Chapter Text
Of all the things they had come to love and hate learning more about the world, mortal tongues were something they despised. A quick conclusion, after years judging from a distance, and then the immediate difficulties upon having to learn them. Traveller was… Distracted to say the least, spinning a pen between their claws and looking anywhere but the piece of paper they were supposed to be reading. Seeker had been making some effort, but as they tiredly dragged their claws down their face, it was clear patience was wearing incredibly thin.
"It's… just… SCRIBBLES" Seeker hissed, before shifting to lean back and pointedly ignore the writing on the parchment. Traveller sighed, glancing to their twin with a slight nod. They lifted their free hand to vaguely, unenthusiastically motion to the paper. "I don't get the point.. Why does ink on paper mean anything?"
Why did mortals have to be so fussy they needed multiple languages just to get by? It made SO much more trouble than it was worth. Including trouble for them, seeing as the Troupe Master was so persistent to teach them. Neither seemed amused nor impressed with Common, especially given the pair already were fluent in Sign- which made for effective communication with those around them. Were all these words and silly little marks on paper really necessary?
Little Pyre… the Nightmare Prince, born of necessity and raised surrounded by love. He followed his siblings wherever he could, always excited to learn or to have a new adventure. They had already been to so many extraordinary places, and had fantastical journeys. This one was, by far, the worst. Zip and Dart, the other Vessels, had elected to stick around, though they were exempt from the Troupe Master’s lessons. Stygian had, afterall, taught them common for their profession, and Pyre envied them a little for that. He sat with his big siblings, trying to read a little book of his own and huffing in annoyance. Growing up with Seeker and Traveller, he’d gained an appreciation for the no-nonsense approach of void-tone.
But it was important to be able to communicate with mortals, so Grimm had told them.
“They can’t speak like us,” the youngest chirped in response, his tail twitching and swishing as he laid his head on the book and sighed. Learning was a headache. At the very least, the Troupe Master could be merciful. He let out a soft chuckle and approached the siblings with some snacks. Crescent-shaped pastries with a blood honey spread, as well as a sweet and floral tea.
“I know, it’s not fun. But, learning the language of mortals is key to communicating with them, and avoiding most misunderstandings. I didn’t enjoy learning it, either…” Which was funny, given he tended to be eloquent in any language he spoke. Void-tone might be the exception, but he was also still learning, planning to surprise the Twins. “Maybe a little something in your stomachs will help make it a little less… agonizing?”
At least by now, they’d gotten the hang of speaking it enough to understand most of what was said- or even the fact they were being addressed to begin with, which was a struggle once upon a time. Still, they seemed unamused at best, but snacks did usually help their moods anyway. Wouldn’t turn them down, no matter how much they wanted to be doing anything else.
“See.. They say that. But you learned, didn’t you?” Seeker shook their head, before looking at Grimm and debating if they wanted to bother with speaking common, or just sign to respond. Maybe if they showed more progress in one way they’d have to sit here less. “... Why are all their tongues so…” Ugh. This was the issue, too many words for the same meaning. “.. Frilly? They just.. Over-complicate it.”
Admittedly, making complete- if hesitant- sentences was better than usual for them. Though their voice still sounded quiet and raspy at best, clear that it was barely used. Traveller opted to finish their snack, and then add input. Food first, frustrating lesson second.
“Yeah, it helps. But how are we meant to really understand.. Marks on a piece of paper? There’s no sound, no visuals- no emotion. It’s so flat. And mortals call us vague.” They wouldn’t really even call it vague. Just straight-forward, apparently more than others could usually process.
Pyre quietly ate while the others spoke, kicking his feet and watching intently with big, wide eyes. Grimm did feel for the poor Twins. Their lives changed so… dramatically in a very short amount of time. There was no doubt they had whiplash from it all, in a manner of speaking. He let out a soft hum, pondering what they had to say. They had points, of course. Part of the issue of dealing with mortals was that their language could be twisted and bent any number of ways.
“Perhaps because they’re afraid to be straightforward and blunt. They can be like… fey, I suppose, and play games with their words. Which is another reason it’s important to understand. As for words on paper, that’s not necessarily true. While not… as expressive as vocal languages, the written word can express emotions in different ways. A lot of it is word choice, but also descriptions. Things you imagine in your mind and heart…” Though, that might be beyond them at this point in time and he just shrugged helplessly.
“I’ve found mortals enjoy complicating things. Maybe it makes them feel… powerful, in a way.” The Master then reached into his cloak, handing little Pyre a cup of something bright red and glowing; his blood. An important thing for a growing little vampire moth! “But seeing as you’re not having much luck concentrating, a break might be in order. So you don’t get burnt out.” Pyre took the cup eagerly and took a sip, looking to the Twins and smiling.
“I learned because I want to talk with you easily and I love you. But mortals can’t make the same sounds as you do. How sad…”
Ah yes, fey- also infuriating little bastards! The pair both huffed, tails irritatedly thumping on the floor as the only one they knew came to mind- the White Lady. Gods they hated her, both for her horrible way of speaking and her rancid attitude. The sound of a break was nice, at least… And Pyre’s response got them both to pause, tilting their heads. Of course, as siblings, they loved each other- that was a given. But something about it was.. Sweet, hearing his efforts to understand them as best as a non-void creature could was not simply due to being exposed to the language so often around them. It finally broke their grumpy, sour attitudes- getting soft chirps and coos in response.
… Maybe they ought to be a little easier on the Troupe Master, too. Normally, they were all in for learning- it was just a tough topic, and he was certainly more patient than their older siblings in terms of teaching. Traveller looked back over to their father and chirped, hoping there were no hard feelings for the trouble given. They certainly appreciated the help and snacks.. It was just… Frustrating, especially with how much they were expected to pick up on quickly. Common was not the only subject of study, as they’d grown older.
