Chapter Text
Illumina dragged himself into the grimy alleyway, his shoulders hunched as he collapsed behind a pile of boxes and bags of trash he dreaded touching, his free hand pressing against the wounds on his back. He was bound to get an infection lying down here, but Illumina was too exhausted to care about that right now, his limbs feeling like impossible weights he couldn't hold up much longer.
Illumina didn't like this feeling, feeling so weak and cold. The jarring switch between invincibility and vulnerability was a stark contrast to the former god, one that made his sensitive skin crawl. Before this, any pain Illumina felt was merely a dull ache, a small obstacle his body could deal with, yet now? Even the smallest bit of movement made him feel nearly like the garbage surrounding him. At least he made it out of the construction zone, but he was sure there wasn't any safer.
Reaching with shaky hands toward the cleanest part of his robe, the fabric ripping easily without any godly radiance to keep it sturdy, Illumina clumsily wrapped the fabric around his shoulders to function as a makeshift bandage until he could get out of the alley, preventing what could be a life-altering infection for now. Illumina scooted backward deeper into his hiding spot, the distant sounds of voices and booms of buildings tearing down only intensifying his need to leave, yet he couldn't bring himself to get up.
The alleyway provided some shade, concealing him from view while he regained his energy, but he knew it would be a while until he got enough strength back to move again. For a body that used to be constantly empowered by his godhood, the change into being a mortal sapped away at his reserves like a leech he couldn't shake off.
The runes around his remaining horn pulsed with a weak glow, bound to snuff out soon as it lit up Illumina's corner, flickering in and out of consciousness like a dying flame. For the first time in his life, he wanted to cry, wanted to scream, yet nothing came out when he let himself go, only meek whimpers or sniffles escaping his wounded body as the small feathers under his eyes came off in tiny clumps, scattering in the wind.
Illumina clutched his head, feeling hot droplets of water spilling from his eyes and onto his robes, agitating him further than he already was. In a fit of anger, Illumina grabbed at the last clump of feathers on his face and tore at it, clawing at them like an animal would if they were caught in a trap, his tears mixing with the blood that dribbled from the small bits of torn away flesh. Here he was, sobbing like an idiot, while his former 'family' kept their title. Illumina could only imagine the looks on their faces, relief? concern? It didn't matter anymore.
Letting his hands drop, Illumina dug his nails into his arms and pulled his knees to his chest, crying like never before.
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"Zuka? Yeah um....there's a lot of crying coming from behind your store."
Moonstaff barely took a few steps out the door before she heard agonizing cries coming from the alleyway connected to Zuka's shop, her hands tightening around the bag she carried as she tried peering over the stack of boxes, still trying to keep her distance in case of danger. Whoever was sobbing stopped at the sound of her voice, yet she could still hear small whimpers or sniffles.
Zuka raised an eyebrow with a scoff, pushing himself off the wall he was leaning on and coming to stand beside Moonstaff, casting her a reassuring, yet annoyed look nonetheless. "Probably just one of the drifters that hang around here, I wouldn't be too concerned" Zuka replied, narrowing his eyes at the boxes, "I usually just let them relax around here."
"And what if it isn't a drifter?" Moonstaff asked, looking towards Zuka as the sniffling intensified at their conversation. Zuka looked at Moonstaff as if she asked an impossible question, shaking his head as he let out a sigh. "And what if, perchance, you don't go running in with no care for your own safety because of the slim possibility it isn't something you should care about?"
Zuka rolled his eyes at Moonstaff's defiant expression, his hand tucking into the pocket of his jacket as he shot Moonstaff a knowing look. Maybe she was reckless, maybe she needed to take more time to care for herself, but Moonstaff's heart urged her to help in any way she could. Maybe she was a bit of a people-pleaser, but Moonstaff had everyone to please.
Zuka, knowing there was no talking her out of this, just retreated back into his shop, keeping the door open for her in case she needed to find somewhere to hide. Moonstaff gave Zuka an apologetic look before creeping into the alleyway, holding her staff to her hip as she stepped over garbage bags and other sorts of trash.
The sight that awaited her made Moonstaff pause, her eyes widening as she dropped her bag.