Voided pale king

A monarchs regret au|| it/it's pk|| try to be pg13 (actually idc)

[voided-pale-king]

Higher beings, these words are for you alone…

I wanted to start with “I’m sorry” but I know that will never be enough, so allow me to address you all directly.

I’m sorry to The Radiance. I’m sorry i lead your followers astray, it was never my intention to. I see now that my foresight failed me, as it never told me what would have happened if I had just left. I’m sorry that I chose to fight instead of trying to come to a peaceful resolution. In a different world we may have been good friends, but that world is not this one.

I’m sorry to Grimm. I’m sorry I spent every day fighting against you, blocking out your troupe who were some of the kindest people I have ever met. I’m sorry I couldn’t be kind while you were around, no matter how kind you were to me. Im sorry that I prevented you from spending time in the palace despite my wifes love for your antics.

Finally, I’m sorry to my wife. I’m sorry that I couldn’t be there. I’m sorry I couldn’t provide you a child that you could love. I’m sorry for what I did to our children. I’m sorry I made you worry. I’m sorry that I could never make up for everything. I’m sorry that I couldn’t tell you how much I’ve been struggling every day with the thoughts that led me to write this. Please for everything, remarry someone who can actually love you.

By the time any of you have read this, I will already be dead, I have ingested a deadly amount of void. It will eat through my body and I will bleed out, hopefully on the floor of the abyss so that no one has to clean that up.

-Condolences

The Failed King.

[voided-pale-king]

You having fun down there with your kids?

~i got rescued by hornet (@edelwyss-solemns )

~moss is still with us, but I did not have fun down there, is was cold.

~Gods I hate the cold.

[bugy-bugs]

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[voided-pale-king]

... Are you quite well, old Wyrm?

~im alive... I guess.

[voided-pale-king]

@edelwyss-solemns hornet

the rock had cut her shallowly, once, twice. she huffs, only imagining casting a spell to get revenge on the uncaring, tight and cold tunnel, especially since her mind found focus in something far more worthy of it- the way was expanding minutely, her horns being hit and pressed less and less... "we're reaching the end of this dreadful part of the tunnel." she murmurs it, knowing they'd all still hear with the taut quarters. ... to stand again was marvel, pulling in a breath like it her first, tugging a final time on the sum of silk strands in her hand before dropping them, coming to her father who was bundled in silk just enough to safely be dragged behind, his eyes faintly open and the expression could only be described as a silent, somber, 'why?' she undoes the wrappings as the little shade- cased in shell -the one dubbed moss hurried beside. as per she intended, father was not harmed by the trek.

He lays still, too weak to fight as he’s handled like a doll. his eyes project his general annoyance at everything, the rocks, the silk, the hunger,hornet, moss, everything. Moss, the small and ever curious child they are, has taken an interest in hornets items, nibbling her bag and poking her needles . Their little hands grasping her cloak and her bag when she moves a little bit too fast for the young shadow.

The shadow settles when seeing their parents is unharmed. Slowly walking around and looking at things, this is clearly the farthest from the abyss flor they have ever been

[edelwyss-solemns]

hornet is interrupted again and again as she frees him, her ways to deter moss could be counted on one hand- gently, but firmly - pushing them back, shooing them off, or simply making it clear. "my weapons are not toys, my bag has nothing safe for you to play with and my cloak is something dear." she says this time. "allow me to finish this." she stares down moss, instilling the demand with just her gaze, and they do in fact still, she betting a minute max she'd have of this- max. so she turns to father and hurri- ah... the end of the silk came into her palms- tied to the spool in seconds before it can really register, having done it thousands of times before... father lies there with tattered robes settled neatly. she offers her hold again- to carry him again.

[voided-pale-king]

She can barely react before he is in her hold again, desperate for physical contact that isn’t a shade. he trembles against her, claws sinking back into the fabric of her cloak.

His breathing is uneven, he’s far too thin, but he is alive, and at this moment that’s all that matters.

[edelwyss-solemns]

...she pulls in a breath, the weight, the touch- unfamiliar, strange, something that she shouldn't hope to get used to. just a small adjustment and then she stands in a swift single motion. "come, follow closely." her horns grazing the ceiling with her father's as she gestures moss to carry on. she lets her head settle in the nook of his shoulder- his frame bulked graciously by the robes that'd yet to rot away- he'd need new clothe. "i still have the bread in my bag." she says as a thought comes to her.

[voided-pale-king]

A small, trill like sound comes from the shaking wyrm in her arms, content with just being held for now.

Moss follows close, now rummaging through her bag to try to find the bread, not having interest for themself, but the moment they find it they attempt to shove it in their father’s mouth, getting a slightly annoyed growl that only seemed to make them attempt harder.

They eventually gave up and handed it to hornet when all they got in response was growling.

[edelwyss-solemns]

"do not fuss with my bag." the words sharp and sudden, hissed out almost- she observes their trying, fathers growling, and just sighs as it's handed back without any hand in turn to take it. "...here." she bends the knees and bites into the bread, taking it from them so. standing, she eats the bread carefully, trekking forward still. "know if you touch my belongings again i will not restrain myself; i will kick you." she says as she chews. "i do not take any sort of thieving well, be it even play." ... "...though i understand your desire to help him." she rubs a circle into father's back... gently.

[voided-pale-king]

He leans into her, falling asleep. Moss, understanding her surprisingly well, nods and takes a step back to walk behind her up the tunnel again.

It wasn’t much longer before the tunnel came to an end and moss squeezed past in excitement, running out to look at the world outside the abyss.

[edelwyss-solemns]

the cavern is gray- varying shades washed over the rock of this place, cool earth comes to her feet, emerging from an old crack in the wall that had grown bigger over eons- "moss!" she shouts as they come closer to the edge, and they stop. they stand below the bridge, far below it, a nook in the old chasm, the ground uneven but safe, she gestures to a crude path upward. "be aware of each step you take, the fall is unkind." ... moss stumbled once and not again, something coming back to them almost as they see that dark, the gravity tugging them to it, they continue to tread, the air fresh and vivid, almost, and glorious as they make it to solid ground. good gods, never again. hornet thinks. i am never going down there again! she holds her head up high- the vessels eyes though are steady on what is behind them; the palace. dark and alone, fallen, dead. it stands there like a grave, lingers like a spirit, with an exterior still pale- mind you, -but dimmed, not a voice rose, not a spark of light besides the remaining lumaflies, clinging to the past, huddled about their old lamps.

[voided-pale-king]

moss, once out of the area of danger, begins to walk ahead again, their small footsteps echoing through the cavern.

The palace, once shining and beautiful, is now darkened and half fallen, sits ahead in an almost mocking manner, and moss is determined to get closer to it.

The shell of a kingsmold sits empty on the ground. moss pokes it, inspecting the cold armor, Before dropping all the pieces in favor of a very shiny rock.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she watches it, the voidless corpse- in other words it's remaining armor & curved claw-blade. the clattering sound made her jump into her fighting stance, made father jolt, she hisses a sigh at moss... ... she weighs options. the palace is right there, across the bridge, beckoning. but it is also the palace. did she, or father really want to return to such a place, especially in it's ruin? well then where else? deepnest- to her mother? could she manage the way there? her limbs were heavier than they should be, and not just due to father. ... it was obvious, though she didn't care for the past incarnate... ...then again, father. ... the bridge is cold, it's engravings against her feet. survival over discomfort, life over luxury, will over desire, surely they can find a room, huddle inside, and rest in that pale, winding nest.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss, after picking up the shiny stone, walks back over to hornet, and slides it into the opening of her bag, quickly understanding what bags are made for.

The wyrm in her arms fully relaxed as the long running fatigue from void exposure claims him, causing him to fall into a deep sleep. Finally.

[edelwyss-solemns]

it was in the same instance a little wriggly palm slipped into her silken bag that her arms tighten around father, that nothing but muscle memory and reflex took host and that she twists and in the momentum, her foot meets their mask- moss is kicked. they fly to the railing and land beside it with a thump. head down on the bridge ground. she blinks, a drumming guilt in her chest but peering over they look relatively intact- for a bug who's shell is kept together with naught but silk scraps -so... "i had warned you." she continues walking. "my bag is mine, and nothing there is for you to use." the rock they deposited clinks and tinks with hornet's many things as she walks.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss stands to follow her again, noticeably deflated. They didn’t mean to offend, they are too young to understand why this happened. They scratch gently at their arm, the same nervous tic her father possesses.

It’s quite.

[edelwyss-solemns]

the quiet haunts, it like a mist washing over the ruins of something still grand, if only for the picture it drew to the mind of what it once was. she sighs something relieving when she hears the little shade's steps, and begins recalling the halls and rooms of the palace, where best to huddle? somewhere close to the entrance, that she knew- hoisting father up so he settles in her arms right again, so she doesn't drop him. a pep in her step as she crosses the center of the bridge, with that floral motif cold and chilling, old and uncared for... but still seeming to shine beneath their feet.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss walks ahead slightly, pushing the heavy door to the palace open with surprising strength, waiting patiently for hornet to follow.

The wyrm huddles closer, now shivering despite the fact he felt as if he was on fire, the warmth of a living person compared to the ice of the abyss is harsh. His eyes stay closed, trying the best he can to rest.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she adjusts, ensuring her hold stays. ...it was awkward, her head resting on his shoulder, his clothe and skin icy... strange, creeping into the old ruin, the old memory; dusty and chilling, the dead air brushing up against her. she gives a warm nod to moss. "thank you." and steps into the palace.

[voided-pale-king]

The entry is almost completely collapsed, peaces of floor missing, just enough to get across comfortably if they walk slow.

Moss walks ahead. Assessing the damage of the floor, chirping every time they step over a gap. Rubble covers the floor that isn’t broken, a small amount of void made its way inside, causing stains before it dried up. The royal garden is just ahead.

[edelwyss-solemns]

treading as she always did; precise. the ground was no challenge, her gaze more focused on moss, keeping close to them. she peers at the place, at the way to her old chambers.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss falls behind her, not knowing the layout of the palace. The wyrm in her arms slowly starts shaking as he warms up against her. But he is quickly turning feverish. Moss holds on to her bag strap as the floor gets more dangerous, avoiding its opening, and catching one of her tools when it falls off from being jostled. Obvious trying to be on their best behavior.

[voided-pale-king]

@edelwyss-solemns hornet

the rock had cut her shallowly, once, twice. she huffs, only imagining casting a spell to get revenge on the uncaring, tight and cold tunnel, especially since her mind found focus in something far more worthy of it- the way was expanding minutely, her horns being hit and pressed less and less... "we're reaching the end of this dreadful part of the tunnel." she murmurs it, knowing they'd all still hear with the taut quarters. ... to stand again was marvel, pulling in a breath like it her first, tugging a final time on the sum of silk strands in her hand before dropping them, coming to her father who was bundled in silk just enough to safely be dragged behind, his eyes faintly open and the expression could only be described as a silent, somber, 'why?' she undoes the wrappings as the little shade- cased in shell -the one dubbed moss hurried beside. as per she intended, father was not harmed by the trek.

