very likely that these same path will be open to us now. I wish to see them.'Very well, Carrier of the Dead.' She paused, however, giving the dragon a long - and equally curious - look. 'I fear, however, that your strange companion will not be able to navigate these narrow pathways.'I figured. What is your name ?'Ecletia, Lord.' She said, never once bowing, but her voice constantly eerie and respectful. I will go speak to him, then, Ecletia. In the meanwhile, I want you, your sisters and your brothers to sing, as you have sang to me - sings to the others like you, the dead. Tell them that they are not forgotten. Tell them that, no matter how long it takes, I will come for them in turn. Tell them that the remains of one of your own will be a jewel on the crown of the lord of the Dead Himself. Tell them that they will never be forgotten again.The siren paused, surprised, but then... she smiled, and her silent tears mingled with the water of the sea. 'We shall, Lord.'Ankou nodded, and mouthed one last thing - I will return. - before turning and swimming toward the dragon, this time the one to gesture toward the surface. Just as he did that, the merpeople's voices filled his ears once more - their song no longer a lament of their doom. Sosiqui Tian Yue waited silently as Ankou gestured and moved his lips, conversing with the unseen, the unheard. He wondered what it was like to see and hear the dead, to feel words torn from fleshless ... what it would be like to die in a way that left something behind, an afterworld to look forward to.
He had died once, and there had been nothing until the gem. The re-collection.
When Ankou turned and gestured to him, Tian Yue nodded quickly and ducked his head down beneath the other god, so that Ankou could cling to the dragon's fur. Air bubbles once again indicated up, and Tian Yue kicked upwards, his fan-like tailtip giving him extra purchase against the water.
He took a deep, grateful breath as soon as he surfaced, then tilted his head back as best he could. "What... who was down there? I know you were interacting with something, but not what..." Zero Dream Again, there was the matter of water and lungs not exactly agreeing with each other, but at least this time, he knew it was coming - there was still a few minutes of coughing before the Guide could answer the questions asked to him, his grip remaining strong on the dragon's mane.
"Ghosts." He said, finally tilting his head to look at him, throat rather raw from all that couching, but he bared it. "They have been calling... ever since they died. One of them mentioned a plague." So long, so long ago...
But unfortunately, he could do nothing about it.
"She mentioned a path that I think might actually have a direct connection to the Underworld, and this is probably the best course of action. They are merpeople - even dead, nothing's gonna make them walk though the roots of the World Tree very well. But she said you probably won't be able to slide those those passageways."
What the dragon would do now, he did not know, but it was plainly evident that he very well planned to go. Sosiqui "Hmm." Tian Yue tilted his head to one side; he had winced when he felt Ankou shaking and retching on his back, but it seemed best not to fuss over it too much. The other god had his dignity, after all. "To the Underworld, then...? Nergal and presumably Echo are there as well, correct?" At least, he devoutly hoped Music had found her way to that eternal home... and not by way of dying, either. Zero Dream "Yes." He nodded, waiting for the dizziness to subside before sitting on the dragon's back once more. "There were often little parts like this, that connects the living world to the Underworld. I have used them often... and I believe what she was alluding to to be one of them. Water for the rivers."
This world, after all, was not lacking in water.
And, to be honest, he had promised Cosine he would watch out for Echo and Nergal... perhaps, seeing this path firsthand would at least be able to qwell some of her fears - that he had seen the place exist first hand rather than go on to guesses and intuition. "I figure you could fish while I do this ?" Sosiqui "Actually, I think having some more berries would be good... you don't know how long this will take, do you?" Tian Yue paddled over towards the floating Yggdrasil-leaf where they'd left their clothing. "I can catch sufficient fish in one sweep if I find one. If you can help me... we can put them into the pool in the Tree itself. A renewable resource." The water here was sweet, not salty; with the runoff into the Tree from the entrance, the pool should be sustainable. Zero Dream "I still have a few... I believe it might be enough, but better to be safe." Ankou nodded - now that the spirits below knew that they were not forgotten... They would likely be rather patient. Time did not matter for the dead, after all.
At least most of them.
