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The city is dark; most of the street lights are broken, only a few here and there giving a few desperate flashes of light, temporarily lighting up the dark, shadowy streets. The streets and buildings are overgrown with muted vegetation and dusted with remnants of ash from a fire long past.
As you carefully tread through the decrepit city, you see a shadow flash past you. You stop and quickly turn your head towards the movement, studying the empty street. Perhaps you imagined it? You turn your gaze back to the street and quicken your pace forward, feeling as though you were being watched. The city had a dreadful atmosphere and you did not want to stay here any longer than necessary, lest the cursed city drain your being. Whether you believed the legends or not, it was not safe to stay.
After traveling for half an hour, you stop yourself again, swinging your head towards the shadows, only to be met with an empty street once again. Perhaps the city was already getting to you? You try to shake the feeling and move on but you find yourself unable to move. Shadows prowl towards you, circling around your paralyzed figure. Finally, they stop and you can make out the shape of two wolves in front of you.
"Why do you travel our streets?" a voice demands. Yellow and ice eyes gaze at you. Slowly, the shadows lift from the two figures, revealing a large red male and a smaller silver female. Despite knowing the two beings to be wolves, something felt off about them. Their appearances didn't feel right.
"Speak, intruder," the female commands. "You trespass in The Devil's City, and we don't take kindly to strangers."
Finally able to move, you crouch down on the street, your ears flattened and your tail between your legs. You stammer out an explanation, stating you are simply passing through and mean no harm.
"Rise, mortal. Lift your head and meet our gaze," the male growls. You cautiously raise your head, looking towards the two wolves. "What do you call yourself?" he asks. You hesitantly tell the male your name, fearing what he may do if you refused. "I am called Razor of Shining Eyes, and this is my mate, Louder than Sound," he dipped his head down in greeting, though his mate failed to copy. "Sound and I can escort you through the city."
"Razor, you assume this wolf will survive?" Sound questioned, her icy gaze unfriendly. You fear the worst at her words and ask if there is anything dangerous within the city. Neither wolf answers you. "Very well. Follow the shadows and do try to keep up. We wouldn't want you to... lose your way."
Razor and Sound's pelts darken, fading into shadows once again. You follow the two shadows through the city, your mind swirling with thoughts. Some, you swore were not your own. Yet, they had to be, right? Perhaps you were just overwhelmed and tired from your travels.
When you reach the end of the city, you feel weak and your mind is quiet. You quietly thank the two shadows, dipping your head down.
"Farewell, for now..." Razor says, returning to a colored form along with Sound. Sound nods her farewell before she and Razor fade back into shadows.
Before you can turn and leave, Sound blocks your path, icy eyes glowing. "Keep your eyes and ears open when wandering this territory, dear mortal... You never know when something will emerge from the shadows..." she whispered, her mouth failing to move with her words. Though her words were probably meant to be a warning, they sounded more like a threat. Disturbed, you cautiously take your leave, taking a few pawsteps before looking behind you, your eyes gazing upon an empty street. In that moment, you wondered if they had been real. At this point, you weren't quite sure of anything anymore.
Feeling uneasy, you sprint away from the ruined city, Sound's threat echoing in your mind.