He lays still, too weak to fight as he’s handled like a doll. his eyes project his general annoyance at everything, the rocks, the silk, the hunger,hornet, moss, everything. Moss, the small and ever curious child they are, has taken an interest in hornets items, nibbling her bag and poking her needles . Their little hands grasping her cloak and her bag when she moves a little bit too fast for the young shadow.

The shadow settles when seeing their parents is unharmed. Slowly walking around and looking at things, this is clearly the farthest from the abyss flor they have ever been

[edelwyss-solemns]

hornet is interrupted again and again as she frees him, her ways to deter moss could be counted on one hand- gently, but firmly - pushing them back, shooing them off, or simply making it clear. "my weapons are not toys, my bag has nothing safe for you to play with and my cloak is something dear." she says this time. "allow me to finish this." she stares down moss, instilling the demand with just her gaze, and they do in fact still, she betting a minute max she'd have of this- max. so she turns to father and hurri- ah... the end of the silk came into her palms- tied to the spool in seconds before it can really register, having done it thousands of times before... father lies there with tattered robes settled neatly. she offers her hold again- to carry him again.

[voided-pale-king]

She can barely react before he is in her hold again, desperate for physical contact that isn’t a shade. he trembles against her, claws sinking back into the fabric of her cloak.

His breathing is uneven, he’s far too thin, but he is alive, and at this moment that’s all that matters.

[edelwyss-solemns]

...she pulls in a breath, the weight, the touch- unfamiliar, strange, something that she shouldn't hope to get used to. just a small adjustment and then she stands in a swift single motion. "come, follow closely." her horns grazing the ceiling with her father's as she gestures moss to carry on. she lets her head settle in the nook of his shoulder- his frame bulked graciously by the robes that'd yet to rot away- he'd need new clothe. "i still have the bread in my bag." she says as a thought comes to her.

[voided-pale-king]

A small, trill like sound comes from the shaking wyrm in her arms, content with just being held for now.

Moss follows close, now rummaging through her bag to try to find the bread, not having interest for themself, but the moment they find it they attempt to shove it in their father’s mouth, getting a slightly annoyed growl that only seemed to make them attempt harder.

They eventually gave up and handed it to hornet when all they got in response was growling.

[edelwyss-solemns]

"do not fuss with my bag." the words sharp and sudden, hissed out almost- she observes their trying, fathers growling, and just sighs as it's handed back without any hand in turn to take it. "...here." she bends the knees and bites into the bread, taking it from them so. standing, she eats the bread carefully, trekking forward still. "know if you touch my belongings again i will not restrain myself; i will kick you." she says as she chews. "i do not take any sort of thieving well, be it even play." ... "...though i understand your desire to help him." she rubs a circle into father's back... gently.

[voided-pale-king]

He leans into her, falling asleep. Moss, understanding her surprisingly well, nods and takes a step back to walk behind her up the tunnel again.

It wasn’t much longer before the tunnel came to an end and moss squeezed past in excitement, running out to look at the world outside the abyss.

[edelwyss-solemns]

the cavern is gray- varying shades washed over the rock of this place, cool earth comes to her feet, emerging from an old crack in the wall that had grown bigger over eons- "moss!" she shouts as they come closer to the edge, and they stop. they stand below the bridge, far below it, a nook in the old chasm, the ground uneven but safe, she gestures to a crude path upward. "be aware of each step you take, the fall is unkind." ... moss stumbled once and not again, something coming back to them almost as they see that dark, the gravity tugging them to it, they continue to tread, the air fresh and vivid, almost, and glorious as they make it to solid ground. good gods, never again. hornet thinks. i am never going down there again! she holds her head up high- the vessels eyes though are steady on what is behind them; the palace. dark and alone, fallen, dead. it stands there like a grave, lingers like a spirit, with an exterior still pale- mind you, -but dimmed, not a voice rose, not a spark of light besides the remaining lumaflies, clinging to the past, huddled about their old lamps.

[voided-pale-king]

moss, once out of the area of danger, begins to walk ahead again, their small footsteps echoing through the cavern.

The palace, once shining and beautiful, is now darkened and half fallen, sits ahead in an almost mocking manner, and moss is determined to get closer to it.

The shell of a kingsmold sits empty on the ground. moss pokes it, inspecting the cold armor, Before dropping all the pieces in favor of a very shiny rock.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she watches it, the voidless corpse- in other words it's remaining armor & curved claw-blade. the clattering sound made her jump into her fighting stance, made father jolt, she hisses a sigh at moss... ... she weighs options. the palace is right there, across the bridge, beckoning. but it is also the palace. did she, or father really want to return to such a place, especially in it's ruin? well then where else? deepnest- to her mother? could she manage the way there? her limbs were heavier than they should be, and not just due to father. ... it was obvious, though she didn't care for the past incarnate... ...then again, father. ... the bridge is cold, it's engravings against her feet. survival over discomfort, life over luxury, will over desire, surely they can find a room, huddle inside, and rest in that pale, winding nest.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss, after picking up the shiny stone, walks back over to hornet, and slides it into the opening of her bag, quickly understanding what bags are made for.

The wyrm in her arms fully relaxed as the long running fatigue from void exposure claims him, causing him to fall into a deep sleep. Finally.

[edelwyss-solemns]

it was in the same instance a little wriggly palm slipped into her silken bag that her arms tighten around father, that nothing but muscle memory and reflex took host and that she twists and in the momentum, her foot meets their mask- moss is kicked. they fly to the railing and land beside it with a thump. head down on the bridge ground. she blinks, a drumming guilt in her chest but peering over they look relatively intact- for a bug who's shell is kept together with naught but silk scraps -so... "i had warned you." she continues walking. "my bag is mine, and nothing there is for you to use." the rock they deposited clinks and tinks with hornet's many things as she walks.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss stands to follow her again, noticeably deflated. They didn’t mean to offend, they are too young to understand why this happened. They scratch gently at their arm, the same nervous tic her father possesses.

It’s quite.

[edelwyss-solemns]

the quiet haunts, it like a mist washing over the ruins of something still grand, if only for the picture it drew to the mind of what it once was. she sighs something relieving when she hears the little shade's steps, and begins recalling the halls and rooms of the palace, where best to huddle? somewhere close to the entrance, that she knew- hoisting father up so he settles in her arms right again, so she doesn't drop him. a pep in her step as she crosses the center of the bridge, with that floral motif cold and chilling, old and uncared for... but still seeming to shine beneath their feet.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss walks ahead slightly, pushing the heavy door to the palace open with surprising strength, waiting patiently for hornet to follow.

The wyrm huddles closer, now shivering despite the fact he felt as if he was on fire, the warmth of a living person compared to the ice of the abyss is harsh. His eyes stay closed, trying the best he can to rest.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she adjusts, ensuring her hold stays. ...it was awkward, her head resting on his shoulder, his clothe and skin icy... strange, creeping into the old ruin, the old memory; dusty and chilling, the dead air brushing up against her. she gives a warm nod to moss. "thank you." and steps into the palace.

[voided-pale-king]

The entry is almost completely collapsed, peaces of floor missing, just enough to get across comfortably if they walk slow.

Moss walks ahead. Assessing the damage of the floor, chirping every time they step over a gap. Rubble covers the floor that isn’t broken, a small amount of void made its way inside, causing stains before it dried up. The royal garden is just ahead.

[voided-pale-king]

@edelwyss-solemns hornet

the rock had cut her shallowly, once, twice. she huffs, only imagining casting a spell to get revenge on the uncaring, tight and cold tunnel, especially since her mind found focus in something far more worthy of it- the way was expanding minutely, her horns being hit and pressed less and less... "we're reaching the end of this dreadful part of the tunnel." she murmurs it, knowing they'd all still hear with the taut quarters. ... to stand again was marvel, pulling in a breath like it her first, tugging a final time on the sum of silk strands in her hand before dropping them, coming to her father who was bundled in silk just enough to safely be dragged behind, his eyes faintly open and the expression could only be described as a silent, somber, 'why?' she undoes the wrappings as the little shade- cased in shell -the one dubbed moss hurried beside. as per she intended, father was not harmed by the trek.

He lays still, too weak to fight as he’s handled like a doll. his eyes project his general annoyance at everything, the rocks, the silk, the hunger,hornet, moss, everything. Moss, the small and ever curious child they are, has taken an interest in hornets items, nibbling her bag and poking her needles . Their little hands grasping her cloak and her bag when she moves a little bit too fast for the young shadow.

The shadow settles when seeing their parents is unharmed. Slowly walking around and looking at things, this is clearly the farthest from the abyss flor they have ever been

[edelwyss-solemns]

hornet is interrupted again and again as she frees him, her ways to deter moss could be counted on one hand- gently, but firmly - pushing them back, shooing them off, or simply making it clear. "my weapons are not toys, my bag has nothing safe for you to play with and my cloak is something dear." she says this time. "allow me to finish this." she stares down moss, instilling the demand with just her gaze, and they do in fact still, she betting a minute max she'd have of this- max. so she turns to father and hurri- ah... the end of the silk came into her palms- tied to the spool in seconds before it can really register, having done it thousands of times before... father lies there with tattered robes settled neatly. she offers her hold again- to carry him again.

[voided-pale-king]

She can barely react before he is in her hold again, desperate for physical contact that isn’t a shade. he trembles against her, claws sinking back into the fabric of her cloak.

His breathing is uneven, he’s far too thin, but he is alive, and at this moment that’s all that matters.

[edelwyss-solemns]

...she pulls in a breath, the weight, the touch- unfamiliar, strange, something that she shouldn't hope to get used to. just a small adjustment and then she stands in a swift single motion. "come, follow closely." her horns grazing the ceiling with her father's as she gestures moss to carry on. she lets her head settle in the nook of his shoulder- his frame bulked graciously by the robes that'd yet to rot away- he'd need new clothe. "i still have the bread in my bag." she says as a thought comes to her.

[voided-pale-king]

A small, trill like sound comes from the shaking wyrm in her arms, content with just being held for now.

Moss follows close, now rummaging through her bag to try to find the bread, not having interest for themself, but the moment they find it they attempt to shove it in their father’s mouth, getting a slightly annoyed growl that only seemed to make them attempt harder.

They eventually gave up and handed it to hornet when all they got in response was growling.