"If you catch a large school, then it would likely be a possibility..." He mused. That was miles better than just bringing 3 or 4 dead fish, was it not ? Sosiqui "I would feel better about it - ah, I am sorry." Tian Yue chuckled and submerged himself most of the way, keeping Ankou dry as he paddled up to the leaf so that the other god could step off his back right onto 'dry land'. "My duty has always been protection, so I am, perhaps, a bit of a... mother hen?" Zero Dream The Guide let out a light, amused chuckle, hopping off to the leaf once he had gotten close enough to do so. Base natures... He could understand that, and did not begrudge the dragons any of his worries. He knew himself relatively vulnerable, but was not used to truly care for such. Not when it came to himself, at the very least.
The spirits of the dead... Yes, it seemed he was rather protective of them. So, somewhat... he could relate.
"You are lacking in feathers, I find." He said with a grin, reaching for his bag. Sosiqui Tian Yue snorted. "Perhaps a bit. Speak with my brother Zhijian if you wish feathers, he has plenty." Still, his ears tipped up with amusement. "One moment, then, and I shall return..."
Carefully, he untwined the net from where he'd left it draped around his neck, holding it carefully in his mouth. Then he nodded at Ankou and dove, down, down, down... into the depths in a halo of light. Zero Dream Again, Ankou found himself alone on his little leaf, though this time, with some process accomplished, he was much less likely to go off and be reckless. Instead he took the lantern in his hands again, checking the flame of the candle - it was still going though, but the candle had burned down significantly. They must have been here for quite awhile indeed... The net alone, it seemed, had taken him quite a few hours.
Or at least, this was what the cramps in his legs afterward had told him.
That done, he slung his bag on his shoulder again, and stared up at the starless, inky black sky.
He could only hope that the work they were doing here would result in it being filled once more. Sosiqui It took some time, but after about fifteen minutes, the surface rippled and the dragon emerged once more - with a net filled with wriggling fish clamped between his teeth. "Mrrfmf," he mumbled, unable to talk clearly with his burden, then flicked his tail towards the Yggdrasil-root.
He paddled a bit further away from Ankou and his leaf, then rose up into the air, dripping water like an angry raincloud. A few fish squirmed free from the net, but most remained within as the dragon rose over the entrance to Yggdrasil. He could see the pool below...
Here we go...!
Carefully, the dragon squirmed down into the root, the tough, flexible walls protesting his intrusion. There was no way he could get his shoulders past the entrance, but he extended his neck as far as he could to get the precious fish as close to the pool at the bottom as he could. They had to survive the fall... and then, with luck, they would live, and breed, and provide the nyanko with a sustainable supply of fish.
Finally, when he could squirm forward no more, the dragon released the net. Watched it fall and hit the pool with a splash...
... watched the fish flop free and move into the water.
He let out a sigh of relief, then transformed, shaking himself as the painful constriction eased with his rapid decrease in size. It was the work of a moment to dive from the top of the root into the water again, then to paddle over to the edge of the leaf where Ankou waited. The sea seemed so much more vast and dangerous in this form.
"Please tell me my clothes are still there?" he asked, shivering slightly. Now that he didn't have scales to cover himself, the water seemed colder, too. Zero Dream Ankou did not dare follow - it seemed like a very bad idea, mostly due to the sheer size of the dragon - but he watched, and hoped that this would work out as Tian Yue had planned. That... was a rather high drop, and if he missed the water below...
Do not think of it. All will be well.
He tilted his head back when the now human form of his companion landed in the water a few feet away from him, kneeling down to pick up the robes he had discarded earlier and moving to the edge of the leaf.
"I cannot promise that they won't be wet, but they seem to be in one piece." He nodded. "How did it go ?" Sosiqui
"I believe they are fine... and the Tree none the worse for wear," Tian Yue added, dryly. It was quite awkward, squirming up onto the slick, flexible surface of the leaf, but he made it after a few rather ungraceful kicks, reaching out one hand to wrap his clothing around him. "Thank you."
It took a moment to get dressed properly again; his clothing was damp, and the Dragon King fought the urge to shiver as a breeze seemed to cut right through him. "Scales was much better," he muttered, then shook his head. At least these oceans were sweet water, not salt, so there was no salt-stickiness to contend with.
Satisfied, he looked over at Ankou. "Are you ready to go back in? I will carry you again - I confess, I am looking forward to resting somewhere warm and dry... ish." The nyankos' 'garden' was humid, true, but it also had dry land. Of a kind.Zero Dream Ankou seemed to hesitate for a moment, glance locked on the depths below. It was evident what he was actually thinking about. He was not ready to go back, yes, but...
