[A Secret] A Flower Like No Other (Malia, Closed)

[Secret]

Timestamp: Summer 78, 511 AV Location: Undercavern Who: Malia It was a beautiful, clear and sunny day in Spires. The seemingly ever present fog had finally faded for the day. Like usual for summer, the Petals were crowded, for Spires that is, due to the dangerous nature of the season. A single, large butterfly, whose wings were a bloody crimson floated on the wind over the petals. Many natives would recognize this large insect, while outsiders might misinterpret it. Like many creatures in Taldera, it was larger than it's counterparts elsewhere. It's wings were about a foot and a half wide, three feet high. The body of the butterfly was about a foot long, nestled in the center of those massive crimson wings. It had antennae the same length as it's body protruding from it's head. Unlike standard butterflies, it didn't have the black designs on the wings. The black outlines were replaced with an even deeper red than the base of the wings. This insect was named many years ago by the original and eldest Jamoura, Marn. The name came when his eyes laid upon it floating in the wind. The Crimson Flight The large butterfly eventually alighted, unseen on the back of a strange female visitor to the city. A Jamoura child chuckled at the Nuit woman who for a moment appeared to be partially an Akvatari, with wings similar to her hair. The butterfly left her back, and floated over her shoulder, it's wings stirring up a few strands of hair in her face. Malia was filled with a sense of curiosity for the massive insect, as it floated down the petals toward the Foliage. It's flight seemed to entice the woman, as it drifted slowly lower and lower. Before Malia could do anything, the young Jamoura broke the serene silence. "Don't follow the Crimson Flight, it will only lead to pain and death."His voice was deep despite being a child, and an air of ominence invaded the area.

[Malia]

The longer she stayed in the city on the treetops, the more intrigued Malia grew with the place. Why had she come there? What was it that had drawn her to a city where peace and harmony were upheld and Caiyha touched the forest floor? What was hidden in the shadows? Although she had made a habit out of wearing the Kalivant on her all the time, she was glad and somehow felt prepared for everything. She didn’t trust a city as peaceful as Spires. Every place had a dark side to it, no exceptions.

Once again she roamed the Petals, trying to find something that stuck out. She knew that once she’d found it, she would also have discovered the reason why she had entered the city in the first place. At the 88th day of Summer, the eleventh of her stay, Malia wandered the petals in her usual attire: red top, trousers of black leather and boots of the same material while the grey cloak covered the Kalivant hanging from her belt. The only accessories she had chosen were a black scarf around her neck and a silver ring on her left ring finger, usually covered by the hem of the cloak. Her hair flowed down her back in blood red waves, her eyes were as black and her skin as pale as ever. The dark bags under her eyes started to show since she was running out of face powder. Surely the Jamoura had a shop where she could purchase more.

However, something stirring her hair caught her attention. Turning her head, she caught sight of a large butterfly fluttering past her. Dirism. The Nuit was well acquainted with that word and its meaning. Never had she seen a butterfly of such a vibrant red though. Following its flight, she wondered what it meant. The place, the time: No coincidence.

Laughter penetrated her ears and she averted her gaze from the butterfly. Black eyes narrowed, only slightly. Pain and death was it? Staring at the Jamoura, she wondered if he tried to warn or encourage her. She existed beyond pain and death, had defeated both concepts many times. Changing bodies, perceiving the world through blurred senses, ignoring both cold and heat? Pain was in the eye of the beholder.

However, she didn’t reply to the Jamoura, only gave a nod. Then she followed the butterfly, fastening her pace and fixing her gaze on the insect. If Spires had a dark side, she’d surely find it deep, deep down. Don’t follow the Crimson Flight.

[Secret]

The large butterfly floated gently around one of the towering Bloodwoods, trailing over one of the many sets of stairs that led to the Foliage. It's wings beat softly, letting the wind do most of the work. It eventually made its way to the floor of the massive forest, unaware of the interest it had stirred in Malia. It was apparent by it's current flight that it was seeking something out, not just the sporadic flights of lackadaisical insects. It continued fluttering around, following the scent it had detected. Its flight curved around a bush, through some trees, and finally to a small stream. It was still in the vicinity of the Spires territory so no large creatures would be waiting to pounce. It followed the stream, against the flow. The stream was deep enough, with only steep banks, that the water would come up to one's knees, but the water was crystal clear, just beginning to mingle with the mud. The butterfly followed the stream to it's head, where it appeared out of the earth, like a gaping maw. The stream was actually a small offshoot of a larger underground river that was the lifeblood of the Bloodwoods. The butterfly entered the cave, momentarily darkened by the cave. But then, closer observation would show that something was glowing onto the intriguing insect. A bluish, green glow, seemed to permeate from within the stream of the cave. The butterfly continued onward, unaffected by the change lighting, knowing it was closer to it's prize. It continued around a bend momentarily out of sight. It had found it. Inches from the stream, on the cold rock of the Undercavern, damp, and lifeless. The body of a neon green Akvatari lay mangled on the stream's shore. It was clearly a male, it's bare chest, while covered in thick gashes and bruises, still showed it's masculinity. It's neck was twisted into an impossible angle, it's seal like tail ripped and torn, flesh falling away like shedding bark. His face, however, was locked into a horrifying grimace of fear and pain. He was in great fear before his death. The butterfly alighted down onto one of his open gashes. A long, tubular proboscis unrolled from the butterfly's mouth and entered the wound. Another meal for survival of the Crimson Flight. Within minutes, nearly every wound of the fallen Akvatari was covered in varyingly sized Crimson Flights. After one finished drinking the nectar from his body, it fluttered over to a satchel next to the corpse and sat upon it, to rest.

[Malia]

Malia reached the stairs and started to descend. Her movements were quick and effective, not hurried or rushed. Every bit of energy went into the right pace, nothing was wasted. Her heartbeat didn’t fasten because she didn’t have one. Her mouth didn’t open because her breath wasn’t labored. There was no breath. Thus she appeared perfectly calm as she followed the bright red speck against the green background, making sure it stayed within eyesight. It was descending and seeking something under Spires.

Should that be it? The great epiphany? Of course, searching under the city was the first step towards finding out what it tried to hide! Of course...! That was way easier than she had thought. A part of her was waiting for a catch. Running away from traps had made up a large portion of her undead existence.

The murmur of water didn’t soothe her thoughts. Keeping a safe distance from the stream, she found the spot where it disappeared into the earth under the wooden city in the treetops. A hole, a cave. Malia had no torches, so she simply entered and paused for a moment. Upon spotting the glow from within, she continued. However, her steps were slower in the dark, her senses wide awake. The slightest noise, the smallest movement would send her into retreat.

Neither crossed her path though. Only a dead body. How many dead bodies had she already seen! This one was a particularly disgusting exemplar, for sure. So the Crimson Flights lived off of blood? Interesting. A connection between favorite food and wing color. As if they wanted to warn. Or lure. Which was it?

Malia took a step, then another, inspecting the Akvatari from all sides. When one of the butterflies rested at its satchel, she carefully approached and attempted to shoo it away. Then she’d see what it contained, if it told anything about its owner. Akvatari were artsy people. Travel records, a journal, musings... The Nuit just had to utilize every chance she got, gather information, even though she didn’t see through the maze of possibilities yet.