When this world is no more,

The rain poured on, and Miriam found herself across the river once more and into the forests. Though she heard of evils that lurked around, personally the moon-like wolf had not seen any of the sorts. She had met many who were kind, and many with some attitudes but they did not harm her, become aggressive, only bit a bit awkward, or blunt to their tones. There was an ease to her step as she traveled back — but gray clouds slowly followed her as well.

She looked up to the sky as they darkened, and slowly did the booming sound of thunder alert her from the yawning backdrop of the land. She jumped, just a bit as quick as she landed to the ground, so did the rain. Pouring and drowning, her ears went forward as it pattered on and nearly felt like a pounding against her pelt. She saw the signs but was far too late, for as fast as she saw the clouds moving in, so did the rain. Another light of thunder beated in the sky, and herself running to safety.

Scents were buried within the rain, and she found herself running to a strange place. It vaguely reminded of of the Orchid, but the place was cleaner, and trees of blossoms held heavily within wisterias. It called the Orchid for a reason, as flowers bloomed all sorts; but here was where the roots ran rampant instead. She would be fascinated more if not for the thunder crackling in the sky, and Miriam darting into one of the corridors.

the staff team luvs u

Thunder cracked beneath Wrath's head, the tyrannous control that the so-called merciful Gods held on this land was a futile excuse to execute those they did not deem were worthy. To hell with all of them, damn them for thrusting themselves into such a contaminated world. 

—And damn them for throwing him there, too. 

Wrath clutched the ground of the forest ruins; calls of chickens screeching as they ran for cover beneath the strikes of lightning made a smile of amusement appear on his face. Pathetic little birds, he would think, then wonder about how good they may taste. Before he could fantasize further, a bolt collided with a tree not far from him, making him stare into the rainy sky, uttering a small curse. 

The winds hailed high, the water drenching his coat. He was sopping wet as he stood beneath the canopy of trees, only surrounded by the heat of the rain. Buzzing humidity didn't help the static, he knew that for sure. Yet the man didn't mind the conditions; he refused to take note of it. The thunder did not scare him, the way that his hair stuck up towards the heavens did not phase him either. It was rare to allow himself to be affected by nature's impervious conditions; he won't start now. 

Yet the man swore he caught the scent of something sweet, something warm. Humidity cut like a bitch, but this was not one of nature's elements. 

There was someone else here. 

With a snarl, he'd leap to a nearby rock hoisting himself skyward to look down on the caves and crevices, hoping to see who slipped past him. He made no effort to reveal himself, the only such thing was that he was illuminated by the strikes of lightning colliding onto the ground.

the staff team luvs u

The winds twisted and turned, even she felt herself being toyed around by their play while sitting by the 'doorway' of one. She didn't venture totally within the corridor, to cover herself from this rapid storm ; she was waiting it out, watching with a mild curiosity. She could see the clouds swirl — and prayed to the Goddess that did not mean the storm would expand to even more terrors.. Yet it stayed up there, a darkness looming and harsh rain falling to the world.

She hadn't noticed the chickens, too busy trying to find the shelter and stay from the rain. Her fur soaked to the bones, gliding down as lightly did she shake — and the hens, clucking. One found itself curiously wandering to her, before simply sitting beside her fur despite the wetness. Maybe she emitted an unknown warmth, but felt touched that one of them found it comfortable enough.. Despite facing the storm itself.

Miriam's ears twitched, the sound of a snarl echo'd lightly within a whisper, like a voice carried by wind but covered as thunder boomed across the sky, and the chickens clucking in return. With that same flash, a figure — stood somewhere. Her eyes thought to catch site of someone large, someone red ; but it was too dark to see. She called out, "Hello, is anyone there?" but her voice carried off by the storm.

the staff team luvs u

The silent call of a woman radiated from an outcrop from the ruins, a meek one at that. Wrath would seethe, his teeth bared. How could he be such a fool to let one slip by? He had entirely convinced himself that he was alone. 

