"Wildfire" ((Inuyoko Mass #12))

"Wildfire"

by Inuyoko

Originally read in deoch 214 on the 14th sun of the 4th moon.

((08/28/2025))

Hello, everyone. My name is Inuyoko T’Alveni. I am a Cleric of this faith, and a member of its clergy since deoch 53. 

I’d like to begin today by stating something incredibly obvious: Fire burns very hot. When we think about Deoch, a lot of things may come to mind. His fiery passion for Danaan and her work. The feverish infectiousness of laughter, joy, or an inspiring action. Boisterous and spicy acts of debauchery. All of these things and more, whether directly or metaphorically, invoke that heat. Even the idea of the Spark itself. A tiny spark, under the right conditions, can spread into a consuming wildfire.

And that fact, like so many aspects of our lives, is a blessing and a curse. Stranded in the icy peaks of Mount Giragan, a warm fire is life itself. But it must be nurtured, and fueled. Work must be done, wood chopped or magical energy conjured must be sacrificed for it, and us, to be sustained. But one cannot do work forever.

Two lovers may find that their embrace forges a strong bond, like the way fire forges steel into swords. But eventually, that steel cools, and a different sort of maintenance is required to keep the blade from dulling and breaking. Those passions too will die down, and the more difficult work of supporting and inspiring each other will have to be undertaken.

A raucous celebration, or a night of drinking with friends, can help build a community. Cheeks flush with warmth, and eyes and lungs burning from so much laughter. Perhaps the memories made will even warm our hearts later on as we recall, long after our bodies have cooled and the excited vibrations of the air give way to stillness. 

We revere the metaphor of the flame because it represents the best times of our lives. It is the moments where we know there is momentum in our lives. The moments where we are confident in our strengths, and have hope for the future. 

But as I said earlier on, that flame can also be indiscriminate. It can cause unintended damage. When we are too hot,  we become burned and scarred. Suddenly, we can no longer tolerate as much heat. The flame grows smaller to protect ourselves, and it is much easier to snuff it out than to keep it going. If we are not careful, this can happen over and over again in a vicious cycle, until there’s nothing but ash.

So how do we protect the flame? How do we prevent our spark from growing too dim? I suppose that’s a different answer for everyone. Perhaps it’s even different for each of us on different days. I wish I had a better answer today. I wish I could send you all on your way knowing that I have done my job and inspired you. Perhaps today of all days, it’s best that I don’t try to force it. That I forgive myself for coming up short. That I protect my own spark from fading.

I hope you all find in Deoch and each other that which keeps you protected. Thank you for joining me.

Mass is cast