{ Moon's Haunted }

[dreamposts]

MOON'S HAUNTED

Elimei, the female winged kirin twin from the Tree of Stories, was suddenly taken by a large, gruesome figure wielding a butcher's knife with a bear at its side. They appeared from a black portal and everyone in the room at the time was unable to move due to a sudden increase in gravity and heavy weight of nightmare energy. The figures disappeared into the black portal leaving behind no trace—except Elimei's feathers tinged with nightmare energy. Using Elimei's feather, researchers in the Observatory were able to pinpoint her location within a foreign moon. By this time, the moon mirror created by the fae has collected into its glass the stories of various moons gathered by Madhuri. Powered by this enchanted mirror and with dreamotion energy, they are able to create a dreamscape-like gateway to this foreign moon.

Unfortunately the power was so great it acted like a dreamshift and sent in everyone. Now everyone finds themselves on the surface of this strange moon, but fortunately they have allies in the form of lunar wolves to help guide them. To help combat against the noctasers, which are an evolved form of Erasers that have consumed great amount of nightmare energy, the special potions that were created back from Halloween and are effective against Erasers will be available. They will work in conjunction with dreamotion energy and other items useful against nightmare energy; perhaps a new solution can be made.

For more details on the event and to ask any questions, please refer to the Game Notes. Reminder that this is forward dated to the end of the month.

I. MOON PHASES

At random intervals, the moon will change between full and new phases. When the moon is full, the moonscape becomes ghostly white; when it is new, it becomes pitch back. There are both advantages and disadvantages for each phase, and everyone needs to be mindful as it will change without warning. Although we have some generic prompts for each phase, the phases and effects carry over through all the prompts, they can be used at will.

A. Darkest of Nights: New Moon. Whenever the moon phase changes to the new moon, it becomes so dark it's almost difficult to see. Light sources will need to be found to help traverse through the moonscape unless one uses dreamotion to help guide them. The new moon phase is also when nightmare energy is at its peak, the ground seemingly seeping with it and noctasers lurking. Some characters might find themselves transforming into some nightmarish creature in response to it. Perhaps into something that reflects their greatest fears or anger; some may even start to relive or have nightmares. Those who are easily influenced by nightmare energy should take caution, but must also remember that nightmare energy can also be harnessed here. For those who want to try and control it, the new moon phase is the best time.

B. Light of the Full Moon. Whenever the moon phase changes to the full moon, it is almost blindingly bright in some places. During this time, dreamotion is at its peak and it'll be easier to fight off the noctasers should they be encountered; of course during this time the noctasers will go into hiding. The black goopy puddles scattered around will be most suspicious, and this is the perfect time to clear them up with dreamotion. Just be careful not to get trapped in them or it'll be like quicksand. Anyone who was transformed during the new moon phase will slowly begin to transform back but will still need assistance; otherwise they'll just remain and continue transformation when it changes back to the new moon phase.

II. LUNAR WOLVES

For those who wish to help the lunar wolves that inhabit this moonscape, they live in a brightly lit temple that is impossible to miss. With a unique "wolf blessing," characters can transform into a wolf to help blend in with the environment as well as gain temporary powers: ability to conjure moonlight to use against noctasers; powerful howl attacks capable of knocking back small objects and creatures; ability to see clearly in the darkness during new moon shifts; increases speed and other heightened senses; ability to see the leftover "moon dust trail" from the moon fragments to track them down. Appearance of the wolf form can be whatever the player or character wishes and while partial transformations are allowed, whole transformations will be stronger. The blessing will last for up to an hour, and characters can willingly change back at any time. However, they'll need another blessing to turn back into a wolf unless they can do so on their own through their own dreamotion ability. The wolves will also be around to help give aid when they can.

A. Defend the Temple. Noctasers are becoming more aggressive as they attack the temple the lunar wolves are based in, aiming for the collection of corrupted moon fragments the lunar wolves have been guarding in hopes of later purifying. Some may even notice the moon fragments depict certain images or have unique characters that may look like the moon from their own world. Maybe that fragment is from their home world. Characters need to use everything they have to help protect these fragments and fight alongside the wolves.

