ORIGIN - The Heart of Darkness

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Black sat stoic and impassive, waiting for the one-who-had-come-for-him to give further orders. For a time, he thought perhaps he was merely being inspected, observed, and wondered in a vague, detached sort of way whether he'd pass that inspection.

And then the one-who-had-come was speaking, those mysterious sound-symbols still tumbling from its maw. It was trying to explain.

Black thought, to himself.

It is asking me a thing. But what is it asking?

He cocked his head to one side.

What answer could he give? What answer could he possibly give? He did not have the sound-symbols to explain a single thing--nor did he know anything outside of--

What -do- I know?

He looked around the cave.

I know cold. I know ice. And I know--

He looked down, abruptly, pendulous ears and wrinkled face hanging toward his own ice-dulled reflection.

I know the black. I am the black.

Very briefly, he pondered this, and then decided--

I will show it.

After all, did it truly matter what the question was, when the only answer he knew was this? Calmer now, more focused, he dwelt on the stone within, on its light-starved void. Of the depth of sunless black within himself. His brow furrowed more deeply, concentration deepening the already prominent worry-lines on his face.

I will show it.

((--post roll--))

The shadows coalesced, from the darkness and the magic within his body, the darkness seeming to draw closer around him as the light began to extinguish, as if a torch somewhere nearby was flickering out.

Yes... this is it.

The not-light drew around him like a shroud, until the place where Black had sat was a negative image, the shape of a hound where none was visible, a lack-of-light. Black, after a few focused seconds, had gone from a black dog, to the eerie, perfectly-still shadow of one. A primal satisfaction bloomed deep inside his black-gem heart, and he looked up at the not-Wolf, the One-Who-Had-Come, willing him to understand.

This is what I am.

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Majesty watched with a patience beyond his years as his new friend sat in silence. Submissive or not, he was still the wolf’s friend, and therefore would be treated as an equal. There was something about the massive black, wrinkly creature that Majesty felt drawn to, but he wasn’t exactly sure what it was… A certain vibe the big male gave off that the wolf liked. The dog seemed slow as a continent, in a noble sort of way, if that made any sense. Majesty wasn’t sure if it did or not, but he understood it, so that was all that mattered, right?

Slowly, he watched as the dog was overtaken by darkness. For a second he worried that something bad was happening to his friend, but something told him that it was the dog himself causing the Darkness. Majesty sat and continued to watch as tendrils of black wrapped themselves around and around the dog, until seemingly a void stood in place where his friend used to be. It was a weird phenomenon to witness – the disappearance of a creature right before one’s very eyes – though “disappearance” wasn’t quite the right word. The mastiff was still there. Majesty could clearly see his bulky shape outlined in the black void that had become his body. And yet, at the same time, it was like he wasn’t there at all.

As Majesty sat and tried to wrap his head around the idea of becoming a void (which was, in fact, a skill he would pick up later), he stumbled upon the perfect name to embody this odd talent the dog had. “Your name. Your name is Void,” he said slowly. “Void. It’s what I will call you. If that’s all right with you?” He knew the boy couldn’t understand them, but he couldn’t figure out a way to better communicate with him. It felt a little awkward conversing with someone who couldn’t talk back, but what could you do?

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The shadows held, for a moment, and Black--slow as a continent, indeed--simply observed He-Who-Had-Come. The Not-Dog spoke, and Black listened, paying close attention to his words.

Name.

There was one word he had used a lot, this brown-furred creature with a flaming chest-stone. Black opened his mouth to answer--and then the shadow dispersed, roiling out and away as his magic shuddered weakly, leaving him staggered, cold and trembling.

He stumbled forward, in a half-crouch, then peered up to He, brow furrowed.

I am darkness. The shadow is a part of me. Why does it flee? What is this... cold?

He thought this without precise words, certainly, but he thought it nonetheless. Sides heaving with slow and heavy breaths, he regained his strength, pondering. It mattered not--not yet. He-who-had-come was still watching him.

"Void," the Dog rasped.
"Name."

He would have continued to peer at He, but the faint echo of voices rolled down the tunnel, and he swung his head alertly--ears coming up--to stare. He then looked back to Majesty, to the one who had come to collect him, awaiting the brown wolf's actions.

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Majesty nodded in satisfaction when Void repeated his new name. Later on, when he understood language a bit more, he could pick his own name if liked. But for now, Majesty decided it would be easiest to just make up a name for him. And Void certainly suited the black dog. Then it seems they went back to simply staring at each other. Honestly, the staring was starting to make the chocolate wolf feel a little awkward. Sure, it was nice Void seemed to want to follow his lead, but could he do nothing on his own? Hmm… Majesty would have to fix that.

Before he could think of a way to solve this problem, his ears flicked at the voices coming farther down the tunnel. He looked in the direction of the noise, but could see nothing from where he sat. Then he noticed Void had heard them too, and was now looking at him expectantly. Majesty almost told him to go ahead without him. He almost decided that a trip on his own would do the dog some good. But then… he was curious about the voices too. And it would mean potential new ~~recruits~~ friends. With a sigh, he lifted himself to his paws, gave Void a nudge of affection, and trotted off down the tunnel after the voices, looking over his shoulder to make sure his friend was following.

[Exit Majesty]

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The rushing of water. A faint buzz, growing quickly stronger. Voices.

Black was listening, ears pricked up, intent on analyzing the sounds--so much so that he did not notice He-Who-Had-Come move, until the wolf was nudging him. The dog looked at him in surprise--and then He was trotting off toward the voices.

This is why I have been awoken, then.

The black dog lifted himself and began a heavy gallop to catch up, slowing to a swift trot behind the longer-limbed, more agile wolf, heavy head tilted slightly and ears still perked. His gait was unsteady and shaky at first, as the last of his magic sapped away, but as they moved on, he began regaining his strength.

The tunnel around them was still cold, smears of ice coating the rock walls, frost coating the strange glass orbs that hung from ropes, glowing with a soft light, along the corridor. It was strange to him. But somehow, it was home. The voices echoed along the cave wall--not far ahead, now. He gazed forward, gait quickening.

He had purpose--he was purpose. He just had not known what, yet. Something had triggered his awakening, and the wolf had come to collect him, and to lead him. Perhaps there was some trouble he was meant to address? He was not sure how he would help, but he would.

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{Exit Black}

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