-Bygone godlings-

There was always curiosity when a new presence entered Bygone's dominion, but even then most of the creatures were surprised to see Folly riding a four legged equine creature. She rode lazily with an arm wrapped around a small pale skinned child wrapped in ragged clothes. If it hadn't been for the lingering stench of Chaos coming from the child the creatures watching would have happily greeted Folly; as was their custom for a friend to Bygone. 'Omega spawn aren't allowed in this place.' They all spoke with one mind between each other, and though their combined status was little for a dark god like Folly she stopped her horse. 'Do the little godlings wish to stop me? I'm certain Bygone wouldn't mind making an exception this one time.'

The mental message carried enough of a threat for all but three of the small entities to vanish in fear. The first of the three to come out of the shrubbery was a taller, grey skinned boy with short tusks barely showing from his bottom lip. His eyes were hidden behind long dark hair but the snarl on his face was growing in challenge at Folly's words. The second to join him was another demi-human type that had opal eyes and pointed ears, their left hand pulled at the first godling's arm while the other raised in a placating gesture. "Apologizes Madam Folly, my companion is...instinctually motivated and the one you travel with is-" The well spoken one was cut off by a raised hand from Folly who smiled in genuine interest at the godlings. When the last of them emerged her smile only grew until an almost chilling grin full of teeth emerged. 'Has Bygone already let three potential godlings of strength go to the wayside of the outer forest already?' In her excitement Folly had forgotten to speak, and had released her status slightly causing the three to flinch as if hit in reaction.

Before she could apologize though the arm around the small child convulsed, and Folly hissed in pain as a small sliver of crimson light emerged from the sleeping child. When her status finally went away again the light disappeared and Folly's face had a bewildered expression on it. Her confused laughter finally broke the silence, and she casually dropped the child on the ground with a soft thud. "You four will join me in the forest's center once this one wakes up, and if I only see you three I'll consume you all in an instant." Her threat was punctuated by a snort of orange flames from beneath the mount's hooded head. Folly offered them an almost truthful wish for good luck, but when her gaze moved from the still sleeping child to the wound on her left arm her smile faded. 'Though maybe I should be wishing Bygone good luck when I see him.'

-Hex-

When I woke up the first thing I did was gasp deeply, losing consciousness like that had been more uncomfortable than I would've first guessed. 'Wasn't there any other way for me to leave besides choking?' I complained mentally, but when a shrill giggle came seemingly in response to my question my eyes shot open. When the sights of dead, and dying leaves hanging from grey bark branches greeted me I quickly sat up to take in my surroundings. I stood in a small open patch of dead grass, and large trees densely surrounded me so much so that I could only see a few meters past the nearest tree. A soft cough brought my attention towards three figures standing behind me.

The tallest one had long shaggy black hair, and the unpleasant snarl on his face grew threatening as our eyes met. The slightly shorter figure with long snow white hair quickly punched their companion in the shoulder before smiling at me, and their opal eyes had what I assumed was a polite light behind them. "I'm sorry about my friend, he's still only barely above the wild beasts in the forest. I however am glad that you finally woke up, now we can begin our journey towards Bygone's Heart." After they spoke the taller one snorted and spat before turning the walk into the underbrush surrounding us all. A smaller figure covered in a dark hooded brown robe followed after the snarling one, while the last one took steps towards me and offered their hand. "Those two call me Iliax, and I hope you don't take Nek's actions too seriously, he's not as bad as he acts."

"What about them, or should I just call them Quiet?" I shook their hand nonchalantly, and nodded towards the hooded one that slowly followed Nek through the underbrush as I spoke. "No, though she is a bit timid Eranna is a fair judge of character. You carry the blood of Omega after all, and Omega spawn are banned from Bygone's Forrest." Illiax patted my shoulder with another apologetic look on his face that didn't reach his eyes. "So why do you think I'm going to this 'heart' with you three instead of leaving this place?" I'd expected an answer, but when he just shrugged and headed in the direction of the other two I was left alone: Or I should've been at least. 'You could be more friendly towards them you know Hex? At least sharing your name wouldn't have hurt anyone.' I could hear the frown in Goldy's voice, but when I turned around to look for him I was only greeted with more barren tree trunks. 'There's no place closer to the world of lost souls than where you stand right now Hex, I do hope you can find your way.'