Seeker seemed fairly quiet, as usual.. Just mulling over things in their head. Unsure of what to even do with a break at the moment, aside from sit and think. Turning one hand over to look at their branded palm, and glancing at the charm embedded into the opposite wrist. These things had more importance than they could’ve ever guessed as a child.. But still didn’t really make sense.
Grimm understood the…. Distaste of fae. Then again, they didn’t really like him all that much in turn. At the very least, they didn’t have to worry about those games with him. He was not a weaver of lies or tricks, no, he was more of a storyteller than anything. Which, it brought him some shame to realize he thought that even for a moment. These beloved children were half-fae, themselves, and weren’t inherently bad. They all just had poor experiences with the White Lady. Perhaps he should pay Belladonna a visit in the future, see how she was fairing… and drive her mad with the knowledge he was still alive, well, and in great standing with the Hallownest royal family.
The tender moment with the children was a wonderfully welcome distraction, and it brought a smile to his face. They’d all been through a lot, and to see them get along so well made him happy. Pyre replied with trills of his own, feet kicking with all of his happiness. Unfortunately, heavy was the burden on the shoulders of Hallownest’s future monarchs. Grimm knew that look well, though he could hardly read minds. His smile faded and he approached Seeker, setting a hand on their shoulder and squeezing.
“Heavy is the burden you bear. But it need not be yours alone. We can figure it all out together, hm? Now, then. Why don’t you do something you want to do?”
Pyre watched his siblings in silence. He was so much bigger than he had been when he met them, but he was still not old enough to understand everything yet. Grimm had ensured that, wanting him to have as best and ‘normal’ a life as possible. As normal as this family could have, anyway. Though Pyre couldn’t understand his sibling’s frustration in full, he did understand they were going through a lot. They had a lot of expectations upon them, and frustrations in their lives. So, he hopped down from his chair and, before his father could subtly stop him, offered up his cup. Seeker and Traveller also liked blood… maybe it would help them feel better?
Seeker jumped a bit at the sudden touch, shaking the thoughts from their mind and looking up to the Troupe Master. They understood his words, and were increasingly understanding the gravity of their situation.. But still, it wasn’t all quite there for them yet. They knew the brand had to do with the throne, at least- but not what was involved in being a monarch, nor what the Void Heart was really for or did. Oh well- clearly, it wasn’t something to linger on.
They softly cooed, hoping that for now, was enough. They weren’t sure how else to respond… Though, both of the Twins paused as Pyre jumped down from his chair and offered the cup. They knew what that was… They knew it much too well. The pair’s demeanors changed rather immediately, nervously shifting and avoiding eye contact with their father. Technically, they weren’t supposed to have it- but it was offered, so.. It would be rude not to, right? They wouldn’t be rude to their baby brother.
It would certainly help them feel better, too. It was a small child’s cup anyway, not like taking a sip from something so small would hurt! Traveller reached to gently take the offered cup, drinking just a little before passing it to their twin. And Seeker would do the same, making sure to double check that the color hadn’t darkened with any void corruption before giving the remainder back to Pyre.
And, as expected, no catastrophe. Though they did seem much more awake, and their eyes more vibrant.
Grimm was, admittedly, a little nervous of what could happen. But he forced those worries down and watched as the twins took and drank from the cup, Pyre positively beaming with happiness. He was always so happy and eager to help in any way, and how could a father begrudge his son that? No, best not to ruin his joy. Fortunately, it seemed nothing bad happened, and Pyre was able to take the cup to finish the drink off. If anything, the other two seemed empowered. Which was never a bad thing, right?
“Well. I suppose I’ll have to bring more cups next time, hm?” He replied rather calmly, reaching down to wipe some of the blood off his youngest’s face. “No need to be so nervous. I’ve had my fair share of… well. You know.” In truth, the idea of giving blood to his young wasn’t wholly his. The memories of the origins of this little ritual of his made him smile softly, gently petting Pyre’s cheek before standing upright, smiling at all three of them.
“But now, it seems you’re all feeling much better. So. What would my little sparks like to do for the time being, hm?”
At first, they didn't think much of this, aside from a treat they didn't realize they wanted. But then the mention of more came along, and it felt like a pit was dug in their stomachs. Not a pit of anxiety or dread- but rather, a hungry emptiness. Seeker mostly pushed it down, but it would be bugging their twin for a while yet… Not so much they couldn't relax though, trying to ease their nerves through mild confusion. Why offer them something generally off limits?
Well, for now, it wouldn't matter too much. Best to focus on what else to do! … What else was there, exactly? Now the only thing on Traveller's mind was a heavy meal and a nice long nap- and Seeker wasn't too far behind on the thought process themself. Maybe something low effort, to avoid working up more of an appetite burning energy?
"... Can we just relax and take a nap?" Traveller canted their head some as they asked, looking up to Grimm. Seeker was pretty tempted, themself. "... That.. or maybe go stretch.. and get some fresh air…" they softly added, more than happy with the idea of being out during a nice, chilly, windy day.
A nap? Interesting. He couldn’t help but snort at the look on Pyre’s face from the suggestion, scrunched up in disapproval. Amusing, that the little Dream prince objected so strongly to sleeping! Still, Grimm nodded to the twins and all their suggestions, Pyre simply walking over to gently reach up and grip at each of their cloaks.
“Whatever you want. Maybe go for a walk and come back to nap after? There can be a meal waiting for you when you get back, to help relax you.” He loved spoiling them. They were his darling treasures, and perhaps he also felt guilt. As much as he criticized the Pale King, he, too, had failed his child. And looking at their faces, hearing them call him their father… Perhaps he just had to make amends for past misdeeds.
“Just… be careful. Won’t you?”
Careful? Well that wasn’t too hard. Easier to take a calm walk and get some rest than to get into trouble.. They weren’t really in the mood for running about and starting fights with anything. Though they’d felt that way many, many times- and sure enough, trouble found them, even if they weren’t looking for it. They certainly hadn’t been when they first met Zip and Dart. Oh well.
