Songs of Souls

002: Laughter in the Shadow of Flames

The muckledeor's scent, a mix of musk and decay, pricked at Deynfif's nostrils. Pungent, but not entirely unpleasant, a reminder of the task at hand. Each corner of the litter trembled slightly as his earth wand hummed, keeping the massive beast aloft. Its bulk, though lifeless, continued to sway with each step his brothers took. Hirua and Einntyr grunted under the strain, muscles taut as they pulled the uneven load forward. Ahead, the dappled light – a mosaic of shifting triangles and quadrilaterals – cast confusing shadows in the dense trees.

The forest floor, damp and yielding beneath his boots, offered no resistance as he followed. A tangle of roots and slick moss caught Einntyr's foot, a sharp "Oof!" and the thrash of branches marking his stumble.

"Seems like we've taken a wrong turn, brothers." Einntyr's words felt hollow, the jovial tone strained.

Hirua paused, chest heaving as if he were drawing the very forest into his lungs. "Of course," he rasped, "what else would you expect after losing the compass... huh?"

Einntyr shot a sideways glance at Hirua, eyes bouncing off his brother's glare. "Lost it?" His voice pitched high, a chirping bird mimicking a predator. "Nah, more like I... entrusted it to a secret nook the forest holds close to its heart, you see?"

A gravelly laugh tumbled from Hirua's throat. His brother shook his head, a lock of dark blue hair falling across his forehead as the mirth faded.

Einntyr, even now, couldn't seem to wipe the grin from his face. The monolithic muckledeor shifted slightly as a low chuckle rumbled in his chest. Not a mocking sound, but one a hunter might make before springing a carefully laid trap. "Blame achieves little," his eyebrow twitched for a fleeting moment. "Perhaps your 'secret nook' sense, dear brother... could guide us out of this labyrinth?" He lifted his chin, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"Hahaha!" Einntyr's laughter erupted, a force of nature against the forest's quiet. His brother stumbled, one foot catching on a rock. Bushes thrashed as unseen creatures bolted, startled from their hiding spots. A furry beagwog, perched on a nearby branch, twitched its tail, surprised by the sudden noise.

Hirua jabbed a finger towards the leafy ceiling, a wry twist to his lips. "Fine, fine, scale those darn branches, Deynfif. See if you can sniff out Solus' Tower from up there for directions."

Einntyr's hand landed on Hirua's shoulder with a hearty thud. "Spot on, brother! Knew you'd weave a cunning plan through this mess!"

Hirua shoved a thick branch aside, his expression hardening. "Light dribbles filtering through those leaves, useless for navigating this overgrown snarl of a forest."

Clever, Hirua. It took a moment to remember his brother's sharp mind often hid behind a gruff facade. He strained against the stress, exhaling a sharp hiss. With a flick of his wand, the earth energy faded, and the muckledeor's litter settled on the forest floor. He scanned the terrain, landing on a boulder, its surface cracked and jagged, like the land's own wounds.

Energy pulsed through his wand, the boulder rising with a low hum, like the buzz of a giant insect. He stepped on, ascending smoothly. A soft rustle, then a muffled snap, and he burst through the leafy canopy.

The sudden brightness of Solus' Light forced a momentary wince. He blinked rapidly as his eyes adjusted. He took a sharp breath, momentarily stunned by the vastness before him.

He looked down at Craiddhol, the earth laid bare beneath him, a landscape sculpted from verdant woods and water gleaming in angular basins. His eyes were drawn north, to where the Tower of Solus seemed to pierce the sky, an obsidian spear encircled by jagged peaks. The Tower's black metal surface reflected the light shining from its peak, a beacon that bathed the entire land in its radiance.