A Little Character
Reserved, Algar the Scanvenger House Elf
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The smallest kingdom of Gluttony was tucked snug against the larger, hotter edges of Chaos, the most populated province of Heck. The border between towns consisted of a smoldering pile of rubble that demonic children ran across, enjoying the tickle of smoke between their reddened toes. Demons, especially children of Demons enjoy such activities and after a pint or two of fire brewed ale there was still child enough inside most adult demons to sprint across the heated stones themselves.
Games and merry making, noise and bedlam, the daily insanity of life in a kingdom like Gluttony was the norm for the creatures who knew no other existence.
Certainly Cerberus knew no other way.
Each day he awoke to the fiery pits behind his home, belching thick plumes of dark smoke, scenting the air and everything it touched with just a hint of brimstone. No matter how far Cerberus traveled within Heck, should he feel even the faintest pricks of homesickness he had only to close his eyes, bow his horned head and breathe deep of the familiar fragrance of home that swirled about him. The sweet scent of sulfur and smoke and brimstone that perfumed all of the underworld. He liked that, it made the world a friendlier place, cozier.
Cerberus knew there were demons who longed to see outside of Heck, who spoke of unusual worlds above and beyond the borders of the underworld. Cerberus had listened to the passionate ramblings of friends who longed to see more, the envy clear and bright in their eyes for all to see as they spoke of things, rumors and stories of places unimaginable to Cerberus. Places with...trees...and humans....and stars.... He couldn't picture such things, he had no desire to see them, he didn't understand the urges of those fellow demons who actually spoke of leaving not only their hometowns but of Heck itself...
Cerberus looked about him, at the polished floor of his world that gleamed from footfall of a million beings like himself, traveling back and forth across it's surface since the beginning of time itself. In places where the rock was blackest, it was polished to a shine so bright and clear you could even look in and see your reflection, see the crooked horns and smile of your own face looking back. If he looked up, tipping back his head, beautiful sulfur clouds met his gaze. The silkiest, perfect shade of yellow imaginable, they swirled and moved across the land casting shadows that flickered and danced from the golden light of ever burning flames.
There were always fires, smoldering, roaring, ever burning fires that warmed the rock and stone of the underworld so that no feet had ever a need for shoes. Clothing was unheard of, the temperatures were perfect, like a hug from Heck every day.
Cerberus smiled, it was home, why would any one want to go any place else? There was so much to see and experience in their own world. There were other demons to meet, lava flows to visit, rocks to examine and pile in glittering towers. There were the bustling markets where anything a demon could want was available.
Cerberus sank down on the stones beneath him, laid his palms flat against the warm rock and felt the heart beat of Heck, the eternal vibrations that pulsed within the stone. It was guessed the underground lava flows caused the pulsing, but Cerberus preferred to think of it as a pulse, a heart beat, the soothing comforting presence of Heck itself.
A hot breeze slipped by Cerberus, carrying with it a little ashy dust devil that twirled and danced as if for Cerberus' own amusements. He watched it spin away into the distance towards the busy marketplace in the valley below. Beyond the marketplace, as far as his dark eyes could see he saw the faint burning of distant fires that flickered and flared, illuminating the underworld in the peaceful orange glow of their light.
Beneath his palms the rock hummed and he felt the echo of it in his own body as his heart kept time with the steady beat of the earth, of his home.
He leaned forward and smiled, content. Let the wanderers and explorers go where they will...the kingdom of Gluttony, the province of Chaos...it was all the world a little demon like Cerberus could ever want or need.
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