» BONUS: DEFENSE BARRIERS. Shoring up defenses and creating dreamotion barriers to help keep the noctasers at bay will also help. The wolves will inform of special flower that needs wishful based dreamotion energy to make it grow large enough as a shield that can help repel the noctasers.

B. Retrieve Moon Fragments. Some of the noctasers still manage to break in and steal several moon fragments, scattering them all over the forests surrounding the small temple the wolves dwell in. While some have been dropped and can be found a little more easily, others are still in the clutches of the noctasers that must be destroyed, especially if a noctaser consumes it. While safe to handle, the moon fragments must be collected into small glowing jars to ensure their protection.

C. Save the Wolf Cubs. In the chaos, a few wolf cubs got separated from their families and ran into the forest, with some having the bright idea to try and find the moon fragments on their own. This is a disaster waiting to happen, so they need to be brought back quickly! Wolf transformation will be mandatory as the cubs will be wary of anyone else who approaches. They are also clever cubs and will hide in deep thickets and tree hollows. Luring them out with mooncakes will help win them over.

III. ITEM COLLECTION: ELIMEI

Certain items are needed to help defeat the Mutton Man and its Bear steed, as well as to find and heal Elimei. Thankfully they won't be going in blind and Baba Yaga will make an appearance to inform them of what they'll need. Although primarily to be collected and given to those who will go out to find Elimei, all items can also be collected for personal use to be against noctasers and other effects. There's plenty to go around! All items will be found in the swamp area.

A. Follow the Moonflies. In the outskirts of the swamps, there are special fireflies called "moonflies" where they produce pure moonlight from their bulbs. They are attracted to darkness as they will absorb it to produce their light. Gathering these moonflies in special jars will allow those seeking Elimei to help track her down as the moonflies will fly towards the darkest area of the swamp where she is being held. They will also be useful in blinding the enemies as they will fly up to them, attracted by the darkness the nightmare energy brings. They are also great to use as lanterns during the new moon phase.

B. Lunar Honey. The petals of this flower can be crushed up to create a delicious sweet honey that can help soothe any tormented soul. While not a cure all for nightmare energy, they work similar to the Glowing Dawn flowers back in Songerein and will be valuable for those affected by nightmare energy and monster transformations. Although ineffective against the Mutton Man, the Bear may find the sweetness irresistible.

» BONUS: KEEPSAKES. Collect the flowers to eventually bring back to Songerein so they can be used for additional treatment.

C. Moon Crystals. Special crystals which illuminate in the darkness and turn black during the full moon phases. They will absorb nightmare energy and convert them to potent dreamotion energy to a poisonous degree. Thus those afflicted with nightmary energy will be good sources for these crystals but must be handled with care. Anyone who is punctured or cut by a crystal risks becoming crystalized and will need to be taken back to the wolves to be cured. The crystals will serve as the main "weapon" against the Mutton Man and the Bear, and can be deadly against noctasers as well.

D. Swamp Threats. Beware: the swamps are filled with not only noctasers but also hostile moon creatures, mostly of the reptilian side, such as snakes and alligators. At least the latter can be soothed with dreamotion unless they have started to corrupt from nightmare energy. Be careful not to follow the red wisps as they will lead unsuspecting rescuers deep into the swap to black pools where kelpies in them, ready to pose as Elimei and drag them under.

IV. ITEM COLLECTION: KAGUYA

To help get Songerein's moon fragment back, certain items will be needed to help evolve the moon mirror and purify the corrupted Rabbit Kaguya. All items can be used for other purposes and will be found around the bamboo forest.

A. "Holy Hand Grenade." This has a few steps as the "grenade" needs to be made. First, a golden bamboo stalk must be found and cut down. The crystals that pour out of it must be quickly collected in a crystal globe provided by the wolves. Dreamotion must then be channeled into it to melt the crystals and then the globe must be capped off. To use, one must count to three and then throw it at the target. This only has a purification effect, but it's very potent. It should only be used on anyone who is fully corrupted and is either close to or has become a noctaere. Even then care must be given as it will knock them out completely. Using it on someone with only a small amount will cause them to have too much dreamotion energy and make it more of a poison, requiring the excess dreamotion energy to be drawn out or counter balanced with nightmare energy. Handle with caution.

