The beast’s attention had been elsewhere, and as his eyes wandered, piecing together the strangest of scenery, the spark of curiosity brightened, incensed, ran rampant across his skull, motivated and ignited by their wrong turn. He whispered, “Wow,” jaw slackened and loosened, proceeding cautiously, slowly, until he was beside the ember boy, peering along the elevation. The glade below was eerie, uncanny, bulging with red, like indignant blood rampaging through vines and veins, canopies and boughs, sinking and slinking in a deadly march. Even the flowing falls were a captivating sight, billowing with a haunting, alluring sense of madness, running a river of ichor, of lifeforce, and Orsino gaped at his heels, muttering across their bond. Whose blood? Erebos repressed a shudder. He’d never experienced such a sight – as if war had gleamed and prospered and all the bodies had been lost in the crimson disaster – and he turned towards Rikyn, wondering all the more. “Have you been here before?”
But his eyes couldn’t stay away for long. They were snatched back by action, by motion, energy and electricity, individuals swarming around a figure and a pool of scarlet – so many strange creatures! They were bright and vivid, tall and misshapen, bestial and savage, glittering and glimmering. He had so many questions, so many queries, brewing and bubbling through his mind, and the touch, the rim, the fringe of magic heightening their surroundings was just enough push to permit him to dangle his nose over their chosen hill, to stare and smirk. Where were they from? Why hadn’t he ever seen them before? What was this place? Did they all live here? The infidel ignored Cathun’s warning, because there were enchantments and glory and enigmas about, and the mischief, the devilry, swarming through his veins was impossible to contain. “I think we should get closer…” He winked at Rikyn, expecting him to join in the sport.
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