They both nodded, before standing up and stretching. They had quite a bit of new height these days, much longer limbs to unfurl as they got ready to get up and move about. Sadly, still not close to rivaling that of their older siblings… But they’d get there eventually!
Traveller reached down to scoop up Pyre, before the siblings bowed and made their exit. Really, it wasn’t necessary to bow just to leave their father’s presence- but at this point, it was force of habit. Something they learned growing up around the Troupe, such was normal behavior for the Troupe Master’s followers.
“... So.. Where do you.. Want to go..?”
“I don’t know. There’s not really all that much to do anymore.. We’ve been scouring these caves for years, seen it all just about.”
“Mmmn… True… Hm. Well Pyre scrunched his face at napping.. Do you have any ideas..?”
Pyre chirped as he was scooped, clinging to Traveller as they left. Grimm bowed in return, though internally, was a little amused. His own children, bowing to him? That must seem so odd to some, and in truth, he knew they didn’t have to. But he wouldn’t object to them being respectful, not at all. If anything, it was a good skill to have. Just like reading, though they seemed far more objecting to one of those than the other.
Pyre huffed as he snuggled up against his siblings, listening to them talk about what to do or not to do. When it was turned back around on him, he blinked, looking between. He got to pick what to do? Maybe he should scrunch up his face at naptime more often!
"Can we go on an adventure? Then we’ll be away for a long time and won’t have to read!"
.. Well he did have a point, but what adventures were there to be had that didn’t involve directly getting into trouble? The pair had to stop to think about it, mulling over the options in their heads. They’d already been all over Hallownest- and they certainly weren’t daring to go into the Wastelands. Their father had shown them a few other kingdoms, but.. They weren’t really good at teleporting on their own just yet. Especially not such vast distances.
“One problem, there’s not many places to go. Only places we haven’t taken you are either because we’re too big to fit anymore, or it’s way too dangerous.”
Traveller slightly shuddered at the thought of one of said places- they were NOT going back to Deepnest if they could ever avoid it, especially not now that those tunnels would be even more claustrophobic.
“... It feels… Weird, honestly… Just wandering around.. Used to be so much. Has it just been… That long?”
“Well- maybe? But before, there used to be dangers, unsolved puzzles, all that. We’ve got to find new things to do.”
At least, they would keep walking, heading towards the Crossroads. They were planning on a walk one way or another.
Pyre had to huff a little at that, face scrunching up in thought. He honestly couldn’t think of much to do. They’d already done so much already, and the things that were left weren’t exactly attainable by babies; he doubted that his parents would approve of them running off to challenge Stygian again.
While he was mulling it over, a pair of shadows darted towards them, coming to a stop near the twins and standing tall… though, blessedly, in better terms this time. Zip and Dart, both bearing a few more scars, but not brandishing weapons any longer. The former of the pair waved warmly, while Dart gave a simple nod. They were still… coming into their personality a bit.
‘What brings you three here? We’re just cleaning up and rebuilding a little!’
Ah, even with time to adjust, seeing fast motion made both of them tense and step back. But it was just their siblings, and now, they were no longer a threat. They lightened back up with quiet sighs of relief, unsure what they’d been expecting really- but usually something coming at them quickly wasn’t a good sign.
With all well, Traveller happily chuffed in greeting, and Seeker returned the nod to Dart. Everyone had their own ways of getting the little messages across, it read all the same to them.
“We’re just out for a walk, trying to stretch.. Maybe find something to do.”
“... The lessons with Common are… Getting frustrating.. We needed a break.”
It was less of an adventure, but that was a brief idea- maybe they could join the other two in cleaning things up. Not that they were particularly aware of how to rebuild, though.
Zip and Dart, at least, understood the defensiveness well. It had taken them so long after being rescued from the Godslayers to stop having nightmares, and to stop taking swings at others out of fear. Still, here they were now, both finally allowed to just… be, though the marks remained on their bodies, heads, and even in their minds.
‘Understandable. Common is a difficult language with a lot of nuance…’ Zip looked to Dart, who nodded in agreement. Dart… they had gone rather quiet ever since they were rescued, even by vessel standards. But that was alright, they still got messages across regardless.
‘But we don’t have to talk common here! Since we all understand each other. Even the little Nightmare child, right?’ Pyre puffed up his chest and nodded in turn. Though, it did get Pyre to pause as he looked between the four others and himself, falling deep into a bit of thought.
“Mhm, even Pyre! As well as one not intertwined with the Void can, really.” Oh, that was something both were proud of, to have taught him so well. It always filled them with a happy warmth, to know one even not born of the same darkness as they were still came to understand them. And one way or another, it was a much needed break to be around others where Common wasn’t necessary.
A great thing about void-tone, especially for the less talkative or even voiceless of their kin like Dart and Seeker, was so little actually relied on sound. All it took was that deeper connection, and mostly body language. Anyone could be so comfortable with it, a shame so few seemed to know their tongue.
“The sounds aren’t too hard? But they have so many rules, so many words that sound the same but mean different things.. And then.. Reading is really the worst of it. You have so little to go on!”
Of course, no matter the comfort of any tongue, Traveller did more- if not most- of the talking here. Seeker stayed quiet for now, noting Pyre’s silence, and mulling over what they should do. Maybe they’d figure it out in this conversation.
‘There are also many words that aren’t socially acceptable…’ There were many of those words that they’d heard many times from their mortal… colleagues, but Stygian had expressed very well that it was distasteful to repeat them. ‘I’m glad we don’t have to worry about that with each other! Though, there aren’t really many others around here that speak common.’ There really weren’t many ‘survivors’ at all. Not yet, anyway. ‘Not that I mind. Though, I was wondering if you’d be able to help us? We… well, at some point. We’ve been wondering… what the Palace looks like. Stygian wanted to go there, but never could… and I’ve always wanted to know what it actually looked like. If that’s okay.’ Now you had Pyre’s attention!
