Painted Flowers

Chapter 30 - Prophets

"The perfect family... don't you think so, Mambokadzi?"

Zola ignored the phantom, not giving it the satisfaction of her attention. She was focused on the sight of Mosi and Layali playing together in a field. Her mate gave a warm, hearty laugh at something Layali said, rolling onto his back as the little pup scrambled over him, nipping at his ears.

"Look how happy she is...and you know the two of them would be much better off without you.

"You're poison.

"Dangerous.

"An empty shell of your former self. All because you couldn't stand up against ME."

Zola shook her ears as if a fly were bothering her, a futile attempt at being rid of the voice only she could hear. She stood to her paws to leave the area, though she didn't miss how Mosi was watching her go with a disappointed frown.

"Better not let your daughter be tainted...don't ruin that happy facade of hers. She has plenty of years to turn into a monster like you. Don't pretend like you actually love them...you're incapable of it."

Zola's eyes stung from her crying. Snapping back into reality, she found that she was still where Duna had left her, right beside her mate's grave next to the everlasting waterfall. Night had fallen without her realizing, though this was the opportune time for her. Zola looked around her, double checking that she was alone, before rising stiffly to her paws again.

Mist chilled her pelt as she approached the falls. She placed a paw gently inside, causing the spray to scatter around her. She then parted the water with her head, remaining expressionless as her entire body was soaked. A dark entrance awaited her on the other side of the water.

Zola followed the tunnel, sticking close to one of the sides so as to not lose her way in the gloom. Before long, a cavern awaited her, with moonlight shimmering down from a hole in the roof. A beam was cast on a rock pedestal in the center, shining almost deliberately down upon the Brush of Light.

Zola sighed, having been used to the sight of the ancient and mystical artifact she guarded by that point. She sat close to it, wrapping her tail around herself and admiring the carvings which glowed with its eerie white color. It was as if the Brush itself had a heartbeat, and Zola knew that in a way, it truly was alive.

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Layali and Zain continued backtracking down the Painted Mountain, from the time the sun rose until it shone at its highest point in the sky. Neither dog had slept at all since their meeting with the god, but they were far too unsettled to do so. Layali was trotting urgently, never taking her eyes off the road ahead. Zain sometimes struggled to keep up, as she was so focused on just moving. She held the Dark Brush securely in her jaws, and it pulsed every once in a while with its pitch black glow.

Putting on a burst of speed, Zain caught Layali and brushed her flank gently to get her to slow down. "Layali, are you alright? Do you feel okay?"

Layali blinked as if in a trance, stopping in her tracks. She stared down at the brush, taking it out of her mouth and holding it in her paws. "So it wasn't all just a dream..." she whispered.

Zain frowned at her uneasily.

Layali shook her head. "Sorry, Zain. I just can't believe Dark is here. With us..."

It was hard to believe that this chunk of wood held the soul of a god. With everything that had happened, Zain knew that he had no choice but to assume the events to be true. "Me neither... I never would have imagined...any of this."