The man would jump down from his platform, a large "thump" following the sound of his feet hitting the terrain. He grunted in response, shaking off the remnants of rainwater in his wake. Wrath would thoroughly scan the area, looking for any clues to where she could be. He needed to know, needed to see who he was dealing with. 

He'd rummage through the foliage and ruins until he caught her scent once again; something sweet, yet not defined by any fauna or flora alike. Wrath would let the warmth guide him like a ghost upon a leash, lavishing in the way it was mindless. 

Wrath would find her then, or at least the shadow thereof, and call out to her "What's the matter with you?" His head would turn to the side as he leveled his voice into the hovel, awaiting the answer to ripple from her lips. The chickens, faintly, would cluck in the disturbance. One would pop out of the hole, staring Wrath in the face and he would huff air from his nose— it permeated into steam alike a Bulls, and the chicken squandered away, feathers high tail in the air. 

"Stupid birds," he would utter, watching it run off into the midst of the storm. It probably soon realized that it had nowhere to go and had been exposed to the God's vicious elements and Wrath could only chuckle in amusement. Stupid little thing.

the staff team luvs u

While an answer was waiting, her head peered out of the cover and curiously looked to the outsider. The rain pattering upon her head, and she couldn't help but gaze up to the blackness of above. Her eyes squinted, covered from the droplets that slide to her eye and could only note that not even moonlight, peered outside of the dense storm. Miriam closed her eyes shut, at another thunder made the sky blaze in a light, and ears turned back to the sound of it's drum. 

It continued on, not letting up.. She hoped whoever was out there, was not stuck in its midst. He called out, and her head tilted to the side in a confusion, retracting it back into the more dry inside as the chickens clucked from her movement, "are you okay out there? It's dry in here if you need shelter," warmth in tone trying to reassure the other she was not a threat, and an urging — that the dark wolf who was out there should seek shelter, and she did not mind sharing a place. It was so large, after all, fit for a whole pack if it could.

the staff team luvs u

Thunder continued to reign down on the field of the land. A boom here, a boom there. It didn't phase Wrath any longer; the sound penetrating a barrier that was elusive to him. The only thing that crossed his mind was the woman that hid beneath the foliage, resistant to stepping into the light of the rain...or rather the darkness. It perturbed him only slightly, She had offered him a place of solace...why?

Intrigued, he jumped from the pedestal, a large thump following his impact onto the ground. He would follow the sound of her voice, ear flickering towards the softness. The sweetness filled his nose, guiding him with each heavy step. 

A small hallow, enough for him to stand in the entrance of to squeeze through, held a female of a fine figure with curled lapels of fur. Her coat was a color similar to his with dulled greys lightened by slated ivory. Her eyes were a milky white, something peculiar. "Your eyes," he'd notion to them,  "They always look like that?" It wasn't an aggressive comment, but he stood over her with an inquisitive gaze, coat dripping with rainwater onto the ground below.

the staff team luvs u

They were large, larger then most wolves that Miriam has seen. His darken features were almost hard to see within the storming night, but by the grace of the Goddess a thunder cracked before the sky, revealing the features of the other. They were gray, with reds and eyes that continued sticking out ; a daunting presence, like a shadow itself. Even the chickens seemed startled and started to clucker away within an aggression by the wolf approaching. 

She moved back, giving more room for his large stance, before looking up with a tilt of her head. Her eyes..? She lifted a paw to touch her face, a wondering of what was wrong with them, "Yes?" did she look strange? Miriam knew her white eyes were a bit more rare at times, but she never had someone mention something off of them, and looked at the unknown man with an puzzling innocence.

the staff team luvs u

Wrath squinted, narrowing at the milky iris' that belonged to the woman. She had answered him with a returning question, and he hummed in response. "Strange," his head turned to the side, pivoting away from her. The rain continued on the outside, thunder crashing down with each passing moment. Wrath hadn't moved despite the booming ground, despite the honking chickens that screeched with every bleeding sound. "They're pretty." 