Hearing my name twice since I'd woke up made my head ache in and I rubbed my eyes gently while resting my head against the tree trunk. "Surprisingly sturdy for a dead thing right?" This voice was familiar, it was the one that had giggled when I'd asked myself something. I decided to keep my eyes closed this time and practiced on steadying my breathing. "Hello? Are you ignoring me now you bratty godling?" The question was punctuated by a soft brush of wind that tickled the tip of my nose. I opened my eyes to find a small frowning face hovering just beneath my head, and the red haired pixie had her arms crossed as if she'd been truly insulted. "What are you?" I knew the question might sound rude, but I didn't know anything, and I needed at least one of my questions answered. "If you have to know that I'm your faerie gifted to you by Lady Folly." Her high pitched voice matched her small size, and I raised my head and looked back in the direction Illiax had left wondering if they could see her. "So what's your name, why are you here? Not that I'm ungrateful for the gift from Lady Folly, I just can't remember ever meeting her." I offered her what I thought was similar to Goldy's kind smile, but her small shoulders shuddered slightly and her wings twitched. "I can grant you any four wishes—"

"Can you take me to that heart place Illiax was talking about?" Her first response was another flying kick to my nose that tickled enough to make me laugh a bit, but my laughter only made her attack my nose and eyes until I apologized. The faerie huffed indignantly before she finally decided to speak again. "If you'd allowed me to finish what I was trying to say you'd know that the wishes can't go against Lady Folly's interests. Those interests currently dictate that you must travel with the three other godlings together to Bygone's Heart." So I was stuck with wishes that some unknown god controlled in one way or another. 'Stuck with useless wishes, no idea of where I am, and I have to travel with three unwilling beings.'

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"Useless faerie, are you allowed to tell me about this place?" Her first response were shouts of protest against her new title that grew in pitch. Her body seemed to shrink with her voice until I only heard squeaking, and could no longer see her. Being left alone again I groaned and kicked at the tree trunk, but when my foot hit the tree didn't budge; my toes did though, and pain shot up my leg. The toes would heal, I could feel them healing even as I shouted in pain, still I hadn't expected the dead tree to handle little more than a light breeze. When I looked back at the tree I was greeted by healthy brown bark, and the branches above me were beginning to show signs of sprouting leaves. I could feel my hand reaching up to scratch at my head as I walked towards the underbrush that Illiax had walked into. 'Whatever this place is everyone with the exception of myself are welcome to do as they like right?'

I'd half expected either Goldy, or the faerie to answer me but as I continued to walk the only sound I could hear were my own steps. The silence was nice though, and just as I'd started to enjoy it a loud roar echoed from beyond a small hill. I could recognize Nek's bark, and I was almost tempted to ignore him until I heard another softer cry of pain. It wasn't Illiax so that only left the quiet girl, and I felt my body moving again without my having to think about it. As I peered through the bushes I saw a group of six or so creatures I assumed were possibly other 'godlings' surrounding the three I recognized. There was a towering red skinned bull headed creature smiling sadistically with his hoof planted on Nek's chest, two leathery winged godlings that seemed identical held the girl by hooks in her wrists. Illiax was on his knees, with unfocused eyes, in front of a cackling woman with hair made of snakes; two more creatures like her stood at both of her sides. The last of them sat looking bored as they sat against in the shadow of a tree and played with dark talons at the tips of their fingers.

I groaned inwardly, and as if on cue the useless faerie decided to offer her not-advice, not-command for me to help the three, it didn't annoy me though and I waved a hand at nothing in response. 'I know what I have to do, I just don't want to kill anyone...'

-Elder Godlings-

Zogrick had expected more when a little birdie told him that an Omega spawn was traveling with three other godlings towards Forest's Heart. The three his group had caught weren't all that impressive, and they'd already lost the real prize. While the others played with the weak godlings he could only offer a weak smile that really didn't show his true feelings. The three sisters were happy with the rare demi-type with jewel eyes they'd grabbed, and the other one would make for decent enough entertainment. "Where is your chaos cursed companion? This is the last time I'll ask you boy." The one he questioned only snarled in response, and even as Zogrick heard ribs breaking they wouldn't stop snarling until they lost consciousness. He snorted in disappointment and kicked the young fiend towards Trella and her sisters.