But the dragon was right. Better to be safe than to be sorry.
"Whatever plant that happens to be seems... rather elastic." He admitted. He had been very certain that it would break under the strain, but it had not been so. Then, before he could give in to any urge to simply jump back in the water, approached the dragon so he could take hold and carry him.
I will return He promised, silently.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 7:59 pm
The Great Depths Their return to the Nyanko had been a successful one, but he had not tarried – left his companion to reap most of the honours for himself. Even the maps which had picked at his attention earlier on and had lead to their fishing venture did not seem to be able to hold his attention, though he did indeed study them and do his best to commit them to memory – a few sketches were also jolted down in the notebook he carried. It's page were getting full... a good thing he had thought to bring three with him instead of just one. But for now, he had something else – something rather important – to do still. The merfolk were still waiting on him, and though he still felt guilt as leaving his companion behind at his task, he had no other choice – this tasks needed to be done, and it seemed like the best outcome to split now. He had left the books with the dragon, and he had left his aoidei with him as well. Jinx had been rather unhappy with her master's decision, but a few choice words had quieted her – she would be more useful to the dragon than she would for him, especially now that he knew just what the world was like. The cat would likely refuse to enter a body of water this large, and who knew how long this would take him ? And so, he had bid his companions farewell for now, and wandered down the path he had previously walked a few hours prior – now alone. He travelled light – bringing only some rations and more of the berries the nyanko had given him before in his messenger bag, all wrapped up in large leaves, in an attempt to keep them dry. With no dragon to be able to pull him should something occur, the bag would have to follow him down this time, as he did not fancy the thought of drowning. The surface was every bit as slippery as it had been then, and the lack of Tian Yue to be able to hold onto while his claws brought him stability made his descent rather slow. In the end, though, he seemed to give up on such thing and simply let himself slide down once he had reached a gentle slope, only working himself to his feet – only narrowly avoiding tripping – once he had reach the point where the root-alguae angled upward. He paused only a moment before he started his climbing. The rubbery substance was quite slick itself, but a bit drier on the inside that the floor had been, the edges allowing for some grip to his fingers. What he would have done for actual, useable wings now... The tendrils at his back were, as always, rather useless, though they gave an irritated twitch in response to the mood of the god. He could move them easily, stretch and fold them – the basics of usability were right there, but there had no way so little a surface could lift and carry him. And unlike Tian Yue, he was not gifted with the power of wingless flight. It had taken him quite some time to be able to scale the length, but eventually he did just that, and leaped from his precarious perch on the top, feeling unsafe with how the weaker part swayed under his weight and threatened to break. He landed perfectly on one of the large leaves below. The world seemed somehow bigger, quieter now that he did not have his companion at his side. This was a foolish thought – nothing had changed here, as far as he could tell. Nothing... beside the fact that he stood alone. Truly alone. But this could not be it either... could it ? Had he gotten... used to this ? He forced the thought out of his head, hands moving to undo the strap of the bag, tying it around his waist as tightly as he could bear it, in fear that the waves would knock it from his shoulders. When a few thugs proved the whole very solid, he took and ate more of the bitter fruits – ugh, these were not an acquired taste – and zipped the bag closed again before jumping into the cold water and swimming. Downward, always downward. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ They were exactly where he had left them, gathered at the ruins of the city, still beautiful in spite of being broken in so many ways. Ankou settled in the bottom once more, but this time did not extend his power. There was no need to, and his mana was still scarce and precious. Not to be abused less he had none at his disposal should he really needed to unleash his powers. They had been whispering among themselves, but all went silent once more at the god's return. 'You have returned swiftly, Carrier of the Dead.' It was true, that what had seemed to take so long for him perhaps only took a few hours in truth. But still, Ecletia sounded pleased. He nodded in answer, parting his lips to mouth out his words. 'As I have. I trust you are all ready ?''We are well beyond ready, Lord.' Her words were just the slightest bit bitter, but drew no emotion from the Spirit Guide's features. 