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Life in the underworld has been the same for as long as anyone could remember. Well, the same ruler has been in power since the beginning of time. Cynder Shadows, Goddess of death, and my mother. I am Lupus Shadows, God of Retribution and Balance. Life for me has been rather interesting, living the the castle. I've dealt with many dangers, including those that threatened the existence of our entire reality.

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Lupus walked through the castle gates into the large, dark land beyond. The Underworld was a beautiful place, in a dark way. He paused, taking in the sight, then continued walking. A sword hung from his belt that swung as he walked. His destination was unknown, but he seemed determined the get there, to the point his golden tail twitched impatiently. He soon walked outside the palace walls and towards the city beyond, but thenturned away from the well worn path and towards the dark forest beyond.

"Jo! You need to get higher!" Peter called up the dead, rotting tree to her, still watching her climb.
Jo glared down at him and pulled herself up some more branches, hoping beyond hope that they weren't going to crack under her and drop her body down to the ground. Broken bones sucked to heal. She braced herself on three different branches, trying to get a good look around the dim underworld, feeling a light breeze brush her face. The breeze trailed memories, knowledge of the things it had touched, and Jo caught glimpses of a man, a palace, and more dead and dark things. Just a normal day then. "I c-can't t-tell you where... to g-go if you don't t-t-tell me what I'm looking... for!"
Her brother sighed, rolling his eyes. "Look for something that Dad would do. If you see something he would do, that's probably where they are!"
Jo glanced around again, not pleased with what she saw. No sign of their dead family, so nothing of import. "I-I think this was a st-stupid idea."
"Yes, because walking in a random direction until we found someone who could give us directions to the Langorin family was absolutely a clever one!"
She stuck her tongue out at him, then started moving down the shaky tree again. "C-coming down!"
"Yeah, yeah."

He seemed to have arrived in a closer area faster then he was walkings, yet he froze when he heard distant voices and the falling og broken twigs from high in a tree. People rarely visited the forest, which his mother had named the Twilight Forest as it was darker then the rest of the land. Those that did visit it were either lost or crazy. Even fewer visited for legitimate reasons, and they were often of Lupus' family. He slowly drew his blade, careful not to make a noise. He quietly made his way towards the voices, stopping just on the other side of a tree.

Jo made it most of the way down before a branch gave out beneath her, dropping her suddenly to the ground. She yelped, grabbing for her brother as she fell- and managed to get a good grip on his hair.
Peter yelped, falling with her, and they both landed in the slightly damp dirt. "You're supposed to make it down safely."
"Sh-shut up." She shoved him, scrambling to her feet, and looked around, flaring a small breeze around to see if any monsters heard and were coming for them. The breeze rushed around for a moment then returned to her, bringing more images and memories.
"I'm not the one who tried climbing a dead tree."
"You k-killed the... tree. It wasn't dead until you... t-touched it."
He snorted, brushing himself off. "Says the walking contradiction."
Jo paused, sorting through the images that the breeze brought, then froze. "Shh."
"You can't just tell me to shut up and expect me to listen."

He chuckled to himself as he realized that they would be harmless to him. In his own mind at least. He lowered his blade and sheathed it with a loud shnkt, then stopped out from behind the tree. His hand still rested on the pommel of his red and gold sword as he looked at the two at the base of a large, dead tree. He smiled softly, slightly showing his sharp fangs.

"Are you two lost?"

He asked, glancing between the two. They were not of his family, so he knew they were most likely not here for a purpose. So he figured they were lost, as their voices betrayed no hint of insanity.

Peter jumped and whirled on him, looking at Lupus, hand going to one of the axes on his back. "Who's asking?" He looked over the intruder, taking note of the sword that was sheathed, and the swagger of his stance. Whoever this was, he didn't think they were a threat. Peter assumed that was for the best. That's what Jo would say, at least.
Beside him, Jo didn't seem shocked at all. She just looked at whoever it was, hunching her shoulders like she always did around strangers.

"Lupus Shadows, Son of Cynder and prince of the Underworld."
He replied, still holding the passive/happy expression. His tail swayed and raised high in the air, his way of waving in greeting. He took note of the weapons the male had, but past that he paid no mind.
"I ask because most who visit the twilight forest are either the mentally insane, or the lost."

Peter eyed the creepy man, and nodded slowly, loosening the straps on his axes anyway. "We appear to be the latter. Would you mind pointing the way out for us?"
Jo elbowed him, shaking her head.
He ignored her. She probably wanted to ask the prince of the underworld where their family was. That would be idiotic. Nobody tells others where they're going in the Underworld. That's going to get you targeted. Then an icy breeze touched his face, burning the skin. He grimaced.
"W-we're also... looking for s-someone," Jo stuttered beside him, apparently playing up the harmless little woman card.

"Looking for someone? Today must be your lucky day, my mother has records of everyone in the Underworld. If they are indeed here, she will know."