[edelwyss-solemns]

"do not fuss with my bag." the words sharp and sudden, hissed out almost- she observes their trying, fathers growling, and just sighs as it's handed back without any hand in turn to take it. "...here." she bends the knees and bites into the bread, taking it from them so. standing, she eats the bread carefully, trekking forward still. "know if you touch my belongings again i will not restrain myself; i will kick you." she says as she chews. "i do not take any sort of thieving well, be it even play." ... "...though i understand your desire to help him." she rubs a circle into father's back... gently.

[voided-pale-king]

He leans into her, falling asleep. Moss, understanding her surprisingly well, nods and takes a step back to walk behind her up the tunnel again.

It wasn’t much longer before the tunnel came to an end and moss squeezed past in excitement, running out to look at the world outside the abyss.

[edelwyss-solemns]

the cavern is gray- varying shades washed over the rock of this place, cool earth comes to her feet, emerging from an old crack in the wall that had grown bigger over eons- "moss!" she shouts as they come closer to the edge, and they stop. they stand below the bridge, far below it, a nook in the old chasm, the ground uneven but safe, she gestures to a crude path upward. "be aware of each step you take, the fall is unkind." ... moss stumbled once and not again, something coming back to them almost as they see that dark, the gravity tugging them to it, they continue to tread, the air fresh and vivid, almost, and glorious as they make it to solid ground. good gods, never again. hornet thinks. i am never going down there again! she holds her head up high- the vessels eyes though are steady on what is behind them; the palace. dark and alone, fallen, dead. it stands there like a grave, lingers like a spirit, with an exterior still pale- mind you, -but dimmed, not a voice rose, not a spark of light besides the remaining lumaflies, clinging to the past, huddled about their old lamps.

[voided-pale-king]

moss, once out of the area of danger, begins to walk ahead again, their small footsteps echoing through the cavern.

The palace, once shining and beautiful, is now darkened and half fallen, sits ahead in an almost mocking manner, and moss is determined to get closer to it.

The shell of a kingsmold sits empty on the ground. moss pokes it, inspecting the cold armor, Before dropping all the pieces in favor of a very shiny rock.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she watches it, the voidless corpse- in other words it's remaining armor & curved claw-blade. the clattering sound made her jump into her fighting stance, made father jolt, she hisses a sigh at moss... ... she weighs options. the palace is right there, across the bridge, beckoning. but it is also the palace. did she, or father really want to return to such a place, especially in it's ruin? well then where else? deepnest- to her mother? could she manage the way there? her limbs were heavier than they should be, and not just due to father. ... it was obvious, though she didn't care for the past incarnate... ...then again, father. ... the bridge is cold, it's engravings against her feet. survival over discomfort, life over luxury, will over desire, surely they can find a room, huddle inside, and rest in that pale, winding nest.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss, after picking up the shiny stone, walks back over to hornet, and slides it into the opening of her bag, quickly understanding what bags are made for.

The wyrm in her arms fully relaxed as the long running fatigue from void exposure claims him, causing him to fall into a deep sleep. Finally.

[edelwyss-solemns]

it was in the same instance a little wriggly palm slipped into her silken bag that her arms tighten around father, that nothing but muscle memory and reflex took host and that she twists and in the momentum, her foot meets their mask- moss is kicked. they fly to the railing and land beside it with a thump. head down on the bridge ground. she blinks, a drumming guilt in her chest but peering over they look relatively intact- for a bug who's shell is kept together with naught but silk scraps -so... "i had warned you." she continues walking. "my bag is mine, and nothing there is for you to use." the rock they deposited clinks and tinks with hornet's many things as she walks.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss stands to follow her again, noticeably deflated. They didn’t mean to offend, they are too young to understand why this happened. They scratch gently at their arm, the same nervous tic her father possesses.

It’s quite.

[edelwyss-solemns]

the quiet haunts, it like a mist washing over the ruins of something still grand, if only for the picture it drew to the mind of what it once was. she sighs something relieving when she hears the little shade's steps, and begins recalling the halls and rooms of the palace, where best to huddle? somewhere close to the entrance, that she knew- hoisting father up so he settles in her arms right again, so she doesn't drop him. a pep in her step as she crosses the center of the bridge, with that floral motif cold and chilling, old and uncared for... but still seeming to shine beneath their feet.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss walks ahead slightly, pushing the heavy door to the palace open with surprising strength, waiting patiently for hornet to follow.

The wyrm huddles closer, now shivering despite the fact he felt as if he was on fire, the warmth of a living person compared to the ice of the abyss is harsh. His eyes stay closed, trying the best he can to rest.

[voided-pale-king]

@edelwyss-solemns hornet

the rock had cut her shallowly, once, twice. she huffs, only imagining casting a spell to get revenge on the uncaring, tight and cold tunnel, especially since her mind found focus in something far more worthy of it- the way was expanding minutely, her horns being hit and pressed less and less... "we're reaching the end of this dreadful part of the tunnel." she murmurs it, knowing they'd all still hear with the taut quarters. ... to stand again was marvel, pulling in a breath like it her first, tugging a final time on the sum of silk strands in her hand before dropping them, coming to her father who was bundled in silk just enough to safely be dragged behind, his eyes faintly open and the expression could only be described as a silent, somber, 'why?' she undoes the wrappings as the little shade- cased in shell -the one dubbed moss hurried beside. as per she intended, father was not harmed by the trek.

He lays still, too weak to fight as he’s handled like a doll. his eyes project his general annoyance at everything, the rocks, the silk, the hunger,hornet, moss, everything. Moss, the small and ever curious child they are, has taken an interest in hornets items, nibbling her bag and poking her needles . Their little hands grasping her cloak and her bag when she moves a little bit too fast for the young shadow.

The shadow settles when seeing their parents is unharmed. Slowly walking around and looking at things, this is clearly the farthest from the abyss flor they have ever been

[edelwyss-solemns]

hornet is interrupted again and again as she frees him, her ways to deter moss could be counted on one hand- gently, but firmly - pushing them back, shooing them off, or simply making it clear. "my weapons are not toys, my bag has nothing safe for you to play with and my cloak is something dear." she says this time. "allow me to finish this." she stares down moss, instilling the demand with just her gaze, and they do in fact still, she betting a minute max she'd have of this- max. so she turns to father and hurri- ah... the end of the silk came into her palms- tied to the spool in seconds before it can really register, having done it thousands of times before... father lies there with tattered robes settled neatly. she offers her hold again- to carry him again.

[voided-pale-king]

She can barely react before he is in her hold again, desperate for physical contact that isn’t a shade. he trembles against her, claws sinking back into the fabric of her cloak.

His breathing is uneven, he’s far too thin, but he is alive, and at this moment that’s all that matters.

[edelwyss-solemns]

...she pulls in a breath, the weight, the touch- unfamiliar, strange, something that she shouldn't hope to get used to. just a small adjustment and then she stands in a swift single motion. "come, follow closely." her horns grazing the ceiling with her father's as she gestures moss to carry on. she lets her head settle in the nook of his shoulder- his frame bulked graciously by the robes that'd yet to rot away- he'd need new clothe. "i still have the bread in my bag." she says as a thought comes to her.

[voided-pale-king]

A small, trill like sound comes from the shaking wyrm in her arms, content with just being held for now.

Moss follows close, now rummaging through her bag to try to find the bread, not having interest for themself, but the moment they find it they attempt to shove it in their father’s mouth, getting a slightly annoyed growl that only seemed to make them attempt harder.

They eventually gave up and handed it to hornet when all they got in response was growling.

[edelwyss-solemns]

"do not fuss with my bag." the words sharp and sudden, hissed out almost- she observes their trying, fathers growling, and just sighs as it's handed back without any hand in turn to take it. "...here." she bends the knees and bites into the bread, taking it from them so. standing, she eats the bread carefully, trekking forward still. "know if you touch my belongings again i will not restrain myself; i will kick you." she says as she chews. "i do not take any sort of thieving well, be it even play." ... "...though i understand your desire to help him." she rubs a circle into father's back... gently.

[voided-pale-king]

He leans into her, falling asleep. Moss, understanding her surprisingly well, nods and takes a step back to walk behind her up the tunnel again.

It wasn’t much longer before the tunnel came to an end and moss squeezed past in excitement, running out to look at the world outside the abyss.

[edelwyss-solemns]

the cavern is gray- varying shades washed over the rock of this place, cool earth comes to her feet, emerging from an old crack in the wall that had grown bigger over eons- "moss!" she shouts as they come closer to the edge, and they stop. they stand below the bridge, far below it, a nook in the old chasm, the ground uneven but safe, she gestures to a crude path upward. "be aware of each step you take, the fall is unkind." ... moss stumbled once and not again, something coming back to them almost as they see that dark, the gravity tugging them to it, they continue to tread, the air fresh and vivid, almost, and glorious as they make it to solid ground. good gods, never again. hornet thinks. i am never going down there again! she holds her head up high- the vessels eyes though are steady on what is behind them; the palace. dark and alone, fallen, dead. it stands there like a grave, lingers like a spirit, with an exterior still pale- mind you, -but dimmed, not a voice rose, not a spark of light besides the remaining lumaflies, clinging to the past, huddled about their old lamps.

[voided-pale-king]

moss, once out of the area of danger, begins to walk ahead again, their small footsteps echoing through the cavern.

The palace, once shining and beautiful, is now darkened and half fallen, sits ahead in an almost mocking manner, and moss is determined to get closer to it.

The shell of a kingsmold sits empty on the ground. moss pokes it, inspecting the cold armor, Before dropping all the pieces in favor of a very shiny rock.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she watches it, the voidless corpse- in other words it's remaining armor & curved claw-blade. the clattering sound made her jump into her fighting stance, made father jolt, she hisses a sigh at moss... ... she weighs options. the palace is right there, across the bridge, beckoning. but it is also the palace. did she, or father really want to return to such a place, especially in it's ruin? well then where else? deepnest- to her mother? could she manage the way there? her limbs were heavier than they should be, and not just due to father. ... it was obvious, though she didn't care for the past incarnate... ...then again, father. ... the bridge is cold, it's engravings against her feet. survival over discomfort, life over luxury, will over desire, surely they can find a room, huddle inside, and rest in that pale, winding nest.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss, after picking up the shiny stone, walks back over to hornet, and slides it into the opening of her bag, quickly understanding what bags are made for.

The wyrm in her arms fully relaxed as the long running fatigue from void exposure claims him, causing him to fall into a deep sleep. Finally.