“... there’s a palace?”
Well it was a kingdom, of course there was a palace- it was just a pain to get into. Taking them there was doable, even if tricky. But both paused and tilted their heads at Zip’s commentary about the Black Wyrm. “... We can do that…” Seeker began, admittedly hesitant. “But… Why did.. The Black Wyrm want in..?”
“Yeah, did he ever say why that you two can recall? That seems weird, that he’d want into a palace that’s supposedly been missing for centuries.” He seemed a lot more hellbent on killing than exploring, but maybe they were missing something here. It’d be good to know, to make sure they would be safe if they tried to go in. “.. And do you think he may still be looking for the way in? If he’s going to be stalking around the old palace grounds, it won’t be safe to go.”
Not that they didn’t want to eventually get a better rematch, but as of right now? None of them were in shape to be picking a fight. Not with Stygian, anyway.
So they didn’t know? Zip and Dart looked to each other, heads canting. For the first time since everything had gone poorly for them, it was Dart that spoke up.
‘... it was why he sought the King of Nightmare. He knew the Scarlet King would not cooperate. So, when the musician came forward seeking help, he sought to… kill the father and take the Child.’ That startled little Pyre, who looked to his siblings, tail swishing anxiously. ‘A child so young that he could far more easily manipulate and convince to give him an easy and free path into the Dream. There are very few beings with such a power, after all.’ Dart paused, feeling an anger bubble up in their chest.
‘The Black Wyrm seeks to enter the Dream, and finish his conflict with the Pale Wyrm once and for all. That is his end goal. I imagine after, it will… fall to simply eradicating all remaining Higher Beings.’
Now that was.. Interesting. Interesting, concerning, but most of all- NOW they had an idea of what they could be doing. The Twins exchanged a slightly devious, scheming glance, before looking back to Zip and Dart. Traveller did make sure to hug Pyre a bit to make him feel better, but oh, there was no fear to be had now that they had the upper hand.
“Ah, he missed his chance a few times. He had gotten ahold of us once or twice back there… And we can get into the Dream too. We could even before we met or joined the Troupe.”
“We… Never bothered with the Pale Wyrm… Elusive, and pointless.. But we know where he is…”
“So- Pyre wants an adventure, you guys wanna see the White Palace, we’d rather not be sitting and staring at books all day… Why don’t we go find The Pale King first? Stygian can’t get in without us, Grimm, or Pyre. As long as he doesn’t catch us, we can not only keep him from that goal, but we get first dibs on that sleazy little Wyrm.”
Oh, now THAT was an idea they liked. One the Void quite liked, too- all four vessels would hear encouraging, excited chatter at the prospect. The Pale King had punishment a long time coming.
Pale Wyrm, Black Wyrm, how many Wyrms were there? It made little Pyre’s head spin and he just huffed, looking between everyone. Trying to understand the complexities of this situation and failing miserably. Oh, well, it seemed like they were going to be going on another adventure! The hug also helped him feel better, the baby snuggling up to Traveller as he continued to observe. He was just, happily, along for the ride!
‘That sounds like a rather brilliant plan…’ Dart seemed to like it, at least. Though, Zip was a little… hesitant. Wasn’t the point of being free to NOT have to be out killing so much? Though, perhaps it was just inevitable. Vengeance and bloodshed seemed to run through their veins. ‘Though we should exercise caution. I doubt the coward stayed alive this long on luck alone.’
‘If we don’t find him, that’s alright. It still might be nice to explore.’
“True, but we’re not inexperienced, at least. We’ve fought Higher Beings before- before our nails shattered, we stood our ground decently against Stygian.” They were still mad about that, even if they had outgrown the old weapons anyway. They totally could’ve had it…
“.. We may not find him… Not first try. But no harm in… Giving it a fair shot together. We can always… Always just go back later.”
Though the longer they talked, the more likely Grimm would start to fuss that they were taking too long. So the pair motioned for Zip and Dart to follow them, before starting the run down towards the Ancient Basin. They had the place memorized- or.. Well. Traveller did, Seeker’s sense of direction was terrible as ever. So they were more or less leading the party into the depths of the kingdom, ready to plunge into the hidden ruins within the Dream. Finally, something fun and interesting to do!
Time to go on that adventure, it seemed! And maybe making more than one trip wouldn’t be a bad thing! The way down was certainly full of sights as well, though Pyre had already seen much of them. Still, he enjoyed the ride, Zip and Dart also seeming to relax more as they walked. The freedom they had now was nice, and having company made it so that they weren’t twitching or wary of every movement or shadow.
After all, every now and again, Zip did rub at their back.
Pyre was also, honestly, excited. He’d never been in the Basin before! Where was this place and why hadn’t they taken him prior? He let out a little pip of joy, Dart looking to him, then back to the Twins.
‘Is he going to be alright? He’s still quite young…’ Pyre seemed to take offense to that, huffing a small but of smoke out and casting a glare to Dart.
‘I can fight…!’ He protested, hugging Traveller a bit tighter. He didn’t want to be left behind anymore…
Honestly just getting out some energy by running through Hallownest again was rather relaxing, it felt more like when they were small. Well… Smaller. Yes, the Infection was awful, but there was a certain liberty to doing whatever they wanted, whenever, however. No one to tell them what to do, why or how. An entire ruin of a kingdom to roam as they pleased!
Though Traveller giggled a bit as Pyre’s fuss, lightly patting his head and cooing. “He’ll be alright- there’s not too much danger there. Nothing we can’t protect him from, if need be!” Well, aside from the Pale King himself- if they did catch up with him, that may be another story. Perhaps they hadn’t learned their lesson to not challenge grown Wyrms entirely… But they still knew it had some risks.
“The palace… Is not as it once was.. There are things in there.. Some we do not recognize. Others… You may know. Just stay close.”
