The world began in fire. It will end in fire.
And death will reign all during the in-between.

The horizon caught ablaze as the day descended for its western rest, spilling red tongues of flame across the darkening sky. Each revolution of sun and moon granted the daylight kingdom a shorter reign, a sure sign of winter's whispers coming to pass. A chill had settled despite the heavenly burn, and the earth shivered with a cold fever. Or so it seemed, in all but one place. All but here.

In the very heart of Helovia its pulse beat strong with an insurmountable warmth. The gaping maw of hell crackled and burned continuously, its inner light extending as the out light drew away. Heat wafted from its burning ring, beckoning, like a finger curling in, body hidden around the corner. Come, it seemed to say, persuasive and sickly sweet as its embers popped and its flames snapped, scorching earth and air alike. Fire is greedy that way, but it doesn't take without giving. What it consumes it returns with blessed light and saving warmth. What it destroys it fertilizes, clearing the old to make way for the new. So it had always been, so it would always be.

Come it seemed to say, again, but loud now, insistent and actually- different. It wasn't saying that word at all. Maybe usually, but not this day. Listen close, for the heart instead called out,

"Dei-mos."

Like an exhale of fume and used breath, the sound rushed and rustled through the tall, dying grasses, sending them to sway with its echo. The sound cut through the creeping winter wind, winding up and over, again and again. The fire sang for its friend death, because amid the rubble they had kinship left unexplored. "Dei-mos," it continued to breath, the flames pulsing with every ignited heave. The maw of the world had never seemed so fitting as it spoke and funneled long drawn lungs into use. Coals like eyes glowered into the growing dark, while ash fell away like spittle as its lips and its teeth gnashed with ember and fire. "DEIMOS!" it bellowed, smoke curling like a tongue as it forgot to ask and demanded.

There are many callings in life; some which can be ignored, some which we pretend to ignore, and some which we can do nothing other than answer.

@[Deimos]