[edelwyss-solemns]

it was in the same instance a little wriggly palm slipped into her silken bag that her arms tighten around father, that nothing but muscle memory and reflex took host and that she twists and in the momentum, her foot meets their mask- moss is kicked. they fly to the railing and land beside it with a thump. head down on the bridge ground. she blinks, a drumming guilt in her chest but peering over they look relatively intact- for a bug who's shell is kept together with naught but silk scraps -so... "i had warned you." she continues walking. "my bag is mine, and nothing there is for you to use." the rock they deposited clinks and tinks with hornet's many things as she walks.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss stands to follow her again, noticeably deflated. They didn’t mean to offend, they are too young to understand why this happened. They scratch gently at their arm, the same nervous tic her father possesses.

It’s quite.

[voided-pale-king]

@edelwyss-solemns hornet

the rock had cut her shallowly, once, twice. she huffs, only imagining casting a spell to get revenge on the uncaring, tight and cold tunnel, especially since her mind found focus in something far more worthy of it- the way was expanding minutely, her horns being hit and pressed less and less... "we're reaching the end of this dreadful part of the tunnel." she murmurs it, knowing they'd all still hear with the taut quarters. ... to stand again was marvel, pulling in a breath like it her first, tugging a final time on the sum of silk strands in her hand before dropping them, coming to her father who was bundled in silk just enough to safely be dragged behind, his eyes faintly open and the expression could only be described as a silent, somber, 'why?' she undoes the wrappings as the little shade- cased in shell -the one dubbed moss hurried beside. as per she intended, father was not harmed by the trek.

He lays still, too weak to fight as he’s handled like a doll. his eyes project his general annoyance at everything, the rocks, the silk, the hunger,hornet, moss, everything. Moss, the small and ever curious child they are, has taken an interest in hornets items, nibbling her bag and poking her needles . Their little hands grasping her cloak and her bag when she moves a little bit too fast for the young shadow.

The shadow settles when seeing their parents is unharmed. Slowly walking around and looking at things, this is clearly the farthest from the abyss flor they have ever been

[edelwyss-solemns]

hornet is interrupted again and again as she frees him, her ways to deter moss could be counted on one hand- gently, but firmly - pushing them back, shooing them off, or simply making it clear. "my weapons are not toys, my bag has nothing safe for you to play with and my cloak is something dear." she says this time. "allow me to finish this." she stares down moss, instilling the demand with just her gaze, and they do in fact still, she betting a minute max she'd have of this- max. so she turns to father and hurri- ah... the end of the silk came into her palms- tied to the spool in seconds before it can really register, having done it thousands of times before... father lies there with tattered robes settled neatly. she offers her hold again- to carry him again.

[voided-pale-king]

She can barely react before he is in her hold again, desperate for physical contact that isn’t a shade. he trembles against her, claws sinking back into the fabric of her cloak.

His breathing is uneven, he’s far too thin, but he is alive, and at this moment that’s all that matters.

[edelwyss-solemns]

...she pulls in a breath, the weight, the touch- unfamiliar, strange, something that she shouldn't hope to get used to. just a small adjustment and then she stands in a swift single motion. "come, follow closely." her horns grazing the ceiling with her father's as she gestures moss to carry on. she lets her head settle in the nook of his shoulder- his frame bulked graciously by the robes that'd yet to rot away- he'd need new clothe. "i still have the bread in my bag." she says as a thought comes to her.

[voided-pale-king]

A small, trill like sound comes from the shaking wyrm in her arms, content with just being held for now.

Moss follows close, now rummaging through her bag to try to find the bread, not having interest for themself, but the moment they find it they attempt to shove it in their father’s mouth, getting a slightly annoyed growl that only seemed to make them attempt harder.

They eventually gave up and handed it to hornet when all they got in response was growling.

[edelwyss-solemns]

"do not fuss with my bag." the words sharp and sudden, hissed out almost- she observes their trying, fathers growling, and just sighs as it's handed back without any hand in turn to take it. "...here." she bends the knees and bites into the bread, taking it from them so. standing, she eats the bread carefully, trekking forward still. "know if you touch my belongings again i will not restrain myself; i will kick you." she says as she chews. "i do not take any sort of thieving well, be it even play." ... "...though i understand your desire to help him." she rubs a circle into father's back... gently.

[voided-pale-king]

He leans into her, falling asleep. Moss, understanding her surprisingly well, nods and takes a step back to walk behind her up the tunnel again.

It wasn’t much longer before the tunnel came to an end and moss squeezed past in excitement, running out to look at the world outside the abyss.

[edelwyss-solemns]

the cavern is gray- varying shades washed over the rock of this place, cool earth comes to her feet, emerging from an old crack in the wall that had grown bigger over eons- "moss!" she shouts as they come closer to the edge, and they stop. they stand below the bridge, far below it, a nook in the old chasm, the ground uneven but safe, she gestures to a crude path upward. "be aware of each step you take, the fall is unkind." ... moss stumbled once and not again, something coming back to them almost as they see that dark, the gravity tugging them to it, they continue to tread, the air fresh and vivid, almost, and glorious as they make it to solid ground. good gods, never again. hornet thinks. i am never going down there again! she holds her head up high- the vessels eyes though are steady on what is behind them; the palace. dark and alone, fallen, dead. it stands there like a grave, lingers like a spirit, with an exterior still pale- mind you, -but dimmed, not a voice rose, not a spark of light besides the remaining lumaflies, clinging to the past, huddled about their old lamps.

[voided-pale-king]

moss, once out of the area of danger, begins to walk ahead again, their small footsteps echoing through the cavern.

The palace, once shining and beautiful, is now darkened and half fallen, sits ahead in an almost mocking manner, and moss is determined to get closer to it.

The shell of a kingsmold sits empty on the ground. moss pokes it, inspecting the cold armor, Before dropping all the pieces in favor of a very shiny rock.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she watches it, the voidless corpse- in other words it's remaining armor & curved claw-blade. the clattering sound made her jump into her fighting stance, made father jolt, she hisses a sigh at moss... ... she weighs options. the palace is right there, across the bridge, beckoning. but it is also the palace. did she, or father really want to return to such a place, especially in it's ruin? well then where else? deepnest- to her mother? could she manage the way there? her limbs were heavier than they should be, and not just due to father. ... it was obvious, though she didn't care for the past incarnate... ...then again, father. ... the bridge is cold, it's engravings against her feet. survival over discomfort, life over luxury, will over desire, surely they can find a room, huddle inside, and rest in that pale, winding nest.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss, after picking up the shiny stone, walks back over to hornet, and slides it into the opening of her bag, quickly understanding what bags are made for.

The wyrm in her arms fully relaxed as the long running fatigue from void exposure claims him, causing him to fall into a deep sleep. Finally.

[voided-pale-king]

@edelwyss-solemns hornet

the rock had cut her shallowly, once, twice. she huffs, only imagining casting a spell to get revenge on the uncaring, tight and cold tunnel, especially since her mind found focus in something far more worthy of it- the way was expanding minutely, her horns being hit and pressed less and less... "we're reaching the end of this dreadful part of the tunnel." she murmurs it, knowing they'd all still hear with the taut quarters. ... to stand again was marvel, pulling in a breath like it her first, tugging a final time on the sum of silk strands in her hand before dropping them, coming to her father who was bundled in silk just enough to safely be dragged behind, his eyes faintly open and the expression could only be described as a silent, somber, 'why?' she undoes the wrappings as the little shade- cased in shell -the one dubbed moss hurried beside. as per she intended, father was not harmed by the trek.

He lays still, too weak to fight as he’s handled like a doll. his eyes project his general annoyance at everything, the rocks, the silk, the hunger,hornet, moss, everything. Moss, the small and ever curious child they are, has taken an interest in hornets items, nibbling her bag and poking her needles . Their little hands grasping her cloak and her bag when she moves a little bit too fast for the young shadow.

The shadow settles when seeing their parents is unharmed. Slowly walking around and looking at things, this is clearly the farthest from the abyss flor they have ever been

[edelwyss-solemns]

hornet is interrupted again and again as she frees him, her ways to deter moss could be counted on one hand- gently, but firmly - pushing them back, shooing them off, or simply making it clear. "my weapons are not toys, my bag has nothing safe for you to play with and my cloak is something dear." she says this time. "allow me to finish this." she stares down moss, instilling the demand with just her gaze, and they do in fact still, she betting a minute max she'd have of this- max. so she turns to father and hurri- ah... the end of the silk came into her palms- tied to the spool in seconds before it can really register, having done it thousands of times before... father lies there with tattered robes settled neatly. she offers her hold again- to carry him again.

[voided-pale-king]

She can barely react before he is in her hold again, desperate for physical contact that isn’t a shade. he trembles against her, claws sinking back into the fabric of her cloak.

His breathing is uneven, he’s far too thin, but he is alive, and at this moment that’s all that matters.

[edelwyss-solemns]

...she pulls in a breath, the weight, the touch- unfamiliar, strange, something that she shouldn't hope to get used to. just a small adjustment and then she stands in a swift single motion. "come, follow closely." her horns grazing the ceiling with her father's as she gestures moss to carry on. she lets her head settle in the nook of his shoulder- his frame bulked graciously by the robes that'd yet to rot away- he'd need new clothe. "i still have the bread in my bag." she says as a thought comes to her.

[voided-pale-king]

A small, trill like sound comes from the shaking wyrm in her arms, content with just being held for now.

Moss follows close, now rummaging through her bag to try to find the bread, not having interest for themself, but the moment they find it they attempt to shove it in their father’s mouth, getting a slightly annoyed growl that only seemed to make them attempt harder.

They eventually gave up and handed it to hornet when all they got in response was growling.

[edelwyss-solemns]

"do not fuss with my bag." the words sharp and sudden, hissed out almost- she observes their trying, fathers growling, and just sighs as it's handed back without any hand in turn to take it. "...here." she bends the knees and bites into the bread, taking it from them so. standing, she eats the bread carefully, trekking forward still. "know if you touch my belongings again i will not restrain myself; i will kick you." she says as she chews. "i do not take any sort of thieving well, be it even play." ... "...though i understand your desire to help him." she rubs a circle into father's back... gently.

[voided-pale-king]

He leans into her, falling asleep. Moss, understanding her surprisingly well, nods and takes a step back to walk behind her up the tunnel again.

It wasn’t much longer before the tunnel came to an end and moss squeezed past in excitement, running out to look at the world outside the abyss.

[edelwyss-solemns]

the cavern is gray- varying shades washed over the rock of this place, cool earth comes to her feet, emerging from an old crack in the wall that had grown bigger over eons- "moss!" she shouts as they come closer to the edge, and they stop. they stand below the bridge, far below it, a nook in the old chasm, the ground uneven but safe, she gestures to a crude path upward. "be aware of each step you take, the fall is unkind." ... moss stumbled once and not again, something coming back to them almost as they see that dark, the gravity tugging them to it, they continue to tread, the air fresh and vivid, almost, and glorious as they make it to solid ground. good gods, never again. hornet thinks. i am never going down there again! she holds her head up high- the vessels eyes though are steady on what is behind them; the palace. dark and alone, fallen, dead. it stands there like a grave, lingers like a spirit, with an exterior still pale- mind you, -but dimmed, not a voice rose, not a spark of light besides the remaining lumaflies, clinging to the past, huddled about their old lamps.

