Moonlark Turned Evil

Inktober Special: Toad

Right hi um this was originally supposed to be a "phoenix boys play talisman" thing bc toads (i have a traumatic experience with talisman and toads) but ummmmmm

i came up with a proper backstory for my beast boys last night

And i did just finish reading all the extra specials in MDZS the other day

And TGCF remains forever engraved in my brain

Sooooooooo

Take an MXTX novels inspired chapter with barely any reference to the prompt-

The shrine was well lit, ironic for the residence of the three gods of shadow. Despite the welcoming scene of a banquet laid out across the table in the center, there was no one in the shrine. All three gods were outside, standing on the enormous leaves of the great tree Mehm.

A faint flute melody drifted through the air, scattering across Mehmsia and fluttering between the houses nestled in the bark of the branches.

The instrument producing this music was held delicately by a figure who sat perched on the lowest roof of the shrine of shadow, the god Quenli.

Beside him stood Raizel, long hair done up in his usual high ponytail, a fond smile across his face as he watched Quenli play. He leaned against the wall behind him, just underneath the overhanging roof of the next level, arms crossed.

The third figure was Azerkizan. He sat on his knees, a table laid out before him on the flat part of the roof before him. He held a brush in his hand, carefully lettering a poem stroke by stroke.

The final notes of the flute tapered off, and Quenli lowered the instrument from his lips.

Azerkizan set aside his brush and got to his feet in a single fluid motion, reaching over to add an extra weight to the paper he'd been writing on before he walked over to the other two.

"Shall we go inside for dinner?" he suggested.

"It's getting cold," Quenli agreed, tucking his flute in his belt beside his sword.

Raizel jumped lazily from the roof, landing softly on the branch below. Azerkizan and Quenli followed, stepping into the shrine and taking their places around the table.

None of them needed to eat—they were gods, and it would have been laughable if they did—but they made it a habit to have a meal together at least once a week.

"I went fishing," Quenli announced as he cut into his steamed egg carefully. He'd always cut around until he found a piece of prawn, and when it was found, he would begin eating it. It gives time for the dish to cool, he'd protest, every time someone told him that it was a stupid thing to do.

"Did you get anything?" Raizel asked with a grin, knowing full well that the answer would be no.

Quenli had always been terrible at fishing.

"I can't believe you went fishing while I had to train disciples the whole week," Azerkizan said, mock disapprovingly, bumping his fist against the small bun at the back of Quenli's head.

"I'll bring you along next time, and we can leave Raizel to do all the work," came the reply, without an ounce of shame.

Raizel swallowed a mouthful of soup. "Hey! I'll have you know that I'm busy with all the godly paperwork and meetings. I don't understand why we need to gather for hours on end to discuss trivial matters like merits."