'Then it shall be just a moment.' With that, he propelled himself though the water with a kick, scanning his surroundings. There were plenty of bodies here – after there had been no one left to bury them, most likely – the bones clean, likely from having been picked clean by the fish. It saved him from a potential gruesome task, not that it would have stopped him. These were bodies, discarded and useless. The bones came easily, seeming light in his hands, and he slid them through one of the side-pockets of the bag before zipping that closed as well. He did not dare to open the main section, where food, water and berries were stored. The Guide was quite sure the ratty old bag was not waterproof, but Sanyrra had assured him that the bundling of leaves would help to keep everything from getting completely drenched. With that done, he slid though the water once more. 'Let us go, then. Show me these pathways, Ecletia.'The mermaid nodded, and so they were off. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Ecletia had been right. There was no way Tian Yue would have been able to fit though this while wearing scales. And it was a pity in itself, because that meant he did not get to see this. The once-great spires of coral that marked the entrance were broken, but yet it seemed to take little from their beauty. Thin and long, it seemed likely that they spread to stand over the surface in their prime. This was truly a sacred path, and had been revered as such. 'It is here.' The woman spoke, softly. 'Can you tell of anything, Carrier of the Dead ?'Indeed, he could. The water was colder here, first of all, but the depths seemed to grow unnaturally dark in the distance. But the true tell-tale hint was the familiar energy he felt dwelling just beyond. Well, this certainly made his job easier. 'All is well..' He mouthed, and swam though the opening. The merpeople followed. It was indeed getting a great deal colder here. The dead did not mind, but as he gave a kick of his feet to swim along a sudden angle, he noticed he was shivering. This path was much like a maze carved from the earth itself, with many sharp turn and twists. After a few minutes of swimming, he stopped, where the water turned pitch dark, even to the string of lights tied to his wrist. Right there... Right beyond there, and he could be in the Underworld. It was hard, beyond hard, to try to resist the urge – but if he was quick enough about this, perhaps he would be able to catch up with the dragon before he left the nyanko camp. 'Right here, beyond here, is what you seek. You will be welcomed.'He needed to say nothing more. They swam right into the darkness, without hesitation, their scale brushing against his form, whispering words of thank and praise. Prayer. Worship. It felt unlike anything he could remember feeling in this life. Like a sudden jolt coursing though his body, extremely pleasant and comfortable, spreading though him like warmth. The merpeople continued to pass him by, and for a moment, he watched the darkness intently. A few well-placed kicks of his legs and he would be swallowed by it himself. It was hard to resist giving in to the temptation, but there were other things to be done. As he turned to swim back, however, the very ground around him started to shake – the last few spirits of the dead around him scampering off into the dark water in fear of what was happening – a earthquake... ? The water around him suddenly moved, as if drawn down by an invisible source. The Guide managed to get a few paces in, but the 'pull' was growing stronger and stronger until he could no longer fight it, his strength spent. The water dragged him below, and the darkness swallowed him in turn.
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Posted: Sat Jan 14, 2012 8:00 pm
You're A Little Early, Arn't You ? Zero Dream The cut-of had come quick and sudden, and while the god had attempted to control his movement alongside everything... In the end, the water had carried him down, further and further down out of control, and the world had went black.
In the end, he had washed up on the mouth of where had once run a river entrance, soaking wet and once again coughing on pure reflex to expel water out of his lungs - the surge of pain was what had made him come to, rather suddenly, and, for the smallest moment, he asked himself just where he had ended up.
But the knowledge returned to him quickly enough, working himself to sit in the damp earth, where a river had ran only a moment before. What had happened, well... He was not sure. Something suddenly forced him down.
One thing seemed certain, and it was that Tian Yue would likely have his hide after this... The world was still rather dizzy and his vision blurry, so he did not move even as the merpeople he had taken with him continued onward, swimming though the air as if it was water, as if drawn by another call. Some paused at his side to inquire about his wellbeing - he simply nodded and sent them off. Thabara He felt dizzy, disoriented, when the agony left him, as always after a spurt of growth. But it seemed he was definitely getting better at handling it, perhaps developing a bit of routine even.
Carefully he checked first for Echo, making sure she was alright, and then - one by one - for his links to the world of the living. It was a tedious task, as their number had increased by quite a bit in preparation for ... that day. Only a small part of the connections had severed this time around - he was getting better at this - and as always, there were some among them that could not be reestablished.