Indeed, no longer a mess of blades, but things still weren’t quite right. They’d just have to see for themselves.
‘We will be alright. Though…’ Zip looked to the pair and huffed, digging around on their belt before holding out a knife to Seeker. ‘I know it’s not much, but I figure something’s better than nothing? Especially if Traveller is carrying your little brother.’
‘... it isn’t a bad idea to be armed. As far as protection goes, though..’ Well, Dart would keep that to themselves. They knew that Hell had no fury like a Wyrm scorned, and the thought made them shudder. Down and down the five went, Pyre noting that the air started to feel quite heavy. Something… deep within him knew what this place was, but he himself had never been. It was the most bizarre thing, though the baby hardly understood. Flashes of white light seemed to appear nearby, brief ghosts of some conversation he couldn’t recognize. And, just as quickly as it happened, it was gone, leaving him with a brush of feelings he didn’t recognize. What was that…?
‘It’s a bit darker down here…’ He murmured, though he could see just fine. Still, where was all the color? The rest of Hallownest was so much more colorful! This hardly seemed like it would belong to the Pale Wyrm. If anything, it was more fitting of..
‘... that Black Wyrm isn’t down here, is he?’ Zip and Dart immediately tensed at that question, but the former quickly shook their head.
‘He is likely looking for other vessels to replace us. Mortals are more numerous, but far from as hardy.’
Seeker hesitated a moment as the knife was offered. By now, they’d grown used to using teeth, claws, tendrils and magic- it’d been years since they actually had a blade in hand. But they carefully took it, just in case. Perhaps there would be something natural weapons and burning magic could not handle, if things went south… They weren’t sure about those odd entities within. Passive if unprovoked, but anything could happen if something went wrong. “... Thank you.. Should all go well.. I will return it when we exit.”
And indeed, things only grew darker, and darker as they descended.. Eerily so, though all five of them were well enough adjusted to darkness to still see where they were going. The air was cold and heavy, not quite ideal for a normal creature’s lungs to breathe in- but it would be alright, they weren’t going to be there for long.
Eventually, the Twins slowed to a stop as they reached the old Palace Grounds. A massive, empty chamber.. A very lonely and disconcerting stretch of smooth, worn stone that outlined the front, a path between the Basin, Palace, and old stag station tucked away nearby. Thankfully, the torn up Kingsmould was there as it always was. With some confirmation the Black Wyrm wouldn’t be stalking about, it should be safe enough as is- the place was well tucked away to begin with, and little prowled these void-saturated tunnels.
“We’re here.. Are you all ready to go in?” Traveller chirped, glancing at the rest of the group. Seeker quietly nodded, but of course, they would wait for everyone to brace themselves. It wasn’t going to be the pretty sight they may expect.
‘M’ ready…’ Pyre murmured, about wiggling in anticipation. He didn’t know what to expect, what could possibly be here that someone like Stygian would want. But he wanted to find out either way. The other two nodded as well, Dart’s hand instinctively going to their polearm. They didn’t know it wouldn’t do any good, but it was something calming for their nerves. After all, this was a very unfamiliar situation…
‘... let us go, then. And see this ‘White Palace’.’
On cue, Traveller made sure to grab Seeker with their tail, while Seeker gently put their hands on the shoulders of the other two vessels. They all needed to be connected for this to work right- using the Dream Nail was a bit different than the reality bending power of their father. With their free hand, Traveller struck the remnants of the Kingsmould- both effectively knocking everyone out, and dragging them mentally into the Dream.
Thankfully, it wasn't quite as pristine white as it was when it got its name. But… It didn't seem right, in any sense either.
The area around the Palace was dark, swirls of living, writhing shadows encompassing this part of the realm in a thick haze. The stone and metal work were decayed and worn away- it looked as old as it truly was, centuries of neglect where even the magic of another realm could not protect it. Stable, mostly… But the grandeur and awe had given way to an uneasy dread that hung in the air. The Pale Wyrm's domain felt as haunted as his bloody past before they even truly stepped foot within.
The Twins led the way- unshaken by the environment. They had a goal, here… And even the looming sense they were being watched at all times didn't deter them from that. They had a Wyrm to hunt down.
It was the strangest thing for Zip and Dart, entering the Dream for the first time. Their bodies fell, but they never felt themselves falling. If anything, it felt like simply waking up in a new room. Pyre, while used to stepping into his Father’s realm… was a little unsettled at what he saw. This wasn’t really at all what he was expecting, and he found himself pausing and canting his head.
It felt more like a White Crypt than a palace.
Stepping inside did not feel any better, the air ominous and thick with a permeable dread, though Pyre couldn’t say why. He thought he heard the sound of whispers, head jerking this way and that. What exactly was this place, and why would anyone want to live here?
‘If we do not find him, the Void certainly will,’ Dart said matter-of-factly, occasionally glancing here or there at what was left. ‘It makes me wonder if he is even worth the effort.’
“Worth it.. We think so. Even if the Void may get him inevitably, that could take tearing the whole palace down. We’re more cohesive as a team, we know where to look.”
Not that they particularly cared for the structure to spare it such a fate- moreso, they just had enough motivation to take the Wyrm down themselves. The satisfaction of finally getting to tear into a being they hated so much.. Maybe even a nice meal, if they could actually kill him. That thought alone was motivation to try, whether they were likely to actually find and kill him or not.
There were odd whispers, getting louder the more Pyre paid attention- everyone could hear them, but this wasn’t new to the vessels. No.. That had been going on since the Void Heart was restored, for better or for worse. The many voices of the Void, permeating a realm of the mind and making themselves known… Though, the Void manifested physically in this place, too. In ways the Twins weren’t really too sure of how to describe.
While not particularly looming, there was no denying the presence of odd beasts lurking in the shadows. Silvery eyes watching from the darkness, and fat, semi-serpentine forms crawling up the damaged walls and pillars. They weren’t.. Common, but they were present enough to make the place feel almost infested.
