He heard Katherine's shout as if from across the sea, an insistent echo vying for his attention against the dancing lights. Katherine, his escort, hired bodyguard. If she was calling out, he needed to pay attention. She was supposed to keep him safe, so there was danger, somewhere, probably.

But the emerald light before him seemed so... safe. Beckoning, whispering, silent words of comfort that pushed Katherine's words further and further away. His mind drifted back even as his feet continued to move forwards, ignoring confusion and concern. 

Why did he need to be confused, or concerned? There was no reason for either, not now. He could just follow the lights, let them lead him to warmth and comfort. A small, vacant smile grew on his lips as he watched those flames dance and dart around the trees. They seemed closer now, was he getting closer? Maybe he could catch one, wouldn't that be a tale to tell! [i]The Night I caught a Living Flame[/i]... a good enough title for someone like him. He was hoping to hear the various tales and legends of the towns he would visit after Avantshire, he could polish up his tale then! Learn the ways they capture attention and cultivate wonder, to spin his own story that wouldn't be laughed off from the start. 

People might actually listen, unlike when he had found the seastars dancing on the foam, had called out to them and heard their silent answer. Coy and captivating little lights, skittish, playful and cruel. It took him back, as he stumbled through the darkening woods. How alike this scene was, to back the-!!

With that thought, the snare shattered. The illusion of warmth and safety with a dancing green flame in hand were dashed away, icy realization dousing all pleasure from his mind. This [i]was[/i] like when he was younger. Except he had been an idiot this time, and actually listened to the alluring flames. No wonder Katherine had been shouting at him!

"God's Above!"

He realized just in time... and nearly an instant too late. Blinking fiercely to clear the still-dancing demonwisps from his mind, Alexi stumbled sideways, then down as the ground curved away from him. He fell with a shout, roots and vines tugging at his feet, while blackness rushed up to swallow him from below. Was it just a hill? A cliff? A sinkhole to hell? Between the sunken sun and overwhelming foliage it was impossible to tell, but Alexi swore he saw a grin appear between those verdant flames as he started to fall.

"Watch o-ack!"

He managed, somehow, to snag a root or shrub clinging to the side of the drop and swing himself around. He fell back instead of down, hurled away from the sight and towards the way he had come. A swift, sickening turn landing abruptly in wood and earth as he smacked into the ground. Lights flashed in his vision while pain lanced through head and body. That hurt, [i]he[/i] hurt...

Though at least now he wasn't following demonic lights to his doom anymore.

"Katherine... Katherine?" She had called out to him before, had she followed? Words more groan than shout, he could only hope they carried. More than being found, he didn't want her following the lights as well. She was a fighter, and used to travelling, so a pitfall might not catch her, but he wouldn't be able to live with himself if it did. "Are you there...? Watch, watch the ground!"