Submission (#3997) Approved

This was a mistake. The first real thought that enters Kawa's mind as he heaves the rest of his body up the slope of the Rajasana mountains. The second thought that enters his mind is how stupid he is for trusting such a shady Kyunru. Honestly, he should be awarded some sort of gold medal for the amount of red flags he decided to ignore before embarking on this thoughtless 'journey', as the said shady Kyunru had called it. Get lost in the Overwilds? Check. Stumble upon a shadowy figure hidden in the mist? Double check. Proceed to follow them to their really, quite messy home? You know it! And yet...somehow they knew. They knew that Kawa was searching for someone. And when they promised him answers? And all he has to do is just climb a few measly mountains? How could he ignore that call? So he shakes himself off, straightens the teal (her color, its always her color that lingers on him) scarf tied around his neck and triple checks his supplies before continuing on. And for a moment, his luck seems to have also been on the up and up as well. Kawa can't help but feel a bit smug, as he slides carefully down an incline, further within the mountains, and deeper into the lingering fog that the area is quite well-known for. 

"W-what-..!" As quickly as those thoughts appeared, they vanish. Because while going down is a lot easier than going up...it is also a lot harder to see through the thicker mists. Such mist that was concealing a rock. A rock so well-placed that Kawa would never be able to adjust in time to avoid contact. The best Kawa can do is tuck his body as well as he can during his tumble down the mountainside. Such actions will not completely negate any sort of pain and bruising, but it will help to lessen the severity of any sort of injuries he may sustain, and he can't help but wonder if Miyu would fuss over his scuffs and scrapes with the sort of tender care that made him so bashful (not that he would ever admit that, of course, he would rather eat a plate of Divawings than admit such fondness). And then his world stops spinning. Kawa lays on his back, heart pounding in his ears, face and clothes smudged with dirt (those stains will be an absolute nightmare to try and get out later), and decides that perhaps adventuring is not his strong suit. He raises his arms first, then his legs, and lets out a sigh of relief when he finds that all his limbs seem to be in functional order, albeit quite sore. There's no real sunlight that he can see through the mists, but Kawa figures it must still be daytime since his surroundings are still somewhat visible. But Kawa knows that time is not in his favor and his detour has cost him quite heavily. He's not quite sure the direction his tumble has taken him, but knows that he should still be within the area of Sulapei, and the small towns scattered throughout this area may be his saving grace. 

His gamble does pay off, eventually, when he spots the tell-tale sign of a structure peaking through the grey fog. Unable to contain his excitement of fresh food, a comfortable bed (because, really, who would turn away such an adorable kittom such as himself?), and actual conversations not with fictional scenarios made up in his mind to pass the time, Kawa races towards the wooden building. However, as he begins to near the abode a sinking feeling begins to settle in his stomach. The wood seems rotten, unkempt weeds litter what looks to be leftover farmland, and there is an eerie silence that echoes along the land. Kawa's ears flatten against his head and he nervously tugs at the scarf around his neck seeking some sort of comfort from a familiar feeling. Even with the mounting dread, he continues onwards. Kawa knows better than to look greedy, and any sort of structure that he can rest in is better than facing the Rajasana mountain during the night. So he approaches, daring to at least knock first upon the wooden door. If, by any chance, there is somebody inhabiting this area, Kawa would at least like to be polite about asking to take up residence within the weathered building. 

Moments pass with no answer other than the wind along the ground and so with not a moment more of hesitation, he throws his still-aching shoulder against the door in any sort of effort to have it budge. It takes a few more tries than he would have appreciated, but eventually the door does give way to a dusty and rundown interior. But, to his delight, there are still remnants of life in the form of some furniture. Another sigh of relief escapes him, and Kawa trudges inside, making sure to bow respectfully at the interior and take off his muddy shoes. The door closes with a creak and the only light that filters inside is through cracks and crevices in the wooden frame, dust dancing alongside to some unheard melody. He takes a few more hesitant steps inside, ears flitting the flicking to pick up any sort of abnormal sound that might alert him to some hidden threat. When only the sounds of the house answer him back, Kawa allows his shoulders to relax just a little bit. An act of bravery, he supposes, was needed to bring him here to such a place. His feet patter along weary wood, in the direction of the bed, and the thought of sleep dances in the young kittom's mind.

Creeeeeeeeeeak. 

Kawa freezes, whatever semblance of relaxation he once was in is now lost. His heart begins to pound, blood racing, and ears raised high and alert. When no further sound comes, however, Kawa steps again. The wood creaks once more. The sound seems to be coming from the floorboard below his feet. Some hidden compartment perhaps? His nose scrunches as he crouches down closer to the ground, dust kicking up eliciting a few sneezes. Kawa pokes curiously at the boards, head tilting as the floor gives way easily beneath his touch. A few more experimental pokes and prods and then he's grasping at the edge of the board and yanking as hard as he can muster. To his surprise, the wood lifts easily. And to his dismay, more dust puffs out simultaneously causing another fit of sneezes to overtake his senses. Once settled, he cautiously peers over the edge and into the compartment. There, delicately wrapped within a fine cloth of some sort, appears to be a book of sorts. Kawa reaches in, touching the silken threads, and is momentarily overtaken by how fine the craftsmanship of such an article is. His next thought is a little less sincere, wondering how much of a price this would fetch on the markets. He shrugs, another thought for another time, and begins to unwrap the buried treasure. The cover is a faded, worn leather, and whatever writing that may have once been on the cover has since been rubbed off. Turning the journal in his hands reveals pages that have since yellowed, and there's a distinct smell of petrichor that seemingly radiates from within. With careful consideration, Kawa opens the journal to a random page.

He yelps, dropping the book as though it has burned him, and scrambling backwards away from the inked pages. Shock, fear, disbelief, they all paint his face in a myriad of colors that leave him terrified and unsettled to his very core. 

Save her.Save her.Save her.Save her.Save her.Save her. Save her.Save her.Save her.Save her.Save her.Save her.Save her.Save her.Save her.Save her.Save her.Save her.Save her.Save her.Save her.Sav e he r.S a ve h er.Sa ve he r.S a v e h e r. 

The deeply unsettle message. The dark ink that reminds him of blood. The frantic writing that covers the page, written in a fit of mania. (the familiar feeling of wanting so badly to save somebody that the words refuse to say locked away, only relenting when they have been given some sort of purpose) Kawa isn't sure what he expected to find within, but it wasn't this. This isn't normal, his trip wasn't supposed to be like this. He thinks again of the mysterious Kyunru and wonders if they placed some sort of hex upon them that ended up leading them here. 

"You shouldn't be here." 

An unknown voice breaks the silence, and in his panic over the notebook, Kawa was too occupied to have heard the door creak open once again. An unfamiliar figure stands before him, cracked horns, red eyes, and shards of anima breaking through skin and clothes alike. The corrupted crown above the figure's head paints the building in an unearthly red light. 

Yes, Kawa thinks, adventuring is certainly not his forte. And then he promptly blacks out.