As he spoke, he gestured back to the palace from which he had come. But between them and the palace was the thick, dark forest from which low growls started to come. Glimpses of glowing eyes could be seen hear and there.

Though before I can take you there, I have something that needs to be done. You may accompany me if you wish, or remain her."

The breeze brought Jo images of the monsters coming for us, living things in the Underworld. She glanced over Lupus, then at Peter, who was already opening his mouth to tell him we could handle it ourselves, thanks, and directed a breeze with a leaf directly into her brother's mouth.
"W-we'll c-c-come." She told Lupus, picking up the small satchel she had dropped to climb the tree earlier, and slinging it over her shoulder. "L-lead... the way."
Peter grumbled but let her take the lead on this, sticking the leaf she had fluttered into his mouth on her cheek.
Jo smacked him, wiping off her pale cheek.

He nodded in reply, still wearing the slight smile.
"As you wish."
Upon the end of his sentence, he turned to the side and walked into the trees. They walked for what seemed like forever before they finally came to a worn cobblestone path, from which weeds and purple flowers grew. The prince then took a left and continued down the path, he seemed to know the forest as well as he knew the back of his own hand.

Peter followed him, pulling out his axe for good measure. "What is this place? Why is everyone scared of it? Why do only crazy people come down here? What are you doing in here? Are you crazy?" He kept the questions coming, rapid fire, in part to intentionally annoy the man, but also in part because people generally answered questions that you actually asked, instead of just wondering. "Where are you leading us? Are you going to use us as human sacrifices? Because we aren't human, so that might not be the best course of action. How many Deathlings have you met?"

(I see this is Open, but is it okay to hop in? Unsure if I should wait, given that they're walking down a possibly-hidden path. )

“A Deathling!? I have met none, but have heard many things. And as for your surroundings, This is the Twilight Forest, named for the fact that it’s darker here then the rest of the Underworld. All sorts of hellish beasts and dark creatures live here, including my mothers favorite pack of Hellhounds.” When he spoke the last word, a distant howl could be heard. “Ah yes, it never fails. They always know when they are being spoken of. And you need not fear any harm or mental instability of me, I am just going to meet a close friend. He is returning from an important mission, and I told him I would meet him the the same clearing we were bound together in.” In his lengthy reply they reached said clearing. Lupus walked into the center of the large area and stopped, looking towards the stone ceiling miles upon miles above them. He stood silently, and not long a resounding Thwump could be heard, and another followed. A steady beating of the air that grew louder and closer. Meanwhile Lupus merely smiled.

Jo listened to the sound of someone approaching, a lavender mist snaking away from her and into the air, probing and exploring the breezes in hopes of catching some glimpse of whoever was coming. She wondered for a moment whether this Lupus was leading them into a trap, or if he was really just confident enough to tell people so much without so much as a threat. Wouldn't he be important to the Underworld? Shouldn't he be protected carefully? Did he really realize that there were two Deathlings standing near him?
"Okay. So is your friend riding a dragon?" Peter asked, stepping closer to the middle of the clearing than Jo dared to. "Or a bird? Or is your friend a bird? What's your friend's name?"
Jo sighed. Of course Peter was asking a thousand questions. It was probably only the beginning.

"His name is Nemesis, and he isa dragon."

He replied as a huge, magnificent ruby and gold dragon came into view over the trees. He landed heavily in the clearing before Lupus, who stepped forward. Nemesis lowered his head and Lupus rested his own against the dragon's brow. They were silent for a long time, save for an occasional growl from the huge beast. Lupus made expressions that would normally coincide with a conversation. After that long moment, Lupus turned back to the two of them.
"I have told Nemesis you are not a threat, he will not harm you."

Jo exchanged a look with Peter, resisting the urge to reach for one of her hidden weapons anyway. Dragons weren't usually inherently bad, but things were completely different in the Underworld. She still wasn't sure what exactly she could and couldn't do with her magic down here, and frankly she didn't want to be reminded what it was like to be eaten by something. It wasn't among her fondest memories. So, rather than threaten the gargantuan beast, she watched the two strangers carefully, wondering what they were planning.
Peter took it upon himself to respond to the prince, smirking and circling Nemesis and Lupus. "Well, that's a relief. I'd hate for him to find out how ridiculously hard we are to kill. Hello Nemesis. That's actually a rather interesting name, you know. What are you the nemesis of?"
Jo rolled her eyes, listening, but also heard something in the forest behind her shift. Something that was probably waiting to come after them.

I am the Nemesis of all thous who chose to go against myself and my family.

A booming voice replied, but not aloud. He spoke to them through their minds. The large dragon shifted slightly, looking down at lupus, who after a moment looked up at the dragon and nodded.

I was told you are looking for someone.

Peter raised an eyebrow at the dragon, calculating the chances of getting out of this situation without having to admit more personal information. In fact, in his opinion, there had been too much information exchanged already, and apparently that was going to continue to get worse. "Indeed we are, I suppose you'll be wanting to know who so you can keep an eye on us or out for them?"