[voided-pale-king]

moss, once out of the area of danger, begins to walk ahead again, their small footsteps echoing through the cavern.

The palace, once shining and beautiful, is now darkened and half fallen, sits ahead in an almost mocking manner, and moss is determined to get closer to it.

The shell of a kingsmold sits empty on the ground. moss pokes it, inspecting the cold armor, Before dropping all the pieces in favor of a very shiny rock.

[voided-pale-king]

@edelwyss-solemns hornet

the rock had cut her shallowly, once, twice. she huffs, only imagining casting a spell to get revenge on the uncaring, tight and cold tunnel, especially since her mind found focus in something far more worthy of it- the way was expanding minutely, her horns being hit and pressed less and less... "we're reaching the end of this dreadful part of the tunnel." she murmurs it, knowing they'd all still hear with the taut quarters. ... to stand again was marvel, pulling in a breath like it her first, tugging a final time on the sum of silk strands in her hand before dropping them, coming to her father who was bundled in silk just enough to safely be dragged behind, his eyes faintly open and the expression could only be described as a silent, somber, 'why?' she undoes the wrappings as the little shade- cased in shell -the one dubbed moss hurried beside. as per she intended, father was not harmed by the trek.

He lays still, too weak to fight as he’s handled like a doll. his eyes project his general annoyance at everything, the rocks, the silk, the hunger,hornet, moss, everything. Moss, the small and ever curious child they are, has taken an interest in hornets items, nibbling her bag and poking her needles . Their little hands grasping her cloak and her bag when she moves a little bit too fast for the young shadow.

The shadow settles when seeing their parents is unharmed. Slowly walking around and looking at things, this is clearly the farthest from the abyss flor they have ever been

[edelwyss-solemns]

hornet is interrupted again and again as she frees him, her ways to deter moss could be counted on one hand- gently, but firmly - pushing them back, shooing them off, or simply making it clear. "my weapons are not toys, my bag has nothing safe for you to play with and my cloak is something dear." she says this time. "allow me to finish this." she stares down moss, instilling the demand with just her gaze, and they do in fact still, she betting a minute max she'd have of this- max. so she turns to father and hurri- ah... the end of the silk came into her palms- tied to the spool in seconds before it can really register, having done it thousands of times before... father lies there with tattered robes settled neatly. she offers her hold again- to carry him again.

[voided-pale-king]

She can barely react before he is in her hold again, desperate for physical contact that isn’t a shade. he trembles against her, claws sinking back into the fabric of her cloak.

His breathing is uneven, he’s far too thin, but he is alive, and at this moment that’s all that matters.

[edelwyss-solemns]

...she pulls in a breath, the weight, the touch- unfamiliar, strange, something that she shouldn't hope to get used to. just a small adjustment and then she stands in a swift single motion. "come, follow closely." her horns grazing the ceiling with her father's as she gestures moss to carry on. she lets her head settle in the nook of his shoulder- his frame bulked graciously by the robes that'd yet to rot away- he'd need new clothe. "i still have the bread in my bag." she says as a thought comes to her.

[voided-pale-king]

A small, trill like sound comes from the shaking wyrm in her arms, content with just being held for now.

Moss follows close, now rummaging through her bag to try to find the bread, not having interest for themself, but the moment they find it they attempt to shove it in their father’s mouth, getting a slightly annoyed growl that only seemed to make them attempt harder.

They eventually gave up and handed it to hornet when all they got in response was growling.

[edelwyss-solemns]

"do not fuss with my bag." the words sharp and sudden, hissed out almost- she observes their trying, fathers growling, and just sighs as it's handed back without any hand in turn to take it. "...here." she bends the knees and bites into the bread, taking it from them so. standing, she eats the bread carefully, trekking forward still. "know if you touch my belongings again i will not restrain myself; i will kick you." she says as she chews. "i do not take any sort of thieving well, be it even play." ... "...though i understand your desire to help him." she rubs a circle into father's back... gently.

[voided-pale-king]

He leans into her, falling asleep. Moss, understanding her surprisingly well, nods and takes a step back to walk behind her up the tunnel again.

It wasn’t much longer before the tunnel came to an end and moss squeezed past in excitement, running out to look at the world outside the abyss.

[voided-pale-king]

@edelwyss-solemns hornet

the rock had cut her shallowly, once, twice. she huffs, only imagining casting a spell to get revenge on the uncaring, tight and cold tunnel, especially since her mind found focus in something far more worthy of it- the way was expanding minutely, her horns being hit and pressed less and less... "we're reaching the end of this dreadful part of the tunnel." she murmurs it, knowing they'd all still hear with the taut quarters. ... to stand again was marvel, pulling in a breath like it her first, tugging a final time on the sum of silk strands in her hand before dropping them, coming to her father who was bundled in silk just enough to safely be dragged behind, his eyes faintly open and the expression could only be described as a silent, somber, 'why?' she undoes the wrappings as the little shade- cased in shell -the one dubbed moss hurried beside. as per she intended, father was not harmed by the trek.

He lays still, too weak to fight as he’s handled like a doll. his eyes project his general annoyance at everything, the rocks, the silk, the hunger,hornet, moss, everything. Moss, the small and ever curious child they are, has taken an interest in hornets items, nibbling her bag and poking her needles . Their little hands grasping her cloak and her bag when she moves a little bit too fast for the young shadow.

The shadow settles when seeing their parents is unharmed. Slowly walking around and looking at things, this is clearly the farthest from the abyss flor they have ever been

[edelwyss-solemns]

hornet is interrupted again and again as she frees him, her ways to deter moss could be counted on one hand- gently, but firmly - pushing them back, shooing them off, or simply making it clear. "my weapons are not toys, my bag has nothing safe for you to play with and my cloak is something dear." she says this time. "allow me to finish this." she stares down moss, instilling the demand with just her gaze, and they do in fact still, she betting a minute max she'd have of this- max. so she turns to father and hurri- ah... the end of the silk came into her palms- tied to the spool in seconds before it can really register, having done it thousands of times before... father lies there with tattered robes settled neatly. she offers her hold again- to carry him again.

[voided-pale-king]

She can barely react before he is in her hold again, desperate for physical contact that isn’t a shade. he trembles against her, claws sinking back into the fabric of her cloak.

His breathing is uneven, he’s far too thin, but he is alive, and at this moment that’s all that matters.

[edelwyss-solemns]

...she pulls in a breath, the weight, the touch- unfamiliar, strange, something that she shouldn't hope to get used to. just a small adjustment and then she stands in a swift single motion. "come, follow closely." her horns grazing the ceiling with her father's as she gestures moss to carry on. she lets her head settle in the nook of his shoulder- his frame bulked graciously by the robes that'd yet to rot away- he'd need new clothe. "i still have the bread in my bag." she says as a thought comes to her.

[voided-pale-king]

A small, trill like sound comes from the shaking wyrm in her arms, content with just being held for now.

Moss follows close, now rummaging through her bag to try to find the bread, not having interest for themself, but the moment they find it they attempt to shove it in their father’s mouth, getting a slightly annoyed growl that only seemed to make them attempt harder.

They eventually gave up and handed it to hornet when all they got in response was growling.

[voided-pale-king]

@edelwyss-solemns hornet

the rock had cut her shallowly, once, twice. she huffs, only imagining casting a spell to get revenge on the uncaring, tight and cold tunnel, especially since her mind found focus in something far more worthy of it- the way was expanding minutely, her horns being hit and pressed less and less... "we're reaching the end of this dreadful part of the tunnel." she murmurs it, knowing they'd all still hear with the taut quarters. ... to stand again was marvel, pulling in a breath like it her first, tugging a final time on the sum of silk strands in her hand before dropping them, coming to her father who was bundled in silk just enough to safely be dragged behind, his eyes faintly open and the expression could only be described as a silent, somber, 'why?' she undoes the wrappings as the little shade- cased in shell -the one dubbed moss hurried beside. as per she intended, father was not harmed by the trek.

He lays still, too weak to fight as he’s handled like a doll. his eyes project his general annoyance at everything, the rocks, the silk, the hunger,hornet, moss, everything. Moss, the small and ever curious child they are, has taken an interest in hornets items, nibbling her bag and poking her needles . Their little hands grasping her cloak and her bag when she moves a little bit too fast for the young shadow.

The shadow settles when seeing their parents is unharmed. Slowly walking around and looking at things, this is clearly the farthest from the abyss flor they have ever been

[edelwyss-solemns]

hornet is interrupted again and again as she frees him, her ways to deter moss could be counted on one hand- gently, but firmly - pushing them back, shooing them off, or simply making it clear. "my weapons are not toys, my bag has nothing safe for you to play with and my cloak is something dear." she says this time. "allow me to finish this." she stares down moss, instilling the demand with just her gaze, and they do in fact still, she betting a minute max she'd have of this- max. so she turns to father and hurri- ah... the end of the silk came into her palms- tied to the spool in seconds before it can really register, having done it thousands of times before... father lies there with tattered robes settled neatly. she offers her hold again- to carry him again.

[voided-pale-king]

She can barely react before he is in her hold again, desperate for physical contact that isn’t a shade. he trembles against her, claws sinking back into the fabric of her cloak.

His breathing is uneven, he’s far too thin, but he is alive, and at this moment that’s all that matters.

[voided-pale-king]

@edelwyss-solemns hornet

the rock had cut her shallowly, once, twice. she huffs, only imagining casting a spell to get revenge on the uncaring, tight and cold tunnel, especially since her mind found focus in something far more worthy of it- the way was expanding minutely, her horns being hit and pressed less and less... "we're reaching the end of this dreadful part of the tunnel." she murmurs it, knowing they'd all still hear with the taut quarters. ... to stand again was marvel, pulling in a breath like it her first, tugging a final time on the sum of silk strands in her hand before dropping them, coming to her father who was bundled in silk just enough to safely be dragged behind, his eyes faintly open and the expression could only be described as a silent, somber, 'why?' she undoes the wrappings as the little shade- cased in shell -the one dubbed moss hurried beside. as per she intended, father was not harmed by the trek.

He lays still, too weak to fight as he’s handled like a doll. his eyes project his general annoyance at everything, the rocks, the silk, the hunger,hornet, moss, everything. Moss, the small and ever curious child they are, has taken an interest in hornets items, nibbling her bag and poking her needles . Their little hands grasping her cloak and her bag when she moves a little bit too fast for the young shadow.