B. Bamboo Slicer. To get through the corrupted bamboo thicket to chase after Kaguya, special tools will need to be made. Cutting silver bamboo stalks well produce various metals to pour out, and with these metals blades can be forged via dreamotion. The blades can be of any shape and form, they just must carry enough fortitude, strength, and tenacity to cut through the stalks. Blades lacking that kind of dreamotion will remain dull and brittle.

C. Mooncakes. One of the easier items to collect, the mooncakes can be found growing off the leaves of the bamboo stalks. The trick is being able to climb high enough to get them; alternative cut or shake down the stalk to reach them. Just beware the lunar bees—they find the mooncakes delicious and will angrily attack anyone who gets in their way.

D. Don't Get Lost. Everyone will be warned to avoid entering the bamboo forest until everything has been gathered and designated groups are set, but should any accidentally further than necessary or get lured in somehow, they will need to find stone lanterns and light them up with dreamotion to help guide their way out. It will be relatively safe during the full moon phase, but during new moon there is higher risk of those trapped to hallucinate their worst nightmares and be lost in them until someone helps them.

Comments

[starshower]

[At first, the only movement she gives is the twitch of her ears and her nose when he leaves her a kiss, but it's followed soon after with a content sigh into the flowers, and some of the petals bristle from the air she puffs out before she's lifting her head—only slightly—to look at him.]

No, I'm good. I just need a sec.

[And she will give herself a moment to rest her head against his neck, watching as the pup leaps and bounds around in the flowers as if it hadn't just been lost or scared at all. To be a child...]

I thought about you... [she offers gently, the warmth in her voice so compelling that it's almost tangible. Even as a wolf, she feels her heart flutter again.] About us...

[And as the pup makes another leap and vanishes with a light poof! into the flower bed, she laughs.]

Just glad that it worked.

[flamekthunder]

[He stares at her in disbelief before a small, breathy laugh escapes.]

That's not what I meant for you to think of...we'll have to work on it later.

[A light, teasing smirk before he suddenly lifts his head, ears pricked forward as he stares out into the deep shadows of the forest.

...]

...But we need to get moving.

[He didn't want to ruin this moment, but there's a growing silence around them and he can sense something in the distance, hidden as if waiting.]

[starshower]

[He only gets a small laugh back, because she has no time to say anything before her own ears twitch, turning not forward, but to the sides and back to listen where he might not be. Perhaps it's some new wolfish instinct or her increased hearing abilities, but she isn't about to question him, beautiful and short-lived as that moment was.

She wishes it could have lasted a little longer, but alas...]

Yeah. [Her own voice is serious now, the warmth snuffed out by the cold dread that she feels settling around them.] Moon phase'll change soon too. Think we can make it back to the temple before then?

[Tifa buries her nose into the flowers and scoops up the little pup into her mouth, and it whines and wriggles at her before he finally gives up.]

[flamekthunder]

...We'll have to try.

[It's the only answer he can give with everything so unpredictable here. And with one last look at Tifa, he bounds forward to lead the way, knowing she'll be right alongside with him.]

[starshower]

[She wishes that she could offer the pup another word of comfort before they take off, but Eustace is already on the move, and just as he knows she will be, Tifa catches up to run beside him. She wonders if the trees have always been so thick, or if it's just the shadows growing longer and darker as they run through them, weaving in and out between, taking any shortcuts off the path that they can find.

But she can feel it starting to sink into her bones—that cold chill that signals the coming of the New Moon, and... something else.

The pup must sense it too, because it whines again in her mouth before it growls and barks. And barks. And barks.

To the point where Tifa is looking down at him, confused, then at Eustace. She can't speak, but she does hope that he's listening...

And then her ears prick back.

Something is here, and it's coming for them.]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace had picked on it earlier, an ear and all senses trained on it. But in that precise moment, everything suddenly turns black. It'll be enough to disorient them for a moment as all light had suddenly disappeared, but he doesn't need it.

The moment he hears the rustling and feels that sudden wave of nightmare energy, Eustace growls and lunges forward, sinking his teeth into the noctaser that tried to lunge towards Tifa and pup, sending them both crashing to the ground as electricity flies around him. It spreads out to the creature as more light emerges around Eustace, the orbs of lightning that he normally uses at night now enlarged and blazing like electric fire balls, ready to slam into the noctaser as it struggles to get back up.]