It was, he assumed, perhaps because these worlds had given their all after they hand yielded the souls of the dead to him. No one left there to worship, no new lives for the souls to be reborn into. Barren, dead chunks of rock in a Sky which no longer existed.
He failed to sense the new presence within until he actually got there, intending to tend to yet another link which had been lost. Perhaps he had been too busy, too lost in his thoughts. Perhaps it was because it was so familiar, something which felt like a part of his own.
Ankou. He watched the merpeople drift away, floating high up in the 'sky' now, striving to join the river of souls. It was a sight surreal and beautiful the same. Dreamlike. It surprised him a little to see them move such ease, but then again ... What Echo, Minawi, and now even Ankou might perceive as an atmosphere, and the merfolk as water, truly was neither. The dead required no air to breathe, after all. Zero Dream It took a few minutes for the sensation of dizziness to leave him, and to be able to stand up again on wobbly legs, coughing out the last bit of the water that had taken over his lungs for the... third, four time, now ? He had stopped counting, and could not help but hope this was the last. Not only his throat, but now his chest felt rather raw and ached.
What had manifested of his wings now seemed to refuse to move entirely, hanging limp as if broken, though the lack of pain hinted that it likely was not so. That... was rather odd, he could not help but think. Perhaps he had just hit something on the way down - the decent had been rough enough that he had lost both his shoes and the improvised string of light, leaving him wearing only soaked black jeans that had seen much better days. The bandage on his arm had seemed to come undone as well, but the pain from it was offput by the fact his whole body felt rather sore. At least, his bag was still firmly attached to his waist - it had been a very wise move to attach it in such a way.
The comfortable familiarity of the place made want to simply lay down and sleep, but he resisted the urge, watching the souls float on in the sky, as well as the flow of lights, for a moment before starting to walk straight ahead.
He had no idea exactly where in the Underworld he had ended up to, but since he had, he might just as well have a look before leaving again. He had promised Cosine, after all, that he would look out and bring back news should he find them. Thabara Nergal kept watch over him, his presence hovering close-by but seemingly going unnoticed as he took in the sight of his brother. Ankou certainly looked worse for the wear, but did not seem seriously harmed. Except for the wings. His gaze lingered on those, some faint memory tugging at the back of his mind, like a phantom itch.
He frowned, metaphorically speaking, and then discarded the notion.
First things first.
He waited for his brother to be just barely out of the riverbed, where large puddles of brackish water still remained, before he remade that connection. Water flooded in immediately, bearing even more souls. They would not be a problem, not for a while. Judging when his next bout of growth was going to happen was another thing he was starting to get quite good at.
Finally, he decided to approach his brother.
'What, pray tell, are you doing here?' The voice, if it could be called such, as it seemed more like a whisper of the wind, seemed to come from nowhere and everywhere at all. The tone was dry, not entirely without sarcasm. And it definitely, unmistakably, was Nergal's voice. Zero Dream Ankou stopped in his tracks when the sound of flowing water reached his ears, head tilting to look in the direction of the sound. Yes, the water was flowing freely again now, as if it had never stopped at all. This was rather puzzling. Though, swimming back though this specific opening seemed a bad idea - he could get though the passageway, surely, but there was a whole lot more of water waiting for him on the other side. And who knew how long the water-breathing effect lasted, or how long he had been blacked out for ?
Not once had he sensed Nergal so close, even less saw him, of course, so the voice calling out for him took him completely offguard - he had not seen anything, and so he looked around.
Still nothing.
Uh.
"What, you are not a fan of my grand entrance ?" He spoke, in a way that made it easy to guess that he had not been a fan of it. His voice was, indeed, strained by the soreness of his throat and chest. "I was swimming down an ocean. The connection in between that place and this place suddenly decided it would be funny to break on me. So, here I am, I figure."
At least the group he had gathered seemed to be mostly accounted for. Thabara 'Such a foolish thing to do,' he chided, a gentle, but cold breeze ruffling through Ankou's hair. He had been swimming down an 'ocean'? He hoped his brother was figuratively speaking, but what with the water that came through, the sensation of pressure and a sheer amount of even more water ...
Not to mention the merpeople. He wondered if these were Kaelin's, if the effeminate water deity should have a word in how they would be treated.
Later.
