(With school starting up again, I'm afraid updates may become even more infrequent.)
Glumshanks stumbled through the purple fog, and tripped over an off white shard protruding from the dark earth. He really hoped that wasn't a bone. The troll quickly averted his gaze, minorly disturbed, and glanced around. Glumshanks knew Hex's home had to be around here somewhere, but as soon as he had approached he'd been engulfed by the lavender mist. The troll had lost all sense of direction not long after.
There were no landmarks to help guide his path, and he could barely see more than a few feet in any direction. Surely he should be coming across the sorceress's home anytime now, right? At least, that's what Glumshanks kept telling himself. However, when he came across the same questionable chunk of bone like material for the third time, he started getting worried.
The troll paused so he could study his surroundings. The lavender haze seemed to press in around him and he could no longer tell if it was day or night. The earth was barren without a trace of flora or fauna anywhere. The temperature was cool, but there wasn't so much as a breeze.
"Hex," Glumshanks called softly as he tried to suppress his mounting dread. Silence reigned as he felt his heart speed up and his breathing became shallow.
"Glumshanks." Like a specter, the sorceress emerged from the fog behind him with a lantern in hand. The troll almost jumped out of his skin at her stealthy approach, but felt a wave of relief at the sight of her. He wouldn't be trapped here for all eternity!
Unlike Glumshanks, Hex remained tense and her frown only deepened. Gone was the sorceress who laughed easily among friends. "You shouldn't be here without a light source of some kind, or the mist will play tricks on your mind," Hex certified, "Did I not mention this?"
"Um, well, no," the troll said slowly.
"I apologize," Hex wilted, "I have no excuse for failing to inform you."
"Of course you do," Glumshanks interrupted before she could sink farther into her self-loathing, "You've had too much on your mind lately what with Blizzard Chill's incident." The sorceress flinched but he pressed on. "Blizzard Chill knows it was an accident and she doesn't blame you."
"That almost makes it worse," Hex whispered, "She should be furious with me. The frost bite could quite possibly cripple her."
The troll shook his head, "It's been three days since anyone has seen you. Where have you been?"
"My home," she replied shortly.
"And you've not left?" Glumshanks asked a bit incredulously before smiling gently, "Why don't we go for a walk and get some fresh air?"
Hex nodded numbly and together they set off. The sorceress chose the most isolated pathways unwilling to run into anyone she knew. Eventually, the two found themselves in a deserted section of beach. The sun on the waves made them gleam, but Hex wasn't able to focus on the beautiful scenery. The sorceress was too busy monitoring her temperature. She never noticed Glumshanks' worried gaze upon her.
"Will you tell me what's on your mind?" The troll murmured snapping Hex from her trance.
She was silent for a long moment before slowly unclenching her fists. Until then, the sorceress had kept her hands tucked closely to her sides but now she raised them. "Time… holds no meaning to the undead. Because of this, most don't realize quite how old I am. I have not been one of the living in well over a century," Hex paused as she studied her chilled, light blue flesh.
"Over time, I came to accept the nature of my existence. Now, I have grown to love it. I do not tire and never sleep… I do not age… I need not even breathe… I cannot imagine existing any other way… And, yet, I wouldn't have harmed Chill if I were alive. She might never lift an ice javelin again, and it's all my fault… Because of what I am…"
"She doesn't blame you for the frostbite," Glumshanks firmly repeated himself, "She never did. Blizzard Chill doesn't believe you need forgiveness, so why can't you forgive yourself?"
Hex opened her mouth, but no words came. The sorceress closed her eyes and placed her head in her hands. They sat without speaking for a long while before the sorceress slowly allowed the stiffness to leave her frame.
"Thank you, Glumshanks," Hex said as a small smile graced her lips, "I needed tha-"
The sorceress was abruptly cut off as a silver and blue bullet tackled her. The sand did little to cushion their fall, and Hex landed beneath her would-be-assailant.
"Get off her, Chill!"
The still dazed sorceress blinked as she heard the familiar sound of Stealth Elf reprimanding the frost warrior. Blizzard Chill took her time getting up before immediately pulling Hex into a tight hug.
"Whirlwind fixed me up," the frost warrior whispered in the sorceress ear, "I still got all my digits, so stop beatin' yourself up already."
"How did you know I was-" Hex started.
"I know you too well," Blizzard Chill interrupted, "I think it's safe to assume that you sank into a depressive state and didn't leave your house for days. I'm honestly a lettle surprised you're not there now."
"Yes, yes," the sorceress muttered, "Glumshanks was just lecturing about that."
"Really?" the frost warrior grinned at the troll, "I knew I liked you! Also, I told ya so!" Hex arched a brow, confused by the sudden turn in the conversation, but Chill's attention was on Stealth Elf. "I told ya I could be sneaky if I wanted to! They never saw me comin'!" The frost warrior paused and glanced at Hex, "Ya didn't, right?"
"Not even a little bit," the sorceress admitted as the ninja groaned.
Hex eyed Stealth Elf with interest, "You… didn't make a bet with her, did you?"
"NO!" the ninja replied defensively, "... maybe… yes…"
"So what is it that you have to do exactly?" Hex smirked simply enjoying the fact that it wasn't her.
The ninja mumbled something unintelligible, so Chill quickly took over explaining, "There are so many undiscovered places in Woodburrow. All Stealthie has to do is find a hidden hat there and wear it!"
"And this is how you repay me for staying by your side the entire time you were in Whirlwind's expert care?" the ninja grumbled.
"Come now, Stealth Elf," Hex teased, "You got yourself into this mess. You shouldn't try to guilt Chill."
"It wasn't workin' anyway," the frost warrior grinned shamelessly.
"Your not even supposed to be here, Chill," Stealth Elf muttered, "Whirlwind explicitly told you to not leave the infirmary. I only let you come because I knew you would just sneak out by yourself. Oh, and Hex was dealing with her depression."
"Am I really that predictable?" the sorceress mumbled.
"Yes," the ninja and the frost warrior answered in unison. Hex moaned but knew when she had been outnumbered.
"Firstly," Blizzard Chill began as the ninja started dragging her back to the infirmary, "Since when have I ever followed the rules? Secondly, did you just admit I'm sneaky?"
Stealth Elf groaned, "Bye Hex. Bye Glumshanks. We'll see you later." Blizzard Chill repeated the farewell and not a moment later the two went back to arguing. The sorceress sighed softly as they faded out of earshot and peace was restored to the world once more. Slowly, Hex rose and brushed the sand from her gown. Glumshanks followed suite, and the sorceress passed her lantern to him.
"Keep it," Hex said to him, "In case you ever need to find your way to my home."
"But what will you use?" the troll protested.
The sorceress flicked her wrist and a shimmering phantom orb appeared in her palm. "I have my ways." Hex turned to go, but paused and glanced back. "I enjoyed our walk," the sorceress smiled softly, "Perhaps we could do it again some time?"
"It would be my pleasure."