Their home had turned dangerous, with the earth moving they couldn’t be certain that the dens were safe. So, following Basilisk’s advice, the little family left to go and see what the strange occurrences were. Hika walked close to Mortis who had Odette on his back. Though she was independent and wanted ot walk on her own it wasn’t long before the little girl pup’s paws were sore. She was easily nestled into her Poppa’s wings as the two men found their way to the strange land. Hikaru had never seen anything like it before. The red light was ominous at best and left him with a lingering feeling of dread. His protective nature was on guard as they brought their child into the unknown.

"Speech"

Odette didn’t realize the danger they might be in staying at home, she was just excited to be allowed out and about to explore. At first she had been adamant about using her own little footsies to walk but as time went on she began to fatigue. Eventually asking her Poppa if she could ride on his back. Something she never did voluntarily (but loved every time he lifted her up there.)

The red dawn was like nothing she had ever seen, of course she didn’t have much experience in her short life but that didn’t matter. "What’s all this?" She asked curiously from her dad’s shoulders. Of course they knew everything there was to know about the world so surely they could answer her questions. She just conveniently ignored their looks of uncertainty.

"Odette"

Mortis wasn't comfortable bringing Odette along on what could be a dangerous expedition. But two factors had persuaded him. The knowledge that she would try to follow if they left her behind, and fear that leaving her in the warrens would be putting her in danger of cave-ins. At least if she was with him and Hika, they could protect her.


They travelled to the new land that had opened up, hoping to find answers of some variety. With Odette on his shoulders, Mortis was taking every precaution. His companions surrounded them, and his steps were light. 


When they arrived, the weathered stone spikes were the most prominent landmark, and they were nothing like anything he had seen before. “I think this was made by the ones that came before. The ones that walked on two legs.” But what was it for? He couldn't even fathom a guess.

Hika knew that Mort was incredibly uncomfortable bringing their little Odette along with them, but truly what safer place could she be than with the two of them? However much the lands put him or Mort on edge, she was best off with her fathers. Hikaru’s fur was just barely being kept smooth over his back and like Mortis his senses were heightened to the extreme. He had never seen the sky look like this, and the land was also so unknown and ancient despite having just appeared.

Odette posed her question about the place, and thankfully Mortis spoke up first. He suspected that this was a place that had been created by the species that had come before. Their fingerprints were present all over the lands and Hika couldn’t argue that fact either. The lattice work was intricate and delicate, yet oh so frightening. Hikaru couldn’t begin to think about what they could be used for.

"I could say all of the things they aren’t.” Hika replied as his silver eyes surveyed the structures. They couldn’t be used for shelter, nor would they work well for storage. "What do you think they are, Sweet Pea?” He asked, his gaze returning to the little girl’s features.

"Speech"

Odette played happily upon her Poppa’s back, his soft wings a protective barrier against the strange foreboding sky and the danger pyres that jutted up around them. She was glad at least that the earth shakes were finished and the terrifying sounds of the night were gone. She didn’t really like this fake daylight though, and was glad to be with her dads. She wouldn’t have let them leave without her, not with the strangeness going on all around them. Odette was most comfortable right here with her parents, no matter the setting.

Poppa explained briefly that he believed this to be from the two-legs, the creatures that ruled the lands before their wolven kind. Her Daddy didn’t offer much up beyond that he knew what they were not. Odette couldn't say that she believed she knew what they were either. They were full of holes and were so tall that they couldn’t even be used for some kind of spike. "What if they’re just meant to be scary?" She asked, her voice soft and uncertain.

"Odette"

Mortis glanced over to his mate, and spared a smile at the other man's words. Indeed, they could write a mile long list of what it wasn’t. Because the truth was, they had no idea what they were dealing with. This wasn’t the first strange occurrence Mortis had run into, and others hadn’t gone well for him. He could feel his anxiety on edge as they walked slowly through the spires.

As they walked, the sun rose a little higher, its hue unusual and threatening. Some investigating revealed strange carvings drawn on the stone itself. He paused, kneeling to examine one such stone.


"Mortis""Hika"

Odettes was usually such a confident young girl, seeing her so on edge was something Hikaru did not enjoy. He continued to tell himself that she was safest with her two fathers. Of course her behavior must have been connected to their own, neither man was at their most confident though Hika was doing his best to hide that fact. There wasn’t much he could do though, the tremors that still shook the land, the strange sun that lifted over the horizon, and the even stranger spires that surrounded them caused far too much strife.

The little girl’s words were soft, and Mortis said nothing to calm her obvious fears. He leaned down to examine the carvings within, and Odette was obviously concerned. "Maybe they are there just to be intimidating.” Hika spoke in response to her theory.

"Speech"

The little girl was frightened, but she was doing her best to disguise that fact. She put on her bravest face while still doing her best to hide behind her Poppa’s wings. He was quiet as she told her Daddy about what she thought, though it was obvious they were both concentrating harder on their dangerous environment than they were on her. Though they didn’t look scared she could feel how on edge they both were.

As the sun shifted higher in the sky more details were able to be made out in the spires themselves. Mortis leaned down to examine the etchings in the sides and though Odette used her little leopard claws to try and hold on she toppled over her Dad’s shoulder and ono the hard ground with a thud. Scared more than hurt she couldn’t help the overwhelming emotions and began to cry.

"Odette"