'There were more souls ... some time ago. They bore your mark as well.' Zero Dream The lack of seeing just where the hell Nergal was, or to be able to even tell, was a rather odd and confusing thing. A little annoying even, but then... But then, it seemed to dawn on him.
_____Have I been the one to rule the realm of the dead..
__________or the realm itself?
Everywhere at once.
He did not ask any questions - as it seemed like he had indeed found his answer, the concept not ringing as odd as it would be to most, perhaps even just the slightest bit familiar, yet... Something seemed wrong with such a recollection of the past, but he could not quite tell how.
His hand reached to pull at his long hairs, bringing it over his shoulder and twisting the dull red strands in order to try to squeeze as much water as possible out of it. "Though the World Tree, yes. Tian Yue has been given the task to make count of the remaining worlds. I have been tagging along with him." Thabara He had been wondering about how to explain ... Part of him at least, splitting his attention to tend to several things at once was yet another thing he seemed to slowly get the hang of. But the look of puzzlement - annoyance even - on Ankou's face suddenly gave way to dawning realization, and he knew without the need for words being exchanged that his brother understood. Understood what had happened, what he had done unto himself.
'And followed the call of your own domain as I noticed. I ...' Nergal paused, wondering how to word his praise best. Commendations were something that never passed his lips easily. In the end he settled for a simple: 'Thank you.'
'I am afraid though you are a little early in your arrival. There are no halls yet prepared for you to offer rest from your hard work.' His tone was rueful, sincerely so. He had promised. Zero Dream "Well, while in the tree it was not very hard... The world connections also helped, though I have only recently figured out that they were there..." He shrugged, as if it was no big deal however, though his expression had, for a split second, been otherwise.
He... was not sure if he had ever actually been thanked for something like this before. It did not feel like it had been the case, and for that split second, he had not known exactly what to say.
With most of the water squeezed out of his hair, he let go and shook his head, until the fine stands spread again. At Nergal's apology, however, he let out a small, amused laugh. "I have been sleeping in a tree for the last span of forever." It definitively felt like forever to him, that he and the dragon had been going though the Yggdrasil, counting roots and drawing maps, taking notes, discovering many new places... He simply did not mention that this tree had a small colony of demons dwelling in those branches, it seemed best. The problem had been rather quickly taken care of, though not without damage to him. The gashes and the claw marks on his right arm had closed, though the marks remained and it was still the cause of light, dull pain. "Simply allow me to rest for a moment and all will be well. I... cannot stay long. The dragon will worry." Thabara 'I thank you anyway.' Had he been in human form, he would have inclined his head politely. 'To do this while barely a fraction of your powers has returned ...' whereas I have been idling for way too long.
'Sit then, rest for a little. This realm may not seem overly appealing or friendly, but the grass at least is soft.' Here at least that was indeed the case. There were other places though, that he had crafted within himself, where the blades of grass were sharp as scalpels, cutting even the skin and flesh of the dead.
'And ... if you have the time and strength to spare, I would hear of your journeys.' There was open curiosity in his voice. Since his rebirth, he had been to three ... no, four different worlds exactly, and not seen much of any of them really. Still, he had to - some extend - enjoyed traveling about, and now that he seemed bound to his realm more than ever before ... Suddenly, he felt envious of his brother. Zero Dream He did just that - careful enough to make sure he was not sitting in the newly re-connected river - and did just that, as he leaned against the trunk of massive, mostly dead tree. He spoke of how Tian Yue had slept ever since the ritual, and how it has been his youngest son, of all beings, that had awoken the mourning dragon. Of how he had sought him mostly for clearer information, but how it had wound up that their paths were similar and that they both had advantages at keeping the others about. Of wandering down the World Tree, how many of the branches and roots had closed off, how the dead parts bore no fruits, or rather worlds, over their branches.
He spoke of the first world they visited to test out that theory, how it had been silent and still, a barely viable ecosystem that would likely crash down upon itself at any moment, of the demons that had made it that way, and of the smallest shard of the bard he had unraveled to bring her some amount of peace in her unaware torment.
He spoke of the sames demons, and of retribution handed out - mostly by dragon claw. He gleaned over the fact that this was how he had gained the gashes of his main arm, though he would not be hard for the elder brother to guess so himself.
