Submission (#4548) Approved

This time of year doesn’t exactly bring back the best of memories. 

Not that he can really call them memories; he had been too young when… it happened to truly remember, but he has feelings, flashes. Images of the deep, dark forest blaze through his mind during those moments when he notices the season changing. They’re strongest while he dreams; not even sleep is a refuge from those persistent reminders.

He gets a little over-protective of his siblings during the Feyhallow season, keeping them close under his watchful eye lest some monster sneak up and steal them away in the night. Unlikely, perhaps, but not impossible. Monsters lurk in plain sight, under the skin of those closest to him, just as much as they do in the shadows.

He does his best to swallow down the electricity prickling at the back of his neck as he pads through the jungle. His family is sharing a home in Kyendi for the season and he was currently in the middle of a game of hide-and-go-seek with his brothers and sister in the sprawling ruins they found on one of their outings. His mother always wants them to be able to explore the world and find their own place in it, whisking them away to various regions throughout the year. Gaining experience and opening their eyes to opportunities and all that. It could be tiring, but he does enjoy the time with his family.

The air was a lot thicker and mistier here than in their permanent home in Faerindell. The treetops were too high and dense here to see them from where he stood now, but he can recall how grand and awe-inspiring the floating islands were the first time his gaze set upon them. It’s the place he’s looking forward to visiting most. Faerindell was pretty flat in comparison and he wants to be able to see all the region at once, maybe even all of Eyre. He’s really curious about those yellow crystals that were supposedly how the islands float. What happens if someone breaks them? Do the islands just… fall?

Snapping out of his thoughts, he puts his focus back onto looking for his sister. “Hals, c’mon, game’s over. Zen wants to go back for lunch,” he calls out into the still air, broken only by the sound of waterfalls in the near distance. He listens closely for a reply or other noise indicating her presence. While he waits, he marvels at the ruins around him. They already spent a lot of time playing among them yesterday, looking for any treasure left behind by residents past.

The more time went by without finding Halcyon, the more he began to worry. He’s always been able to find her first when he was seeker, always almost right away. As he continues, more wary, he steps in something sticky. He grimaces downward to inspect what covered his now-dripping paw. It’s…ink? Paint? Some kind of thick, black liquid, maybe with a red tint if he squinted at it. Red… could it be…?

He forces his paws to move despite the ice pooling in his veins and freezing them in place. “Halcyon!” He called again, much more urgently. Dark paw prints of that same mysterious liquid lead down the path in jagged, uneven steps. There were black streaks and splotches along the grass and broken columns as he continued, his pace growing faster by the second. He thinks his heart might burst from his chest when-

-Suddenly, a dark form leaps out at him from behind a crumbling wall. 

“Boo!”

Haze wasn’t the most spiritual of ‘nin, but he would swear he felt his soul physically leave his body in that moment, while the rest of him jolted backwards and landed roughly on his tail. It takes a moment for his mind to catch up with what happened, and when air fills his lungs again and his vision comes to focus, he can see a purple kittom with glowing blue accents rolling on the ground in wicked laughter.

The ice that was formerly in his veins immediately melted as his blood boiled. “That wasn’t funny,” he spat through grit teeth at Sohail.

The dirt-eating grin plastered across the other kittom’s face almost made steam come out his ears. “First of all, yes it was, and second, relax, hot head. Your sister’s fine.” Through his rage, he notices that same black goo covering his paws, as well, and a wooden bowl of crushed black fruit peaking out of his hiding spot. It was just some kind of berry juice. The fact cools him down a few degrees, but he still ran blazing hot.

“Where is she?”

But the question went ignored. “I just so happened to be in the area and saw you wandering the woods. Thought I’d drop by and say hello.”

“Where is she?” He repeats, his tone lower this time.

“Geez, spicier than usual, are we?” He watches in irritation as Sohail rolls his eyes. “When I found out you were playing a game, I told her about my super secret hiding spot. Figured it’d help give her an edge.”

“And where might that be?”

“Well,” he steps closer, leaning in, lowering his voice like he was about to utter something taboo, “it wouldn’t be much of a secret hiding spot if I told you that, now, would it?”

And with a final snicker, he starts to walk away as Haze stands there, staring at the spot he’d vacated. “See you later, Hazard.” 

He very seriously considers doing something he knows he’d regret later, but it takes every last ounce of his self control to restrain himself. He won’t let his rage consume him. He won’t become a monster. Even if that kittom deserves it. 

Instead, he goes off to find wherever his sister might be.