#painterofthesun

Quickly, the teenage kitsune averted his gaze as she noticed him. Had she been sent after him? Was.. was she going to attack him too..? As she spoke, he didn’t even register the words at first. Instead, he was hit with a panic, and he scrambled back, rushing to get away and- Well, he didn’t make it far, unfortunately. Tripping, stumbling, and.. finding himself caught and almost tangled in the underbrush..

But he’d been limping too. One of his forepaws was injured, not to mention the gashes across his back, and.. well.. all of it. He was a pitiful sight, wounded and starving, and caught in a horrible panic.. Removing himself from the brush, he did his best to hide, trembling in fear.. before he too finally found the words to speak..

It’d been a while, but he’d recognize the symbol anywhere for what it was. Arthur brushed a finger along the wood, impressed by the craftsmanship. And this chocolate had that good snap the tempered stuff did, but it was creamier-- better than store-bought by far, with a flavor of something else blended in. He couldn’t place it for the life of him, but it was really good. And the puzzle piece breaking points were decorative, and practical when he wanted a bite-sized piece. 

The weakened fox spirit laid out under the bright moon in the shadows of the dark night. He hadn’t been home for awhile for a good reason that turned out to be his punishment. Soft breaths wheezed in and out of his narrow muzzle as he couldn’t find the energy to even hide his true form with his usual facade; at this point Mystery couldn’t tell if he were replenishing energy or losing it. If it were returning too him slowly he’s thank the gods but if he were losing it...? Well, he fully would have accepted it.

Mystery’s mind was a haze as he kept his eyes shut but a sudden presence of  great power made his fur stand on end and his crimson eyes creek open. He blinked as his eyes scanned his surroundings. Nothing at first...But as he blinked it seemed a being with pristine white fur and a glowing aura approached closer and closer until she stood over him.

Sharp eyes squinted against the blinding, holy light as the kitsune looked up and focused his eyes upon...

Okami Amaterasu---

Once droopy eyes seemed to widen in surprise at her sudden presence for what could the sun goddess approach a creature such as himself for?! He must have looked pitiful, not even being able to get up to bow to her...Though..perhaps this is some form of divine judgement...? 

It was not a very pleasant experience, getting unnecessarily yanked along by the music box after it decided to malfunction for no clear reason. The feeling was akin to being dragged by a meathook pierced through the torso.

Of course, he could simply admit that he was not very good at piloting, after the ridiculous number of hiatuses that he found himself forced to take. Truth be told, he did follow along willingly, given that it gave him a chance to at least rest but still, his skills should not be left to rust.

After fighting with the music box a bit, he sighed and settled himself down to face the music.

Ahaha.

She’d asked him how he was doing, probably more out of curiosity after he and Midna had explained all it was he needed to do and why he woke in a fit. And because she’d gotten the whole explanation, he was hardly going to hide from her just how poorly he was handling it all. The nightmares were really the worst of it, he could handle the minor aches when he shifted, and the way that each time he did it he felt that wild part of him stick just a little more. Those he could care less about.

Knowing now that if he failed, the whole kingdom would go down with him, it caused so many more nightmares than just the ones about the other villagers and the kids. They were safe, in their own little portion of the country and protected by two guardians of light.

It was the other countless lives he was being torn apart over.

     「 ☄️ 」 —  “Just a bit of morbid humor, I swear!” Hands would spring up defensively in light of her companion’s concerned expression towards her offhanded remark. It had been a rough week, and while she was good at covering it up physically, she wasn’t doing too well mentally. Jokes like these were never meant to reach another pair of ears.

"It's quiet out here, huh, Hatena?" the boy muttered to what seems to be just himself as he walked along a dirt path. "I wonder, where the hell are we? Looks pretty damn old, yo. I haven't seen anything..Well, anything modern. Well, at least that means there are more animals around and the scenery's nicer. Sure, I love the loud bustle but..I guess it's nice to relax sometimes."

MZD was used to getting lost like this, he actually likes it. Somedays he just rips open a random portal and hops straight in to explore different worlds. It filled his need for adventure and inspiration while relaxing him from any stress he has.

The god began to sit down underneath a tree but had spotted something white out the corner of his eye. He glanced over to what he now sees is a large, white wolf with...red markings? THAT’S not normal (maybe something interesting would finally happen).

“Aww, hey there~!” he called in a soft tone to Amateratsu.

Usually MZD carried a rather arrogant tone or a laid back one.However, leave him alone with any kind of animal and his voice turns into soft coos and praises.

But hold on....

“Eh? Hey, you must be special, huh, yo? You’re givin’ off a strong vibe.”

To suddenly find himself in a field of green, dotted with flowers and trees was disconcerting, to say the least. Especially just as he had pushed open a door in the purified Zone Two, seeking brief refuge from the Secretaries that haunted the streets. He had expected a bunker. But not something that he dimly recognised as a colourful diorama of the Old World, where his father had come fro. But it was not exactly the dim, implanted memories of it, for it was less...brown. And more bright.

What infernal trickery was this? Who had decided that he should be derailed from his mission of cleansing the Zones? Perhaps the culprit could be found around here.

When a breeze rustled through the branches, he did not react, but simply watched the entire scene without any visible reaction. But his eyebrows raised, and the Addons around him shone brightly when he caught sight of a dazzling white creature - a spectre, the culprit of this nonsense, most likely, but he remembered the Judge - sitting on a patch of grass a few feet away.