[starshower]

[The darkness that suddenly descends over them confuses her, and it takes her eyes a moment to adjust, but the growls and electricity happens before they even can. There's a bright pop of light in her eyes, and she almost drops the pup from her mouth in surprise. It gives her a glimpse of Eustace before he disappears again, and then reappears as the balls of light surge and grow bigger and bigger.

She can see him fighting something, and although she can't quite make out its form, she can sense it. She knows what it is and doesn't need to see it.

The pup growls and struggles in her mouth, and all Tifa can do is watch as Eustace wrestles with the noctaser. She wants to help but she fears that letting go of him will cause him to rush in, so she holds fast, her tail between her legs as the two of them whine and hide in the shadows of the trees...

Please be okay, please be okay...]

[flamekthunder]

[Fighting as a wolf is certainly different, but although he can't wield Flamek, he can still harness that lightning power. More than that, his need and fervent desperation to protect the one he loves fuels his dreamotion, amplifying its usual strength. Bolts rain down as he continues to fight off the noctaser, one of the large orbs firing off to slam into the creature before he a combination of an ice spike skewering it and and a bolt of lightning striking down it finally ends it. It wriggles for a few gruesome seconds before it starts to disintegrate, melting into black ooze and ash.

Panting Eustace stares at the remains before he turns to where he last heard Tifa and the pup. He had to keep his focus on the fight, but he had also tried to keep some awareness of where they were to ensure it never got past him. Finding her he slowly walks over, quietly calling to her as if to let her know it's okay.]

...Tifa.

[starshower]

[The only sign of her he will see in the darkness is the glow of her eyes when she turns them his way, but there is a stretch of uncomfortable stillness. The pup's tiny growls are low, but Tifa is silent for a moment longer before there's a rustle, and she emerges from the bushes.

Carefully, she sets the wolf down and the two of them immediately rush over to Eustace, Tifa trailing a string of relieved wolf kisses across his face while the pup barks and leaps at him.]

Are you okay? You're not hurt, are you?

[Her words are rushed and panicked as she bumps her head against his.]

I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

[Memories of the last time she couldn't do anything flicker through her, a painful reminder of her failures that she doesn't ever wish to repeat.]

I couldn't put him down.

[flamekthunder]

[He's genuinely surprised by their greeting, falling back on his haunches as they both, particularly Tifa, smother him.]

Wait—hold on—

[And he hears how worried Tifa is, not liking how she's apologizing, but... ... ...Is it bad that getting this much attention isn't a bad feeling either?

Lightly he bumps his head against hers before placing a paw around the pup, holding it against him as it whimpers and nuzzles into his fur.]

I'm fine, don't worry. You did the right thing.

[He knows she would rather help him, but she had a great, important duty in protecting the pup in case something went awry.]

But we can't stay for long. More will have noticed and likely head our way.

[starshower]

[She can't help the small whimper at his warning. She knows he's right — that they need to move, and fast, but she wants nothing more right now than for this to all be over so that they can return to the temple and then, to their quieter lives.

She checks him over one more time for any injuries before she's affording herself one last kiss.]

You did good, too.

[For fighting in his wolf form, it had been impressive, to say the least. She'd never seen him so fiercely protective as he had been just now, and it makes her love for him soar in her heart.

Tifa straightens, standing tall as she tries to see through the dark before they land on the cub.]

Can you take him?

[flamekthunder]

[He looks at her questioningly, but then nods in understand.]

Mm. I'll be counting on you.

[And with that he lowers his head to take the pup by the scruff of its neck. It wiggles and barks, but then tucks its tail when there are distant screeches and sounds of others fighting, including other wolves. While there's some comfort that they're not completely alone and could call for help if needed, it only raises the tensions as it confirms that there are more noctasers have come out now that the new moon has arrived.

He looks at her and starts moving.]

[starshower]

[She's just not used to carrying a little pup in her mouth like that for long...!

