#wolf-spark

[wolf-and-fox]

…It did still kind of haunt the group, for the most part. Fox had been rarely willing to let anyone get too close - and it had really only gotten worse since the Curse. That one day. That one day was the first she'd ever trust herself to not bite on complete accident. The Dreambound Group was effectively near-silent for a majority of the trip, save for the identity-calls that started back up every time Fox went off to go hunting to stave off that horrible evil no-good Curse that made them so scared. The fertids were especially a favorite of theirs on hunting in Far Fields, and there was at least three separate occasions where Fox would bring back extra for the rest of the group.

…And then there's Greymoor. Wolf pauses on a set number of steps, ears tilting - followed up by Fox. A shared memory. "Who lost?" Wolf shakes it off. That was months ago. Fox seems to follow suit, shaking off rain before chirping - follow, safe soon. Water SUCKED to swim through, and Crimson was immediately the one to take the easier route of just teleporting. Fox and Wispspark chose to swim through regardless of how much coaxing Wolf and Crimson tried to tell them (mostly Wolf), both of them shaking off more water, sopping wet further. The end goal of this horrible trek through rain and wind was Halfway Home, where upon Wispspark is just happy to have somewhere to rest, even if it was outside. Fox and Wolf respectively drop their own dreambound forms entirely. Oh thank stars bench. Wait here, I'm gonna check first. Fox angles their head slightly, exhaling before stepping into the inn first.

@junior-and-dew

[wolf-and-fox]

ABSBCDSH FORK MAN IS VOID NOW

Wolf wakes up with a startle of Crimson shaking them, the Grimmchild hissing nervously - something is clearly wrong, Wolf knows - they're angling their head like they're looking for something. This was… familiar behavior, actually. Where had they last seen this behavior? Wolf can sense it, too - they never got rid of the charm, even after Crimson Wisp had outgrown the charm as a home. Something was deeply wrong - and they were desperately trying to pinpoint the cause, especially as soon as it clicked in Wolf's mind. Crimson had done this while they were searching for the flames, back in Hallownest. Flames. They were active? Where? Why?

This continues until Fox sprints over with the signet, showing the ask. And in seconds (with the aid of Elm frantically trying to alert to something worse), Wolf puts two and two together regarding the words 'fork man', flames turning a stressed green.

Sorry, hold on, just woke up and Crimson is panicked. Are you telling me that the Pale King, my creato- wrong word, sorry- my father, the ruler of Hallownest, has nearly died? AND THEN GOT VOID-CURSED? Wh- what was the thought processing behind this? What reason? Was there no other way?

[wolf-and-fox]

*Fox's eyes hurt. She closed her eyes in some attempt to help, but that did not help as the spectral blobs they saw lit up as she did so.*

*She could see the others with them closed, all of her friends painted an orange and sickly hue.*

*When Fox opened her eyes, unbeknownst to her . . . They were the same bright orange.*

…Fox you're orange. Thanks.

[wolf-and-fox]

Fox jolts awake, ears angling back and quickly scanning the area. Okay good waking world- WAIT. Mom, get up. I- I need to tell Scarlet- Crimson's head snaps up from their own nap. Fox what happened- First off! I think Radiance tried to get me to take a nap after I bit her out of anger. But that's not important right now I need to find- where's Wolf? Oh apparently Wolf and your dad nearly died by apparently Lurien, but- come on let's get out of the corner come on- Fox quickly sprints after Crimson, with Wispspark trotting close behind, and the second they get to near the medical tent they ERUPT into loud calls - apparently an attention and a roll call, since Wolf came sprinting back almost within minutes, and Fox wasted zero time asking questions. Where's Scarlet? Fox sounds.. panicked. Like something they know is about to go very, very wrong.