He spoke of wandering, over and over, of meeting small little creature called Nyanko, who carved maps into the wood of the branches, and how the little tribal creature had wanted fish as a payment for their assistance and allegiance. The Guide then spoke of how they had been led to that literal ocean he had talked about, a world made of water and spires of coral carefully carved along to make large buildings. How the merfolk had called to him, even from the bottom of the ocean, and how he got to them at last. They had caught fish, returned, and then... And then it was when the two had decided to part ways - he refused to leave the souls there, and Tian Yue had wanted to continue the mapping. In the end, they had figured spitting would have it done faster, or that Ankou could trail the dragon's steps and catch up with him. And... well, that was how he ended up here. Thabara He listened closely, intently, mists gathering while everything else in their surroundings seemed to still. Even the stream's soft gurgle seemed strangely muted. At the mention of demons, there was a sudden gust of wind – no words, only that.
That despicable, much loathed race … To hear of the fate those dwelling within Yggdrasil had found, crushed by World Shield's teeth and claws, filled him with deep satisfaction.
For the rest of the tale, there were no more reactions. Nergal remained still, listening enraptured, though part of himself was still busy tending to the matters of his realm. Only at the mention of the Nyankos there went a soft whisper through the grass, as if caused by a breeze.
He remembered them. Little more than vague recollections of that they had been about even back then, before the Fading, but he remembered them.
'I wish I could have seen it for myself,' he admitted. 'The spires of coral. I shall have to question the merfolk about them. And even that dead, dead world you mentioned. Life … might still find its way there, travelers through the branches of Yggdrasil such as you, even if they only bear the shapes of bugs, or rodents.' Zero Dream "They were beautiful. Coral, rock and... I lack the knowledge of the words to describe what else they had been made of." The Guide shook his head, longing in his eyes and expression. The way back and forth had been unpleasant for his body, but the sights... the sights he had seen, that city nested in water, beautiful and still, and those he had seen there.... to be able to truly do his duty, to do what he had longed to do, to be what he had longed to be ever since the first pangs of awareness had returned to him, trapped in the gem that now adorned the small of his back...
It had been worth it.
"I think that world is likely to survive, yes. If He wills it... Everything is there, technically even life of the plants due to the stretching out of influence... All it needs is one more spark of life. Then... it will be reborn anew."
Suddenly, something occurred to him. "What of Echo... ?" She was not here. He figured, perhaps, that she was simply elsewhere - the realm was vast already. He could feel it. "Cosine was rather worried... about the both of you, to be honest." And me now He thought with a frown. Thabara 'I wish I could have seen,' he repeated. No doubt some frightened merfolk would find themselves be faced with rather intimidating presence, stabbing them mercilessly with questions about how their cities had been built.
Echo.
'She made it here savely, and she is well, if a little lonely.' There was an awkward pause, as he realized that he had, yes, checked on her wellbeing, but not left her with any words of reassurance. And he had sent Melody off a little while ago, and she had yet to return … 'She cannot see or otherwise perceive the dead, unless I gift her. Her strength about equals my own, so it tends to wear off after a while, even here ...' Zero Dream "I see... I am glad she made it." He said. "And that I will have news to bring back, as well." As for why she remained... honestly, he did not even ask himself that question. It was evident to see why she remained, and yet... She would need to go back, eventually. Her place was not to remain here.
He could see, of course, the dead in the distance. None seemed to quite dare come close to him - either because Nergal kept them away or if simply because he was a new, sudden and foreign presence, he did not know. He had managed to draw in many on his own accord, certainly a bit more effective than he, himself, was even now in his drastically changed shape, and he could not help the pang of envy that followed the thought.
Useless...
He hated feeling like he was useless. Or, at the very least, limited.
But to her... to her, this place was empty. He could not even begin to imagine how it was like. Thabara Ankou's words were followed by an awkard silence, for almost too long. 'News … of her return, mayhaps,' he finally said hesitatingly. He didn't sound all too sure of it. Zero Dream He nodded. "I will bear them. Though... I am not sure when I shall return. She may very well make it back before I." There had still been... much to be done at the World Tree. Much left to explore. The task... was indeed a massive one. It seemed without end.
But it would end, one day. Even something so large, so infitively big as the Yggdrasil, has it's own span. In the end, they would find it.