But Tifa nods in return before she's moving with him again, and she tries to maintain her pace as the darkness of the new moon descends on them. It had been dark before but this... this is eerie. It's not the kind of pitch blackness that they have in the nights of Reverein without the moon. It's the kind that leaves her feeling on edge and afraid, the kind that makes the hairs (or in this case, the fur) on the back of her neck stand on end. Hearing the other howls and screeches in the distance doesn't do much to help ease that fear—it just means that there are more of them.

She picks up speed, the adrenaline pumping through her pushing her legs to carry her faster. With a growl, Tifa passes Eustace to scout ahead, her black form disappearing into the darkness, but he'll be able to hear her quick footsteps rustling through the bushes.

Except those won't be the only footsteps after long. As they near the edges of the forest, he'll hear a second set in the trees to his left scurrying up to his side—]

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace attaches a few light orbs around Tifa so that she'll be able to see as she runs away, the cub held firmly in his mouth as he runs. He's able to keep up with Tifa, however he can feel the strain of using so much dreamotion from earlier. Not only is he maintaining this wolf form using his own abilities rather than blessing, he's concentrating to keep up the light and he used up quite a bit of energy back there against the noctaser. It's not enough to fully slow him down, but seeing Tifa suddenly speed up, he can't help but almost try to shout at her to slow down and not be too hasty.

Of course, he momentarily forgot he had a pup in his mouth so the moment his jaw loosens the pup begins to slip. He quickly corrects himself, slowing down just enough to do so, but that put Tifa farther ahead. Inwardly clicking his tongue he chases after her, picking up the pace. But then he hears that other set of rushing footsteps a fraction too late.

There's a loud squeal from the pup as it's thrown out of Eustace's mouth as he's suddenly hit from the side and sent crashing to the ground. Growls and snarls soon follow as the noctaser tries to pin him down, biting at his shoulder. He manages to kick it off and roll back onto his feet, wincing at the wound that oozes with nightmare energy. He tries to endure, but a sudden rush of ghastly voices and visions fill his mind and he stumbles to the ground instead as he tries to shake it off. Immediately the pup is at his side whining and licking at his wound, and Eustace can hear the noctaser preparing for another charge.

He needs to get up...!]

[starshower]

[There it is up ahead. The edge of the forest. They're almost home free from the clutches of the darkness, and she can hear Eustace right behind her, and his little orbs of light help to illuminate the thick trees and their roots as she winds through them, leading their way back. The air here feels thick with nightmare energy, and she gives a low growl as if hoping to stave some of it off, but no...

Just a little further.

They can do it...]

We're almost the—

[She calls it back to him over her shoulder, but her words are interrupted by the sound of a yelp, and a small body hitting the ground. Growls soon follow, and then she hears the slam of a larger body—or two—as they tumble through the dirt, and then a whine and a skid before whatever's been thrown hits a tree.

Tifa paws come to a grinding halt, her sharp claws digging into the earth to help stop her, and she's immediately spinning around. The lights around her help to illuminate some of it. There is Eustace on the ground, his beautiful white fur covered in mud, and the pup whining at his side. She can see what she thinks is blood oozing from a wound on his shoulder before her eyes move to the noctaser recovering from the throw, shaking itself off before its eyes are on Eustace again.]

No no no no... Not again...

[There's a deep sinking feeling of dread in her stomach as she sees him lying there. It takes her back to the day she'd heard the awful news. This... this is what she had been afraid of happening. That she would be there with him, at his side, and not able to protect or save him. His words echo in her head again—him telling her that she may have to run, to take care of other things—and her eyes do move to the pup as it desperately licks at Eustace's wound.

She can imagine him telling her to take the pup and go...]

I'm not leaving you.

[From where she stands, there's a growl followed by a loud bark to draw the noctaser's attention to her. Her sharpened teeth are bared, and she looks as if she's grown in size even as she crouches low to the ground. Her tail bushes out, her paws spread open, and her eyes are burning with a flame so wild that she can feel it pulsing in her blood. She barks again, and then again, the sound of them echoing through the trees, and from the ground, hot embers begin to flutter up, surrounding her in their fiery red glow.

They were so close. They had almost made it out. Just a few more steps and they could have gotten this pup home to safety and had been done with all of this. But no...

