The room held its breath. The warmth of the brazier simmered up through the center of the table, adding to the oppressive nature of the room, warping its light across the red cloth.
Thistle didn’t speak for a long moment. He watched the pair seated across from him, one paw resting gently over the veiled crystal, though he made no move to reveal it. His eyes slid between them.
“Some see gods in the fog, tugging at the chains of fate. Others see only unpredictable chaos in nature...” He paused briefly with a whistling sigh, “Regardless of which they see, it is important to take the time to look inward in self-reflection”
He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t gesture. But as he spoke, something behind the brazier clicked softly, barely audible within the claustrophobic confines of the cart. A hidden hinge somewhere gave way. From an unseen chute, a small dusting of powder drifted onto the low-burning coals, sending a ripple of green and blue flame up through the room. The light caught in the stained vials along the walls, sending trembling shades across the rug, the ceiling, the furs of those seated.
Thistle did not acknowledge the shift.He simply spoke again.
“Beasts rarely walk into the same reading by accident. The thread between you is no tangle. It’s a tether.”
He leaned forward slightly now, resting both paws against the edge of the table.
“You’ve paid your toll. Reach in and ask what brings you to the precipice you find yerselves. Why seek the divine when both Sable and Feline exude such strong energy of doubt?”
At that, the ancient Hedgehog stood expectant and still, waiting for is quarry to respond.
Thistle didn’t speak for a long moment. He watched the pair seated across from him, one paw resting gently over the veiled crystal, though he made no move to reveal it. His eyes slid between them.
“Some see gods in the fog, tugging at the chains of fate. Others see only unpredictable chaos in nature...” He paused briefly with a whistling sigh, “Regardless of which they see, it is important to take the time to look inward in self-reflection”
He didn’t raise his voice. He didn’t gesture. But as he spoke, something behind the brazier clicked softly, barely audible within the claustrophobic confines of the cart. A hidden hinge somewhere gave way. From an unseen chute, a small dusting of powder drifted onto the low-burning coals, sending a ripple of green and blue flame up through the room. The light caught in the stained vials along the walls, sending trembling shades across the rug, the ceiling, the furs of those seated.
Thistle did not acknowledge the shift.He simply spoke again.
“Beasts rarely walk into the same reading by accident. The thread between you is no tangle. It’s a tether.”
He leaned forward slightly now, resting both paws against the edge of the table.
“You’ve paid your toll. Reach in and ask what brings you to the precipice you find yerselves. Why seek the divine when both Sable and Feline exude such strong energy of doubt?”
At that, the ancient Hedgehog stood expectant and still, waiting for is quarry to respond.
