”Huh?!”

”I’m just saying, your knee clicks” his hellhound nonchalantly pointed out.

”I’m sure your jaw would click too if I rattled it hard enough”

d’Artagnan grumbled and frowned, paying attention to the sounds of his body and the faint click that occurred when he walked. So it did! Must be one of those days. It didn’t really have much to do with age, but still it reminded him that the years weren’t rolling back and that time was hurtling him towards the latter end of his career. As usual, he mumbled something incoherently and clicked down through the Threshold. He had thought to find some more recruits, the horses enlisted to the soldier rank were few and the shade sorely wanted more. They were more of a meagre ambush unit rather than an army. Still, he wandered the Threshold here and there, finding little but faint scents and old trails. That was until he reached the southern border and something dark shrouded the land ahead.

He stopped.

“Aramis” he ushered and the dog obliged, heading into the shrouded place.

The hellion carefully made his way in, his keen canine eyes trying to pierce through the fog that had a strange otherworldly feel to it, as if it wasn’t just thick smoke. He could smell the scent of others radiating towards it until finally the smoke lifted and in its place there was a Labyrinth. Bamboo forests grew tall as sparkling waters created a maze of natural beauty. At the centre of it all was the Moon Goddess.

“Sir, come closer” the hellion beckoned to his bonded as he lingered on the edge of those gathered, spotting Mauja and the familiar sight of Irma on his back. There was Mesec and Sacre too, his companion’s two sons and the hound barked to the pair in a slobbery greeting.

Meanwhile, d’Artagnan began to make his way into the wonderland of greenery, sniffing the bamboo trunks and wondering what poisonous plants grew in this new part of the world. Eventually he found Aramis and the gathering before him. 

There were conversations here and there, but his gaze zoned in on Mesec and the Moon with his other son, Sacre, lingering near. It felt like some weird family reunion except there were about 20 or so others here. For now, he remained on the sidelines of the group and watched Aurelia, the girl he had met in the Threshold once, make an intriguing grab for the tail of the Moon. How bizarre. “I wouldn’t do that, you don't know where its been” he shouted across to the golden dappled mare who had a nasty looking affliction, winking once at the Moon Goddess in mock friendliness that was plastered so sickly on his face as he sarcastically played the role of ex-lover or, well, the guy she pulled one lustful night.  

He wanted to ask her what commotion she had caused now, though he figured many had probably asked that already, so he waited to see what would be next, because there was always something next.

The red notices some of the rest then from his position on the outskirts, surprised to see he recognised quite a few faces as the unveiling of something new seemed to capture the attention of many. Though some seemed on edge and the Nightshade kept a diligent watch as concern crept into his mind and he felt for the darkness of his magic in preparation.