Wrath would move around the inside of the temple-like structures. The olden structures creaked and leaked with water from the ceilings, but made sufficient shelter. There wasn't a lot of room, but for the wrapping ivy and vines, Wrath liked the aura and presence of it. His back was turned to the sweet-scented lady, tail shifting behind him as he discovered the indent. He didn't speak again as he trampled past the chickens, poking at their feathers, and assuming a place of refuge for the storm. He'd occasionally look towards her, but nothing more than a wandering gaze.

the staff team luvs u

"Oh, are they?" She lifted a paw to touch her face in a question — she knew she was naïve to the world, being isolated into the Orchid itself and only knowing the few knowledge of the outside by what they gave. They did not tempt away from it's darkness, diverging clearly to what horrors may be upon the outside and also it's beauty ; enough, where Miriam couldn't help be seek out an adventure then staying within as but another maiden to it's numbers, or even a Priestess within the future. She was satisfied, and tried to be careful to avoid any horrors.. But she didn't know that white eyes were uncommon, or rare, for many within her homeland shared similar looks.

But they didn't deter to the other, and she smiled faintly, "thank you," and returned so, "you're own remind me of the golden hour as the sun rises, and sets, but maybe within the storm, we will not see it today." Though he turned away from her and came in to avoid the thunder, she peaked her head out — feeling the drops hold heavy upon her pelt. It poured and thundered, where she looked up and saw nothing but the darkness of the stormy clouds, except for the occasional light that brewed across the sky. With each one hammering, it jolted the chickens.

"We might be in here for a day," she would so add, with a more pitied smile.. The clouds did not look they would stop, anytime soon.

the staff team luvs u

Wrath hummed, watching her caress the length of her face near her eyes. They were quite the oddity indeed, striking him as something unordinary. He liked to pick up on those certain attributes, collecting them like feathers from chickens. 

Her innocence plagued him. Her words were kind about his own eyes, and he could only utter a quiet "Thank you," before continuing his search of the ruins. When he glanced at her, he did a double-take, watching as her head peeked out from the coverage. When she pulled back in, she was soaked. Her grey coat dribbled with water, and he found it a bit humorous, but only his eyes showed so much entertainment.

"That's fine. You're not unbearable." He didn't know if his statement was a compliment or not. He was never the type to exactly...like others. He typically resented all other lifeforms, finding anger in their impotence, but he did not feel that around this female. The male would approach her, heavy with his footsteps, and stop before her. He wouldn't speak, just simply turn his head to examine the wet patches on her fur.

"Don't stick your head out again," His voice was low and cool. "You'll get cold." A bolt of lightning hit a tree nearby, causing the chickens to squawk in a panic. Yet he remained still, looking down towards the maiden.

the staff team luvs u

It couldn't be denied it felt a bit awkward, she was confused and also fascinated by the strange, large man. He came out of the darkness of the storm, observing so and simply standing beside her a moments of silence and a few chatterings here and there. Although he puzzled her lightly, his actions felt like something of a spector and yet at the same time a dazzling of what seemed to be compliments, but she couldn't tell with his tone and body. Nonetheless a kind soul from what she seen so far, one who hadn't harmed her or what was around. A co-existence, within this strange rooted place.

She smiled at him, a moment of kindness that seemed a bit out of place, although Miriam sooned jolted upwards by the distraction of the thunder booming nearby, and hearing the tree crackle and break. She was distracted by the stranger before her, and gotten surprised by so. She even forgotten his words for a moment, and couldn't help but peer out once again in the rain to observe if it was nearby, "oh my, I hope it doesn't start a fire."

the staff team luvs u

A partial moment had passed as he had become distracted by her smile. No one smiled at him. He'd watch her jolt with fright as the lightning struck the ground, a soft rumble traversing beneath their feet. 

He'd watch as she peeked her head back outside, eyes narrowing. He'd advised against it, yet she still did it. Wrath would approach behind her, huffing a large parcel of air from his chest in disapproval. "You're scared of thunder?" he'd ask, his shoulder almost touching his. If they were to be stuck here for a little while longer, he might as well...might as well...he didn't know. He had no idea what he was doing, he never did. Especially when it came to...whatever.