The shadow settles when seeing their parents is unharmed. Slowly walking around and looking at things, this is clearly the farthest from the abyss flor they have ever been

[voided-pale-king]

it was small, indistinguishable from the often cave-sounds you'd hear from afar, but it approached; steps. "do you hear me?" familiar, her, without that eerie distortion the soul wrought, clear and sharp as she always was, approaching, needle on her back... "i have the food."

*moss heard it first, bolting towards the sound before the wyrm, now laying on the ground could even react*

~moss- oh dear… I don’t have the energy for this

[edelwyss-solemns]

"father?" the words echo out once more, far, yet closer than ever before. the void sea's subtle waves beckon her down and down. the ceiling grazing her horns even as she hunches. her things clink and clatter together in her bag as she kneels to the ground... she hisses at it, the world, shes being far too trusting of it all, of the caverns that nest the dark, death, silence, the world pressing down on them, she and the body of shadow with two shining white eyes peering at her through tiny opening. her hand hovers over the pins strapped to her bag. hidden beneath her red cloak.

[voided-pale-king]

*there’s no response other than the small sound of a very excited sibling clambering over rocks and other things to get to her, when it dose, it gently grabs the edge of her cloak, dragging her along while standing in front of her in a way that makes sure she doesn’t fall, like they have done this a million times before

[edelwyss-solemns]

she stares at it, it's dark mass with a single outstretched mitt clutching her vivid red cloak. it was like embracing death- like falling from a height unmeasured and refusing to call on her silk, to not capture her needle and drive it into the wall to save herself- lifting her hand away from her daggers. she watched it, watched with sharpened focus, to be so patient with it was far harder than she allowed to show, though her father could be spared, would she? forward, onward, this way. the v- the... shade, shade felt befitting. "...the way you wish to guide me i cannot fit through, it is a marvel you can, or any of your... kin, could."

[voided-pale-king]

*the wall of the opening is scratched, like something had tried to climb up repeatedly, the stone is softer here, like a few strikes with her nail could open it juuuust enough for her to slip through, it would be a tight squeeze… but it might get her to him. And the fact moss is meeting her instead of him might mean he needs her*

[edelwyss-solemns]

she goes back on it, but rather than the ones outside her bag, she rummages inside and pulls out two dull daggers. "you must move, shade."

[voided-pale-king]

*Moss moves a bit farther down, ready to catch her if she looses her balance*

[edelwyss-solemns]

the steep gravel against her legs, choosing the farthest hand from the shade to pierce into the rock- right in it's seams, falling, splintering, she hits the next and next, using both, conscious of the two shining eyes watching. pass the barrier, down the passage's long depths an infinite dark could be seen, awaiting, beckoning- she stares back at it, the pebbles tumbling downwards to the void. "father!" where was the bug?! she stabs and stabs into a smoother, harder portion of rock in the floor, tying a rope of silk around it... damnit, she pulls out another dagger, doing it all again to be sure, she was not going to die by void, and especially not by fall. even if it was a bit paranoid of her... but one shouldn't be risky in this place. she tugs on it, watching the blades and their stillness, firmness. she unspools the rope, the shade beside her in a tunnel just too small for the pressure the world put on it- but she climbs down... ... ...and her feet come to solid ground, the abyss welcomes her with deathly silence, as she knew it would.

[voided-pale-king]

*the moment she stands fully, moss starts pulling her again, guiding her to the wyrm that lay near motionless on the ground, it's worse than she imagined.*

*hes mask is cracked, horns uneven. his outfit, one she remembered as pristine white, was now gray, with black stains at the bottom. Scales once shining now dull and scared, but worst of all was the kingsoul charm, his half still hung around his neck now completely blackened with void, the void seeping into the very thing that makes him who he is*

[edelwyss-solemns]

the small splash of white in a world of dark, even dulled and dimmed it stood out as it should, something those shells at the sea's shore had inherited, broken and few. moss is left behind as she becomes naught but a flash of red finding the quickest route around and over the rubble between her and "FATHER!" her red cloak pools around her as she comes to her knees. "OI! H- YOU WILL NOT DIE NOW!" she gives him a hard shake- "curse on the gods, damnit!" she turns to her bag and pulls out the food wrapped in a cloth, it's knot undone before a blink could finish. she grabs his closest horn, raising his head with- some -grace and shoves a piece of bread- it had been dipped in the last sum of milk left, with a slim selection of spices she had gathered from a somewhat fruitful scavange... those eggs she was gifted- along with the milk -from that bug in greenpath... into his faintly open jaws and sets his head back down, pulling out her canteen hastily.

[voided-pale-king]

he wakes groggy and confused, biting down on the bread.

The moment he presses it as food he moves away from her, watching her like she might take it away. The small growl that comes from his weakened body still nearly shakes the floor with its force.

He sits there, watching, holding the food in his jaws like it’s the only thing keeping him alive.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she lets out a breath, it easing that weight in her chest. lifting a hand up in a sign of peace, letting the world shake. "i have more, but know i won't tolerate violence from you, i have come down into this pit of death despite my entire self yearning i turn back, to save you from your own doing. if you attack me you seal your fate, or rid me from whatever future you can scramble together." ... she raises the bundle of food and holds it forward to him. "...so see it; i am your ally, find your senses again, eat."

[voided-pale-king]

The growl softened as he processed the fact she wasn’t going to take the food from him. He sat on the ground, graceful as ever despite the border line feral demeanor and ate slowly, savoring the taste.

He keeps watching her, his eyes softer, his body is what shakes now, instead of the ground, black tears falling.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she sets the bundle down in her lap again, good, good. ...it felt unbefitting of her, strange of him, odd of the world- to watch him cry- that he allowed himself to, that the world allowed it even, it felt like she was not meant to see, but yet she did, and he didn't prevent it, gesture her away, he simply sat there... and she took note of the black tears, he shouldn't stay here any longer.

[voided-pale-king]

He lays back down after finishing the food that was given to him, still so weak, still so tired.

His shoulders shake slightly, his eyes refusing to meet hers. He looks ashamed of himself, like failing to die was something to be disappointed in him with. Like failing to end his own life was a reason for him to be subjected to disappointment and hatred.

[edelwyss-solemns]

"i understand your exhaustion but we must leave." that weighted air, heavy with shame, it was something she had long associated with her father. was it her? was she always why he felt so- so strongly it seemingly warped the world? "i cannot remain here long, surely you too possess such a limit and are reaching it." she gestures on at him, painted in varying levels of shadow. ... "the fact you survived this at all is perhaps some sign, something gifting you mercy, another chance." she offers a hand. "it'd be rude to waste that gift, father."

[voided-pale-king]

His body continues shake, he’s weak, exhausted.

The small glance she gets betrays everything, he doesn’t move, only looks at her.

At this point it would be more effective to tell a stone wall it was alive.

[edelwyss-solemns]

"come on." she stands, watching and expecting but- he lays, he just lays there. "we must move. your condition will not improve in this place, the very air wants to eat us alive." he does not move. "father?" he does not move. ...a boiling, almost, inside her chest. her words sharpen and hiss. "what results do you expect from this, remaining here? what do you expect to eat? expect to do?- the path i cleared awaits us and you stand in it's presence and choose to stay?! in the abyss?!" he does not move. "you have barely eaten, you will soon starve again! y-" it sinks in, like teeth sinking into her skin. ... the silence crowded her, words coming up and dying before they're spoken, she just stands there, and he does not move.

[voided-pale-king]

He sobs, a strange sound that highlights his despair. He understands why he should leave, he just doesn’t have it in him to move, he doesn’t want to either, his whole body feels like it’s made of gelatin. Soft and easy to harm.

He shifts away from her, the scolding that just transpired seems to have startled him… what an odd being.

[edelwyss-solemns]

... it took a long time; but she leans, bending the knees, sitting back on the dark, cold, rough stone of the abyss. ...she bids her eyes down, at the stone, thoughts stirring and fighting in her head, what next? what was right? she lets him fill the quiet, cries layering over the quiet, quiet sea... what was she supposed to say? what would help him?

[voided-pale-king]

He slowly closes his eyes again, seemingly falling back asleep on the cold stone floor, still to thin, still to pale for even his title.

Moss, who has been missing for a while, came over with a vessel mask, holding it up to hornet, the shape of the horns matched their own.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she sighs, lifting her sights to see him again proper when it's quiet for too long... he still trembled barely in his sleep, the cold dark air stagnant, unmoving. she flinches and stares at the vessel, broken mask in it's hands- dead eyes and glowing white eyes both staring back. it's shards were larger, more whole, a smaller distance- a... less brutal fall took it's life, she presumed. they gesture with it, carefully, miming putting it on, a few shards falling, their small fingers trying hard to keep it together. "...it could be attempted, but i cannot tell you the result if you're shell is put back onto you, it may do nothing." it offers it again, nearly shoving it into her arms- "one piece at a time!" ... she'd peer back at her father every once in a while, gently tying piece by piece back onto the shade- the silk matching their eyes perfectly. as it barely dodges covering them- their form develops, slowly the tendrils become little legs, perhaps a good step away from the situation she'll soon face again, but refreshened, now, looking on at him.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss chirps happily, running around her before going over to the wyrm still on the floor.

They grab one of his arms and pull, attempting to drag him toward the exit. The action is met with a growl, a startling sound, but moss doesn’t react.

[edelwyss-solemns]

the weird mesh of humor yet melancholy, a child so eager in a place like this felt stark, opposites. "do not, you very well could hurt him further." she taps their shell, precisely in the center of a piece. "if he is not willing to leave on his own there is no way, li-" she blinks. a thought hitting her directly- "...i am tempted by the idea to leave with him like you are." she whispers. "...perhaps..."

[voided-pale-king]

The growl dies as moss stops pulling, but now he’s awake and aware.

This might be a bit difficult.

[edelwyss-solemns]

"...it is his life, his to decide the fate of." she says aloud, but it seems a lot more like it is to herself... she looks at him again, and she caught a faint gaze in turn, his eyes open and tired, a mess of conflict and sorries unsaid, his breath weak as he exhales a small, aching, quivering sigh. ... it just felt wrong, ill, she had said there at that damned terminal; i won't make you leave. gods, it all felt just far too familiar, she unable to let go what wanted to fall, what she wasn't suppose to save, what she didn't have say in, what she shouldn't have been there to witness at all. ... she shakes her head, murmuring a growl to herself, just once more, a little voice says, just one last try, then we can go. ... creeping forward, kneeling beside him. her red cloak so vivid and shining. "father." she sneaks an arm beneath his, bringing it over her shoulder... —

[voided-pale-king]

Claws dig into he cloak, it almost feels like he wants to be saved, but just doesn’t have the words to say it. His breathing is ragged, like even existing takes effort, his heart, once steady, a sense of comfort to a small child, is now beating rapidly against her.

