The stomach of a scorching volcano echoes with the haunting chants of many unnoted creatures. Howls continually pierce the monotonous song, creating a chaotic sound. Darkness lives in every corner and crevice, save for the heated light emitting from the deep, unforgiving, scorching hot magma pool. Streams of lava ooze about. The glow surrounds the pool and climbs the sides of the cave. Shadows of dark creatures dance upon the walls, and steam chokes the air. The bubbling magma begins to gurgle and the steam hisses. The screaming creatures grow louder, and their chanting slowly comes together as one, powerful voice. With a harsh, terrifying cry, a raging phoenix bursts from the deadly pool, flames furiously writhing about it. She darts upwards and circles about, scanning the area. Finally, she slows down and hovers above the magma pool, focusing her attention on a small, devilish creature. It cries in terror as she rushes upon it, and has but a second to make for cover before her fearsome talons have it in their grasp. The cries quickly cease as she devours the unfortunate beast. Soon, with a flick of her head, she tosses the corpse into the magma, condemning its soul to the horrifying life among her past victims, an army of chaos and suffering. She then disappears into lower, darker parts of the volcano, to the depths of the unknown, leaving behind a mess of flickering tongues of fire.
~Jenna Van Kley~