Any of them could sense a power beyond that of the Void here, but where it was, that was another story.
The voices… perhaps any normal creature would have been terrified. And, indeed, they certainly should have been. Pyre, however, was more curious. It was a good thing that Traveller held onto him, else he might have gone off on his own to explore. There was also something more, something that tugged at his subconscious. It was familiar, but also different at the same time. It was all so much for a little creature to try to work through, and it left his face scrunched up from the effort.
Dart, meanwhile, was relatively indifferent. They were used to the voices by now, and walked with a sense of purpose. Unfortunately, their father’s energy permeated this place, and made for a difficult time tracking him down. Zip was rather unhappy with this turn of events, unfortunately, a sense of melancholy about them. Were they all really just destined to be killing machines no matter what they tried?
‘... it’s interesting, seeing this place,’ They said at last, running their hand along one of the door frames. ‘I’d never imagined I would ever be here. I wonder what it was like for Hallow, living here.’ To walk amongst the staff as though you belonged. It made them grip at their cloak some, a pinch of envy in their chest. ‘... perhaps it would be worth it to stop at the library? I know you don’t like to read, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be something worth finding. Knowledge is power, in a way.’
The mention of the library did make them pause- they knew the idea of what it was, but not where. Maybe another goal, to find such a resource, whether they liked what was required for using it or not. Seeker glanced at their palm and shook their head a little, quietly chittering with displeasure. They would likely need whatever they could find if they were supposed to take the throne.. If this ruin was technically due to be theirs sooner rather than later. But they didn’t like either prospect all that much, really.
“.. From what… We ever saw of Hallow, before they left… I don’t think it’s much to envy..” They didn’t quite mean to call out Zip’s feelings there, but it was an odd trait they had gained with the Void Heart- being overly aware of how others of their kind felt, whether they said it or not. “They were…. Always sort of.. Out of it. And they beat themself up a lot.. They had the whole… ‘no mind to think.. no will to break… no voice to cry suffering’ thing ground into their head.. I think- that’s why.. They left. To disconnect from that.”
It wasn’t just the Twins either, that were so sensitive to the feelings and particularly thoughts of those present.
Hallow… Dart had to stop at the mention of their larger sibling. Hallow was an… interesting subject, to say the very least. They remembered them well. The savior of Hallownest, they who bound the Light to stave off the infection which plagued mortals in their dreams. And yet, there was a sadness there. A creature wracked with guilt and shame, mourning the lives lost to a failed task they could not have reasonably ever carried out to begin with. They had been prided on being the perfect pure vessel, yet there was never anything pure or perfect about any of them. In truth, perhaps Hallow could have pulled it off… but, it was ironic that it was the Pale King himself that led to it all falling apart. A bond formed, sparking feelings that were never meant to exist in the first place. And now, all that was left was the hollow shell of regret and self-loathing.
Funny, how feelings could turn so, so quickly.
‘I cannot imagine any of us would have fared well with having to fight a toxic, festering bitch in our own heads for hundreds of years,’ Dart replied simply, Zip staring at them in shock. It was the first time they’d ever heard their fellow curse! Even Pyre looked to them, head canting. He recognized that word from Finnley, but no one else around them had ever said it!
‘... what? I speak the truth. It was why we were not to have wills. Feelings, thoughts… they become a weakness, then.’
Everyone else pausing did catch the attention of the Twins, but they’d heard it from Finnley, the fools, and a few other survivors they’d seen before. It hardly phased them, they didn’t see why the words were unacceptable to begin with aside from being ‘rude’. They stayed focused.. But it would seem the lurking presence around them cared to address the group.
‘They’re right. And, perhaps, while once upon a time the vile Wyrm’s theory we would not hold such potent emotion held some merit… Our Heart has changed us. We’ve felt it. You all.. Are different, than many of us. We were never mindless, our Avatars, they have emotions- some more volatile than others. But the irony of your reality, oh, we hope it torments your creator as much as he has tormented all of us.’
But beyond the intrigue, and the malice… There was something else, in the chorus of eerie voices. Something softer, particularly reaching out to Zip- they seemed so stressed, by this whole endeavor.
‘.. Fret not, though, little one. It is in our nature, as predators, to bring Darkness to smother the Light.. But as twisted as your creator was, you were given unique potential. You can think, you can feel, be a part of us, and still do as you wish. No matter how the creatures of Light have scorned you, we love you. We will always be here to protect you, whether you seek bloodshed or not.’
Even if not directed toward them.. It did make the Twins feel a little better. They were fine with their choice to hunt down the Pale King, but it was nice to hear comfort for their kin. Nice to know perhaps they’d.. Had a positive impact, even though they still had very little idea of what the Void Heart did or if they were using it properly.
Pyre had to jump some at the voices, little eyes widening as he looked for the source. It resonated as though all around them, though, and he couldn’t see anyone singular source. Zip and Dart, however, had some idea of what it was. Dart did not seem to react much, other than metaphorically ‘sneering’ in agreement. Zip, meanwhile, took comfort in the voices as well. They had never felt much like a true vessel, more like a burden. They could fight very well, but they had no desire to shed blood for fun. No, Stygian’s brutality had done plenty to dull their teeth. They wanted to be nothing like him. There was a difference, in their mind, to sensible, justifiable revenge, and something cold-blooded and primal that served no real purpose.
‘... thank you,’ they said at length, nodding.
‘The irony is likely why he hid away.’ It was blunt and honest, though Dart cared not for any potential apologies. Pyre, however… he couldn’t imagine the difficulties of the situation. But it all seemed so sad…
‘This place is a disaster, though. And impossibly huge. I can’t get a sense of anything…’
“... It’s… Difficult, to get oriented… The Dream is..” How to even put it? Seeker had no sense of direction themself- and they only had a feel for the place after years of experience. They knew the energy they were looking for.. But.. This darkness and shifting of the structure itself, they couldn’t pinpoint it. “It is melded.. By the mind. You’ll throw yourself.. Into a loop.”