Just as he was about to order them to prepare to leave the Forrest and return a small figure walked out from the cover of the underbrush. The child was small, if they'd stood next to the bull headed beast they wouldn't reach above his knees. "Look Zog, maybe the little one is Omega's spawn." The obvious joke came from both creatures hovering above him and they laughed at their own joke before tossing the girl next to the other two subdued godlings. When the little godling actually nodded in confirmation though the laughter died, and they all focused on the godling with new interest. Even the always lazy Wraith raised their head to look at the godling who raised a pale hand to greet them all. "I don't understand why you're looking for me, but I don't want to fight you all." Hearing those words come from a godling that didn't even have enough status to shake a tree in the Forest made Zogrick laugh suddenly. His companions all took steps to back away from him as killing intent started to emit from all around him.

"You're the second cocky little new born to look down on me today child, now I've lost my patience. I'll educate you on our differences with actions instead of useless words." As he spoke Zogrick grabbed one of his horns and snapped it off without wasting his time. He didn't show any signs of the action hurting him, and in the next moment a red energy began to emerge from the broken horn in his hand. Zogrick roared loud enough to shake the trees around them all before he charged towards the small godling that seemed frozen in fear. Wraith rolled his eyes in disappointment as he waited for the inevitable to happen to the little newborn. 'Maybe he'll learn better in his next life.' Even as the thought passed through his mind a sudden, and sharp Crack reached his ears. His innate curiosity brought his eyes back to Zogrick, but the large beast had stopped his charge. The status that had shook the trees had disappeared right after that noise, and now Zogrick swayed from side to side.

Wraith finally looked away from Zog when the twins both shouted and pointed at the small figure that crouched a few meters behind the large beast. The godling was chewing on a few dark red fingers while its fingers clawed at the horn it held. The red energy still flowed from the broken horn, but it seemed to fade away the moment it flowed a short distance away from the horn. Zog groaned loudly while clutching at the hand that had previously held the horn, Wraith could almost feel his pain and anger from where he sat. "I tried to warn you, I don't want to hurt anyone, please leave us alone." The little godling stood, dropping the horn while raising his hands in a passive manner as he spoke to Zog: The beast was too far gone for words now though.

When Zogrick released his full status the ground around his hooves cracked from the pressure, and the small godling's body convulsed violently. Wraith stood and walked closer in interest while the others bared their teeth instinctively at the heavy status around them. Zogrick's mouth foamed as he stamped the ground in preparation for his charge, the small godling seemed to have small tears forming in their eyes.

"P-Please, I don't want to—" Whatever he had to say was interrupted as Zogrick charged forward to deliver a heavy blow to the godling's chest with his hoof. The little godling had barely hit the trunk of a tree ten meters away before Zogrick was attacking his almost limp body with consecutive punches. Wraith was the only one who seemed to notice the growing stench of Omega that seemed to come after each blow. Zogrick finally lost interest in the presumably dead thing and he threw the godling high into the air until they passed through the boughs above them. Zogrick roared with enough force to shake the air around him, and small twigs dropped softly. The heavy status had woken up the three other godlings and they winced knowingly as Zogrick's crazed eyes fell on them.

What came in the next moment though, would stay in Wraith's mind until he eventually faded into nothingness. One of the Forrest trees shook violently, and groaned before the sounds of bark cracking resounded around them all. Wraith was the first to look up, and had Zogrick been in his right mind he'd have noticed the broken treetop falling towards him at an unnatural speed. Wraith watch as in a breath Zogrick's head was pinned into the ground by the broken tree trunk with a loud boom. A challenging roar came from atop the trunk, and a small black blur slammed into Zogrick's back with enough force to break through the thick red skin. Zogrick's body jerked from side to side, and his appendages spasmed unnaturally until a small gore covered fist burst from his side.

The eyeless horned creature with a fixed grin full of sharp teeth that came through after made the others stop their approach, and they snarled in unison to issue an instinctual challenge. Wraith was the only one among them frozen in shock as he examined the small godling covered in a black carapace of sorts. Once the others opened their status Wraith knew they'd join Zogrick on the ground, a name finally came to his mind as the small godling tore through the twins. 'God Hunter.'