“Harvester’s out again. Do you want to go and see if we can help… herd any dead to their proper place of rest?” Armony asked, voice flat but surprisingly warm as they looked at their companion.

Moritz thought for a moment, shrugged, and nodded.

Their journey was primarily uneventful, and nearly silent save for the Furnace’s natural ambiance. They walked past oozing lava, snarling hellhounds, and shrieking bats, their steps aware but unhurried. Occasionally one of them would look towards the other and gesture in another direction, and they’d either nod or shrug. Few words were exchanged, but they understood each other almost implicitly.

The Soul Vines grew thick in patches, green laced with black and blacker still. Spirits, many bemoaning woes that had passed centuries ago, trickled into their vision, but few appeared to need any help finding their vine that would move them towards what Armony hoped was redemption.

One - a rather large dwarf - suddenly appeared in front of the pair, causing Armony to step back quickly and lose… something. While Moritz made soothing sounds towards the creature moaning “The Forge, the Forge?” Armony turned to look and saw… lava. Closer than they expected, closer than they knew, and a scuffed, stuffed toy rabbit slowly being consumed by flames.

“I don’t know if I want to continue today,” they said softly, turning away. They had others, but that was the only one that had been held enough that it almost didn’t resemble a creature anymore, the white “fur” turned gray from time and love.

Moritz leaned into them, understanding, and nodded. And so they returned to their homes, alone and silent save for their heavy footsteps.