Traveller, however, was having much less of an issue. They remember the palace well, they too knew the aura, and with a sharp sense of direction, they could track it. It.. Felt more distant with time- obviously they weren’t the only ones moving, but they could do their best.
“We need to head for the east wing. He’s somewhere there- if we’re quick, maybe we can cut him off before he finds his way elsewhere in the palace.” Assuming there weren’t extra passages hidden- hard to tell with a Wyrm, or with a location so easily warped. With that sort-of warning, Traveller took off running, hoping to catch up before they lost the trail entirely in the twisting shadows and ruined halls. They had to focus on the reality they had now, else the illusion may continue to shift. Seeker was quick to follow behind- they knew the other two would be fine keeping up.
Pyre made sure to wrap his tail around Traveller’s arm, though he had no trouble whatsoever navigating the Dream. True, he could get distracted and lose himself in the exploration of such, but he was never truly lost. He just had no reason to pursue the Wyrm so viciously. The other two, however, were the opposite, and followed after Traveller with haste. Ah, the thrill of the hunt! At the very least, keeping up with their siblings was not a hard task at all.
However, something caught Pyre’s attention. His head jerked in another direction and he poofed from Traveller’s arms, reappearing a short distance away as he slowly made his way to… something. Oh, the Wyrm had an aura about him, that was true. But this was also interesting. The Wyrm pulled at him like the line of a fishing rod trying to lure him in to bite. This was more like… a gentle song, something of a whisper, forgotten, but longing. Surely his siblings wouldn’t mind if he got sidetracked, as he often did?
It’d been awhile since the pair was really excited for a hunt, but unfortunately, the adrenaline rush and bloodshed would have to wait- Pyre was suddenly nowhere to be seen, causing Traveller to stumble and stop in their tracks. Normally, if he wandered off, they wouldn’t be worried. After all, the Dream is his domain as much as it was Grimm’s.. But this was not simply the Dream. The area of the realm was dominated by the Void, and there were dangers he knew nothing of.
The Wyrm would have to wait, they could come back for him. He had no means of escaping this place- their eventual quarry was trapped. For now, they needed to make sure their little brother did not become the prey of any aggressive manifestations of the darkness lurking within the White Palace.
.. But so far, for the little prince, all seemed fine. The room that seemed to call to him looked like a darkened, abandoned nursery.. An empty chair by an elevated, and equally lonely crib- little else could be seen in way of decor or comfort, perhaps it had never been used to begin with?
Dart was, all in all, a bit disappointed that things were taking this kind of turn. But of course, they honestly shouldn’t have expected anything less. After all, was their life not one long, ongoing series of disappointments and ruined plans? Regardless, they sighed, Zip following along. Thankfully, the latter was actually a little grateful for the diversion. The bloodshed could, surely, wait for a little while longer. And maybe, somewhere deep down, they were hoping it never came to such.
Pyre, meanwhile, found himself climbing up into the chair, sitting down with a little huff. It was comfortable and nice, and the room was very reminiscent of the room that they had back with the Troupe. Of course, everything was monotone and boring, but some of the decorations and toys were a little endearing. What also made him curious was the cradle in the center, the creature standing up in the chair now to peer inside. It was far too small to be the Wyrm’s bed… so what was supposed to be here?
‘... was this where Hallow slept?’ He wondered aloud, tail swishing as he tried to use his little extra limbs to climb up inside.
Ah, but paying so much heed to the empty cradle, it meant Pyre wasn’t keeping a careful eye on the rest of the room… And he was not alone. A small shadow slipped from the darkened corners of the room, wide, silver eyes processing this new, unwanted light in its presence. The source seemed small..
Something small enough it need not shy away from. With a distorted hiss, the shade floated closer- the other light.. It fled, usually. Would this one as well? Or perhaps it would need to swat it away.
Meanwhile, with anxiety playing against them, the Twins were admittedly having a little difficulty figuring out where Pyre had disappeared to. He was such a young God, he didn’t… Really have that kind of powerful aura to latch onto from a distance to track. Nor, unfortunately, did he really show fear- two main methods of sensing his presence, out the window. The best option may be just trying to track his actual scent, but would that take too long?
The little God fell into the cradle with a soft ‘oof’, deciding to lay there for a moment and contemplate everything he had seen thus far. The palace was lovely, yes, but there was also something infinitely tragic about it. Something so sad and lonely. To have such a large, empty space? Why, it should have been teeming with life. And yet, there was nothing to be found. At least, that’s what he thought.
What he didn’t realize was that he had… company. It took a moment before he heard that hiss, a sense of dread pooling in the pit of his stomach. He jumped slightly and turned to look, his own red eyes widening when he met those angry, glowing white pits. What was THAT thing? At the very least, the Twins would no doubt feel a spike of fear now, Pyre falling backwards out of the cradle in his startled state.
‘Wh-what?? What is THAT? What are you? That’s… not right…’
Turning and making noise would only serve, as it would seem, to further agitate the volatile undead. The shade reeled back some, seeming.. As disoriented as it was furious with being disturbed. It shrieked and swung a tendril towards the young prince with alarming force- considerably harder than something so small should be capable of.
That made more sense, when his older siblings had spoken of the reasons the Pale Wyrm had hidden himself away. The irony of it all- aiming to create something.. Empty, and instead, making horrors that knew no rest. Only rage, and brought blind wrath down upon whatever unfortunate souls dare disturb them.
Pyre, unlike the Wyrm, was not a being the vessels wished to let feel the wrath of their fallen kin. Upon sensing that spike of fear, they turned and ran towards the nursery. Not before things had turned violent, but they could pray it would be before it got fatal.
