𝙉𝙮𝙭𝙚𝙧𝙖 ✧

Beneath the Embers

The sun hung low in the sky, casting long shadows over the jagged cliffs and narrow paths of the canyon.

Frisk stood at the edge of a cliff on the towering heights of Mt. Ebott, peering down into the giant, gaping hole below.

The chasm yawned like the maw of some ancient beast, waiting to swallow the reckless and unwary.

Stories said that anyone who fell into the depths would vanish from the world above, never to return.

Some said they ended up in the Underground, a place where long-forgotten monsters were sealed away.

Others believed it was a gateway to something darker.

Frisk didn't know what lay at the bottom. They only knew that a strange curiosity, almost like a quiet voice whispering in the back of their mind, kept drawing them toward the edge.

The wind howled through the canyon, and as Frisk leaned just a bit further, the gravel beneath their feet began to crumble.

Their heart leapt into their throat as the ground gave way.

But just as the cliff began to slip from beneath them, a hand shot out, yanking them backward.

"Got you!"

Frisk gasped as they stumbled away from the edge, clutching their racing heart.

Kachina, her face flushed with exertion and worry, pulled them upright with both hands.

The girl's light orange hair was tied into a loose braid, her eyes sharp but filled with kindness.

Even after everything she had been through, she still wore the same calm smile-one that never seemed to fade, no matter how difficult life became.

"Frisk!" Kachina scolded, breathless from the climb.
"What are you doing up here? You know the stories. If you fell down there... you'd disappear for good."

Frisk let out a nervous laugh, brushing dirt off their pants.
"I just... wanted to see what was down there."

"Not worth the risk," Kachina said, tugging them by the arm.
"Come on. The chief's been looking for you all day. We need to head back before the celebrations get too wild."

Reluctantly, Frisk cast one last glance at the hole in the ground, shadows swirling like secrets waiting to be uncovered.

But Kachina's hand was warm and steady, pulling them back to the present.

"Besides," Kachina added with a grin,
"you don't want to miss the party, do you?"

...

The path back to the tribe wound through the narrow corridors of the canyon, every step accompanied by the comforting sounds of home.

The clanging of hammers echoed from the distant blacksmith's forge.

Children's laughter bounced between the stone walls, mingling with the whistle of wind as it rushed through narrow crevices.

This was the home of the Children of Echoes, where every sound-every laugh, every footstep, every heartbeat-left an imprint on the canyon's history.

Frisk and Kachina entered the village just as the celebration was beginning to pick up.

Bright banners fluttered from makeshift poles, and the scent of roasting meat drifted from cooking pits where large crowds were already gathering.

The canyon walls glowed in the firelight, turning the space into a warm and lively hub of music, dance, and laughter.

This night wasn't just any celebration-it was in honor of Kachina.

She had proven herself in the latest Pilgrimage, outlasting her competitors to earn a coveted place in the Night Kingdom.

It was a victory not just for her, but for the entire tribe.

Kachina smiled, looking a little embarrassed as children ran up to greet her and warriors clapped her on the back in congratulations. But Frisk knew how much this moment meant to her.

Kachina had worked tirelessly, training through pain and exhaustion, always striving to become someone strong enough to protect those she loved.

Frisk had competed in the same Pilgrimage, but once again, they had fallen short. Still, that was okay. Seeing Kachina's growth filled them with pride.

"Hey! Over here!"

Frisk turned to see Mualani and Kinich waving from across the clearing.

Mualani, a cheerful girl from the People of the Springs, her silver bracelets jingling softly as she moved.

Kinich, a towering figure from the Scions of the Canopy, carried himself with a quiet confidence, his broad shoulders making him stand out even in a crowd of warriors.

"Look who finally made it!" Mualani teased as Frisk and Kachina joined them.
"You two always vanish when there's food involved."

"Not my fault Frisk wanted to play with death up at Mt. Ebott." Kachina said with a sly grin, nudging Frisk.

Frisk rolled their eyes but couldn't help smiling. Kinich sighed, leaning down to grab a skewer from one of the cooking pits.
"Better watch it, Frisk. Mualani says if you fall down that hole, the monsters will make a soup out of you."

"They say monsters used to live underground," Mualani added, her voice taking on a playful, storytelling tone.
"But now they're sealed away forever. Only the bravest dare go near Mt. Ebott-" she lowered her voice dramatically-
"and none who fall ever return."

The group burst into laughter, though the chill from the memory of the abyssal hole still clung to Frisk.

Kachina pulled me back just in time, Frisk thought with a shiver.

Good thing they didn't fall...

...

As the night deepened, the fires burned brighter, and the villagers gathered around in small groups to share food, songs, and stories.

Frisk and Kachina sat among a circle of friends, the warmth of the fire warding off the cool canyon breeze.

Mualani leaned forward eagerly, always the first to start a tale, while Kinich gnawed absentmindedly on another skewer.

"Did you hear?" one of the elders began, his voice gravelly but full of life.
"The Pyro Archon herself will make an announcement tomorrow. Something important, they say. Something that will change Natlan's course."

The group murmured with excitement.

Frisk felt a flicker of curiosity-what could Mavuika, the fiery ruler of Natlan, have in store for them?

"Better get some sleep, then," Kinich said with a yawn, stretching his arms wide.
"If the Pyro Archon's involved, we'll need all the energy we can get."

Kachina nudged Frisk with her elbow.
"We better head back, too. Can't miss out on the Archon's announcement."

Frisk nodded, but as they lay on their bedrolls later that night, sleep didn't come easily.

The thoughts of the day lingered-Kachina's victory, the strange draw of the hole at Mt. Ebott, and the stories of monsters sealed underground.

Frisk stared up at the canyon walls above them, feeling the flickering embers of excitement and unease dance together in their chest.

Tomorrow would bring something new. Something important. And Frisk knew, deep down, that whatever came next, they had to be ready.

The fire of Natlan burned brightly tonight.

And within Frisk's heart, a small but steady ember of determination began to glow.