And then, it would be the matter of presenting the results on the findings in a way that made the most sense. Thabara 'She may,' Nergal agreed. 'I wish the two of you could meet. But she ... is close to the Core, whereas you ended up in the borderlands. If you only got your legs to carry you, it would take weeks to get to her. And whereas time runs differently here, I am not sure you even have that much to spare.'
To take account of the remaining worlds, he could only hypothesize it had something to do with restoring the Skies, an endeavor to which he had already made his own small contribution. It certainly was of greater importance than to sightsee his new realm, or pay visits to old friends and acquaintances, however lonely they might be. Zero Dream "I understand." He nodded as well, leaning a bit more against the tree and resting his hands on top of his knees. Everything was calm here. Peaceful, in spite of how many souls there were now.
"You seem to have managed to call quite a few yourself." He had felt it, of course, that calling and the flurry that followed it. But there was still also more than that, more than it seemed. "Are you sure that you even need me ?" He asked, tone teasing. Thabara 'You exaggerate, as usual.' There seemed to be no disapproval in Nergal's voice, however, but rather ... amusement? However, his tone sombered significantly with the following words:
'A great many of them came with the initial call, all from the same world … It was them that forced their way into me and … caused this realm to be remade from my own flesh and bones. I had intended it to be the other way around, for them to provide the substance.' He paused. 'I will never know, I think, if it was what they really wanted, or if they were only heeding what I wanted.'
'Since then … I have been trying to align with the realms of the living, to forge new paths for the souls of the deceased. Or, to remake the old roads and gates, where possible. It is trial and error mostly, most success was achieved through chance and luck rather than knowing what I am doing. I am … merely 'messing around', if I were to put it into my host's words.'
'I do need you,' he confirmed, softly. 'There is a grand influx of souls, whenever I hit upon a world by accident, much like striking a gold mine. But it causes me to grow, and that again, changes everything. It takes much of my strength and focus to reconnect the paths which have been severed, each time, let alone to make new ones. And there are always those souls lost, unable to feel my draw, or those strong enough to resist it.'
'I need you, Spirit Guide, Brother. But not only for the souls you bring.' He was the one to roam the mortal worlds freely, to spread his wings and go wherever he wanted. While he himself … was bound moreso than ever before, it seemed.
'The worlds you told me of, they were the ones you recently visited, yes? I will try to find someone, of a world close by, capable to guide you there. In the meanwhile … rest? Echo is too far away. But … I shall sing for you, if you want me to.' There was a certain embarrasment noticeable in his words, but he had confidence in his Song. It had been enough to calm and put to rest the legions of dead he was hosting now. It should be sufficient to allow his brother, the only one of his blood but the children he'd fathered, to sleep, and rest.
Zero Dream "I know of that." He gave another light nod, body growing more limp against the tree. It was rather obvious that the Guide needed the rest. He had not only pushed the limits of his mana, but those of the still mostly mortal body, as well... "It had been the world of the pantheon... I have felt them." Had they not relayed his message ? But then, with how things had went... perhaps it was to be expected to be such.
As is, he was not sure if he really needed the mental image, but in a sense... It helped to know what truly had happened. It helped him understand better.
And the dragon had likely thought him restless and reckless...
He did listen as best as he could, even though it was hard to focus. He wanted to sleep, so badly... So his brother's last few words did not come as a surprise, even though the embarrassment basically rolled out in waves, impossible to mix. "Yes. That... would likely be best." He needed to find Tian Yue again... somehow. There was no way he would be able to scale his way back 'up' the tree by his lonesome, at least now without a mount of some sort to carry him though swifter. And the maps... had remained with the dragon. At last, though, he smiled. "I... do not think it will be needed." He was quite sure that the second his attention was no longer focused on anything, he would basically fall like a bunch of bricks. Thabara 'Sleep then,' Nergal murmured gently. 'Regain your strength. I shall wake you when everything is ready, so that your rest wont last months.' Zero Dream Rest for months. That seemed unlikely, but then... not too far-fetched either. Was it not exactly what his traveling companion had done ? He ought not to do so, had certainly had not worn himself that ragged, he liked to think. And, the mortal shell would waste away first, given such a long sleep.
But it mattered not.
True to his word, the second Ankou let his eyes fall closed, he seemed to be gone completely, still save for the low rise and fall of his chest.
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