Pyre let out a little shriek as the tendril ripped into his chest, red spraying rather easily and staining the monochrome room. It was not a small wound at all, and left the poor thing out of breath as the Void already started biting into his little body. He stared up at the shade that had attacked, whimpering and trying to kick away as much as he could manage, already in a decent sized pool of his own blood.
Of course, blood is another good way to detect a baby, and even Zip and Dart could smell that. They tensed, looking to their siblings and knowing well there were not many beings in this realm that could bleed.
‘That cannot bode well…’
No, no it did not. The smell hit them, the shriek hit them- there wasn’t time to think about any of it. Before the shade had time to wind up another strike, a tendril from one of Pyre’s much larger siblings lashed out. The creature shrieked as it was bashed into the floor, promptly squirming away and fleeing back into the darkness. A short-lived, if incredibly dangerous encounter.
Traveller rushed to scoop Pyre up off of the floor, while Seeker briefly scanned the room to make sure there would be no other potential threats. Gods, they’d only lost track of him for a few moments- and now not only was he hurt on their watch, but it was… It was bad. They were only supposed to be out for a walk, and now it escalated to all this! What were they going to do? What would they even say?
.. They could heal him, at least. Seeker turned and gently set a hand on their twin’s shoulder to catch their attention, before kneeling down to try to check on Pyre with a soft whine. Traveller would do their best to use Soul and focus to heal the damage, but even if they could make it as if nothing happened.. They were in SO much trouble.
Dart, while a bit standoffish, even had to flinch. This was just an innocent little creature, and that very well could have been fatal. At the very least, it certainly would have been if the vessels had not been there. Zip gripped at their cloak, watching as the Twins sprang into action to take care of the situation.
The little Grimmchild whimpered as he was moved, caught between pushing away and gripping at his sibling’s cloak, but finally settled on the latter. Oh, how he hurt so badly, but he was also scared. He’d yet to experience anything like this before.
“ … sorry…” He wheezed out, pressing his face into Traveller, little black tears running down his cheeks. At the very least, Grimm had not been with them. For if he had, there would have been no fury like his.
‘At least he is alive. And there will be no marks left, hopefully…’ Imagine explaining that to the God of Dreams. His smallest child, almost murdered on a trip to the Dream. Dart certainly wasn’t going to be telling, and they doubted Zip would, either.
Ohh.. Oh that fury, they’d never faced it before, but they’d heard plenty of it. And they didn’t want to change those circumstances- the thought of their father’s reaction to the situation made them shudder. Just how much they struggled with that one dance when they were younger.. And he wasn’t at all angry with them during that. The void in their bodies twisted anxiously, they could already feel ill from the phantom heat.
“Shhh… Shh… It’s okay… W-we’re here.. You’re safe…” The slight tremble to Seeker’s voice wasn’t helping, they knew that, but they were.. Trying to be comforting at least. It was a stressful situation for everyone involved. They reached to wipe away his tears, gently cupping his cheeks and bumping their forehead to his. Maybe it would distract him a little, as Traveller worked on mending his wound.
“I’m.. Doing my best- but I’m not.. I’m not used to mending creatures other than our own kin. I hope it’s enough.” There really, really needed to be no marks left. Firstly, for Pyre’s sake, they’d probably never forgive themself if they both let him get hurt, and failed to properly fix the problem. Secondly, if there was even a scratch on him when they got home, they’d definitely be the next shades he saw. When death means so little, existing in a limbo as they did, it was quite easy to imagine the punishment for nearly letting their younger, far more fragile brother almost die being… Severe.
It at least seemed to help, Pyre weakly nuzzling Seeker’s head. It was a dire situation, even the other vessels were nervous. They knew this was serious, and they hoped that little Pyre wasn’t going to die. He didn’t want to talk anymore, either, just closing his eyes and holding on tightly to Traveller’s arm while he was healed.
Fortunately, they got to him quickly enough that the damage was easily healed. He was still weak and dizzy, but at least managed to take a more full gasping breath. Zip let out a sigh of relief, giving Traveller and Seeker a reassuring nod.
‘You… did it! He’s going to be alright. See? Everything is going to be okay.’ They sincerely believed that, anyway. Goodness, little ones were so… small and fragile.
With the situation, for the moment, handled… Both of the Twins collapsed a little, heaving as void tears welled in their eyes. This wasn’t the kind of adrenaline they were used to… And it wasn’t a kind they liked, either. Pyre would be alright, but.. What were they going to do? What should they do?
… They needed to wake up, for one. No more of this, especially not in the Dream. The more stressed and scared everyone was, the more it was likely to draw currently very unwanted attention from their father. They would both wake, before going to try to shake their siblings out of it as well- Seeker very quickly moved to scoop Pyre back up and hold him close. No more running off. .. Granted he had simply teleported out of Traveller’s arms to begin with. What were they even supposed to do about that kind of thing?
Though, they felt no better- in fact, it was almost worse, somehow. Without the comforting, surrounding presence of the Void, they were just left sitting in Ancient Basin, anxious and trying to bite back stressed tears. The only time Pyre had ever been seriously hurt.. And it was on their watch.
The wakeup was… interesting. One moment, they were standing in the White Palace, and the next they were on the ground in the Ancient Basin. It was rather chilling, and Dart set a hand on Zip’s shoulder to help comfort them from the sudden changing of their surroundings. Pyre, meanwhile, weakly nuzzled up against his elder sibling, silently vowing to never teleport away again. No, he would be happy to just be safe and carried in their arms. How could he do something so stupid?
Unfortunately, their father was not so easily eluded. The Troupe Master’s eyes popped open from his own rest, startled by the sheer panic and terror he felt in the Dream. How very… unusual, and with interesting timing. His children had been gone for quite a while. It made his brows furrow with concern, the moth leaning back in his pillow pile and steepling his fingers. Considering the feelings suddenly dispersed, he could only assume that whatever had been feeling such sensation had left the Dream.
“Galehaut… could you be a dear and make some hot cocoa? I believe that something has happened.”