He's had to save her so many times. Even tonight, here in this very forest, he'd risked himself to get the noctaser out of her and the pup's path. For all the times he's saved her, there are five of them that she failed to protect him. Today would be different.

Amber eyes flick to Eustace's body on the ground before they fix on the noctaser again, her growls surging louder and louder. The noctaser screeches back, all of its attention now on her as it turns its body, preparing to lunge at Tifa instead.

Good. She's going to tear this thing limb from limb for laying one of those ugly claws on Eustace.

She leaps at the noctaser and as soon as she reaches it, her jaw clamps down on whatever extremity she can reach. It turns out that it's one of its legs, and she can feel the nightmare energy seeping from its shadowy skin. Eustace will hear more growls and snarls as she attempts to tear it off, her claws digging into its body to hold it still so that she can. Only glimpses of her can be seen, but the embers that have been following her up until now have started to burn the things around them, leaving trails of fire in her wake as she tosses and tears at it.

Tifa hurls the beast at a tree, and it hits before she's rushing at it again, but partway through her jump, she transforms out of her wolf form, and by the time she reaches it, her hands are able to catch it by the throat. Fists rain down on it in a combination of punches and kicks, that she ends it with a fiery Starshower and Somersault. Her dreamotion fire catches it as she hurls it several feet away where it screeches in pain, writhing and crawling and clawing as it tries to fight off the flames.

She's wasting no time in rushing to Eustace's side, brushing past the flaming trees and bushes without bothering to check if the noctaser is dead or still breathing.]

Eustace!? [Her voice calls out to him, but the second time she does, it's weaker.] Eustace...?

[But as she's running, she feels her knees give out from underneath her first, followed by her feet, and then she tumbles forward to the ground. She reaches her arm out as she hits the forest floor, his paw just out of her reach...]

[flamekthunder]

[It's taking Eustace more time than he'd like to shake off the cold dread that spreads from the wound, but the sounds of growling and the pup whining snap him out of it long enough to witness a sight he never would have imagined.]

...Tifa...?

[He can only watch wide-eyed as she attacks the noctaser, never having ever seen her fight like this before. Wolf form notwithstanding, the way as she seems to dance through the air with her kicks and punches. Despite her target getting beaten to a fiery pulp, to Eustace there was a powerful elegance to her savagery, one that leaves him awestruck. ...And also gives him a mental note to never piss her off—

Yet even though it's clear she's handling it, he struggles to stand, not wanting to leave himself so vulnerable. What if another noctaser appears while she's fighting? How can he protect the pup? The wound isn't so deep that he can't heal it, it's just a matter of pushing through the nightmare energy that tries to affect his mind, and eventually he's able to push out some healing ice over it, clarity returning.

Now Tifa is running to him, but his heart drops when he watches her fall forward.]

Tifa!

[He pushes himself up, breaking out of the transformation to return to his normal form. Hands immediately reach out to her face as he kneels down next to her, his heart hammering in his chest. He didn't see her get hurt, then why—!? Is it just exhaustion? Just let it be exhaustion—]

Hey, can you hear me?

[The pup is momentarily stunned to see the two wolves suddenly turn human (well mostly human for one), but it whines and licks Tifa's face in worry.]

[starshower]

[He comes in and out of focus when he transforms and kneels next to her, and she can feel the warmth of his hands on her face, her nose crinkling ever so slightly when the pup licks at her. She's suddenly too tired to keep her eyes open so they've fallen shut, but he'll at least see the rapid rise and fall of her chest as she tries to catch her breath. With what little energy she has left, she spends it on leaning her head into his palms and covering one of his hands with hers to let him know that she can hear him.

But her brow furrows, and she frowns, remembering the wound that she had seen opened up on his shoulder, and the nightmare energy that oozed out of it.]

Are you hurt...?

[She tries to get up to look at him, but her muscles give out before she can so much as shift to do so, and her hand now wraps around his, clutching and gripping at it as if it was the only way to keep him tethered to the living world. With a strained, upset voice, she rests on the ground again.]

You were hurt...

[flamekthunder]

[There's some relief when she speaks, and he pulls her up to hug her to him.]

It'll heal. I'm not the one about to pass out on the ground.

