Lortober Day 18 - Deep
Clear, thick rivers overflowed the many cliffs that stretched down into plumes of fog and thicket. Dancing among the bracken and branches, Wisps glided and twirled with another, soft chimes tickling the air with their otherworldly laughter. From evergreen bough to bough, crept and leapt the more natural fauna of Darkspine, their eyes barely discernible from the glittering Wisps, but there they were watching with wariness at the two Bracchus slinking up the rocky cliffside.
It took the twins some time to climb to the top, but the celestial sight of the constellations and planets ran a tingle down their spines. It was a sight rarely seen in the Goldsea city of Fadence, with the constant burning lights of The Great Library and the busy smoke of industry. The months of being crammed up in the dusty catacombs of books melted away before the expanse above them. Astrophel was the first to rouse from the stupor of awe, shaking his fur and pulling his satchel open, spilling its contents to the rock. Quill already dipping in ink, he began to chart each twinkling dot upon the navy parchment as Pyxis sat, watching for longer.
The Great Ram was beginning to crest over the horizon, pushing into the limelight as his quieter brother constellation, Elius' Eyes began to close. The skies were changing as they did slower over the centuries. But something new made Astrophel's quill pause. A sickly green star, an unknown star, was slowly brightening amongst the shattered remains of The Mists cluster. Pouring over his notes and records, Astrophel puzzled over the appearance of such a star. No... he pondered, perhaps it was not a star... but a comet. He flicked more through his small stash, but there were too few mentions of a green comet to pinpoint what his new celestial visitor could mean or be. Pyxis looked back at her brother, a chill had set in from observing the unusual light, "Perhaps, Una knows about it?" "Mayhaps, I do, cub." Una Duanei slid from the rocks, "But I have no words for two naughty whelps that leave behind the entire caravan." Una scolded, her nose high in the air and sulking. Pyxis looked to her brother, who smiled sheepishly, maybe they shouldn't have left Una behind. "Apologies, Una, I did not think to ask if you'd like to come trekking through the wilds." Astrophel lowered his head, appeasing Una's pride. "One such as myself would much prefer to not put paws to dirt and filth." Una began, the twins readied themselves to be further scolded. "But... once a blue moon it is seen as pleasant to see such an untamed sight."
Una moved forward, her gaze snapping to the blanket of stars, a smile lifted her jowls. The twins sighed, getting more comfortable, despite her snappish attitude, Una was a kind wolf behind her bristles. "Could you tell us what it is?" Pyxis chimed, pointing to the strange green light. The strange wolf seemed to hold a vast wealth of knowledge of such things, knowing things from long ago, yet unable to remember her own self. The smile dropped from Una's muzzle, her golden eyes growing wide and blank. As if in a trance, her mouth opened, "Deep. Below. Stirring."
Chaos' Chariot... The Cursed Comet...