His body shakes softly, holding tears.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she tenses at it, claws were meant to pierce after all... ... ...good, good. "lets go." she whispers. readjusting her arms around him, her grip. she fights her way back onto her feet. "come, shade." his head on her shoulder and claws on her back, his legs draped infront of hers but she walks on despite. treading around the rubble slowly. ...he was light, his heart beating firmly, she could feel it against her palm, a precise calculated dig of her own claws into his robe, we will make it out of here.

[voided-pale-king]

His heart slows as they make their way to the exit, relaxing in her arms, his body beyond its limits.

His soft crying turns to softer whimpers, like a sad wyrm pup. Moss is never beyond two feet away, watching her, making sure she never falls or drops the malnourished wyrm in her arms.

[voided-pale-king]

it was small, indistinguishable from the often cave-sounds you'd hear from afar, but it approached; steps. "do you hear me?" familiar, her, without that eerie distortion the soul wrought, clear and sharp as she always was, approaching, needle on her back... "i have the food."

*moss heard it first, bolting towards the sound before the wyrm, now laying on the ground could even react*

~moss- oh dear… I don’t have the energy for this

[edelwyss-solemns]

"father?" the words echo out once more, far, yet closer than ever before. the void sea's subtle waves beckon her down and down. the ceiling grazing her horns even as she hunches. her things clink and clatter together in her bag as she kneels to the ground... she hisses at it, the world, shes being far too trusting of it all, of the caverns that nest the dark, death, silence, the world pressing down on them, she and the body of shadow with two shining white eyes peering at her through tiny opening. her hand hovers over the pins strapped to her bag. hidden beneath her red cloak.

[voided-pale-king]

*there’s no response other than the small sound of a very excited sibling clambering over rocks and other things to get to her, when it dose, it gently grabs the edge of her cloak, dragging her along while standing in front of her in a way that makes sure she doesn’t fall, like they have done this a million times before

[edelwyss-solemns]

she stares at it, it's dark mass with a single outstretched mitt clutching her vivid red cloak. it was like embracing death- like falling from a height unmeasured and refusing to call on her silk, to not capture her needle and drive it into the wall to save herself- lifting her hand away from her daggers. she watched it, watched with sharpened focus, to be so patient with it was far harder than she allowed to show, though her father could be spared, would she? forward, onward, this way. the v- the... shade, shade felt befitting. "...the way you wish to guide me i cannot fit through, it is a marvel you can, or any of your... kin, could."

[voided-pale-king]

*the wall of the opening is scratched, like something had tried to climb up repeatedly, the stone is softer here, like a few strikes with her nail could open it juuuust enough for her to slip through, it would be a tight squeeze… but it might get her to him. And the fact moss is meeting her instead of him might mean he needs her*

[edelwyss-solemns]

she goes back on it, but rather than the ones outside her bag, she rummages inside and pulls out two dull daggers. "you must move, shade."

[voided-pale-king]

*Moss moves a bit farther down, ready to catch her if she looses her balance*

[edelwyss-solemns]

the steep gravel against her legs, choosing the farthest hand from the shade to pierce into the rock- right in it's seams, falling, splintering, she hits the next and next, using both, conscious of the two shining eyes watching. pass the barrier, down the passage's long depths an infinite dark could be seen, awaiting, beckoning- she stares back at it, the pebbles tumbling downwards to the void. "father!" where was the bug?! she stabs and stabs into a smoother, harder portion of rock in the floor, tying a rope of silk around it... damnit, she pulls out another dagger, doing it all again to be sure, she was not going to die by void, and especially not by fall. even if it was a bit paranoid of her... but one shouldn't be risky in this place. she tugs on it, watching the blades and their stillness, firmness. she unspools the rope, the shade beside her in a tunnel just too small for the pressure the world put on it- but she climbs down... ... ...and her feet come to solid ground, the abyss welcomes her with deathly silence, as she knew it would.

[voided-pale-king]

*the moment she stands fully, moss starts pulling her again, guiding her to the wyrm that lay near motionless on the ground, it's worse than she imagined.*

*hes mask is cracked, horns uneven. his outfit, one she remembered as pristine white, was now gray, with black stains at the bottom. Scales once shining now dull and scared, but worst of all was the kingsoul charm, his half still hung around his neck now completely blackened with void, the void seeping into the very thing that makes him who he is*

[edelwyss-solemns]

the small splash of white in a world of dark, even dulled and dimmed it stood out as it should, something those shells at the sea's shore had inherited, broken and few. moss is left behind as she becomes naught but a flash of red finding the quickest route around and over the rubble between her and "FATHER!" her red cloak pools around her as she comes to her knees. "OI! H- YOU WILL NOT DIE NOW!" she gives him a hard shake- "curse on the gods, damnit!" she turns to her bag and pulls out the food wrapped in a cloth, it's knot undone before a blink could finish. she grabs his closest horn, raising his head with- some -grace and shoves a piece of bread- it had been dipped in the last sum of milk left, with a slim selection of spices she had gathered from a somewhat fruitful scavange... those eggs she was gifted- along with the milk -from that bug in greenpath... into his faintly open jaws and sets his head back down, pulling out her canteen hastily.

[voided-pale-king]

he wakes groggy and confused, biting down on the bread.

The moment he presses it as food he moves away from her, watching her like she might take it away. The small growl that comes from his weakened body still nearly shakes the floor with its force.

He sits there, watching, holding the food in his jaws like it’s the only thing keeping him alive.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she lets out a breath, it easing that weight in her chest. lifting a hand up in a sign of peace, letting the world shake. "i have more, but know i won't tolerate violence from you, i have come down into this pit of death despite my entire self yearning i turn back, to save you from your own doing. if you attack me you seal your fate, or rid me from whatever future you can scramble together." ... she raises the bundle of food and holds it forward to him. "...so see it; i am your ally, find your senses again, eat."

[voided-pale-king]

The growl softened as he processed the fact she wasn’t going to take the food from him. He sat on the ground, graceful as ever despite the border line feral demeanor and ate slowly, savoring the taste.

He keeps watching her, his eyes softer, his body is what shakes now, instead of the ground, black tears falling.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she sets the bundle down in her lap again, good, good. ...it felt unbefitting of her, strange of him, odd of the world- to watch him cry- that he allowed himself to, that the world allowed it even, it felt like she was not meant to see, but yet she did, and he didn't prevent it, gesture her away, he simply sat there... and she took note of the black tears, he shouldn't stay here any longer.

[voided-pale-king]

He lays back down after finishing the food that was given to him, still so weak, still so tired.

His shoulders shake slightly, his eyes refusing to meet hers. He looks ashamed of himself, like failing to die was something to be disappointed in him with. Like failing to end his own life was a reason for him to be subjected to disappointment and hatred.

[edelwyss-solemns]

"i understand your exhaustion but we must leave." that weighted air, heavy with shame, it was something she had long associated with her father. was it her? was she always why he felt so- so strongly it seemingly warped the world? "i cannot remain here long, surely you too possess such a limit and are reaching it." she gestures on at him, painted in varying levels of shadow. ... "the fact you survived this at all is perhaps some sign, something gifting you mercy, another chance." she offers a hand. "it'd be rude to waste that gift, father."

[voided-pale-king]

His body continues shake, he’s weak, exhausted.

The small glance she gets betrays everything, he doesn’t move, only looks at her.

At this point it would be more effective to tell a stone wall it was alive.

[edelwyss-solemns]

"come on." she stands, watching and expecting but- he lays, he just lays there. "we must move. your condition will not improve in this place, the very air wants to eat us alive." he does not move. "father?" he does not move. ...a boiling, almost, inside her chest. her words sharpen and hiss. "what results do you expect from this, remaining here? what do you expect to eat? expect to do?- the path i cleared awaits us and you stand in it's presence and choose to stay?! in the abyss?!" he does not move. "you have barely eaten, you will soon starve again! y-" it sinks in, like teeth sinking into her skin. ... the silence crowded her, words coming up and dying before they're spoken, she just stands there, and he does not move.

[voided-pale-king]

He sobs, a strange sound that highlights his despair. He understands why he should leave, he just doesn’t have it in him to move, he doesn’t want to either, his whole body feels like it’s made of gelatin. Soft and easy to harm.

He shifts away from her, the scolding that just transpired seems to have startled him… what an odd being.

[edelwyss-solemns]

... it took a long time; but she leans, bending the knees, sitting back on the dark, cold, rough stone of the abyss. ...she bids her eyes down, at the stone, thoughts stirring and fighting in her head, what next? what was right? she lets him fill the quiet, cries layering over the quiet, quiet sea... what was she supposed to say? what would help him?

[voided-pale-king]

He slowly closes his eyes again, seemingly falling back asleep on the cold stone floor, still to thin, still to pale for even his title.

Moss, who has been missing for a while, came over with a vessel mask, holding it up to hornet, the shape of the horns matched their own.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she sighs, lifting her sights to see him again proper when it's quiet for too long... he still trembled barely in his sleep, the cold dark air stagnant, unmoving. she flinches and stares at the vessel, broken mask in it's hands- dead eyes and glowing white eyes both staring back. it's shards were larger, more whole, a smaller distance- a... less brutal fall took it's life, she presumed. they gesture with it, carefully, miming putting it on, a few shards falling, their small fingers trying hard to keep it together. "...it could be attempted, but i cannot tell you the result if you're shell is put back onto you, it may do nothing." it offers it again, nearly shoving it into her arms- "one piece at a time!" ... she'd peer back at her father every once in a while, gently tying piece by piece back onto the shade- the silk matching their eyes perfectly. as it barely dodges covering them- their form develops, slowly the tendrils become little legs, perhaps a good step away from the situation she'll soon face again, but refreshened, now, looking on at him.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss chirps happily, running around her before going over to the wyrm still on the floor.

They grab one of his arms and pull, attempting to drag him toward the exit. The action is met with a growl, a startling sound, but moss doesn’t react.

[edelwyss-solemns]

the weird mesh of humor yet melancholy, a child so eager in a place like this felt stark, opposites. "do not, you very well could hurt him further." she taps their shell, precisely in the center of a piece. "if he is not willing to leave on his own there is no way, li-" she blinks. a thought hitting her directly- "...i am tempted by the idea to leave with him like you are." she whispers. "...perhaps..."

[voided-pale-king]

The growl dies as moss stops pulling, but now he’s awake and aware.

This might be a bit difficult.