[A small rebuke to her worrying, but he's just glad she has no real injuries and just clearly needs some rest. ...However, this does now pose a problem. As much as he just wants to be with her, they can't stay here for much longer. It's still the new moon, and distant sounds are coming closer. As he is now, carrying her and the pup will be difficult, especially if they get ambushed again.]

Just hold on, I'll carry you out of here.

[starshower]

[She curls up against him, grateful for the warmth when the air feels so cold in spite of the flames still burning away at the bushes. They have to go, she knows, but she at least takes a few moments to allow herself to be relieved and glad that he and the pup are safe.

Her arms reach out to scoop up the wolf into her arms and she checks him over for any injuries. Nothing, fortunately—he just seems both confused and happy to see them both okay, albeit a bit less wolfish than he thought.]

I'm sorry... [she murmurs, holding him close and leaning into Eustace.] I should've been quicker.

[Maybe if she were, she could have dealt with it before it had gotten its teeth sunk into him. She can see the wound from here, and she grimaces at it, and at herself. She had seen the edge of the trees and must have gotten ahead of herself.]

[flamekthunder]

[A small shake of his head as he kisses the top of hers.]

You made it in time, that's all the matters. Thank you.

[With one last squeeze of his arms, the air becomes a little warmer when he turns back into a wolf. This time he's much larger than before, large enough for Tifa to ride on.

...Ah. This brings back memories.]

[starshower]

[She imagined he would carry her back in his arms, so when he turns into the wolf again, she only has so much energy to be surprised about it before she's climbing onto his back. She, too, thinks back to the only other time she's done this...

It was back in Camelot what feels like eons ago now, but even though it's now a distant memory, she hasn't forgotten a single detail about it.

She climbs onto his back silently, and he's big enough that she can lean forward and relax comfortably nestled between his shoulders. The pup lays down next to her in his fur, but she still holds him steady anyway, a secure hand over his back as the two of them lie there together as Eustace carries them back to the temple.

From where she lies, she can see his wound. She can see how he's coated it with ice to heal it, but beneath the frost, it's there. It makes her stomach turn. If only she had just been quicker, or maybe if she hadn't been fleet-footed at all... If she had been at his side, she might have been able to stop it...

Fiery ash begins to flutter up in a trail behind them, and Tifa closes her eyes, trying to shake those spiraling thoughts away and to replace it with happier thoughts... and after a moment, she smiles.]

... Do you remember the last time I rode on your back like this...?

[flamekthunder]

[He waits patiently for her to settle onto him, his ears turning back to her before he starts moving.]

...Mm. Hopefully this time we don't get chased by a bear or need to find a cave.

[starshower]

We're almost out...

[No bears or caves around here. At least, not yet. Some of her optimism has been dashed by that attack.]

When we managed to escape, you were about as small as this one.

[The pup whines next to Tifa, his ears perking up from where he rests his head, with only his eyes moving to look at her, and she smiles at him before her eyes move back to the wound, and she can feel tears starting to burn the corners of her eyes when she sees it again.]

... It feels like it was forever ago. Almost a year now...?

[She doesn't actually know. Time feels so skewed now that she has all of her memories.]

[flamekthunder]

Something like that... Maybe two for me.

[It really is hard for him to judge how long it's been. And they really have been in this world for almost a year now.

Hearing something rustle nearby, Eustace picks up the pace while trying to not jostle them too much. The lightning orbs help light the way as he weaves through the trees, but everything is starting to thin out a sign they are getting closer.]

[starshower]

[Tifa's entire body stills on his back when she hears the rustling, those little red embers picking up again, burning bright along with his lights to wash them all in a purple and red glow. If anything were to come at them now, would she be able to protect him, let alone help?

Her legs squeeze around him to keep herself on his back when he picks up speed, and her arms slide to hug around his neck. She and the pup will be fine back here, even if he breaks out into a run...

And Tifa leaves the conversation at that for a while, at least until they're safe out of the woods and into the open space again but she knows that even out here, especially with the new moon, they aren't completely safe, but she's going to fight those thoughts still anyway. It's the only thing she can do in this state to help deter any nightmare energy that might try to find them.]

Hm. Eustace...?

[Her voice is quieter now.]

Let's do something fun together when we get back.