Repost: Hazards #3 [Mugy + Pyx]
From: October 18th, 2003
Mmm, Pyx.


#3: The fire god is born

The great white beast thrashed for a moment. The torches at the room's perimeter flared, before nearly flickering out.

"He's going to hurt himself!" Videmy hissed.

Aree-Aru seemed unconcerned. He padded over to his son, and flattened the shaking body against the floor with a massive black paw. A faint whimper came from under his paw.

"Be still, my son," Aree-Aru said slowly. He lifted his paw, taking a step back. "Now, rise and show yourself."
The tiger pushed himself to his feet, fluffy red tail drooping. He stared at the floor, eyes dull. His father sighed.
"I didn't have this trouble with you, Videmy. Your soul set immediately." He shook his head. "I suppose not all of the lava fields have heated up yet."

The tiger's head snapped up at the word "lava." His blank gaze met his father's.

"What is he?" Videmy whispered.

"I imagine the demons will call him their fire god. Their god of lava. His lifeblood will keep the lava flowing again."

"I suppose that would ease my job a bit," Videmy admitted.

"True."
Ever since the lava fields had cooled, the temperature of hell had dropped several degrees. Many of the dark lord's original demonic creations had not been able to adapt, and nearly all had died off. Combined with Mugendie's efforts, the already dwindling demon population had continued its steady decline for the last million years, and Videmy was indeed being overworked.

"Grandsire never explained why he let the fields cool, did he."

"....No, he didn't." A frown. "We haven't been able to determine whether it was intentional, or just an oversight."

"An oversight," a soft voice said. Both devils blinked and looked at its source. The tiger was shifting on his feet.

"With us now, I see?"

"I see?" The devil blinked, ears wiggling. The long curling tufts at the end of his ears twitched. He turned an inquisitive gaze at his family.

Videmy sighed, rubbing her forehead. "You didn't make him very bright, did you?"

"Bright enough. He'll come around. His memory hasn't activated yet."

The tiger gave a rumbling purr as he padded around in circles, curiously sniffing the tiled floor. Aree-Aru held in another sigh.

"Boy, come here."

A perk of the strange ears. "Me?"

"Yes, you. Come here."

The tiger nearly fell over himself scurrying over.
"Yes? Yes?" The ears wiggled again.

"Now listen. I am Aree-Aru. And I am your fa...your creator." The blood-god pointed his muzzle to Videmy. "And this is your sister, Videmy."

"Okay!" He blinked his bright orange eyes. "What am I?"

"You, my son, are the new lifeblood of the fires of hell." Aree-Aru shuffled a few steps back, and Videmy followed suit. "Pyxoliperi."

At his name, the tiger yelped and collapsed to the floor. The tiles underneath Pyxoliperi's body blackened and cracked under a sudden rush of heat. His body itself was changing, the white furred limbs retracting into themselves. The red tail disappeared completely. The black tiger stripes seemed to peel away, splitting into finer and finer black lines as they did.
He yowled in pain, and the torches responded, snuffing themselves out in unison. A long moment passed in darkness. Then, one by one, the torches flickered back to life. Pyxoliperi, now in a much smaller humanoid form, had gotten back to his feet. He was staring curiously at one of his hands.
Except for his ever-quirking feline ears and clawed feline feet, the rest of the devil wasn't very remarkable. He had an average height, slim build, and very pale skin. One who wasn't familiar with the general oddness of devils might have considered the young devil's hair to be unsual, but few in hell would consider the fact that Pyxoliperi's black hair flowed to the ground and continued for another meter and a half to be odd.

They stared, for a moment. "He's rather beautiful," Videmy commented. Aree-Aru made a noise of agreement. Pyxoliperi noticed their stare and blushed. He looked down, noting his lack of clothing, and conjured up a robe. The devil gave a little laugh as he covered himself.

"You're more aware now, I'd hope."

"Oh, yes, sir," Pyxoliperi nodded. His voice was soft and strangely soothing.

"Good, good." Aree-Aru padded closer, but then stopped, his nostrils flaring. Videmy tilted her head, then noticed it too. Pyxoliperi looked clueless. "Hmm. Rather sulfuric." The wolf seemed to consider this, then shook his head. "Ahem. My son, why don't you go out and take a look around? I will go arrange for you to meet the dark lord. Just don't wander too far, alright?"

"I'll show you out to the gates," Videmy offered.

"Okay!"

"Just...ah....be careful."