@junior-and-dew

[wolf-and-fox]

(The Marrow is more quiet than usual.) (Not like the sounds have gone away, but like there is a curtain in the air... some kind of silent, muting buzz.) (Then, the silence is disturbed by a strange sort of sound, like wet metal quietly scraping over rock.) (A serpent of black, roiling Void liquid slithers over the ground of the Marrow, taking its time and observing the area around it.) @xel-the-revenant

Wolf, for now, seemed to be at least partially further up ahead since Fox was having a nap mid-travel. They can't blame their sibling. But the quiet was starting to worry them, and they took up mantle of guardian LONG ago. Stay put. The little vessel - there's something else going on with this vessel, ain't there? - quietly goes further ahead, paws on the nail reflexively. No sense of hostility, just.. caution. The flames wreathe a little bit, flickering to more bluer flame. Are they trying to make themselves look less of a threat? ..I know you're here. I don't know who you are, so I am giving you the benefit of the doubt and letting you introduce yourself first.

[wolf-and-fox]

The Hunt Begins.

Current Party Members: The Dreambound, @junior-and-dew, @shimering-crystals-scarlet-shell, @weaveryivel (proxy)

The only sign of them following the caravan full-force was the echoing howls before empty silence. But that caravan was far from alone - trailing behind them was the Pharloom's possibly most concerned hunting party. The goal? Find Junior or answers, and optimally both. And who better to lead than a fellow Grimmchild? Crimson's keeping quite the pace, occasionally warbling to Little Guy in confirmation of directions and keeping the caravan in sight. Wolf and Fox were close behind, flanking on both sides of the group - often silent unless separated, low rumbles pinpointing where they were. It does get... PAINSTAKINGLY quiet at some point, though. Crimson does helpfully break this silence, angling their head to look to Dew. ...I don't think I ever caught your name, kindred-ally. Do you have one?

[wolf-and-fox]

Fox gets incredibly agitated about something regarding the cloak, and proceeds to Not Think Ahead and yoink the cloak off of them. They are… INCREDIBLY scruffy, with the wandering flames sparking up for a mock-tail. It does not hit until five seconds after that her decision making skills has left them Cloakless, silently sinking into the spa water in DREAD. Crimson does pick up on this and simply sits down nearby in an attempt of what can only be described as Comforting Presence. Wolf sees Fox being mildly nervous around being cloakless, and tries to be supportive in the completely wrong direction, wiggling out of their own cloak. Wolf is just as scruffy as Fox once sopping wet, and doesn't have the same marking patterns that Fox does. Except for the- MASSIVE bite marking on their right side - alongside fainter, shimmering injuries due to past battles and- sawblades. And also spears. The bite mark itself is much more canine-like in shape, as well. …Neither their own bite mark, or Dew's for that matter, doesn't seem to be bothering Wolf, which is a good thing.

Fox is… appreciative of Wolf trying to help, but this is not how you comfort, bestie.

@scarlet-and-dew @shimering-crystals-scarlet-shell @masterofthistroupe @amma-of-pharloom

[wolf-and-fox]

Scarlet is reeling slightly. They have a date. An actual date. Not one out of pity, or one that led into a more...private activity, which they were really tired of just someone looking for their body. A real, romantic date with someone. They don't know how to handle it. Dew doesn't really go out dating so he's not much use, they don't really know a lot of people here...

"...Hey Wolf, do you have any advice on how to go on a romantic date with someone?"

-@scarlet-and-dew

Wolf, at this point, was in their dreambound form and the question startled them quickly. They could answer a lot of questions. They could have answered anything about their kindred, or how Greenpath was kind of core to them, or literally anything else. Romantic advice was NOT one of them. Canting their head, they just… awkwardly hum for a good while. They are NOT giving up the details of their own experiences so quickly. Uhm.. QUICKLY, WOLF. What would they have done? What did the experiences lurking in the Verdant teach them, if only on secondhand and DEFINITELY not firsthand (despite Quite A Few experiences on BEING ASKED OUT)? THINK, FOR WYRM'S SAKE! They were just doing their JOB, back then! They didn't want that relation. They didn't even know if they could eat the food that was offered at the time while they were even recovering from the initial battle. Why was that one wolf so hopeful? Did they do something wrong? Why were they being asked about this? STOP THINKING ABOUT THAT. FOCUS ON THE TASK. I'd- initially try to get to know them more and then pick a location they enjoy being in. They give a quiet whine of pure DREAD afterwards, like they didn't know if they were saying the correct words. They DID NOT THINK THAT SENTENCE THROUGH AT AAAALL.