if you saw the new scars that I didn't ask for

There were strange whisperings on the wind of an eerie atmosphere within the Scorched Wilds. Lions hearing and seeing unexplainable things. Things you heard in ghost stories as cubs, used to scare them from wandering too far from home. Orei couldn't deny he felt the inevitable pull towards the barren, fire scarred trees. Immediately his mind pulled to Fearne and how he would hate it here. Hate to see the ash covered ground, the dead trees that would never recover. His eyes and nose burned with each breathe, threatening to choke him till he was just as dead as the trees around him. He forced himself to move deeper into the once forest. He almost thought he could feel the remnants of the fire's heat beneath his paws, but he chalked it up to his mind playing tricks on him due to the inhalation of ash.

As time passed, he came to a slow stop. Ears flicked forwards as teal eyes were drawn to one of the trees. Had he already passed this tree before? No. There was no possible way he would be able to tell one of these trees from the other. They were all barren, dead, but something about passing this tree made his stomach sour and the hair on his nape stand on end. What was going on here. Could the rumors be true? His nose wrinkled slightly, this felt like the beginnings of some kind of dark magic. He wasn't sure whether getting involved was the right thing to do or not.

Rolling wildsevent 1d13: 4
An eerie blue flame seems to appear and hover before you. It’s almost like it wants you to follow it. Will you see where it leads you or turn your back on it?

"Speech."

would you call, asking for answers?

code x art x inspo

He's felt it- the subtle heartbeat of this burnt forest trying to come back to life. He's spent enough time in the grove that he recognizes the signs of growth and renewal in an instant. And curious as ever Fearne began to spend time in scrutiny and analysis across the wilds. All the while something dark and ancient began to feel like it was seeding down in his soul, an old creature of forest and story begging to be named and pulled from the shadows.

Today as he's lost within these thoughts and trying to balance the joy of renewal with the dark he felt, he spots him. "Orei!" Fearne shouts excitedly, beginning to trek closer before there is a blaze of blue, a wisp. Bright and burning it catches all of Fearne's attention as the last of the distance is closed and he is at the side of his friend staring at the blue flame. "What is it?"

@Orei

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY LARS

if you saw the new scars that I didn't ask for

The Blue Flame flickers to life before him, eerie and bright, almost seeming to beckon him to follow it. He begins to take a step forward but stops, paw raised, teal eyes suddenly drawn to the Fearne's voice. His name on his dear friend's lips. The worried expression now gone as a warm smile spread across his lips. As if Fearne had heard his earlier thoughts. "Fearne!" He exclaims happily before teal eyes are drawn back to the floating blue flame.

"You see it too?" Orei asks, moving forwards, as he had originally intended, to get a closer look at the blue flame. No heat came from it even as it's blue light flickered across his face. "I think it wants us to follow it." He continued, eyes drifting back to Fearne. Intending the let the sounder mind decide whether they should follow it or ignore it. But if he knew anything about himself or Fearne there was no way they were leaving it without seeing where it would end.

"Speech."
@Fearne

would you call, asking for answers?

code x art x inspo

"I can." He confirms as his mismatched eyes are enchanted by the dancing and swirling edges of the wisp. There's something haunting and alluring both in the blue mote that leaves Fearne hungry to figure out more about what it is and how it relates to the strange feeling encompassing this wild stretch of land. "Let's follow it." This totally couldn't go wrong right? They say don't follow strangers but this isn't a stranger. It's a ... well it might not even be alive.

But just in case it was- "Go ahead." Fearne says to the wisp and encourages it onward. And as it began to float further into the burning landscape Fearne began to follow- rarely straying far from Orei. "I've no real idea what's out here..." He confesses, not having a clue when they may be going.

@Orei

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY LARS

if you saw the new scars that I didn't ask for

A part of him was glad that Fearne could see the wisp as well, but another part of him felt like maybe they were both going crazy. Maybe the land that had been burned to ash was also burning away their senses. Showing them things they normally wouldn't see. Was it the smoke they were inhaling? He is brought from his thoughts as Fearne confirmed they should follow it. Letting his head nod slowly, he takes a step forwards.

At first he doesn't think the wisp is going to move, but suddenly it darts off quickly into the burned trees. Staying close enough for them to see but clearly leading them towards something."I think we are about to find out." He says with a half believing chuckle, letting his side move against Fearne's own before following after the wisp. What had the two of them got themselves into?

"Speech."
@Fearne

would you call, asking for answers?

code x art x inspo

I think we are about to find out. Into the unknown they'd travel together. Every bit of curiosity comes to life inside of Fearne and as if understanding their agreement to follow the wisp picks up speed. Fearne's gaze keeps ahead on the small blue flame but his body remains close to Orei, leaning into each bit of accidental contact but otherwise giving a small bit of space to allow them both easier movement.

They walk until it seems like the wisp is beginning to flicker. Or the smoke was obscuring it? Fearne slows and leans in his face towards the now hovering wisp. It's definitely stopped moving. "I think it's struggling?" Or the smoke was getting even thicker and choking out oxygen and sense to their brains...

ART BY RABBIT, CODE BY LARS