"Stay inside," the man would reaffirm, quick and short. It had annoyed him that she didn't listen the first time. Was she stupid? No, she wasn't. Maybe. He didn't know. "If it starts a fire, it starts a fire. There's nothing you or I could do." He'd space away from her, his body heat melding back to himself. He was a rather warm wolf, all that fur and muscle collapsing in on itself. 

"Sit." He'd state, settling down between a nest of vines and moss. There was enough room to separate them. He had no desire to touch her. The man simply wanted to rest.

the staff team luvs u

"Doesn't everyone fear the unknown?" She shook her head with a slight laughter to her voice, "it had surprised me." Though it couldn't be deny she had heard the fear of fire. She could only hold wariness toward it, a knowledge to a what if and pray to the Goddess what may not occur with lightning and thunder itself. The hope that no one would be harmed, although as randomized it was and the surprise it comes.. Although wouldn't it be nice, to be sucked into the warmth and not have this hidden fear of it's treacherous consequences. His presence caused the slightest of ease, a slight remembrances of the safety net of others, that she had long forgotten since leaving the Orchid. Her nose lifted lightly, the smell of burnt within the air but not one of a fire. Miriam breathed in a relief.

"You are kind. Pray tell, what is your name?" He had lurked like a beast within the shadows, awaiting into the rain until an invitation came his way. An uncaring, yet caring attitude called to him like he cared not for what happened around to him, but that awkwardness warmness to others. An essence of a knight, an Earl, that Miriam imagined as so the knight of the Goddess so. He would be beloved within The Orchid, "I am Miriam, Miriam Iris Willows," as he so requested, she so stayed back and sat. Smiling and looking at him.

the staff team luvs u

Wrath would shrug at her question, merely unable to provide an answer. "I don't dote on the unknown." He would say, head propping up from the moss nest he found himself laying on. 

"It's best not to think about it," he would retort after thinking more intently about it. "The unknown, there's too much to think about." Wrath thought that thinking ahead would make him sick, utterly entitled to a loophole of never-ending doubts that would send him spiraling. It would be entirely all-encompassing if he put his thought elsewhere, what a waste it would be. 

But, pray be so that she listened to him once she got a whiff of the air outside. Perhaps she was smelling for another, someone to come to rescue her. He wouldn't blame her; he wasn't all that good of company anyways. Wrath preferred to keep to himself, not speaking many words. She'd ask of his name, and he said it solemnly.

"Wrath." Her name was a jumble of words— first, middle, and a surname. Wow. It made her seem important, and he'd wonder who exactly he was sharing the ruins with. His head would come down to lay a while longer, drowning out the impeding rain that thumped against the stone henge.

the staff team luvs u

"Fair enough, though I suppose it also has a charming mystery to it." Within a slight braveness that she was, Miriam enjoyed the memorizing allure of the unknown enticing her. She may be scared for a moment, especially if there was the possibility of something horrid coming to ; and yet she was awfully curious about it all. How the world works, how the Goddess formed it all and the magic that leaked all around — to smell the rain and rock, and the scent of the other before her, a mass who laid down and she, staring at him with a lovely smile. He was part of that strange unknown.

His name caught an interest, the list of sins that she knew well that the darkness made and adored about all, to bring but a ruin to the world itself, "a fearsome name," she commented lightly, an attempt to not show any judgement as so. Some choose their names others were born with, and she wondered which one was he? And if so, did he have siblings of the same? Although surprisingly she thought.. It didn't suit his persona, and yet blended well with his appearance. A lone centurion.

"It looks we will be spending the night here though.. I hope it lets up." Miriam too eventually joined on laying down, her paws crossed as she moved her head to look at him, and a bit toward the outside as well. It was the very intention to either continue a conversation, or simply.. Fall into the lure of dreams, as lightly did the maiden yawn.

the staff team luvs u