[edelwyss-solemns]

"...it is his life, his to decide the fate of." she says aloud, but it seems a lot more like it is to herself... she looks at him again, and she caught a faint gaze in turn, his eyes open and tired, a mess of conflict and sorries unsaid, his breath weak as he exhales a small, aching, quivering sigh. ... it just felt wrong, ill, she had said there at that damned terminal; i won't make you leave. gods, it all felt just far too familiar, she unable to let go what wanted to fall, what she wasn't suppose to save, what she didn't have say in, what she shouldn't have been there to witness at all. ... she shakes her head, murmuring a growl to herself, just once more, a little voice says, just one last try, then we can go. ... creeping forward, kneeling beside him. her red cloak so vivid and shining. "father." she sneaks an arm beneath his, bringing it over her shoulder... —

[voided-pale-king]

Claws dig into he cloak, it almost feels like he wants to be saved, but just doesn’t have the words to say it. His breathing is ragged, like even existing takes effort, his heart, once steady, a sense of comfort to a small child, is now beating rapidly against her.

His body shakes softly, holding tears.

[voided-pale-king]

it was small, indistinguishable from the often cave-sounds you'd hear from afar, but it approached; steps. "do you hear me?" familiar, her, without that eerie distortion the soul wrought, clear and sharp as she always was, approaching, needle on her back... "i have the food."

*moss heard it first, bolting towards the sound before the wyrm, now laying on the ground could even react*

~moss- oh dear… I don’t have the energy for this

[edelwyss-solemns]

"father?" the words echo out once more, far, yet closer than ever before. the void sea's subtle waves beckon her down and down. the ceiling grazing her horns even as she hunches. her things clink and clatter together in her bag as she kneels to the ground... she hisses at it, the world, shes being far too trusting of it all, of the caverns that nest the dark, death, silence, the world pressing down on them, she and the body of shadow with two shining white eyes peering at her through tiny opening. her hand hovers over the pins strapped to her bag. hidden beneath her red cloak.

[voided-pale-king]

*there’s no response other than the small sound of a very excited sibling clambering over rocks and other things to get to her, when it dose, it gently grabs the edge of her cloak, dragging her along while standing in front of her in a way that makes sure she doesn’t fall, like they have done this a million times before

[edelwyss-solemns]

she stares at it, it's dark mass with a single outstretched mitt clutching her vivid red cloak. it was like embracing death- like falling from a height unmeasured and refusing to call on her silk, to not capture her needle and drive it into the wall to save herself- lifting her hand away from her daggers. she watched it, watched with sharpened focus, to be so patient with it was far harder than she allowed to show, though her father could be spared, would she? forward, onward, this way. the v- the... shade, shade felt befitting. "...the way you wish to guide me i cannot fit through, it is a marvel you can, or any of your... kin, could."

[voided-pale-king]

*the wall of the opening is scratched, like something had tried to climb up repeatedly, the stone is softer here, like a few strikes with her nail could open it juuuust enough for her to slip through, it would be a tight squeeze… but it might get her to him. And the fact moss is meeting her instead of him might mean he needs her*

[edelwyss-solemns]

she goes back on it, but rather than the ones outside her bag, she rummages inside and pulls out two dull daggers. "you must move, shade."

[voided-pale-king]

*Moss moves a bit farther down, ready to catch her if she looses her balance*

[edelwyss-solemns]

the steep gravel against her legs, choosing the farthest hand from the shade to pierce into the rock- right in it's seams, falling, splintering, she hits the next and next, using both, conscious of the two shining eyes watching. pass the barrier, down the passage's long depths an infinite dark could be seen, awaiting, beckoning- she stares back at it, the pebbles tumbling downwards to the void. "father!" where was the bug?! she stabs and stabs into a smoother, harder portion of rock in the floor, tying a rope of silk around it... damnit, she pulls out another dagger, doing it all again to be sure, she was not going to die by void, and especially not by fall. even if it was a bit paranoid of her... but one shouldn't be risky in this place. she tugs on it, watching the blades and their stillness, firmness. she unspools the rope, the shade beside her in a tunnel just too small for the pressure the world put on it- but she climbs down... ... ...and her feet come to solid ground, the abyss welcomes her with deathly silence, as she knew it would.

[voided-pale-king]

*the moment she stands fully, moss starts pulling her again, guiding her to the wyrm that lay near motionless on the ground, it's worse than she imagined.*

*hes mask is cracked, horns uneven. his outfit, one she remembered as pristine white, was now gray, with black stains at the bottom. Scales once shining now dull and scared, but worst of all was the kingsoul charm, his half still hung around his neck now completely blackened with void, the void seeping into the very thing that makes him who he is*

[edelwyss-solemns]

the small splash of white in a world of dark, even dulled and dimmed it stood out as it should, something those shells at the sea's shore had inherited, broken and few. moss is left behind as she becomes naught but a flash of red finding the quickest route around and over the rubble between her and "FATHER!" her red cloak pools around her as she comes to her knees. "OI! H- YOU WILL NOT DIE NOW!" she gives him a hard shake- "curse on the gods, damnit!" she turns to her bag and pulls out the food wrapped in a cloth, it's knot undone before a blink could finish. she grabs his closest horn, raising his head with- some -grace and shoves a piece of bread- it had been dipped in the last sum of milk left, with a slim selection of spices she had gathered from a somewhat fruitful scavange... those eggs she was gifted- along with the milk -from that bug in greenpath... into his faintly open jaws and sets his head back down, pulling out her canteen hastily.

[voided-pale-king]

he wakes groggy and confused, biting down on the bread.

The moment he presses it as food he moves away from her, watching her like she might take it away. The small growl that comes from his weakened body still nearly shakes the floor with its force.

He sits there, watching, holding the food in his jaws like it’s the only thing keeping him alive.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she lets out a breath, it easing that weight in her chest. lifting a hand up in a sign of peace, letting the world shake. "i have more, but know i won't tolerate violence from you, i have come down into this pit of death despite my entire self yearning i turn back, to save you from your own doing. if you attack me you seal your fate, or rid me from whatever future you can scramble together." ... she raises the bundle of food and holds it forward to him. "...so see it; i am your ally, find your senses again, eat."

[voided-pale-king]

The growl softened as he processed the fact she wasn’t going to take the food from him. He sat on the ground, graceful as ever despite the border line feral demeanor and ate slowly, savoring the taste.

He keeps watching her, his eyes softer, his body is what shakes now, instead of the ground, black tears falling.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she sets the bundle down in her lap again, good, good. ...it felt unbefitting of her, strange of him, odd of the world- to watch him cry- that he allowed himself to, that the world allowed it even, it felt like she was not meant to see, but yet she did, and he didn't prevent it, gesture her away, he simply sat there... and she took note of the black tears, he shouldn't stay here any longer.

[voided-pale-king]

He lays back down after finishing the food that was given to him, still so weak, still so tired.

His shoulders shake slightly, his eyes refusing to meet hers. He looks ashamed of himself, like failing to die was something to be disappointed in him with. Like failing to end his own life was a reason for him to be subjected to disappointment and hatred.

[edelwyss-solemns]

"i understand your exhaustion but we must leave." that weighted air, heavy with shame, it was something she had long associated with her father. was it her? was she always why he felt so- so strongly it seemingly warped the world? "i cannot remain here long, surely you too possess such a limit and are reaching it." she gestures on at him, painted in varying levels of shadow. ... "the fact you survived this at all is perhaps some sign, something gifting you mercy, another chance." she offers a hand. "it'd be rude to waste that gift, father."

[voided-pale-king]

His body continues shake, he’s weak, exhausted.

The small glance she gets betrays everything, he doesn’t move, only looks at her.

At this point it would be more effective to tell a stone wall it was alive.

[edelwyss-solemns]

"come on." she stands, watching and expecting but- he lays, he just lays there. "we must move. your condition will not improve in this place, the very air wants to eat us alive." he does not move. "father?" he does not move. ...a boiling, almost, inside her chest. her words sharpen and hiss. "what results do you expect from this, remaining here? what do you expect to eat? expect to do?- the path i cleared awaits us and you stand in it's presence and choose to stay?! in the abyss?!" he does not move. "you have barely eaten, you will soon starve again! y-" it sinks in, like teeth sinking into her skin. ... the silence crowded her, words coming up and dying before they're spoken, she just stands there, and he does not move.

[voided-pale-king]

He sobs, a strange sound that highlights his despair. He understands why he should leave, he just doesn’t have it in him to move, he doesn’t want to either, his whole body feels like it’s made of gelatin. Soft and easy to harm.

He shifts away from her, the scolding that just transpired seems to have startled him… what an odd being.

[edelwyss-solemns]

... it took a long time; but she leans, bending the knees, sitting back on the dark, cold, rough stone of the abyss. ...she bids her eyes down, at the stone, thoughts stirring and fighting in her head, what next? what was right? she lets him fill the quiet, cries layering over the quiet, quiet sea... what was she supposed to say? what would help him?

[voided-pale-king]

He slowly closes his eyes again, seemingly falling back asleep on the cold stone floor, still to thin, still to pale for even his title.

Moss, who has been missing for a while, came over with a vessel mask, holding it up to hornet, the shape of the horns matched their own.

[edelwyss-solemns]

she sighs, lifting her sights to see him again proper when it's quiet for too long... he still trembled barely in his sleep, the cold dark air stagnant, unmoving. she flinches and stares at the vessel, broken mask in it's hands- dead eyes and glowing white eyes both staring back. it's shards were larger, more whole, a smaller distance- a... less brutal fall took it's life, she presumed. they gesture with it, carefully, miming putting it on, a few shards falling, their small fingers trying hard to keep it together. "...it could be attempted, but i cannot tell you the result if you're shell is put back onto you, it may do nothing." it offers it again, nearly shoving it into her arms- "one piece at a time!" ... she'd peer back at her father every once in a while, gently tying piece by piece back onto the shade- the silk matching their eyes perfectly. as it barely dodges covering them- their form develops, slowly the tendrils become little legs, perhaps a good step away from the situation she'll soon face again, but refreshened, now, looking on at him.

[voided-pale-king]

Moss chirps happily, running around her before going over to the wyrm still on the floor.

They grab one of his arms and pull, attempting to drag him toward the exit. The action is met with a growl, a startling sound, but moss doesn’t react.

[edelwyss-solemns]

the weird mesh of humor yet melancholy, a child so eager in a place like this felt stark, opposites. "do not, you very well could hurt him further." she taps their shell, precisely in the center of a piece. "if he is not willing to leave on his own there is no way, li-" she blinks. a thought hitting her directly- "...i am tempted by the idea to leave with him like you are." she whispers. "...perhaps..."

[voided-pale-king]

The growl dies as moss stops pulling, but now he’s awake and aware.

This might be a bit difficult.