He didn't have anywhere near the trauma associated with the Hollowed Grounds that others did, but after the Blood Moon and the karaoke disaster Tal was a lot less eager to attend another festival there, or be around anyone who'd seen him sing. He'd left his skyboat at the Port and followed the line of others arriving for the same purpose as it snaked through the Inner Quarter and down the ladders into the depths, grimacing as stone walls closed around him - even if they were vast and far away.
His lantern of wood and paper wasn't really made for floating, so he hung it from iron hook that had been driven into the ground for that purpose and lit it with a punt. Boreal pressed close against his side, the big dragon uncharacteristically subdued in the solemnity of the night. Tal bowed his head in a prayer for his parents, silent for long moments before he finally sighed and raised his head, looking around and seeing people that he recognized and others that he didn't. Many had already formed little groups or pairs and the courier felt as awkwardly out-of-place as he'd feared.
Perhaps unexpectedly he ended up drifting to where Dantalion sat apart on the shore. He didn't say anything, just offered the Ancient a tired nod and settled nearby to lean against his companion. They joined the slender blond in looking out over the lights that floated on the lake, morosely trying to count how many lost souls were reflected in the inky waters.
Tal touched up his parents' lantern in {SE} The sound of letting go
His lantern of wood and paper wasn't really made for floating, so he hung it from iron hook that had been driven into the ground for that purpose and lit it with a punt. Boreal pressed close against his side, the big dragon uncharacteristically subdued in the solemnity of the night. Tal bowed his head in a prayer for his parents, silent for long moments before he finally sighed and raised his head, looking around and seeing people that he recognized and others that he didn't. Many had already formed little groups or pairs and the courier felt as awkwardly out-of-place as he'd feared.
Perhaps unexpectedly he ended up drifting to where Dantalion sat apart on the shore. He didn't say anything, just offered the Ancient a tired nod and settled nearby to lean against his companion. They joined the slender blond in looking out over the lights that floated on the lake, morosely trying to count how many lost souls were reflected in the inky waters.
Tal touched up his parents' lantern in {SE} The sound of letting go
