Core: The Underworld

Amor

The Cupid hummed, as she plucked flowers from the side of the path. Her best friend, Eireann, was trotting in front of the trio, hooves making marks in the soft dirt path. Her other two friends, Matthias and Boris, were walking behind Amor, the taller wolf leaning towards Matthias, occasionally sniffing the man, before getting swatted back. Amor giggled a bit at that, before skipping to catch up with Eireann.

"Erin." The Cupid sang, slowing her pace to match Eireann's, who had slowed down. Eireann looked down from her 8 feet, down to Amor's 5'7".

"Yes, Amor?" She asked, eyes shining. Amor smiled brightly.

"Here!" She held the flowers she had picked, out to her friend. Eireann blinked, but took them.

"Thank you, Amor." The centaur said, before pulling one from the bunch. A light pink sweet pea, as she twirled it around her fingers. Then her pale hand found Amor's blonde hair, gently sticking the flower into the thick locks. "It'd be put to more use on you." Eireann smiled. Amor grinned.

"Excuse us!" They turned, meeting two other centaurs. They were pulling a cart, heavy looking. Eireann blinked.

"Apologies. Matthias, Boris get out of the way." Eireann said, waving them out of the way.

"Thank you." They began pulling again, but seemed to have trouble.

"Mama! The wheel is stuck!" A little boy centaur called from the back, running up, his lanky horse half a pinto pattern.

"Let me help." Eireann said, passing Amor and taking the bar. The two older centaurs moved out of the way. Eireann slid under the bar, before pushing her upper body against it. She began pushing, her hooves digging into ground. The cart began moving, out of the pot hole and about twenty feet ahead on the path, before Erieann finally stopped. "Sorry. Got a bit carried away." She pushed the bar up a bit, ducking under it. The family of centaurs stared at her in awe.

"Thank you! You must be a Draft from the Isles!" The father spoke, smiling widely. Eireann nodded.

"Shire, to be exact." He nodded.

"We're just quarter horses from the Tracks." He spoke, having to look up at Eireann. Eireann smiled.

"Then you run much faster then me." She said, lowering her head in embarrassment. The two foals looked up at her, eyes wide. "Hello." Eireann said, wiggling her fingers. The colt reached out, taking them in his much smaller ones, feeling every ridge.

"Mama, Papa, I'm going to marry her." He spoke surely. The parents gaped at him.

"Not if I do it first, Oscar!" The girl, a white and gray painted coat, said, knocking heads with the slightly taller boy.

"I said it first, Cecilia!" He said, puffing his chest out. Eireann chuckled. She patted both of their heads.

"Maybe once you get older. A pleasure meeting you..." Eirean held her hand out, looking for their names.

"Adam." The father, a dark cream coat said, shaking her hand. She smiled and looked to the mother.

"Diana." The mother, a bay coat said, smiling at Eireann. Eireann nodded.

"My name is Eireann. I suggest the South roads. Less bumpy and more friendly faces. If you ever go to Asloa, just say I am your friend. You'll be accepted with open arms. Safe travels!" Eireann said, before trotting away, towards her friends who had started walking with out her.

"Onwards! To North Helm!" Amor cheered, wings opening and taking off. Eireann huffed, as Matthias climbed onto her back. She reared, before taking off, racing with Amor. Boris furrowed his brows, but followed, catching up with Eireann quickly. Eireann laughed and pushed herself, her large black body shooting past Boris. The Lycan huffed, but dropped on all fours, going Feral and blazing past the centaur. Eireann smiled and her back legs kicked off the ground harder.

--

The pub was crowded for a place in the middle of nowhere. "They're getting warm before entering North Helm. Or exiting. It's a popular place." Matthias said, holding his mug in his hand. Amor sat at his left, Boris to his right. Erieann sat across from the three, at an angle, so others can pass her. Erieann nodded, before taking a drink from her mug. Glass shattered across the building. The four raised their heads, taking in the scene. A lizard man and lamia. The mans yellow and red scales moved steadily, as he took in deep, heavy breaths. The cowering girl before him had her hands over her head, snake half shivering from the cool liquid, running down her skin and scales in rivlets. Her brown and black patterns reminded Amor of a desert snake. The Cupid stood.

"Eireann back me up." She said, before walking from the table. The centaur stood, towering over the rest of the patrons. She walked after her friend, hooves clopping against the wood floor. The lizard man raised his hand, to strike the lamia, when Amor's own hand gripped his. Lizard men and their feminine counterparts, lamias, are known to have superior strength, only rivaled by a Draft type centaur. Even demons cowered before their displays of strength. But Cupid's were rare, half-god. Their strength were unknown. But Amor easily held the lizard mans struggling arm, even as his thick tail thrashed. Eireann lifted a front hoof, setting it down quickly, on the tip of the moving tail.

"AHHHHHHH!" The man screamed, as the weight of Eireann and the sharpness of her hoof, sliced through the thick scales. "Get off, you fat horse!" He cursed. Eireann huffed, rearing her head, horse half bearly following. Amor twisted her wrist, the snapping of bones spunding.

"Say that again and I'll break more then your wrist." The Cupid spoke, clearly and coldly, her face set into a serious and deadly look. The lizard man whimpered quietly, looking away from the Cupid. Amor let go of his wrist, turning to the lamia. The half snake looked up at her, with wide yellow eyes. "Its okay. We'll keep you safe." Amor spoke, smiling now. The lamia blinked, then gripped Amor's outreached hand. The Cupid pulled her away from the still lizard man, Eireann lifting off his tail and turning to follow.

"Fat horse." Eireann's back hooves met his back, breaking it and sending him through the wall.

--

They left the pub, with the lamia, Nyx, in tow. Amor stayed by her side, as they walked through the thining forest. "Hey, Erin. How much longer till the Gate?" Amor called forward, where her centaur friend walked, Matthias attached to her back, sleeping. Eireann looked back.

"Only about another day's journey." Amor nodded.

"Thank you." Eireann nodded. Amor turned to their newly made friend. "Nyx. You dont have to come with us. There's a centaur family back south. They can take you in." Amor spoke, gesturing towards the South. Nyx shook her head, dark curls bouncing around her even darker skin.

"I will accompany my saviors to their destination and if doing so kills me, then so be it." She spoke clearly, with a similar accent to Boris. The Cupid frowned. Boris chuckled.

"Sipth." He said, looking back to Nyx. The lamia grinned.

"Marr. Tulo ittls?" She spoke, slithering towards the Lycan.

"Helaan." Nyx made an 'o' shape with her mouth, her eyes widening.

"Helaan? You're going to Hell?" She asked, now speaking the North language. Amor nodded.

"Eireann is going to defeat the Demon King. And save the Realms. She's a knight." Amor whispered the last part.

"I am meerly a mercenary. I am not that noble." Eireann spoke from where she was walking, throwing a steely look over her shoulder. Nyx smiled softly.

"But you are doing a noble deed. Therefore, you are noble." She spoke, nodding, as if agreeing with her own words. Amor looked at the lamia and smiled boradly.

"Glad you agree with me, Nyx." The dark skinned woman nodded to Amor, smiling as well.