#sorry for the 'aiza rambling' disease.. it may (will) happen again sdkjfng

[innerbeast]

in a narrowed gaze of gold it's caught, retreat followed with vision alone until the skull-clad being slips too far. woven through sparse crowds, slipping between darkened alleys -- whatever it may be, it did not belong.

suspicion played as his guide, luring him along the same path as this frightened creature, a fair distance kept behind. although laced with uncertainty of its motives, he knew well enough that something was off about it ( something familiar? no, that couldn't be ). the creature -- humanoid though it was -- held purpose in its continued retreat, as if intended to be somewhere. or perhaps with someone?

others, he'd come to realize. similar in design, in behavior.

their occasional increase in number, and choice of direction, forced the demon skyward; out of sight, following still.

when next dar'khol would land his boots would meet a patch of moss upon concrete. the flames that granted him his landing fizzling away, remnants of their existence no more than faintly lingering smoke trails. where he, now, stood was unfamiliar. a place less traveled, but carrying a name heard in passing. yesteryear, they called it.

quieter than the city prior, inhabitants of it few and far between -- no more than unattended vegetation and wandering fauna. so, then,

"why here?" comes the demons quiet musing.

as if to give him answer he's left to watch them gather, those very beings he'd curiously followed. how they come together, how they speak. their words are unknown to him, but the manner in which they're spoken; resolved repetition. it was no different than a prayer.

like villagers flocked to a church, riddled with paranoia and disbelief as they invoke God to aid them; to assist where they can no longer provide.

part of him wishes to laugh; to mock such a display as living proof it holds no merit. and yet, the hell-spawn remains silent, observant. this invocation was one unfamiliar, one that ( vaguely ) insisted for his concern. when next dar'khol spoke, he knew not what lead his tongue; an instinctive ( almost joyous ) urge swelling within.

"... go ahead. call upon your god, then."

( i'll slay them like the rest. ...the rest? )

... none of this should feel familiar. there was only one God he wished to face, after all.

( @bimeval )